"Are you all right?" is the first thing she says.
Shalelu and Liothonae exit the chamber.
Lio says nothing. Her expression is revealing many emotions however, the least of them anger and frustration.
Once the two of you are out of the chamber, Shalelu turns to you, keeping her arms around you.
"Are you all right?" is the first thing she says.
"No." She says, her voice shaky with barely restrained emotion, her arms around you.
"Oh." Is it possible for her to blush any deeper? Probably not anymore.
When she has finally taken several breaths and the blush begins to fade. "Since I told you what they were, you should pick the one you'd like to try first, and the when." She says.
"Well ... for underwater, the aurora, or a desk, we shall have to wait until we have access to the appropriate location, occasion, or furniture. That leaves a blindfold or blindfolds, and you coming on me."
"Maybe we could start with me blindfolded ... and then you would get to decide whether you wanted to come on me, or save that for a later occasion."
After Kalimac has left the wagon, Lio hangs up the fabric that serves as a bit of privacy in the wagon by the wash bowl, and stepping behind it, proceeds to get cleaned up. Clothes rustle, as she takes them off. And then a long moment of silence. No sounds of water. Nothing.
Then very quietly, in Elven, "Holy moth..." Everyone in the wagon hears the distinct sound of Lio's head hitting the floor.
Anyone who might go to investigate, would see that she's unconscious, on the floor, undressed and there is not a single scar on her body, anywhere. But there is some fresh blood. Of all places, between her legs.
Maybe we could start with me blindfolded ... and then you would get to decide whether you wanted to come on me, or save that for a later occasion."
"I think, a large part of the appeal, comes from you watching." Lio says, in regards to your last comment. "But, I am in favor of the first part." Heat rises to her face again.
"When, do you think, you'd like to...?" She asks.
In an instant, Shalelu is carefully cradling Lio's body in her arms.
"Ameiko, do you have any healing spells remaining?" she asks quickly. "I fear she may have injured herself in the fall."
"I think, a large part of the appeal, comes from you watching." Lio says, in regards to your last comment. "But, I am in favor of the first part." Heat rises to her face again.
"When, do you think, you'd like to...?" She asks.
"When do I think I would like to? Right here and right now. When do I think we should?" She considers. "As soon as we have private space, a fair bit of time, and a blindfold."
"No." She says, her voice shaky with barely restrained emotion, her arms around you.
"Do you wish to talk about it?" she asks. "Or simply be held for a while?"
"When do I think I would like to? Right here and right now. When do I think we should?" She considers. "As soon as we have private space, a fair bit of time, and a blindfold."
"I've prepared the web shelter spell." Lio says quietly. "I think a blindfold can be improvised." She adds. And for once, she's not blushing. But her eyes show how much she wants you.
"Do you wish to talk about it?" she asks. "Or simply be held for a while?"
"I wish to punch Hrunndalf in the nose. And possibly have a swarm of wasps harass him to no end. Why does he constantly have to act in such a manner? Why does he think he knows better than everyone else how our abilities should be used, our resources?" She pulls you into a tight embrace, apparently choosing to both be held, and to talk.
"So," Ameiko says to you in the darkness that is the late afternoon - and every other time of day - in the northern winter, "Any word on whether this town has anything that passes for a restaurant?"
Hrunndalf smiles at her. "Not according to Ulf," he says. "Apparently the only public building in town is the watchtower. And it looks like we'll be bypassing Unaimo as well, so we'll have to wait for Ul-Angorn."
Some disappointment echoes in that statement. He pushes it aside. "You know? We could just have a picnic. I could do with some R&R after today's events. I'd still owe you a proper dinner later."
Hrunndalf smiles at her. "Not according to Ulf," he says. "Apparently the only public building in town is the watchtower. And it looks like we'll be bypassing Unaimo as well, so we'll have to wait for Ul-Angorn."
Some disappointment echoes in that statement. He pushes it aside. "You know? We could just have a picnic. I could do with some R&R after today's events. I'd still owe you a proper dinner later."
She considers this. "All right," she says. "A picnic it is, then. Did you have a sheltered spot in mind, or were you thinking of a picnic in the snow?"
The following morning, a number of preparations are made before your trip to the white dragon’s crevasse. Sonavut recruits one of the local hunters to give you detailed instructions on how to get there and how to find it, for one thing. In addition, as gifts, Nalvanaq gives you seven pairs of the magical tools known as Claws of the Ice Bear, to aid you on your quest.
Claws of the Ice Bear: Strapped to the hands, these spiked climbing claws crafted by the Erutaki grant a +2 competence bonus on Climb checks and Acrobatics checks made when using both hands to aid in movement, and allow the wearer to ignore the normal penalties on those skills for slippery or icy surfaces. In addition, up to 3 times per day, the wearer can activate the claws as a swift action to gain the benefits of spider climb for 1 round. The wearer cannot hold anything else in her hands while using claws of the ice bear. If used as a weapon, claws of the ice bear function as spiked gauntlets.
In gratitude for what you have done and plan to do, the people of Iqaliat will also quietly add 3,500 gp worth of upgrades or equipment to your Caravan while you are out seeking the dragon’s lair.
Mighty magics are also cast on this morning. First, diamond dust is scattered over Liothonae so that Alaric can undo the lingering aftereffects of her resurrection. Then, Liothonae herself performs the lengthy ritual that will bring Naquun back from the dead.
Male
Lizardfolk
She considers this. "All right," she says. "A picnic it is, then. Did you have a sheltered spot in mind, or were you thinking of a picnic in the snow?"
"It makes little difference in terms of comfort, but some privacy would be nice," he says, trying to suppress an elated grin at Ameiko's consent, and partially failing. "In any case, we shouldn't stray too far from the safety of the village. Perhaps they'd let us have the watchtower for a few hours? Otherwise, out on the snow works for me."
"It makes little difference in terms of comfort, but some privacy would be nice," he says, trying to suppress an elated grin at Ameiko's consent, and partially failing. "In any case, we shouldn't stray too far from the safety of the village. Perhaps they'd let us have the watchtower for a few hours? Otherwise, out on the snow works for me."
"The watchtower looked like it was very much in use," Ameiko replies. "I think the snow it is. Top of the cliff? It's near the village, but we'll probably be the only ones there ... And it seems to be the location of choice for this kind of thing."
"I've prepared the web shelter spell." Lio says quietly. "I think a blindfold can be improvised." She adds. And for once, she's not blushing. But her eyes show how much she wants you.
Shalelu has already started taking her clothes off before you reach the end of the second sentence. "We should have an hour or two before the weather gets bad enough that we must rejoin the Caravan."
"The watchtower looked like it was very much in use," Ameiko replies. "I think the snow it is. Top of the cliff? It's near the village, but we'll probably be the only ones there ... And it seems to be the location of choice for this kind of thing."
"Excellent," says Hrunndalf, beaming. "It seems the cliff is part of a trade route here, albeit not of the favored one. We should be able to forgo the magical aid this time. I fear the view will be less uplifting this time."
"I'll look around for some portable Erutaki delicacies, then. It might be too late for that in Ul-Angorn. I'll make sure to include some seal eyeballs for you," he adds, winking.
...Then very quietly, in Elven, "Holy moth..." Thud Everyone in the wagon hears the distinct sound of Lio's head hitting the floor.
Anyone who might go to investigate, would see that she's unconscious, on the floor, undressed and there is not a single scar on her body, anywhere. But there is some fresh blood. Of all places, between her legs.
Shalelu's Knowledge Nature Roll, with Panic Penalty: 1d20 + 9 - 10 ⇒ (18) + 9 - 10 = 17
In an instant, Shalelu is carefully cradling Lio's body in her arms."Ameiko, do you have any healing spells remaining?" she asks quickly. "I fear she may have injured herself in the fall."
knowledge nature:
int.roll:Myri stands up from her bunk, appearing concerned though not panicked "should I get Koya or Spivey?" She hesitates, waiting for Ameiko to answer before acting.
"I wish to punch Hrunndalf in the nose. And possibly have a swarm of wasps harass him to no end. Why does he constantly have to act in such a manner? Why does he think he knows better than everyone else how our abilities should be used, our resources?" She pulls you into a tight embrace, apparently choosing to both be held, and to talk.
Shalelu holds you closely, and considers her words.
"Hrunndalf ... does not have the highest intelligence among those in our group," she says. "I believe he is trying to give the rest of us the benefit of what he perceives to be sage counsel and wise advice. I do not think he realizes how he sounds when he does so."
Myri stands up from her bunk, appearing concerned though not panicked "should I get Koya or Spivey?" She hesitates, waiting for Ameiko to answer before acting.
Ameiko hurries over and casts Cure Light Wounds on Liothonae. "I don't know!" she answers Myriana. "What the hell just happened?"
Ameiko hurries over and casts Cure Light Wounds on Liothonae. "I don't know!" she answers Myriana. "What the hell just happened?"
Myri hesitates for just a second longer, if Lio does not immediately wake with the healing spell she jumps down and runs to the Fortune Teller's Wagon.
Shalelu holds you closely, and considers her words.
"Hrunndalf ... does not have the highest intelligence among those in our group," she says. "I believe he is trying to give the rest of us the benefit of what he perceives to be sage counsel and wise advice. I do not think he realizes how he sounds when he does so."
"It's bad enough I can't make heads or tails of Myri's intentions. Now I have to assume Hrunndalf isn't in fact belittling me, when he is?"
Lio nods. "I agree with you, and I will." A pause, then an amused expression, the first her face has likely seen all day. "Attatoq would likely take the shape of another quadruped. I wonder if he'd mind being a cat."
"He might like that," smiles Kalimac, "if it means he gets to be in charge like Xanderghul. Of course, that would make saddling him a bit difficult."
"He might like that," smiles Kalimac, "if it means he gets to be in charge like Xanderghul. Of course, that would make saddling him a bit difficult."
"I think I have a spell that could make him larger for at least part of the day, so if he did become smaller, you wouldn't loose him as a mount. And you can always get some scrolls. I'd be happy to cast them for you. But that's the case for any scroll with a spell that I can cast. If you want something cast on you, just let me know." She's still smiling. Apparently being away from Hrunndalf is good for her attitude.
Shalelu has already started taking her clothes off before you reach the end of the second sentence. "We should have an hour or two before the weather gets bad enough that we must rejoin the Caravan."
"I would like, to undress you." She says softly, putting a hand on yours, to stop you from taking off more than your armor.
Then she spends one minute casting the web shelter spell. When it is done, she opens the door, and invites you in. She goes in after you. And you find, that she comes up behind you, her body curving against yours, and (allowing time for you to stop her, should you so chose) she uses her scarf as a blindfold on you, careful to cover only your eyes, and not your ears.
"It's bad enough I can't make heads or tails of Myri's intentions. Now I have to assume Hrunndalf isn't in fact belittling me, when he is?"
Shalelu takes a deep breath.
"Lio ... I agreed with you that Myriana sounded like she said what you thought she did. I myself did not realize what she had actually been trying to say until near the end of a lengthy and difficult conversation. Myriana is hard to comprehend and often gives the wrong impression of what she means."
"But in this case ... I did not hear Hrunndalf belittling you. I heard him bizarrely misunderstand the situation, believing at first that the group's funds were being used despite the fact that it had been clearly stated otherwise. Then, when he was corrected, I heard him offer an opinion that he did not realize was poorly constructed, badly phrased, and somewhat amoral."
"But I did not hear him say that you were foolish for making this choice, or that he forbade it, or that his opinion on the subject was worth more than yours. And I do not think he meant to."
Shalelu appears to be a little bit nervous. She is clearly somewhat worried that what she has said might spark an argument between the two of you.
"I would like, to undress you." She says softly, putting a hand on yours, to stop you from taking off more than your armor.
Then she spends one minute casting the web shelter spell. When it is done, she opens the door, and invites you in. She goes in after you. And you find, that she comes up behind you, her body curving against yours, and (allowing time for you to stop her, should you so chose) she uses her scarf as a blindfold on you, careful to cover only your eyes, and not your ears.
Shalelu removes her armor but no more, and walks into the shelter ahead of you. Although she is nearly quivering with eagerness, she holds still as you place the blindfold on her, taking deep breaths, relaxing her muscles.
Letting you do whatever you will.
Lio stirs in Shae's arms. She makes a small, unhappy, sound.
"Anwyl?" Shalelu asks softly. "Are you all right?
Buttersnips appears beside Myriana.
Some time later, you make the difficult trek up the ice tunnels with a pack of dried arctic hare meat (at a cost of 1 gold piece), and find yourselves at the top of the cliff. What would normally probably be a rather impressive view of the expanse of tundra that is the Hoarwell March is, at the moment, a grey and white vista of blowing snow.
Hrunndalf offers Ameiko the customary high-five upon besting the cliff. He is breathing heavily from the exertion, but through a satisfied smile. The lack of a view leaves him somewhat less elated than on Vörðurhorn, and he refrains from shouting off the cliff due to the town's proximity.
Looking around for a bench-like place to sit and eat, he gathers a roll of snow as if to build a snowman, but then places it before the sitting area as a makeshift table. As an afterthought, he forms a snowball, casts Light on it, and places it on the table.
"Úff," he says, dropping into a seat after having offered one to Ameiko. "That's better." He listens to the wind for a moment, smiling at the tranquility.
Then, Liothonae herself performs the lengthy ritual that will bring Naquun back from the dead.
** spoiler omitted **
Lio asks Jorun to assist her, and Shae to stay close by. Also she inquires as to if Naquun had any family, prior to beginning. If she finds out that he did in fact have a family, she will explain how the spell works, prior to casting it. So they have a basic understanding (if they do not already) that he could come back as nearly any kind of humanoid. She also makes sure the Chief of the village understands this, so no one panics if Naquun comes back as some other race.
The whole ritual and reincarnation process takes place in a quiet spot away from everyone else (except those people who are asked to observe - Shae, the Chief, the woman who welcomed them in the town, Jorun). Lio spends just over an hour and ten minutes working on the reincarnation
Once the hour for creating the body has passed, and Naquun's new form is revealed, Lio covers the lizardfolk with a blanket for modesty (and warmth), up to his chest. She then continues with the spell, to actually bring him back to life. She tries to put on her best calm face, and motions the Chief (and the other woman) over, so that the first person he sees will be someone he knows. Hopefully this will alleviate any panic he might experience.
"I'll keep that in mind. However, if you don't mind, I think I'll try to stick with Plan A. Which is to not get him killed in the first place."
"Plan A is the better plan." Lio agrees. "But it's good to know there's now a plan B."
Ameiko takes her seat. After a moment of silence, listening to the wind with you, she says, "Would you mind if I asked you a few questions?"
Alaric nods, trying and failing to hide just how much Kalimac's words mean to him. "Th--" he coughs, clearing a throat suddenly full. "Thanks. I know. I know. It's just... when we arrived... that's every nightmare. Right there. Waiting. I'll be fine. I just need to... not be here."
Mel looks from Kalimac to Alaric. She moves over to Kalimac and attempts to pull the cavalier into a quick grateful hug. Then she moves to sit closer to Alaric, "Sorry. I'll go back to being unintrusive." But her smile for the halfling is filled with her gratitude.
Kalimac does not resist the embrace, but mutters an embarrassed, "Oh, lõpeta see, sa."
Once Mel returns to her seat, Kalimac turns back to Alaric. "We won't be here long, and you're surrounded by loyal friends. So do try to relax a little. If you can."
"Before I go, are you OK with Lio? She's a bit disturbed by your behavior towards her. You should talk to her, even if it's not a comfortable talk. She deserves that, I think."
After the long ritual, upon awakening, he sees the faces of Sonavut and Nalvanaq. Immediately he cries out, "Chief! Tunuak has betrayed us! It is he who has brought the dragon's wrath upon the village!"
A moment later: "I ... I can speak! The demon is gone!"
And then, a few moments after that: "... I feel ... odd ..."
"Lio ... I agreed with you that Myriana sounded like she said what you thought she did. I myself did not realize what she had actually been trying to say until near the end of a lengthy and difficult conversation. Myriana is hard to comprehend and often gives the wrong impression of what she means."
"But in this case ... I did not hear Hrunndalf belittling you. I heard him bizarrely misunderstand the situation, believing at first that the group's funds were being used despite the fact that it had been clearly stated otherwise. Then, when he was corrected, I heard him offer an opinion that he did not realize was poorly constructed, badly phrased, and somewhat amoral."
"But I did not hear him say that you were foolish for making this choice, or that he forbade it, or that his opinion on the subject was worth more than yours. And I do not think he meant to."
Shalelu appears to be a little bit nervous. She is clearly somewhat worried that what she has said might spark an argument between the two of you.
A very lengthy silence ensues as Lio processes what you just said. All the while, she stays in your arms, holding you, pressed up against you.
"I'm overreacting?" She asks, concerned at your reaction, her voice quiet.
"Perhaps dying hasn't done any wonders for my temper." She concedes.
"I'm not apologizing to him. I meant what I said. He hardly says a word to me that isn't involved in some way in telling me what he thinks I should be doing. Maybe he never means to sound the way he ends up sounding, but if that is the case, how is it that he does not seek at all to improve himself?"
"At least what Buttersnips said had reasoning behind it." Lio adds. "It's like she could read my mind. I'm terrified that I won't be able to find the materials I need for reincarnation, if something happened to you, but that doesn't change the fact that bringing that man back is right thing to do." There's something she leaves unsaid, and you can read her well enough that you can tell although she knows it's the right thing to do, that's not in fact the only reason why she's doing it. "And I know, if... if the worst were to happen, I would still find a way, we would find a way, Anwyl. No matter how long it took." You see the emotion rise into her eyes. All of the anger drained out of them. The only thing she sees is you. And her love for you is all that is now present in her gaze.
Naquun has no immediate family; although he has many relatives in town, all those closer than a cousin have been lost to the dragon.
After the long ritual, upon awakening, he sees the faces of Sonavut and Nalvanaq. Immediately he cries out, "Chief! Tunuak has betrayed us! It is he who has brought the dragon's wrath upon the village!"
A moment later: "I ... I can speak! The demon is gone!"
And then, a few moments after that: "... I feel ... odd ..."
Lio wonders if she should let the Chief explain. She pauses a moment, and if the Chief speaks, Lio will remain quiet. But if the Chief does not explain, Lio will calmly inform Naquun of what has happened to him.
From conversation, it soon becomes clear that he remembers everything that happened until his death - including everything that happened while he was possessed by the demon - but nothing after it, including the conversation with Alaric. He confirms much of what the group suspected about Tunuak, including the fact that "Katiyana', the winged woman who was pictured on the wall, lives at the Storm Tower and seemed to be issuing commands, communicating with Tunuak by magical means. Their plot was indeed to destroy Iqaliat so that a Black Monolith could be placed there, which would somehow return Sithhud to power and spread the morozko storms further than they have ever been.
After a time, somewhat surprisingly, Naquun rather urgently requests a private talk with Jorun. Jorun seems wary, but agrees.
A few minutes later, Jorun approaches and whispers in your ear.
"He wants to know if his peepee is supposed to be like that," Jorun says.
"Anwyl?" Shalelu asks softly. "Are you all right?
Buttersnips appears beside Myriana.
"Anwyl?" Lio says softly, from within Shae's embrace. She opens her eyes. "What am I...... ಪವಿತ್ರ ಶಿಟ್. Shae, anwyl... anwyl" Her voice is strained, panicked. Lio starts to freak out. She begins to shake and tears leak out of her eyes. She is quite possibly not aware she has garnered an audience, and if she was, she might not actually care, as upset as she is this very moment.
She kisses you on the forehead. "We will always find our way to each other. Always."
"Uhm, yes." Lio answers quietly. She blinks, her expression somewhat surprised at the question. "Perhaps I should tell 'im." She says to Jorun. And then she goes over to where Naquun is. And she tells him. And then she adds, that if he is so inclined, he now has the ability to make women very happy.
"Uhm, yes." Lio answers quietly. She blinks, her expression somewhat surprised at the question. "Perhaps I should tell 'im." She says to Jorun. And then she goes over to where Naquun is. And she tells him. And then she adds, that if he is so inclined, he now has the ability to make women very happy.
There is a long pause before Naquun responds to this.
"Please do not take this the wrong way," he says. "I am very grateful to you, wise one, for the chance at life you have given me, and your gift is more important than I can say."
"But ... human woman are not going to want to ... be with me, looking like this."
"It has been a trying day," Shalelu agrees. "But if you see no reason to apologize to him, you should not. I was simply worried you might take ... precipitous action."
She kisses you on the forehead. "We will always find our way to each other. Always."
"I would have probably completely lost my temper and tried to slug him, if you hadn't just pulled me out of there." Lio admits after a few long minutes in your arms in silence.
"Thank you for having my best interests at heart, always." She looks into your eyes. "I don't know... where I would be, without you. I would certainly, be much less, of a person." She adds. "You make me better, you draw out so much in me that's good, and you help me discover so many amazing things. And you keep me from slugging jerks, when doing so would likely cause a lot of friction amongst our friends. Thanks, anwyl." She says quietly. Slightly embarrassed now that she's had time to reflect.
There is a long pause before Naquun responds to this.
"Please do not take this the wrong way," he says. "I am very grateful to you, wise one, for the chance at life you have given me, and your gift is more important than I can say."
"But ... human woman are not going to want to ... be with me, looking like this."
"You maight find that 'e right woman, will look past your outside, an' love you for who you are. Bodies are impermanent. But then, I'm just a Druid, so what do I know?"