"Right," Rath agreed. "Everything ends badly. Might as well listen to the ghosts."

He was ready to march ahead in the direction the sprit pointed. Being in such a negative mood had actually cheered up Rath considerably.

Inas picks out a trail to the consecrated ground and leads the way.

Inas pushes a fast pace through the dark woods in the direction the ghost indicated.   Twice more during the march, the eerie howling is heard deeper in the woods but it seems no closer.   The ghosts seem to float along behind the group, not exactly a comforting fact.

So degraded is the outermost circle of the old temple that the party passes clean over it without notice.  It is not until they second the second circle, which is barely more than a jagged circular wall of tumbled stones, none higher than a persons knee and missing enough pieces to look like a beggars teeth, that the group realizes they have arrived.


Looking back, they can see the ghosts have stopped some distance back.

Exploring forward a bit more, the inner wall is found, this one still stands some 8 feet tall, a circle maybe 60 feet across, with several old arches leading inward, and a few spots where the wall has collapsed and one could crawl in over the rubble.  Within the inner circle, there are no trees, only short grass and climbing vines that are flowering.  Here, the sky is open and the stars can be seen clearly.

In the very center is a large rock formation, waist high, with all smooth edges.  It is ten feet across and slopes down in the middle where clear water has filled it.  Set along the edges are multiple stone cups.

Stepping inside the final circle, each person is filled with warmth and comfort the likes of which comes only in special times during a life, maybe in the arms of a mother, or the dreams of a child, or the embrace of a lover, or perhaps, this is a first, best feeling.

There is a simple inscription carved into the stone,

"Final resting place of Rosalyn the Radiant, Dawn Walker, and first paladin of Pelor. Drink and be healed.  Speak your deep desire and be enlightened. Rest and be renewed".

Marissa falls to her knees and drinks deeply from the water. Once done, she considers what her deepest desire would be.


"I would ask for my equipment back," she declared. "My shield, armor, weapons and gear."

So saying, she lay down and slept.

Rath looked up at the stars. He stood straight and tall, his eyes closed, face lifted to the sky. It was night, but it was as if he basked in Pelor's sunlight. Eventually, he opened his eyes. He set down his shield and cudgel and moved toward the water. He took a stone cup, filled it, passed it to Saliq. He filled another, offering it to Inas. A third, he set down for Astral. And, finally, one for himself. (Marissa had already drank.) He peered into the cup, then drank the water. He filled it again and moved slightly away from the cistern, and he used the water from the cup to wash his hands, his rough face, his neck. Rath ran wet fingers through his hair.

He smiled at Marissa's simple wish. Her deepest desire. It reflected on her character, of course. She wanted what she needed to get herself out of this mess.

Rath sat down with a grunt, feeling all the weariness of recent days soak into him, in a not-so-unpleasant way. His smile dropped and he sat quiet and thoughtful, looking up into the depths of the starry sky.

Inas nodded as he accepted the cup from Rath and took a drink.  He then scratched his cheek and chin as he stared at the inscription.

After a few moments he turns away and drains the remaining contents of the cup.  In this time he hasn't said a word.  Slowly he sits down and looks back at the inscription.

"Good question, that.  Don't know that I have an answer for it."

He turns away from the inscription and stares into the bottom of his empty cup.  "S'pose it'd be nice if there weren't no more calamities needing to be resolved, so we could jest enjoy life for a while.  I'd really like to just explore, an' be amazed, like when we were at Seven Falls Canyon."

Saliq politely passes his cup back untouched and his lips still dry, shaking his head.

'Thank you but no, it is best if one of us keeps a clear head in case even this is a trap. Besides I an illusionist and we must have our secrets even from the gods. My desires are my own and I'll guard them well.'

He sat down, feeling tired but ready to keep the first watch if needed.

The party settles down for the night, feeling oddly safe within the ancient temple and burial place.   Those who drink from the water, awake fully healed and refreshed.
Remarkable for those injured in the battle with golem dragon, as golem wounds never heal naturally and require a very powerful cleric to reverse some injury.

As to wishes or hearts desires, nothing seems different for those who spoke, or thought about it.   However, one cannot achieve a desire without first knowing what one wants, so perhaps, just a chance to think about where a person wants to go, is the first step in going there.  That seems to fit Pelor's wisdom, so perhaps that was all there was to it.

The sky lightens and dawn breaks.  The ghosts have vanished from their spot outside the temple and no more is heard from whatever evil spirit hunts in the night woods.

Inas has little trouble setting a course back to and finding the trail westward, and in half days march, the group emerges from the woods near an inlet in the island.  There, some hundred yards off shore and anchored, is a rather nice dragon ship, wooden with carved head on one end, and swirling wooden tail on the other.  With a single large mast in center.

And that was exactly why Rath did not give voice to his deep desire.

"Ehridol, can you get us home on that thing?" Rath asked glumly. He wasn't looking forward to a sea voyage, but it was necessary. "I'm a clumsy sailor, but I can tie a rope, if that helps." On later thought, Rath realized his knot-tying probably didn't meet Marissa's standards.

Home. The word made Rath pause. "Are we taking the dragonling to Stormhaven?"

'I'm no sailor, but I'll try at help.' Saliq said. The illusionist, evidently by his own will had not gained much if anything from the temple and looked tired.

At Rath's question he glanced over at the tiny dragon, his eyebrow raised.

There are tears in Marissa's eyes as she looks around the campsite.

"She is gone," Marissa said, sadly. "Astral, she is gone to find her brother. I thought I was dreaming. I think she is not safe, but she said to take some of the water with us when we left the campsite. I cannot...I cannot see her in my head. Always before I could feel her rhythm with mine. Now it is gone."

For whatever reason, it appears little Astral has taken her fate into her own wings and is indeed gone for the moment.  Will you ever meet again, somehow, you find it likely despite the seeming odds.

Marissa has an instinct about the ship, and does a quick look on shore and sure enough, finds two small jolly boats hidden away.  One of them has been smashed in on the bottom, but the other is in good shape and four oars are found under it, and in the matter of an hour of working at it, the party is aboard the dragon boat.

There are no other crew left behind, but the sail and other items are in good condition, she is sea worthy to be certain.

So, back to Stormhaven, or to ports unknown, or other?

Rath hesitated, then put a hand on Marissa's shoulder. "Damn. I'm sorry, Marissa. Astral ... she'll be all right, I think." His eyes were on the skies and the water. "She's free."

---

He worked hard to get the little boat to the ship. Once there, he helped to make an inventory of supplies and provisions. If necessary, he had the magic to keep the small crew fed.

The question remained. Where were they, and where were they going?

"I thought we were supposed to bring the dragonling back to the Seven Falls Canyon . . . " Inas muses aloud.  "I don't know if we should go back without her, or at least a good explanation.  So, maybe . . . back to check on the warlock?"


OOC: Chapter 6, post 259.

In reply to Inas Eoinsson (msg # 544):

Ah, I forgot all about that!

It takes about a day and half to sail the dragon ship back to Stormhaven's port.  It is mostly uneventful, though the winds aren't very helpful, and once, the small ship encounters a large sea creature that seems to follow along for nearly an hour before losing interest.  It is none too comforting, even Marissa isn't sure what it was.

All of you are well known in the city, so there is no delays or problems docking and you soon find your way through witchlight district, past the glades and poling a small boat out through the swamps.

You are surprised from comments made by others in town, that it appears you have been gone from Stormhaven nearly a month.  While it may have only felt like about a week in normal time to you, clearly time in Dream moves at different pace.

It isn't long before you find your way back to the ramshackle home of Elexi.  Inside, the hammocks you fell asleep in are gone,  there is no sign of the old warlock at first, but a quick look around, you find all your gear safely stored upstairs where you left it.

You find Elexi out back, sleeping in his hammock.  He looks much older than he did even the first time you met, and is clearly deep, deep asleep.

ooc: how much weight did we lose? just curious.

Marissa's tempted to roll the old wizard from his hammock onto the wooden deck beneath him. It has been a trying quest...and, frankly, her expression reminds all that she misses Astral dearly. Instead of flipping him, she called out in a loud, weary voice, "Old man, wake yourself. Your minions have returned."

The old man opens his eyes and coughs a few times before struggling to free himself from the hammock.

"Ah, you are back at last..., I should make tea.....' and he staggers towards his kitchen, you notice he is having trouble walking and moves bent over. Despite his seeming age and possible injury, he scuttles about and soon has warm water for tea ready.

Saliq winces in sympathy at his state. 'Please let me help. Perhaps you already know but your sister is defeated, the dragons freed and beings of Dream rescued.'

On the ship, Rath summoned up a feast, real food for their physical bodies, that he ate with restraint, reminded of his previous bouts of sickness on the sea. This time, the effects were minor, and he worked alongside Marissa to sail the dragonboat, almost enjoying himself and only throwing up over the rail a few times. He leaned against the rail and said to her, "Gods. I was almost enjoying myself for a minute there." The waves, the salt air, the starry skies above, the ominous rolling clouds ... it was strangely peaceful.

In Stormhaven, Rath didn't get sidetracked and headed right for the Witchlight District with the others. He threw a glance in the general direction of the Rusted Nail, but it was just a glance. He didn't angle toward it. He didn't even flag down a messenger to take word to Rose that he was back. A month. What had changed, he wondered, and what remained?

Rath didn't share Saliq's sympathy for the old warlock. He had only a brazen glare for Elexi. Rath hadn't forgotten the way the warlock had recruited townsfolk, transformed them, enslaved them to repair his gods-damn roof. How he had use Rose to recruit the party.

He waited, impatient.

The old warlock almost shrugs off Saliq's help, but catches himself, and looks at the wizard closely.

"All that and more, I see you have been knighted, and by the Blue Lady herself, I'd say you succeeded beyond even my hopes for you.  Sir Musfara, you have but to release the dream beings, from here, they are free to return home on their own."

"I thank you for all you have done".

He serves the tea, and spends time with the party but after a time, he adds.

"I believe there are many awaiting your return in town,  Rath, if you don't mind, there is one matter I wish to finish with you if you would stay a few moments longer". 

“Anything you have to say to me,” Rath growled, “you can say in front of them.”

Saliq looked puzzled at Elexi's words but was more struck by the release of the dream beings.

Carefully removing the bottle he paused before opening, feeling the tension between Rath and the Warlock. After a moment's hesitation he opened the bottle. 'Fly back to your homeland dreams! You are free!'

Figures of light fly from the bottle and soar around the room, with the tinkling of bells and a fresh breeze, they dances and swirl before one by one flying up and through the ceiling, and vanishing back into the Dreamvoid.

Elexi almost smiles but then hears Rath's words, and frowns, looking at him with as much ire as his withered self can manage.

"Fine, since Little Wing is not with you...". The old warlock, unties the strings to his tunic, and let's it slide off his upper torso.

There in his chest is a gaping wound, rotting around the edges, hot and infected. It is the same place and manner as Rath delivered to the Morde Witch some days ago.

"My sister lives while I draw breathe,  I gave you a stone dagger, you promised to return it to me,  I hope will live up to your end of this bargain".