Narthian and Thunder wait for Farian's confirmation before echoing the triumphant howl.

"[Language unknown: adishiic Tin Toacro k ilnte eraiontin som yinncesheenc is strck!]" Farian calls as the transformation begins. Her eyes glow with an intense golden light.

Casting Detect Evil and presuming a negative finding.

Farian studies Volsh carefully, and then everything in the containment area, before finally giving the rest of the party a nod and smile. She turns to the Jasian, Sister Lar, and says, "One final test, though. Drop the protection of the circle. If he is truly Volsh, then I will be safe." She leaves her mace and her shield lowered, vulnerable, to tempt the beast if any fragment of non-control exists within the werewolf.

Bruenor walked closer to Farian, as she asked to drop the magical protections.  He felt very protective of his friend, perhaps moreso since her...change.    Was that wrong of him?  He had no idea, but he was determined to protect her anyway

"Let me know when I can start shooting," Lantamori said, drawing back a silvered arrow.

The transformation had been fire and pain like he'd rarely known in his life before. It seemed like an eternity of pain and fire even if it was just moments to those who watched. He knew in the back of his mind that he'd fallen in his pain, but the shifting of his body outweighed any pain of his knees or elbows as they connected with the ground.

He could feel the rage of the curse, the feral longings sought to overwhelm his sense and mind as it was ravaged by the pain of the transformation. At the same time, he sensed something... it felt like a foundation of stone beneath his feet would feel. It gave him purchase in the chaos of the transformation. With that, he was able to remember the exercises of the Jasdian Sister and his mind pushed and pushed back. Suddenly it was like he broke through something, a barrier, like a sudden breaking and he stood.

It came to him dimly at first, then with more and more reality, that he stood in both body and mind. It was different, odd, but felt right still. He looked out of the circle and saw his pack, ready, waiting. He had no way to speak so he looked at them and howled, head arched upward to the moon that shone on his back now.

He finished his howl and looked back at them calmly. Suddenly he sneezed a sneeze that shook his whole body as the scents of the room suddenly overwhelmed him. He could smell things he'd never known before, though he didn't have thoughts or names for many of them. Some were so sour it almost hurt his eyes. Others were sweet or pungent, but all were very strong in his new nose.

Volsh-wolf sat on its haunches and just looked out at the group while Farian cast her spell and spoke to the priestesses about removing the protections of the circle. So, he waited.
This message was last edited by the player at 21:44, Wed 18 Mar 2020.

Well, Volsh didn't look like a ravening beast, sitting calmly in the circle. And it didn't seem to Dante that there was any sign of calculating evil in the werewolf's eyes. If it were that different in behavior from the beast he'd fought several weeks ago, then he was cautiously hopeful that all of the preparations had been successful.

Not that he was going to cross into the circle to test it... nor put down his readied bow as Farian stepped forward.

Sister Lar watches Volsh closely as Farian casts her spell.  Then she makes a few more gestures, whispers an invocation, and erases part of the circle.  "By the power of the Ruby Lady, I see no darkness in his heart," she adds out loud to reassure the other members of the group.

Bruenor blinked, genuinely surprised that the man's transformation left him no worse morally than a few beers.  He whispered to himself with amusement
"Well, I'll be a monkey's uncle..."

"I still want to shoot him," Lantamori confessed, lowering her bow.

Volsh walked out of the circle snuffing and looking at the world from a very different angle than he'd ever explored before. He made some noise that sounded almost like a chuffing laugh when Lantamoir said what she said.

He padded over to Narthian and Thunder. He almost felt like he could understand intuitively their stances and movements. He made a couple of wolfie noises.

Narthian wags his tail, let's out a short celebratory howl, then paces over to the exit. He looks expectantly from the door, to Sister Lar, to Farian, and back.

The swordsman chuckled
"This entire group is Going to the Dogs, it seems"

Volsh too looked at the two priestesses and paused.

His gaze shifted to Bruenor at that comment though. There was a deep rumble in his throat and then he stopped quickly. It was weird seeing a wolf wink, but that seemed to be what Volsh just tried to do.

"Is that it?" the elf skeptically asked the secretive priestess' of Wee Jas.  "We don't need to go through this with every full moon?"

Dellas had spent the days waiting for the ritual in the library, having purchased some of the materials and agreed upon price with the owners of the library to scribe a spell or two. The evening of the ritual, he stumbled out of the library, bleary eyed as the candle light he had been accustomed too was all that he had used the last couple of days. He was a bit paler than normal, having not eat his usual fare of food but he made his way towards the ritual with a loaf of bread in one hand and a wheel of cheese in the other. He watched the ritual with fascination as he ate his meal for the evening before he finished it off with a bit of left over chocolate, sharing some with Vish and Kelvren.

"It seems the wolves want to be wolves," she says to no one in particular. "I think that it will be ok to let them loose. However, I have prepared a spell so that I can keep track of them." She intones a prayer, a mote of pale golden light forms in each hand, and she touches Volsh and Narthian. The light traces over their bodies before swirling into their fur and skin near their hearts. "By this light I will know your condition and where you are. Should any harm befall you, we will come. However, it will not last the night. It would ease our minds if you would return at least 2 hours before the dawn."

Casting Status. Should Sister Lar allow the wolves to go, Farian will head to the stables and saddle Lux, wanting to stay close to the new werewolf. Of course, she will tell the others what she is doing.

Lantamori had a good question -- was the matter of Volsh's disposition upon transformation settled, or was it only settled this time? Dante moved closer to hear the priestess' answer.

Haazheel appears for meals, and he mentio9ns his spellwork is done and that he is browsing the library.

Not wanting to leave his clerical friend alone, Bruenor saddled Demon quickly and joined her.

Sister Lar smiles as Volsh is confirmed as himself by his friends, and steps aside with the protective circles open and the door swung wide.  "Go run with your friend... but let us keep it within the walls of the Conclave for now, yes?"

Thunder, Narthian, Volsh, and Bruenor right behind on Demon can race through the Conclave, through the gardens and parks, around the trees and statues and benches, dodging the buildings and shrines as they run out their energy under the light of a full moon.

And as the moon starts to set and dawn begins to loom, Volsh can feel himself begin to slide into a man's skin again, fully remembering the exhilaration of running with a pack of friends.

For those less interested in running off energy and more about specifics, Sister Lar turns to Farian, Lantamori, and anyone else who had stayed behind.  "He has mastered his mind, and has kept himself and his heart his own.  That is now an assurance; that part of the curse no longer is a danger to him.  For now he will change with the moon, but as he grows in strength, he will be able to summon the change other nights and even days, and will be able to stop it if he wishes.  As long as he is diligent and has friends, he will continue to learn and grow in strength, as wolves do when within a pack.  His strength can protect you, and your friendship will strengthen him."

--

Over the next day, those who were up half the night can catch up on their sleep, and those more arcanely incline can finish up their copying of spells.  The next night Volsh will transform again, the moon holding her sway, but no longer a cause for terror.  The third night is the last of his transformation for another full month, and the Leafblade Company is free to return to Port Lyalee and their job awaiting them there...

Narthian and Thunder run all about the grounds, chasing rabbits, treeing opossums and racoons, and ignoring the curious owls. He summons additional wolves from time to time to temporarily expand the pack, for Volsh's benefit. During the daylight hours, when he's not catching up on sleep, he focuses on some magical research, specifically the opposite effect of making animals smaller.

Volsh ran with Narthian, thunder and whatever other wolves were near at the time as the Druid worked his magic.

Often in the chase and the running, he stumbled and fell, then rose and shook the dirt off himself. As his familiarity with the new form grew he dodged and wove his way about, reveling in the power of his form and the hope it gave him for the future.

During the day, just to be safe, he slept in the room where he'd transformed and asked that each night, just in case, the circle be drawn again for his transformation. Though he believed the priestess's words, his trust of himself was not yet solid. "Better safe than sorry," he rumbled when the priestess tried to reassure him.

He enjoyed the next couple of days, but having this ordeal behind him and the group, he was eager to get back to the efforts of the Leafblade Company.

When they readied their mounts to leave and the Jasidan's came out to see them off, Volsh surprised Sister Lar by catching her up in a big Volsh hug as he said loudly, "Thank you!"

He set the woman down and continued, "if you or the Conclave need my help or that of our Company in the future, send word to me, I owe you more than anything I've given so far. I'm sure you magic people know good ways to do that and all."

Then he turned and mounted Eagle, ready to leave with the rest.

---

When they were on the road a bit, he called out to the Company as they moved along the road, yelling if he had to to be heard, "Friends! My clan and me thank you for your support in this. Tonight we feast and I pay!"

OOC: Volsh will pay for a feast for the entire group back in the city. SRD says a Banquet per person is 10 gp DM so let me know what to subtract to cover everyone!

Farian monitors Volsh and Narthian via here Status spell for the first two nights, questioning Volsh the first morning about the short periods of time that he spent as confused, only to learn that he also spent that time prone. She smiles, but suppresses a laugh. She uses a Sending to inform Old Rue of Volsh's apparent success, adding her thanks for his help. She also thanks Bruenor for standing by her side, ready to jump into the fray should things have gone sideways.

Once back at Port Lyalee, she heads off to find Sir Aberlayne to check on the pennon prior to Volsh's feast. At the feast, she offers the following toast. "It is said that wolves never lose. They either win or learn! And that although it is their nature to be kind, gentle, and loving - that when it comes to matters of protecting friends and family, they are the most powerful and relentless creature you will ever know. Truer words could not describe our friend Volsh. May Pelor's light forever warm his heart!"

Dante is glad Volsh's preparations paid off, enabling him to remain himself. It would have been hard to deal with losing a friend to the alternative.

He's glad when they leave the Conclave, too. Too many undead wandering about for his comfort.

Volsh's feast is excuse enough to delay, until the next morning, telling everyone about the old woman's fortune. So Dante dresses in his best attire, and celebrates with the rest -- although he drinks very little, so Prreet isn't the only one keeping aware of their surroundings.

Sister Lar is surprised but gratified by the hug, and embraces Volsh back.

"Our thanks to you as well.  Wield the magic within you with honor," she says, making a sign of blessing.

With that, the group can carry on back to Port Lyalee, and then to a feast!

OOC: Please use thread: "[IC] Port Lyalee"