Haazheel sitr, seemingly relaxed, and awaits Dulinda's reply.

"Fear not, I will not steal you away to my fairie hill," Dulinda says with a bit of a giggle.  "These fruits are all solidly normal."



"You don't have to stay here long, no longer than it takes to eat some fruit and drink some ale.  I know about things that change.  I sense it, like how a cat senses spirits.  And when I do, I just make certain that the path is open.  I just know that there is a change waiting to happen in you, like a storm about to break.  I want to help you not break beneath it.  How about a bargain?  A lock of your hair for a butterfly's kiss of luck for your change?" she asks, looking much more serious.
This message was last edited by the GM at 13:57, Tue 02 July 2019.

Volsh raised his eyebrows at her proffered deal and looked to Haazheel, eyebrows raised in question. "My hair? Why do you want some of that ratty mess? Don't you want gold or something? Everyone always wants gold for things since I left my home. My hair isn't even clean."

Though he didn't voice it, he was obviously looking for the learned man's input on a deal like that.

He changed his look a bit and looked back at the woman while waiting on Haazheel to chime in, "did someone send you? Balador? Llerg? Vatun?"

Haazheel searches Dulinda's face. "Volsh, I think Dulinda means well for you; but, Dulinda, I think you owe it to Volsh's peace of mind to explain yourself fully...as fully as you can since he is mortal. In particular, what use do you plan to make of his hair?

One more thing: It came into my head that any bargain you two make should be sealed with a kiss—if that will not enthrall either of you."
This message was lightly edited by the GM at 01:16, Thu 04 July 2019.

"I want to remember you by.  And if some day I need help that only you could give, I would be able to send you a message.  No one sent me, only yourself," Dulinda says, her expression sobering.



"I am fey myself, a fey of change and all that goes with it," she says, shaking her head so you can see the small points on her ears, similar to an elf.  "And as I said, I want it to remember.  We live a long time... and sometimes things can slip if there's nothing to remember them by.  And one day I might want to send a message, if I need help."



She laughs at this.  "I am no nymph!  To have someone enthralled to my bower, well, they wouldn't change at all!"

"Volash, I don't know what Dulinda is offering to do to benefit you, but I'm guessing it's a good turn.

Dulinda, If you send for Vosh, I may well be with him and so may our comrades."
This message had punctuation tweaked by the GM at 15:29, Sun 07 July 2019.

Volsh looked at Dulinda for a minute, and back and forth with Haazheel as he talked. He came to a decision and reached down to his belt, drew his dagger and sawed off a length of his matted hair. He held it in his hand for a heartbeat before he nodded and reached out to Dulinda with it.

"Not sure what I can do to help you, but if you can help me, I'll take it. Plus your fruit is really tasty."

He winked, "I'll will take a kiss if they're being offered, but I'd prefer one from you than a butterfly. Wait, you're not a butterfly are you?"

Dulinda smiles at him, accepting the lock of air. Then she goes up on tip-toe (and possibly a step-stool) to give him a kiss on the forehead.  The butterflies in her hair flutter against him.  "I am not just a butterfly," she says, winking.  "Now head on back to your city, and be well about your change."

Haazheel accompanies Volsh on the way back. He works on letters and words as Volsh is willing, not teaching the new until the old is automatic or Volsh asks.

Volsh smiled at Dulinda's kiss. He seemed oddly satisfied by their short stop and was reluctant to leave, but eventually he stood. "Hope I make it through ok so there's something for you to call on later...thanks for the kiss butterfly queen." He winked at Dulinda as he said the last and headed out with Haazheel.

He leaves and is thoughtful the ride back, doing his best to answer Haazheel when asked questions about letters, though he was obviously not fully focused. He did perk up when Lyalee came into sight and he asked about some of the letters on the city gates and such.

OOC: Are we to move into the other thread now DM?

OOC: Setting out to guide the priestess of Wee Jas and seek the werebear

The group travels all together at first, knowing it will take those going to the Ruby Conclave until about noon to get there, while seeking out Fisheater Creek keep their eyes peeled for when the creek crosses the road.  It turns out that the creek is perhaps an hour before the turn-off for the Ruby Conclave.  There is a simple bridge over the creek, so those seeking the werebear can turn north and walk along the bank.

Those Escorting the Sister of Wee Jas

The road to the conclave is a spur north off the trade road along the coast, marked by stones carved to look like skulls.  It is not a well-traveled road; no more than a small cart could get down there with how the trees press against the path, giving it a decidedly gloomy air.

After another lengthy time on the road, they comes to a gate made of ebony wood set into a wall of stone and bone that stretches into the wilderness on either side for as far as he can see.  The peculiar ruby skull of Wee Jas is painted and carved into the wood of the gate, and red fire burns atop the gateposts.  Atop the wall are the guards, one a woman in black metal scale mail with a heavy crossbow in her hands, the other an animate skeleton of what might have been an ogre in life, a spear clutched in its fist gleaming in the dim light.

"State your intentions before the ruby fire of the Stern Lady," the woman says, her expression one of masklike indifference.

--

Those Seeking the Werebear

After another hour of picking your way along the banks of the Fisheater Creek, the banks widen as the creek broadens somewhat.  In a backwater along the largest part, you spy an old man in a small dugout canoe, his little boat tethered to the shore, with his fishing line dropped in the water.  It is very quiet here, even the insects at a low hum, highlighting the quiet birdsong and occasional swishes of squirrels.

At your arrival, the old man looks up, eyes bright under the brim of his battered straw hat, and gives you all a broad wink.

Narthian wishes his companions a safe journey. "I will catch you up if I can." He and Thunder trot off along the bank.

Narthian waves a hand in greeting to the old man. "Good day! Such a lovely one for fishing. Tell me, if you will, how do you catch the really big fish?"

Volsh was reluctant to let Narthian do this alone, but the man seemed insistent, so he lead the others away and down the road to the Ruby Conclave.

When they arrived he waved a hand, “I’ve come to escort your teaching sister to her retreat with some friends. She’s to help teach me along the route.”

Dellas looked at the priestess "So you can teach him to be a werewolf? Is that like a normal dog? Sit, lay down, roll over, fetch?" Dellas adds with a playful smirk.

Haazheel studies the guard's reaction to Dellas' "joke".

Along Fisheater Creek



The old man looks up at Narthian and the large wolf at his side.  He tips his hat at the druid, but doesn't let go of his fishing rod.  "How big a fish you wanting to catch, traveler?" he asks, his voice rough with age.

---

At the Ruby Conclave



At Volsh's proclamation, the sister's stern demeanor softens.  "It is good you returned so swiftly.  Sister Lar thinks well of you."



"And also attack, defend, maul, maim, and devour," she says in return, not cracking a smile.  She might be joking in a deadpan manner.  Or not.

She disappears from the wall for a moment, and the gate swings open, admitting Volsh and everyone with him to the neatly manicured grounds of the Ruby Conclave.  A few skeletons are working on tidying flower beds or trimming hedges, adding to the strange feel of the cool gardens.  It is after a few moments that you are met by Sister Lar, a middle-aged woman in scarlet robes, a holy symbol around her neck, leaning slightly on her staff.

"Volsh, I am pleased you have returned so quickly.  Elder Orani has been informed of your arrival, and she will be ready soon.  She is seeking a burial cave at a shrine north of here, where she will remain and meditate for several days.  She can instruct you along the way in what you need to know, and you can practice while you wait for her to finish her meditations," she says, her hand moving in a blessing gesture.  "May reason see your path clear."

Sister Lar has the group decant to an area of benches and ground for them and their mounts.  They do not have to wait for long, as within a half hour a skeletal horse walks up the path, a cushioned saddle upon its back, and atop that a very elderly woman in deep crimson robes.  A beautifully carved red holy symbol is about her neck, and she has several ropes of black beads that seem to serve her as both belt and decoration wound around her body and hair.  A small pack is atop the skeletal mount's back.

She makes a small gesture to Sister Lar, who bows and disappears down the path.

Elder Orani looks over the assembled group of escorts with her dark eyes in her wrinkled face, her hair hidden behind a black scarf, and nods.  "Let us go north to the Cave of Sighs," is all she says, and turns her mount towards the Conclave's gate.

While they're waiting, Haazheel loosens Feather's girth, makes sure she can graze and (if possible) gets water. It she's amenable, he pets her and make sure he mane and tail are untangled.

When they leave, he cinches the girth.

Volsh's smiled at Sister Lar when she came to meet them. "Figured I only have so much time here before I'm lost, Sister. No need to delay."

His mouth dropped open slightly at the sight of the skeletal horse, but he quickly overcame that and re-mounted. He nudged Eagle to follow along behind the elderly Jasdian as they left the compound, then nudged up next to her once they were on the road out and north.

"So... you're going to teach me some stuff Sister Lar said?" he asked when he was even with her horse. "How long to this cave and how long do you need at the cave?"

"One that needs five big hooks," Narthian replies, feeling conspiratorial. If / when questioned, he will share with Old Rue all of the reasons he is seeking the werebear.

Dellas jumped down from his mount, tying it to an available post as he walks over to the working skeleton, walking around it and then eventually grabbing a stick and poking at it "Interesting."

Haazheel's eyes widen as he observes Dellas' behavior.

On the road to the Cave of Sighs



"Two days at Lightfoot's pace," she says.  As Dellas pokes at the bony horse's empty spaces, it sidles away from the stick, and eventually turns and snaps its teeth at him.  Elder Oroti speaks to Dellas without turning to look at him.  "How would you like someone poking a stick in your rear?  Lightfoot had to bear enough in his first life to not be tormented in his second.  Leave him be."

Thusly ready, the group can head out north, Elder Oroti explaining the fairly simple route as they go.  As soon as the route and its markers are known by all, the Elder turns to Volsh.

"Now, your training, young lad.  Let us make sure your passion and your mind will run on the same path, rather than at cross purposes.  It is the conflict that causes the madness.  Think of running at night through the cool woods..."

As you travel along the sun-dappled path, Lightfoot's hooves making very little noise compared to Eagle, Feather, Honeybee, or Demon, Elder Oroti sets Volsh some interesting exercises, using stories about wolves, of walking or waking in the wilderness, suggesting that he run through the woods at night, in a way to bring his nature closer to that of the wolf inside him so that the wolf will run, "With you and not over you!"  It's clear this will be something Volsh will have to ponder on, remember, and work at as he goes about his duties, his day, and even in his dreams.

The day moves on, and you get several good miles in before you must stop for the night.  Elder Oroti's mount Lightfoot actually kneels down on the ground to let her dismount more easily.  She has a tent and a cot with a thick pad so she can sleep more easily, and a curious folding chair so she doesn't have to sit on a log or the ground.  As dinner is prepared, she speaks of their destination.

"The Cave of Sighs is a burial cave used by Jasians for over a hundred years.  When it was filled, two hundred years ago, we moved on to other burial grounds.  Now it is a sacred site, and one where I will consult the spirits of the dead and certain mysteries of my faith.  However, even with the cave warded, there are some unsavory creatures that might linger nearby, or be drawn to the Cave once living spirits near it.  It is possible that either hostile undead or things that prey upon those who come to honor the dead could be nearby.  If you have any preparations to make for those possibilities, then do so before morning's light."

--

On Fisheaster Creek



Old Rue smiles when Narthian gives the pass phrase, and listens quietly to Narthian's explanation, occasionally flicking his eyes over to Sir Aberlayne and Valiant, who are clearly backing up Narthian's words with nods and gestures of sincerity.

And the end of it, Old Rue shakes his head.  "Well then, seems you impressed a friend at the Temple of Ehlonna.  Now, tell me, why did your friend not come himself?"

Haaheel first helps see to the horses: Water, grass, disencumbering, grooming as needed. He approaches and asks Sister Lar, does LIghtfoot need any particular attention?

He helps set up camp: Cooking cleaning up, firewood.... He asks Should a watch be set?
This message was last edited by the player at 19:25, Tue 20 Aug 2019.

In reply to Haazheel Thorn (msg # 66):

Bruenor almost smirked at his magical friend.
"No disrespect intended, but a watch should always be set.
Honestly, I'm tempted to set up something when we're in town, but it feels too paranoid even for me.
I'll take first watch if you all need me to.  I'm a bit antsy after the long ride. "

I'll take last watch when the east begins to lighten. I need to study.