Alyssa hadn't known what to expect when she got back to Ashford. She wasn't really thinking of much as the group made its way out of the tunnels and back to town with the rescued villagers. Pinna's embrace snapped the halfling out of her daze and in that moment Alyssa had a quiet cry knowing that they really did just save the town.

Pulling herself partly out of Pinna's arms Alyssa nodded in agreement with Yry. "Yes, there was a dragon. Though I don't think it was a very big one." And then to Talia, "Yes, tonight." and then let herself be enveloped again in Pinna's arms. "Where are your shoes?!"

OOC: Apologies for spinning things forward but I want to get the new characters back in

Over the next couple of weeks the Mayor insists on hosting the heroes. The heroes themselves quickly grow hoarse from telling and retelling their thrilling tales and it all culminates on at the second week when the Mayor has the town through the adventurers a giant feast to give them their final thanks for saving the town.

Unfortunately three of the heroes cannot make it. Glynnelis and Shalimar decide to take Arthua's body down to Spire Keep to see if a cleric there can't raise him from the dead after Father Beledrone disappeared following the death of the cult. Until a new priest could be brought in the town was left short on divine magic but they were hardy folks and such setbacks didn't dampen their spirts.

The mayor, quite deep in his cups, raises a toast to the heroes. Benches had been set up in the town square and a big bonfire lit when the sun had set. The smell of dozens of home baked dishes lined up in a row made everyone's stomaches grumble eagerly and the feasting could begin as soon as the mayor was done with his toast.

"I've said it before and I'll say it again. It has been a long time since Ashford has gotten to celebrate local heroes. Not since Gaed the Confessor have we had a group for the bard to sing about but Talia and Alyssa and Yry... you have all stepped up and saved this town from the very brink of destruction. And to the mighty Orila, you might have been born far afield but I think I speak for everyone here saying that you are and forever will be a daughter of Ashford. Hear hear!"

The mayor raises his cup and the town raises theirs as well letting loose a mighty cheer for their heroes.

Talia's mother comes by making sure her daughter's cup of ale is filled to the brim.

"I couldn't be prouder of what you've accomplished. If we were still back in my tribe you would be bathed in the blood of your enemies and anointed as a berserker...but this is nice too."

She gives her daughter a big hug before going back to her seat.

Unfortunately both Alyssa and Yry's parents weren't in the village as they were busy with their brewery and tavern respectfully a few towns over but letters had been sent and received letting their daughters know how proud they were as well.

Pinna came by to give her cheer to the heroes. Always beaming with a smile that seemed to glow  in the dark she had been practically glued to the heroes since their arrival. When the party had talked about magical items she had offered her services in identifying the items they had found.

"I have some notes. Back at my shop I mean. I think I've figured out where that mace you found comes from. The one that breathed fire and has all that dragon carvings on it? I...huh..."

She suddenly looked up from the heroes and started staring at the treeline to the Rend. Following her gaze the others noted it as well, the telltale glow of a fire.

Soon confused shouts start to echo about the town square as some were curious and some were cautious about the sudden fire happening across the river.


OOC: I've uploaded a map of Ashford to Group 0. The feast is happening at A2 while the fire is across the river near the bridge.


Pinna looks back at the heroes with a worried look on her face.

"Do you think it's the cult? Maybe they weren't destroyed after all!"

Yry is interested to see what the magic items are, as she has magic but isn't really that knowledgeable about it she is always curious to find out more about other magic. Yry has the flair of an entertainer and has gotten into a bit of a routine when telling the story-- not that she feels particularly boastful about it but people are asking and so she may as well tell the story as best she can.

On the night of the feast, though, she is eating quite happily when Pinna points out the fire across the river. "I mean, I doubt the cult would announce themselves like that; maybe travelers? We should go see," she tells the others.

Orila had no trouble retelling the tale of how the group vanquished the dragon. With each telling, her story seems to expand how Arthua died to save the others - a true hero. She drank more and more with each story. She finally gasped and sobbed with the grief that overtook her....

---

Days later, Orila emerged from her drunken stupor. "What's that? There's a fire nearby?" She craned her head looking for the source of the fire that people were chattering abouts.

"Uh, that sounds... uh, nice?" Talia had been experiencing strange emotions of late and this was added to them. Part of her, the part that grew up a village girl in Ashford, recoiled at the thought of a literal bloodbath. Another, alien feeling part, hummed in pleasure at the compliment. Talia had been confused a lot rcently.

Though she had grown up in Ashford and her mother had lived here for the best part of two decades, sometimes she felt like the alien living among them. But after returning from the cult's base, she'd been lauded and treated like a hero. Free meals, free ale, and a heroes' welcome discomfited her entirely.

The cherry on the cake was this lavish party. She understood the need to celebrate the alleviation of a dark time, but the village seemed like it could hardly afford the luxury. Weren't they in for a dire time in the near future? Probably best to get what good things you could, she supposed.

She frowned at the fire and Pinna's words. Talia had been honest to the point of abrasive that there was work yet to be done in those caverns. Many things needed to be cleared out yet for the village to be safe. So, as the fire blazed and Yry suggested looking into it, Talia had already grabbed her halberd and was striding toward the bridge. She had been interested in hearing about the items as well. This was fouling her mod entirely.

On the other side of the bridge between the water and the forest edge a large fiery portal has thrust itself out of the ground. At least a story high the glow comes from the flames that ring it. The sense of magic and power coming from it is overwhelming, even from across the river.



Within the portal a large figure looms, covered in wicked armor it stands at least a dozen feet tall. Red eyes gleam from beneath its helm as it tosses something, what looks to be a small sack, through the portal before turning around.

As it departs the frame of view the portal starts to crumble and fall apart. The fires dissipate into smoke and the black stone that surrounded the portal starts to crumble into ash and blow away.

Before the eyes of the heroes (and a few of the braver townsfolk) the entire thing disappears into the wind leaving only a large scorch mark on the grass and a bundle wrapped in crimson cloth.

Orila stood in a defensive posterior as she watched the figure emerge from the portal of fire. She watched expecting a fight when the figure dropped a sack. She took a step forward as the figure left.

"What do you think that was all about?" Orila asked. She stepped forward and picked up the bag.

Angel heard the whoosh and felt the familiar heated kiss of the flames as the portal opened. She struggled helplessly inside the crimson sack in which she'd been stuffed and called out, her voice muffled by her cloth prison. "Come on, Jack! I said I was sor..." She never got to finish her apology as she was sent sailing through the portal... and suddenly forgot just about everything.

She blinked in confusion. Why am I falling? She asked herself just a heartbeat before she landed on the ground with a thud. She would have groaned aloud at the painful landing, if the wind hadn't been knocked out of her lungs. Still, she was at least thankful she didn't land on her wings... THAT would've hurt. Then she heard a voice somewhere beyond the crimson cloth that covered her and barely had time to shift and hide her wings before the cloth was pulled away.

"Hey!" She cried out, scrambling to her feet and snatching back the crimson cloth from the large, gray-skinned woman who had pulled it away. "Get your own!"

She was an elf woman with a coppery-red hair and striking amber eyes, and her attractive looks could easily turn heads. She was dressed in traveling clothes of an unusual cut and wore a finely-crafted, black leather cloak that seemed at odds with the more plain make of the rest of her clothing. She glared at the giant woman from whom she taken back the crimson cloth and then shifted her gaze to the others present. "Who are y'all?" She asked, and then glanced around at her surroundings. "And where am I?"

OOC: Not quite a bag, more something like a blanket that had been used as a makeshift sack... at least that's how I understood the DM's description. Anyways... here's Angel.  :) 

Talia let a long, slow, low whistle escape her mouth as she sighted the elf girl and then looked to the scorched ground, "Quite the entrance. Did ya piss daddy off?" Chuckling, Talia considered how she might have reacted a couple weeks before having faced off against undead, unholy priests, and dragons. A demon tossing an angel out of a fiery portal registered on that scale, "This is the village of Ashford in the Barony of Spire in the Kingdom of Tethyr. And who are you?"

Orila lifted her maul. "The question is who are you, why are you here." The goliath slowly lowered her maul. "And who was that?" She pointed to where the portal was a moment ago. She didn't like the idea that such a large creature was seemingly able to enter the area and disappear so quickly.

"Daddy?" The red-headed elf repeated, looking confused. "What's my father have to do with anything?" Even better, 'WHO' is my father? She added in her own thoughts and then mentally cringed as a cruel, wicked-looking face popped into her mind's eye. Yeah, let's not think about that again.

Her gaze followed where the human lady looked and the she-elf noticed, seemingly for the first time, that the ground at her feet was burned and scorched. "Holy Hells!" She swore, dancing quickly out of the area and then gave herself a once over to make sure she wasn't burned and scorched herself. "Geez! Is that the kinda welcome folk get in this Ashford place?" She asked the others indignantly. "You set the ground around them on fire?"

And then she gave the human woman who'd spoken a narrowed eyed look. "Nice try. I asked first."

OOC: in case you haven't noticed the Pink Italics are inner thoughts. And just for the sake of clarification -- NO, Angel does not appear to have wings, even hidden under her cloak.

Talia's smile grew wide, "It isn't a 'who asked first' sort of situation. Besides, it isn't like we didn't offer information, we told you where you are."

That said, Talia also lowered her weapon and adopted a more casual stance. She didn't suspect this was going to become hostile, but she was still very unsettled by the situation. "That big fiery area, that was your entrance, not our doing. See why we might be suspicious? Massive hellportal opens up next your quaint village mid-celebration, demony looking thing tosses out bags of elf like the rubbish, then everything is meant to go back to normal? Hardly..." Talia heaved a sigh and shrugged. She pointed to the forest, "Nearest castles that way. Don't get lost."

Yry, who had stayed back initially when she thought this was going to be a violent encounter, steps forward now.

"We're sorry for the initial superstition, but the circumstances in which you find yourself here has been dramatic for both parties, it seems. I am Yry Sweetwater, a daughter of these lands, and I can assure you that despite our readiness and wariness, we wish harm on no one without just provocation. Are you injured or.. thirsty?"

"Portal?" The elf woman echoed. "What portal?" She asked, turning to look behind her and then in a complete circle and spotting nothing even remotely resembling a portal. She turned back to the tall, dark-haired human and narrowed her eyes again. "And why would I set fire to the ground at my own feet? That just makes no sense... And what'd'ya mean 'who's that?" She asked the gray-skinned giant lady. "There's no one there!" She said, gesturing behind her at the empty air. She paused for a moment and then a knowing look crossed her face as all the other details the woman shared snapped into place. Ohhh, they just came from a 'CELEBRATION'; now I get it. "And do y'all often see demons and portals and other 'people', when you've been drinking?" She asked gently, albeit a bit directly, a pitying look on her pretty face. "I'm no expert about such things, but that might be something y'all wanna talk to someone about," she offered helpfully, trying her best to be sincere and keep the judgement out of her voice.

She pursed her lips, vexed by the other woman's abrupt dismissal. Wow, you try to help someone... When another human woman stepped forward and spoke. "Well met, Yry," the elf replied with a broad smile and a slight dip of her head. "I'm Angel... no wait," she quickly added, looking off into the distance and ticking her finger in the air as if she were doing sums in her head. "Yeah, Angel." I think. Why was it so hard to remember her own name? She remembered the gray-skinned giant lady pulling the red bedsheet off her... and not much more beyond that. She pushed her concerns over not being able to remember her past to the back of her head.

"Not like dying-of-thirst thirsty, but I could drink," Angel replied with a shrug and then her face brightened. "Hey, I just got that! Sweetwater. Offer of a drink. Clever!" Then her eyes went wide in surprised delight. "Oh! And ASH-ford. Y'all set fire to the ground in greeting. Kinda weird, but yeah, I'm starting to see the theme going on here." She then turned and addressed the first woman who'd spoken and then the gray-skinned giant lady in turn, a mischievous gleam in her bright honey-colored eyes. "And that must mean you're Miss Bad-Manners... and you're Miss Takes-Things."     
This message was last edited by the player at 09:39, Wed 30 Sept 2020.

Talia's face slowly flushed a complete scarlet only to turn apoplectic purple seconds later. Her knuckles went white on her halberd's haft. The insult to her person had her mouth snapping open to reply with fiery words.

Then Yry stepped in, civilly. Far too nice for Talia's standards. She relaxed visibly as the more charismatic woman said her piece. Talia then glared at the new woman dangerously. She rolled her shoulders and took a few deep breaths. She felt calming voices aiding in her efforts. Any other given day, Talia would have been welcoming and pleasant. But appearing in such a strange manner, remaining willingly oblivious to it, and then casting aspersions upon the very people you wanted help from was not a great first impression. She shifted her gaze to Yry, "Perhaps I was a bit aggressive. You will understand why. How are we to know she is not yet another of Rivug's minions? However, my temperance is being tested and I am at odds. Aid her as you wish, just keep her..." She gestured at the newcomer with her halberd's point, "...away from me." She then looked at the fallen woman and grit her teeth, "Well met. I hope you find what aid you need and move on... quickly."

With that said, Talia turned around and headed back across the bridge toward the square. She assured anyone she saw that it was just some strange elven woman in a bit of distress. She then thumped down on a stool near enough to her mother and drained a tankard of ale.

Alyssa had investigated the appearance of the fiery portal With the rest of her companions. The halfling stayed back, even behind Yry, unsure and visibly unsettled by the appearance of other worldly forces so close to Ashford.

Observing Orila's interactions with the late arrived guest and then Talia's reactions, Alyssa was afraid this meeting would come to blows. Good old Yry's cool, level head seemed to smooth things over. When Talia took her leave Alyssa followed her. Tugging at Talia's shirt sleeve as they headed back into Ashford she asked, "You want me to tell her this is Shit Creek?"

Pinna is standing on the bridge having followed along. After watching and listening for a bit she considers things and holds up a hand in caution.

"Talia's right, you know. Or could be I guess is the better way to put it. We don't know who she is or where she came from and with everything that's just happened maybe we should hold her. At least until we get some answers...maybe?"

Pinna looks over at Angel and the young woman's voice is soft and calm but with a touch of concern>

"Angel, is it? Why don't you tell us where you're from. Maybe we can help you get back there if you're lost or got kidnapped or something."
This message was last edited by the player at 18:11, Wed 30 Sept 2020.

Angel opened her mouth to reply and then shut it again. She got a confused, lost look on her face and then said in a quiet voice heavy with worry. "I-I can't remember."

Pinna's eyes go soft as she studies the elf and gives a nod.

"Oh...oh. Well we're kind of in the middle of celebrating something. Do you want to come with?"

She nods at Yry.

"We've got food and drink. You see those four..."

She points out the four other women with her.

"They just killed a dragon, can you believe that? Threatened the whole town its magic and they killed it right in its den!"

She seemed to take a shine to Angel almost immediately but then again Pinna was the sort that took a shine to everyone.

"I don't know..." Angel replied hesitantly. "She's awfully mad at me," she added, nodding to the retreating dark-haired woman. "And all I did was try to help her with her problem," she continued, sounding a bit sadly pensive. "Sometimes people just don't know they have a problem unless you just come right and tell them. I was just trying to help -- and did you see how she leveled the spear-thingy at me?! I thought she was gonna run me through!" She looked around to see who was close and then whispered a bit too loudly. "What if she starts drinking again?" 

Pinna just laughs at Angel's concerns.

"Oh that's just Talia. She killed a dragon, you know? I don't know if you heard but I heard she just killed a dragon."

A smile was creeping in on her face as she playfully kept repeating that phrase over and over again.

"So the thing is the half the town had gotten charmed and turned on the other half and a quite a few people died in the process so things are a bit...raw... at the moment. Time heals all wounds but don't worry. Talia is a blast once she gets wasted. Get some drinks in her and she'll be your best friend by the end of the night...probably."

Another playful grin and Pinna offered her hand to Angel to lead her into the village and towards the festivities.