There's a calm in the great waste. Far away wolves howl, but the sound is reassuring, and not a harbinger of more strife. Elora approaches Kal and puts her hands upon his arm in a tender fashion.

"What are we going to do now," she asks. But it isn't Kal that answers.

Through a wracking cough, the Beldame said, "I have to get out of this environment. It's leeching me of my stamina. I can barely breath."

Dismissing the elemental, she looks to Olaf for support but notes that he is severely wounded as well. With terrible anger, she shouts at Pious, "What are you doing priest! Move your fat ass, get some healing over here!.

Shocked into movement, Pious said, "Yes, mum, right away!" In moments, he's cast two healing spells that offers 25 points of healing to the ranger. Olaf nodded thanks, then turned his attention upon the Beldame. Solicitous of her health, he supports her with a hand upon her arm.

"It will be a difficult trek back to the village. I will have to take my time. I'll need all of you to be my shield. First things first, though. I know little of the the ways of the gith. Both showed courage, both died courageously. I think it best that we consign them to the flame and let there souls fly free back to wherever they belong. I find it mildly ironic that they were brothers and sisters in another age."

As the senior Warrior of the group, Olaf places the flame upon the two pyres. He says nothing until the flame catches, and then, as both of the fallen burn, he offers an ancient dirge to send their souls to wherever they belong. Respectful of their valor, the group stands together to watch the fires fade. Even Beldame, who leans on the strength of Olaf.

As they walk back to the shelter, Kal trips on something that's fallen into the snow. Near where the Warrior Gith fell, there is rod of sorts made of some sort of metal. It is quite apparent that the rod is magically endowed.

(You didn't think I forgot, did you? Of all the treasures, this one's probably the best.)

Grabbing the rod, pyre done, Kal said, "If we have the food, let's hole up a day and rest up, regain our strength before moving out. We'll go slow so that the Beldame is not overly taxed. Elora? Do you think we can check this rod out and see what it does? Might as well get something done while we rest up!"

Elora takes the rod, studies it, all the while muttering to herself. A litany of Mmhmm's, 'Aha's, and Oh, yes's tell of a fey witch deeply embroiled in magical investigation.

Finally she looks up from her ruminations and says, "I think this is rod of Dimension Doors. It's a pretty strong one, too. I'd get a second opinion if the Beldame is up for it, but I am fairly sure that's what is is. You wanna test it?"

"It would be great! How many uses does it have?"

"I dunno," she replied. "I think the big baddie used it at least three times that I recall. Maybe its rechargeable."

"When the Beldame is well, perhaps she can tell us more."<blue> Kal stood and said, "I'm going to check on things, then we need to rest until the Beldame is ready to move, then we're outta here."</blue>
This message was lightly edited by the player at 04:03, Fri 14 May 2021.

A day, then two, then three pass by before Beldame is ready to move.

"Sadly, this is about as fast as I can move," she said.

Her speed is 60 ft.

Elora makes her way to the old woman's side. "I'll walk with you, mum," she said. Pious stands near as well.

As for the rest, Olaf tracks forward with Agrax and Kal. Olaf said, "We've got a week at least, if not more. We can't push, she's not up for it. We'll take easy and rotate the watches so that we can maximize our strength."

So saying, he takes the lead to start, ranging far ahead of the party.

Day 1: Nothing happens
Day 2: N/A
Day 3: N/A
Day 4: N/A
Day 5: N/A
Day 6: Encounter: You see a lone figure standing upon a promontory. From where you stand, you cannot tell whether it is male or female, just that it's a very tall. It shadows the party, but does not make an overt inimical signs of aggression. After a day, the figure peals off, and the party continues on. The next day your reach the Beldame's settlement.
This message was last edited by the GM at 14:27, Sat 15 May 2021.

Olaf gets the party situated at the inn, then takes the Beldame in hand. He gives the other witches a run down before being shoed away by Mara who is knowledgeable in leechcraft.
"Nothing more you can do, Olaf. Go have a mead with your friends.

So saying, she turns and closes the doors to their sanctuary.

It's been more than a week since Kal and Elora knocked boots. After a nice meal, she takes him upstairs and fulfills his every desire. As they conclude their tryst, both panting heavily, she said, "I think we did well on this journey. I also think we missed a chance to strike against a foe that will not go away."

Kal was puzzled, "What do you mean? The Monk is dead but we killed her assailant, they have no reason to trouble us further, do they?" Kal found it hard to really care about what she'd said, he was content to listen to her say it as they lay there entwined with one another. He sensed she was being serious though and thought that attention should be paid.

Did you forget the Gith priest? He cast a 'word of recall', if I am correct. There will be more trouble in the north if I'm right. And what was this mysterious artifact that we were searching for? I know the rod's a nice toy...she giggles...but what is so dangerous that it required so many high level warriors and priests? Think about that, Kal. Then snuggle with me."

Drawing close, she sighs in contentment. The she draws a bit closer then she...fade to black!

Kal devoted some thought to things once he had time and energy. Word of Recall would take the priest back...somewhere... but with the big guy dead and burned, what would the point be of coming after Kal and friends? The monk was dead. In that, they'd failed though Kal still had no idea why they were helping her.

He fell asleep cuddled up with Elora and put it all out of his mind.

The next day, Kal found the Beldame and asked for a private audience. When alone, he said, "Wisdom, may I ask, why were we aiding the Monk? It makes no sense to me, I assume there was something we weren't told in all this. May I know now? Who was the big guy and the priest? Should we expect further retaliation?"

Mara begrudgingly allows the Beldame ten minutes to discuss Kal's questions.

The Beldame that you saw at the end of the fight is in much better shape than the one that struggled to get home. Her pallor looks good and she has a smile on her face, albeit somewhat tempered.

"Greetings, Kalmus. I'm almost good as new. I understand you have questions. I suspect those questions run along the same tack as I've been thinking."

Halting a moment, she said, "Mara be a dear and brew me some tea? Thank you."

As Mara hurries off, she murmurs, "A wonderful healer, but her bedside manor is very fussy."

A small cough interupts her thoughts, but then she said, "We left something incomplete. Recall the Monk's warning when the first group of Gith warriors arrived in the north. Through use of a comprehend Language spell, we were able to glean that something terrible would happen if she - meaning the monk-failed to protect or reclaim something. She was never clear on what that was. I suspect another attempt on the north."

"It is a rare occasion for Rangers to work together. I've asked Olaf to search out an old, dear friend of mine. She should be somewhere in these surrounds. When she arrives, we will convene a war council. Until then try to think of anything that stood out that you might recall. I've wracked my brain, but don't recall much of anything."
This message was last edited by the GM at 13:59, Sun 16 May 2021.

Kal shook his head. "Nothing comes to mind but that's the price of being cryptic with one's allies, I suppose. I will ask the others, Olaf, too maybe if we compare notes, someone noticed something that didn't seem important at the time.

"Failing that, perhaps Pious can perform some augury, asking his patron to aid us? I understand one must ask the right questions to get even the vaguest of ideas about what needs to be done from one of those rituals."

That Kal is a sharp cookie...