A look of shock crossed Simon's face when the druid fell face-forward upon his transformation back to human form. The warlock dropped to his knees, and helped the young man sit up.

"What's wrong? Are you injured?" Looking back to the shore, and not seeing Sprinkle, Simon calls out, "Telric, Lenelle, come quick!"

The warlock looks to the other raven, "Don't transform if it will hurt you!"

With her relationship to Joshua - and more recently his passed-on mother as well - the man who had been Jason Redfern was almost like family to Lenelle.   She had an as yet unvoiced wish to see his spirit and heart whole again.  Which would could only come to pass if he stayed among the living...

Thinking it a better option than burning a spell of the third tier, Lenelle reached into a pouch at her waist and extracted a small amount of dust.    Sprinkling it upon herself, there was a brief, faint, violet hued mist.

And then her feet lifted from the ground, she rose into the air, and joined Simon with Blackthorn and the other raven-shaped druids.

Using an application of pixie dust to get to the islet

Once she wasted no time.  Dawn hued light once again spilled from within slender fingers, as her magic set to work mending the injuries...

Lenelle Toreth rolled 14 using 2d8+4.  Cure wounds.
This message was last edited by the player at 18:55, Thu 14 Apr 2022.

Lenelle’s healing light suffused Blackthorn, as he released his suffering with each new breath. He nodded gratefully to Lenelle and Simon, accepting the Warlock’s helping hand. “I feel better, now. Thank you, Simon,” he said, then fixed Lenelle with an unwavering eye. “And you, Lady. I understand how you captured my brother’s heart…with your beauty and your benevolence.”

Blackthorn stood with Simon’s help. “Tho’ it comes late, I also offer my condolences for the suffering of your brave companions. Azatch gave his life so that Marigold & I could escape the Dragon. Your stout-hearted Halfing companion provided us time we needed to flee.” At that part, Blackthorn’s eyes lowered in shame.

“I am also sorry to say that Dragonfear hastened our flight. The Dragon scared us so badly we were too addled to resume human shape. Thank the Green-Father that we were too small for its acid breath, but I still breathed in the acrid fumes.”

The Druid looked up with the flintiness that the original group first saw. “I must say that I care little for these monsters that try to steal my breath away.” He noticed Cela calling his companion raven. “I am sorry, Cela, but Marigold has been unable to resume her true form. I fear that the Dragonfear still holds her in its insidious grip. Only a spell of Restorarion can help her…and soon, for if she remains in bird form any longer, she may lose her power to resume her human shape.”

She blushed faintly, but quickly delved into business: "There is no shame.  That monster is a terrible thing to confront; more so when it takes you by ambush.   But we bested it, after it visited one upon us, and go to finish the work, if that's possible." 

"As to the Restoration you mention...we have one among our ranks who can do that." She pointed in Sprinkle's direction. "She and her sibling are elemental nobility - of the water, that ties with your own domain - and here by divine providence to aid in this work." 

Cela offers out her arm to give Marigold a place to land.

By Nahzalan, are they deaf?

Swimming closer to the islet where some of the group was assembled, she called to them again.

We found the cave!

Something was wrong, as Lenelle pointed to her, showing her to a human she didn't know. Coming out of the water, she heard half of the situation. Mentally reviewing her spells, she made a sad face.

Unfortunately I don't have that capacity accessible now, I would need to rest to prepare it. But is your friend acting like an animal or is truly one? I do have a way with animals, I could try to calm him down through other means.

She turned to the warlock.

Tempest is alone underneath the roots of the tree, if I am to stay here for a while, could you go fetch her? Your spell is still active I hope?

She looked at the panicking crow, trying to figure out how she could help.

Grog followed the sisters into the cave. There was nothing he could do about this shifted druid, and if the others did not either, then there was still a dragon that needed to be killed.

Lenelle shook her head, "I don't think we need to be here for a while. Only for the casting of a spell, if anyone has it?  That takes virtually no time at all."  She scanned over the party eyes coming to rest on Telric.

"What about him?  He and his unusual friend have healing magic, of some sort."   

Tempest, under the water, held the shield and sword, looking at the hole, guarding against any movement

When Grog dunked his head, he realized it was most unnatural for Minotaurs to spend time underwater.


OOC:

Simon, is your water-breathing spell still active after a short rest?


 

"If Telric cannot help we would have to wait until tomorrow for Sprinkle to prepare the spell...if I understand divine casting.

If that's the case, then we lose nothing by continuing to the dragon's lair...unless we all die, of course."

Simon looks at Blackthorn, "I know this might pain you, but if Telric cannot help Marigold you should go to Deadwater as fast as you can. Sister Mercion, our companion, Sundos, or Sheila Blackmoor are all there. Between them I have to believe that they can help."

Looking at the wild crow, Sprinkle decided to try something. A life was in play and she couldn't let it go if she could do anything about it. Closing her eyes, she did something she never though about before and took the round pendant in the shape of moving water that she kept near her heart in her armor. She started chanting in Primordial, calling upon Istishia, knowing now that her powers came from the god of water. The sonority of the ancient language felt through the bones of the listener as much as through the ears, she sounded almost like ocean water washing on a sandy beach, her tone calming, as she tried to charm the crazy wild shape druid.

---

Channel Divinity: Charm Animals and Plants

Starting at 2nd level, you can use your Channel Divinity to charm animals and plants.

As an action, you present your holy symbol and invoke the name of your deity. Each beast or plant creature that can see you within 30 feet of you must make a Wisdom saving throw. If the creature fails its saving throw, it is charmed by you for 1 minute or until it takes damage. While it is charmed by you, it is friendly to you and other creatures you designate.
Channel Divinity: Charm Animals and Plants: 1 Action, Wis save DC 15

Sskith made a noise akin to a sharp exhalation of air.

"When we were pale ssshadows of the God, they hid from usssss."

Shadow wasn't quite the right word, but he couldn't yet bring himself to say what his heart told his was the truth.

"When we cast our own shadowssss, we avoided their sssstrength."

He watched the Druid when it appeared with narrow eyes, but in truth he was not frightened by the Skinwalker. The Matriarchs of his own Clan had such wisdom, he had seen it before. He listened, and learned what he could. The blue one's yelling drew his attention though, and he did not hesitate to climb into the water at her beckoning. The deep was the last place on earth he would wish to face the Wyrm, but if they could find its lair before it learned of their presence, they might have a chance.

In reply to Simon (msg # 59):

Telric moved over to the wounded druid. "I can use my staff to aid some of his wounds, but I am no druid or cleric.

Higgins can help slightly, but he too depends on my energy levels and the staff's reserves. Anything I use now is something we dont have for the dragon. That being said, I dont think giving the druid some healing will be too big a sacrifice. Or I could use a potion on him."

Ooc-i can use one of my 1st or 2nd level spells for cure wounds, or I can use a standard healing potion. Given he is a druid, if he comes with us he may have his own healing magic.
This message was last edited by the player at 13:09, Fri 15 Apr 2022.

I also have heals, and I doubt my entangle is going to be worth a damn against a dragon.

Lenelle both understood the urgency of some to go and deal with the dragon, as well as vastly appreciating Sprinkle's attempt to render aid.

She looked on as Sprinkle worked her primeval, aquarian magic -- and while she didn't logically grasp what the elemental priestess was doing, intuitively she had an inkling...

Sprinkle saw that Lenelle already healed Blackthorn, so she sought to help the other Druid trapped in raven form. The intuitive spiritual power didn’t restore Marigold’s human form, but the changed bird calmed considerably. The bird perched on Blackthorn’s shoulder, staring at Sprinkle with human understanding. “Our Archdruid can restore Marigold’s true self. I would meet Sister Mercion and my brother again, soon, though. It has been too long since I saw Joshua’s face.” Blackthorn looked at Simon. “Your party increased in size since we last met. Even without Azatch and Skye, if you repelled the Dragon, then you have strength in numbers.”

I am glad I could help. Honestly, I didn't know if this would work, but I trusted Istishia. It seems I did right.

She smiled to the druid and turned to her party, a little extra sparkle in her eyes.

Come, we have found the entrance to the cave.

Turning back to the water, she entered without hesitations and turned to the group, waiting for them to follow

Well, it was time now, wasn't it?  Tara went in, following Sprinkle.  She still regretted the magic she'd used earlier... but she'd make do  There were always ways.

Simon nodded. "It seems the powers that be provide assistance to those who need it...and we will certainly need it if we are to defeat an angry dragon!"

He shakes the druids hand, "Best of luck to you."

Simon then follows Sprinkle and quickly drops underwater. Anyone who can see him, can see a smile on his face as he bobs just under the surface, marvelling at his ability to breathe underwater.

Cela approaches the druids, and reaches out to pet Marigold's bird form.

"Be careful, and come back.  We'll take care of the dragon. Come see me when this is done."

Marigold cawed happily at Cela’s invitation as the Monk followed her companions into the water. Led by Sprinkle, the heroes plunged into the swamp river. Most of them marveled at the weird sensation of breathing water as if they were breathing air. Simon’s magic truly achieved a memorable moment for many! A few cavorted as they tested a new way of diving, while Sprinkle & Tempest considered it old hat.

Between Simon & Sprinkle, the murky waters were lit enough for them to find their way. Grog snatched back anyone caught in the rivers current. Breathing water didn’t necessarily endow the strength to shrug off currents! Grog impatiently nudged the group toward the underwater passage that Sprinkle & Tempest discovered. Together, they would soon enter what they hoped would be Baleful Blackfang’s lair!

Sskith could not breath water as the Genasi could, but he did not need Scaless known as Simon's magic either. He could hold his breath for a full 1000 beats of his own heart, and the hearts of his people did not beat quickly. His long tail beat powerfully behind him, carrying him swiftly forward with each stoke.

He hoped only that the lair was dry, for if it too was underwater they would need to retreat.

Tempest watched as people entered the water, nodding at Sprinkle. The two had experience fighting underwater, but she noted the others looks of surprise, uncomfort and anxiousness. She couldn't help but smile a slight smile as she moved forward towards the cave, always close to her sister

Tara stayed a bit further back.  Breathing water like this was a surprise, but... her life was full of strange things, and this, simply another new experience.  She wouldn't be thrown off by it.