There were no easy answers forthcoming to the mystery that was Aleesia's memories. She seemed very certain, and he did not wish to press the issue with so little unknown and so little they could do pursue it. Things moved beyond that to the crow and to ar-Gohl. Torstein did not think they could make much further progress for the day so they ought to set about making a camp, but first, the crow.

Torstein drew his bow and nocked an arrow. He took aim at the crow, but he had no intention of firing upon it. Instead he simply wanted to gauge the creature's reaction to the gesture.

Perhaps it was a connection, but when Faaid mentioned ar-Gohl the crow's eyes were upon the brightly dressed High Man. It seemed that there was a knowing expression upon the crow, though it didn't have expressive human features. Still, there was something in the way the bird held itself that suggested that it understood what Faaid had said.

This also held true when Torstein delivered his hollow threat. The crow cocked its head, and looked at the warrior with its red eyes. In fact, while Torstein had the arrow drawn back as far as he could, the crow reared up and spread its wings as if daring the High Man to loose his arrow. Then it took wing and flew out of sight, leaving the group to puzzle over it further.

But as Torstein thought, there was little more ground that could be covered that day and little to be gained by wandering further. The next day the group could proceed to the hills ar-Gohl was said to be combing.

The journey ahead held the threat of bandits, like those already encountered, and whatever forces ar-Gohl might have at his command - likely warriors from the harsh lands of Faaid's birth, hardened by the crucible of the blazing sands.

It'll be a three day trek from the party's current location to the hills. On the way there's a strong chance they'll run into the prolific bandits in the area. Perception checks can be made to avoid and ambush and to notice other groups before the party runs into them; Hunting checks are a possibility to check for traps and ambushes; Stealth and Deceive are also skills that may be used to travel without leaving a conspicuous trail and avoid any encounters with hostiles. Other skills might be used as well - simply roll and provide your reasoning and what you aim to accomplish with that skill. Each of you may make three rolls, one for each day, to represent your character's contribution to getting everyone from the white tree to the hills.

Torstein lowered his bow when the crow flew away. He watched it until it disappeared from view and offered no more on the enigmatic creature. His blue eyes fell with concern upon Aleesia again, but he did not speak any further but went about setting up camp for the night.

---

For the first two days, Torstein concerned himself primarily with navigation, trying to find the best route through the land to their destination. Not only that, but to find good camping places that would offer them shelter from the elements and any prying eyes that might be lying in wait. Throughout the day he kept his bow at the ready whenever practical and possible, in case they were to be waylaid or come upon bandits or other hostiles.

On the third day Torstein focused his efforts mostly on keeping watch for bandits and other hostile forces, more concerned about encountering the enemy than find the best path as they drew closer to the hills. If ar-Gohl had men such as Faaid under his command, Torstein wanted to see them coming rather than learn of their presence when they plunged a blade into his back. If bright clothing proved no hindrance to Faaid, Torstein held the same to be true for his countrymen.

12:15, Today: Torstein Svanir rolled 102 using 1d100+35.  Day 1 Wandering.
12:15, Today: Torstein Svanir rolled 63 using 1d100+35.  Day 2 Wandering.
12:15, Today: Torstein Svanir rolled 97 using 1d100+35.  Day 3 Perception.

As the bird flies away, Faaid lowers his head.  "It is likely ar-Gohl knows we are here.  We must be silent as the wolf, striking like the serpent."  From this point on, his smile appeared to be forced, and he displayed a single-minded focus towards the task ahead.

---

Over the next few days, Faaid is generally silent.  He slinks around the party, spending his time scouting around as well as removing any trace the group had been there.  The first day goes clumsily as they are only just getting used to the desert-man's tactics, but the second and third day continue to improve.  It is on the third day that Faaid doubles his efforts, working himself like a man possessed.

As the group stops for a quick lunch, he reappears from the surrounding area.  Throughout the day, they had been able to catch glimpses of flashes of purple, but only because they knew he was there.  The bright colors seemed to not hinder his ability to vanish from sight, and in fact perhaps made it all the more impressive.  "When we approach ar-Gohl, we must not think like men.  He will know we are coming, and he will strike from all sides but the front.  The nadhl* will come at us in ways you would not understand.  But let me make this clear, the dog must die.  For what he has done to Faaid, for what he has done to Faaid's people..."  As he says this, he bites into a ration with intensity, hardly chewing before swallowing the food.  A rage bubbles towards the surface, and he struggles to keep it in check.

*Faaid says this word with disgust, giving the implication that it is an insult.

---

13:29, Today: Faaid rolled 76 using 1d100+70.  Day 1 (Stealth). Partial Success.
13:29, Today: Faaid rolled 107 using 1d100+70.  Day 2 (Stealth).  Success.
13:29, Today: Faaid rolled 71 using 1d100+70.  Day 3 (Stealth).
13:30, Today: Faaid rolled 66 using 1d100.  Critical Fail.
13:31, Today: Faaid rolled 137 using 1d100+80.  Day 3 (Stealth): Drive Reroll.  Outstanding Success.

Ahvylyn wanted to spend more time investigating certain concerns, but the men-folk were eager to be about things more immediately life-threatening. Shaking her head, she gathered her things and wished, silently, that she had a lute again. She tried to recall the last time she'd had one: that time she'd lost it fording that southern river or was it when it had been smashed in the north fighting orcs? It was hard to recall exactly.

As the group moved forward, Ahvylyn was happy to let the boys take the lead in navigating, keeping watch, and covering their tracks, but she certainly didn't trust them. The first two days, she was happy to look after her own and Aleesia's tracks as they moved along behind Torstein. She was even happy to walk and let the group use her pony as a pack animal rather than ride as was her custom. And though Torstein did a wonderful job of it, Ahvylyn felt the need to occasionally offer him some suggestion about navigating. She had, after all, spent most of a very long life wandering.

For her part, despite spending time each day talking to Aleesia about this and that, her eyes were always watching the wood and the horizon. Her efforts seemed to be helping. Though on the first day, they seemed to be competing and at odds on methods to their own detriment, the second day went well and the third day Ahvylyn was happy to simply help Faaid hide their tracks rather than do the brunt of the work though she was particularly engrossed in her conversation with Aleesia that day about a certain subgenre of drinking songs from the young kingdoms and miffed the work mostly. She had started to get over annoyed by the man's heated passion for the mission. "Well, I have never been a man in my life, so I doubt that'd be hard. So, I'll just think like a woman and obviously outsmart the rogue" The beauty hid her mouth with her hand and glanced at Aleesia to laugh lightly at her little joke. "I doubt he agrees with your sentiments though." Ahvylyn didn't mean to be acerbic, but this was the very man who had been questioning heroes and villains in stories just a few days ago. It was always fascinating how people allowed personal bias to blind them to their own ideals.


12:15, Today: Ahvylyn Brightsong rolled 121 using 1d100+35.  Perception 3. eagel eyes
12:15, Today: Ahvylyn Brightsong rolled 65 using 1d100+35.  Perception 2. oops
12:15, Today: Ahvylyn Brightsong rolled 190 using 1d100+35.  perception 1. Eagle eyes
     06:46, Today: Ahvylyn Brightsong rolled 57 using 1d100.  perception explodes.
12:12, Today: Ahvylyn Brightsong rolled 130 using 1d100+30.  Wandering 3. +22 to T's roll
12:12, Today: Ahvylyn Brightsong rolled 68 using 1d100+30.  Wandering 2. Oops.
12:11, Today: Ahvylyn Brightsong rolled 107 using 1d100+30.  Wandering 1. +12 to T's roll
12:09, Today: Ahvylyn Brightsong rolled 64 using 1d100+55.  Aid Stealth. Oops
12:08, Today: Ahvylyn Brightsong rolled 139 using 1d100+55.  Stealth 2. Well, well..
12:07, Today: Ahvylyn Brightsong rolled 72 using 1d100+55.  Stealth 1. Oops.

While Ahvylyn's Stealth check are more typical, the helping with Wandering rolls always involve her telling stories. She'll never tell Torstein what way to go, but rather interrupt a decision to tell a story about some landmark or trick of navigation to aid him.
This message was last edited by the player at 22:46, Sun 31 Oct 2021.

Over the next three days, it was obvious that the whole memory thing was disturbing Aleesia, particularly in the evenings when she had nothing else to distract herself. It wasn't that she was scared - or enthused of course - by what had happened, but it was a puzzle she wanted to solve, but one for which she was missing quite a few pieces making it impossible. And that she found annoying.

In the day, she distracted herself by looking around in the forest, trying to see if she could find interesting things such as tasty berries, leaving to the others the search for...well, for whatever they were here for. Not that she had a lot of success, but at least it allowed her mind to settle on something else besides an impossible problem.

In the evenings, she played with her magic. Which was nothing impressive, and the only somewhat useful thing she could do was to conjure ten litres of water and make ice cubes with it. Well, that and travel with a breeze blowing around her to keep herself cool which, all things considered, was still pretty nice when the temperature climbed.

Still, one evening, she took the initiative to start a conversation. “So, uh... Who is that ar-Gohl exactly, and why are we even going after him?”


Only consider the perception rolls if it's not one person only who can roll obviously.

19:08, Today: Aleesia Valhorn rolled 65 using 1d100+35.  Nature (Day 1). Failure
19:08, Today: Aleesia Valhorn rolled 106 using 1d100+35.  Nature (Day 2). Success
19:08, Today: Aleesia Valhorn rolled 49 using 1d100+35.  Nature (Day 3). Failure
19:09, Today: Aleesia Valhorn rolled 90 using 1d100+45.  Perception (Day 1). Partial Success
19:09, Today: Aleesia Valhorn rolled 102 using 1d100+45.  Perception (Day 2). Success
19:09, Today: Aleesia Valhorn rolled 94 using 1d100+45.  Perception (Day 3). Partial Success

When Ahvylyn's help came, Torstein was thoughtful and considerate of her suggestions. He took them to heart and re-evaluated the decisions he made that had prompted the beautiful female to make them in the first place, and these suggestions seemed to lead to a better course than those initially chosen by Torstein.

Torstein glanced calmly at Ahvylyn as they ate, but he did not reproach the female for her words. He looked over at Faaid instead. There was a sense in Torstein that Faaid had undergone things that no one should have to and that there was an ineffable loss in Faaid's past that had marked him deeply.

"No, Faaid. It is precisely because of what he has done that we must think like men." Torstein spoke softly and gently. "You are a man, and a son of men. Do not let ar-Gohl's Evil infect you and cause you to forget that. You need not be as ar-Gohl to defeat ar-Gohl." Although there was much that Torstein did not know and did not understand he knew well enough the desire for revenge for a wrong done. It was easy enough to speak these words without the same fire inside of him that motivated Faaid, and Torstein felt that his words rang hollow but the feeling behind them remained true. He was convinced that it was right.

Torstein had his own answer for the why of pursuing ar-Gohl. It was simple enough for the acolyte. But he sensed it would not satisfy Aleesia's question. To answer it would fall to Faaid.
This message was last edited by the player at 21:05, Sun 31 Oct 2021.

Faaid spits at the name.  "You ask who ar-Gohl is?  ar-Gohl is the Black Hound of the Witch Queen, who in turn bends her knee to a darker master.  ar-Gohl is one who helped lead my people from our purpose, ancient and honorable.  For that, he must die.  And, much to Faaid's disgrace, ar-Gohl was once... close.  If you do not wish to confront the dog, you have no need to.  This is Faaid's fight.  But!"  Faaid glances around at the group, taking a moment to look each in the eye.  "Faaid's people have no rules fighting alone, and he would have your help.  All your help."

Turning to Torstein, Faaid chooses his words carefully.  "To fight with honor against one so far from it is... dangerous.  Foolish.  But I have seen you face a dishonorable man as you are, and you still stand.  You may be right, my friend.  You may be wrong.  But you are alive, and that is what matters in the end.  I cannot make you any promises, but I will not be my..."  Faaid cuts himself off abruptly, eyes widening almost imperceptibly.

The group did not encounter any bandits on their trek, although their joint efforts did ensure that they did not run afoul of a foul-tempered and hungry bear on the first day and they avoided a few traps laid by unknown hands. These traps consisted of pits with sharpened stakes covered with foliage to mask them as part of the undergrowth. These were recently dug and constructed.

There were a lot of old tracks to be found along the way, but there was a set of tracks that was only a few days old by the time the group came upon them. They looked innocent enough on inspection. It was a wagon drawn by a team of draft horses with a medium load, accompanied by a dozen followers on foot and one other rider. On the second day there was evidence of this ensemble camping out and the remains of the camp suggested it had been used by more people than they found tracks for.

Thanks to the combined efforts of Torstein and Ahvylyn the group were able to camp and have the few amenities a camp afforded. They were able to find places where they were sheltered and could have a fire without it giving away their presence and position.

It is noteworthy that there are more of the white trees in sight as the group draws closer to the hills. They do not completely replace the local varieties, but they account for one in every ten or so trees. They also are taller than the regular trees.

If anything, Faaid's explanation confused Aleesia more than anything: she had no idea who that Witch Queen was for example, and while she supposed she could guess who that 'darker master' was it could have been clearer. More than that though, she had no idea what kind of crimes had been committed: leading Faaid's people astray was hardly evocative as it could range from piracy or banditry to more innocuous things like deciding to eat meat on the third day of the fourth month or any other kind of obligation.

Granted, it was more likely to be the former rather than the latter, but some people tended to take those kind of obligations pretty seriously. Especially when they were of religious origins. She supposed everything - or most of it at least - would become clear soon enough though so she didn't make a big deal out of it.

---

Aleesia seemed fascinated by the white trees, so much in fact that she had stopped rather abruptly even though her gaze went in the direction of the hills from time to time. Finally, she shook herself. “Sorry.” She blushed slightly, clearly embarrassed to have once again let her mind wander off. “The hills are haunted, by two opposing forces. One feels rather nice...somehow... The other, not so much.”

“There's a third party trying to aid that other one.” she frowned as she looked at the nearest white tree, “It seems linked to those trees. The sick ones.” She pointed at a visible black break on the bark of that tree.

Faaid returns to the group at the end of the third day.  With each passing day his obsession grew, but on this day he returned with news.  "The dog was here.  Him, and four of that ilk.  Travelling with the wagon.  I suspect that much like we were protecting the sage and his acolytes, ar-Gohl travels with more common folk.  But if what you say is true, Allesia, it is likely those with the wagon have ill intent.  We must proceed with caution."  He looks to the trees that Aleesia had mentioned, surprised that he had not noticed them before.  In hindsight, it had been quite obvious, but he had been overcome with purpose.

The news that Aleesia and Faaid shared gave Torstein heart. It affirmed that he was on the correct course here. He looked at the black break on the bark of the tree Aleesia pointed out and approached. Although he did not touch it he was tempted to do so. There was a melancholy expression on his face, and he looked over at his companions, wondering if they felt the same confirmation that he did.

"I think it best you remain with us now, Faaid. Only you know the signs of the presence of your countrymen, and their ways. You must be our eyes against them." Torstein said. He had not noted the presence of ar-Gohl and four others, but he had feared as much.

"Can you lend your aid to the nice force, Aleesia?" The blond warrior asked the female wizard. His knowledge of the arcane was small. If there was aught to be done to sway things in the favour of the nice force, it seemed worth pursuing.

As they traveled, Lyn was quiet other than her occasional bouts of advice and moments where she, too, wandered back along the trail to hide their tracks. She had no desire to be followed as they were obviously following their quarry. No, instead, her mind was thrown back to a long ago time and the stories of that age. It was a common theme for her. A mind overflowing with millennium of memories tended to work that way. Reminded of the story, she wandered through her memory palace to find the room associated to it and slowly retold the story to herself word for word. Her fingers even danced along an imaginary harp to play the notes of accompaniment.

As the others stood discussing the trees, Ahvylyn started to put some of the pieces together, "I think I begin to surmise a purpose to your villain."

She looked around at the trees and felt sadness. If the story she recalled was right, those trees were sad tombstones. Worse, if the black split in one was what she now suspected, then a great evil was threatening the land. She craned her neck and started to look around at the various rolling hill, now filled with sinister import. She sighed heavily, "An ancient servant to the Pale Son lies sealed somewhere near here. If you believe the old stories. The white trees are meant to be part of the seal along with five forts. All ruins now, surely. Sad. I wonder if this servant of... what did you call her again? I wonder if she sent this man to break the seal?"

She moved close to the tree and inspected the black wound carefully. Without touching, she tried to understand what could make such a wound. Shaking her head, she slowly crouched down and began to speak ancient words while her hands crabbed themselves into strange shapes. Concentrating to speak the words carefully, Ahvylyn took her time casting even this simplest of spells. Still, despite her care, her first attempt fizzled as she mispronounced an ancient word then stuttered through the rest of it. Rolling her eyes, she shook out her hands then tried again. This time, carefully, she felt the magic surge through her and her eyes took on a strange umbral hue as she perceived the world through an altered sense.

12:04, Today: Ahvylyn Brightsong rolled 84 using 1d100.
12:04, Today: Ahvylyn Brightsong rolled 145 using 1d100+45.
12:03, Today: Ahvylyn Brightsong rolled 49 using 1d100+45.  Detections plus concentration for a round.

First time, failure. Second time, critical success and I finally remember to roll teh exploding dice. Second roll, 229? Good grief. Anyway, Detect Magic is cast. I assume I could just go for it again unless something terrible happened after the first roll.

Faaid's eyes grow wide!  He wastes no time in blurting out, "Then we must put a stop to this!  Faaid cannot stand by as they release a servant of the Pale Son!  It is his duty, his purpose!"  His hand instinctively reaches for his curved blade, though no enemies are within sight nor sound.  He moves closer to Ahvlynn as she performs her magicks, eyes darting around in a frenzied suspicion.

With the spell in effect, the white trees blaze with light. The effect is almost blinding as they shine. Those afflicted with the black streaks do not shine as strongly as those unaffected, but their light is still radiant. Slightly less than half of the trees are afflicted by the black streaks, and those worst affected are in a generally north-east direction from Ahvylyn's current position.

The magic of the white trees affirms what Aleesia revealed. Along with the brightness of their light, the trees give off a comforting aura that Ahvylyn's able to sense while her spell is active. It's stronger in trees without black marks and weakens in proportion to the number of black marks on a tree. The black marks give off a polluting sensation of malice and filth. It's sickening to even know of its presence with the minor detection spell Ahvylyn's cast.

When Faaid had mentioned 'proceeding with caution', Aleesia had seemed reluctant. Obviously not about the caution part, but it was clear she didn't want to leave things as they were.

Still,she hadn't said anything straight away, instead waiting to see what the other two thought about all this. Thankfully, not only it turned out that they felt the need to address the problem, but once informed of the underlying causes of it Faaid agreed to it.

Still... “I don't know.” She answered Torstein's question. “I'm not a real healer and it's my first time seeing those trees or disease. I would need to study it. I mean I could try, but...” She shook her head, “I doubt the only healing spell I know would do much. If anything at all.”

Torstein's left hand rose to touch the red cup embroidered upon his tabard. He looked to the ground. He did not echo Faaid's passion, but he felt a similar determination to oppose whatever dark deeds were in the offing here. It was obviously Evil. He gave a small breath.

Ahvylyn's conclusions seemed sound with the information they had thus far. The Witch Queen, as vassal to the Pale Son, sent ar-Gohl to free the servant of the Pale Son sealed away here. Whatever action was done to that effect was harming the trees and the spirits of the heroes bound to ensure the seal remained.

Determined as he was, Torstein felt a touch of fear. It did not change his intention, and he prayed that it would not harm his resolve.

"Very well." Torstein said to Aleesia. "We must proceed into the hills, then."

Ahvylyn could share anything she may have divined with her spell on the way.

Lyn looked at the men who were prepared to rush into the hills and grunted in annoyance. she looked to Aleesia with a cross expression then rolled her eyes and sighed, "Always like men to rush blindly into things. I would suspect that they are trying to free the servant BY harming the trees. The harm is not a symptom, but the cause. My spell allowed me to see the magic in the trees, and I suspect though cannot confirm that they are part of the seal not just tombstones. Thus, if took a moment to see about whether Aleesia can aid the trees, we might draw the villains into our trap rather than walk into theirs. At the least, it is worth the attempt, yes?"

Grunting again, Ahvylyn then turned to Aleesia and began speaking in the elven language. "The trees' auras seems to comfort, bless almost. The trees affected by the black marks have wounds in these auras and their balm is weaker." She switches back to the tongue the men can understand and indicates to the northeast, "The greatest concentration of afflicted trees is that direction." she turned to see what the other elf might think of the magical affliction on the magical trees assuming Aleesia might have a deeper knowledge of magical lore than her dabbler's generalities.

Looking a bit consternated she looks somewhat apologetically to Faaid and Torstein, "Though I could be wrong in my interpretation. The source of the affliction may well be that way."

Faaid nods at the sage advice of his fair companion.  "Let us take a moment and see to the trees.  If you say the concentration is in that direction, that is the way we shall go.  Faaid will prepare for the arrival of ar-Gohl, should the dog notice us.  Torstein, you may be needed to watch over the women.  Faaid worries, though, that this will not slow down our prey, and that it will instead hasten their efforts.  But let us not waste time, for there is none to spare."  The man looks conflicted, clearly still aching to track down ar-Gohl and put an end to his foe, but willing to accept alternative tactics.

Attempts to further figure out what was transpiring stymied the group. The white trees and their affliction withstood attempts to scrutinize them, and through physical and metaphysical observation nothing came to further light. The forces at play were ancient and supernatural, and with the limited the time that the group could expend and the lack of proper tools mystical and botanical frustrated an already hard task.

There was, ultimately, nothing gained in the time spent studying, but their efforts had not gone unnoticed.

The white crow was back.

A spirit appeared. Its form was semi-transparent and white, making it difficult to see. Like many of the trees, the spirit was afflicted with black veins. The spirit was that of a High Man warrior, with long hair and plain sculpted features. Clad in chain mail and in a tabard that looked much like the one that Torstein wore, the spirit carried no weapons. Its form blurred and seemed as if it might dissipate entirely for a moment, but it held on although the edges of its spectral body were indistinct. There was a large and conspicuous black wound over its heart.

It spoke, but the words were ancient. A spectral hand raised in entreaty to all, but its phantasmal eyes laid upon Torstein.

Aleesia grumbled, obviously annoyed that she wasn't going anywhere in her study. Not that it was that surprising since she was still very much a student of Magic and as far from Mastery as one could be while still practising magic, but still. Even knowing that she didn't have the right tools, or more generally resources, to investigate that black disease didn't do much to alleviate her grumblings.

Maybe to change her ideas, or simply because she was prone to distractions, Aleesia focused on the white crow when it appeared, calling it to her...without expecting anything to happen since she wasn't a bird whisperer or anything.

Before long though, before the crow could fly to her to say nothing of her just giving up, Aleesia was once again distracted, this time by the appearance of the spirit. When the spirit spoke, Aleesia tilted her head to the side, grumbling something along the lines of “_{So much for inventing it...}” When she finally noticed that everyone else seemed confused, she added, “That's the tongue of the First Kingdom of the High Men.”

For a time, it seemed that it was all she was going to say, until she finally seemed to realise something. “Oh, right, uh, sorry.” She turned to Torstein, “He calls you brother and bids you join their fight against the dark.”

Faaid looks between the spirit, Aleesia, and Torstein.  "This man must have stood sentry over the forest for generations, fulfilling his purpose.  It is honorable to do so."  His voice raises in volume, as he looks out into the treeline.  "It is not too late, cousin, for you to stand against the darkness, too.  Stand against the dark, as this man has done, as our families had done before ar-Gohl, as I do now.  Fight with me, Abtin, cousin, not against, and let us stop ar-Gohl from corrupting our people further."  It is not immediately obvious to whom he calls out, but Faaid is clearly speaking to someone.

---

14:48, Today: Faaid rolled 115 using 1d100+50.  Charisma.

OOC: I wasn't sure what kind of difficulty this would be, so I just went with a straight roll.

Ahvylyn was feeling a bit puffed up, happy, about things going on. Though she felt the general drain on her magical resources, she did not worry much as she rarely used the bits of arcane knowledge she had collected over the years. Instead, when the crow appeared she tilted her head to watch it curiously. For a few moments, her eyes unfocused as she listened to the words. She pressed her lips together Then raised an eyebrow at Aleesia. Ahyvylyn knew why she understood those words, but Aleesia's comprehension was a fun little mystery. The words interpreted, she left it at that then stood straight as Faaid made to go off, "Honourable? To be trapped in duty and afforded no rest after death?" She gazed up at the spirit and shook her head sadly, "But I think Torstein ought better hold off joining them as yet. We know not what 'joining' them means." Ahvylyn words her mouth as if she had been tasting something unpleasant. She spat and then continued in a more modern form of speech, "There's more than a few stories where a living soul 'joined' the forces of the dead. I vastly prefer the man alive and aiding us." She shrugged and then looked up at the crow again.

Finally, after a long moment, she went back to do her best examining the more physical wounds on the trees. Was it a corruption, an actual wound inflicted by an instrument, or something more akin to a curse? She did not possess a deep reserve of knowledge of the arcane or nature, but she knew many stories about many things. She slowly moved through her memory palace trying to find things related to this foulness.
This message was last edited by the player at 07:36, Tue 09 Nov 2021.

Although Torstein did not speak the language, he comprehended the meaning behind them. He was not sad to see a brother, even if death held no rest nor a seat in the Hall of the Brave or Paradise. This duty was not something undertaken lightly, and it spoke well of this man that he had fulfilled it for so long. Torstein could only pray that the Source had made of him the same stuff and that, if called upon, he would perform so well.

"Penance never ends." He murmured to himself, and touched the cup upon his tabard. He gave the spirit a melancholy look, and then smiled softly to him. Torstein was proud of this man, though centuries separated them.

"Please, Aleesia, tell my brother Brihtstein that I will join him in battle against the dark." Torstein said softly, turning his face to look at the female Dusk Elf. The blond male looked genuinely happy as he spoke, and he was. There was a lightness of the heart that this spirit evoked in him.

That feeling was momentarily overtaken when Faaid called out to someone that he could not see. Torstein wanted to draw his huge sword but he equally did not wish to sabotage Faaid's efforts to sway one of his blood-kin. He moved closer to Aleesia, to make of his body a shield for her as his eyes scanned the trees.

Abtin tenses where he hides in the trees. His eyes narrow, a touch of anger visible. Abtin's hand tenses around his javelin, but he ultimately comes out from his hiding spot. He sheathes his scimitar and lowers the javelin but keeps it in his hands in a non-threatening manner.

Abtin's eyes looked at all of Faaid's companions, and he looks with hesitation at the spirit and gives it a wide berth.

"Answer this one question, cousin, and tell this one the truth. Swear it upon your mother's heart. Was your banishment just?" Abtin asked. Faaid's honesty would sway Abtin one way or another.