(Laena and Eranya: Temple Grounds, Great Hall)

As the party descends from the tower, Laena decides to venture out onto the temple grounds. Outside she finds a few things of interest; the first is a huge hole in the fence with a muddle of footprints leading out, it seems that the daenhu (elvish = "corpse-dogs") have left the grounds heading into the town. The second thing of interest is Eranya, collapsed on the ground. What the hell... she thinks, concerned she reaches out to touch the Druid. Her flesh is warm, and she's breathing, Wait, she's ... asleep?!?! She gives Eranya a good hearty shake to awaken her, "What happened?" Eranya looks at Laena, puzzled. I remember searching the grounds, finding what was left of Lurea, a small scrap, no larger than my palm. I remember preparing the spell to call back her spirit, and then... darkness. "I... I don’t know." "Well come on, it’s not safe out here." The Ranger points towards the hole in the fence. Eranya seems to see her surroundings for the first time. As Laena helps her stand and leads her back to the temple, she silently makes a vow. I swear vengeance for you Lurea, I will see those undead abominations sent back to whatever hell spawned them. The problem is, I can’t do it alone, they’d tear me apart too. Alone...I really am alone now. I am cut off from my homeland, with every step I take to the East the pulse of Nature lessens. Lurea was my one companion, and now she’s gone. I’m alone, with a group of strangers. I suppose I will have to rely upon them now. In the Great Hall, Eranya sets her stuff down and prepares to meditate. Laena watches for a while, but soon becomes bored and wanders off to finish scouting out the temple grounds. ***** The day passes, and evening comes. Laena continues her rounds, checking on Eranya a couple of times during the day, from the doorway she can only see her back in the darkness of the Great Hall; she seems to be in a deep trance and isn’t moving, so the Ranger decides to not disturb her. At least she’s not trying to run off after those daenhu, she’s likely to get herself killed. After a while she takes up a post just outside of the main doors, where she can keep an eye on the Druid and watch for the daenhu in case they return. Finally, after a very long wait, Eranya stirs. Laena notices the movement and steps inside to check on her. As her eyes grow accustomed to the dim light inside, she notices a large puddle a dark liquid on the floor, as she gets closer, she realizes it blood; a lot of it. Its semi-quagulated and Eranya is covered in it. There’s a wound on her forearm that still bright red, its bleeding freely. There’s a pile of bloody something on top of the seal on the floor, Laena can’t make out what it is though, it’s hard to tell what might be under all that gore. Laena breaks into a run towards her, looking around for signs of a struggle, fighting down panic--and I thought this place was safe! "What has happened?" Eranya looks at the Ranger, a slight smile playing across her face until she sees the expression on Laena's face. "I prayed." Laena drops to her knees by the other elf. She relaxes enough to smile back a bit after noting that her injuries didn't seem much more than that wound on her forearm. Strange, strange. "I'd think about changing gods if that happened when I prayed." she jests. "Nature has no deity, I prayed to Morganu. He answered." She picks up the gory mess from the floor and starts wiping it off; Laena realizes it’s a tooth. Eranya holds it out in front of her as an explaination, "Now I need to figure out what to do with this." "Oh, right, that's right." Laena blinks, remembering the few talks she'd had with both Eranya and Rose about the odd pantheon--but this tooth was a piece. Two feet long--that raised both her eyebrows--curved slightly, probably a canine. "I don't think I've never seen one that big before. She started to search her memory. "It's from a..?" "It's from Lurea; as a gift from Morganu." Eranya tries to wipe it off better, mostly just smearing the grime around. "Do you have a cloth or something?" She looks down, and seems to realize that her arm is bleeding for the first time, "And perhaps something to bind this?" "Ehm, perhaps some sand to clean off the tooth, water's a fairly rare commodity around here, you know. I'm sure I can find a clean cloth for your arm in my pack." Laena unslings her pack from her back and begins rummaging around for a cloth and eventually finds something that would do. "Well, I'm sure Morganu doesn't mean for us to chuck that thing at the daenhu." Eranya smiles, "No, I'm pretty sure it's not to be thrown. Maybe a knife? What do you think?" "Eh, perhaps." Laena glances dubiously at the tooth and started binding the wound Eranya winces as the Ranger binds her arm, and even before she's done tying the bandage off it is already soaked with blood. Laena eyes her work and continues, "I'm not sure what sort of magical properties it might have or how it would be affected by that, but it's a good idea." "Well, it can't be used as it is, that's for sure, and a knife is a logical choice." She looks down at her arm again, "I think I'd better do something pretty quick, before all my blood is on the floor instead of in me." "Indeed." Laena backs off. "Did you have to fight the thing to get its tooth?" Eranya laughs, "No, Lurea was my wolf. Though the Lurea I met was much larger than she ever was before. " She nods her head in the direction of the seal and the assorted things around it, a bowl of water, the remains of a candle, a feather, a small pile of berries and a bloody dagger in the center. "No, I drew blood as part of my ritual. As a child of Nature I have no deity, so I started with what I knew; the four elements and the power of blood." "Oh, that Lurea. I suppose she'll be safer where she is than here." Laena looks over to where Rilmir, her wolf, was sniffing at the berries and gave a whistle for him to leave them be. He gives a shake of his head and sits down on his haunches, nuzzling Eranya gently. "Yes, I suppose she will be, she told me she'd wait for me. I hope she'll be willing to wait awhile." A serious look crosses her face, "It's funny though, I was always taught that when things die they return to Nature, Morganu told me otherwise. I don't understand, can they both be right? And if not why was I taught differently? And what else could they be wrong about?" Laena laughs a little. "I'm no scholar, nor am I a theologian, not by a long shot. But I suppose if Morganu is supposed to be--what was it?--a god of Knowledge; Morganu would probably know, I suppose. Rose would probably be the one to ask about that. Me, I know how to fight--when I can keep my swords in my hands," she said depreciatingly, "and how to track elves, men and other creatures. I don't know how to track the Truth." Eranya nods, "A God of knowledge, and death. Ah well, I suppose some things I have to learn on my own. Besides I doubt I'll be welcomed back home, even if I can find my way back that is." Eranya walks over to where she set her pack down, pulling a half-full waterskin from the pile. She rinses the blood from her hands and the tooth before rummaging through the tiny pack and pulling out a whetstone and a small scrap of leather. She sits down on the floor and starts carving the tooth, shaping it into a blade. "Heh." Laena could almost see Matthias's questioning look when she'd told him she'd stay on the road a while longer before going back... "I think I know what you mean. And it's not like you can do anything to undo what is done." Eranya gives a pained look, "No, and I shouldn't have meddled with death before either." She looks up to the Ranger's face, "I didn't remember; there's so much I still don't remember. I don't think I'll be able to do it again, knowing as I do now." The whetstone rhythmically moves across the curve of the tooth, sharpening it. "I suppose we'll just remember not to get killed." Laena shifts uncomfortably. "Speaking of which, have you seen Ariados?" Laena gives a short laugh. "Not recently, though I did tell him and the others that the daenhu had withdrawn together and that it would not be wise to wander off alone." She gives a significant glance in Eranya’s direction. Eranya doesn’t notice as she isn’t watching Laena. "Perhaps we should repair the wall then, to prevent them from surprising us. Though they didn't seem to have any trouble getting through it last time, maybe we should speak with Rose about setting up a better barrier. As for me, I need to finish this first, then speak with the others; I swore that I would see the daenhu back to whichever hell spawned those misbegotten whelps. I can't do it alone though, I'm not even sure we can do it together. We will have to plan and perhaps lay a few traps for them." "Definitely a good idea." Laena agrees. "I'm sure Rose has some good spells for that sort of thing and we can always see what Flippen can pull out of his pockets." Eranya holds up the tooth, which now is starting to resemble a real blade, it has a rough handle carved out of the root and the curved edge of it is now sharp. she winds the leather thong around the base, creating a hand grip. She ties it off, tucking the end under, and holds it up to examine her work. "Almost done, only one thing left." She picks up her small knife and neatly carves two names into the blade, one on each side. They read: Lurea, and on the other Erun Mournu. "What do you think?" "Erun Mournu?" Laena queries, having not heard that name before. "It’s the ancient Elvish name for this deity, I think the name died with the Elven empire though, I don't know if the humans know it. It's the least I can do." "Ah. Well." Laena nods and tucks that bit of information away. "Shall we seek out Rose, about that wall?" Eranya frowns and thinks a moment. "Actually, I'm going to go find Ariados; I have a few things to talk to him about. I'll meet you downstairs later." Laena nods. "Very well, though I do not suggest leaving the immediate temple grounds, even with the two of you." The Druid smiles solemnly. "I don't plan on leaving the grounds until I regain my strength and come up with a plan." "Very well, then." Laena gives a short bow and returns to her place by the doorway. "Right." Eranya wanders off, searching for Ariados. ***** She eventually finds him wandering around on one of the balconies. Wandering no where in particular, he seems lost in thought. "Ariados, can I talk to you?" Eranya’s voice seems to pull him back into this world. He nods and they walk to the tower stairs to sit and talk. They speak for a long time. They talk about the artifact, and the nature of Power. Then the conversation switches to home, and each other’s desire to return to it, and each’s fears that they may never se it again. Ariados speaks of Soludra and Honor, and Eranya tells him about Death and Change. By the end of the conversation, they both agree to help each other in many tasks; to find a way home, to protect each other, and more immediately to destroy the daenhu. In better spirits, they head downstairs to find the others and come up with a plan. Back to top

(Note from GM)

As the party rests within the temple walls, a new feeling begins to fill them. Their thoughts are comforted and spirits are bolstered as a new feeling of strength and resolution begins to replace their resignation and forbearance that has been plaguing them. With the death of Ariel at the terrible fate of those who break an oath before the unknown powers that be, and the more recent fatality of the great wolf Lurea, combined with encounters of the Emperor's treacherous minions and unforeseen demonic and undead allies, the Party of the Platinum Ring has experienced an exhausting and onerous series of months together. Yet here the wear and tear of the journey seems to be lifted from the shoulders of the travelers, and where the temple seemed once sadly unused and desolate, the curtains and tapestries are clean and the floors clear of 400 years of grit and filth. The previously defiled air is now clean and pure and water flows once again in the temples fountains. To the newcomers of this world, the land is a wondrous thing to behold. From the temple's lofty tower the surrounding landscape (even scarred as it is) is too beautiful to describe. In the temple grounds they behold all of their past world's beauty and splendor multiplied ten fold. More so than ever before, Milinda sits within the blessed halls and feels the power of the gods shine down on her and she feels the reassuring touch of her god, and she wonders yet again of Tyre, and the odd reassurance she always feels of him even when she knows that he is not here. Eranya stands upon the balconies and feels something new, a stronger bond with the powers that be and of nature than she ever has before. And Laena puzzles over nature's role in this world of magic where her powers are granted, yet the source of those powers remains largely unknown. Ariados balances upon the topmost spire of the tower and meditates, mulling over his last vision of his childhood friend and competitor Soludra, wondering about his home, where he came from, where he is going, and where his true purpose in life now stands. While Rose withdraws deep within the renowned confines of the warded library, healing and learning, waiting and rejuvenating her inner self. Flippen's worries for his beloved friends is abated, his angers fade and his happiness return, and a sign of his old self return and he looks out upon the world from every window with a new wish for adventure and new roads to explore. Never before have the two inhabitants from this world seen such an unusual set of characters, yet they resolve to help and teach them of the new world that they now live in. And the two natives also feel empowered, for they realize now that although they have had a more difficult time than they ever have in the past centuries and millennia of their lives, they have never learned so much in so little space of time. They seem to be filled with a new power around these strangers from another world. Back to top

(Milinda and Eranya: Sitting Room)

As Eranya comes down into the basement she sees Milinda sitting happily next to her freshly shined armor and shield talking to a man in the armchair, she also seems to be writing something in her book. She is nearly glowing with joy and most of her usual frustrations with the world have melted away with the comforting feeling of the gods paying attention to her and the state of peace and comfort she knows she and her companions are finely getting to enjoy, for how ever short it may last. Without her helmet on, she hears Eranya descending the staircase, and puts down her book. "Hello, there" she greets the Druid, before turning and noticing the bloody rags around Eranya's arm and rushing to her to see what is wrong. "What happened to you, are you ok? Where is everyone else? Did something happen?" concern colors her voice, as she reaches out to touch Eranya and call upon the gods to heal her (Lay on Hands, 10 hp). She searches the Druid's face, trying to find some explaination. As Eranya enters the Sitting Room, the man sitting in the spare armchair stands up and watches with concern as Milinda rushes to the injured elf's aid. His concern increases when it becomes apparent that Milinda's healing hands prove to no effect. Eranya tries to answer the Paladin's rapid stream of questions, "I'm ok; most of the others are upstairs; and yes, something happened." Seeing a look of horror dawning on Milinda's face, she hastens to explain better, "It's ok, really. Nothing attacked us, don't worry. The blood's mine, and I look worse than I am, the bleeding's stopped now. I think if I just rest I'll be ok." Realizing that explained very little to the Paladin, whose agitation is only growing, Eranya quietly thinks to herself. Great, confuse the Paladin even more. You'd best start at the beginning. She eyes the stranger standing in front of an armchair. I wonder who he is. I suppose he's trustworthy if the Paladin's sitting here talking with him. Ah well, I'm sure I'll find out eventually. Eranya sighs and sits down to explain what happened since the Ranger found her on the Temple lawn. When she mentions the daenhu she realizes that the Human won't understand the reference, "You know, those huge undead hounds that were outside. I think the Ranger named them, it's Elvish for corpse-dog," Eranya shrugs, "it fits." The Druid continues to recount what happened upstairs. When she reaches the part about Morganu's gift, she draws the blade to show them, though she keeps it in her hands. The entire thing is nearly two feet long, gently curved and razor sharp. Eranya finishes by telling Milinda about her vow to destroy the daenhu, though she stresses that this requires much forethought and planning. "I actually came down here looking for Rose; you haven't seen her have you? I wanted to see if she would be able to help reinforce the walls around the Temple. I also had some other things I wanted to discuss with her." Eranya glances at the stranger, who had been listening as she told her entire story. She asks quietly, "And who's this? A friend I presume..." Back to top

(Beromar and Eranya: Sitting Room, Great Hall)

As the Druid sits down and it becomes apparent that she will recount her recent experiences, the stranger relaxes and returns to his seat, where upon he pulls out a roll of parchment, an ink bottle, and an old cracked quill. He begins taking notes, skillfully scrolling out eloquent letters despite the damaged and faded quill. He sits there quietly and politely writes, the only sound coming from him at all is the sleight scratching sound of his quill, the only movement the fingers in his hand, his eyes are steady upon Eranya, his entire being motionless and quiet. "Daeynhuer....yes, I believe that is the true and proper origin of the word.... Mort-Hounds, terrible abominations-" The stranger stops short, realizing the stares he has drawn. He makes an apologetic gesture to Eranya and motions for her to continue with a sleight nod of his head. The he resumes his previous activity, not another word escaping his lips for the rest of the rendition. As she finishes telling her accounts and inquires of the stranger, he finishes scribing and speaks at the same time, his eyes now on his notes as he speaks... "Indeed, I am a long term guest of these sacred temple walls and am most indebted to your two comrades..." He finishes up his notes and slides them into a scroll case and pockets his quill in a breast pocket, he then looks up and at the druid, his eyes friendly under his unhealthy pallor. "...my name is Beromar, and I am graciously at your service." He smiles a genuine smile then and stands giving a full bow, bending at the waist, his legs remaining ramrod straight and his body extending to a horizontal position, his long hair brushing the embroidered rug. "I believe the esteemed wizard is studying in her newfound wealthy cache of knowledge, however ...I would be most happy to provide you with any magical aid that I may be capable of procuring." Eranya smiles wryly, "I think I've had enough magical aid for one day." She holds out her arm, which is still wrapped in its bloody bandage, "I think any more would kill me." She rises from where she was sitting on the floor. She nods to Beromar, genuine interest showing on her face. "If the Mage is inaccessible at this time, then perhaps you might join me to examine the damage to the fence and offer your opinion? I think I can repair it, though it might take awhile." Beromar stands with Eranya and looks to her bandaged arm, then to her face. "I confess that I am no Dwarf, however, I am fairly confident to that of which I do know. I will accompany you to the surface and help examine the situation." He smiles another one of his genuine smiles. "I will be most happy to see the surface once again after so long a time..." And then excusing himself to Milinda and the apparently otherwise empty room, he steps forward and ascends up into the Catacombs and the stairs to the temple proper far above... Back to top