Turn 30 -- Visitations

As the afternoon passes, those that were wounded in the battle or exhausted continue their rest and recovery as the others keep watch over the camp. As the afternoon passes, vultures and other carrion-eaters come around and begin to feed off the bodies of the hours-dead orcs. Eventually, the bodies are almost invisible under the ever-moving mass of the birds surrounding them. Ortho wakes from his afternoon slumber fully refreshed. He then gets up and moves over to where the orc bodies are, sending the vultures scattering at the approach of the dwarf. Reaching the bodies, Ortho kneels down next to the bodies and offers a prayer to Moraddin giving thanks for his strength in battle. After a few minutes of this he rises and taking two red feathers out of his pack, he places them in the snout of two separate orcs; making sure that the feathers are secured and readily seen by anyone who comes across the bodies.

Following this, Ortho moves back into camp and over to Garth who is munching on a piece of dried meat. "Garth welcome. Sorry I could not greet ye properly after the battle but casting multiple cure spells taxes me so! Well met. Perhaps your presence will improve our luck. The first pint is on me when we get to Milborne if you will allow."

"Well met," says Garth in greeting, "May the Lady's light shine on you. I'll do all I can to help ye, if I'm able."

Shortly after this, Dain rises from his slumber and ravenous, begins to prepare the evening meal for the company. Although Dain is an excellent cook in his own right, Kre, Ortho, Randor and Talimar swear that never a finer meal hath Dain prepared than this one nor can they remember a finer meal in their life. Ras jokes that their empty bellies may have more to do with that than Dain's expertise but even he knows that the meal is quite good. Gnore stays on the outskirts of the camp, not wanting to join the meal. He remains his watch over the camp and turns down any offer to relieve him of the watch.

As the remaining members of the party return to their normal jovial selves, Kersath moves over to speak with Beleg, "My friend, please reconsider your decision. I know that what happened here goes against everything you believe in. Mielikki does not look approvingly upon murder and torture either, but you must understand that these things do exist. That does not mean you have to agree with them--quite the contrary, but you also have to understand that you cannot force your ideas upon other people. That is what evil rules and tyrants do and you are just the opposite. You must see that there has been no other way! But if I am not to convince you on that matter, and I see I can't, let me ask you this--Stay for the sake of the lady Jelenneth and for the sake of this company. We need you, we need your strength your compassion and your cool head when things get out of control." Kersath finishes with a quick smile, "We even need that damned lute of yours, to put us to sleep. So what do you think?"

Beleg looks up from his playing and replies to Kersath, "I will consider your words during the night, friend Kersath." He lays his lute aside, rises and says, "If you will excuse me, I need to pray and meditate over this decision." Beleg then moves to the edge of camp, spreads his cloak on the ground near Asfalof and begins to pray to Forseti for wisdom.

For the rest of the companions, the evening passes rather quietly as there is little conversation and no comfort from the familiar playing of Beleg's lute. Most head to their bedrolls early except for Beleg who continues his prayer and Gnore, who continues his watch at the edge of camp. After several hours of quiet prayer and meditation, with his head down kneeling on the ground, Beleg suddenly has a feeling of complete peace and calm wash over his body, draining him of all fatigue and weariness.

As he looks up, he gazes upon the bearded visage of his god Forseti. Quickly dropping his gaze, Beleg stammers, "My God! It is an honour. I am not worthy of thine visit."

"Surely you jest," begins Forseti, "If ever there was one worthy of my visit, it is thee." "I am disappointed in thee, my son, but nothing that cannot be rectified. As much as your heart may wish to leave this company, you cannot. The girl Jelenneth must be found, she is of grave importance in this world. And she will only be found through the efforts of yourself and this Company of the Red Feather."

As Beleg lifts his face to gaze upon his God, he questions, "But my Lord, with the atrocities that were committed here today and the greed that is in the hearts of some of these men, how can I stay?"

"You must not be so quick to judge the hearts of others, my son. As a Paladin of my faith, a chosen one, you have the ability to sense evil in others. Have you felt evil in the hearts or minds of these men?"

"No," replies Beleg slowly.

"Of course not. These are not evil men, just misguided at times. Your presence can help them, do not desert them now. Stand by your beliefs. They know now what you will and cannot accept. Find the girl, my son."

With that, Forseti is gone from Beleg as quickly as He had come. Beleg looks on for several more minutes as the feeling of peace continues to stay with him. After an hour of continued prayer, he finally rises and wipes the unnoticed tears from his eyes. He looks up to see the sun rising to the east in all it's glory. Compared to the magnificence of his Lord though, Beleg is almost saddened by the beauty of the rising sun.

As the others are breaking camp, Beleg returns to the camp leading Asfalof. He turns to Talimar as he is securing his possessions to his horse, "I will be staying with the company. Forseti has placed a great task on me and I will complete it."

"Great!" says Talimar along with the others of the company, the only notable exception being Gnore, who has yet to return from the edge of the camp. The rest of the companions clap Beleg on the back and welcome him back to the group.

"I will stay, but only with a few conditions. You all know my position on several issues. I will not condone torture of any creature, nor will I condone murder. I understand the differences in culture now and do not condone such actions that others may not have fault with but I will not be a part of it. If we can be agreed on that then I can continue with this company."

"I don't believe any one has a problem with that," says Talimar, "Welcome back, friend."

As the party makes their final preparations to leave and then breaks camp, Gnore waits on the outskirts of the camp for the party to catch up. When they do, he falls in line without a word to Beleg or anyone else.

An unusually warm day greets the party as they travel back to Milborne through the Patchwork Hills. They pass several farmers the closer they get to the road and Milborne who wave at the companions and greet them warmly when encountered. Finally, shortly before noon, the party arrives at Milborne.