Liberty Beguiling

Petros, covered in brambles and vines feigns complete helplessness as the lion savages Azul only to carefully line up a piercing jab with his rapier into the lion's mane.  The blade plunges into the hair and the blade blazes with the light of the gods as it hits home.  Meanwhile, the thorns scratch at Petros's hands, causing him to curse the gods for their inability to protect him from mere vegetation.

Airborne once more, Zizi lets another arrow fly but this one is off the mark as the momentum from their ascent proves hard to account for.

As the lion continuously savages Azul, it bellows another earth-shattering roar. However, this time fog pours from its gaping maw, rapidly filling the area and obscuring the combatants from view.

"By the gods, what is this?" Xan calls put from above as the entire battlefield disappears from his sight. He calls the ethereal spear closer to the last place he saw the lion, but cannot see to aim at anything.

Sighing as the fog spews out of the lion's mouth, Sval sheathes his sword and draws his bow again. The lion becomes completely obscured from view within moments, but as Sval draws back his bow, his instincts kick in. The cold spot in his chest ticks his aim to the left, then down just a bit...just a bit to the right... there! The arrow flies free of the string, mimicking the brambles next to it by sprouting thorns covered in sticky green sap. It disappears into the mist and impacts something with a wet, meaty sound. The roar of the lion echoes out of the fog and Sval, just for a moment, smiles at his quick revenge taken on the beast.

The Lion continued to thrash the dragonborn about.  Azul's amethyst eyes grow wide as the beast lifts it's paw to slash him again. Blood runs down his face and armor but to Azul's surprise it was not his own. His armor has protected him from the worst of the beasts onslaught, but it would not last forever. Summoning his arcane might Azul manifests a fiery shield in front of him, stopping the lion's claws before they can pierce into him.  Taking a deep breath he gathers his resolve and lashes out with his saber clipping the animals hide unfortunately the monster continues it's rampage.

Brim and Rikrak mutually cower away from the monster, though Brim works up enough courage to fire a shot from her crossbow. She listens to hear if it strikes anything, but there is only the sound of its continued mauling of Azul echoing through the area.

Petros, feeling more and more useless being restrained within the vines and the thorny branches of the wall of plants, unleashes a scream or rage as a gout of flame erupts from his hands at the flanks of the huge lion, burning away the vines and the wall, freeing himself from their clutches.  As part of his mind tells him to flee from this monstrosity as it tears into his new friend, Azul, the part of him that had just been willing to sacrifice his oldest friend, Keravnos, yells at him to stay and fight.  To sacrifice himself for his friend.   "I've bedded a scarier lion than you!" he shouts in defiance, bringing his sword arm back up in front of him, finally freed of it's restraints.  He crouches down slightly and moves into the newly burned area, trying to get around to the lion's back side while concealing himself in the fog.

Zizi floats in midair as the thick fog erupts below. “Tricky cat.” they respond with annoyance. Thankfully the lion presents quite the large target, and it couldn’t have moved too far from where they last saw it. The fairy notches another arrow and draws in their breath, momentarily hovering perfectly still. The arrow punches through the cloud and draws a pained growl from within.

As the lion tears viciously at the links of Azul's chainmail, the roots and vines spring to life once more, grasping at Azul, Dawid, Petros and Rikrak.

The cloud disapates and Xan sees the monstrous lion again, sensing it is close to its end he Summons his power to him, as he prepares a strike, as he begins to dive closer on his angelic wings he calls out, "I bring the light of the heavens to you!" throwing a small ball of fire straight at the creatures face impacting hard and burning out an eye.  Disorientated the beast pulls back, falling perfectly in line with the onrushing spear Xan had struck with almost simultaneously, the ethereal magic pierces the creatures hide, the wound deep and telling. Sensing victory Xan glides closer, but just as it seems the lion wil have enough strength for a final attack, the aasimar feels another strand of magic come into being, Dawid is casting something new, and Xan can just recognise the sinister tones in a whisper that his apprentice is projecting at their foe. The magic seems sinister and shadowy but it is also effective, the creature seems to lose all composure, and then stiffens as if stricken down by something, in fact to Xan it looks almost like a heart attack. As the beast falls he turns back with an eyebrow raised to his apprentice, "H olding out on me  Dawid?" The half elf shrugs seeming almost as surprised as Xan feels.

As the lion dies, the animal makes an almost human-sounding sigh of relief, then collapses in on itself, transforming first into an incredibly old human man with a look of peace in his eyes, and then a moment later crumbling into a skeleton and thence to dust. At this moment, the entire shrine seems to grow more vibrant and colourful. The water in the pool becomes crystal clear and the thorns and vines sink back into the ground. Outside the clearing, the fog slowly, but steadily, begins to clear.

Azul rolls out of the lion's mouth, and flops onto the ground his sabre lying next to him. His breath comes in ragged bursts as the beasts blood slowly drips off of his soiled chain. For a moment he thinks of standing, but instead lies in the dirt just allowing himself to enjoy being alive.  In draconic he says solemnly "Glory be to Athena, without your grace death would have claimed me this day."

Sval walks down the stairs and examines the dust that used to be the lion-man thing. He grunts in satisfaction, and then looks back to the rest of the group. "Is everyone alive?"

Zizi flutters down to join the others.  “Living, thriving, never been better.” They look around, surveying the strange remains of the guardian as well as the transformation of the temple. “Well that’s all good and great. So our target should be exposed now, right?”

As Petros dances through the newly invigorated vines, he rears back to stab the lion with his sword as fire blasts into the beast as if from the heavens.  The lion's scorched face turns to look back at the source of the flames as it keels over and turns to dust just as Petros's blade plunges uselessly into the space the lion had previously occupied.  Figures. Petros turns around to see Dawid right behind him, but a glint of light at the top extreme of his vision catches his attention and he looks up to see an angel descend from the sky--an angel wielding an energy that Petros could feel in his bones was the same as suffused himself--asking "Holding out on me  Dawid?"  Xan? He...he's like me.  As the glowing waves of energy under his feet and radiating from his eyes fade, Petros looks inquiringly at Xan to ask him about this power they share.  About just what he is.  About what they are.  "Xa--" "Is everyone alive?" Sval asks, interrupting Petros's question with a much more immediately important one. “Living, thriving, never been better.... Well that’s all good and great. So our target should be exposed now, right?” Zizi asks. Worry about Xan later.  Focus. "Yes.  We should hit him hard and fast.  But smart.  What do you all think about a night raid?  This foe deserves no fair fight in my eyes.  What say you all?"

Sval nods. "Hit them when they least expect it. Good."

Azul unstraps his shield and jams it into the ground behind him, leaning his armored frame against it as he looks to Petros. Wearily nodding his head, his  accented Hellenic thicker than normal   "I agree, most of his followers we've encountered were humans. And from my travels I've found that your kind have trouble seeing in the dark." Smiling at the humans of his new clan "Fortunately my friends you don't seem to have the limitations."  Standing to his feet with a groan. "Though a rest would be nice, that beast's mauling has me running on fumes."

Brim stands up from behind the fountain, her knees still weak and face matted with half-dried tears. Her crook trembling along with her arm at her side, she steps forward and puts a calming hand on Rikrak's shoulder as the frightened kobold finally starts to move again. She ambles forward, coming up beside Azul with and taking a spot beside him as she quietly adjusts her hat back into its proper place. "...I would like to rest too. I'm sorry I was useless there, by the way." Her voice is barely over a whisper, a final tear pooling at the corner of her right eye that she reaches up and wipes with the back of her hand, "I'll try harder not to be next time."

Sval looks at Brim, confused. "What are you talking about? You made great bait."

Brim simply pulls her hat down, burying her face in it as she drops to the ground.

Petros scowls at Sval while lifting an eyebrow as if to say Really?   "Sir Brim, you probably couldn't see it, because of the fog, but I was wrapped up in vines and thorns for most of that fight.  He was a powerful for.  You should have no shame for falling prey to one of its magics.  I felt the unnatural pull of that dread when he roared as well.  I'm sure we all did."

Sval's confusion doubles as he looks back and forth from Brimblebread to Petros. Oh.   Sval descends the stairs and sits, sprawling out on the steps. "I did. I heard the battle horns of my brothers, still chasing me. No harm in being frightened. What I meant to say was...well, we did well -- you included."

Azul's eyes narrow as Brim throws herself to the ground. The goblin was a fierce fighter but this behavior was unbecoming of a true warrior. Though as the thought crosses his mind, he remembers her crawling away from the battle as the lion savagely mauled him. Anger wells within him, his scales ruffling and he opens his snout prepared to breathe fire of a different sort. But as he looks on, one of his father's lessons springs to mind. In as kind a tone as he can manage he says "You did what you could Brim. My father once said dwelling in the past only serves to endanger the future. Regardless of our individual actions, we came together as group and won a great victory. That is our key to the future."

Xan kneels down by the dust on the floor, reaching out he draws a tanned finger through it, even as the light starts to dim from his wings, then they begin to fade entirely. Once they have gone the light dims from his skin too until only the one white eye blazes. "I suspect there was more to your story than we may ever know. I hope you are at peace now." Looking up he surveys the group, holding Petros' gaze for a moment, a little nod from the sorcerer, in unspoken understanding of a shared heritage. He looks over at Brim and calls to her, "Do not go there Brim, you are valiant and you are brave, you are also tougher than you look. I would have been dead had the lion gotten hold of me like that." " And, possibly unsurprisingly, I am feeling like I need a proper rest before we take on any more tyrants or monsters today, thank you very much. I will be having some food, probably a good nap and we will see after that whether I feel up to ridding the land of its current despot." "Oh and Dawid, me and you need to have a talk about these powers of yours, I was very impressed as well as surprised. Take care though,  you gifts are wondrous and yet that last spell carried a trace of darkness in it. It would not do to fall into habits where we channel the arcane in ways we do not understand." Dawid looks a little shamefaced but nods at Xan's words . "Yes master, I will be careful." Standing, Xan looks to make good on his words and rest, but he stops still as he sees the water in the pool. Forgetting about the others for a moment he walks to the water's edge and kneels down. Something calls to him, something divine and his hands, held together, cup the water and raise it out of the pool. It shimmers and shines in the uneven light, Xan feel something in it, something pure. Raising his hands to his face he drinks deeply, the liquid running down his chin as much as down his throat but from the first drop the healer realises that he was correct, the water has been blessed in some way. A wave of rejuvenation runs through him, casting away the minor aches and the tiredness the fight had left him with. He laughs quietly to himself, "If we needed a further sign that we have done good work here, I recommend the water, especially you Brim, let it wash away your doubts and heal your soul. Azul you must have some too, it will help you."

Brim pulls the hat down off of her face and holds it in her lap as she looks up at everyone around her, sniffling back a final few tears as. "Thank you all. I don't know if I believe all of it but..."  she pushes herself up to her feet, gingerly placing the hat back atop her head and shimmying it into place, her hair matted and sticking to her forehead beneath it.  "...but I will do my best. Next time, I'll get up and I'll keep fighting and... and..."  As she continues to speak, the warble in her tone shifts to something of increasing determination and steady confidence as she nods in affirmation, "...and I won't even cry!"   Not knowing whether she was trying to convince them more than she was herself, she nonetheless picks her crook off the ground and walks back over to Rikrak. As she makes her way over, she watches as Xan dips a hand into the pool of water, looking seemingly rejuvenated with within seconds. Out of curiosity and also a hint of worry, she closes her eyes and invokes her connection to her oaths, feeling out around the area. Immediately, a golden aura of splendor radiates off of the waters, catching her by surprise. " Masaka!  Hey! Hey that water is holy! It's... it's..., uh, cons-constipated!"

Sval brings his hand to the water and also drinks. He wasn't sure what Brimblebread meant by constipated, but it tasted good, and the liquid's coolness seemed to spread across his chest and through the rest of his body. Not cold, like the spot in his chest. But cool and refreshing.

Seeing everyone partake in these holy waters, Petros takes a drink and wipes his brow and then heads into the cave of the lion to see what he can see.

Though the interior of the temple is dark, Petros's eyes cut through the shadows to find a worn altar and benches hewn rough from the stone.

Petros pulls out his dagger and wills magical energy into it, lighting up the cave and inspects the altar.

Seeing unfamiliar goat iconography and little else, Petros calls out, "Guardian of the Bloom!  Are you there?"

The light of the dagger flickers and the blue-toned apparition of the nymph is standing besides Petros. Her hand on his own is cool like water as she meets his gaze. "What do you seek?"

Petros swallows at the unearthly beauty before him.  "I...um...what is this place?  And what more do you wish of me? And...uh...will I ever see you again?"

Sval looks curiously into the cave. "Petros, who are you talking to?"

The nymph's eyes flare blue within her pale face. "This is an ancient temple of Pan, the God of the wild. It is the place of power from which the druid created the fog - and you have cleansed it.  In this dark hour, I had not even dreamed of encountering someone in these lands who could stand against the one who blights me, but you appeared and brought hope along with you." The scent of flowers and evening dew is dizzying as her voice comes softly to Petros. "With the strength of the fog fading, I am able to show you the way to Capricornus's fortress. Please, go there and slay our enemy, before he can strike another blow.  Your path is clear now. Ride north, free these lands and claim them in my name!" The nymph casts her eyes down for a moment when Petros asks his final question. "Of course. I'll come to you once the tormentor is gone for good. I hope to have a chance to show you the true beauty of these lands... the meadows... the flowers..."

As the scent of dew on roses comes to him, Petros is almost swept off his feet by the beauty of this being before him.  Reaching out a hand to lightly touch her jawline, to tilt her head back up, Petros stares deeply into her deep blue eyes with his yellow ones.  A strange thought flares through his head.  Yellow and blue make green.   With a charming smile, Petros says, "We'll go right away.  But I'll hold you to that promise.  When we're all finished, you'll have to show me these majestic lands of yours in all their...naked beauty."

Sval clears his throat again. "Petros."

Sighing and turning his head towards Sval, Petros raises his voice to respond "Just a minute mother."   Turning back to the Guardian of the Bloom, Petros takes he hand and bows over it, kissing the knuckles lightly.  "A pleasure to serve, m'lady."

The nymph's eyes grow cloudy. "Once, thousands of birds sang here day and night, the sun often left a spark or two hanging in the tree crowns and the starlight fell on sleepy glades like a glowing soft haze... Petros, I can see that I chose the right person, worthy to hear my pleas.  Should you lose, my heart will stop with yours, but should you win, the sun will rise once more over these lands. In its rays, in the ring dance of blooming life, we shall meet again. I leave you a small gift. A token of hope and the reward that awaits you after all these hardships." She leans forwards and places a pendant in Petros's hand. He can feel it fill his palm, corporeal. "Farewell- no. Take care!" The nymph fades from sight, the necklace in her chosen defender's hand the only sign that she was ever there. Once more, an intuitive understanding of a location is fixed in his mind. No longer Thorn River Camp, but now the fort of Capricornus himself.

Petros turns to Sval with a look of determination while placing the pendant around his neck.  "Right.  Sval, once everyone's rested, lets get saddled up and move out.  Time to kill that son of a goat."

Sval squints at the pendant around Petros's neck. "Who has been talking to you?"

Petros sighs languorously and smiles.  "A beautiful woman Sval.  A beautiful woman."

In the relative safety of the temple's hallowed grove, Petros and his companions make camp, rest, and prepare to make for Capricornus's fort on the coast of the Tuskwater lake. Only after dusk do they set out once more, Sval guiding the horses through the woods and across the hills, even as Petros calls out the course that they must hold to reach their destination. Eventually, with but an hour to spare before midnight, they arrive under cover of darkness. From the more heavily vegetated hills, the silhouette of the fort can be made out, roughly three hundred feet away. A narrow, exposed path of hard-packed earth winds up the hillside approaching the ruin. The remaining hillside surrounding the fort is a swath of hill devoid of shrubbery save for isolated thorny vines, but periodic large boulders provide better cover.

As the darkness of the night sets in, Sval removes a phial from his bag and takes a long pull from it. He coughs, the Cat's Eye potion stinging his throat and lungs. It sits leaden in his stomach and begins to change him. Black spindled veins arise from the corners of his eyes. Green irises turn to deep yellow and the world lights up around him. He knew that should his heart rate rise, such as in combat, there was a good chance he would burn through the potion. But until a fight broke out, he'd at least be able to see. "I can get closer and scout," he says, his voice ragged and gravelly with the after-effects of the potion.

“Please, allow me.” Zizi says, flitting away befor the witcher can protest. They fly straight up into the air and soar over the encampment with it’s twinkling stars of torchlight before arcing down to the most prominent roof she can find in the darkness. They take in the general layout first before flitting from shadow to shadow, clinging to windowsills and peeking in where they can.

A small, dusty yard separates the palisade from the inner structures. The ground here is of hard-packed barren earth. Dozens of barrels lie stacked against the inner wall of the palisade, each with a wooden or metal bucket sitting nearby. At the centre of the ruins, thick stone walls surround a cracked and crumbling platform of heavy stone. Huge chunks of the roof collapsed long ago, shattering into the rooms below. Sediment collects in cracks and along corners of the remaining roof, sprouting tiny blades of grass and rivulets of moss. A bedroll on a pile of straw sits in the centre of the platform, a small collection of toy knights and dragons surrounding it. A bandit stands guard in each tower.

After surveilling the encampment Zizi zips back to her party. She explains the layout she observed, noting the positions of the guards and the odd toys she saw. “Maybe they’ve got a kid in there? Not exactly what I’d expect from a bunch of bandits. What’s our gameplan?” They ask, deferring to the warriors of the group.

"We know their password," Dawid reminds the group, edging in to make himself heard. "What do you intend to do once inside?"

"If they do have a child inside, it's too risky to start a fight.  And these men don't seem all that loyal to Capricornus anyway."   Petros walks in the open flanked by his party, approaching the gates up to a long bow shot.  Amplifying his voice with the powers gifted him by the gods, he begins, "Peoples of the North.  We come to free this land of the tyrannical rule of Capricornus and to usher in a new era of peace and prosperity into these lands.  I ask the following.  Capricornus, come out and face me in single combat for the right to rule these lands.  Show us you have the mettle to deserve the loyalty of your men.  Or cower in your castle and prove that you are nothing but a common nettle , a burr in the saddle of this land. Come and face me now.  Disobedience leads to punishment .  You have 1 hour."

A fell quiet falls over the fort, until finally the eerie silhouette of a goat's skull atop a man's body appears on the rampart above the gate. He levels an enormous bow at Petros. "Who are you who thinks he has the right to question my birthright?" A distorted voice demands, echoing about the hills.