Gravan flinches slightly when the guardian chastizes him. "Ah, I'm sorry sir. I just, well, I'm just worried is all. Duon always warned me to look before I think and then to think before I speak, and I guess I get the order messed up sometimes."
Gravan then turns towards Inamar. "I'm sorry to you as well, miss Inamer. Inamar? Inamar. Sorry. I shouldn't doubt you, obviously you're here for a reason. Frankly, all of this talk of celestial alignments and summoning is a bit over my head, but I can sense that there is something bad about this Eye of Night. I don't want to see anyone get hurt by it."
If this ritual can help us in retrieving the gem of such fascinating powers i will be more then willing to participate Rooth takes some steps forward and lower her head to Bloodthorne and the others 'I salute you all'
The druid bids the shifter rise "Your skills are needed on this quest. Champions to explore the unknown, to face great dangers, and to unravel the riddle of this Bone Shanks." He turns his gaze to the tiger-furred chiao.
NR4ZN bows to the newcomers, a strange gesture coming from the damaged and muddy metallic giant. "Thank you for responding to the Bloodthorne Guardian's call. I'm ZZZZZZZsure that King Alagor of the Dover, would appreciate that you are rendering assistance as well. I hope that I may [crackle] may [crackle] may be of service as well."
The guardian tells you that the ceremony will be performed under the night’s new moon and the day must be spent in preparation for the ritual.
There is debris and corpses from the assault to be cleared away on the surface and in his underground caverns. He shores up the pool holding the elemental water nexus and preventing it from continuing to spill down the muddy halls to the elemental earth nexus pit.
Since the tentacled thing in the algae scummed pool at the bottom of the earth pit shows no signs of being able or inclined to climb out it is left for the moment.
The Guardian instructs Gravan on his part in the ceremony and what is necessary for constructing the circles amidst the standing stones on the surface for the ritual. He instructs Syfer, Rooth, Weylan, and NR4ZN on their parts in the ritual and what they must do. He then goes down below to restore what is left of his fungal apothecary and gather what he needs.
For Weylan he creates a decoction, mashing up certain roots and herbs then boiling them using water from the pool to extract internal essentials. Once the decoction process is completed he creates a compress for Weylan to apply daily until the parasitic stinging woodfly seed embedded in his neck erupts from his flesh in a cloud of seed spores that will be carried and dispersed on the winds. The decoction will ensure that the seed does not do permanent damage as it leeches off Weylan’s life essence.
He returns to the surface and calls NR4ZN over to one of the Standing Stones. He has the construct place its large metallic hand upon the spiraling pattern rune on its surface. The Guardian invokes power and the Stone flares to life with a bright glow. The large warzoder is bathed in light from the Stone as the Guardian chants and touches his staff to the point of contact between the construct and the glowing rune. There is a bright flare upon the addition of the staff and then the light is gone and he tells NR4ZN he can return to his work in preparing the surface circles where the ritual will be performed.
The Guardian then calls Inamar over to go over her part in the ritual and the preparations that must be accomplished before the new moon rises. She uses pure elemental water from the pool to cleanse herself and he prepares certain mushrooms for her to consume in the evening as well as an almost tea-like herbal potion to imbibe.
By evening all is in readiness, an inner and outer circle are prepared centered among the large rune Stones. Inamar steps to the inner circle and the Guardian stands facing her eye to eye. The vines composing his legs and feet unravel and root themselves into the ground.
As the moon breaks the horizon the ritual proper begins. The Guardian calls out a chant and strikes his staff to the ground before him. All of the rune Stones flare to life as he draws on the power of the Realm.
Inamar sees the flow of power channeling into the druid and his staff. The druid reaches out to place a viny hand upon Inamar's brow. Their eyes lock and he continues to chant in the druidic tongue.
Inamar places one hand upon the staff, touching both it and the Guardian's vine hand, and feels a feeling of power.
She feels his hand upon her brow unravel and vines spread over her head. She sees the vines of his arm and chest twist and move and feels them flow to enwrap her whole body. He unravels half of his body to cover hers, leaving his mouth chanting and his eyes staring into hers. As the moon continues to rise Gravan recognizes the chanting as the terms of the champion agreement. Upon the full rising of the new moon above the horizon there is a flare of the rune Stones and the Guardian calls out in the druidic tongue asking if she will willingly geas herself to be his champion. She says "I do." and thorns erupt from the vines and the staff, biting into her flesh and drawing blood. More power flows from the realm through the guardian into the staff and into Inamar through the wounds in her flesh, carried on her blood.
The vines making up even his mouth unwind to complete the covering of Inamar in his living plant matter, leaving only his eyes still staring into hers.
She feels power and connection to the druid, wild fey power, ancient power of the world, it is heady and overwhelming. There is also pain and the flowing of blood next to the ecstasy of the power. Staring into his eyes she feels as if she sees his very soul and that hers is open to him.
This is the signal for Gravan who steps behind Inamar and opposite where the Guardian stood before. The young druid takes up the chanting and gestures to the rest of the party to take their places in the outer circle surrounding Inamar and the Guardian. Syfer and Rooth take up positions next opposite Gravan while Weylan and NR4ZN stand adjacent to them. New mixed with old.
Gravan directs the outer ritual and it is a connection into powers of the Green the likes of which he has never touched before. There is am essence of living plant, druid mystery, and fey glamour in it.
The Guardian unravels further leaving nothing humanoid but his eyes staring into Inamars. Vines travel along the ground from his central mass to each of the five parts of the outer circle to physically touch each of the outer participants.
Gravan chants and chants and the air feels charged and electric.
As the new moon reaches its apex in the night sky gravan calls out the chant in the druidic tongue laying out the terms of the Geasa for the rest of the party. Upon the moon's ascenscion in the vault of the sky, all five step forward to place their hands upon the staff. Each states "I do." and their voluntary agreement activates the ritual. The rune Stones flare with power. More thorns spring forth to pierce the flesh of the participants, drawing blood. You each feel a connection to each other and a feeling of power centered from the staff. You recognize the shifter nature of Rooth, the psionic essence of Weylan, the primal heart of Syfer, the mystery of the green in Gravan's being, the soul of the living construct, the magic incarnate that is Inamar, and the embodiment of the realm and duty that is the Guardian.
NR4ZN feels vines extend across him and reach into the rents in his side from the wererat's inflicted wounds. The vines extend deep within his core setting off warnings of structural breach and system compromised status.
Each of you feels a bond created.
The Stones go dim and Gravan stops his chanting. The thorns, then the vines themselves withdraw as the Guardian reweaves his humanoid form.
From the side of the warzoder the withdrawing vines draw forth a memory crystal.
Each of you is bloodied but you feel a new connection to each other. The staff is in Inamar's hands, hers now as the new Bloodthorne Champion, and each of you as part of her circle.
The Guardian bids you rest and start your journey to the goblin territories in the morning.
When morning comes he presents Weylan with a supply of the decoction for his neck as well as his green cloth cloak. He presents NR4ZN with some of the moonstone that Bloodwhisker brought with him, a valuable commodity that can be crafted into weapons.
He bids you journey to the Goblin territories and investigate the Gannu mines to learn what you can of this scaled Bone Shanks and his minions, take what actions you deem appropriate, and then return to report to him.
The two crescent moon amulets will allow you to return to his realm across the fey barriers, though you must remember the way to the border crossings yourselves this time. His realm native ravens and crows were dispatched to specific druid sites outside his realm and they would not know where to journey to find you in the goblin territories.
Weylan takes the save, taking a few moments to make sure he's clear on how & how often it needs to be applied then fastens the cloak about his shoulders.
Then he turns and asks the native party members, "So, where do we find these goblins?"
'I have a idea where is should be' Rooth looks around snifs the air watches the sky and points in the right direction 'that way'
Rooth starts gathering her equipment and wile doing that she thinks to herself 'what a amazing thing ive felt so connected to the earth itself, such a feeling of liberty and yet so restrained to this physical form. That was more a energy feeling or a source of it. the druids hold knowledge far beyond ive ever seen and felt'
__________________ ~With Us Three Under Water You Will See the Beauty of the World~
Inamar comes out of the druid's den after washing all the blood off after having healed the numerous tiny wounds from the ritual. The blue tattoos still whirl across her skin, but now have acquired a slight green tint, making them more aquamarine than pure blue. The girl herself seems dazed as she emerges, holding the staff in both hands and gazing around with wide, shocked eyes. With her youthful features, small size and ragged clothes, she looks heartbreakingly vulnerable...it's easy to forget the power that seethes in her flesh.
She doesn't speak as she crosses the glade to join the others, and though her eyes focus briefly on each, it's hard to tell what she's seeing, for her slack expression never changes, and her stare is distant.
As Inamar looks at each of her companions she sees the magical connections the druid ritual made. She can see how using the staff she can channel some of its life magic to enhance her healing spells when cast through these connections. She also feels how the staff is adapting to her, how it will enhance her magic, give it more power when encountering the hissing water like resistance that the large evil looking rats and Gannu possessed that so stymied her before.
Rooth leads the party back along the path the guardian created upon being alerted to the new trio's presence in his realm. The path leads out from the cherry tree grove to the thick forest of reed trees.
The path follows the natural contours of the realm and eventually winds its way into areas NR4ZN, Inamar, and Weylan have not seen. The songs of exotic birds are heard and the buzz of brightly colored jewel-like insects. Small six legged lizards are spotted on tree branches and the small deer with antlers that grow straight back and the occasional sabre tooth structure are spotted distances away in parts where the reed trees thin out a little. The path comes to the mist shrouded banks of a stream, the barrier with Wildwood. Stones break the surface of the stream, forming a natural stepping path into the mist.
As they exit the guardian's grove, NR4ZN speaks ininterrupted by static, feedback, or similar malfunctions, "Lady Inamar, if it is your directive I will take point. But if have determined that it would be wiser to have someone someone else scout, I will, of course, accede to your wishes."
The warzoder pauses for a moment. "Please pardon the query, does anyone know where we are? My mapping function appears to be offline."
"We're at the crossing...about to return to the other world...the one we left to get here. Are you sure you're okay, NZ? You look like you're in really bad shape, but I don't think my magic works on you."
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