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Message: <blockquote data-quote="Emperor Valerian" data-source="post: 1401506" data-attributes="member: 15043">A Mission AccomplishedAs the last of the party members arrived at the small cave where they had left their horses, Siabrey was surprised by very much pleased to see Kelir sitting outside of the entrance. She checked him over carefully as she ran up to him. Not a single, cut, wound, or scrape. Thank Hironeous! she thought inwardly, as outwardly she threw thankful arms around her father and held him close. Kelir, still adjusting to this kind of close contact with a daughter he never knew he had, withstood the hug for several moments before drawing Siabrey back.“I am glad to see that you are all well…” the siabrie began, before seeing the wrapped up body that was Igbar. “Oh….I am terribly sorry. You have lost a comrade.”“We’ll take him to the Temple of Hironeaous; they will take care of him.” Aris gave a small bow to the corpse of his former compatriot. “He fought and died well for a noble cause. There is no greater end.”“The strength of Kord sometimes does require death.” Grumki remarked somberly, which for him involved a voice-level somewhat less than an ear-splitting shout.Kelir nodded, but checked over the rest of the party. They all seemed remarkably unhurt, although his daughter’s lover, the red-haired boy, seemed slightly preoccupied and was staring at a new sword that hung from his belt.“I have to admit, I am surprised that you were able to handle 200 men by yourselves.” Kelir continued.“Well, we kind of had help.” Siabrey remarked bitterly, and began to explain about the mini blood war that had been going on inside.“So, you are telling me that these…demons…and devils….do not like each other?” Kelir began.“More like bloody hell hate each other with a fiery passion.” Shaun interjected.“Yes, and somehow the current owners…the Grazzt demon worshipers… tried to summon a demon, but the Temple of Hextor’s summoning circles were designed to call devils…” Pelleron finished. “So there was a mishap. Most likely they tried to call a demon and got a pit fiend instead, who saw what was going on and summoned more devils, while the Grazzt clerics began to summon demons to combat the pit fiend.” The Hironeaous priest gave a small shudder. “There was so much evil in that place.”Tess and Elenya had meanwhile gone to her saddlepack in the small cave to find the poor girl something to cover her nakedness besides Siabrey’s cloak. They came out a few minutes later, Elenya now wearing a stylish blue tunic with gold etching that was slightly too big for her, but she had the sleeves rolled up and had tied a golden strip of cloth around her waist in lue of a belt. She still looked slightly pale, and Shaun immediately rushed over and helped her to sit down on a nearby rock. “Oh sweetheart…” he whispered, tears beginning to form in his eyes as he cupped her cheek gently. Elenya swallowed a sniffle and threw her arms around him. Tess reached out and stroked her hair softly. “What did they do to you, Elenya?”Eleyna broke out into full tears at this, sobbing into Shaun’s shoulder. “Horrible horrible things…” she began, then suddenly bit Shaun’s shoulder. Her sobs came louder as she hickuped and laid an arm on his shoulder, healing the bite.“They…they cursed me….turned me into a wendigo.”“A wendigo? What’s that?” Shaun questioned, looking at Eleyna worriedly. Tess thought back to all her bard songs. “It’s…it’s a creature that needs raw meat to survive.” She said cautiously, looking down at Elenya sadly. “You poor thing.”“They…they did other things too. But…” Elenya glanced at Pellaron and Aris fearfully. “The paladins have to promise not to hurt me when they see what I am now…”Pellaron dropped to one knee and took Elenya’s hand graciously. “Have no fear, we battled hard to rescue you from evil, evil that you have already shown great bravery in facing. We swear on our honor to not judge you harshly, no matter what was done to you in that vile place.” Aris nodded and confirmed what Pellaron had said. Elenya took a shaky breath and drew her hand from Pellaron’s. “Alright. Let me show you then.” She motioned the others back as she stood on the rock. Taking a deep shuddering breath, she closed her eyes and lifted her arms. As the party watched, nothing happened for a few seconds, then suddenly a change came over Elenya’s body. Dark bumps rose and formed themselves into feathers all over her body as her arms elongated and her legs shorted. Claws formed from her now three-toed feet, and her face stretched to form a long yellow beak. Less than 30 seconds later, a 4-foot raven stood in front of them all. It glanced around at their shocked faces, gave a small ‘squawk’, and transformed back into Elenya.“A were-raven…” Pellaron murmered softly. Tess blinked. How strange. All the stories of were-beasts say that they are controlled by the moon. Yet Elenya was able to transform in the middle of day, and was completely in control of herself! “How can you control it, Elenya?” she asked out loud.Elenya was still shaking slightly at the revelation of her new form. “I…I was strong. When they did it to me. I also had lots of time to thinking about it, sitting in that cell….” She swallowed and went on, her face a little stronger and braver. “I also learned some magic by watching others use it against the others in the cells. I vowed that one day I would use it against my captors.” Shaun enfolded her in a hug, smothering his tears in her hair. “And so you did, my love. And so you did.”Tess meanwhile had pulled a small silver ring set with three bright red rubies…her wish ring. She clasped it gently in her hands, fingering the jewels gently. “I can remove the curse of wendigo, Elenya.” She said softly. “The were transformation too.” Elenya pulled back from Shaun’s embrace enough to look up at Tess. “I would like the curse removed, thank you Tess. But…I think I’d like to stay as a were-raven.” Her faced hardened again. “It could be useful.” Tess surveyed the young women carefully, then gave a small nod. “You are, indeed, a strong women Elenya.”Closing her eyes, she focused on the wish ring clasped in her hand and thought with all her might. “I wish the curse of wendigo to be removed from Elenya.” The ring grew warm and gave a single pulsating vibration before one of the three jewels shattered. Elenya gave a gasp, and them smiled happily. “It’s gone.” She whooped and jumped up to give Tess a hug before Shaun pulled her back down into his arms. He seemed highly reluctant to let her go. Kelir, who had been keeping back watching the whole affair, also smiled. Such love is rare…and precious indeed.Grumki had been eyeing the horizon, and now that the party had finished welcoming Elenya back, he decided now would be the best time to speak. “Perhaps we should ride out. The strength of Kord does not require hanging around the den of demons and devils.”Elenya laughed and got to her feet. “It is good to hear about the requirements of the strength of Korn again, Grumki. I agree though, let’s be off.”</blockquote>

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