Phar returns the unexpected hug with warm and all the grace he can muster. "I am pleased. And I believe Emninrieman is vastly wise. You might well find you can return home. But that is a worry for another day. Today rejoice that you have overcome this."
"Yes, it is for another day," He pauses. "I will have to face Lady Pendour's justice here in Carnell before I can return home," he looks at his altered form. "It is too bad that the ritual didn't turn me back completely into who I was before. I remember feeling different then... more serene in my thoughts." He laughs. "My atara always did tell me I was more like my sire in temperament. Now, I feel strangely fierce inside. No more dark and vile thought, but there is still the wild emotions I experienced under the curse." He pauses again then smiles. "Perhaps I can find my way back to who I was through time, but if not, I will learn to be who I am now."
OOC: Atara means "mother" in Elven.
A big grin appears, uncharacteristically, on Caerth's face when Galzadar is lifted of the burdens of his troubled past.
He did not see the hug coming, however, and he stands tensely, awkwardly, as the elf puts his arms around him. The half-orc is released when it is over, and barely hears Galzadar's words about treating "his people" better. He may have reacted more harshly, but instead he just smiled and mutters, "Sure, welcome..."
"Ah, I hope I did not offend you," Galzadar replies. "Will find our own accord in time, I hope. At the very least, I owe you a drink." He laughs.
Maur stiffens at the hug, half of it is he is just not used to it in all the armor he usually wears, the other is obviously this is the elf mage. Regardless of his soul, it is treachery incorporated.
But right now it seems Galzadar is too overjoyed with his freedom.
He follows him and listens to his speech to Eutharic.
"I am glad you decided this. Eutharic deserves a good chance, he risked and sacrificed much for you to have this chance. But both of you beware, the demon lords have a long reach. And some of them are subtle enough."
"Eutharic might not be good in his heart," the elf wizard replies. "But there is something there besides the instinctive evil that exists in all demons and devils." He looks at the quasit. "We will have to wait and see how you do, won't we?"
Eutharic nods.
"Do you wish to be a he or a she, or choose something else?" Galzadar asks his familiar. "Before you answer, think about it carefully. It is an important decision if you want to be accepted by goodhearted mortals. Some form of clothing might help too. Nothing to restrictive, of course."
"I- I've never thought about such things," the quasit looks down at his naked form, confused.
"If it's important to you, I will think about it."
Neurotic said:
"Eutharic, I've never seen the demon redemption, you hold on fast to your new self, I will speak to everyone about what I witnessed. Gods of Good, if you'll take to them, see more than your actions, your thoughts. And they accept failure as long as the striving is there. But the striving must be real and you have much higher mountain to climb than mere mortals. But I think you two can do it."
"Thank you," the quasit says awkwardly.
"I hadn't really thought beyond lifting the curse." Eutharic looks at its master.
"I was sure you would dismiss me."
"I must give you a chance to prove yourself," Galzadar replies. "As I said, it won't be easy."
The quasit nods again.
Neurotic said:
He looks back at the team, motioning for Angus to join him on the short walk back to them.
"Can we afford to celebrate? There are killers on the loose. On the one hand, we can prepare new spells tomorrow and be faster. Also, the demons might come for Galzadar immediately. Do we take him with us tomorrow? Or we go now and hope for the best?"
"I'd like to vote for taking some time to celebrate," Aureus replies. "But, you're right. The longer we wait, the more time Xander and that damn cultist have to get away." She looks at Caerth.
"One of them has a horse, so they might not be fleeing together. If they were to ride together, it would slow them down."
"The few spells I still had in my mind were wiped away during the ritual," Galzadar notes. "I noticed it almost right away. If I go with you, I will have to rest and meditate first."
"Justice must be meted out to those villains," Cruel Justice speaks from within the scabbard on Quinn's hip.
"You must not delay. Galzadar must stay and face justice for his crimes unless Lady Pendour grants him clemency. She likely bend to her peoples wishes, but I don't think the elf will be put to death. Lady Pendour would not have let the ritual go ahead if she planned to execute him."
"I will stay and accept her judgement," Galzadar replies to the blade. "I am glad to see you have escaped that horrific island too. Peregrine would be happy that you have found a new companion who fits your ideals."
"Yes, Sir Quinn is a fine soldier and we have come to rely on each other," Cruel Justice says.
"Lady Aureus and I also bonded for a while, but our souls clashed."
"You know you love me, CJ," Aureus says with a grin.
"CJ!" Galzadar is shocked at the hutaakan's informality with the intelligent blade. "You let them call you CJ?" Galzadar laughs.
"Lady Aureus is allowed to call me that! And only her!" The blade intones loudly.
Eutharic stifles a laugh.
JustinCase said:
Then Caerth turns to Maur, his expression once again stern and serious.
"The longer we wait, the harder it will be to track them. We've no time to waste; celebrations will come after we've caught those fleeing captives and made sure the battleground is clean enough."
Privately, he decides not to say anything about the fey'ri demon lord Vok ruling over Narda'taur who's had a big hand in this, and the need to confront that foul fiend. That's not for today, and would spoil the starlight elf's happy moment.
But soon they will have to make a plan for that, and allies to call upon.
"Then, you should not wait for me," Galzadar insists. "Go and catch those murders and body snatchers. I really do need to rest. I hope Elisabeth will allow me to center my mind before any judgement. But, I cannot hope for favoritism even though Peregrine and I were friends and adventuring companions before he came to came Carnell. While many here in the village knew me as who I was before, I cannot hope to be forgiven based only on my past self."
"You were cursed," Aureus notes.
"That's got to count for her judgement."
"Perhaps," Galzadar says. "It is strange. There is a part of me that wants to run away and hide. It is very strong. The wildness in my mind. But, then I remember my friendship with Peregrine and I know that I must stay and face judgement."
"It would best if Eutharic stayed out of the village," Aries suggests as all walk the path back into Carnell. "Lady Pendour won't accept it near her people. She's said as much."
"Hmm, I'm not sure what to do about that," Galzadar says. "I will not force my familiar to flee. I wonder, is there someplace Eutharic can retreat to that is nearby but not too close."
"I- I don't want to leave your side," Eutharic pouts.
"We will honor Lady Pendour's wish, Eutharic," Galzadar insists. "It will be temporary, at best." The shadowstar elf wizard pauses on the path, then he looks at Caerth. "Can Eutharic go with you to help find the fugitives?"
"The quasit could also go scout the island," Aries suggests. "Its ability to be invisible will provide it protection from danger."
"Not from the undead," Eutheric replies.
"I'd rather go hunt Xander. The duergar was always cruel to me." The quasit ponders.
"Is vengeance an okay emotion to keep inside?"
"Justice, not vengeance, demon," Cruel Justice insists.
"You must learn the difference."
"Regardless, until we go, you're going to have to wait far outside the village," Aureus suggests.
"I'd say go down to the beachhead and search along the shoreline for any signs of trespassers. There are also two locals missing that need to be found. Sir Gareth is the village's sheriff and Quinten is a young man who runs the pier. If you can help find and rescue them, the people might accept you more."
"I can do that!" Eutharic says excitedly. The demon flits around Aureus and claps its hands.
"What do they look like. You mortals all look so alike."
Aureus gives the quasit a short description of the two missing citizens.
"Search as far as you feel is safe, Eutharic," Galzadar says to his familiar. "Don't take any risks."
"And watch out for giant sand spiders," Aureus adds.
"The locals believe they might have been taken by sand spiders."
"S- sand spiders!" Eutharic replies with fear.
"Those are dangerous!"
"As I said, don't take any risks. if you see any signs of spiders, retreat back to the pier. We will let Lady Pendour know you are helping to find the missing villagers. Consider this your first real test."
Eutharic lands on the ground. It looks afraid.
"I- I don't know."
"You said you would try," Galzadar says with his arms crossed. "Just be careful, retreat if there is danger, and if you encounter the vermin, do not lead them towards the village. If you have to retreat far away, then fly to Gurnard's Head and hide on the other side of the island away from the tower and temple. Go to one of the old fishing shacks, and one of us will come find you, when we can."
"If you're invisible, the sand spiders won't be able to detect you as long as you avoid their webs or any ground near them. Stick to the air and you'll be okay," Aries says to the quasit.
"Um, okay." The quasit doesn't sound convinced.
