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Message: <blockquote data-quote="Delemental" data-source="post: 2622832" data-attributes="member: 5203">Endless HuntWith everyone reunited, the party made preparations to return with Bartlebee to the Amazing Traveling Circus.  The rescued townspeople agreed to travel with the circus until they reached the next major settlement, where they could then start over.  The party gave them the supplies the Ravagers had stocked up at their camp, as well as some of the weapons and armor to either use for their own protection or sell at the next town.            Among the refugees was the old sorcerer, who had gone largely ignored while the party had dealt with Kavan and Autumn.  He rode in the back of the wagon with them now, too weak to walk or ride.  Kyle rode up close and greeted him.            “I’m afraid we haven’t been very social since we rescued you,” he said.  “We’ve had other things on our mind, you see.”            “I understand,” the man said.            “So, what’s your name?” Kyle asked.            A pained look came over the sorcerer’s face.  “I… don’t remember.  I’ve been the captive of the Fiendslayer for a long time, and he tortured me every time I tried to use my own name.  The only name he would allow me to use or be called by was ‘Bitch’.  After a while, it was the only name I knew.”            “I’m sorry,” Kyle said.  “But that’s over now.  The hin will take care of you until you heal.”            The old man nodded wearily, then closed his eyes and drifted off to sleep.  He did not awaken again until they reached the circus.            The party spent three days with the circus, resting and preparing for the next leg of their journey.  The circus was starting to turn south, and they still needed to head east, toward the city of Miracle, where they would cross into Medos.            Late at night, the group sat huddled around their campfire, with Kavan and Autumn laying in bedrolls covered in warm blankets, discussing the events of the past few days, in particular the information that Kavan had brought back with her from the other side.            “So, this map on your back is supposed to lead us to information?” Osborn asked through a mouthful of bacon.  “What kind of information?”            “I’m not sure,” Kavan admitted.  “I was making the transition from Erito’s realm back to the world of the living, and everything was getting hard to distinguish.  I think she might have meant information about what’s been going on with psionics.”            “Then we should try and find it as soon as possible,” Kyle said.            “We have other business to conclude first, Kyle,” Tolly reminded him.  Kyle looked as though he were about to respond, then he closed his mouth and said nothing.  From her bed, Autumn looked up and gave him a reassuring smile.            “I think that anything from Erito herself is worth looking into as soon as possible,” Autumn said.  “Perhaps after Tolly delivers his diamonds to the Archprelate, we can spend some time looking in a library and see if we can find where Kavan’s map leads, barring anything more pressing coming up.”            “Yeah, because it sounds like whatever it is Erito wants us to know will help keep the world from getting screwed up again,” Lanara said.            “Lanara, Kavan herself has admitted that Erito’s warning was unclear to her,” Tolly piped in.  “There may be nothing that will prevent the enemy from rising and transforming the world.  Erito’s words may have been meant as a statement of fact, not as a call to action.”            “I have trouble believing that Erito would tell us about something that we have no power to prevent,” the bard retorted.            Tolly shrugged.  “There are some things that simply cannot be altered.”            “Oh, really?  Tell me, why is it that Kavan is wearing a dress now?”            “Anyway,” Autumn interrupted, to prevent the argument from going further, “why don’t we keep Kavan’s map to ourselves for now, and once we’ve reached M’Dos we’ll make it our first priority.  Arrie, do you agree?”            Arrie sat quietly nearby, rubbing at a spot on her right palm vigorously.  She seemed unaware of anything else until she sensed people watching her.  Looking up quickly, she balled her right hand into a fist.  “Um, yeah, sure, that sounds great.”            None of them questioned Arrie’s odd behavior.  She’d only slowly come around after the shock of seeing her sister die, and everyone assumed that any quirks in her behavior were the result of that.            “Well, enough talk,” Lanara said.  “We’re leaving in the morning, and those two need their sleep.  We’ve got about four weeks to Miracle, I think.”            “What can we expect there, Lanara?” Kyle asked.            “I’ve only been through there once,” she said, “but everyone out here on the Steppes knows about Miracle.”  Lanara’s voice took on the tone that said she’d gone into her story-telling mentality. “Miracle rests entirely upon a great stone bridge spanning the river, and is the main point of trade between Medos and the Steppes.  It didn’t exist until about twenty years ago, when the high priest of the church of Paccë came out to the great river dividing the two regions and beseeched his deity to create a ‘city of peace’.  Miracle fulfilled his wish beyond his wildest dreams.  No blood can be shed on its streets, or harm done to those who live there.  Anyone who tries to do so is transported instantly a mile outside of the city, and by the will of Paccë they may never come even a single step closer to Miracle, until the end of time itself.”            “Sounds dull,” Osborn said.            “It sounds safe,” Lanara replied, “which is why it’s popular.  And it’s also the best crossing point for miles.  And don’t think you can get away with something violent and talk your way out of it; you’re dealing with the will of a god in Miracle.  And we can forget selling any of that armor or weaponry we’ve been carting around; there’s no market for it there.”            “Well, at least it’ll be a short stay,” Autumn said.  “Now, like Lanara said before, we all need sleep.”            They all rose and began to prepare for bed.  Kavan motioned Kyle over.            “A little help getting up, please?”            The wizard walked over and began pulling Kavan up.  She looked ruefully at the tent where Xu and Lanara were already setting up their bedrolls.            “That’s one thing I’ll miss about being a man,” she sighed.  “When there were four to each tent, it worked fine.  Five in the women’s tent is a little crowded.”            “Well, it’s too late to switch back,” Kyle said.  “I’ve gotten used to the extra room in the men’s tent.”            Kavan gave Kyle a playful slug in the shoulder.  Then his face grew serious.  “Kyle, there was something else Erito told me.  A message for you.”            “For me?”  Kyle looked slightly concerned.  “What is it?”            “She told me to tell you that your family’s staff is older than you think.”            The look went from concern to confusion.  “That doesn’t make any sense.  My family is  made up of farmers, not wizards.  And what does the age of my staff have to with anything?  I already knew it was old.  Are you sure you heard right?”            “Pretty sure.  I don’t know what it means either, but of all the things she could have said, that’s what she wanted you to know.”            He scratched his head.  “Well, it doesn’t make a lick of sense to me.  Maybe I’ll understand it when we get to that place on your back.  Speaking of which, we should really make a copy of that some day.”            Kavan smiled.  “Kyle, there are more subtle ways to get a girl to take her shirt off for you.”            Kyle turned red.  “Um, Kavan, I know you’re joking, but, well… I don’t think you’ve been a woman long enough for me to be comfortable thinking of you like that.”            Kavan laughed.  “I understand, Kyle.  Now, help me get into the tent before Autumn.  She’s a sprawler.”            “I know, she… I mean, I’ve heard.”  Kyle quickly lifted Kavan and moved her into the tent.  Arrie was right behind, carrying Autumn.  No one lingered to talk more or enjoy the cool night air; they all knew that by this time tomorrow they would be on the road alone again, and with two people down that meant longer watches for the rest*.  Sleep came quickly, and the dreams of all were peaceful.*          *            *            For most of the party, the first two weeks of the journey passed quickly.  For Autumn and Kavan, it lasted forever.  Weakened by their return to life and unable to benefit from magical healing, they were forced into bed-rest for the journey.  Though the party had tried to make the wagon as comfortable as possible, it was still a bumpy ride, and with nothing to look at but clouds, it was a dull ride as well.  The noise of the wagon, combined with the need for the other party members to remain alert, meant that the only conversations that took place were between the sentinel and the new favored soul.  Though at first they enjoyed each other’s company immensely, after a few days they simply ran out of things to say to each other.            The only reprieve they had from the monotony was when the party would stop to rest, and Autumn and Kavan would be helped out of the wagon and given a chance to walk around and get some exercise.  The others would take turns leading them around, there to lend a hand if they needed support, and to protect them if something should happen.            It was during one of these breaks, about a week out from the circus, that Tolly offered to escort Kavan out for her exercise.  It was a bit unusual; Tolly had been unusually quiet and withdrawn lately, even for him.  Kavan accepted his offer, and soon they had wandered several yards away from the horses.            Unexpectedly, Tolly turned to Kavan. "So, Kavan, you have said that you have some experience with women – do you know how it is generally acceptable to court them in the Elven Kingdoms? I find my current life experience to be...insufficient."            Kavan was startled at first by the sudden question, but then nodded and smiled slightly.  “Although I’d say my understanding of women has altered significantly recently, Tolly, I think I understand your question.  If you are truly serious about "courting", Tolly, you must speak with a parent about your intentions. Does the woman you want know it? I must admit that most of my experience with women is more to capture their fancy, rather than marry them. I've really seen many more marriages that lack a sacred respect. I do know that it has proven most beneficial to arrange a date, or a setting, that would be desirable for the focus of your desire, tell her what your heart desires and most often - you will hear the truth of her heart. You should be yourself, she should know who you are.”  Kavan looked Tolly over as she spoke.  “I can help you with proper dress.”“Truly?” Tolly stroked his beard thoughtfully.  “I suspected as much, but I daresay we will not be going into the area in which her parents reside anytime soon. We are, after all, en route to another part of the world. I believe she at least suspects my intentions – I have gifted her a token of affection, made with my own hands, as is the dwarven way, but I know not if she is aware of what that means. She was, after all raised by humans in elven lands.”  Tolly paused for a moment, thinking, before he spoke again.  “But, in respects to another statement you have made – what is wrong with what I wear now? Is not armor or clerical attire proper no matter the time?”Kavan had to bite her lower lip to keep from laughing.  She didn’t want him to think she was making fun of him, but he was just so…stiff.  “There is a time and place for armor and clerical gear, and a time for something beyond it. Something warmer, fuzzier and more appealing to senses outside of war and faith. Something to accentuate your eyes and your step.”“I am a bit...lost when you say warm and fuzzy, Sister. Are not the senses there to help us to our faith? What could be more appealing?”  He sighed heavily. “I suspect there is more to this courting then I expected. First, I am warned to watch my step by her sister, and now I find I am too hard in the opinion of a fellow priest. Is there truly hope for such as I to win such as she?”“Oh yes, you can win her, friend – it may just take stepping outside of your comfort zone a bit.” Kavan placed a hand on Tolly’s shoulder.  “Not away from your faith, but in addition to it. It may also benefit you to befriend her sister, as you definitely don't want to come against her. Most importantly, you must act - do something - or it will pass you by. Whether it works or not - you must try and you must put your heart into action.  While Autumn has strong faith and conviction - she is also a woman. While her…”“Wait,” Tolly interrupted.  “Why do you assume I speak of Autumn?”Kavan smiled.  “Dear Tolly, I know that you haven’t had much opportunity to speak to women beyond the four… well, now five in our group, and only two of them are sisters.  And I don’t think you’re the type who would try and woo a married woman.”  When Tolly’s silence told Kavan that he wasn’t going to argue with her logic, she continued.  “As I was saying, while her vows of service may be much more rigid and faith based, the physical courtship may be more ‘warm and fuzzy’ - maybe even funny sometimes. I have found that despite any personality that any woman shows in public, behind intimate closed doors a much different personality may come out – one more primal and less refined – and there is beauty and a bond to be found in these times.  One that makes the relationship different than others.”“Primal?” Tolly sounded genuinely shocked. “You make it sound as though a woman loses all pretense of civilized behavior once they pass the doors of the bedchamber!”“I meant precisely what I said my friend, civilization has no place in the bedchamber - and if it does, it is boring and predictable. Being unpredictable is exciting.”Tolly scratched at his beard.  “I think perhaps we speak of things too far along in a courtship for me to consider now,” he said.  “After all, I have yet to win her heart; to speak of proper behavior in the bedchamber is perhaps not seemly.”“Perhaps you’re right, friend.  As I said before, my experiences with women usually only involved the bedchamber, and there was little effort needed to coax them there.”  Kavan took a moment to stretch before continuing.  “Let’s back up a few steps, then.  Tell me about this token.”“The token was an iron rose.  I crafted it myself, cold-forged on the ship as we made our way to the western half of the continent. Such a thing is given when one has wish to link one's family intimately with another’s, whether that be through marriage or adoption as clanmembers. It is not something that is chatted about lightly, though I suspect her sister… Arrie may recognize it for what it is.  I do not believe Autumn would know that, though, having not lived among the dwarves as Arrie has.”“You could attempt to send her the meaning of the rose in a dream,” Kavan suggested.“Send in a dream? Hmm…would it not be better to be waking, so that meaning is not lost upon awakening?”Kavan shrugged.  “Perhaps.  But dreams are nice not because one is guaranteed to remember detail, but because they impress us in a way that nothing else can - they impress intrinsic feelings upon us - in addition to some detail. It may also prompt Autumn to ask you about the item, so that you don't have to approach her first and run risk of making her feel stupid. The other way you could address it is by writing to her or asking her if she enjoys her gift?”“Ah.” Tolly looked back across the grassy field they were stopped in.  Some distance away, Autumn was walking with Kyle, unarmored but carrying her new greataxe so she could take a few practice swings.  “I don't deal much in dreams, Sister; in truth, I would not even know how such a thing was accomplished.”Kavan nodded in understanding.  She had to remember that Tolly was still a cleric, and a cleric of a lawful god, and thus his divine abilities were far more structured than her own now were.  The sending of dream-messages could very well be beyond him.“I shall move more in the realms of quill and parchment,” Tolly was saying, “and perhaps idle converse.”“Conversation would be good, Tolly.  Perhaps you should ask her to dinner, and begin to delve into the parts of herself that she does not show others – finding a way to bond with her in a way others haven't. Finding out funny stories from her childhood, or from her many adventures with Arrie before the rest of us met them. You can then learn what she values in other people, rather than what her ideals are.”            Tolly frowned.  “Bit tough to do that out here, Sister. The ability to converse privately is somewhat...limited. But the suggestion to get more of her past is a worthy one. I will most certainly consider it.”“We won’t be in the Steppes forever, Tolly,” Kavan chided.  “And please, stop calling me ‘Sister’, unless you intend to find and wed my younger brother.”“I meant no offence, Kavan.  It is merely habit; it is how members of the Ardaran faith address fellow clergy of equal station.”“Well, I prefer the term ‘friend’,” Kavan said.  “As to conversing with Autumn, there are many options.  For example, making the space to be alone with her - perhaps a picnic?  Oh, I should mention that tree houses seem to have the most wonderful effect on women, especially when surrounded by fairie lights and large comfortable pillows.”“Are all elves as obsessed with being in trees as you are?” Tolly asked. “I'll think about what you have mentioned, but I must say this seems...eccentric. Why would one not wish to be in direct contact with the Earth our Lady?”“Remember, Tolly, being unpredictable is exciting.  Maybe a tree house won’t thrill Autumn, but you won’t know unless you try.”“I see your point.  You have given me much to consider, Kavan.”She smiled.  “Just take care that you don’t spend so much time considering and leave some time for doing. Take care my friend, let me know when and if I can help.”“I will, and I thank you for…” the conversation was broken by a sudden cry of alarm back at the wagon.  Tolly and Kavan turned and began to make their way back, Kavan walking as fast as she could, and Tolly staying nearby, eyes peeled for trouble.The trouble wasn’t difficult to spot.  A small pack of carnivorous dinosaurs had spotted the wagon and decided to make a try for an easy meal.  Osborn had warned them about these human-sized lizards, known as raptors, and so the party wasn’t caught entirely unaware.  Kyle, who had been with Autumn when the raptors were spotted, had obviously tried to get her back to the wagon, but she had instead moved to engage the dinosaurs, swinging her axe.  She now sat in the middle of a resilient sphere, obviously very unhappy about it, as Kyle blasted one of the raptors with magic missiles.  Lanara and Osborn were inside the wagon, shooting the other two raptors with crossbows, and Xu was waiting for one to get close enough to attack.Arrie came running in, pulling her spiked chain off of her chest with a fluid motion of her left hand.  But as the chain came around and slapped into her right, she gave a slight cry and jerked her hand back, causing the chain to lose momentum.  In a flash, one of the raptors took advantage in the opening and sent Arrie sprawling, blood gushing from where a talon had opened up her cheek.  The lizard ran and jumped into the air, intent on landing atop Arrie’s soft belly.  Instead, it met the iron-hard foot of Xu in midair, who shattered bone and ripped tendons in the raptor’s ribcage and drove it to the side.  By this time Tolly and Kavan had arrived, and Tolly laid into the raptor with his hammer, killing it.  The other two in the pack, crossbow bolts sticking out of their sides, decided to find their dinner elsewhere, and fled.Tolly and Kavan rushed over to where Arrie lay, still trying to clear her head.  Tolly looked up at the elf, who shook her head.  “My gifts are different now.  I lack the ability to heal.”Tolly summoned up divine power and touched the side of Arrie’s face, closing the wound.  As she sat up, they all heard the distinct pop of a force-sphere being dispelled, and turned to look as Autumn began to move toward her sister, pausing only long enough to give Kyle a look that said I know why you did it, but I’m still annoyed.The sentinel was less forgiving to Arrie.  “Bail’s bronzed buttocks,” she swore, “what’s the matter with you, Arrie?  You’ve been scratching at that hand for days, and now it’s affecting your fighting ability.  If you don’t knock this off now, I’ll…” As she spoke, Autumn grabbed Arrie’s wrist and pulled it out, then uncurled her fingers to expose the palm.  Arrie struggled against her sister, but Autumn was too determined.The palm of Arrie’s hand was dominated by a large open wound, perhaps two or three inches across.  In the center of the raw, oozing sore was a dark spot, which seemed to rise up out of the skin and was clearly visible, almost as if it were floating on top of the wound instead of underneath it.  The spot was shaped like a mastiff’s head.Autumn’s eyes went wide, and she gasped, letting go of Arrie’s wrist.  “How?  When?” was all she asked.Tolly reached over and touched Arrie’s palm while incanting a healing orison, and the open wound vanished.  Now the hound’s-head mark was clearly visible.  “What is that mark?” he asked.Arrie sighed, and made no attempt to close her hand or hide it.  “This is a Hunt-mark. When worhippers of Tor band together to hunt down a fugitive, the priests join us all with a spell that makes this mark appear on the palm of our hand. All of us joined in a hunt can recognize each other because of the Hunt-mark. While we are hunting, the mark is visible and doesn’t disappear until one of Tor’s judges declares that the hunt has been fulfilled. The hunt if fulfilled when the fugitive is either returned alive to the judges for punishment or, in the case of particularly heinous criminals, when they are declared to be dead.”            “So, what does this mean?” Kyle asked.  “Have you joined a new Hunt?”            Arrie shook her head. “I’ve participated in quite a few hunts since I joined the church, but none since I went to the Tower to study.”            “So, then, this is a Hunt-mark for an old Hunt,” Tolly concluded.            “Right, but I’ve never heard of a Hunt-mark becoming active again after the hunt has been declared fulfilled and I’ve never participated in a hunt that hasn’t been fulfilled.”            “How long has this been here?” Autumn asked.            “It appeared the same day that we found that town that was burned by the Ravagers,” She replied.  “At the time we were too busy with them for me to pay attention to it, and then you… well, there was the unpleasantness that night.  Since then I’ve been kind of hoping it would go away.”  She flexed her fingers around her newly healed palm.  “I guess I kind of hoped a little too hard, didn’t I?”  She flashed a weak grin.  “Haven’t exactly been at my most rational for the past few days.”            Arrie moved to stand, helped up by Autumn.  “Thanks, guys, for saving my bacon.  I promise, no more self-mutilation.”            “What are you going to do about that?” Osborn asked, pointing to Arrie’s right hand.            “There’s a church of Tor in Miracle.  When we get there, I’ll report to the priests and see if they can explain what this means.  Until then, there’s nothing I can do.”            The party began to pack up to begin their journey again.  Tolly escorted Autumn to the wagon, while Xu walked with Kavan.  Arrie hung back for a moment, then motioned Kyle over.            “Kyle, did you really put my sister into a force bubble?” she asked.            “She was… rather determined to help out despite my advice that she sit this one out,” Kyle replied.            Arrie smiled and nodded approvingly.  “You’re pretty ballsy, Kyle.”            He grinned.  “Not really.  I was ready to cast a fly spell on myself if it didn’t work.”            Arrie laughed out loud, perhaps for the first time in days.-------------------------* Just to clarify, in our campaign there's a house rule that when brought back from the dead, you return at a single hit point, and you can't benefit from magical healing until you've recovered your full hit point total naturally.</blockquote>

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