Dhaelhel's Story

After quite some time had passed, Al'Kaera and Maree finally exit the command structure together. Al'Kaera was leading his wife gently by the hand, staying close in case she happened to fall. He nods to Nachytsm as he walks through the door, though he was surprised to see Anaree sitting there as well, and feeding Nachytsm raw meat. Not many knew, after all, that it was how he preferred his food.

"Good morning," he says to them both in passing. "We are going to begin talking strategy," he says more directly to Anaree. "If you would like to take your meal to the fire pit."

"Good morning," Anaree mumbled. She nodded to Al'Kaera; her father. The girl kept her eyes lowered and focused on the other naked hare in her hands. Nachytsm had decided he would be best suited to maintain his 'proper' etiquitte as he falls in at Al'Kaera's side naturally. He had started munching on the rabbit's spine by that point, keeping his focus away from anything that wasn't his meal or his charge. Anaree stood up quickly and pressed the rabbit into Nachytsm's hand before he walked off without it. She then turned on her heel and headed toward the fire by herself. Now with two rabbits in his hand, Nachytsm stuffs the fresh one in his armor next to Nel, who was finally waking up.

Molko had turned to give Al'Kaera a formal salute practically the moment he exited the dwelling, Glixenheimer was less formal, settling for a jaunty wave. He had taken over guarding the food from Dhaelhel, keeping an eye on him and occasionally waving the massive stirring spoon at him admonishingly. Selwen, too, had paused in her wandering to salute Al'Kaera, even though she was only under his command as a technicality.

"Everyone," Al'Kaera says in a voice loud enough to be heard throughout the camp. "Let us assemble and make our final plans." He continues to lead Maree back to where they had sat the previous day. He ensured she was seated comfortably before seating himself. Then he waves to Molko and Selwen, allowing them to be at ease.

Quick as a bolt, the moment Molko had been allowed at ease, he prepared two plates for Al'Kaera and Maree. Loyal to his Lord (and Lady as it were), he presents the two of them with the meal before returning to set up a dish for each of the others. Al'Kaera accepts the two dishes graciously, placing one on a steady flat stone next to Maree and adjusting the silverware so that she could easily place her hands on it; which he helps her find regardless.

Maree sank into her seat and sat slightly forward with her head hanging. The night had been difficult for her. The elven woman was far more pale than she should have been. Dark circles, much like Curtana's, ringed her eyes which were left bare this morning. Blind eyes looked down at the ground; all Maree could see was black. It left her to remember what Naar had shown her in the night. Only at Al'Kaera's touch did Maree show a sign of life; a small upward curl of the edge of her mouth.

By Al'Kaera's order, Selwen makes her way to the fire, choosing a seat and standing next to it for a moment. She felt compelled to seek out Dejah again, and gesture for her to sit next to her. "Lord Molko," she says softly to the busy Dwarf. "Would you mind sitting with the Ranger and I?" Peering up from the plates of food he and Glixenheimer were setting up, Molko nods and smiles. "Aye, lass, I kin do tha'." He then sets two plates aside, one for Dejah and one for Selwen.

Dejah picked up one of the plates and offered it out to Selwen. She did not say a single word but she gestured for Selwen to take it. She smiles and graciously accepts the plate with a bow of her head. She then stoops slightly to pick up the other plate, offering it to Dejah with a light titter of amusement. Dejah's eyes widen in surprise. It was perhaps not the reaction that Selwen would have expected. Instead of returning the amusement, it seemed as if Selwen had just offered Dejah a precious gift. Never before had the ranger been offered food willingly.

There was no word for 'thank you' in her language. Dejah took the plate into her hands as gently as a mother would have taken her newborn into her hands. The woman then bowed her head down low to Selwen. It was all she could do to show her appreciation due to their rift in communcation.Molko couldn't help but chuckle at the exchange; despite Selwen's request, it seemed they were communcating fine without him.

Selwen, though slightly confused, bows her head in response to Dejah's deep respectful bow. Then she settles into the chair she had chosen, setting her plate aside until the meeting convened in earnest. She looks up at Dejah expectantly until she too sits. Dejah sat down on the ground at Selwen's feet and seemed quite content at her position. This time it was Selwen's turn to widen her eyes. She opens her mouth to protest briefly, before she remembers that she would not be understood. "Ah.. Molko," she requests gently.

Turning to look back at them again, Molko was just barely taller than Dejah as she was sitting. He looks at the vacant seat next to Selwen, and then back to the Ranger. "My lady," he says courteously in the Drow tongue. "You need not sit on the ground, there is ample seating."

At first Dejah did not know that Molko was speaking to her but then she realized he was speaking in Drow. He had called her 'my lady' which left the woman baffled. "I prefer the ground," Dejah said to the dwarf. "I have not earned the right to a chair." He would have fought that train of thought, but the Dwarf understood honor, and she may have felt unworthy of the new group. "As you wish," he says amiably. "But you may sit where you like. You are among friends." He then looks at Selwen. "She'd pr'fer t'sit on tha groun'," he tells her.

Seeing as Molko was distracted, Dhaelhel took the opportunity to make a hasty plate of food. If Glixenheimer attempted to stop him, Dhaelhel was just going to step right over him. Glixenheimer didn't try to stop him; after all, he was busy making plates for the others, as well. Peering up at Dhaelhel, he inquires in a voice loud enough to be heard over the din of clattering dishes and whatever conversation was going around. "Is that for you, or someone else? I don't want any excess plates!" He seemed quite serious about that.

"It is for Curtana," Dhaelhel said. He left Glixenheimer with that single answer as he hurried over to Curtana with her haphazard plate of food in his hands. Nodding to Dhaelhel as he leaves, Glixenheimer ensures that the next plate made was for him.

Seeing Dhaelhel looking for her, she attempt to hide. Attempted, as well as she could from a god/goddess. She started over towards Maree and Al'Kaera, hoping to sit as close to them as possible. By the way the seating was arranged, she would have to sit next to either Jarlas or Nachytsm, who was standing next to Maree protectively. Anaree walked up to Nachytsm. Her hands were clean of blood. Since he was standing, the girl sat herself down into his "chair", which was basically a slab of stone with a back rest. Since the other side of Al'Kaera and Maree were taken by Nachytsm and Anaree, she settled with sitting down next to Jarlas. That should also deter Dhaelhel a bit. A bit at least.

Jarlas wanders back towards the camp, sitting with his arms crossed on the opposite side of Al'Kaera as Maree. He had an utterly serious expression on his face. It was a little known fact (and probably unknown amongst current company) that Jarlas happened to be Al'Kaera's only "surviving" Lieutenant. Despite his usual personality, he was still a skilled tactician. In a strange moment, Maree looked up and her sightless eyes locked onto Jarlas. He could feel the 'eyes' on him, and he peers across Al'Kaera professionally to look at Maree.

She... wants you... do you not see it? He will take her from you. Maree's voice spoke into Jarlas's mind. As soon as the words were said, her 'eye contact' was broken with the zombie. The elven woman reached for her fork. Jarlas wished his body still did stuff like involuntary twitching, because he'd totally feel that right about then. Maybe if I was alive I'd do something about that, he thinks, more for his own benefit than for Maree's. He knew exactly who she was referring to, but he wasn't going to think any names like Curtana or anything. Nope.

Find the feathers, Maree's voice whispered back, though it was laced with another voice; a pitch that was slightly lower than Maree's. That was interesting. Jarlas fully turns to stare at Maree for a moment, and tries to seek out the dark influence with his own mind, if only briefly. But he found nothing. Maree dropped her fork and bent over to search for it blindly. Al'Kaera touches her hand and stoops down to fetch it himself, replacing the soiled instrument with his own and handing it to her. Her fingers wrapped around the utensil.

Anaree rose from Nachytsm's stone chair and began to aid Maree with eating. It was a bold move but she could no longer suffer the sight of her mother struggling. Seeing this, Al'Kaera's eyes shift to a deep blue for a brief moment before returning to the neutral gray. "Thank you," he says, deeply heartfelt. He would have to thank her more earnestly later, but for now he had to return his attention to the slowly assembling group. "Welcome," Anaree said as Maree thanked her too. The girl shushed Maree and delicately made sure that her weakened mother finished everything that was on her plate.

Dhaelhel arrived with Curtana's plate. He walked directly up to the girl and offered it out to her.

It was around that time that Jarlas noticed Curtana had sat next to him. He was still being all professional and whatnot, so he didn't really think much of it beyond that it might be a place to sit. "Did'ja sleep well," he asks, having not said a word to her all morning and wanting, if nothing else, to clear the air.

Curtana sighed and took the plate. It was pretty much hopeless at this point to argue. Dhaelhel smiled victoriously and quickly brushed a kiss against her forehead. He left and sat down in his designated chair. Jarlas, having been looking right at the two of them while this happened, wished again that he could twitch his cheek. It was his favorite twitch. Turning to face Jarlas, she gave him a sheepish smile. Her pale face only accented the dark circles around her eyes. "I didn't sleep so well.." She murmured. A flash of red across her cheeks explained she would not go further into detail about why.

Dhaelhel had heard and chuckled to himself. Jarlas, with his Elven ears, could hear that chuckle and detected some significance. He looks back at Curtana and nods slightly. "Sorry t'hear that," he decides on saying. "Maybe you'll sleep better once y'get a proper bed, 'n all," he says. Curtana only sighed. "Some how, I doubt that.." She murmured more quietly, her feathered ears twitching. Jarlas actually felt himself get slightly offended, but he decided to keep that to himself. He didn't know the whole story, and he couldn't drink himself into thinking about it any deeper than that during the serious moment.

Dhaelhel's humor died away and he stared directly at Jarlas. There was an odd gleam in the god's eye; a look of challenge.

Tugark crouched low on one knee across from the group. His tuffed ears swivelled side to side, listening to the chatter of the morning. Still, he hoped Lady Samsara would still be willing to translate for him if need be. Lady Samsara looked to her right at Tugark. She couldn't help but to think of him like a giant friendly house cat. Her hand reached out and scratched the beast behind his ear. She was developing a fondness for the creature. It was a curious thing to Lady Samsara. She usually hunted beasts, not keep them as her friend.

The beast's eyes grew half lidded, a soft rumble escaping from him as Lady Samsara scratched his ear.

They were gathered enough, Al'Kaera decided. "Your attention, everyone," he demands at last. Molko and Glixenheimer finished handing out plates of food- everyone had one, either in their hands or placed nearby, even Nachytsm. He didn't touch it, of course, on guard as he was. Then the two short men returned to their own seats, Glixenheimer on one end of the fire, and Molko next to Selwen and Dejah.

Once the activity had died down a bit, Molko raises a banner from Al'Kaera's chair via some switch that Glixenheimer had provided. The banner was that of Nalinathris, featuring a mountain eclipsed by a tree, though there was a single, deliberate tear down the center of the standard.

"Thank you all for being here," Al'Kaera begins, with particular attention to Anaree and the others who he did not know personally. "I will try and keep this brief that we may get underway. First, I would like to get more formal introductions. I am Aderas Keegan," he states firmly, using his true name for all of them to hear. In particular, Molko seemed shocked to hear him use it so openly. "I go by Al'Kaera outside of this war camp," he adds. Then, he looks to Maree and taps her arm, that she might introduce herself next.

Maree did not stand. She gently denied Anaree's offer of the fork so that she could speak. "Maree Erd Lumariale," she said, using her full name. "Maree shall do just fine."

"Just Ana," the young elven girl beside Maree offered. She couldn't give them her full name. It would have been far too obvious who she was if she had. Anaree didn't like lying to her parents, but it was a necessity. It made her stomach turn and she had the urge to say her full name. Instead, the girl just started shoveling food into her own mouth to keep it quiet.

There was a moment of silence as Nachytsm obliviously stood waiting for the proceedings to continue, unaware that it was his turn. After noticing Aderas' eyes on him, apparently expecting him to introduce himself- for once, which was a bit strange- he rumbles out his name. "Nachytsm." He then, to ensure that the same mistake did not happen twice, gestures to Nel, in his armor, who was now happily picking away at the rabbit he'd set next to her. "Nelnethanya."

"Lady Samsara," the woman said as she stood up. She offered a gracious bow to those gathered around. A mischeivous smile spread across her face. "I am honored to be invited on this most glorious hunt. I shall not disappoint and neither shall my dear companion," the Lady said as she gestured at Tugark.

"This is Tugark but you will have to excuse him. He understands your language but is not well equipped to speaking it. I'm not sure what he is but I found him in a cavernous temple inside the mountain. He will be joining on the hunt as well," Lady Samsara said for Tugark. Tugark seemed to nod slightly, as if agreeing with Samsara. She sat back down and continued to scratch the beast behind his ear. The beast continued to rumble his 'purr'.

Molko stands himself up in his chair, so that he could be easily be seen by everyone. "Molko of th' Firestorm Clan," he says, bowing in a gracious Dwarven fashion. As Molko introduced himsef, Anaree finished her plate and stole Nachytsm's. He wasn't going to eat it anyway. It was cooked. "Nalinathrian Legionnaire," Molko adds after righting himself. "And personal Tactician t' Lord Keegan," he goes on, bowing deeply again towards Aderas. Then, in Drow, he says softly to Dejah, "Introduce yourself, My Lady," he suggests. "Or would you rather I introduce you?"

Dejah looked up at Molko and blinked. He had done it again. The dwarf had called her a Lady. Now was not the time but later she would have to tell him that she was not worthy of such a title. "Dejah Thoris," the woman spoke. Her name was the only words she knew in the common tongue. "Drow slave," she added in her first language. Her eyes dropped down to her untouched plate. Molko widens his eyes, though he leaves that untranslated, instead sitting back down. He would have to talk to her later. Jarlas, too, understood what she said, and looks at her with a mixed expression of surprise and indignation. He didn't realize that she spoke Drow, and it didn't register that Molko had been speaking the foreign language until that moment. He'd have to talk to her later, he figured. Dwarves tended to be pretty blunt about those things, he figured. And Jarlas wasn't blunt at all.

Selwen was clueless to Dejah's origins, though she was pleased to have heard her full name. Standing and taking a bow, she too introduces herself. "Selwen, of the Twilight Guard." Short and simple, she seats herself again, with her gaze trailing across Dejah for a moment before she looks at Dhaelhel, who was next in line.

Dhaelhel in all his glory, rose up from his nest-chair in one swift and graceful move. His wings glowed in the bask of the morning sun. It was not difficult to picture him as a god. His eyes briefly met Curtana before the fallen god spoke. "The Old God of the Sky of Arcanum, Dhaelhel," he said, pronouncing his name Day'ell. He folded his wings behind him and sat back down on his chair.

Glixenheimer had an expression of glee fixated on his face. He had been eagerly awaiting the chance to introduce himself, again, in such a formal fashion. Despite the grim circumstances, he decided he would utilize his full title. Barely even waiting for Dhaelhel to sit down, he stands to his full, unimposing height. "I am Techno-Engineering Assassin Glixenheimer Bolargian Gibnoticous, Former Grand-Master of the Thirtieth-by-Fifteenth Largest Under-precinct pertaining to Gnomish and other Underdwelling Folk, in the second Quarter of the Grand Capital City of Nalinathris, Greatest Mountain-home and Elf-land, in which-" Molko cuts him off by clearing his throat.
"That'll do, lad," he says. Glixenheimer gives him a somewhat sad look before sitting back down and taking a deep breath. For Molko, however, it was something painful to hear through Glixenheimer's titles all that they had lost.

Curtana looked around and saw that it was her turn. Sighing softly as she stood, she looked to them all as she straightened her skirt/shorts. After the last introduction, she felt her name was a bit simple. "I am Curtana.. Just Curtana." She said simply. "I'm of no family, nor clan.." She then sat down, a slight blush upon her face.

Jarlas stands up, looking around silently. Compared to the individual many of them had seen so far, he was being practically regal. He rests his eyes on Curtana for a moment. "Well, y'can consider us all family, I think," he says boldly. Then he looks around at the rest of the people he didn't know, or know well. "M'names Jarlas Fraiture. I'm a Ranger in th' King's private Guard. Also a Zombie," he adds with a tinge of disgust. Then he sits back down and crosses one leg over the other, peering at Aderas expectantly.

Aderas was shocked as he looks at Jarlas. He hadn't spoken with the man enough, nor been in his company, to notice Jarlas' pallor was due to him being apparently undead. That seemed to come as a brutal blow to him. Molko and Glixenheimer, too, seemed to be surprised by this, And Selwen seemed practically outraged. She, among all of them, should have noticed; after all, she was a Paladin. She remained seated, though she was glaring daggers at the dead Jarlas. Dejah looked up at Selwen and placed a hand on the woman's knee. Her eyes told Dejah that she was upset and the ranger attempted to calm her in whatever manner she could. Selwen places her hand over Dejah's, taking comfort in the action.

Composing himself, Aderas clears his throat slightly and stands, looking around at the rest of the group. "For those who are not aware, our purpose is singular; A Dark influence has begun to spread in this world. Dhaelhel," he says, gesturing to the man, "Has the power to stop this. In order to unlock that power, we need to retrieve his lost feathers. How many have you yet to recover, Dhaelhel?" He looks towards the man.

Dhaelhel stood from his seat to address the gathering. "There are six more that need to be found. All of them must be retrieved if I am to achieve Ascension," he said. There was a grave look on his face. The fallen god knew something that only one of their number knew. "It is imperative that I achieve Ascension. If I do not and Naar is able to get his hands on my feathers..." Dhaelhel fell silent for a moment to brood on what would become of this world.

Aderas interjects at that point. "Terrible things will befall the planet."

"And it will only be the first," Dhaelhel finished. He sat back down.

"To that end, while our primary objective is to seek out and return these feathers to Dhaelhel, we will not be alone. There will be opposition, of that we can be certain. Selwen," he says, gesturing to the woman. Dejah jerked her hand away as attention fell on Selwen. "Was attacked by Daemons before she was found and brought here. I have little doubt in my mind that this is coincidence."

Molko, sensing his moment, stands and clears his own throat. "I've designa'ed our strike teams as such," he begins, bringing attention to the lists and notes he had been working on through the night. "Lord Keegan, Lady Maree, an' Nachytsm will be 'eadin' our primary Group. Given tha' th' two o' them are important, I think our best course f'r them woul' be investigatin' a proper meetin' place fer us." He nods to Aderas. "An I'll go on 'bou' tha' later." Anaree was silently outraged! She could not be separated from those three. Not yet. Quickly she began devising a plan in her mind. Her eyes looked up at Nachytsm and stared intently.

He looks towards Selwen and Dejah beside him. "With th' Paladin's woun's 'ealed, an' with Lady Dejah bein' of sorts to stay by 'er side, I'll be accompanyin' them fer Group two, so I kin translate." Selwen finally breaks her gaze from Jarlas to look over at the Dwarf, nodding her approval before she looks down at Dejah. The dark-haired woman was making sure that everything on her plate was at it had been earlier; that nothing had moved. She didn't understand a single word that anyone was saying so it was moot to pay any attention.

Molko continues again. "Lady Samsara, Master Tugark, an' Techno-Engineer Glixen'eimer will be Group Three," he says, looking around at the three of them, who were somewhat scattered around camp. Glixenheimer didn't seem to mind his chosen companions; the noble Lady Samsara and her curious, massive beast friend Tugark would be interesting travelling companions.

"Very well," Lady Samsara acknowledged. Tugark gave a toothy grin to Glix. "I look forward to traveling with you." He said, which was translated by Lady Samsara.
"Oh," he replies, smiling up at Samsara and Tugark. "Quite reciprociated, I assure you!"

"Las'ly," Molko says, looking towards Jarlas. "Jarlas'll take Dhaelhel, Curtana, an' Ana."

Jarlas just nods as a form of reply. He had mixed feelings about that arrangement; maybe if Dhaelhel turned back into a woman he'd be fine with it, but there had opened a distinct rift between the two since Curtana became... something Jarlas wasn't entirely willing to admit to. Curtana winced at the announcement. Oh boy. Dhaelhel looked displeased too.

Anaree was not pleased with what she had decided but she had to do it. She had to witness what her family had gone through and figure out who her brother was. In order to do that, Anaree was going to have to plead with her father. She looked away from Nachytsm and then looked at Al'Kaera.

"I don't want to leave her. I can help you take care of her," Anaree said in a soft voice to her father. He would know that she was talking about Maree. "She needs the help," she added. Maree's face turned toward Anaree's voice. A kind smile rose on her lips.

Jarlas decides to speak up as well. "I'd be fine with that," he says, nodding towards Anaree. "I'm sure they'll need more 'elp than we will. Who's gonna mess with a Ranger an' a God," he asks, jokingly.

Aderas, too, nods. "I would appreciate it," he says earnestly to Anaree. He knew that, if it came to battle, Nachytsm may need his help. Having someone able to at least watch over his wife would be a comfort.

It took Nachytsm a moment to realize that Anaree coming with them meant that she would be around him, too. He wondered for a moment if that was relevant, but, looking down on her, it did seem like she was legitimately interested in helping Maree. He would need to keep an eye on her.

Molko nods somewhat with the shifting about, adjusting his notes. "A'righ', then. Anyone else 'ave a problem with th' arrangements," he asks, looking around. Dhaelhel almost spoke up but he did not want to risk being separated from Curtana. The fallen god kept his mouth shut and crossed his arms across his expansive chest. Curtana almost piped up as well, but for completely different reasons than Dhaelhel, she kept quiet. It was not worth offending the god/goddess.

Seeing no conflicts, Aderas nods. "Very well then. I realize it may be a bit short notice, but we prepare to leave now." He nods to Jarlas, who he would have break camp. And so he does. Going into each building first, to make sure nobody was inside, he takes out his silver rod and aims it at each structure in turn, and, with a 'pop', the building simply disappears. A keen eye might see a small speck flit into the rod's front.

Molko turns and translates for Dejah, "We're preparing to leave now. You should eat," he says, nodding to her untouched plate. "You're allowed to."

"But," Dejah said as her eyes flicked to Selwen. "She gave it to me." If he didn't know she was a former slave, Molko would have found that dedication adorable. Looking at Selwen, he clears his throat. "Ach, lass. She kin eat, aye?"

Selwen blinks, having been pondering what she may need on the journey, among other things. Looking at Molko, then almost laughing she looks at Dejah. "Of course," she nods, picking the plate up and offering it to Dejah again. "She says you can," Molko translates for her. Dejah took the plate from Selwen's hands. Her fingers curled around it very gently as she took it. Dejah gave them both a nod and began to eat, savoring each bite of the food. Selwen smiles at her and stands. "I need to gather my things. I will come back," Molko translates this to Dejah as well, before he too begins making preparations.

"Uh... F-" Anaree scowled and clenched a fist. She bit the inside of her cheek. "I know a place where we can set up a rendezvous camp," Anaree said to anyone that was listening. Aderas was, though he had stood up next to Maree to help her do the same, when she was ready. He had scarcely touched his food, though he would wait until she finished eating before moving out. "Molko suggested an area as well," he said, though the Dwarf had not elaborated on that as of yet. "I would listen to your suggestion all the same. Perhaps the two of you can convene with me on the matter." He was nothing short of courteous to her.

"It's just an old manor that was turned into a fort for a war a long time ago. It..." Anaree sighed, remembering. "It's really nothing special but it has a good location and well hidden from prying eyes. Easy to defend if the time ever comes." A small sadness came over Anaree and she stood.

"I will go talk to Molko," the girl told Aderas before she left him to care for her mother.

The Dwarf walks out of his fortress before giving Jarlas the 'OK' to do away with it. From there, he had gathered even more supplies; a vast array of weaponry, rope, chain, a few spare sets of armor, and probably about a years worth of food and basic ammenities. And all of it was more or less concealed in a backpack that seemed no larger than a tower shield. He begins to make his way back towards where Dejah was eating.

Anaree caught up to Molko first. "Ah, Molko," she interrupted him. "I know of a really good place to set up camp. I'm sure you already have one in mind, but you have to trust me on this one. I know this place very well and Valhaven is a great place to keep Maree and Aderas safe. It'd be easy for Nachytsm to keep watch and it's well hidden in a tame forest." He looks up at her in surprise, stopping cold. "Oh, aye," he asks, genuinely curious. "I'm no' too f'miliar with th' lan'scape aroun' these parts. Kin yeh tell me more 'bou' it?" Anaree nodded and started listing off the benefits of Valhaven along with its weaknesses. He would want to know about those too.

After finishing off the last of the camp structures- and the campfire and most of the chairs- Jarlas clears his throat somewhat. "Before we all go our separate ways, I've a question! Does anyone have what could be considered a Legendary Weapon?"

Lady Samsara tilted her head curiously at Jarlas's question. "Do you have a Legendary Weapon," she asked Tugark, "Aside from the one you are looking for?" Tugark blinked but shook his shaggy head. "My sword and shield are the only weapons I own.." He muttered. He turned to Jarlas. "Why does he need one?" "Oh, best not to pry into other's business, Tugark. Come now, time to get ready for our new adventure." Lady Samsara led Tugark away so they could ready themselves as well. Tugark pulled his snout slightly, as he did whenever he was either nervous or uncertain. "Yes, but he asked..." He muttered.

Dhaelhel stood from his nest-chair and walked directly to Al'Kaera. "We must speak, you and I. Alone," the fallen god said to him. Dhaelhel glanced at Maree and his eyes softened. "It is very important for you to hear."

Al'Kaera looks up at Dhaelhel and nods, before turning to Nachytsm. "Nachytsm, please attend to Maree's needs while I am away. I will not be long." He stoops and plants a gentle kiss on Maree's cheek before muttering to her softly, first in Nalinathrian and then in Common, "I will be by your side soon." Then, he stands upright and nods to Dhaelhel, following him.

Nachytsm blinks. He wasn't sure exactly how to take care of Aderas' wife. "Uh," he replies simply, dropping the scant remains of his rabbit and stooping to wipe his hands on the grass, before he stands close to Maree. He was nervous, uncertain. He didn't do well with women, and taking care of Aderas' wife was going to be troublesome, even for a few moments.

"H-Hold that thought," Anaree said to Molko. She turned and went over to her mother and Nachytsm, who of course looked absolutely clueless. She had overheard her father tell Nachytsm to take care of Maree. She had faith in Nachytsm when it came to protecting people, but caring for them? It made the girl nervous. As she passed Nachytsm, Anaree scolded him. "You better eat all of that rabbit," Anaree said to him. "And go wash your hands properly!" She shooed him with a gesture and then took her mother inside Al'Kaera's tent to get her mother ready.

Brutally admonished and left alone outside, Nachytsm picks up the rabbit and stuffs it in his mouth before spotting Curtana's bubbling brook. "Hph," he says briefly to Nel, who clucks up to him uncertainly. She had finished her meal long ago, leaving only the rabbit's bones clanking about in Nachytsm's armor.

Jarlas sighs, having received no weapons. He knew that Aderas' bow could account, but he didn't want to risk taking that. Having lost that cause, he goes to find Curtana. Curtana was sitting where she had been the entire time, her knees hugged to her chest. She seemed to be muttering to herself, softly. She was saying her goodbyes to her friends, the spirits that had lived with her for the brief months she had stayed in their part of the forest. "Hey," Jarlas says simply, coming up behind her. She turned slightly, giving Jarlas a small smile. "Hey.." She replied. "Seeing as we're gonna be travelin' together, an' all, you want your own 'tent'?" A gentleman all of a sudden? It was surely too much! "I can mark one to ya. They're pretty well impenetrable, to outside, and all. Made 'em myself." Curtana concidered it for a moment before nodding. "Yeah, I think that would be nice.." She murmured. Jarlas was visibly put at ease by her acceptance. "I just feel uneasy with.." She stopped suddenly, shaking her head. "No, never mind. A tent would be great.." She finished. "A'right, sure. Sounds like a plan! You got any requests? Styles, uh... special features?" Curtana flinched. "Unless you could make it possible where no one enters the tent without my permission, I'll just take a plain one.." "Done and done!" Jarlas bore a smile on his face then, as he whips out the rod and twirls it about his fingers a moment. "I'll have it done before we leave. So... I'll see you later!" With that, he looks around for a moment before heading towards the small cave entrance Curtana had mentioned was her home.


Leading Aderas away from the hustle of camp, Dhaelhel found a relatively secure spot in the trees nearby the camp. They would be able to see what was happening in the camp but the others would not necessarily be able to see them. Dhaelhel paced back and forth for a moment, gathering his thoughts.

Finally he said, "Lumariale's blindness can be cured, but at a cost."

"A cost," Aderas echoes, looking the man over briefly. Dealing with a God was always a matter of cost, he thought.

"Innocence, Al'Kaera, innocence. I tried to tell you earlier but you would not listen. There is a force powerful enough to exorcise Naar from a person's body. It..." Dhaelhel stopped and dropped his eyes from the elven man. Dhaelhel knew exactly what would happen if Aderas chose to take the path to cure his wife of Naar. But for the god's own selfish reasons, he needed Maree whole. Dhaelhel didn't say a word.

"A child," Dhaelhel simply stated.

Aderas was silent for a moment before the impact of what he was suggesting hit him. "You're saying, Dhaelhel, that in order to preserve Maree... we must sacrifice a child? And I presume this must be... of our own blood."

"You need only to carry one," Dhaelhel lied, but it was not a full lie. Dhaelhel would be more than capable of killing the child if need be. He knew what would come of it; knew what Naar would plan to do with a child in a person that was becoming his avatar. Dhaelhel could not suffer for the elven woman to be aligned with Naar, and he knew that Aderas would not be able to bear it either.

"Maree is afflicted with Naar. He placed a part of himself inside of her when she saw him in my memories. She will come under his influence and become his avatar; his vessel, a slave to Naar. A child will tear him from her body and leave her whole," Dhaelhel explained.

Aderas was not so easily fooled. "And what happens to the Child, then?" He fixed a cold, steel colored gaze on the God.

"Does it matter what happens to the child if it helps keep your wife alive?" Dhaelhel challenged.

The words gave him pause for a moment. But only a moment. "Yes," he decides. "I may have lost everything I hold dear save for her, but if I am bringing a life into this world, I want to know its fate. I am made of sterner material than you may give me credit for, Dhaelhel."

"The child will need to be killed. Naar will have embodied himself into the child." The truth had been set out before Aderas.

That took the wind out of his sails a bit. He looks away from Dhaelhel slowly, towards the camp, where he knew Maree waited. He could have easily said he would slay the child; he would have possibly done more heinous acts to save his own world. Even were it his own flesh and blood. But, when the time came, he wondered if his resolve would hold. "Does Maree know," he asks, an edge to his voice.

"Lumariale knows," Dhaelhel said to Aderas. "I have seen into her heart. She is willing to sacrifice anything necessary in order to preserve more than just herself. She is a true protector. If you doubt me, speak to her."

Aderas simply shakes his head. "I do not doubt you. If she is aware of what must be done... then I will... deal with it, when the time comes." He sighs somewhat, shaking his head. "So much has happened in so little time. It is almost too much to bear."

"If you cannot deal with it when the times comes, I shall aid you," Dhaelhel said, leaving no room for argument. The unborn child's fate had been sealed. Dhaelhel turned away from Aderas and headed back into camp.

Aderas, too, heads back into the camp. He was glad Maree would not be able to read his eyes, and see the pain lying therein. He could mask his voice, his body language, even his mind, but his eyes were his weak spot.

When they had returned, Aderas made sure to find Nachytsm before heading to his dwelling, which was the last one in the Camp. Stepping inside, he clears his throat as he peers about for Anaree and Maree; the place was littered with some few personal belongings of his, more or less the only parts of his life that had survived the Culling.