Stormraider Keep (A M.E.T.A.L. Campaign)

Presxina looks thoughtful for a moment. "It's so hard to say, with each person reacting differently.  She should physically regain consciousness within minutes. But if there are any mental effects it could take longer."  She glances about, "So where is in exactly?  If it's somewhere near, then let's get her inside." 

(OOC - The blink dogs are still inside the hideout. Which cannot really be seen from outside.) 

"Alright, let's move on to the hideout, but we would have to keep moving soon." Elyria says, still staying by Rahkeshi and Lady, letting Yoë show the way. 
Meanwhile Aelric is still scouting their surroundings for incoming threats.

Yoë leads the way to the hideout inside the tree.  "Right this way," she motions to whoever is carrying Rahkeshi. "I can grab some blankets if you want to set her on the floor down here. Or there's a bed upstairs."

"Here is fine," Presxina says. "We can move her later if necessary."

As soon as you come in,  Acorn comes bounding over to Elyria.  Sozi seems more reserved as she approaches Rahkeshi.  She seems excited but restrained as she looks for any movement from the half-orc, which doesn't come.

The place otherwise looks much as you left it.

Aurelius says, with a neutral voice but smiling, "I'm not sure we would notice any lingering mental effects.  She was a little unstable to begin with..."

He nods gratefully at Yoë for sharing her home with them, and risking herself.   (OOC was there an upstairs lookout, or does he need to go back outside to stand watch?)

Elyria helps moving Rahkeshi over from Lady to the floor inside the tree, staying by her side, taking her hand, giving Aurelius a cold glare at his comment. 

(OOC - yes, upstairs were two floors of bedrooms then above is an observation area.)

Chuckling to himself, the paladin will ascend to the observation area to keep a lookout.

Flynt provides cover for the others as they get Rahkeshi settled. He remains outside putting himself in a better place to react should Betsy alert him.

Once Rahkeshi is settled, Presxina starts to examine her. She takes a couple minutes to examine the half-orc, mumbling a few things under her breath as she works. Finally, she looks up at everyone. "She looks good - unconscious - but still in good condition.  I won't know more until we try to wake her."  She removes the stopper from a small glass bottle.  With one hand behind Rahkeshi's neck and the other gently pushing her chin to open her mouth, she then let's several drops fall from the bottle into her mouth.  Setting the bottle to the side and stoppering it, then she then makes she her mouth is closed and she consumes the liquid.  "Well, nothing but waiting now." 

Yoë returns Aurelius' nod a bit awkwardly, looking a little unsure whether that is the right response. "Thank you, but you are all more than welcome here. Of course!" She then stands nearby, watching all that Presxina does. She remains silent until she's administered the antidote to Rahkeshi.  "You must have a lot of experience treating patients. What all was in the liquid? Was it hard to make? Did you use the mushrooms in actually making it or just used it to figure out the antidote?"

"Oh! So many questions! Well, let's see - I guess I do have a fair amount of experience treating patients. I'm the healer for my village. Mostly scrapes and scratches really. Rarely poisonings. And nothing like this! As for the rest, well..."  Presxina continues on to chatter with Yoë, unless anyone interrupts. 

Upstairs Aurelius has a fair view of the surroundings, blocked only a little bit by the trees.  But you can see most approaches to the tree hideout itself.  All seems quiet.  Flynt also does not see nor hear anything.  His crossbow does not alert him.  

Aurelius will descend.  "Well, Elyria?  Shall we remove the raiment of nature items, and take them with us to draw away the pursuit?  Or do we wait here and risk a siege?"

Elyria just kneels in silence by Rahkeshi, holding her hand, watching intently for any sign of the half-orc waking up. At Aurelius' question she stays silent for a while, thinking, then turning to Presxina. "Can we bring her with us on Lady, or must she rest here now?" She asks, seemingly very hard to convince to leave her companion again now that she finally have found her.

"Friend," the half-elf replies, "that would put us at a tactical disadvantage, she would be much easier to protect if we remained here.  The only reason to depart is if we leave her behind."

 "She would probably be better off here," Presxina says. "I'm not sure she would recover any faster.  But especially if she's disoriented at all it would be best not to be strapped to a horse."

The Harengon takes another close look at the half-orc.  "She does seem to be doing fine."

Aurelius smiles at the harengon.  "You really are quite remarkable.  To be able to create such a powerful antidote using only a few old tomes and some ingredients you've only heard of in legend, it is amazing.  We are greatly in your debt.  I shall have to compose a song about you!"

The Harengon smiles shyly at Aurelius. "Oh! Well, I've done nothing to warrant a song! But I would welcome listening to a song, if you have one, while we wait. Or are you and Elyria leaving? I wasn't sure what all is happening."  She looks over at the half-orc a moment as she seems to move the tiniest bit. "Ah! I think the primary effects of the poison are clearing.  Now we'll have to see if she is truly awake."  She turns back to Aurelius, evidently not expecting any immediate response from Rahkeshi. "You must know some fancy dance tunes or something?" 

"I love dancing!" Yoë says, jumping to her feet. 

Outside, Flynt gets no warnings from his crossbow. However, he does think he seems some movement amongst the trees quite some distance away.  However, after watching intently for several long minutes, whatever it was seems to have gone away.  

Elyria messages Aelric, asking him to be diligent with his scouting as they could expect visitors at any moment.

(Not sure if Aelric saw anything as he keeps a lookout in post #2589?)

Turning to Yoë, the paladin says, "I will play you a fine dancing tune, although perhaps not 'fancy', when we are safely settled.  For now, though, we must remain vigilant.  It cannot be said that Aurelius was caught dancing while danger lurked nearby.  I will return aloft and keep watch.  Come find me if Rahkeshi awakes."

He then climbs up to the observation area once more, and scans the surrounding forest.

Aelric had not noticed anything. And Flynt doesn't see anything more. 

"I can keep an eye on Rahekshi," Presxina says as Aurelius heads back up the stairs.  He gets to the lookout and peers out in each of the directions.  You too do not see anything out there.

Yoë looks a little disappointed there will be no tune right now. "Oh, ok. Yea. We'll just sit quiet until something happens." She finds one of the chairs and sits down, turning it so she can keep an eye on Rahkeshi.  

Nearly 15 minutes pass without anything being seen outside. And Rahkeshi's arm seems to move slightly, then her head moves just a fraction.  

"Rahkeshi.......Rahkeshi........" Elyria says softly as the half-orc stirs, holding her hand gently, watching her intently for more signs of waking up. "I think she might be coming to." She says in a lowered but a bit excited voice to Presxina and Yoë.

"Wha..." Rahkeshi says softly, her eyes slowly opening. She continues slowly, like someone just barely waking up. "Elyria? Oh..."  She gives the briefest of smiles, before a concerned look crosses her face. She starts to move more actively, pulling her hand away from Elyria. "No! You won't fool me! You lured me in to poison me! Imposter!" she declares angrily. She tries to push herself up and move away from the others. 

"Oh! You shouldn't get up so quickly!" Presxina says with concern as she sees the half-orc trying to rise. "You may still feel some effects of the poision - dizziness perhaps."

Elyria, sitting close to Rahkeshi, notices her dark brown eyes seem to shift color, glowing for a moment with a lighter hue. She seems to study Elyria a moment. "No, it really is you," she mutters as she turns, first to the Harengon, then towards Yoë.  "And you as well," she adds, again looking back at Presxina. "Who are you though? Yet another M.E.T.A.L. agent?" 

Yoë exclaims, "Rahkeshi!" She wiggles around, trying to hurriedly get out of her chair. "You're alive!  Oh... well, you were alive. But you're awake!"