"Bury his weapons with him," says Aurelius, "he may need them in the afterlife.  But take the armor if you like."

"Don't suppose anyone has a shovel? Why don't the rest of you start looking about for rocks to stack on top." Quips Flynt as he picks up the fallen sword and begins hacking at the ground. Once enough of the top soil has been broken up enough he switches to the side of the blade and begins to scrape the dirt from the shallow hole. He repeats the process until he has cleared an area as long and wide as the Eladrin. Once the deapth is about eight inches he drags the body over and roles it into the hole. Flynt makes sure he removes the armor and then places the rest of the soilders belongings inside the shallow grave. He sets the sword aside along with a ribbon of fabric showing the colors of Lady Sylmare intending to use them as a grave marker. Flynt gets up and joins the hunt for stones. He places each large rock carefully on top of the body, filing in the cracks between stones with the escavated dirt. Using one of the rocks as a hammer he pounds the pommel of the fallen soldiers sword driving the tip deep into the earth. He ends by tying the ribbin around the hilt.

Elyria hestitates, but then she strips the armour of the fallen Eladrin as respectfully as possible, then helping the others with the burial.

"I have a very small trowel in my kit, but it certainly is not appropriate for what you have in mind," Rahkeshi says in response to Flynt's query. She sets about gathering stones. Quite a few in fact. Now and then as she is gathering them up she seems to look off to the side or slightly up into the air. "Yes, yes, I see that one," she mutters softly.  Or "We don't need... ok, fine, I'll get that one too." 

She joins back with the others, helping cover the body with stones.  When it is all complete, she gives Flynt a nod. "You've done a fine job with this." 

Elyria nods and smiles at Flynt in agreement with Rahkeshi. As the burial ceremony eventually is concluded, the blonde elven maiden carefully dons the leaf armor of the fallen Eladrin.

Elyria can tell the armor is magical.  Nothing specifically happens though from just donning it. 

(You would need to examine it during a short rest to understand what abilities it has.  If it has any passive benefits without attunement you would get them without knowing while wearing it.  Or of course use Identify spell to get more immediate results. Attunement if needed would take another short rest.) 

 Rahkeshi watches as Elyria puts on the armor, asking her if it does anything when she puts it on. She then asks, "What is our next move? We should probably continue on our way to the hideout?" 

Elyria nods in agreement, still a bit saddened by the unnecessary death it seems. "Yes, definitely hideout first." She says, checking on her gear before moving out, Aelric scouting ahead.

Survival: 21
Perception: 20
Aelric perception: 11

(Aurelius and Flynt also ready to move on?) 

Flynt removes his hat and wipes his brow. He takes a long drink from his water skin and says, "Yup let's get back to the cabin. We need to re group I think and decide our next course of action."

(I understand Rob may have some computer issues at the moment. We'll move along and hopefully he will rejoin us soon.) 

Rahkeshi follows after Elyria as she heads off.  Aelric reports seeing Pansirak in the distance.  He seems to be headed back towards the direction of Leilatha's fortress. But otherwise, there is nothing else of interest.  You travel several more hours without incident and arrive back at the hideout tree.  

Both Yoë and Presxina are outside the hideout as you approach. "We saw you coming from the observation area!" Yoë says excitedly. "We were worried when you didn't show up yesterday!" 

"Yes, you must tell us all about what happened," Presxina says. She slowly looks over each of you. "You are all well?"  She pauses as she studies Rahkeshi, who does look a bit battered.  Actually, quite a bit battered. 

"We were successful in our mission, Lady Sylmare is dead, we were returning when a dragon led us astray and delayed us coming here. Then we unfortunately had a brief run in with some Eladrin scouts." Elyria explains with a relieved smile over seeing Yoë and Presxina safe at the hideout. "Come, let me see to your wounds." She then turns and says softly to Rahkeshi with a warm smile, taking her inside. "We should all rest now, tomorrow we decide where we head next." She turns and says to the others.

"Yay! Lady Sylmare is dead!" Yoë cheers. "I bet all those Eladrin have gone scurrying back home now and we can get back to just living our lives. This is great!  We need to have a party," she says.  She looks over to Rahkeshi, her eyes suddenly get wide. "OH! We should head back into town and hold a big party for EVERYONE! Although, we can just have a bit of celebration here first."  

Rahkeshi says, "Well, I'm not so sure about a party Yoë."  She then looks at Elyria. "Yes, I should have paid more attention to my wounds. I can probably heal some of this." 

Yoë seems visibly saddened when Rahkeshi doesn't share her enthusiasm. Presxina quickly comes up to her. "They're probably all tired from their travels and travails. We should get a nice hearty meal going for them.  We can talk about parties later."  She glances to Elyria, then Aurelius and Flynt as well. "If you folks need any help with healing I can see if I might provide an herbal remedies. Just let me know." 

Aurelius smiles wearily at Yoë and Presxina. "We are well, mostly.  I got to fly!  Rahkeshi transformed us all into eagles.  It was amazing! But a strange fey dragon almost took me back to meet the archfey in the Ice Fortress. Luckily I managed to elude him.

"Sylmare is verily dead, but the Eladrin we ran into did not believe us, and did not seem ready to abandon their invasion of satyr territory.  Hopefully, they will come to their senses, but I don't think the satyrs should let their guard down anytime soon."

The paladin sinks into a chair and begins to remove his armor.  "I don't suppose you have a bathtub hidden away in here, Yoë?"

Flynt begins to rattle around in the kitchen putting together a hearty stew for the group.

Yoë looks at Aurelius as though he was crazy. "Bathtub? Nope. There is no bathtub inside the tree. There's a pond not far though I guess. if you're desperate." She is clearly disappointed when he mentions that the Eladrin have not just abandoned their planned conquest. "Well, that's going to interfere with our celebrations," she says, pounting a bit. "Who's in charge now? How can they even continue their fight?" 

Presixna follows Flynt to the kitchen. "That's not really necessary. I'm sure Yoë and I can get all this while you all rest up."  She only reluctantly lets Flynt help.  Yoë really doesn't care and moves about doing other things. "I think there's some wine or something somewhere. We'll at least celebrate Sylmare being gone. It's a start." She wanders off into the cellar to check. 

Flynt shrugs with indifference as Prexina offers to tale over. He steps aside but stays close, fetching items and providing assistance as needed. Once the meal is prepared he takes his bowl and heads up to the observation deck to ponder the groups next move.

It takes little time to get the stew prepared and simmering. "Should be ready in just a moment. You've been a great help Flynt," Presxina told him. 

Yoë pops back out from the cellar. "Strawberry wine! This should be delicious!"

Burdened by thoughts of the road ahead both for himself, his team, and the country at large, Flynt doesn't find himself in a very festive mood. As he contemplates these topics, a nagging little thought starts to eat at him.  "Who was Rakeshi talking to? Could she be suffering from a similar delusion to the one that had almost claimed Aurelious? Why so adament on the desert when all indicators show the real culprit is in the mountains?  I'll have to be careful broaching these topics. The man sighs as he contemplates how to start the conversation.

Rahkeshi, under Elyria's guidance, heads up to the room she'd occupied previously to rest and heal up a bit.  

Yoë seems a bit disappointed at all the people wandering off with their meal.  But she pours a glass of the strawberry wine for herself and anyone else who wants some.  Presxina also sits down with a bowl of the stew, taking a glass of the wine as well.  As she eats, she glances over to Aurelius. "So what is the next move? It's a shame the Eladrin aren't interested in peace now.  Perhaps a leader will step forward that can quiet their war-like tendencies? From talking to the satyrs they seem ready to put an end to all this conflict."  

Aurelius smiles wanly.  "Never underestimate people's appetite for conflict.  They all say they want to 'live and let live', but judging by their actions, very few people are content to do just that.  Those who crave power and treasure are ever-present.  But here... here we have good company, so let's put those dark thoughts away.  Time for a merry song, I think."

He downs the rest of his steaming bowl of stew, and then pushes it to the side.

"Innnnnnnnnn.... the wee bonny town of Derry O'Dell,

there lived a young maiden named Molly deWine,

Her cheeks were as rosy as a gard'n in Spring,

And I knew in my heart she were gwan' to be mine...."