Krayne walks along noticing the blue skinned tiefling  straightaway, he stares a little, surprised to see another tiefling, having seen several in the last few days.

Looking back at Krayne you would see a tall, strongly built male, currently wearing a helm with a t-shaped opening to allow someone to see his eyes, nose and mouth. His eyes are almost glowing. He wears a suit of blackened chainmail and has a black shield with a white flame on it.

For now he says nothing but nods in greeting to Pyra. 

"She'll see you now," the blonde haired guard says as she comes back to the party.

Approaching the throne you see an older but very beautiful woman seated on a large throne of antlers, ivory, and stone. She looks down on the party as the twins fall to a knee she gives Viktor and Krayne a withering look.

Do you kneel?

Pyra you approach the throne to stand beside the priestess to give audience to the party.

Pyra returns Viktor's greeting with a small bow her own.

"I am Pyra. It is very nice to meet you Viktor, as well as you Brida and Baltus." She bows to the twins as well. She opens her mouth in attempt to say something else but is cut off by the blonde guard. Seeing as the meeting is about to start, she gestures to Brida and very quietly tells her.

"If you want to we can speak later, yes? Best not keep the Lady waiting." Pyra quickly stows away her book in her side pouch before taking her place beside the priestess.

As Krayne approaches the throne he removes his helm and cradles it in the crook of his arm. He takes a knee in front of the chieftess and looks her square in the eye as he does so. There is more than a trace of defiance in his gaze. 

Viktor takes his cue from the Gunnulf's and goes down on one knee. Azondi, on his shoulder, mimics Viktors posture in a way that conveys the intent as best as can be done by an 8 legged creature.

Viktor keeps his head slightly bowed, noticing Krayne's boldness from the corner of his eye.

"You bring these people before us for what reason Brida Gunnulf," the high priestess of Aegir asks speaking to the teen with a soft voice but hard expression.

The chieftess is looking at everyone, she's curious but says nothing. Even to Kryane who's glaring is obviously meant to ruffle her.

Each of you please PM me your thoughts, you currently are being subjected to a detect thoughts but to be clear you do not notice the casting or the castor.

"We come for aid preistess," Brida begins. "Stokkr is still beset by an unknown beast and late last night a member of our party fell pray to a beast who turn the unlucky into stone with a look," she explains as Eerika's eyebrows arch and priestess Hedda covers her mouth muffling a gasp escaping it.

"You wish me to dispatch aid in this transformation," Hedda asks next her expression harder still.

"Yes priestess if you could manage without a druid or a cleric. Stokkr is still without a temple leader due to Ballen's....disappearance," the teen adds choosing her words wisely.

Before answering Hedda steps back to speak to the cheiftess. They talk to one another in whispers, both woman covering thier mouths as they speak. It doesn't take long for Eerika to nod and Hedda to step forward again.

"Pyra," Hedda then says looking to the blue tiefling. "Are you interested in giving these simple farmers aid," she asks the tiefling with a soft smile.

"Of course, Hedda." Pyra says quietly." I do not mind offering my help to those in need of it. For someone to be turned to stone, my goodness that must be awful."

OOC: Prya is not subjected to the spell FYI.

"Good," Hedda says looking to the chieftess now. "I have some things for your journey," she then says. "Soren," she then says to the guard who showed the party in. "You will travel with Pyra and aid her as well as protect her," the priestess explains as the guard nods. "Now Brida Gunnulf you may go," she then says looking back at the party as Soren, the blonde guard, joins the group. "Pyra come with me," she adds moving gracefully off the throne platform in her silver and dark navy robes. "A gift or two for your tasks ahead," she adds loudly gesturing for Pyra to join her moving towards the shrine of Aegir.

The chieftess  looks on as Soren and the Gunnulf twins slowly rise from their knee backing away from the throne. They do not turn their back on the chieftess who starts to rise from her throne now. She is at least 6 foot tall including the crown made of gilded driftwood and is still staring at the party. In fact Soren and the twins walk backward with their heads lowered until they reach the border of the fire pit. Then the three of them all turn to face the exits.

Soren leads once more, does the party follow?

Krayne stands, then bows to the chieftess, he slowly dons his helmet and walks backwards as the others do. He still holds her eyes but there is none of the challenge of before.

Viktor follows the other lead.

raising from his position, he give a formal and respectful bow and then backs out with the other, keeping his head slightly bowed as before.

The party lives the great hall end Soren formally introduces herself.

"Soren Nygaard," the young warrior says offering her hand to Brida then Baltus.

The twins introduces themselves with hearty handshakes. Soren then moves to Viktor.

As introductions are given Pyra comes from the great hall with her pack ready to travel.

Seeing Viktor and Soren about to greet each other Krayne, turns to Pyra and holds out his hand.

"Well met, I am Krayne, paladin of Bahalis, thank you for coming to the aid of our comrade. Do you have everything you need for the trip, I would like to return to him as quickly as possible. Foul creatures have attacked before and I would not like to leave a companion defenceless."

Pyra offers Krayne a small smile and places her hand in his, giving it a small shake.

"It is very nice to meet you Krayne, I am Pyra. And yes I believe I have everything, I would like to get to your friend quickly and see the damage. Hopefully nothing has chipped off of them. Where did you all say they were again?" 

"Our village," Baltus begins, "it's about an hour south," he adds moving the party towards the exit following behind Soren.

Pyra would know Soren from the palace guard details as well as being somewhat of a pet of Hedda. You have yet to see her fight but you know she can drink the other male guards under the table!

Soren leds the party to the gates and they open quickly for the party. 

"An hour south," Soren says looking at the cart and horses that brought the party to the stronghold. "I'll get a horse," she adds moving away from the group back along the wall to a stable area.  After a few minutes you see her return atop a bay mare fully kitted out for travel as well as combat. "Shall we go," Soren says gesturing to the wagon and for all the party to get back into it as she rides out in front about 20 ft ahead of the party.

OOC: Once again I need a group decided blanket perception roll to proceed back to the village. You left early morning and spend about an hour in the stronghold collecting Pyra. You will reach Stokkr/the Gunnulf's about midday.

Viktor takes Sorens hand and then gives a small bow

"I am Viktor, a pleasure to meet you"

hearing Krayne and Pyra talking Viktor adds

"yes if we could get back to our companion and get him restored, as soon as possible, it would be greatly appreciated. this man has placed his life on the line beside me, and I am beginning to feel guilty that he still suffers while I am fine."

Viktor follows everyone else down to the gate, and climes into the cart to start the journey back to the farm. 

Pyra says a few goodbyes to some of the others she had become close with in her short time her and checks to make sure she has everything in her pack before joining the others on the cart. She settles in close to the front and turns to the others she will be traveling with.

"I can keep an eye out on the road, if you all would like to rest until we get there."

OOC: Group decided blanket perception checks are something that is new too me. I hope I'm doing this right.

Perception:21

OOC: Yes, you would have advantage being 'aided' by the group but no worries your roll was great!!

The party find little danger on the road south back to Stokkr much like their trip north to the stronghold. They meet a couple more travelers on the road however as well as a few of the stronghold's troops returning from Hagar with goods for the chieftess. Returning to Stokkr at midday the village seems in normal working order. You find yourself back at the Gunnulf's farmstead next and as Baltus puts up the wagon Brida shows Pyra to the entombed Ursal.

"I do hope he's alright," Brida says with a frown looking at the stone bear of a man. 

Soren looks at the figure frozen in a terrible rage with suspicion. 

"He looks dangerous enough," Soren says with a smirk having given over her horse to Baltus she stands ready with her warhammer out looking at Ursal curiously.

Pyra you look at the man made of stone and know what to do!

Pyra frowns and examines the frozen form of Ursal, checking the statue for any damage. She turns back to the others a gives them a reassuring smile.

"Don't worry. I have just what we need." She pulls a small yew wand out of her pack, turning it over in her hands. She waves it an small circular pattern, before tapping it gently on the stone human casting Greater Restoration on him. She holds her breath and waits as the magic takes hold.

Like the shatter of glass the stone falls away from Ursal releasing him to the light of midday.

Ursal blinks in confusion, poised to unleash a lethal blast of lightning with his javelin.

"What? Where is the...the thing with snakes of its head?"

He lowers his throwing arm, looking around, obviously perplexed.

"What happened to me?" he asks. "The last thing I remember is a bright light emanating from the creature's eyes, then oblivion."

His greataxe, still flaring with the glow of his crimson rite, drops from his other hand and lands on the ground.

He then drops to his knees, confusion and fatigue, overtaking him. He reaches up and places his hands on Pyra's arms.

"And who, pray tell, are you?" He looks worriedly at the companions he knows for a sign of assurance.

OOC: Thank God, I'm back!