Quill felt the magic ripple over her, but while its source was unknown, it didn't feel malicious. Rather than divide her attention between the laboring woman and the magical manipulation, Quill let the magic take hold in her mind, using its effects to center herself. "You're doing so well, Anita." She praised, grateful when the soldiers began the task of setting a tent up around them and clean bedding was brought. She couldn't focus on anything else happening at the moment. Her attention had to be here, with Anita. She was the one most in need. Quill wiped the mother's brow, providing gentle guidance on breathing and encouraging her to push when she felt the contractions coming on. Once the tent was established, she encouraged the laboring woman to settle into the clean bedclothes. "Not long now." She promised. "You've done wonderfully, Anita. Just a bit more."

The screaming hadn't stopped, but somehow just the act of creating the calmness, of pulling energy from... wherever and channelling it into the magic, seemed to remove the pain and panic from Harlan. He found he could think clearly, the noise in his head still there but more like an echo than the direct assault it had been.

He realised properly now that he was on the ground, with Damian standing over him, offering him a hand. He took it, and allowed himself to be helped up. "I... I don't know what that was. I've never done that before. Just like in the fight against the bandits, it was a reaction, something in me acting to correct the situation. But it doesn't seem to have worked, she's still in pain, still scared."

He looks towards Anita as the tent was built up around her. He played with the orb in his hand, turning it over and over. "I don't know what to do."

"You and me both Harlan." Damian said with a quick smile to the bearded man, then glancing over at the tent where birth was given. He stood waiting now, for any further instructions from Quill, should she deem him competent to help out in any way. He started to walk nervously back and forth, the process of birthing never ending it seemed as the woman kept screaming in agony. His thoughts again drifted off to the woman carrying her child back in the doomed city of Elturel. Would he ever see them again?

"You should perhaps seek help Harlan..." He said, trying to distract himself from the screaming. "...help with learning to control those powers you seem to possess. You could use them perhaps, maybe to find answers to what happened back there."

Gilbert arrives, striding quickly over to the tent after hiking over from the other side of the camp, after being awoken by one of his men who alerted him of the situation. Just as he arrives he feels a wave of calm wash over him.  He peeks in the tent and asks Quill in a calm voice, "I hear Anita went into labor prematurely, will she be alright? And more importantly perhaps, will the baby be alright?"

"I don't want to use them," Harlan explained. One of his eyes twitched a little. If the effects of the spell weren't in place, perhaps he would have been shouting. "I want to be rid of them. I shouldn't have these abilities Damian. They scare me, and they scare others. I was in Elturel searching for a way to remove them. I thought the city of the Champion which casts out darkness would know how, but no one could even explain the Champion. And we've seen how that worked out."

He sighed deeply. "Perhaps I will have better luck in Baldur's Gate."

(Quill, make a Medicine check)

Anita continues to scream in pain as the labour continues. Beads of sweat can be seen forming on her forehead. He face is flush as her child begins to crown.

"Oh, I see." Damian said to Harlan with a slight frown. How could the man not wan't to control and use the magical powers granted him by fate. His own considerable powers he could not do without, but they had come at a high price, maybe too high. "Please just consider other options on our way to Baldur's Gate Harlan. Just as fate has dealt this people a harsh hand maybe your fate is to ease their pain with the powers you have been granted." He said in a firm but friendly tone.

As the hellrider Gilbert arrived at the tent Damian stepped closer. "I think Quill has this under control Gilbert." He said, trying to sound confident in that statement. "Just tell us if we can aid you in any way." He turned and said to the blue-skinned tiefling kneeling by Anita.

(Can Damian, or anyone else for that matter, give a help action on the medicine roll? With his infernal powers Damian has already prepared clean towels and warm water [Prestidigitation])

Ease their pain? Harlan thought to himself as Damian moved away to offer assistance. All I can do is cause pain. Even this spell I seem to have cast now hasn't removed this woman's pain, or any of the discomfort of the people here. All it has done is suppress their ability to feel. I have forcibly altered their state of mind. And how will they react once the spell passes, knowing I have done this to them? 

Perhaps I should just leave? He looked away and down the road which led to Baldur's Gate. The dark of the night hemmed it in, and his imagination filled it with dangers. No, you'll stay with them, because you're a coward. 

Unable to enter the tent, but knowing that sleep would not come while the screams continued, Harlan hovered outside, rolling the crystal orb between the palms of his hands.

"Everything is going very well." Quill reassured their anxious audience. Truthfully, she would have said the same regardless of the circumstances. The last thing Anita needed to hear was that there were complications or that things were not progressing as expected. The pregnant mother needed to be focused on herself and bringing her child safely into the world. She wouldn't compound the woman's fear by saying anything that did not provide encouragement and positivity. "You're doing wonderfully, Anita. Keep breathing. In and out, steady breaths, my darling. You're nearly done. When you feel the contraction peak, push as hard as you can. The babe will soon be born."

(Medicine Check: 13)

Quill certainly seemed to have everything in hand. Damian wondered if she had delivered births before, it certainly seemed that way to him. Quill's calm and Harlan's calming magic could not keep him from pacing back and forth outside the tent though, ready to be of any assistance he could give.

Following Quill's medical advice and guidance, Anita safely gives birth to the baby. Quill is quick to make sure everything is fine with the baby and with her medical knowledge she ensures that the baby is healthy. Panting for breath, Anita manages to ask, "Is the baby okay? Let me hold my baby."

As soon as he realized the newborn was healthy and in her mother's arms Damian took a brisk walk away from the camp before going down on his knees in the grass and beaking down in tears. What was happening with him? After collecting himself he looked back to the lights of the camp, his face still streaked with tears, glad that no one saw him now. He couldn't afford to show weakness, could he? "What? No, it's nothing, return to your vigilance immediately!" He said sternly as Azrael that suddenly appeared in front of him with a smirk on his face, giggling evilly. As the imp turned invisible again and fluttered away Damian stayed in the darkness a bit longer, making sure he was presentable again before returning to the camp.

After seeing the competence of Quill and that things were handled, Gilbert waited outside the tent pacing back and forth and periodically checking with the status of the camp guards on watch to make sure that Quill and Anita were not interrupted by any interlopers. After hearing the babies crys, he takes a quick peak inside to see if the baby is healthy or not. Releived that all seems to be ok, he offers a quick prayer of thanks to Helm and then decides to take another quick circuit around the camp to make sure all is in order.

Something lifted from Harlan at that moment. The scream, reduced to an echo in the back of his mind since he cast the spell, disappeared completely. It was replaced out in the world with the very real, high-pitched cry of a new born baby.

"That's it." He stood stunned, staring at the fabric of the tent towards the sound from inside. "That was the small voice, hidden in the pain. It's free now, free to live, and be heard."

Despite himself he smiles, and blinks as his eyes mist with tears. He wipes them away with a grubby sleeve, then slowly makes his way back to his mat to sleep.

"He's wonderful. Hale and healthy." Quill assured Anita, beaming at the panting woman. "You did so well." She assured her, still smiling. She quickly wiped the child clean, removing any blood and fluid from the babe's skin, then wrapped the newborn in a clean blanket, handing the child over to his mother. With the two settled and getting acquainted with each other, Quill bustled around the tent, ensured that Anita was comfortable. She replaced any soiled bedding, setting the dirtied blankets outside in a bundle and cleaning up the space.

After a final check on the pair, Quill stepped outside the tent for a breath. She hadn't expected to deliver a child today, but with Kelemvor's favor, everything had gone well. The child and his mother were healthy and with the god's continued blessings, they would remain that way. Though Anita would be too weak for a long journey on foot, they could make room for her on one of the carts and ensure that she and the babe could travel with them the remaining distance to Baldur's Gate. Overall, a small victory in a journey that had been filled with devastation.

As Quill exits the tent Damian approches her immediately. "You did very well in there Quill, thank you, it is good to see a new life as so many have been lost." He says with a gentle tone and a weak smile. "If we are to continue tomorrow I fear we must go back to sleep now. Do you think Anita and the baby will manage during the night or should we have someone watching over them if any needs arises?" Damian asks, very uncertain of what would be expected after a birth.

(Just going to let Quill respond if she wants to.)

After making sure that Anita and the baby are fine, you all return to your place of rest for the remainder of the night.

In the morning you are feeling refreshed and begin setting off once more. The morning is quiet and nothing eventful happens. However, by afternoon, you see something up ahead that chills you to your core. One of the refugee parties that had left before you, was attacked as well. It looks like bandits, and when you arrive at the site of the attack, you find people lying dead with most of their possessions missing.

You question the captive bandit leader, but he denies having any involvement in the attack. He points out this attack was a couple of days away from where he and his men attacked you. And that there was not enough time for him to be a part of both attacks. Reluctantly you have to believe him, though you cannot help but wonder if the two bandit groups were part of a larger group.

Vander and Chele help to move the bodies away from the road, but burying them properly would take too much time. Instead, you return to the wagons before long and continue on your way. You rest up for the night a few miles away from where you saw the attack site.

The night is peaceful and your rest goes undisturbed. In the morning you feel refreshed once more.

You set off again, but it's only a few miles before an axle on one of the wagons breaks. However, the two dwarves, Bungrim and Nysnora, are quick to fix the wagon, whilst the two goliaths, Zagan and Ilakeo, hold the wagon up for them. It's not too long before you are back on the road once more.

The rest of the day is uneventful and you settle down for the night.

Another few days pass without incident. Now you are a couple of days away from Elturel.

This is when you spot a group of men dressed in shining armour. About twenty in all, a platoon. As you draw closer you can make out the symbol that they are wearing, that of a fist on fire.

The Flaming Fist platoon approaching in the distance was a welcome sight to the patriar. They were known as a ruthless force but they had always stood firmly for law and order and were the de facto city watch patrolling most of Baldur's Gate. Damian cast a quick glance at Gilbert, Harlan and Quinn before riding ahead to explain the situation. "Greetings lieutenant, I am Damain Ravenshade of Baldur's Gate. I have in my company refugees from the disaster at Elturel that you no doubt have heard of by now. There have been several bandit attacks on the road and we would appreciate any help you can spare with escorting these people safely back to Baldur's Gate." Damian said to the platoon commander from the back of his pitch-black mare.

(Persuasion: 23 Another roll if the fact that he is a patriar should give him advantage on the roll: 11) 

 A human man steps forward from the rest of the platoon. His armour is slightly more shiny than the rest of the platoon. His piercing grey eyes meet with Damian then he speaks.

"Hail, we have heard the word of the trouble at Elturel," the man says. "That is why we have been stationed here. There have been rumours of cultists travelling to Baldur's Gate disguised as refugees. We are here to meet any refugees heading toward Baldur's Gate to check and ensure that there are no cultists among the group. If there are no issues, then I will gladly escort you to Baldur's Gate. The rest of the platoon will have to remain here though."

The man then gestures with his gauntleted right hand to the platoon and they start moving forward to talk with the refugees. He then turns his attention back to Damian. His medium length black hair is spiky at the top, and short on the sides. His beard matches in colour and is neatly groomed. Then in a quieter voice, he continues.

"Tell me, Lord Ravenshade, have you heard of the fate of Grand Duke Ravengard?"