Neferox waked Vin with a bit of effort. The half-elf waking and very groggy but looking significantly better for getting a bit of rest. He gets up and checks his gear. He struggles a bit in the darkness but wasn't as cold as other until he got up due to Nef sharing her warmth. Feeling the chill and bumbling around a bit he was grateful for the light created by Sam lighting a torch. Vin instinctually moved towards the light it created and ends up walking beside Sam. Miur also made some light but Vin had already moved towards Sam.
The black hound did not need the light and seems to want to be on the edge of the light. Her black fur making her almost impossible to see without dark vision. Her two red eyes the only thing visible when she looks back at the others following. Vin is quiet as he walks beside Sam. He looks back at the others stopping to check the trees and when Sam doesn't seem to notice he pokes the big man's side to get his attention and then points back at the others.
Elthana listens solemnly to what Muir has to say about the trees. Once the rest join in, she poses the question, "So we want to bring the survivors back this way, correct? I know its cold and we need to get back, but don't we want to ensure this is a safe passage as much as we can? Might be worth seeing if we can find the cluster and what all we can do."
Muir nods in agreement peering out into the darkness. "We cannot bring these people through these woods without clearing the dangers that lie ahead. We don't know what was across the clearing, what impaled people into the tops of trees and now this....."
Sam turns a little more sharply than needed when poked by Vin but he supposes everyone is a bit on edge. “They’re lollygagging, eh?” Sam asks with some amusement and then follows Bin back to the others.
“Is this the way we wanted to evacuate them?” Sam asks. “I wasn’t sure we had a route planned… But I’ll need some explaining on how some tree-kIlling disease is my problem. Or a problem for evacuating those ones.”
Sam walks up to the trees and gives them a good hard look, reaches out and squeezes the affected wood to try to get an idea of just what the big deal is, but it just doesn’t resonate with him.
“I like trees as well as the next guy, I suppose,” Sam says and then notices Muir there. “Well not if Muir’s the next guy… But yeah, after lives are saved and our job is done I don’t mind helping search for some tree disease, I guess…” Sam shrugs a bit, scratches his head and looks around.
“But how is dying trees our immediate problem? If it was causing those strangling traps or the moving trees, I see the problem. But if this whatever is killing trees then it’s probably not hood for those either, right?” Sam asks, looking around at the others. “Short term, isn’t that a help to us?”
Gewyn plods along and chimes in in a cheery voice, "Well you all may be feeling up for more, but I am pretty sure I was at death's door just an hour ago. The last thing I want is to spend another few hours in the dead of night with very little light trying to figure out this conundrum while those back at the refugee camp wonder where we are and potentially send out guards to look for us. Which, in my limited experience leads to even more rescuing for us to do. I would like to rest, heal up, and find out what Shionne has to say about the trees. She may have an insight that we lack."
During the rest of the groups journey back it is pretty quiet, a few floating lights csn be perceived through the trees, the group catches the odd tree moving out of tye corner of their eye but never enough to be absolutely sure. The constant feeling of being observed becomes frustratingly obvious.
As the group near the survivors camp they can smell it first, the survivors are apparently eating once more, rationing out, cooking and serving the food marbles that Vin handed out, just before they reach the clearing about 60ft out in the treeline Sam rounds a tree trunk to come face to face with a startling gaze, one of the soulless had wandered into the woods and was waiting, a young owlin boy staring, doing nothing, though it appears they have soiled themselves, they pay no immediate attention to the group, their thousand yard stare peering through them instead.
As the majority of the group vote to press on, Elthana shrugs her shoulders and moves on along with them, with the possibility of being ambushed by trees curling its tendril through her mind. She notices the boy as they approach, but she pays him no mind as she continues in towards the center of the clearing, looking for Shionne. And looking for the warmth of the fires as the cold has seeped its way in, touching her bones.
“It’s just the flickering of the torch that makes every damned tree seem to twist and lunge,” Sam explains despite exactly nobody having asked. The explanation doesn’t calm his nerves any more than it likely calmed anybody else’s.
“Be just the same if we were looking for dead trees,” he again tries to reassure later in their journey back. “Maybe worse, actively looking at trees and all. And’ll be easier to spot them in the daylight…” Órga gives Sam a sympathetic look and then bumps into him with their shoulder. The press of soft, warm fur is reassuring. Or would be if Sam needed reassuring…
The tension really starts to dissolve with the smell of cooking foods and the lights of the camp. “Right, what’s this then?” Sam calls out loudly at the sight of the young Owlin boy with their thousand yard stare to nowhere. “This is just not proper affairs, it isn’t,” Sam continues, seeing the state of the kid. Sam grabs the back of their collar and lifts the kid off their feet, gently, being sure to hold the soiled boy well away from himself and Órga. “Can someone come tend to this one? Sooner better than later…”
Muir begrudgingly follows the group without objection. He does not want to create enemies out of his new companions as he will need their help. He watches Sam take care of the soul-less child. He walks by them and seeks out Gore and Shionne to speak about the blight of the trees.
This post has potentially manipulated dice roll results.
Vin notices the boy and tries to talk to them asking "Can you tell me why you walked out here?" Not sure if he'll get an answer but remembering they can be told what to do and Vin was curious who told the owlin boy to walk out away from the camp as it's quite dangerous here. Perhaps they would tell Vin. They will wait a bit to see if the boy can reply and then either way they will help guide the owlin child back into the camp. Neferox immediately begins to do a patrol around the refugee enclave smelling the ground and seeking anything that doesn't smell like it's been here before. They are quite determined to detect if anything changed while the group was away. Neferox will take her time and complete a circle around the entire encampment. As Nef does this it leaves Vin to their own devices inside the camp. They make for the mayor to tell them about their successful hunt of the not-deer. Then perhaps get some food and talk with some people while Neferox is busy.
The entire encampment is dimly lit with a few smouldering torches and a few hooded lanterns, none of the lights Peirce above what could be seen from above the treetops. The hubbub and general din of people getting food and mingling is relatively muted when compared to what the group would expect a mealtime to be like, but the quiet can quickly be attributed to the secrecy and turmoil of the camp as a whole.
As the group moves in to the encampment Iver immediately makes headway for a section where several 'off duty' guards are trying to rest (as off duty as they can be whilst still keeping an eye on everything) from his body language and gestures it seems he begins discussing certain plans, likely on the logistics of moving such a large group, this is met with a few looks of concern and a shake of the head from the few guard there.
Goodsheaf, the tanned woman who is pseudo mayor of the town, sits by where the clerics and druids, Gore included, are dishing out the prepared food, she sits just Infront of the large tree that Shionne appeared from, but there is no sign of Shionne, Terry however sees the group approaching and comes rushing over "you all made it, yes! I take it this means the best was slain? We are free to move these people? yes? Come come, you must be exhausted... And hungry!" There is a smile on his face, which is only highlighted by the general misery felt by the camp. Although after his greeting some survivors start to point and murmur, some actively expressing surprise at the groups presence, knowing all too well what it means for their future, or maybe just hoping.
The Owlin boy, as he is dropped off by Sam, answers Vin's question. Without looking over to anyone at all he murmurs "walk a little way in to the trees and go to the toilet", a cleric rushes over and starts instructing the boy to come with them to get cleaned up and get something to eat.
Neferox starts her patrol, she makes a big deal out of sneering at Órga before she heads off, she encounters nothing untoward on her perimeter check, but does scare a couple of the guards doing their rounds.
Gore makes his way from the serving table "we'll have to wait for Shionne, I'll get Terry to call her but it takes her a little while to summon the energy, you should all eat something at least". Terry heads over and calls out to his mistress in her tongue. Gore gives a quick amused look toward Muir as they wait.
Gewyn heads over to a well-illuminated spot near the serving table and says, "Indeed Terry, the beast was slain. Why don't I regale you with the story while you call Shionne forth." Hopping up to sit on the edge of the table, Gewyn starts to recount the party's trek through the woods. As he continues, his words begin to turn musical, and he is soon singing an impromptu ballad, just loud enough that he could be heard clearly by any who were near, but quiet enough that his voice wouldn't carry outside of the encampment, and the weary and disheartened refugees would have to move a bit closer to light and warmth and food to hear what had happened.
He does not build up the tension and terror of the encounter nearly as much as he almost certainly would with any other crowd, perhaps out of recognition that morale is low for many, and the danger is not yet over. Instead he weaves a tune and a tale that plays up the skill and triumph of the group. From time to time he is even telling a bit of the truth. But the performance is absent most of the infighting. The breaking of his now straightened nose is played for comedy.
To those who had actually witnessed the fight, it is quickly apparent that Gewyn is doing his best to bolster spirits and alleviate fear in anticipation of the dangerous trek the refugees had ahead.
Gewyn quickly draws a small crowd and begins lifting some spirits, at some points it feels like gewyn has the eyes of the entire encampment, he is plied with questions once he is done, "we can move freely around the forest now?", "What do we call your victorious band of heroes?", "yeah, how should we thank you all?", "once this is over our story should be told! Will you do that for us?"
Vin realizing just how helpless the soulless people are as they sadly look at the owlin boy. They cast prestigitation to clean them up and remove the smell. They pat them on the head and says "Good job." Being very disturbed by that event Vin hides how much it upsets them. They came with good news and helping these folks will become easier once they get somewhere safe.
Vin answers Terry saying "Yes. We slayed it. It took the form of our friend to try and trick us but we were able to kill it still." When food is mentioned Vin says "Oh yes! Please. I'm starving." They smile at the look of Terry seeming happy. As word spreads and folks begin to hear the not-deer are slain and hope begins to spread. It won't be long until they are on the move.
Neferox continues her patrol as she doesn't seem to trust this moment of peace. She eyes the edges of the clearing with distrust and malice. She does look back to check on Vin frequently but otherwise continues to be on alert.
With Nef occupied it leaves Vin free to mingle a bit with folks without the large black dog looming behind them. Vin grabs some extra food and brings it over to Gewyn. With them singing the young man sits and waits with the others as he seem to enjoy the bard's singing and music. They definitely like the way they seem to inspire hop in the survivors. Once the song is done Vin brings the extra serving of food over to Gewyn. He has to wait a bit and his pointy ears perk up a bit at the question of a group name but he doesn't say anything and waits his turn to give the food to the likely hungry bard. Handing the food over to him Vin says "I'm sorry."
Gewyn smiles at the newfound energy in the crowd and starts to answer their questions one by one. "I wouldn't go wandering about the forest on your own just yet. That your leaders here have managed to get this many of you this far is a testament to their competence and strategy, so you can't go wrong by coordinating with them and following a single unified plan. As for us, we're no heroes. We are peacekeepers. And all we ask is that you take the hope we have brought here and continue to spread it wherever you go. And as you carry that hope forward, so too will I carry forward your story. And the story of those who couldn't be here tonight. Though their lives may have been cut short, I'll see that their story lives on."
Finally getting a bit of a reprieve, Gewyn accepts the food handed him by Vin and leans on a tree with one arm while eating with the other. "Thanks for this, Vin. And don't be sorry."He pats his ribs gently. "You were the only one with the sense not to hit me in the money maker."Gewyn seems to be back to his normal casual attitude and light jokes.
"Actually, I'm glad I've got a chance to speak with you." He looks over his shoulder back toward the throng of refugees and then over at Nef to make sure she is looking away. Then he grabs Vin's arm lightly and leads them away a few feet. "I would like to get to know everyone better. To know you better. But she..."He nods his head in Nef's direction, "... does make it a little difficult to approach you. Know ye a way for me to placate her? Anything I could do to brighten her assessment of me, or a treat that puts her in a drowsy mood or something?"
Vin joins Gewyn and watches them look nervously at Nef. The half-elf quite used to such a sight and seems sad as he nods "I know..." Vin is quiet a bit as they are trying to figure out how to word things "I'm happy you want to get to know me still. Most people just see Nef and avoid me... she really is a good dog but she's protective. I think Walker is... was the first one to still want to get to know me even after being scared by her." Vin looks over towards Nef as well as she continues her slow circles around the camp insuring his safety. Then they look back to Gewyn "She doesn't trust anyone but me... I wish she could... I'm not sure how to help her trust others. I just know she's the only family I have. I raised her as a pup. She was cold and half dead when I found her, she had brown fur with some white stripes back then. I fed her and helped her get better. It was really hard to get food for us both but I managed somehow. It wasn't until we were attacks by some thugs... things changed." They look down at the ground. Suddenly they look up and Nef is making a beeline for Vin and Gewyn. Vin looks a bit worried but says to Gewyn "If you can help her please do." they get up to meet Nef away from Gewyn. Vin taking into account that Gweyn is scared of the dog. The extremely kind boy not even once mentioning their own needs and thinking of Gewyn and Nef before themselves.
As Muir returns to the encampment, the large tree in the center begins glowing once more, slowly and surely the golden visage of Shionne the dryad comes walking out, she alights gently upon the ground her foliage garb swirling around her seeming weightless as before. She lays a gentle hand upon Terry's head and smiles, her glow dims slightly as she looks around.
Goldsheaf stands, Iver makes his way over flanked by two other guards, Gore, who returned with Muir speaks up, "I think the journey to safety should be undertaken in the morning", Iver's mouth hangs open a moment and then he adds "I was just about to say the same. The rest of the guard don't want to do anything too risky til first Light".
Terry begins translating to Shionne as she looks around, those speaking with interest. Everyone gathered turns to the group for some input.
Neferox waked Vin with a bit of effort. The half-elf waking and very groggy but looking significantly better for getting a bit of rest. He gets up and checks his gear. He struggles a bit in the darkness but wasn't as cold as other until he got up due to Nef sharing her warmth. Feeling the chill and bumbling around a bit he was grateful for the light created by Sam lighting a torch. Vin instinctually moved towards the light it created and ends up walking beside Sam. Miur also made some light but Vin had already moved towards Sam.
The black hound did not need the light and seems to want to be on the edge of the light. Her black fur making her almost impossible to see without dark vision. Her two red eyes the only thing visible when she looks back at the others following. Vin is quiet as he walks beside Sam. He looks back at the others stopping to check the trees and when Sam doesn't seem to notice he pokes the big man's side to get his attention and then points back at the others.
Elthana listens solemnly to what Muir has to say about the trees. Once the rest join in, she poses the question, "So we want to bring the survivors back this way, correct? I know its cold and we need to get back, but don't we want to ensure this is a safe passage as much as we can? Might be worth seeing if we can find the cluster and what all we can do."
Muir nods in agreement peering out into the darkness. "We cannot bring these people through these woods without clearing the dangers that lie ahead. We don't know what was across the clearing, what impaled people into the tops of trees and now this....."
Sam turns a little more sharply than needed when poked by Vin but he supposes everyone is a bit on edge. “They’re lollygagging, eh?” Sam asks with some amusement and then follows Bin back to the others.
“Is this the way we wanted to evacuate them?” Sam asks. “I wasn’t sure we had a route planned… But I’ll need some explaining on how some tree-kIlling disease is my problem. Or a problem for evacuating those ones.”
Sam walks up to the trees and gives them a good hard look, reaches out and squeezes the affected wood to try to get an idea of just what the big deal is, but it just doesn’t resonate with him.
“I like trees as well as the next guy, I suppose,” Sam says and then notices Muir there. “Well not if Muir’s the next guy… But yeah, after lives are saved and our job is done I don’t mind helping search for some tree disease, I guess…” Sam shrugs a bit, scratches his head and looks around.
“But how is dying trees our immediate problem? If it was causing those strangling traps or the moving trees, I see the problem. But if this whatever is killing trees then it’s probably not hood for those either, right?” Sam asks, looking around at the others. “Short term, isn’t that a help to us?”
Gewyn plods along and chimes in in a cheery voice, "Well you all may be feeling up for more, but I am pretty sure I was at death's door just an hour ago. The last thing I want is to spend another few hours in the dead of night with very little light trying to figure out this conundrum while those back at the refugee camp wonder where we are and potentially send out guards to look for us. Which, in my limited experience leads to even more rescuing for us to do. I would like to rest, heal up, and find out what Shionne has to say about the trees. She may have an insight that we lack."
During the rest of the groups journey back it is pretty quiet, a few floating lights csn be perceived through the trees, the group catches the odd tree moving out of tye corner of their eye but never enough to be absolutely sure. The constant feeling of being observed becomes frustratingly obvious.
As the group near the survivors camp they can smell it first, the survivors are apparently eating once more, rationing out, cooking and serving the food marbles that Vin handed out, just before they reach the clearing about 60ft out in the treeline Sam rounds a tree trunk to come face to face with a startling gaze, one of the soulless had wandered into the woods and was waiting, a young owlin boy staring, doing nothing, though it appears they have soiled themselves, they pay no immediate attention to the group, their thousand yard stare peering through them instead.
As the majority of the group vote to press on, Elthana shrugs her shoulders and moves on along with them, with the possibility of being ambushed by trees curling its tendril through her mind. She notices the boy as they approach, but she pays him no mind as she continues in towards the center of the clearing, looking for Shionne. And looking for the warmth of the fires as the cold has seeped its way in, touching her bones.
“It’s just the flickering of the torch that makes every damned tree seem to twist and lunge,” Sam explains despite exactly nobody having asked. The explanation doesn’t calm his nerves any more than it likely calmed anybody else’s.
“Be just the same if we were looking for dead trees,” he again tries to reassure later in their journey back. “Maybe worse, actively looking at trees and all. And’ll be easier to spot them in the daylight…” Órga gives Sam a sympathetic look and then bumps into him with their shoulder. The press of soft, warm fur is reassuring. Or would be if Sam needed reassuring…
The tension really starts to dissolve with the smell of cooking foods and the lights of the camp. “Right, what’s this then?” Sam calls out loudly at the sight of the young Owlin boy with their thousand yard stare to nowhere.
“This is just not proper affairs, it isn’t,” Sam continues, seeing the state of the kid. Sam grabs the back of their collar and lifts the kid off their feet, gently, being sure to hold the soiled boy well away from himself and Órga. “Can someone come tend to this one? Sooner better than later…”
Muir begrudgingly follows the group without objection. He does not want to create enemies out of his new companions as he will need their help. He watches Sam take care of the soul-less child. He walks by them and seeks out Gore and Shionne to speak about the blight of the trees.
Vin notices the boy and tries to talk to them asking "Can you tell me why you walked out here?" Not sure if he'll get an answer but remembering they can be told what to do and Vin was curious who told the owlin boy to walk out away from the camp as it's quite dangerous here. Perhaps they would tell Vin. They will wait a bit to see if the boy can reply and then either way they will help guide the owlin child back into the camp. Neferox immediately begins to do a patrol around the refugee enclave smelling the ground and seeking anything that doesn't smell like it's been here before. They are quite determined to detect if anything changed while the group was away. Neferox will take her time and complete a circle around the entire encampment. As Nef does this it leaves Vin to their own devices inside the camp. They make for the mayor to tell them about their successful hunt of the not-deer. Then perhaps get some food and talk with some people while Neferox is busy.
Perception Check for Nef: 20
The entire encampment is dimly lit with a few smouldering torches and a few hooded lanterns, none of the lights Peirce above what could be seen from above the treetops. The hubbub and general din of people getting food and mingling is relatively muted when compared to what the group would expect a mealtime to be like, but the quiet can quickly be attributed to the secrecy and turmoil of the camp as a whole.
As the group moves in to the encampment Iver immediately makes headway for a section where several 'off duty' guards are trying to rest (as off duty as they can be whilst still keeping an eye on everything) from his body language and gestures it seems he begins discussing certain plans, likely on the logistics of moving such a large group, this is met with a few looks of concern and a shake of the head from the few guard there.
Goodsheaf, the tanned woman who is pseudo mayor of the town, sits by where the clerics and druids, Gore included, are dishing out the prepared food, she sits just Infront of the large tree that Shionne appeared from, but there is no sign of Shionne, Terry however sees the group approaching and comes rushing over "you all made it, yes! I take it this means the best was slain? We are free to move these people? yes? Come come, you must be exhausted... And hungry!" There is a smile on his face, which is only highlighted by the general misery felt by the camp. Although after his greeting some survivors start to point and murmur, some actively expressing surprise at the groups presence, knowing all too well what it means for their future, or maybe just hoping.
The Owlin boy, as he is dropped off by Sam, answers Vin's question. Without looking over to anyone at all he murmurs "walk a little way in to the trees and go to the toilet", a cleric rushes over and starts instructing the boy to come with them to get cleaned up and get something to eat.
Neferox starts her patrol, she makes a big deal out of sneering at Órga before she heads off, she encounters nothing untoward on her perimeter check, but does scare a couple of the guards doing their rounds.
"Terry and Goodsheaf....Where is Shionne and Gore? They need to be here for this discussion" Muir says with a serious tone and does not elaborate.
Gore makes his way from the serving table "we'll have to wait for Shionne, I'll get Terry to call her but it takes her a little while to summon the energy, you should all eat something at least". Terry heads over and calls out to his mistress in her tongue. Gore gives a quick amused look toward Muir as they wait.
Gewyn heads over to a well-illuminated spot near the serving table and says, "Indeed Terry, the beast was slain. Why don't I regale you with the story while you call Shionne forth." Hopping up to sit on the edge of the table, Gewyn starts to recount the party's trek through the woods. As he continues, his words begin to turn musical, and he is soon singing an impromptu ballad, just loud enough that he could be heard clearly by any who were near, but quiet enough that his voice wouldn't carry outside of the encampment, and the weary and disheartened refugees would have to move a bit closer to light and warmth and food to hear what had happened.
He does not build up the tension and terror of the encounter nearly as much as he almost certainly would with any other crowd, perhaps out of recognition that morale is low for many, and the danger is not yet over. Instead he weaves a tune and a tale that plays up the skill and triumph of the group. From time to time he is even telling a bit of the truth. But the performance is absent most of the infighting. The breaking of his now straightened nose is played for comedy.
To those who had actually witnessed the fight, it is quickly apparent that Gewyn is doing his best to bolster spirits and alleviate fear in anticipation of the dangerous trek the refugees had ahead.
Performance: 29
Gewyn quickly draws a small crowd and begins lifting some spirits, at some points it feels like gewyn has the eyes of the entire encampment, he is plied with questions once he is done, "we can move freely around the forest now?", "What do we call your victorious band of heroes?", "yeah, how should we thank you all?", "once this is over our story should be told! Will you do that for us?"
Vin realizing just how helpless the soulless people are as they sadly look at the owlin boy. They cast prestigitation to clean them up and remove the smell. They pat them on the head and says "Good job." Being very disturbed by that event Vin hides how much it upsets them. They came with good news and helping these folks will become easier once they get somewhere safe.
Vin answers Terry saying "Yes. We slayed it. It took the form of our friend to try and trick us but we were able to kill it still." When food is mentioned Vin says "Oh yes! Please. I'm starving." They smile at the look of Terry seeming happy. As word spreads and folks begin to hear the not-deer are slain and hope begins to spread. It won't be long until they are on the move.
Neferox continues her patrol as she doesn't seem to trust this moment of peace. She eyes the edges of the clearing with distrust and malice. She does look back to check on Vin frequently but otherwise continues to be on alert.
With Nef occupied it leaves Vin free to mingle a bit with folks without the large black dog looming behind them. Vin grabs some extra food and brings it over to Gewyn. With them singing the young man sits and waits with the others as he seem to enjoy the bard's singing and music. They definitely like the way they seem to inspire hop in the survivors. Once the song is done Vin brings the extra serving of food over to Gewyn. He has to wait a bit and his pointy ears perk up a bit at the question of a group name but he doesn't say anything and waits his turn to give the food to the likely hungry bard. Handing the food over to him Vin says "I'm sorry."
Muir chuckles at Gore's look. He speaks quietly to him before getting up and moving towards the woods.
Gewyn smiles at the newfound energy in the crowd and starts to answer their questions one by one. "I wouldn't go wandering about the forest on your own just yet. That your leaders here have managed to get this many of you this far is a testament to their competence and strategy, so you can't go wrong by coordinating with them and following a single unified plan. As for us, we're no heroes. We are peacekeepers. And all we ask is that you take the hope we have brought here and continue to spread it wherever you go. And as you carry that hope forward, so too will I carry forward your story. And the story of those who couldn't be here tonight. Though their lives may have been cut short, I'll see that their story lives on."
Finally getting a bit of a reprieve, Gewyn accepts the food handed him by Vin and leans on a tree with one arm while eating with the other. "Thanks for this, Vin. And don't be sorry." He pats his ribs gently. "You were the only one with the sense not to hit me in the money maker." Gewyn seems to be back to his normal casual attitude and light jokes.
"Actually, I'm glad I've got a chance to speak with you." He looks over his shoulder back toward the throng of refugees and then over at Nef to make sure she is looking away. Then he grabs Vin's arm lightly and leads them away a few feet. "I would like to get to know everyone better. To know you better. But she..." He nods his head in Nef's direction, "... does make it a little difficult to approach you. Know ye a way for me to placate her? Anything I could do to brighten her assessment of me, or a treat that puts her in a drowsy mood or something?"
Vin joins Gewyn and watches them look nervously at Nef. The half-elf quite used to such a sight and seems sad as he nods "I know..." Vin is quiet a bit as they are trying to figure out how to word things "I'm happy you want to get to know me still. Most people just see Nef and avoid me... she really is a good dog but she's protective. I think Walker is... was the first one to still want to get to know me even after being scared by her." Vin looks over towards Nef as well as she continues her slow circles around the camp insuring his safety. Then they look back to Gewyn "She doesn't trust anyone but me... I wish she could... I'm not sure how to help her trust others. I just know she's the only family I have. I raised her as a pup. She was cold and half dead when I found her, she had brown fur with some white stripes back then. I fed her and helped her get better. It was really hard to get food for us both but I managed somehow. It wasn't until we were attacks by some thugs... things changed." They look down at the ground. Suddenly they look up and Nef is making a beeline for Vin and Gewyn. Vin looks a bit worried but says to Gewyn "If you can help her please do." they get up to meet Nef away from Gewyn. Vin taking into account that Gweyn is scared of the dog. The extremely kind boy not even once mentioning their own needs and thinking of Gewyn and Nef before themselves.
As Muir returns to the encampment, the large tree in the center begins glowing once more, slowly and surely the golden visage of Shionne the dryad comes walking out, she alights gently upon the ground her foliage garb swirling around her seeming weightless as before. She lays a gentle hand upon Terry's head and smiles, her glow dims slightly as she looks around.
Goldsheaf stands, Iver makes his way over flanked by two other guards, Gore, who returned with Muir speaks up, "I think the journey to safety should be undertaken in the morning", Iver's mouth hangs open a moment and then he adds "I was just about to say the same. The rest of the guard don't want to do anything too risky til first Light".
Terry begins translating to Shionne as she looks around, those speaking with interest. Everyone gathered turns to the group for some input.