"That cute little elephant is Zentromya..." Rash explains with a smile. "And she is the one who is said to have the power to raise Lady Martha's husband! Um... real quick though, we kind of have two prisoners (they're a pair of bandits who attacked us during the adventure). Can we just put them away somewhere secure for now? I and the others have some thoughts on what to do with them, but Lady Martha and her husband are our main concern right now."

"Yes... ask someone to take them and take us to Lady Martha. We can introduce the rest of our friends later " says Aidwyn half apologizing to Gaer, Anita and Solitude for not follow the proper manners. "We have a tale to tell, but first things first. How's Lady Martha?" 

At your explanation, the half-elf girl gasps in surprise and opens her eyes even more, first staring at Zentromya as if dazed, then exclaiming: "Really!? It's incredible!"

Thia is about to reach out to touch Zentromya with reverence and tenderness, but the urgency leads her to stop mid-movement and instead address the characters: "Yes, first things first, let's go, Martha must absolutely see and know all this right away ! But don't you dare leave the Sharnshield Mansion" she starts gesturing frantically with her fingers to underline the concept "without having told me in detail how you found Zentromya and where and how you made friends with her and... well, everything , okay? I want to know everything! Or I'll cling to your legs and, to go away, you'll have to drag me with you!"

“Oh, in that case, even though my legs are healed now,” Solitude jokes “we better tell her everything later”.

The young half-elf girl takes the lead of the group not even noticing the wind blowing between her blonde braids. It almost seems like the wind is trying to pull her back by her hair ... but looking at the enthusiastic half-elf young girl, one might be tempted to believe that the angry, cold tastes are just a mere illusion!

As soon as you enter the mansion, Thia entrusts the prisoners to two squires who were taking a break: "Lock up these two, please! They are evildoers that our heroes have captured and that the Sharnshield family will deal with later".

"I'll remember you, half-elf..." Kenzo mumbles through gritted teeth.

But Anita quickly silences him: "You'd better remember that you're a poor repentant criminal, rather..."

The next moment, Thia is already leading you rapidly through the simple and elegant wooden hallways you remember, but something is different, this time: the people. Or, at least, the way they look at you: some are amazed, some curious... some, perhaps, even impressed? But no one has that air of condescension (when not of hostility) towards you that was so widespread before.

The half-elf wastes no time once again, forcing more than one surprised passerby to move hastily out of the way - but you soon realize that she is taking you on a different path and in fact, after descending a flight of stairs and having thrown open an elegant double oak door bearing the crest of the Sharnshield, Thia quickly leads you into a crypt.

You are not far below ground level; in fact, narrow windows allow a soft light to illuminate the sepulcher in which Dobbian's body has already been placed. His eyes are closed, his hands folded, and his dark blond hair is neatly combed ... He looks like a little boy who could wake up at any moment.

Martha is next to him, her hand on his. She is speaking to him naturally, as if he could hear her. She looks at him with her brown eyes so capable of expressing affection...

"Thia!" the pregnant woman exclaims, beaming "You brought them! Quick, quick!" she immediately makes room for you (she doesn't even ask you if you've been successful - she takes it for granted) "Come on, do what you have to do!"

"If you can do it" someone says, from behind. Shortly after you, an elf with copperish skin entered, dressed in mourning, in black. He looks at you with skepticism in his black eyes. His short straight hair is also black, which helps to give him the appearance of a crow waiting to feast on a carrion. It is Adran Liadon; he must have been notified of your arrival and decided to witness your 'prodigy' in person.

When he sees the many additions to the party, and above all Zentromya, he frowns in perplexity and simply comments: "The company has grown, it seems". He crosses his arms and watches attentively.

"Our company will soon grow also, Adran!" Martha smiles at him "You'll see, the heroes won't disappoint us..." she then turns to the characters "Right?"

Rash smiles.

"I certainly don't think we will," Rash says. "Zentromya, it seems the moment has come... would you please lend us your aid and return the poor man to his beloved?"

“How dares that j*rk doubt you?” Solitude asks Aidwyn, in a whisper (perhaps deliberately?) a little too loud to really remain secret "Who is he? Who has ever seen him? He probably stayed here, easy and safe, while you risked life and soul... And now he even questions your result?"

But Zentromya immediately sets to work, flying over poor Dobbian's corpse and landing next to his head. The miniature elephant begins to murmur a sweet psalmody, the words of which you do not understand, but which nonetheless arouses sensations of peace, of sweetness, of love...

"It's wonderful!" Anita whispers, practically in awe, reaching for Rash's hand and squeezing it warmly.

Even Adran's frown softens visibly.

The sacred miniature elephant continues singing to him for an indefinite time, at times gently stroking the boy's eyes, temples or cheeks with his trunk. You are not sure whether it is reality or suggestion, but you would swear that small stars or sparks of light occasionally spring from nowhere and are absorbed on the young man's skin, making that section of skin glow softly - and look more alive - for a moment. Enraptured by sensations, you lose track of time... and when Zentromya finally falls silent after a last verse of vibrant joy, which makes you think of life as much as a song of birds in spring (and which also makes you feel for a moment a suffused scent like freshly blossomed wild flowers), you find it difficult to understand whether a minute, an hour or a day has passed.

But you don't even care too much, taken as you are by the miracle you are witnessing: Dobbian Stamkris's green eyes slowly open, while his chest swells at his first breath of his newfound life. Martha lunges in front of him, almost knocking over poor Zentromya (who was flying towards her and instead has to turn sharply to avoid an inadvertent collision) and takes his hands.

For the boy's eyes, which were still getting used to the light of life, the radiant face of the woman is the first thing they can see distinctly.

"M-Martha?" he murmurs, incredulous "What an infernal dinner! I thought I was dead..." then he looks around, he realizes he is in a tomb... "And... I was?" he asks, uncertain "What happened, Tamer of my Heart?"

"Nothing important, I'll tell you later..." the woman finds a way to hug him despite her pregnancy "I brought you back here, that's what counts! You'll be the father of my child!"

"You can bet!" exclaims the revived, with a conviction that sounds so real that you'd probably bump into it, if you wanted to get close to that couple.

Adran's gaze becomes less hostile, simply perplexed, in the face of Martha's evident joy. The elf's black eyes move over all you heroes: "I really can't believe it. And no, I'm not talking about she being able to bring back the man she wanted from the world of the dead... That's also almost unbelievable, but if there's one woman who could have been enough determined to succeed, that is Martha Sharnshield. I am speaking of the favor she bestows on that individual. Yet she seems... so happy... What do you think? Is that immature suckling, which in a creature of the opposite sex must never have sought anything other than an ephemeral enjoyment or a well-stocked purse, really bent on making a serious effort?"

 And this time it doesn't seem like the elf is sarcastic, ironic... maybe not even ill-disposed. He seems really interested in considering your opinion.

"No way of knowin' for sure," the half-orc says with a smile, holding Anita's hand gently. "But if I was a bettin' man I'd say the odds are strongly stacked in his favor. Anyone can change for the better, if they have the right reason."

Roxana walks along with the group mostly silent. The return to Longsaddle will bring the decisions about the two prisoners to a head. She fears what the end result will be.

Seeing Dobbian recover, she is truly glad.  Most especially for Martha.  She knows they were all promised s great reward, and there is some excitement in anticipation in that. But she's truly happy for the woman.

Adran's questions were ignored by her. Maybe others would answer. She felt he didn't really need any answers from her. 

Finally, she speaks up. "So what is our next step?"

Gaer discreetly reaches for Roxana's hand and replies: "Well, as soon as your client and Dobbian realize the existence of the rest of the Multiverse again, I suppose they will reward you... And after that..." he looks into her eyes. eyes "After that, there will probably be no more work for Spira and me here... so we will leave. You have had your taste of what the life of an adventuress can be... if you want to continue living it, my first offer is still valid: join me! You are decisive, practical, smart, deadly... it seems to me that you were practically born to lead this life".

Adran meanwhile carefully considers Rash's words: "It's a phrase that seems very idealistic, yours... 'Anyone can change for the better, if they have the right reason'... I'm not saying this to denigrate it, mind me! Ideals have their importance - and their charm. But I'd like to know, if you'll do me the courtesy of telling me... is it just your idea? Or have you actually seen it happen sometime?"

Meanwhile, Zentromya, having fulfilled its task, is returning towards you...

The young warrior dimishes Solitude's worries about the elf's words with just a shake of her head. "Put no weight on his words... "

During the ritual Aidwyn takes Solitude's hand in hers and kind of lean towards her. When the young man breathes for the first time she takes air too, for she has been holding it uncousnciously. Tears fall from her eyes as the couple reunite. 

"Thank you Zentromya, you are great What you've just done is... I have no words.. thank you" she says to the little celestial being.

"Seen it with my own two eyes," Rash replies to Adran, still smiling. He's content to leave his comment at that for now.

Solitude, during the ritual, had welcomed Aidwyn with a smile as she almost seemed... to want to sweetly seek refuge within her. Without even realizing it, while she was witnessing the scene, she had also started stroking her hair. When Aidwyn looks at her again, she notices that she too has moved to tears and, at the warrior girl's words of admiration, the ex-prisoner tiefling nods confidently.

Looking at both, Zentromya replies: "You all were part of this miracle, because if you hadn't come to free me, this would never have happened! This is the main difference between Good and Evil... while Evil can't do anything other than turn against itself, Good collaborates, cares, unites... and thus, ultimately, reaches unthinkable results!"

After that, the celestial creature approaches Adran and the elf's black eyes rest on Zentromya. He takes on a thoughtful air while the holy miniature elephant looks at him in turn, with a sweet expression...

The elf and the celestial creature look at each other for a few interminable moments, their eyes locked... Are they communicating? If yes, Zentromya is not including you this time...

However, when the elf returns his gaze to you, a hint of a smile smoothes his lips, as he addresses you all: "Gentlemen, it seems that this time I may have been wrong. If indeed a celestial creature has seen fit to bring Dobbian back to life... And if this celestial creature harbors feelings of gratitude towards you... I must admit that it is fitting of me to suspend my reservations about Dobbian. And about you too. Please, forget the idea I had of you; it certainly needs to be questioned".

Aidwyn nods and smiles back to Adran.

"You were only trying to protect your loved ones. Lets leave the past in the past. I say that we should celebrate! Can you walk Dobbian? Let's go back up to a more comfortable setting..." 

Catching the knack of it, she would communicate with the little celestial elephant. 

"Are you going to return to your home now? I totally understand if you do but I think that you deserve to be on the celebration too, at least a couple of drinks... " she hesitates " uh.. do you drink wine by the way? Well I guess we an ask them for whatever you like... oh! I must warn them about Balbfy!" Zentromya could say that she is exultant and happy. 

Giving Solitude a kiss on the cheek and a brief "be right back" she approaches Adran and talks to him about her other friend and about the prisioners and the options they had come up with while the comitive moves upstairs. 

In attempting to get closer to Dobbian, Aidwyn realizes that Many more family members join as the incredible news spreads through the mansion! Martha and Dobbian are speaking about the wedding date and they decide to set it for the same day the following month.

It requires some effort (and a few elbow work) to be able to approach Martha and Dobbian during this day which has become so frenetic, but the warrior girl, jostling, manages to make themselves seen.

Dobbian frowns at her when she turns to him (the two had never met before her) but Martha immediately intervenes: "She is a heroine who is part of the group of your saviors, Dobbian! Her name is Aidwyn!"

To which he says: "Oh, in that case, very, very nice to meet you, Aidwyn! Of course I can walk! I'm just... tired, like I've just come out of some ordeal. But I've never been happier than this!"

Martha speaks again: "Please, in addition to considering yourselves invited to our wedding, stay and rest at the mansion for today! Thia will find you a comfortable accommodation, so tomorrow, at a more convenient time, I can present you with your well-deserved prize!"

Meanwhile, Zentromya also responds to the warrior girl: "Do you know what Aidwyn? I, in Elysium, used to talk every day with the souls of the heroes who come there for well-deserved eternal joy... And you have no idea how much they fought , given up, suffered, during their lives... here... on the Prime Material Plane! From all their stories, it always emerged how many times they could have needed... help, you understand? But no... almost always they found themselves alone... forced to do what they could... because the others didn't even do that! So I was thinking... what if I stopped here for a while, to help someone like them, like my blessed heroes who rest in Elysium? As we said earlier, together we did a wonderful miracle... We could stay together again... I would take a little longer to see my old friends again, but they are now eternal... And think of how much joy it would be if, when they see me again, I could tell them that I had helped someone like them here, on the Prime Material Plane! So, in short, you understand, I thought I'd stay here a little longer... with you all... if you want me".

Finally, Aidwyn speaks to Adran  about Balfby, prisioners and options.

The elf visibly pales as he replies: "So this Balfby is a Yeth Hound? They are creatures of darkness and nightmare, with an evil nature... ruthless and bloodthirsty hunters, who crave the terror and suffering of their prey... You have chosen a powerful but dangerous company, Aegiskeryn. But after what I have seen you and your company do, I do not want to make any rash judgments. I trust you will be able to handle it. Your hound will be as welcome as you are at the Sharnshield Mansion. I will warn everyone not to be frightened. You did very well to tell me".

For those who know elvish language, Aegiskeryn means:

"As for the prisoners," he goes on "the options you have explained to me will ensure that they no longer disturb the peace of these areas. I will speak about it to those who will have to judge the criminals and these options will be offered to them. I consider them fully acceptable. The slavery under the heels of the half-orcs, among other things," he smiles "it also has a poetic taste of retaliation... Who knows if some of the criminals will choose it?"

Then, Adran turns his eyes to an energetic-looking young woman with black eyes and straight black hair gathered in a ponytail, in her early twenties (she looks a bit similar to Anita, but she has a very different bearing and is a few years older), who has just run into the room and now looks around...

As soon as she sees Martha next to the revived Dobbian, she runs towards the two with eyes wide with joy and embraces them.

"Excuse me," the elf says, with a parting nod of the head to the characters "I join my wife Tharby in also presenting my congratulations".

Meanwhile, all of you are joined by Thia, who, beaming, compliments you: "Well done! What an amazing thing you have done! I knew from the beginning that I could count on you! So you stop by us, Martha told me! If you want to chat more with someone, go ahead... if not, whenever you want, I'll show you your rooms!"

(OOC: If you still want to interact with someone here, in the crypt where everyone compliments Martha and Dobbian, go ahead! Otherwise, if you agree to stay at the Mansion until tomorrow, Thia will show you your rooms and you can decide if there is anything else you want to do today or if you prefer me to fast-forward to the next day, the day of your awards ceremony.

One thing you definitely still have unfinished is reporting to Colin. You promised him, in exchange for his second divination, to give him 'all the magical knowledge' you would find in the place you were going... Now, not that you found much, actually; but if you don't tell him anything, it almost seems like you want to cheat him...)

Aidwyn replies to Lady Martha introduction.

"oh oh but of coruse! it is a pleasure to finally meet you... please excuse my rudness we've been talking about you and your... problem so much that I felt that I already knew you, excuse me... " she offers her arm for him to walk, but she steps aside seeing that Lady Martha has that covered, even in her condition and the rest of the family members that flock around the couple. 

To Adran about Balbfy

"In fact I offered her to return to her plane, the Feywild it is right? but she said she wanted to stick with me for I provide fun and interesting hunts... you see... we fought against a demon, and a devil, so... but I guess she will get bored when she realizes that those creatures are not my usual enemies, not by far!" she chuckles "I find her bluntness kind of fun, but she is obsessed with hunting things, it's in her nature I think... she has been imprisoned there a long time, I think she just need to strecht her legs, so to speak, for a while. And if I can direct her to hunt down evil creatures... but I do hear your concerns Adran and will keep them in mind. If you have some books or scrolls that I could read to learn more about the yeth hounds I would appreciate it. And... thanks" she says a little bit unsure what he had called her, but sounded like a compliment. 

To Zentromya:

"But by all means!! Having you with us will be great!! I do not know what will become of us now that this has been solved... but I guess that I will ask Solitude to come with me...don't know if the others will want to stick together but it sounds like a good idea, we made a pretty good team after all. But I guess that Rash will stay hear with Anita now that they are expecting...  you know... My idea was to obtain a horse and search for those in need and help them... perhaps... you could tell me more about this heroes you met in Elysium... I would love to hear about them and their deeds... woah sorry I am drifting... sorry too many emotions!  " 

( happy to move forwards for me) 

Adran to Aidwyn about Balfby: "You're welcome. Turning evil against evil... that seems like a nice retaliation, too, if you're capable of it, Aegiskeryn. But it seems you are. And if so, it may help to know that a small but annoying plague for Longsaddle are the goblin tribes in the surrounding area, who every now and then organize annoying raids to raid the ranches... if not the hamlet itself. Of course, in case of truly dangerous invasions, the Harpells intervene themselves and blast them into nothingness - but it seems that goblin mothers are always pregnant. Sooner or later, a new wave always arrives, led by a leader who believes he is more skilled, smarter or luckier than the others. A situation that inevitably causes grief and pain every now and then. Now, goblins are not Demons and Devils... but if your... Balfby... could accept them as prey - there are many! She would have a long time to enjoy - and all Longsaddle would be free to prosper in greater safety".

Aidwyn nods to Adran. She must admit that she had thought of that before, but she would like to keep her as a guardian rather than send her into a precautrionary strike... the mention of pregnant mothers draws Aidwyn's gaze upon Lady Martha and she acknowledges why she had discarded the idea in the first time. She keeps her thoughts for herself thoug, being polite and giving Adran the impression that she would think about it and she doesn't want to dealy him more time... 

Roxana doesn't offer any objection to Gaer taking her hand and she listens as he speaks to her, looking back into his eyes.  She's quiet some time before she makes any reply.  Finally, glancing down, she starts slowly. "Join you... leave Longsaddle?" Though clearly she's speaking to Gaer, the question doesn't necessarily seem pointed to him - perhaps she's asking herself. "Where?  I mean... I have to get back to the tavern. The Gilded Horseshoe is probably wondering where I am at! And my family's farm, and Quinn and Olivia," she says, not really being all that clear at this point. 

'I guess Samira left Longsaddle,' Roxana thinks. 'Perhaps I could be like her and do it too. But she was never cut out for the farm. And it's not like she's done all that well for herself. This is just so much! Gaer is nice, but do I just leave to travel with him? Do I have to decide now?' 

At the offer of lodging for the night, she is snapped out of her thoughts. Her green eyes lift up to once again gaze back at Gaer. "I think I need a moment to decide. How quickly are you leaving?"  She has not let go of Gaer's hand the whole time, and if he doesn't object, she drags him with her to find Thia. She tells her, "I appreciate the offer of a place here at the manor tonight. But I think I would prefer to take a moment to see my family. Don't worry, I will return with the first light of the morning." 

She then turns to look at Gaer, "We all should head back to the Harpell's and meet with Colin. Do you think we have time today? Maybe we could gather everyone up and head over."  She takes a deep breath. "I wonder what to tell him.  I feel that if we mention that it was a Harpell facility in the first place there are going to be questions.  Surely someone amongst the Harpell's remember the place.  Not sure what they'd think of us rummaging around in there." 

As everyone enjoys themselves, Rash has something he still needs to get taken care of. He takes Anita aside somewhere that they won't be overheard.

"Anita... I think you and I need to talk to Lady Martha in private. I want to get your situation cleared up while she and everyone else around here are in a good mood."

When the green eyes of the girl from Longsaddle lift up to once again gaze back at Gaer, they meet those, black as the moonless night, of the tiefling: "If I have reason to wait - and it seems I have, fortunately - we can certainly stay for several days, Roxana. Maybe even a decade or two. After all, Spira will be paid for the deed she accomplished... And I can make something by selling some of the remaining Kylth's flags. We won't have an urgent need to change town. But sooner or later the money would run out and in this life, so free and stimulating, but so full of uncertainties, you never know when the next opportunity will arise... so I won't be able to afford to wait, for example a whole month. I'm pretty sure, however," he must have (unknowingly?) gotten even closer as he spoke - he's so close now... "that a determined girl like you will decide what she really wants much sooner than that".

Gaer willingly lets himself be dragged to Thia and when Roxana talks about Colin, he admits: "I don't know anything about this guy, but from the way you talk about him I guess he's a Harpell? They're the lords here... So if you've made a pact with him, better to honor it... And I will accompany you, of course. But I share your concerns... The complete truth is not always the best thing to say... What are you supposed to do, according to your agreement? Report to him? You could do it, but omitting the detail that the wizard who ran that place was a Harpell. Even if, out of curiosity, the Harpells decided to go and visit the dungeon in person, perhaps they wouldn't do it right now. Maybe after a few days... And, at that point, we could already be far away - safe from from uncomfortable questions. Obviously they wouldn't hunt us - after all, we didn't do anything wrong - we just defeated a band of Zhyentarim and saved the betrothed of a noble woman! Let's hear from the others what they think too?"

Meanwhile, Anita replies to Rash: "I have full trust in you... Go ahead and do what you think is right (and smart)!" she stretches out her arms to encircle his neck, lower him to the right height and give him a kiss of encouragement.

The half-orc wizard, like Aidwyn before, has some difficulty in making his way through the increasingly dense crowd around the miraculous couple, but Martha, when she sees him, is the first to help him reach her, asking whoever is in the middle to make way.

"Good to see you, Rash!" the pregnant woman welcomes him warmly and hugs him "Here's my Dobbian!" she does presentations, beaming "Back with us, thanks to you!"

"In that case," Dobbian smiles brightly, shaking hands with his savior "honored to meet you too, Rash! I have yet to fully understand everything that has happened... but I'm sure I owe you a lot! Thank you from the bottom of my heart... friend".

Seeing that the wizard seems focused on other thoughts, Martha guesses: "Is there something you need to talk to me about, Rash? Is Thia unable to find you a room?"

Rash smiles... he's nearly certain that Lady Martha will help however she can.

"Well it's good to see you back up and in relatively good condition," the half-orc tells the resurrected man. "Um... if you don't mind, I would like to speak with Lady Martha in private... well, away from the crowd anyway. Dobbian, if you want to come as well that's fine. But I have something important to ask her... it shouldn't taken long and we can all get back to the celebration in no time."