Once Etriel Darastrix is ​​made aware of the powers of the three magical objects, she is more than willing to leave the pearl and wand at the disposal of others: "I know how to use magic, but I often combine it with the martial tactics learned among my people... The pearl will probably be best used by Lord Neldak - or someone else who makes magic their only resource. And as for the wand, it will probably be most intensively used by those who often attack from a distance with spells - I, from a distance, use my elven Longbow more frequently than magic".

"Having discovered the power that the statue gives to the pool is very important" the voice of the foreign traveler becomes admiring, as she begins to draw a map of the route to reach the pool starting from Good Mead. "Thawing the pool, as we have seen, may take time, but it is not impossible. And the enormous benefit that those waters can provide could be the difference between life and death for those who need them one day. We should warn Good Mead of what we have discovered - and advise them to leave someone to guard the pool, so that it is not used again as a lair by dangerous creatures but, instead, remains available to those in need who can only be saved by a miracle. Surely, a community of Silvanus faithful, perhaps with a few soldiers for defense, would be a good choice".

"Both items would be useful to me" she says, "but I'm sure they are to others too, a sign that it's a valueable! I'm good with whatever make sense."

Did we melt enough ice to get to the water? If so, Cirim will empty her water skin to the side, and fill it up with the water around the statue

"Silvanus will provide" she says.

It would have taken about an hour to fully melt so anyone not involved in the melting process can take a short rest. Cirim has a waterskin of greater restoration (and if you ration it, I would say one waterskin contains enough for each member of the party to benefit)

Danon is involved in the thawing process, using his elemental powers to help.  Similar to Cirim, he empties his current waterskin and fills it with this precious water once he learns the nature of it.  He watches as Idalie separates the monster's head from its neck, preparing to take it back into town.  "Anything else before we head back?  I think this will be quite a shock to them!"

(Unless you plan on giving it to NPCs you don't need two waterskins as one has enough for you each and it only works once per person)

"I think that is it for me, Danon.  Let's get this mead back to town.  As long as someone doesn't mind me borrowing the pearl anytime we need something identified, I could benefit from either of those items we found.  The history of this place is quite fascinating."  Neldak looks around at the pictograms again.  "Shall we replace the lid of the tomb of this honored warrior?"

"A most pious thought, Lord Neldak" Etriel Darstrix nods in homage. "And it is right to act upon it. The mighty wich-chief who rests here must have accomplished great deeds - she has certainly earned her peace".

The foreign traveler exchanges a look with Chief Obould - and helps him replace the lid, if the orc is willing.

[[ OOC: Etriel also intended to skin the bear and butcher it - to donate the meat to Good Mead and eventually sell the fur - and split the proceeds with the party of course. And also to lead the flock of sheep - temporarily without an owner - back to the village. If she can complete these tasks without problems, she is perfectly willing to start the journey back! If so... ]]

The eladrin huntress, feeling once again enriched by her travel experiences, murmurs a prayer of thanks to Sehanine Moonbow and begins to follow without difficulty the tracks back to the village.

Chief Obould indeed helps with replacement of the lid, Danon as well as they are talking and making their plans to leave - - and then all of a sudden, the Chief is gone!  Danon turns to look and he has disappeared.  Danon looks dejected for a moment or two, then he begins helping Etriel with the Bear skinning, using a spare dagger to help.  

Cirim walks out of the cave, and sits down on the ground. Sparks eventually flies over and rests on her shoulder.

"I understand where food comes from" she says, stroking his back with her thumb, "and trophies, but I prefer to be out here with you, little one. Looking up at the sky. I just wish there was a sky to see."

If anyone need help Cirim will join in, but most of the current activity going on are beyond her experience as a city girl.

Neldak will roll the mead barrels and join Cirim outside. "We should have brought a sled or something.  I, admittedly, didn't think far enough ahead about how we'd return the mead once we got it back.  I can't believe the Verbeeg managed to drink a whole barrel before we caught up."

"perhaps we should check that he is truly dead and not just passed out from the Mead?" She says with a smile.

Neldak smiles back at the joke and glances back into the cave at the other's skinning the bear.

While your are sorting out your arrangements for returning, Cirim sees another verbeeg striding through the snow, approaching the mouth of the cave. Her misshapen face bears a too-wide smile. She clutches a spear in one hand while using her other arm to cradle a wicker basket filled with bits of shiny metal. “Duhg?” she shouts in Common. “You home?”

Upon hearing the shout, Neldak will send a message to Danon. "There's someone here and approaching the cave.  Come with everyone with you."  Neldak will give a worried glance to Cirim.

"A female verbeeg coming this way calling out for a certain 'Duhg'?" Etriel Darastrix's lips curl in measured sadness at the news brought to her. "It's probably the raider's wife... Or a sister... or a friend..."

"And even if she's innocent of the raid on Good Mead" the foreign traveler sighs "when she finds out we killed 'her Duhg' she'll seek revenge. I'll try to talk to her," she sighs further, making it clear that she doesn't expect anything good to come of it "because I don't want to kill her for no reason. But everyone, be ready, because I fear that dialogue will soon give way to violence".

And without another word, the eladrin huntress heads for the exit... and once outside, she meets the visitor, unhurried, unarmed, raising one hand in greeting and saying to the other, "Welcome, traveler - and may there be peace between us".

Danon hides and watches Etriel emerge to greet the second Verbeeg, he readies himself to spring forward and attack if necessary.  “Come around from the other side” he whispers, attack from the side and maybe we can surprise this one like the other one…” he whispers, watching how this plays out.  

Cirim will whisper to Sparks as the Verbeeg approaches, "Take to the air, see if this one is alone and report back to me asap."

She hears Neldak call back to alert the others, so she stands, arms and face relaxed, waiting to greet the newcomer, hoping it doesn't have to come to violence. 

As Etriel emerges from the cave, speaking of talking to the Verbeeg, Cirim will touch the elf on the shoulder, and mutter a quick prayer to Moonmaiden, and cast Enhance Ability on her. [Advantage on Charisma checks]

Given Cirim's spell and the fact that Etriel Darastrix can cast Guidance on herself, Persuasion (if needed) is: 21

They are not immediately hostile, but they are alarmed. "You aren't Duhg. Where is he? What have you done to him! He would have cooked you up not lived with you if he was okay."

"If you know so well how Duhg would have behaved, fellow traveler," Etriel Darastrix "you can surely conclude that he tried to behave like that with us too. And violence is always a bad language to choose to speak. Duhg reaped what he sowed. Fate caught him, which, if you knew his behavior, sooner or later could not but catch him. I can only hope that he now knows how to find, in eternity, that peace that he could not or did not want to find in his mortal time".

"And that you" the foreign traveler softens her tone of voice as much as she can "prefer to keep him alive in your memory, rather than follow him on the path that was fatal to him. This latter choice... I do not believe it would be what he would have wanted for you. You... and his memory... deserve better than end here".

The eladrin huntress, much as she wishes to avoid further bloodshed, fears that the other might impulsively decide to attack them at any moment... and, despite the empathy she feels for the poor verbeeg, who came seeking pleasant company but instead encountered bad news, she remains ready to spring into action - with her body and with her magic.