Ereworn Under The Shadow

Smiling Jack packs up some of the items to evenly distribute the weight of the haul.

Reg spends no more time in the Red Cap hole than is necessary. But he also doesn’t rush out. The digging, the examining all take time, then there was the logistics of hauling the items up and out of the well.  He has no need for a short rest at this time, but welcomes a few extra minutes if other need it  

Up top-side, he discusses with Caelan and any others how best to proceed back to return Clotha (if that is her desire).

”I’m no good at tracking, and have little clue of which direction to head. Sticking as close as possible to the path we took here would make the most sense to me. At least we are somewhat aware of what the dangers were to get here, we can plan on avoiding them. Won’t stop new dangers, but we might have a better chance of returning, especially with Clotha in tow.”

Smiling Jack nods in agreement with Reg.

Barn, still feeling the sting of his injuries (not having taken a Short Rest while helping Reg), but also feeling stronger and more... connected and empowered somehow, gathers as many of what seem to him to be the more valuable of the stolen items as fit in his pack, hoping to return them to their original owners.  Along with the strange Ring Mail of course, to try later the next time the group rests.  The coins and other treasures he leaves to his friends.

Once he ascends the well, the big man does not meet Clotha's eyes, recalling with shame the revulsion she had shown when he misunderstood her wishes.

Becoming more accustomed to his strange... abilities, Barn touches his own shoulder, giving himself a bit of the healing he had provided Smiling Jack earlier.  Then, gripping his halberd with a deep breath, the big man takes the lead, heading back the way Caelan, Jack or any others suggest.

Caelan nodded, " I can guide our way back the way we came.....but there were a number of dangerous things along that route......still, better the devil you know?"

" What happened down there? The young lady hasn't been overly forthcoming."

Clotha looked away, " So....your taking me home? Its alright....I'll be fine."

Smiling Jack answered Caelin, "Ned fought back....almost killed me, I was out... I believe Barn was almost dead as well."

"Ned w-was a... a story teller," Barn mumbles, adding to Smiling Jack's response.  "Doesn't m-make sense to me, b-but the story he settled on... w-was us f-fighting him to r-rescue Clotha.  Before th-that, he was calling her his bride...  But y-yeah.  He could have k-killed us.  Almost d-did."

Feeling the wounds in his torso sting with every stride in his chain mail, the big man takes the lead along with Caelan on the "devil you know" path home.

Quote from Damian_May >>

Caelan nodded, "What happened down there? The young lady hasn't been overly forthcoming."

Clotha looked away, " So....your taking me home? Its alright....I'll be fine."

As the group prepared to head back, Reg provides a recounting to Caelan as best he could, focusing more on the encounter before the fight.  Perhaps he elaborates more on Barn's part.  

"Goodfellow Ned had the idea that we were to play the part of heroes.  Like some of the tales of old I am sure you have heard of before.  He saw himself as the monster that carries the damsel away from her ordinary life after a plea for help or mercy.  The good soldier here (He motions to Barn) got the Fae's attention long enough that we were able to nearly convince him otherwise.  But alas, it went down I am afraid to say, nearly as he intended."  He takes a breath in wonder at what the other outcome could have been, but dwells not long on it.

The trapper address Clotha to clarify her desire and better help the group choose a course of action.  "Clotha, dear.  I can understand being upset about the way you look.  You aren't the first, and there are many tales that recount Fae tangling with people's appearances.  We have something (an artifact) that is supposedly magical.  As with all things from the tales of old, it only works in certain conditions.  Tonight, before we rest, we will fill a chalice with water.  If the story is true, it should turn the water into holy water.  Perhaps, if you believe, it will revert that which Ned has placed upon you."

"But even if it doesn't, if you have other ideas for how YOUR story unfolds, you should seek it out...look at Ardwynn for the inspiration you need."  

Clotha nodded to Reg, looking intrigued at the mention of the chalice.

As Reg prepares to tuck the shard away for the journey it catches the rays of the noon sun and there is a sudden flare of light from the shard.....

Shimmering before you is the hazy, translucent figure of a humanoid in a white robe, holding up his hands imploringly. The image seems fractured, somehow incomplete. All he can do is mouth the same three words, over and over. As you attempt to make them out they seem to be ‘Darian’, ‘Castle’ and ‘Crystal’.

OOC: Do we know where these places or people are at?

"I w-wonder," Barn stammers.  "Remember that leper we m-met when we first went into the w-wood from town?  He s-said he served some lord in a c-castle.  Fabian?  The leper g-gave us a g-gem and a parchment from Fabian.  Asking for h-help about s-something..."

The big man certainly does not remember the words on the parchment by heart, but he points to it (whoever has it).  It reads:

Fabian invites noble daring men:

Yesterday the other warriors eagerly rode
their horses ever nearer the hideous enemy: exhausted yet exalted,
men of undaunted trust, hall heroes against nameless
darkness, swords wielded over rising doom.

Barn shakes his head.  "Not that I know what that all m-means.  But I w-wonder if the guy in the crystal is... is Fabian.  Or an ally of h-his?  I'm g-guessing he is all right with n-noble and daring women as well as men too."  The big man thumps Ardwynn on the shoulder.