OOC: I guess this answers Devin's question ...

The woman turns from the giant as the group makes their presence known. She doesn't smile. In fact, she almost appears angry at their interruption. At first glance, she looks like a wild person. Her long, black hair is bushy and anything but combed. She wears what barely passes for clothes: it appears to be mostly strips of dark leather and brown and white feathers wrapped around her breasts and waist in some attempt at modesty. Attached at many places to her coverings are strings of beads, bone fragments, feathers, rocks, claws, teeth, and various other natural and manmade "baubles". Some of the strings hang loose while others are attached at both ends to create inverted arches. Hanging from her wide shoulders is a long, dark cape that pools on the ground behind her. Because of the revealing natures of what she is wearing, it's easy to see this woman is powerful. The firelight creates dancing shadows that accent the muscles in her arms and legs. Strangely, though, the firelight is creating an odd shadow across the right side of her face. But as Dork approaches, she can tell the shadow across her face is in fact normal skin tone. It's her left side that is odd: almost the entirety of the left side of her face is pale. The iris and eyebrow on that side are, in fact, white.

As Dork is speaking, the woman stands. Not only is she powerful, she is tall! The strings of decoration on her body make small noises as they swing and bang into each other. She steps forward to stand closer than what is socially expected, and her cape drags along the ground, causing the leaves to hiss. She regards the other clerics before looking down at Dork. "I am Mullo of the Sky Pony tribe," she says, still scowling. "What outsiders would call a shaman or medicine woman." She motions with one arm toward the horse with wings, revealing the underside of that forearm where her skin is decorated with intricate tattoos. "This is Haetone. She is not a dumb elephant, and I caution you to treat her with respect. She honors me with her presence. We are both seasoned warriors, and I hope a comfort to each other on this unexpected path," she says, giving the pegasus the first congenial look the group has seen from her. To the clerics' interest, the pegasus clearly acknowledges Mullo's words, then turns and regards each of the others before continuing to graze. Adopting her scowl once again, Mullo continues, "I have been plagued by dreams," she says, stepping by Dork, nearly banging into her in the process. "Uthgar and his father have sent me a message of warning concerning giants. My tribe and the others are in danger. Harshnag tells me that you are also on a mission concerning giants. Which of you is chief?"

Devin barely pays attention as they make their way towards their camp.  He had stopped to check on Lukian when he got the chance and found that he was no longer alive. It hadn't been long had it? No more than a minute since D jumped from the wall with his body and passed him off?  He had ridden as fast as possible to a place of safety. 

He had spared the dying,  had it failed? 

It was no matter,  the Lady of the Weave had showed him what to do,  how to revify one who had passed very recently.   But try as he might he couldn't draw the power to complete the spell.  In grief he tried again, tears streaming down his face. Soon the confident, cocky young man was replaced by a boy. 

"I'm sorry, " he mumbled.  "I failed you." Was all he could say. 

As they approached camp he told the others.

"He's dead.   Lukian is dead. I cannot save him,  the Lady has left me. She does not give me the strength to bring him back.   She has shown me the knowledge,  but now she withholds the power.  The Weave does not obey she has taken her hand away and will not let me do this.   I do not know why she turns her face from me,  where I went wrong.   I am sorry."

Nearly in shock he rides into camp, dismounts, and lifts Lukian's body from the horse, gently laying him on the ground. 

"What now?   What do we do? "  Devin scarcely sees the newcomer, barely registers her words.

"Lukian is dead,  Torunn is gone,  Meiva is gone, Jaylen is gone.   Even those blasted goblins are gone. This quest has taken so much and we are no closer to knowing what is going on.   What is the point of all of this? " Grief and pain and despair are clearly evident in his voice and he sits next to Lukian and drops his face into his hands and sobs.

Mullo appears to notice Devin for the first time. Her scowl deepens as she eyes the human. She steps toward Lukian's body and kneels down, placing her left hand to his chest. The skin of that arm and hand is decorated with many irregularly-shaped pale splotches that match the color of the left side of her face. She closes her mismatched eyes and breathes slowly. Opening her eyes again, her scowl softens as she regards Devin once again. Speaking more quietly, but still with directness, she says to Devin, "He has been released. This one is now free to give power to his children. Did he have many?"

"Lukian is dead,  Torunn is gone,  Meiva is gone, Jaylen is gone.   Even those blasted goblins are gone. This quest has taken so much and we are no closer to knowing what is going on.   What is the point of all of this?" Grief and pain and despair are clearly evident in his voice and he sits next to Lukian and drops his face into his hands and sobs.

The Shaman then sits down next to Devin and performs her ritual on Lukian’s body.

Seeing Devin’s grief and frustration, Harshnag says “it is said that long ago when the leaders of the various Giant races had a question they would seek guidance from their gods at an oracle known only to them; they called it 'The Eye of the Allfather.' Well…” dramatic pause “I am one of the few who knows where this place is and am prepared to guide you!”

Though at least faintly curious in the slight tilt of her head, the practically dwarf sized living construct had not even flinched at the traces of anger Mullo's visage. Her eyes in fact, not that the newcomer would know, had dulled to their neutral yellow in tone since reaching relative safety, and had not changed since, clearly registering no threat before her. But all that can be seen of Mullo is quietly filed away during the introduction all the same.

At the question from Mullo, she then looked to regard to the party, mutely considering the "options". But things were just as Devin stated in his lament and more. Ebonitus was too green. Ilnezya yet remained a wild card. And Devin...  Despite not always seeing eye to eye with the Lady of the Weave's Child, their most basic programs often being at odds, -he'd- at least been the most assured of the group. But now...

Dork, at least, could not bring herself to even try emulating any of her "Condolences Protocols". Having yet again been shown her insufficiency, and in even the most straight-forward of tactics,  the construct could only bow her head in presumably shame or guilt; the light of her eyes dimming to pinpricks. Mullo's 'ritual', if it was truly such, would go ignored by at least the construct in the moment. She could not so easily ignore the more deeper and inherently louder voice of Harshnag, and would look up, the light brightening once more in her eyes.

"Then it appears we have our next destination." She said neutrally, then looks to the others, before locking on to Mullo. "Before you asked if we had a 'chief'. This is not so. We were...We 'are' meant to be a fellowship. Agents of various faiths guided together by our patron deities, or creator, in my case, to be their 'response' to the recent disruption caused by the Giants." D.O.R.K explained, then shifted her gaze slightly over to Lukian. "But we are flawed. Our shells weak. Our minds dulled by preconceptions, much pain, and the journey itself just to reach this point."

Her gaze then goes to Mullo. "Yet, they have not abandoned us yet, as you have been guided here as well. Not by our individual deities perhaps, but by a force beyond our ability to fully comprehend. I at least, have chosen to believe in this truth." Her gaze then turns to Devin. "We have not been abandon. Not yet. Life... is lost easily, and is not easily returned once gone. You are her son. Do you think any mother would wantonly sacrifice her son to return another?" She asked, but would not wait for answer before briskly answering it herself. "No. She wouldn't. Your origins aside, your 'true' mother has blessed you with great wisdom. I have seen it. So, you should know better... But you do not have to take my word for it. The word of a mere Pawn. Commune with her, when we truly have the moment. But for now, you must endure."

Finally, she regards Mullo again, and slightly bows her head. "Lukian did not speak of Progeny. But if he has any, I am sure they would proud of him for his bravery today. And the gods willing, this may not truly be his final day. But for now-...." And that's when she'll abruptly stop and look to the sky.

(@Grant: What time of day is it?)

Devin looks up at Mullo, she is so close he can not ignore her presence.  "I do not know, he never spoke of children.  I have been so wrapped up in the quest that I lost sight of the people we are and I never asked him.  I..." he trails off the rest of what he may have said is left unsaid.

When Harshnag speaks Devin listens to his words.  "Does this oracle only serve to connect you to your gods or to any god?  I feel lost, have made wrong choices, failed my companions and innocents along the way.   I feel unworthy of this quest."

Hearing the words of D he looks to her.  "You have left things unspoken.  We have not always seen eye to eye, but we have both tried to serve the quest to the best of our abilities.  We are the only ones left of the original group.  It has been that way for some time.  I will do as you say and seek her again and what she is trying to teach me."

He slowly gets to his feet. "But we need to bury Lukian, and there is no time as we fled Nesme and the Zhentarim do not take to meddling in their affairs lightly.  They will not let us go easily." Devin speaks dryly, with no passion.  "Let us get away from here and see to our companion.  Mullo, if you are coming with us, so be it.  Ilezenya, you got your self wrapped up in our troubles.  You may stay if you choose or find your own path but thank you for your aid this day.  You fought bravely."

Devin lifts the sword hilt Dawnbringer and hands the it to D.  "Lukian, I think, would want you to have this.  But I think it may also choose its own master.  Lukian seemed to speak to the blade.  Carry it for now, I am unworthy."

He then lifts Lukian and places him in the cart that Gol pulled.  He'll take the horse and tie its lead to the cart as well.  "The Zhentarim will hunt us, we need to go.  Harshnag knows a place, please lead us there."  

You set off for Nesme just after dawn and I would say that by the time you get back to camp its getting on late afternoon.

As the party is getting ready to leave Harshnag says “Its going to take us almost two ten-days to get there and the oracle isn’t going anywhere in a hurry so we don’t need to leave right now.” He picks up his axe and continues “you’re right the Zhentarim don’t take kindly to people interfering in their plans but somehow I don’t think they’ll bother us tonight.” He pauses before continuing “I suggest we head south of the Lurkwood and then hook around its western edge before making our way into the Spine of the World but …” grinning he says “if you want some excitement we could cut straight through the Lurkwood. Whichever way we go we wont get to the oracle until after Highharvestide and at that time of the year it’ll be cold – I mean really cold – in the mountains!”  

Everybody pls read and let me know

Ilezenya follows the conversation, filling in information and clues about this group and their mission. Perhaps the Moon Goddess sent him on his quest to join with this larger cause. Although not his usual foes nor hunting grounds, he followed Selune's guidance always, and this group was surely in the twilight, facing unknown fears and enemies. "Yes, I will continue with your group and provide my assistance as able. If we are camping here for the night, I am able to construct a safe area where we may rest without fear of attack. It may not fit the giant, unfortunately..."

Mullo silently takes in all that is said around her, her scowl ever present. She stands as Devin lifts Lukian's limp form and watches him deposit the soulless shell in the cart. She does not see reason in this practice, but it is not her place to voice this thought ... yet. "If it is assurances you need, let me see if Uthgar or his father can reveal our path." She sits down again, taking one of the longer strands from her clothes and forming it into a circle on the ground. She reaches around and removes from a small pouch in the small of her back several bleached bones carved with runes and inlaid with gems. She holds the bones out in the palms of her open hands above the circle, closes her eyes, and takes a deep breath. "I beseech Uthgar, the Battle Father, and Tempus, the Lord of Battles. Please reveal to me whether staying in this place will result in danger or safety." Opening her eyes, she pulls her hands apart, letting the bones fall into the circle.

Casting augury

(I hate to be a buzz killer, but... I think are cart got destroyed by Mambo awhile back.)

D.O.R.K had simply nodded to Devin, refraining from or forgetting to mirror the little idiocrancy of more biological humanoids, as she was want to do. When handed Dawnbringer however, the light of her eyes briefly flicker brightly in surprise. "I..." She start, but cannot find the words prior to Devin moving on to see to the body, one way or another. In the interim, she stared at the presumably bladeless hilt for a long time, wondering if it might reach out, but daring not to be the one to initiate contact. But short of it demanding something of her within the next minute or so -- something she might find reasonable to do or say, the blade would be eventually hooked to her side.

Even during all that, she listened to Harshnag, and after at least a moment being given to digest it, shake her head. "No. I do not believe we would be interested in 'excitement' any time soon. We shall need to avoid it. As for your warning, we will need to stop by at least the closest settlement to this oracle and resupply there. If this is a problem given your size, at that point, we can meet back up again at a place of your choosing. Is this acceptable?" She would ask.

Armed hopefully after with the knowledge she sought, attention shifts from Ileznya to Mullo's new ritual. For all of her eagerness to be away, a minute more could be spare to hear the results. But until then, she set about trying to find some place near to watch for an approaching possible enemies.

(@DM/technically all:)

I'm willing to hand wave that much travel to keep the story moving. 

Also Devin has the equivalent of about 90 gold on him to purchase supplies.

Mullo's fingers flutter over the bones where they fell, but do not touch them. After about 30 seconds, she looks up. "We are safe to stay here for at least the next little while. Beyond that, I cannot see."

OOC: As for the trip, that's up to everyone else. Since there are new members, there may be questions people have for them, but those can be combined into fewer posts that can then be answered without having multi-post conversations.

(Ilezenya could do with a quick recap of the NPCs...but happy to skip the travel overall =) He favors travelling at night or when it's overcast. In full daylight keeps his face in shadow as much as possible due to his drow heritage. But in the twilight and full dark of night he is most comfortable, able to see quite well. Plus, as a Dusk Warden (cleric of the Twilight domain) he is uniquely trained to operate in the dark.)

(OOC: I am happy either way for the journey)

Ebonitus, having learnt the difficulty of communicating with Mambo using the helm of telepathy in the heat of battle, has spent the trip back to Harshnag communing with Mambo and teaching him to undertstand some simple hand and arm signals so that he will know what we need him to do. Instructions such as increase flame, reduce flame, come here, wait there, attack, follow me and other similar actions (He continues this throughout the following journey.).

On return to Harshnag, he is saddened to hear that Lukian is irretrievably dead. He had come to rely on Lukian's judgement over the few short weeks he had known him. He had been accepted by these people into their mission, which coincided with his own and the rate of attrition is of some concern. He is also very concerned about D.o.R.K's mental health, the mission needs D.o.R.K. to be fully functional, and to regain some confidence in her capabilities.

Deep within these pensive thoughts, Ebonitus belatedly realises that there is another within their midst. He had barely come to recognise that Ilezenya was with them and then another is with Harshnag on their return.  He snaps out of his reverie and puts on a warm smile to greet and introduce himself to the Shaman. "I am Ebonitus, life cleric aligned with the Earth Mother." He then indicates Mambo, "This is Mambo, I communicate with him telepathically, he is sometimes a little foolish, but he is accompanying us until we can return him to the elemental plane of fire. We are a motley crew, but united in our quest to try to understand what has upset the balance with the Giants." 

Ilezenya will busy himself with a ritual casting, causing a 10' radius dome to form around the Dusk Warden and the rest of the group. Inside you feel cool air, fresh and clean as in a pine forest, with the lighting matching that of twilight. You can see out of this area, but not in. Up to nine medium-size people can fit inside it - unfortunately, it is not giant-sized. 

(90gp is chump change! But... maybe it'll be enough. z.z)

(But looks like the 'Aye's' have it for the skip. Presumably with any stop to buy supplies being done in the background, along with the filling in the new guys and the burial of Lukian as well. If we're climbing mountains though, may also need to make arrangements to at least have Mr. G stabled at the next big town possible. Dork would also like to commune with Dawnbringer at some point over the journey as well. Just to get a guage of if it would want her to find another sun cleric, or stick with them and carrying on in Lukian's place.)

(Also for the eventual new night guard rotation, I propse the following barring any PCs outright rejections)

 At the news of "a little while", D.O.R.K would look to Devin and Ebonitus, gauging their reactions to the telling. In the process, seeing Ilezenya already in the process of his own protective rituals, and having heard his confidence in them even, the construct would hold her tongue if the others were fine with it. In the meantime however, she would set about doing what she would go back a ways to see about obscuring their trail, leaving Ebonitus and Devin to handle further introductions.

--> Trail Obscuring: 7.

After all of that, even with the promise of magical protection, the construct would yet insist on taking shifts, just in case. As for the burial of Lukian in its eventuality, the construct wasn't certain of what times would be the best; only that she would seek the blessing to preserve his form that morning in the event of traveling with him yet for some time longer.

(No objections! Ilezenya has darkvision out to 300 yards and thrives in the dark =) 

Despite her human lineage, Mullo has darkvision — a blessing since birth.

As Mambo comes into view, Mullo stands and backs up a few feet, looking ready to defend herself if needed. As Ebonitus introduces himself and then the elemental, Mullo mumbles something before looking back at Harshnag. "When you said they are an unusual party, you meant it." She keeps her distance from Mambo for a few days, silently watching him at times until she determines for herself that he is not a threat.

The first night, while Dork and Mullo are keeping watch together, the wild woman points out that she has seen the construct neither drink nor eat and that she has not removed her helmet. Dork then explains what she is, which is another revelation to Mullo, who has clearly never even heard of such a thing before. After her watch, Mullo leaves the dome and sleeps back to back with Haetone.

Next morning Harshnag rouses the party saying “if we want to get to the Eye of the All father on or about Highhavestide we need to hit the frog and toad!” For the next eight days the party skirts the southern edge of the Lurkwood before eventually spotting a fortified keep off in the distance. While they had seen the occasional fortified homestead and or Uthgardt tribal village in what had largely been an uneventful journey – probably because they were accompanied by a particularly large Frost Giant – this was the largest settlement they’d seen so far. So far on the journey while the nights have been cold – occasionally below freezing – the days had been relatively warm; probably because of the strong southerly winds. “That’s Xantharl’s keep, the last place with decent ale before we head into the mountains” Harshnag tells the party.

(OOC: yes the cart has gone. I'm guessing that with the exception of Mullo the party is riding on Golemogote)

D.O.R.K. how exactly are you communing with Dawnbringer

(@DDP: If only D.O.R.K was in a more jovial/healthy state of mind. So would've added her saying initially, "Food and Drink is for the weak!" XD)

(@Grant: I guess communing wouldn't quite be the word for it in hindsight. She'd plainly try to talk with it at first when able to grab a few minutes alone time from the others;including using the spell Tongues and Sending on it, misinterpreting a language barrier if it didn't initially respond. If that didn't work, she'd ask to borrow the helmet from Ebonitus to try telepathically. And if THAT didn't work, THEN she would finally try 'attuning' to it to at least try. If all efforts to communicate have failed at that point, then she'd try to pass it back to Devin towards the end of the first leg of the trip so that he can try his hand.)

(Though, if it comes to that last line, she would obviously be back in a slump after that. IF she's able to make contact though... well, that'll depend on what Dawnbringer has to say to her first, especially since, if only adjacently so, she had been responsible for Lukian's Death. >.>)

"Understood, Harshnag. Though, I am not so confident they will be able to properly stable Mr. G, hopefully we will be able to get the supplies that we require." D.O.R.K would at least say, if though in a hollow voice. Despite eventually seeing to Lukian's burial, ever since then, the construct had become even more reticent to speak beyond her efforts to try and communicate with Lukian's blade. Every task over the past eight days that she set to is done in a truly robotic fashion. Even the closest thing she had to a hobby, that being the drawing in the dirt or constructing small minimap out of whatever could locally be found for the sake of constructing battle scenarios is completely absent from her daily activities.

She would, however, remember to send a message to the halflings they'd rescue, informing them of the removal of the hill giant threat. But also, to warn them to stay prepared to bug out of the area in the event others do arrive in the future.