Astrid's curiosity gets the better of her as she continues to experiment with the Hedge's effect on magic. She places both hands over her eyes to give her eyes a silvery glow.  

     "Uh, oh!" The dwarf stands there looking at her silvered hands before her. She pulls the sleeve of her robe up and finds the transformation continues up her arm. Her skin nearly matching her dull breastplate. "I shouldn't have done that, I think!" Her demeanor remains calm, but there is panic in her voice.

Chaos slowly begins to build in the green grove as Shiva's voice echoes from all directions and the ground shakes in response to Astrid's thaumaturgy. The priors and pilgrims are growing increasingly restless and fearful, and Brother Ludomir nods in agreement with Nimue.

"There is fell magic at play here. We should leave."

A sudden wind interrupts the conversation, rushing between the trees to knock Nikolai's cards from his hands. When they hit the ground, they are fanned out in front of the Tiefling, no longer blank, but once more resplendent with their ornate paintings. After staring at what he is being shown for a few moments, Nikolai gathers up his cards and locks eyes with Shiva.

"Elodia is safe, but we should keep moving. This is how it's supposed to be."

Shiva looks to Nikolai as if ready to protest, but her eyes soften in acquiescence in view of the circumstances. "Ok, if you say so. Lets get out of here." Packing up the last bits of their camp, Shiva heads to her horse.

"Well that was certainly strange." " Yeah, but if things are suppose to be this way, then I won't fight it. We have enough to worry about as it is."

"What do you mean, 'This is how it's supposed to be...'?" Alaris calls out to Nikolai. "We're sure to be in a bad way with Francesc if we return to Piotrgrad without her! What do you know, Nik?" Sweat drips off the paladin from their morning exercises, and Hope's Edge rests in their hands with a comforting weight that gives no thrum of danger. 

Nikolai waves his hand at the tarrock cards splayed out before him. "This is a message from Shahar. In a similar fashion they spoke to me in Piotgrad, telling me we must take her with and keep her safe. If Shahar says this is the way, then... this is the way. I understand many of you do not trust in higher powers and I can appreciate that, but what I'm asking you is this: Do you trust me?" He turns around and looks every member of the group in the eyes, holding their gaze until he receives an answer before moving on to the next.

Shiva narrows her eyes at Nikolai's sudden intensity. "Yes. You know that I trust you, man. I know that Ari does too. I don't think that any of us doubt the source of your abilities after what we've seen you do. This whole thing is jarring and just walking away from it does feel strange. But again, we're out of our depth and if you and Shahar say its the best thing, then we'll move on. No one is challenging you, I think Ari just wants clarity because 'it's what's best' is a classically cryptic phrase. With a huff, Shiva hops onto the back of her horse.

Nimue's eyes are dark. She'd been with these people barely two days, and she knew even less about them than she had when they first met. She levels her gaze at Nikolai. 

"I barely know you. You have given me little reason to think that you even want my trust, or I yours. I don't know this Shahar you follow. I don't have a reason to trust them. But I trust Aralath. And he has told me that this is the path I should be walking. So I will walk it." She swings up into her saddle, choosing to come alongside Astrid, waiting for Nikolai to lead them out. 

    Astrid, atop the large boar and still distracted by her silvery transmutation, looks over to Nikolai. "Huh... Oh, yeah. I trust you." She rubs on the back of her hand with a thumb. "I hope this comes off," she says to Nimue. "I'm gonna stick out pretty well like this!"

Quote from Lyrel >>

Nikolai waves his hand at the tarrock cards splayed out before him. "This is a message from Shahar. In a similar fashion they spoke to me in Piotgrad, telling me we must take her with and keep her safe. If Shahar says this is the way, then... this is the way. I understand many of you do not trust in higher powers and I can appreciate that, but what I'm asking you is this: Do you trust me?" He turns around and looks every member of the group in the eyes, holding their gaze until he receives an answer before moving on to the next.

Alaris, never one to shy away from such a challenge, stares back at Nik. Silent seconds draw out one by one, each feeling longer than the last, until the paladin breaks into a broad grin. "You've got to relax and enjoy life, Nik. Ahhh, that was fun. Astrid, does that hurt at all? It's sexy in a disorienting way... Nik, you've given me nothing but grief for trusting in a higher power as you call it. You're a changeable fellow, make no mistake: but yes, I trust you. Don't make me regret it."

Turning towards Astrid and Bluebell, Alaris continues, "Seriously, how does that feel?"

Brother Ludomir cautiously approaches the priors' escort as they talk amongst themselves.

"You all seem to be having a great deal of fun, but there are people here who are scared. I expected danger in the forest, but not a day's ride from the city. Why did we enter this place? Is our carriage outside safe?"

A high pitched giggle echoes about the branches of the trees.

Quote from Saute_Monkey >>

    Astrid, atop the large boar and still distracted by her silvery transmutation, looks over to Nikolai. "Huh... Oh, yeah. I trust you." She rubs on the back of her hand with a thumb. "I hope this comes off," she says to Nimue. "I'm gonna stick out pretty well like this!"

Nimue's rigid exterior cracks slightly, and she smiles in amusement at Astrid's remark. The smile quickly disappears as the laughter rings through the glade. The darkness returns to her eyes as quickly as it had left. 

Shiva puts her mind to thoughts of the journey once Alaris diffuses the tension and Brother Ludomir approaches them. But her head turns sharply to the tree line as the source-less giggle resounds, instinctively summoning her blade. Hopping off of her horse, she backs towards Nik with her eyes trained on the trees. "This is coming from all around us, do you know what it could be?"

As adrenaline begins to rush through her, her body produces a novel reaction to the threat. A slight chill runs down her spine, and all those around her see pulses of light shine from random spots beneath her skin. Like goosebumps, plate-like formations spread across her body, hardening as ridges and depression mark the end of one scale and the beginning of another. There is a slight discomfort as the skin around her neck and face shift, tightening as it is transmuted. But the sensation is short-lived, and she exhales in relief.

The magic of her cloak even seems to react to this change, the fabric shrinking and adhering to her, wrapping around her arms and torso. Now lightweight, it allowed freedom of movement, the red of the interior mingling with the blue of the outer layer before settling into an eggplant purple. "Well that's special."  She whispers as she looks at the fabric stretched out over the scales.

Quote from Aramalian>>

Alaris, never one to shy away from such a challenge, stares back at Nik. Silent seconds draw out one by one, each feeling longer than the last, until the paladin breaks into a broad grin. "You've got to relax and enjoy life, Nik. Ahhh, that was fun. Astrid, does that hurt at all? It's sexy in a disorienting way... Nik, you've given me nothing but grief for trusting in a higher power as you call it. You're a changeable fellow, make no mistake: but yes, I trust you. Don't make me regret it."

Turning towards Astrid and Bluebell, Alaris continues, "Seriously, how does that feel?"

     Astrid's cheeks give off a shine of polished metal as she blushes slightly at Alaris's words. "Uh... um... No. Everything feels okay."

     The dwarf stiffens at the sound of the laughter, then quickly straps her shield back on her arm. "Muh... maybe they can help with our magic acting up...? Hello," she calls out to the trees. "Sounds like your having fun with all this..."

Nimue's eyes are drawn to the Hedge. The colors seems to be....rippling outward as the laughter flares, coming from inside the Hedge itself. She places a hand on Astrid's shoulder, then points to the Hedge. "This has something to do with Hedge. The laughter. It gets....well, the colors ripple with the laughter. Like water from a water drop." It's mesmerizing, and she can feel her own natural curiosity beginning to creep up in her mind. 

Alaris lays a strong hand on Brother Ludomir's shoulder. "This place is sacred to the Lady. She loves this wild untamed place as much as our shrines in the city."

The giggling voice sends a charge of fury down the paladin's spine, and they bark out, "Nik says Elodia is where she needs to be, and we have work to do. Let's get moving."

Ludomir stiffens at Alaris's words.

"It is not the trees and leaves that strike fear into the hearts of our flock, but the strange magics and the disappearance of one of your number. If there is nothing to be done, then we should be on our way."

Outside, the carriage is as safe and unmolested as Caio left it and the silver colour rapidly fades from Astrid's skin and hair. Soon, the convoy is once more on its way east. However, come mid-afternoon, the priors begin to ask about looking for a campsite and stopping for the day.

Quote from stormchaser6 >>

Ludomir stiffens at Alaris's words.

"It is not the trees and leaves that strike fear into the hearts of our flock, but the strange magics and the disappearance of one of your number. If there is nothing to be done, then we should be on our way."

"Teach them to trust the Lady, Brother. It's going to be hard enough keeping you, the other brothers, and the relic safe. The flock knew what they were getting into when they left Piotrgrad." With a curt nod, Alaris moves to grab Zadkiel's halter and leads her out of the glade.

Quote from stormchaser6 >>

 

Outside, the carriage is as safe and unmolested as Caio left it and the silver colour rapidly fades from Astrid's skin and hair. Soon, the convoy is once more on its way east. However, come mid-afternoon, the priors begin to ask about looking for a campsite and stopping for the day.

Alaris smiles and replies, "A little farther, brothers, please. If we continue stopping as soon as the glass turns from morning to afternoon... the more days we're on the road, the more danger will find us."

As the group relaxes and moves expeditiously out of the grove, Shiva too relaxes and her form reverts to its usual state. While she travels silently, her mind buzzes with conversation.

"These changes are unlike anything that I came across in my research. Only Greater Demons demonstrate what you seem to be capable of. I can't help but wonder how I might change in the future, as our physiologies are similar, yet dissimilar in some fundamental way. The short woman must be right, we come from a very powerful entity, maybe even one of the Fati." 

"Fati? I think Astrid said that Clarissa described a marilith. I don't know much about the Abyss myself, since religious texts never really made their way to me through the servants that saw to my cell. But the Abyss is uniquely home to demons, so that would have to be the source. So, what are Fati?

"The nine fallen angels, the princes of Hell."  " Hell, singular? Your world only has one Hell?  Must be crowded."

The priors reluctantly acquiesce, but after another hour's ride Shiva is tiring and needs a break before she can continue.

Shiva's breathing is slow and heavy as they push on, sweat beading on her forehead. Before long, she begins to retch and pulls over to the side of the road to vomit into the grass.

"What's going on? I feel like I just spent a whole night drinking." 

"Your body has undergone tremendous and turbulent change over a matter of days. It's likely that it's still transitioning, still adapting. Try not to push yourself too hard over the coming week."

"Where's the fun in that? Pushing myself feels natural, Shivala. I-"  Her thought is interrupted as she expels her afternoon meal into the foliage.