Quote from Sphynxyy >>

“Very well.” he responds with an understanding nod. “Excuse me while I fetch my friends.” In much the same fashion as Aora stepped through the gnarled trees, Caio steps through the shadows that lie between them. He reappears where he first vanished int the treeline and rejoins the others. He gives a concise explanation of what he’s found before adding, “I offered to help them. It will behoove us to have allies within the trees themselves as we travel, and the less imperial presence we have to deal with the better in my opinion.”

"Gently with the seditious chatter..." Alaris intones in a soft but carrying voice, before glancing over their shoulder to cast a meaningful look towards the carriage. "The church is in bed with the Empire and we work for the church or we go back to prison." This last sentence comes out with a grittier husk of frustrated emotion behind it, and Zadkiel stomps a heavy hoof in displeasure as well.

"Awww." Shiva laments with exaggeration "We're not declaring war, Ari. We're just helping forest-folk protect their land, with just the smallest bit of slaughter thrown in." She wraps herself around Alaris's left arm, looking up at the paladin while wearing a mask of complete innocence. "And I believe that it would be the tieflings that would go back to prison, though it's sweet of you to say 'we'. And they'd have to catch us first." 

“No one is going back to prison.” Caio responds, deadpan as always. “We work for the church by doing this, unless the priors want to protect themselves from the angry spriggans.” He crosses his arms for punctuation before continuing. “As I see it, the slaughter will be minimal anyway. We only need scare the loggers off. We do wage war, but it is primarily psychological. With our combined magics and Shiva’s monstrous form we can terrify the invaders and send them running before they can put up much of a fight.”

"Ahem, if I might," Ludomir quietly interjects, appearing besides the trio as they talk, "there is another way. Tanem is a province of the Sarameian empire and the Vali in Tanemburg has recognised the Volkfelder order's clerical status. The Sarameian forces are our allies."

Ludomir glances from Shiva to Caio as he emphasises this.

"It seems that you plan to head south off the road and towards the forest's edge, yes? Rather than terrorising some innocent lumberjacks, why do we not seek shelter amongst the Kapikulu? If they do indeed intend to cross the Gap of Hirn, then we will benefit from their protection and perhaps engender some favour by lending our own services to their cause on the way to Mingol Bar."

“The trees would argue against the innocence of the Sarameians, as would the residents of Littlewood I suspect.” he says with a cutting glare to the priest. “We’re all sinners in someone’s eyes. But if they would truly have us as allies, I imagine they’d be even more grateful for the company of monster slayers if we arrive just as they’ve been harrowed by a pack of monsters.” Caio says with a wry smirk to his companions.

     Astrid hops off her boar and follows behind Ludomir. The dwarf's face curdles at the prior's suggestion. "No offence, but I'm not here to help your soldiers invade another land. Especially one as peaceful as those in Littlewood. They have been good trading partners with many in my hold." She cross her arms and digs her heels into the dirt to punctate her refusal of this plan. 

Shiva releases Alaris to turn sharply to Ludomir. "Caio and Astrid are right. How do you measure good and evil then, Ludomir? To stand by the soldiers and lumberjacks means putting a thumb up our asses while they terrorize and kill innocence. I thought I made myself clear last night when I told you that I protect those who cannot protect themselves." She smirks, lowering her voice to a whisper. "Perhaps you carry more evil in you than you'd like to think."

Brother Ludomir watches Caio and his companions speak, his expression pensive.

"Tell me, Caio. Do you believe that there is anything that you can do to change the sultan's orders? If Littlewood is to fall, it will be a tragedy, but one beyond our control. All we can do is make the best of it."

Caio scoffs. “You mistake me for a man of justice, Ludomir. I simply value the favor of wild nature more than I value the favor of invading tyrants. So, we shall send the invaders running, appease the forest spirits and perhaps help Littlewood in the process. That is the best we can make of the situation so that is what we shall do. As you said, it is beyond your control.” 

When Shiva lets go of their arm, Alaris eases towards the coach to gaze at the relic of the Lady Frej. The arguing voices become a drone in the background as the bogatyr's thoughts race. Shiva wasn't wrong, after all.

The tieflings would go to prison.

If a bogatyr of the Church of Freja took up arms against the Sarameian Empire, they wouldn't go to prison. They would be hung, impaled, decapitated... and probably in that order.

The gems of the relic flicker with the candlelight inside the coach, as if the Lady's gaze were fixed on Alaris from hundreds of facets. The paladin takes a deep breath, nods, and turns on their heel.

"Pragmatism, dear Brother? Is pragmatism part of the way of Lady Frej? You know my code - you were there the day Anatoly took my vows and I joined the Volkfelder. Kindle the Light, Shelter the Light, Preserve my Light, Be the Light. We shall uphold our mission to protect you and see the relic to its destination, but I cannot turn aside when these interlopers are rendering barren the life Lady Frej holds dear."

Ludomir smiles sadly, but nods and turns to walk slowly back to the carriage. Prior Branok has been stood nearby and approaches Alaris discreetly once his brother is out of sight.

"Bogatyr Forien? Might I have a word?" Branok asks softly, taking Alaris aside. "Do not judge Ludomir too harshly. His son once thought as you do. The Empire does not take kindly to insurrection and its 'justice' is both swift and brutal."

Alaris grits their teeth and their gaze narrows as their brow furrows. "The Lady's relic brought us here, Prior. Brought me here. Be a glorious beacon for all who live in despair. Let the light of your joy and courage shine forth in all your deeds." The aasimar's voice softens to a murmur as they quote the old oath and sorrow touches their eyes. "I will do as I must."

The young warrior goes back towards the carriage to speak to Brother Ludomir again. "I was wrong to speak so piously, Brother. I am sorry." They take a deep breath and continue, "The deer fulfills his purpose by providing sustenance for the hunter- be it wolf or man. We do not mourn the loss of those who die fulfilling their destinies. Their light gives hope to those of us who remain behind. Thank you for leading us, but I must do my best to protect you and the relic -- and crossing these treekeeper spriggan creatures does not fill me with confidence."

Ludomir is sat resting on the bench of the carriage. He looks up with tired eyes when the paladin approaches.

"Piety is no sin, Alaris," Ludomir tells them with a gentle chuckle. "We place our lives in your hands and you will do what you believe is right. All I offer is counsel and another path."

Caio spends the rest of the day guiding the travellers south towards the forest's edge. When the time comes to make camp, the noises of wild creatures ring amongst the trees. However, the camp remains strangely unmolested and the next day they set out bright and early, making for the Sarameian logging operation described by Aora.

Around midday, Shiva also catches the scent of blood on the wind as she walks by Caio's side, assisting him with blazing a trail off the road. The aroma is almost overwhelming to her senses. The tiefling follows the smell on the air through the forest and away from her companions, until she comes across the eviscerated corpse of Sarameian janissary near a small brook. She can feel her demon form rippling beneath her skin in response.

The stench of blood that had come to Shiva on an easterly breeze was unusual, beyond anything she had sensed before. It was as if the blood sang to her, telling of the terror, violence, and desperation that led to the final moments of whatever had died. She could practically feel the flesh between her teeth, and it pulled at something deep within her, driving her to pursue the source of this death. "Caio, you have to be able to smell that." But as she looked to her left, she had found that she had already wandered from the group and into the brush. Shaking her head in confusion, she pushed on. Upon discovering the grizzly scene of a slain Sarameian janissary, a painful spasm jolted her. She looks down to see her body beginning to shine from within. "No. No no no no no. Please no." Another spasm and she lurches forward, her body shaking as the demon within her attempts to seize control. She could feel what it wanted. And she could smell that it was there, lying still within the sundered chest of the janissary. "STOP! I DON'T WANT THAT! LISTEN TO ME, YOU ****!" Falling to her knees, her body ached as she fought the change. To distract from the pain and the gnawing sensation in her head, she began punching the ground beneath her. She struck the dirt over and over and over, till the pain subsided. 

Shakily, she stood up and noticed that there was a stream just steps away. Then her stomach turned over as the world spun, and she fell towards the flowing water and brought up her breakfast. Sweating in the dirt, she laid there for a time. Her labored breathing was all she could manage, and she didn't want to think about what had just happened. The placid sounds of the stream were pleasant, and she eventually dragged herself upright and washed her face. She stared into the water at her reflection, at the featureless darkness of her eyes. "Why? After all of this shit, now I have a compulsion to eat hearts?" She slammed her fist down into the water, splashing herself in the process. "If someone or something out there gives enough of a shit about me to send me this-" She said as she summoned her dark blade. "-thing, then why won't you talk to me? Why won't you send me more dreams or SOMETHING? I saw the warriors who were like me, but that doesn't help me live through this." Sighing heavily, she dismisses her weapon and stands.

Coming to regard the corpse behind her, she notices that their belongings are relatively untouched. Since they no longer need them, she sets to rifling through their things. Along with more food supplies and a curved sword, she came across a weapon that looked similar to the one that Nikolai uses to cast some of his spells. Bullets and black powder laid next to it, giving off a metallic, yet acrid smell. Taking it all along with her, she began to make her way back to where she had left the group. After some wandering, she found them again. "Sorry guys, had a bit of an episode, but I'm fine now. Hey Astrid, I found something that I think you might be interested in." Rummaging through her bag, she produces the handgonne. "A janissary was carrying it. Could you tell me how it works?."

     Astrid glances down at the hand cannon that Shiva pulls from her bag, but returns her attention to the previously missing tiefling. "Umm... I'm definitely no gunsmith. But yeah, I know a little about those kinds weapons. We have more advanced forms of those types of weapons." She points to Nikolai's magical focus. "That one there is pretty old and it's more advanced than this thing. " She turns the device over in her hands and chuckles inwardly. "Still using the eight-sided design," she adds before handing it back off to Shivala.

    "But back to you.. You sure you're okay, dear - running off on us like that by yourself and I thought I heard a bit of a commotion in the trees out there while you were gone? You don't want to be running into whatever's killing the Sarameians." 

"Huh. That may be another reason why the Empire is looking to capture this area, then. They'd have the Gap of Hirn surrounded if they took Littlewood, then they could make requests." Shiva pauses with the thought, then stuffs the weapon back into her bag.

At Astrid's concern over her brief absence, she nods with a soft smile. "Yeah, I'm alright. Thank you, honey. The deaths of the janissaries spot the whole forest, it seems. One of their bodies awoke a hunger in the demon. Looks like it feeds on hearts, maybe the hearts of those killed through violence in particular." Her eyes grow distant as she speaks the words. "Just another thing to keep in mind, I guess." 

"The empire dreams of expansion, prosperity, and more expansion." Alaris muses. "For Sarameians, at least. Not so much for the likes of us..." the aasimar cuts their eyes towards the carriage, then shrugs. "But they pay well, at least. Don't know how long that will be enough, though."

The wind turns cold as Caio guides his companions ever further south and snow still hangs heavy on the branches of the trees. Nevertheless, for those who know where to look, the tell-tale signs of spring's arrival can be seen beginning to push through the last of the winter's frost. It will be mere days before the snow begins to melt.

Late in the day, Caio finds a sheltered hollow where the carriage can be parked for the night and everybody beds down to seek protection from the frigid air. While the night is crisp, it's also blessedly still with brilliant beams of moonlight lancing between the trees. The pools of silver light give the grove an eerily peaceful atmosphere, despite the ever present sound of the forest's nocturnal denizens.

It's mid morning the next day when the treeline comes into sight in the distance. The steady thump of axes felling trees can be heard long before the swarthy men are visible.

Alaris prays at sunrise, seeking the Lady's favor on their endeavor, then spends the rest of the morning making their rounds. Talking to each member of the traveling group, the paladin tries to pass along encouragement and perseverance for the challenges of the road ahead.

Ending back up with the increasingly poorly-named Septum Mortale, Alaris shrugs and says, "Well, there they are. I think Zadkiel and I will ride down when they blow the midday horn, and pass along the warning about the dangers they've created for themselves. I will stay with them until full dark and be ready for your attack."

Alaris polishes their armor and weapons, and Zadkiel's tack, until the horn blows. They hang a sack from the back of their saddle containing three of the distinctive helmets of the prickhead janissaries. The pair ride forth slowly from the forest, resplendent as the spring light glints off their metalwork and the aasimar's long hair shines like burnished copper in the noonday. Zadkiel marches in a careful parade gait, stepping over fallen trees and equipment while the paladin gazes forward steadily. Loggers stare at the approaching figure, murmuring to one another about who it might be... what this might mean? 

Guards begin to approach, but Alaris cuts them off as one begins to speak. "Who is in command here?" the paladin calls out in a battlefield bellow. "I am Alaris Forien, bogatyr servant of the Church of Frej and the Empire. I bear grim tidings of grave danger you find yourselves in."

The soldiers assigned to guard the loggers look at each other and then burst out laughing.

"The Kapikulu is not in danger. The Kapikulu is the danger. Go back to your temple, Taneman. It would be wise to show Sarameian soldiers a little more respect."