Astrid's head tilts as Shiva's statement: Mistress would like me because I'm level-headed, or Mistress is level-headed. However, before she gets a chance to ask for clarification on the point a flash of pain hits her again and her attention turns to remedying herself.

     The cleric calls upon Brightmantle for his aid, as she has done many times in the past, for his healing powers. Though, because her past efforts have focused on healing the body - and not the mind, or perhaps because the pain itself in her own mind, Astrid finds it difficult to concentrate making her attempt at channeling her deity's power difficult and resulting in no relief from the voices that occasionally echo in her mind. "Well... that's not good."

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Caio watches with a raised eyebrow as Shiva has Astrid strain herself so the tiefling can dote on her lovers. 

Someone’s bitter.

Alaris’ return provides convenient distraction from his intrusive thoughts. “How did it go?”

"Caio, you old smoothy," Alaris grins and swings down from Zadkiel's saddle. "I think it went well, for my part anyway," they continue. "But there's more going on down there than we realiz-- Astrid, why is your face bleeding?"

     Astrid smiles through a grimace of pain but waves a hand to dismiss any cause for concern. "Oh... I did something a little foolish. I was trying to send a message to Shiva's friend back in Pitrograd. But since I haven't met her yet the connection was hard to find... I wonder if any of those voices were Mistress's," she adds turning toward Shiva. "But, don't worry about me. Hopefully a little time is all I need."

Alaris takes off their helmet and winces, gazing at Astrid, brow furrowed with concern. "We have to be more careful - this is not just a small logging party. There's a whole regiment of Sarameians down there," Alaris shakes their head and steps closer to Astrid. "Want me to try and help?"

"Yeah, maybe.." Shiva mumbles back to Astrid, continuing to look on with concern. But then Alaris's words register, and her head shoots up to look at the paladin. "A whole regiment?! What are that many soldiers doing out here?" She huffs in exasperation. "I don't think we could kill enough to make them run if we attacked head on."

     Astrid slowly gives Alaris a nod, allowing them to assist her with her headache.  "So, that will definitely change our plans... right? Maybe you could let them know that the dwarves have been made aware of Sarameian attempt to cross their lands. I don't know if that would be enough to send them back home." Astrid uncorks her waterskin and takes a deep drink from it. "Probably not, huh?" She takes another drink from her skin and replaces the stopper. "It might be a good idea to check with my father to see if he has heard anything."

"I think I've convinced their commanding officer that there isn't enough lumber here anymore to make it worth the number of lives the forest will take. But more importantly... I remember the other day back in Piotrgrad you mentioned overhearing something about a saraskier... a Saraskier and a Chorbaji in this region reflect a worrying investment of forces." Alaris kneels beside Astrid and takes her head in their hands. "Now then, sweeting, let me see what we can do..." Alaris murmurs a soft prayer, "Blessed Lady, grant me absorb this pain from my friend..."

Caio nods. “If you’ve convinced them that there is no need for further logging then perhaps that alone will calm the spriggans enough to allow us to pass.” Caio casts a stern glance in the direction Alaris has just come from. “We know what the Sarameians are after, it should come as no surprise that they’ve come in such force. It’s disheartening yes, but for now it is not our concern.”

     A soothing wave of energy washes over the dwarf and Astrid closes her eyes to allow herself to carried along it. Unconsciously, she begins to hum along with the strangely familiar song as her mind is cleared of the discordant voices. After a moment the cleric finally returns to the present and gives paladin a warm smile. "Thank you, hun."

Their business complete, Caio guides his companions back north to the hard-packed dirt trail through the forest. Despite Ostroga's aggressive flora and fauna, this narrow road as been worn away at by so many boots for so many years that the forest does not reclaim it. The moon has risen fully by the time that the carriage reaches the road and the travellers take the opportunity to stop for the night. The brilliant, silver light of the moon casts long shadows through the canopy and the soft trickle of a nearby brook is almost peaceful in the twilight.

Shiva is taking the second watch, when she spots a green-skinned woman, much like the one described by Caio. She's leant casually against a tree staring directly at the tiefling.

The tranquil sounds of the night accent the peace that Shiva feels, though she remains alert to activity in the surrounding area. The beams of light that penetrate the canopy create small pools of greater visibility that remind her of puddles during a heavy rain, further accentuating the sense of insular calm. It occurs to her to practice her illusions while all is still and holds her hand palm-up before her. She reaches within for the feelings invoked by Mistress, the crackle of electricity in her palm preceding a murky image that gradually sharpens. 

She feels that she's nearly captured the object of her affection when she registers a presence in her periphery. The illusion vanishes as her head shoots up to regard the green-skinned woman watching her. Muscle memory takes her into a defensive stance and she nearly summons her weapon, but the woman doesn't move. Puzzled, Shiva stands up straight and waves uncomfortably. "Hm, one of the forest-folk."  

"Good evening. I nearly jumped out of my skin just now, what can I do for you on this lovely night?"

The woman's mouth curves into a smile in response to Shiva's wave and she turns and begins to walk away from the campsite, towards the nearby stream.

Shiva's eyebrows rise as a smile forms on her lips. Turning to stride through their camp, she locates Caio and gives him a quick tap on the shoulder. "Hey, Caio. I heard something weird nearby, could you keep watch for a minute while I check it out?" 

Once Caio is up, she makes her way towards the sound of the stream. 

When Shiva arrives at the water's edge, the lady of the forest is nowhere to be seen. However, the bank before her is rimmed with frost and rime.

With the disappearance of the woman, the quiet of the forest engenders an eerie feeling of anticipation. Taking several steps back, she is hesitant to make any sudden movements. With a twitch of the hand, her dark blade is in her grasp. "I wonder if that dead janissary I found thought that he was about to expand relations with the forest folk before being torn apart?" 

"....looks like you're about to find out, Romeo."  

Shiva finds no trace of a threat as she peers between the trees. The babbling of the brook is like a soothing voice singing to the tiefling and inviting her closer.

Slowly, the tiefling finds herself inching towards the brook. As if it were a sanctuary from the looming danger of the night, she felt that she would be better off if she were nearer to it. Disturbing the frost at the water's edge, she dismisses her weapon and crouches closer to the placid surface. She breathes in the scent of the water and is reminded of what she experienced at her last brook. "How would you find me, Vudra? If I darkened your doorstep." The words are barely above a whisper.

The water of the stream is crystal clear, but the reflection that Shiva sees is not quite her own, but that of her passenger.

Shiva stares for a moment at the reflection, familiar yet alien. She then immediately perks up as she recognizes the smaller frame and shorter, more controlled blue hair as the features of her Other. "Shivala! Why can I see you right now?"