"Do you know if... If this magic requires a willing host? Did I kill a helpless slave I was supposed to set free?"

Seraphina shakes her head sadly.

"Set your conscience at ease, Alaris. You did what you could to protect the innocent and stop the evil that was at work here. This poor soul was likely already dead. It's clear that Sigrid wields some fell, necromantic power."

"That makes sense," Alaris replies after swallowing hard and spending a long moment examining Seraphina's face for signs of condescension or pity. "It isn't much of a relief in the long run... poor Shiva will be even angrier. Speaking of Shiva, she's kind of a mess. She's taken more of a beating in the last few hours than I can easily manage." After a pause with a plaintive expression, Alaris says, "So many things are happening everywhere we go. These Norscan necromancers... the dopplegangers in Littlewood... the army on the border... and there's a cult back in Piotrgrad feeding poor people to a dragon. How do I know which one I'm supposed to deal with?"

Seraphina appears genuinely compassionate towards the plight of Alaris, the Septem Mortale and the people of Littlewood.

"I understand that it can be overwhelming, Alaris," the abbess replies, her voice calm and reassuring, "but we must face these challenges head-on and do what we can to protect the innocent and uphold the values of the Lady."

She pauses for a moment, considering her next words carefully.

"As for which challenge to prioritise, I suggest that we focus on that which is within our reach. The Septem Mortale have already taken steps to deal with the Ravagers and their slaving. Bringing Sigrid to justice, or the changelings' intentions into the light would both be noble goals. On all fronts, more information must be gathered to assess the situation. We cannot do everything, but we can do what we can. That is the path of the righteous."

Seraphina's expression remains steady, but there is a hint of concern in her eyes. The world is a dangerous place and, at times, the forces of evil seem to grow stronger with each passing day. However, the wise old halfling is staunch in her faith and determination that their order can push back against the darkness and protect the light of the Lady.

"Thank you, Abbess. We will gather more information and keep you informed on our next steps. Now, I will make sure the others find their way to the infirmary." The aasimar bows and kisses Seraphina on each cheek before trudging forth to find Caio and Shiva and Astrid.

Not long after laving the abbess, Alaris finds Astrid praying in the gardens of the abbey's inner courtyard.

Alaris pauses as they enter the courtyard, then finds a bench within Astrid's line of sight and waits for her to pause in her devotions.

      With her prayers concluded, Astrid takes out her tool pouch and begins to tinker with her watch. The dwarf's tongue protrudes slightly as she struggles to get something in place with a delicate touch. "Get... in... there." A light ping followed by a twang comes from the device. 

     Astrid hisses a few harsh words in dwarvish and shakes her head. Looking up to take a calming breath, she spots the bogatyr and gives an embarrassed smile at her outburst. "Oh... Hello, Alaris!" She sets the watch in her lap and pats the seat next to her, welcoming the company.

    "I don't know which is harder... Trying to keep you all safe, or getting this thing to work ," she adds with a giggle as the aasimar approaches. 

"Well, I've seen what you can do with that thing, so keeping us safe is probably way harder." Alaris hugs their dwarven friend, then asks, "Have you seen the others? I think we could all use a pass through the infirmary, to stock up if nothing else. Then I need a nap before we all talk. How are you feeling about things?"

"Medical attention seems prudent." Caio intones, materializing out of a nearby shaded doorway into the courtyard. "I believe I heard Shiva plucking at that new instrument of hers." 

Alaris starts, then turns and curls up their nose at Caio with a mock frown. "You enjoy that too much - did anyone ever tell you that?"

     Astrid sinks into the embrace of Alaris, finally able to feel a sense of calm after their latest encounter. 

    "I'm feeling well enough, I suppose. I just need a little rest.  Shiva seemed to suffer the most." The dwarf closes up the back of her watch and stuffs her tools back in their pouch. "Still... I'd like to know who sent her to that foul place to begin with."

"Sons of night! You're a genius, Astrid." Alaris shakes their head and continues, "I don't have a mind for investigations - that's a great next step. The Abbess also suggested recon, regarding either Sigrid or the changelings or both, as our next step. But I know we have some unfinished business in other directions, too."

Caio allows himself a little smirk to indicate that yes, he does enjoy it too much. The expression drops as the conversation returns to the business at hand. “Yes we have quite a lot of unfinished business in other directions. The Morgensterns and their runestone and Ling… oh and also a ******* dragon. Are you two really so set on investigating a boogeyman or sailing out to the Norscan sea to chase that witch?” He sighs, clearly not excited about either of those potential distractions. “I suppose if there’s coin in either it might be worth it. I don’t consider myself the gold-hungry sort but perhaps having more monetary resources will serve our more daunting issues.”

"Do you think Shiva will let either thread go? Maybe we can get her to drink some milk of the poppy and when she wakes up, we're halfway to Five Towers!"

    "No, not particularly. There are more important things I think we should take care of first." Astrid replies to Caio. "We can push on to Five Towers, I think. Just remind Shiva that going there will likely let us get Ling from the Morgensterns. Hopefully, she can see the sense in that."

Once she feels that she's done playing for now, Shiva gently lowers her guitar down onto the bed. Heaving herself up, she is given a reminder of the pain as her body deeply aches. The wounds that she'd sustained burn with a cruel intensity for several seconds after she's completely stood up, and she takes a slow breath before going out to look for food and the Abbey's library.

Wincing as she steps into the sunlight, she spots the others chatting as she makes her way past the courtyard and steps out to join them. "Hey, guys. I'm not sure what time it is, is the Abbey serving food? And Ari, do you know if this place has a library that I could use?"

"There you are!" Alaris hurries over and wraps their arms around Shiva in a gentle hug. "Come on - let's get you to the infirmary and then we'll find the kitchens and wreck them. How hard of a blow to the head did you take that you're looking for a library?"

Shiva inhales sharply through gritted teeth as even the gentle hug is painful for her. She smiles and gawks in mock offense before speaking with a exaggerated affect of affluence. "I am a scholar, dear knight. Mine is the way of literature." She fills the courtyard with a loud chortle before wrapping an arm around Ari's shoulders. "Yes, the infirmary and the kitchen, I haven't been able to quite walk off the effects of last night's activities." 

She then becomes more somber as they walk on. "I'd like to read through what I can in the library about demons and the Abyss. I want to understand just what I come from and what I'm capable of." Her voice begins to trail off; "If I have more control, maybe we'll be taking women home next time instead of unearthing their corpses..."

“Yes, learn to control the abyssal maw in your soul and the one between your legs will at last be satisfied.” Caio says with deadly serious weight despite the vulgar humor. “If the abbey does have a library, perhaps they also have information on this runestone that the Morgensterns are after. Shiva, we were just discussing our intentions of resuming our trek to Five Towers. There isn’t any other business you have here in Paragon, is there?” By the way he asks the question, it’s clear he is expecting ‘no’ for an answer.