Varis

Colter looks at you with a blank expression. "I see all the creatures of the woods, binding us all together with a golden rope. Varis you are wise, more wise than any of us, what does it mean?!"

Grimnir draws his sword slowly, letting Jaina know to remain silent and follow him. He charges through the door of the cabin ready to attack.

Grimnir

As you cross the doorway the smoke turns into a deep blue. You feel your feet get stuck in place, and you arms feel as if they weigh a thousand pounds. You see the small frame of an old woman turn toward you and extend a bony finger toward you and Jana. "Ah, there he is. The big one. Forgive me for stopping you short, but I know you are quick to act, isn't that so." She motions toward the smoke, "Gaze, won't you?"

Grimnir, initially shocked by his paralysis, struggles against it. Gnashing his teeth he yells, "Foul witch! You unnatural thing! Release me!" As he utters his final curse, he catches a glimpse of something in the smoke.

Grim

"Foul? Unnatural? You know little for being such a big man." The woman says as she motions toward the smoke. "I said Gaze" she says in a slightly more stern tone.

As you peer into the fog you see the events of the recent past; the kidnapping, the torture, the fighting pits, Colter and Jana, Pafaren, until finally the visions slow down and settle on the face of Umok. It lingers there long enough for you to capture every detail. The smoke begins to evaporate and the old womans arcane grasp on you is released.

"Crazed perhaps, but unnatural, no certainly not. Though I knew you were a hot tempered one Walker." 

A small grin flashes across her face for a brief moment.

"What did you see Walker? Do tell."

Grimnir's forehead beads with sweat as he shivers with rage. Through grinding teeth, he growls, "You show me the face of my enemy, Crone."

He shakes his head quickly, trying to come to his senses. Approaching her slowly, he softens his tone.

"If you want to help us, then tell us how to defeat him. We have little time for visions, prophecies, and divination. We believe he marches on this land as we speak. Show us a way to stop his campaign!"

"Divination? You mistake me young man. I only see the threads of fate, I do not meddle. From here it is up to you, but I tell you this. The one they call Umok, and yourselves, will be entangled in a violent battle. I have seen it. Every night. It is a terrible and brilliant seige, in a far off land. Prepare warrior." She then sits in an old wicker chair and starts to hum a tune.

Letting out a mocking laugh, he points his finger at Varis and then Colter before loudly saying, "Well, this has been profoundly enlightening, gentlemen. If it's not too much to ask, can we get on with our journey now? Something tells me it won't be long before she's peddling folk-art talismans to us."

He gives the old woman a scathing look and then stomps out of the cabin, finding the closest tree on which to relieve himself.

Grim

As you exit the cabin you hear, "would a folk art talisman have kept your dagger clean all those years ago, Walker? She stays motionless in her chair. Colter and Jana gather themselves and follow you a moment later.

Varis still confused at his own vision within the smoke, walks over to the old woman, "I apologize for his rudeness. May the Divine bless you, my daughter." He reaches out his hand to gently place it on her head for the blessing. He slowly makes his way out the door. 

When he reaches the others, he speaks softly, "Now, dear ones and great warrior, what are we to make of all that we have seen and heard?" And slowly begins to continue along the path. 

Varis

Colter looks at you with a weird look. "We are bound together by the hand of fate. What to do with it, I know not. Perhaps we need to arm ourselves with the artifacts of Yelberos, then take Umok on ourselves?"

"If anything..." Grimnir interjects, "...that's what the Crone has divined. Her message was clear: our fates are woven on the same skein. Umok is at the end of our journey. Go and hide in a hole if you like, but we will face him just the same."

He looks around them at the dark interior of the treeline trying to gain his bearings.

"As much as I distrust the arcane -- and those who immerse themselves in it -- these relics, if they offer a hidden power that can help us, then they are what we should concern ourselves with, as Colter said."  

Grabbing the drinking-skin from his belt, he quaffs a large portion of it, wipes the remnants from his beard with his leather gauntlet, and grins as he says...

"Well then, company, do we have an accord? If so, point your warrior in the way we shall journey and I will lead us to our fates."

Grim

Colter looks at you and then to Jana, "we are going to need to raise an army. And we have the funds to do so. How about Jana and I stay here and raise up our own force. We will fund the entire thing, and while we do that you two go to Yelberos and get some of the powerful artifacts that Kelpos was talking about." His face turns pale and flat, "we will need every weapon in Kosmedes to defeat Umok."

Varis stops and ponders on this, obviously, thinking of his research and books in Ralohice. Yet, he knows them to be correct. 

"Yes, I think you are right, good Colter. If you keep along this path, you'll find your way to Ralohice. Grimnir, shall we return Kelpos and the boat?"

Grimnir nods his head to Varis and then spins quickly toward the direction of their destination.

Looking over his shoulder briefly he calls to Colter and Jaina...

"Gods be with you, lovers. We shall meet again."

With that parting formality, he straightens the shield across his back and begins his path through the forest toward the waiting Kelpos, signaling Varis with a quick jerk of his head to follow him.

"Let's go, bookworm. We have work to do."

He says this with a large smile, hoping to ease the tension surrounding their impending mission.

Colter and Jana exchange hugs with you and both take off their wedding rings. Colter holds his out to Grim, while Jana holds hers out to Varis. With a deadly serious tone Jana says, "So you know that we are good on our promise, consider it an insurance policy." Colter reaches into a pouch on his belt and holds up two shining pieces of Amber, "So you know we are good on our other promise. We still owe you a small fortune, but for now, let this suffice."

As you part ways you realize that it is the dead of night. Trekking back to the ship would take you until the morning, and you haven't rested in a while. You reckon that you are about two or three hours a way from Fallowsynn and you feel pretty confident that you can find it, should you choose too.

Grimnir loops Colter's ring through with a long string of leather and ties it around his neck, letting it slide beneath his chainmail byrnie for safe-keeping. He pats it gently before looking at Varis and saying, "Well? We can spend the night here, Gods know we need the rest, or we can soldier on for a few more hours until we reach Fallowsynn. Do you have any trinkets that might divine what approach we should take? If not, I'm up for any suggestions."

"I do not attempt the Divine by trying to read what only It knows. Though, I do want to think through what our evening has been. I say we head for Fallowsynn."

Varis puts Jana's ring into a small pouch and stows it away safely and begins to walk toward Fallowsynn.