Elwin messaged back, "The idea is rather disturbing, but I could attune to it."

Even though he was hoping for the best, the warlock kept a keen eye on the ogres. Not wainting to appear too defensive, he had kept his shield on his back, but his grip on his spear tightened a little as he waited for the creatures' response.

When you show them the things you've taken from the hags, the ogre matriarch picks up the three serpent necklaces, hooks them into one long chain, and fastens them around her broad neck.

"Hag-killers!" she shouts to her clan. "Smarter than hags, stronger than hags!"

Turning back to you, she says, "Ogrelings go missing. We track down, find strange house and hag inside. She say ogrelings be brought back soon, but we help hags fight Elfs first, get gold and treasure. Some hear treasure, forget ogrelings. But little bitey ones are best treasure. You bring back ogrelings, kill hags, maybe more hag treasure, we not go fight elfs."

Not all the ogres look happy with this decision, and look at you to see how you react.

"Wise, Mother, little ones are most important. We should learn where is strange house. No know what hags did to ogrlings?

Hey, there is sword in that rock. Our friend looking for one" Del waves vaguely away from where R is " maybe she finds us here. Something about destiny" 

 Del doesn't even bother about the jewelry, as if it's trivial

Raven kicks some stones down.  "Hey guys, I found you back." She calls as she starts down into the ogre village.  "Sorry it took me so long..." She nods to the ogres as she approaches, craining her head up to look up at them.  "Did someone say something about a sword?  I was looking for one..."

The old ogress shakes her head. "Hags say they bring ogrelings back, but only after we fight for them. Not trust. Hags think ogres stupid. Ogres stupid, but not THAT stupid. We show you what left of house."

She adds to Raven, "You take sword, if you can, little skinny arms."  Several ogres guffaw and stand to watch.

Raven moves towards the stone.  She pauses short, bowing her head in respect for the blade, and centering herself as best she can. She then grips the hilt. She does not try to pull it free, but holds on, waiting to see if anything happens.

Raven stands for a moment with her hand on the sword as the ogres snicker.  You suspect that each and every member of the clan has attempted to take the sword at some point...

In the dramatic pause, Del mouths but none of them risks so much to save others obviously concluding about the ogres' attempts

raven stands there for several moments holding the hilt of the sword. Eventually she releases it and steps back, pausing to give the sword a respectful bow.

turning to the others Raven says, “I need to consecrate the bones. “She nods to the bones littering the ground around the stone the sword is buried inside of. without pausing to discuss, Raven goes ahead and starts to perform a ceremony to consecrate the bones herself.  she has seen her father to such a ceremony many times before, so feels able to do so now.

(Roll a religion check)

Del plays appropriate music in the background, granting a BI die (R can add a d8 to a check on the next 10 min)

raven religion check: 16

As the ogres look on in confusion, Raven makes her prayers, while Del the cantor plays an appropriate requiem.  A soft breeze begins to swirl around the skulls piled on the rock, and a sense of peace, solace and harmony fills the clearing. The ghostly form of an elvish paladin seems to appear briefly before Raven and put its hand on her shoulder, before  dissolving into mist.

The ogres back up in awe, nervously muttering, "Magic? Elf holy ritual?" When Raven next puts her hand on the sword hilt, it nearly springs out of the rock.  The ogres gasp as she holds it aloft.  "Either magic or she reeeeaaally strong," whispers one ogre loudly, and the whole band backs away slightly from Raven.

Though the ogres do not react, and possibly don't even hear it, the entire party hears a reedy, fussy voice. "Greetings. I am Allistane, and it seems I will be accompanying you on your quest from now on. Lady Blackblade, you seem a bit on the rough side after my stint in the Fellthewen dynasty, but I truly believe you have greatness in you, and I will do all in my power to bring that out, and to aid you in your heroic endeavors."

Mindartis raises an eyebrow at the whole spectical, "Huh, interesting."

Elwin had watched with interest as Raven approached the sword. He had wondered how she'd attempt to remove it; clearly, the ogres had tried, and brute strength had failed.

However, upon the appearance of the elven spirit, he had begun to think she had a chance, even without using any leverage. Once the sword practically sprang from the stone, and began speaking to them... well, it took a few seconds for the warlock to pick his jaw up off the ground.

Unsure what to say--as if he could come up with something appropriate for such a situation--he settled for simply eyeing Raven with a newfound respect.

"Well done, Worthy Sister. We knew thy radiance" Del says taken with divine wonder. "An' yer power too" balancing it with street props

Raven thrilled as the blade came free in her hand.  The voice made her feel humble and proud at the same time, proud the blade saw something in her, humble knowing she had far to go to be worthy of such a blade as this. She knew she would spend the rest of her life proving, to herself if no one else, that she was someone who was worthy to carry this blade.

"I will wield you as best I can."  She said out loud, holding the blade up in a salute, to the spirits long-dead, and the blade itself to be honest.

"Sword is yours," the ogre matriarch says, slightly grudgingly as she looks at the shining blade. "No more scratches on my legs when I sit on rock. But nothing to hang jug on, either. You bring back little bitey ones, all is good."

"They are strangely civilized for ogres," says Allistane. "Perhaps it comes of staying in one place instead of wandering. Still, better watch your back as you leave.  Some of these brutes may not have missing offspring, and may not see how letting you go benefits them. Goodness, I will be pleased to be free of the stench of this place."

(( Do we all hear Allistane, or does she primarily just talk to Raven? Because that comment demands acknowledgement! ))

(The whole party can hear Allistane, at the moment.)