((means +1 to two of the physical ability scores and two mental ability scores for a total of +1 to 4 of your 6 ability scores... but that -3 penalty will always apply, whenever saves against mind altering effects, magical or otherwise need to be made. That's a pretty chunky penalty.))

"So, there you are, daughter of the underworld." comes a voice in her mind.
Whatever is speaking to her, its hold on her is absolute. In her chemically relaxed state, she can't... or won't... resist. She's a guest, and her host is dictating when she's allowed to leave.
"You've finally arrived. The fool On'Hull believed it would be truly so simple to spirit you away from us? He is not the only one still with a hold on this world. Rejoice, sister. You were once hidden from us, but fate has smiled, and we will restore what was taken from you."
Kallista feels as if she's being held down but pushed up at the same time, as if her body is under tremendous pressure. It doesn't crush her, but she feels trapped, like she's being tightly held in enormous hands. Suddenly she feels an uncanny vigor entering her, like switches that were kept off were flipped in her body. Things become clearer to her, her body gains new potential, but the process leaves her mind... opened. She's less able to hide herself, less able to protect herself from the will of others. Whatever 'opening' the presence that has found to communicate with her has left a permanent 'scar' that will never truly close.
"May luck be with you, little sister. Perhaps we will meet again, when we have more time."

After this interaction, Kallista passes out. She awakens on a bench, the priests believing her to have gotten overheated. A cool cloth has been left on her forehead, but it seems the priests are not exactly trying their hardest to give her comfort.

(OOC: I just want to say that this post took me... almost two hours to write. I'm proud of it and I will have nightmares about it. Read at your own risk.)

"I hope I can care for it. I can try, at the very least." Hyre answers Geoffrey's question. Hyre is slightly annoyed when Geoffrey reveals the deception. He was lied to, again. Why do people always lie? He tried lying in the past, but it seems like people always knew he was lying, and that often brought more punishment than he would get from simply telling the truth. Despite that, he never managed to spot others lying. He remembers one of his friends was always sharp on that matter and makes a mental note about asking them later. And then, Geoffrey asked that question.

If Hyre was a normal boy, he would probably blush for a moment and then get angry and say something like: "We're not a couple!" or "What do you mean courting? We just met!" As we know, however, Hyre is far from a normal boy and the egg that he's holding probably knows what was going on better than him.
At best, Hyre would just have a weird five-second fit that would end in erasing the question from his memory entirely and would move on as if nothing happened. Seeing Barna's reaction though, such simple measures could not be taken. He tries to retract into himself, cutting all connections to the outside world, but that doesn't work either. It seems that being in the state he was in the entire morning and the deletion of his memory when walking to Daar have used up his ability to do so for now. He'll have to find a way to deal with it this time, no tricks. (OOC: Me just writing nonsense trying to think of what to do now. The situation is greater than what my personal social skills can manage and I can't just pull the same trick every time. AHHH.)

"We... She... I... It's..." Hyre tries to respond somehow, but every time he starts no words come to his mind and he gets even more abashed and eventually even distressed. Countless thoughts swoop through his mind which only adds to the general confusion. (OOC: I'm going to use a few fonts to scramble the thoughts to express Hyre's state. Despite that, I know as I'm writing this it's going to be unreadable, probably, so I'll include ordered writing of things in a spoiler at the bottom in case someone really wants to read it. None of it really matters though. Everything is in Hyre's mind alone unless I make it bold.)
'What to we a I me obvious hawk money Hon ever Aelar people should normal? Am me are defines do does man care will people Skell spot lie more me?...' These kinds of thoughts keep interrupting each other, making a whole mess out of Hyre's mind. A few more of these weird strings are being thought (OOC: Which I'm too lazy to write at the moment, you get the point.), until the last one: 'Barna Barna couple couple want she all I will about how always do I  that?'  Which is followed by the thought 'What should I say?'
Finally an ordered thought. He holds on to that order with all his might. Maybe that could help him out of the state he's in. "I should say something, that's for sure. But what? Maybe I should just change the subject? No, I've tried talking about it already, I can't change it now. Perhaps I could counter-question him? No, that will be rude, weird, and will surely imply something. Maybe I should just say that I don't like her? But do I really not? Will that hurt her? I don't want to hurt her. Why don't I want to hurt her? Do I like her? Maybe I do. Should I say that I love her!? But do I really love her!?'

'Wait.' A small voice says in Hyre's mind, 'The last two thoughts... Did you just say them out loud?'

 (Sorry, Hyre. I'm really sorry. May we both be able to rest in peace.)

Edits 1+2: And just for clarification, Only the bolded part is said out loud, not the entire thought. So "I love her!" and "I really love her!" is all that the others hear. Also, the entire thing should take... around 9-12 seconds.

Lazlo 18

(8-Character went on a 'spirit journey' and encountered the spirit of an ancient warrior who helps unlock the character's hidden potential. Character instantly gains a permanent +1 to STR, DEX, or CON, your choice, and an instant proficiency with exotic weapons.)

As Aelar relaxes further under the influence of the warm water and whatever drugs or whatever was in the water, Aelar feels his connection to Raia...firming.  He still feels no need to communicate with her but feels her tugging gently, but insistently on his mind.  She wants him to follow and he senses there is a need to be fulfilled, something that is necessary to their growing bond.  At first his mind turns downward but he is guided, gently but inexorably away.  He knows somehow that what lays below is not for him, not yet for though it might yield great reward it would also result in a weakness which might reach through him to Raia.  He cringes at the very idea of putting her at risk.

As his spirit journeys it begins to take a form, his own but with armor and around him a vista comes into focus or into being.  He is walking do

wn a street in a village, a simple village of a few buildings on each side.  Aelar notices an apothecary, a smithy and a hostler on his left.  On his right there is a tavern...no an inn with three stories, easily the largest building in the small village.  Hanging outside the inn is a sign with a winged shape, swaying slightly in the gentle breeze.  On one side of the inn is a temple to some deity that he cannot identify.  On the other is a home, simple thatched roof, two windows on either side of a closed door, shutters thrown wide.  Sitting easily outside the door is man, a human, a sword unlike any other Aelar has seen propped against the man's chair.

Aelar knows this is the man he is to see and walks up to him.  He regards the man calmly for a moment then nods respectfully.  "She wants me to meet you," Aelar says, not knowing if the man will know who 'she' is.

The man does not respond at first, just gazes at Aelar, clearly sizing him up.  Finally, he speaks.  "No.  She wants me to train you.  I have agreed."

OOC: Nice post, FireCat

This isn't the first time Barna has seen Hyre react in such a fashion. When she held his hand the first time, he seemed to react like some violent Mythbusters experiments were going off in his head. She notices. She fidgets. She looks to Hyre again through his mental spasm and she puts her hand over his.
"No, sir. Hyre just helped me at a crucial time, even after I lied to him. He owes me nothing, but I owe him everything. I'm just... just trying to repay his kindness." she says, smiling.... albeit a bit sadly... at him, but then a different expression takes over.
"That doesn't mean I'm done trying, though." she whispers. (DC 10 if you want to see if Hyre noticed that.)

"He's suffered a tremendous loss... and has been left a little... haunted by it." she answers for him. 

"Indeed." Geoffry says. "Last fellow I saw react like that just had one of his arms ripped off. Oh wait, that was me." he adds.
"Boy." Geoff says, jostling him a bit.
"Listen to me. Picture your thoughts as a field of soldiers. Get them in line, in order. Don't open your mouth until they are. Better to make folk wait than to make folk think you've got a head full of bees. All right? Now try it again. You're fine. No reason to get twitchy." 

Carmine traces a finger down Lazlo's chest and smiles up at him dreamily.
"You even managed to keep up with me last night. If I didn't know better, I'd have thought I wasn't your first.  I'm just glad I make silphium a staple in my diet. Oh my, Such vigor. I'm glad we're not the ones who have to launder these sheets." she comments saucily, wriggling against him in a suggestive manner.
She pauses for a moment, and then looks closer at him.
"You... have no idea how we got here, do you?" she asks with a smirk. 

" I have no idea whatsoever- I was trying to play it off like I did but... really I have no clue. I remember the pool, and you... and the song (this amazing half remembered song), and you... and then everything is just bits and pieces here and there..."  Lazlo scratches his head. "You seem to have me at disadvantage. Or to have taken advantage of me?" he snorts, laughing. "That was a joke I was kidding, Carrie." he says quickly. ".. and a theater... music? What I can remember most, though was you. I'd never even imagined I'd meet someone like you..."  He reaches out to gently stroke her cheek.  Realizing he was being unusually serious about something he quickly jumps out of bed. 

"Hey, Carrie- the world is on fire!" he says in a panicked voice, then runs to the window, opens it up, and relieves himself into the street below. Shutting the window he walks calmly over to the bed. "Everything's fine now".

ooc: (last bit ripped off from Tom Robbins' 'Still Life with Woodpecker' but it completely fits his personality)

When Kallista wakes up, she hurrys back to change into her clothes, knowing she's not exactly welcomed here. Depending on how it works out she'll wait for the others wherever it seems appropriate. She rubs at the palms of her hands and takes a shaky breath, before opening Grimbuld's book and starts skimming it, trying to calm her nerves.

In Aelar's mind, time passes differently. Though lost in a vision that actually only lasts an hour at most while the others of their company go through their own reactions to the herbs, in his mind, he is drilled for days, weeks, his mind filled and racing with new information, new mental patterns. His muscles twitch as new pathways are opened, new memories implanted within his arms and legs. Channels are opened that allow him to move in the ways he's taught within his vision. 
As Aelar trains, he becomes aware of someone watching from afar, but they're blurry... and the man training him won't give him the time to focus on the figure. Towards the end of the marathon, however, everything begins to come into focus. He can almost make out who's watching him....

Quote from KinaJardine >>

((Finally figured out what I'm gonna do! Welcome to the wheel.... of.... inebriation! I COULD just make up some circumstances and situations, but I think it'd be more fun if we all find out together exactly what your characters did while 'under the influence' since Leon and Kallista have chosen to relax and just let the herbs do their thing, allowing them to join in the fun!))

Everyone roll on the following D12 table to find out what their character did in their euphoria OR choose one of the effects. Just have the creativity to back it up if you choose to... choose!

1-Fell asleep in the bath--the priests put the character up for the night in comfortable lodging. How wholesome!
2-Told an embarrassing secret to the entire group and everyone remembers.
3-Had a vision (I will DM you about what you saw. It will be up to you whether or not to share it.) that also grants 10 class points towards your preferred class.
4-Had a strange hallucination and ends up separated from the rest of the group, comes to their senses fully dressed but also next to an unconscious man and holding a sack of 2D6 GOLD coins. The man reeks of alcohol.
5-Had a strange hallucination and ends up separated from the rest of the group, comes to their senses in the Warren while apparently wrestling with a bugbear in some kind of public competition! Prepare to BRAWL!
6-Had a strange hallucination and ends up in a very nice hotel bed, next to someone. No idea how they got there. Choose who it is yourself or roll 1D4: 1: Total stranger 2: A member of the group (You decide who, but DM first if it's okay) 3: Total stranger who's apparently wealthy and still asleep 4: Kina or Sister Daar or one of the satyr triplets (Or ALL of them!) Whether anything happened there is up to you!
7-Went on a 'spirit journey' where an animal guide offers the character an insight into surviving the wilds. Character instantly gains a complete and permanent proficiency in Survival and Medicine.
8-Character went on a 'spirit journey' and encountered the spirit of an ancient warrior who helps unlock the character's hidden potential. Character instantly gains a permanent +1 to STR, DEX, or CON, your choice, and an instant proficiency with exotic weapons.
9-Character went on a 'spirit journey' and encountered the spirit of an ancient being who helps unlock the character's spiritual potential. Character gains a permanent +1 to WIS or INT and grants the ability to cast bless once per day. This is a special case and does not grant proficiency in any other spellcasting. It's more of an ability than anything else.
10-Character went berserk in a nightmarish hallucination and was ejected from the bath house. They come to their senses wearing new clothes and have taken 1D8 in damage, but also instantly gain a permanent proficiency in simple weapons and +1 CON after apparently surviving a brawl with 3 thugs. They also gain a well-made buckler (AC +2) and a decently made hand mace (1D6 damage).
11-Colours and sounds become one and the character happens upon a revelation of self-reflection. They feel driven towards a specific goal and for 3 days in-game will gain advantage to ALL rolls and will ignore exhaustion (Until those 3 days are up at which case you will immediately suffer exhaustion for a full day.)
12-The character's mind is opened up to the presence of a powerful being that lives beneath the town of Guiston, a sleeping titan that for some reason, recognizes the character and knows why they were spared the same fate as their kin in Hon. Imbues the character with new strength but also, due to the nature of the 'gift', attaches a permanent vulnerability. Gain a permanent +1 to 2 physical AND mental ability scores (your choice) but your character will permanently suffer a -3 save penalty to mind altering affects.

 (Reposting for Leon)

Upon leaving the Hearth, Balgrim is escorted over to one of the 'labours' whose cart is now empty. Brother Ranik ushers him over.

" 'ere lad, not sure where ye stayin', but just speak a place ta the beastie and it'll take ye where ye want to go, long as there's life lines built there." Ranik says. "No need tae worry bout returning it, it'll head back this way once it drops ye off."

 (Reposting for Balgrim)

Carmine smiles devilishly.
"I certainly DID take advantage of you, and I'll do it again! Probably soon! After all, I own you." she teases him, pointing to Lazlo's neck. When he feels there, he can feel that there's a makeshift collar around his neck.
When she sees him dart over to the window buck naked, she suddenly squeaks and laughs a bit.
"Oh my, I'm sorry... I got a little carried away, I guess." she says. Over on a vanity dresser in the room is a mirror, and Lazlo can see a number of red fingernail marks on his back and a clear bite on his shoulder.
Carmine rolls over onto her belly and rests her head on her hands as she gazes up at him.
"If the world is on fire, it's only because it couldn't handle our heat." she winks.
She looks like she's about to pounce on Lazlo again, but she figures she'd better fill in some of the blanks.
"We don't need to rush out of here. I've gotten a little used to those herbs at the holy retreat, so I remember more of what happened last night. Not every detail, mind you, but more than you." she says.
"You convinced us to try and perform one more time tonight at the tavern we get kicked out of all the time. The Horseshoe? But all you did was put me up on stage and you just started singing and stroking that violin like a life long lover for me. You even made the owner cry. There was a merchant or some wealthy bugger in the audience who was just visiting the Warren to see how 'the common people' live who was so impressed that he had you perform that song in front of the house of a lady the merchant has been courting... and well, she was hosting a party, so we were invited in.... and here we are." she explains.
"I think long as we don't wake the more hungover guests... we're free to leave on our own time."

Kallista oddly feels like she's read all the pages before. It's easier to remember names and uses for the herbs and powders. It's still the evening there, though it's quite late. It seems that the retreat will be closing up for the evening fairly soon. (Though I have to be careful about naming where anyone else is until Leon and Aelar are done) She feels a little bit shaken up by her experience, but her body does somehow feel lighter, her mind sharper and more focused.

"Do you remember the words of that song, by and chance? Wait a minute- this is no time for talk. Let's enjoy this bed while we can." Lazlo returns Carries ardor. " Maybe you can sing it to me this time"  he laughs as he jumps in the bed.

Quote from KinaJardine >>

In Aelar's mind, time passes differently. Though lost in a vision that actually only lasts an hour at most while the others of their company go through their own reactions to the herbs, in his mind, he is drilled for days, weeks, his mind filled and racing with new information, new mental patterns. His muscles twitch as new pathways are opened, new memories implanted within his arms and legs. Channels are opened that allow him to move in the ways he's taught within his vision. 
As Aelar trains, he becomes aware of someone watching from afar, but they're blurry... and the man training him won't give him the time to focus on the figure. Towards the end of the marathon, however, everything begins to come into focus. He can almost make out who's watching him....

 It's weird, actually feeling his muscles grow and learn.  The figure watching, the blurry figure, distracts him.  But every time he tries to focus on the figure, his trainer gives him some new task or shouts at him about something else.  Almost as though the man doesn't want him to see who it is.  At the end, Aelar peers at the figure, trying to bring him, her, it, into focus.

ooc: should I roll perception

Carmine dives under the covers with Lazlo again with an excited laugh.
"Maybe we can remember together." she says and quiets him with a kiss, as the pair go for another round.

Once completely satiated, they feel a much more mundane kind of hunger and the pair quietly pick up their clothes and belongings and gingerly clip-clop out of the manor they were invited to. There's the sound of boorish snoring all over as the guests apparently drank heavily into the night. A benefit of the upper class, to be above the 'trivial' worries like a sudden invasion from outside forces.
"Oh, there they are." Carmine whispers, spotting Carmen and Cameron, each sleeping with their arm around a different girl.
She lets her brothers sleep off their merriment until they're outside the manor gates. Carmine rubs her head.
"I have no idea where we are." she admits.
"But, we've got another few silvers to our name and, I feel, a well-deserved breakfast is in order." she says. "I'm sure we can scare something up."

 As Aelar manages to get his footing against the man, he actually succeeds in pushing him back far enough that he can get a better look at the man's face.
It's his father. Before, the man's features were kind of obscured, like a dream, Aelar never quite felt in total control, but he clearly sees the ones in front of him now. The man's eyes shine with hope as he sees Aelar absorb the knowledge he needs, and the figure in the distance was actually two... his mother, and another woman who looks surprisingly similar to her, both women with firery red hair and golden eyes. No, wait...reptilian eyes.
The scene distorts and a ringing can be heard in Aelar's ears. Suddenly Aelar is on his back, staring up at his parents, while the third woman approaches.
"This is my son, Aelar..." his mother says, picking him up and handing him off to the other woman. "I wish we had more time..."
"You both have been my dearest friends... no matter what happens, you have my word. I will protect him." the other woman says.
"Little Aelar." the woman says softly, and holds him to her chest. He hears the draconic heart beat that he felt when Baha marked him. Raia knew Aelar's parents. That's why she was there when he was taken. Was she really watching over him the whole time?

The vision starts to break apart. The woman looks down to Aelar, still cradling him in her arms.

"Aelar..." she repeats softly, then louder, until finally he feels a hot breath on his face.
"Aelar!" cries the voice in his mind. "What are you doing?" Raia asks. When he regains his senses, he finds himself staring into the water, his head bowed and breathing in the steam deeply. WOW, do his sinuses feel CLEAR.

Aelar shuddered under the impact of the vision...no, it wasn't a vision. It had been something way more that.  Deeper, more intense, more...real.

So, Raia had known his parents.  Why hadn't they said something?  Why hadn't she?  Well, he would ask her in a day or two, after she'd had more time to heal.  His own body felt strong, stronger than ever.

And tired.  Wow...did he ever need some sleep.

Getting out of the water, he dried himself and dressed.  Seeing Kallista sitting quiety in a corner reading a book, he goes over to her.  "What're you reading, Kallista?  And...did...anything odd happen to in that water?  I had the most incredible experience."  He goes on to relate the entire experience, holding back only the part at the end about Raia and his parents.  That connection was too personal to share, for now.

Kallista looks up, a little startled. She closes the book and turns to face him, "It's the book Grimbuld gave me about herbs and plants and things. He wanted me to take a read some so I know what I'll be working with..." she trails off when he asks about weird things that occurred while in the water, and explain his own experience. She thinks for a bit, "I feel... weird... It's hard to explain it..." she explains her own experience. "I would say it was a dream, but I wasn't unconscious until the end."

Aelar nods.  "Yeah, me too but I don't think what we had were dreams.  They were something more...real." Aelar pauses for a bit, then continues.  "Kallista, I know you expect the people here to react badly to you being a tiefling.  It's like your anticipating they won't like you because of your race or heritage.  I get why that is.  But, if you can maybe not do that, you'll be happier.  You're not going to change those people, the ones who see tiefling first and Kallista second if at all.  But you can change how much power you give them.  The ones that matter won't care that your tiefling...except for the coolness of it.  And the ones that care won't matter.  My mother used to say to me, 'Aelar, I can't control who comes through that door or how they react to me or anything else.  But I can control how I react to them.  If I don't do that, I will just be giving them my power and I don't want to do that.'  I didn't really understand it when she said it to me but I think it's beginning to make sense, now."  He gives her a smile.  "For what it's worth, I think you being you, a tiefling, is awesome. I mean...you can FLY!"