Wolves, Orcs, Hobgoblins, and ogres oh my. This outing I think has produced the highest body count thus far I believe. All of these threats to the common traveler have been removed in one fell swoop. If we collected all the heads as proof I don’t believe even dare or Ajax would have the strength to carry them back. The dwarves presence has become a slight annoyance to me. I realize he lost his father, but one would think that would have led him to seek retribution, vengeance. Maybe I am wrong in my reasoning for the annoyance, we can’t all murder a whole town to get our pound of flesh. That stung. Just taking a  moment to punish myself. Someone had to I suppose. I wondered where I was in balancing the scales? I know, as many holes that you can fill in, they had still been dug. You can smooth things over, but they would never be as they were. Still trying was better than not, and in that I would continue.

    It was as if my story had been forgotten, or washed away by the need for bloodshed. The wolves sure moved in quickly for a meal. Dare as usual rushed in, when he went down I thought they were gonna swarm him. Next thing I knew I was on the ground wolf teeth clicking together in anticipation inches from my throat. I got to my feet and dispatched one and was able to fluently wield my blade into the next. I heard a loud roar from behind that sent a chill and a stab of fear up my spine. The I realized it was Mystic, Mystic as a bear that is. She rushed in to help me and then Dare as Mercarri was felled by one of the wolves. Before long the wolves lie dead and Mystic went from bear to medic and stabilized her, after she was able we began to move towards old owl well.

A pair of hobgoblins ambushed mystic while we slept. They in and of themselves were of little consequence, they died swiftly. If not for Mystics quick thinking we may have lost her in the night. This upset me greatly, we would need be more cautious in the future. The next morning as Dare and Mercarri went about packing up camp, I watched Mystic while she meditated and communed with nature. 

“Your staring and loud thinking disturbs my connection with nature.”

“Sorry, just keeping watch”

“No need unlikely anything can sneak up on me when I’m in connection”

“Why do you do this every morning?”

“Replenishing my energy, giving thanks to what I am provided, and as the bond grows in strength so do my druidic abilities. I see new ways I can manipulate my magic”

“I uh brought you something”

“Why, trying to smooth over not telling your past as promised?”

“I told you not in front of the dwarf”

“It’s ok I understand, its been one bloody battle, straight into the next. What have you brought me? Lay it in front of me”

I did as instructed.

“The dildo? Why?”

“I no longer have need of it, and while you may not be able to use its innate spellcasting abilities, it will still convey its protective ability”

“Why would I need more protection, I have you all for that”

I could not see her face but knew she smiled when she said it.

“I know you cant wear heavier metal armors due to your calling, you will have to explain that to me one day I am very curious about that”

“Maybe, once I am fully satisfied you are not a wolf in our midst.”

“Fair enough”

“Thank you I will meditate on the staff,- wait you are curious as to how my powers work?”

“Yes, very much so”

“Come here maybe we can both learn something, put your hand on my shoulder”

“Why”

“Harmony magic, I will show you nature magic, you show me your intentions, I won’t know your story but at the least I will know your intent”

I was taken aback by this but my hand had already found its place as requested.

I saw green and blue and white and dark, and red. Nature wasn’t just one form or school of magic but all of them. 

She spoke but her voice was in my head not spoken aloud.

“See, nature doesn’t really account for good and evil if it exists, it is natures will. It is us mortal beings that are more interested in such things.

I watched as the magic and energy gave visual cues in how they could be shaped. 

“Here’s where you can help me. you are most effective in combat both wielding magic and weapon. You have seen me fight and it I can see now frightens you at times no not frightened concerned and you giving me the staff truly is a selfless offering, not a ploy. So I ask how can I fight safer and surer?

The options played out in front of me the magic took different shape and I understood what the shapes did, and in a moment I knew the tactical application of them. This one I said and the energy stopped and became a light blue its streaked towards a non-distinct, humanoid in shape, silhouette. As it made contact the magic formed an icy covering over the silhouette. both its breathing and movement slowed. 

“Why that one?” Mystic asked.

“Well, I thought. if stuck in a close quarters situation, not only could yo damage you foe, but make it harder and slower for it to react, and facilitating falling back behind your, well us protectors as you put it.”

She smiled again I couldn’t see it just felt it. 

“Good, I understand that “FROSTBITE” it is.”

The energies began to shift and I was amazed at the vastness of it all. I could shape magic into death and shadow it was only a small part of what Mystic could shape. I watched on and then I saw it. Something truly spectacular and I imagined would be a natural fit and match with her star form.

“THAT ONE, Sorry I didn’t mean to yell.

“Its fine why this one?”

“Well”  I said. “For one it is beautiful and dangerous”

“Hmm, reminds me of someone”

I snickered “Oh you don’t have to tell me”

“Your vanity is definitely intentional and truthful”

“Ouch, but again fair”

“Continue”

Channeling the light of the moon could illuminate the battle for those of us who are dark blind, as well as pummel our foes, and the fact that you can use it to block passages and move it to suit. All the while being safely behind a column of armor. 

I realized the I could manipulate the energy and move and construct effigy’s of the spell and possible targets, as well as build a “Map” of a battle field and moved the column of moonlight onto enemies and into narrow paths forcing enemies into it.

“see?”

“yes, yes I do very instructive, thank you Lil. Moonbeam and frostbite.”

“You could change into your star form cast moonbeam and then hurl those starlight bolts things you like to throw, it would be like the night sky was falling on the enemy”

“You paint a pretty picture of it, I will take your suggestions to heart. I know you are trying to right past wrongs so I do trust your intent I would still hear the tale of Ely once we have a moment free of the dwarf”

With that the connection ended. I turned my head to see Dare and Mercarri staring at us.

Dare looked at Mercari. “Where the hell is Ajax you women are just weirding me out ” and he walked away.

I looked at Mercarri and she just shrugged and turned back towards the camp, tripping on a rock as she went. We both rolled our eyes. 

Mystic stood and grasped the staff, white light shown threw it and it was no longer black glass but clear and golden star like points of light flashed up the length.

She smiled. “I prefer a white Dildo” 

“Oh I said”

“How was it for you?”

“What?”

“Striking down our foes from upon my back? “In snake form?”

I blushed. “You saw that just now”

“No, I’ve known about it since playing at the tavern”

“Oh? Harmony Magic?”

“Harmony Magic”

“I find I am not as good at riding a snake as I am a horse”

She smiled “Practice makes perfect, Just not bareback that’s a tad odd”

I smiled “I am an odd girl but sounds good to me”.

    On a side note After my episode and message from my patron, something had changed. Cursebringer flowed even easier in my hand than it had before. More an extension of my will than a mere weapon.

Incentive?

Absolutely.

   An unmentioned gift from my patron to steer me in the direction she wanted me to go. Was this a show of fear? What was her game? Whatever it was, she had tipped her hand in more ways than one.

I was not crazy, my memories were either damaged or deliberately manipulated towards an end. Which one was now obvious.

I also knew now, my patron supplied me power yes, but was not in my mind. Speak to me through telepathy sure, but reading my thoughts no. I also knew Umbra Aurum was part of what she did not want. Though if I summoned it, from her power she would know.

Hmmmm, that pleased me greatly, for many reasons, but childishly(maybe) most important was that “I” just little old Lilvari knew how to get under the skin of a powerful, godlike being. Things were looking up, yes Indeed.

Dare is looking at me as I walk towards the well writing.

“Yes dare?”

“Why are you smiling are you writing bad shit about me in there?”

I widened my smile for him.

“No of course not”

“It creeps me out when you smile, it’s like your plotting on me”

“Nope, well maybe”

He through his hands in the air, Mystic laughed, and Mercarri I don’t know guffawed, and tripped as she did so. Which we all laughed at, then I smelled death and decay ahead