A while after the conversation with Kolar, and when Alexis feels he and Ethelred are far enough away from any outside listeners. Alexis addresses Red.
“How do you feel that conversation with Kolar went?”
Not long after seeing the Kohlar, Priest of Anashar preach, Telosh signals to Alexis and behind a hand quietly mentions:
“Perhaps the good friar would know the right thing to do with Raff’s tooth.”
Telosh makes the signals, Priest, Law, Sword.
“If it is broken, surely he’d be the right one to deal with it.”
Twice Break, Sword. Three times.
After the group has left the area of the Copper Hills fort and is heading north on the road to explore the area of the three-armed giant, Alexis asks Telosh “Why didn’t you take the sword when you had the chance? These two” he says motioning to Gus and Red who are walking slightly ahead “I get why. But you, I’m still not sure why you didn’t and I’ve been thinking about it since we left the Greyfax estate.”
During the last few nights the group is at the Greyfax estate, Alexis starts taking half an hour before bed to lay out the two wooden rings on one of the inn tables and chants while fingering the one ring and then the other.
The chanting has some of the same feel as when Alexis uses his magic; the words have a similar nebulous sound.
“Impiea padtion xame herum” Alexis takes a finger and circles it around the ring once. Then repeats the ritual several more times before swapping rings and doing the same thing with the other ring.
As the group returns to the Copper Hills Fort, Ethelred is feeling his mortality in a way he has not before. The brush with death has not shaken him from the hero’s path, the loss of all his gear has not defeated his spirit (even if it has rendered him more or less useless).
“Alexis, we can’t out run or hide from the Darkhand for ever. They will find us at the Copper Hills. There probably wont be an army, who know what forces will remain. And ever if there was an army they wouldn’t care about our squabble with the Darkhand.
We do know of at least two groups that have no love for the Darkhand. Our current travel companions, though they seem more interesting in killing Gods? But also the bandits we gave the sword to.
Could we deal a blow to the darkhand by defeating some valued treasure hunters? Ride ourselves of foes and forge some loose alliance with the bandits?
Maybe you have other plans?
And can you talk with Telosh. I need money to get some tools”
Sometime in the two weeks after Utiog has been defeated. The group has gathered at the inn to discuss and share.
“I’ve been thinking about the nature of The Dead God. The one who wanders She-Who-Is-Fierce’s hunting ground.
‘He mourns and weeps and is quite unseemly’
Gnolls enslaved by the Dark Hand are trying to find the last of Him.
He weeps because of an ancient wound that is fed with blood daily. This wound is feasted on by The Made… or possibly whomever made The Made.”
“Have I overlooked or forgotten anything about this dead, weeping god?”
About a week after Barra has defeated Utiog, Alexis is waiting for Gus as he returns from his morning shit.
“And what a fine day this has started out to be. Before I go back to my studies, I was hoping you might tell me a little something about your new ‘magics’. We have been talking about the gods a lot recently, and I would be curious to know where your ‘magics’ come from.”
“Before you try and bullshit me, play dumb, and stonewall me, I have a reason for my question: if Earyka targets your ‘god’, I want to know it; it’s important.”
Alexis stands in front of Gus awaiting his answer.
About a week after Barra has defeated Utiog, Gus has chanced on something close to a feast for the group. The group is at one of the tables in the Inn. Alexis is in good spirits. He turns to Telosh.
“We’ve never taken the time for you to tell us about your upbringing. About your father. Care to tell us the ‘Tale of Telosh’?”
Sometime during the quick march to the Grayfax estate, as the group is moving down the road. Alexis moves up and addresses Gustov.
“I feel bad for the poor woman. Surely she was mentally tormented in some way by Barra. You seemed so confident about tying her up… and gagging her. I see now, I hoped there was some of-the-land magics you were in the process of working on here to alleviate her torment. In hindsight this seems like a childish wish.”
“What was your plan?”
Sometime during the two weeks after Utiog has been destroyed, Alexis is walking with Ethelred through what used to be the village green.
“Having seen the sword in action, do you still think it is very fragile and easy to break? From what you’ve said, Barra bashed it several times against the ground while destroying Utiog. A layman like me would think that a powerful being like Barra smashing a sword on the ground would destroy a weak sword.”