Upon arriving at The Tree Fortress, Ezrin is rather wide-eyed, but takes it in stride and unrolls his bedroll in a spot on the second floor.
After things settle down and a bit and the Aegirian ranger and… apprentice are busy, Ezrin approaches Alexis.
“I have so many questions Colleague… perhaps though, I should start here… what is this place?”
The Sutheroni mage gestures expansively at the massive trees around them.
After asking Telosh about his theories on the forced bird connection, Gustav privately goes to Alexis for his opinion:
“What happened there. Why do you think Telosh forced a connection between me and the bird against my will? I didn’t want that troublemaking bird to follow me or rely on me for anything. Telosh already knew my feelings of the crow, Do you think he was possessed by a demon who cast spells against his will? Or did he let in the demon?”
Gustav seems to be seething thinking about it again.
“It seems like it might not have been his choice, but he wanted a connection between me and the bird before the possession. Maybe the demon stole his desires and spilled them all over the veiled world.”
Gustav looks at the crow which is cawing nearby and kicks a rock near it.
During one of the meals after the group has retreated from the “chaos river of rage and eternal hunger”. The group is discussing the significance of the white owl, while it is not around. This discussion is some time after Alexis has studied the owl with Avv’s sight.
“There is a strong possibility the owl is tied to Hood. And given the weird alliance between Hood and Ty-Lin, if your near-death dreams can be believed Telosh,” Alexis says with obvious good-natured humor in his voice “then perhaps this owl is also connected to Ty-Lin, although hard to imagine how.”
“The dreams I had seemed to have little to do with what scholars and priests call ‘Hood’ and ‘Ty-Lin’.”
In a moment with Alexis, when Ethelred is busy elsewhere.
“Alexis, we need more than just the ballista. We were successful with both the dragon and The… Pit because we worked together and because we used more than one…tool.
“we need need to do more that just one thing. Immobilizing it, or at least slowing it down would be good. Spike traps, deadfall, and giant-sized snares too, I bet there are other things we could to do too that I’m not thinking of, but
I’m getting ahead of us though, what do we already know about the giant?
It ignores us if we play dead? At least as long as there are other things for it to worry about. It stinks. It has three arms. It has a lair. What else do we need to know? It’s movement pattern? Where along it’s path is best to set our ambush?
“Alexis, what do you know about sleeping gods? I overheard mention at the Five Winds that TyLin is sleeping? The Hungry Voice said She had abandoned me… She’s certainly more distant than… Others, but…”
While the group is at the spring talking about what to do regarding the four horsemen.
“The last time someone wanted me specifically, rather than The Crimson Calling as a whole, was Creepy Doll and the undead wanting my key. Before that was Barra because of my memory of giving the eyes to Lady Sofia.” Alexis gives a nervous shrug.
“With the eyes retrieved, the key seems to be the most likely culprit. Any other ideas?”
Sometime during the first week after the closing of the pit-of-three-evils Alexis approaches Gustav.
“Thanks for being there, when things were looking the darkest with the Arru-Noroth.” Alexis clasps Gustav meaningfully on the shoulder and locks eyes with him for a moment to let him know how much it meant.
Telosh approaches Alexis when Gustav is busy elsewhere.
“Alexis, I have been wondering about the crow… The Crows really. And… Malor.”
“Do you think the crow that keeps following us is connect to Malor in some way? Crows generally?”
Telosh helps Gustav forage, trap and hunt, and spends a bit of time talking with him about trap craft. He aids Ethelred with the ballista, tumbles and spars with all of his companions. He is clumsy with his off hand, and while is eyes are little empty, his feints are not less convincing.
He feeds the crow whenever it comes around camp, but doesn’t talk to it in front of Gus, or at least when he knows Gus is nearby.
One afternoon, when Telosh thinks he is alone with the crow, he tosses it a morsel, closer than when they are near the others. As it eats, Telosh speaks slowly,
“You only ever tried to help and protect me.
“Gus says your feathers were protected by an agent of M- the Corrupter of Animals, and he thinks you are an agent of Theirs…
“I’ve never understood why he didn’t like you…
“If you are in the beast lords thrall, I hope I can free you, crow friend.”
The crew is walking back to camp together enjoying the sun that has come out after the successful pit fight. A weight seems to have been lifted off of the wildlife as they are out and frolicking. Even Ethelred noticed some late season blackberry growth. Gustav notices all of that, but doesn’t look very relieved or happy. Gustav uncharacteristically starts a conversation with Alexis and Telosh.
“I am sorry you both have lost so much to battle evil and the enemies of humanity. Telosh, your arm and body were weakened. And you both have aged and lost time that might never come back. We all knew that we risked injuries and death. But since we are finding so much strange magic I suppose we should have known these unnatural injuries would be inevitable.
How does it feel? Is it harder to walk? Do you feel weather more? I know the attitude of the aged often change. Sometimes they are more mean and nasty after feeling cheated away from the life they hoped for. Sometimes they relax and become calm and loving to their children and spouses. Has your mind changed as well as your body?
Is there anything I can do to make things easier? Should I try to make your sleep more comfortable with fluffy pine needle bed sites? Should I help you stretch in the morning? Or should we be fighting it and try to find a wizard who can reverse it?”
Gustav gives a confused look. A thought rolls over his face and then converts to a guilty and sad look.