1. The Cloakwood

Stephan's eyes flicker open as Ida tends his wounds. "Whoa... I didn't know.... Lathander had... pretty clerics..."

Koveras nudges the two surrendered guards to kneel, then stands near them with blade drawn. He looks to Aiwe, and she remembers back to a somewhat similar situation in Candlekeep...
Koveras seems to also remember that day. "I am your executioner." He says it without malice, but with grim promise. "This woman is Aiwë Shelur Blacksheaf of the Cagebreakers. In her flows the blood of warriors, heroes, and the power of the gods. She's also a hero in her own right. She is your magistrate." He levels his sword to just below their throats. "This is your chance to explain to her why you should be allowed to live, and what you will do... with your second chance."

Ida feels the heat in her ears and it rise in her face at Stephan's unexpected comment. "Oh… Just doing my part in all this…" Ida puts her hand out awkwardly to help him up her eyes quickly darting to the side to find where her party members had gone.

Aiwë looks at Koveras sharply as he speaks. She glances at Stella, Dieter, then forces her eyes forward. She can't protest. The group has the authority to mete judgement here, and Koveras has placed the responsibility on her shoulders. She can't ask Dieter—heavy with blood—or Stella—so light and free—to take it from her. Besides, she's made such calls before to spare them. She can do it again. That it was in a hurry on the road while Stella wept should make no difference.

Koveras' proclamations did little for her discomfort. Such drama—she is supposed to be the bard here!

Making sure not to glance at Stella again, Aiwë looks at the prisoners. "Speak."

Stephan gratefully accepts Ida's help getting on his feet. "Ah! Err... What I mean to say is thank you!" A flush creeps up his own cheeks and he releases her hand suddenly. "My name's Stephan. I'm a pretentious lizard. I mean an apprentice wizard!" He offers his hand for a shake, then reddens more as he realizes he'd just let go of her hand.

Aiwë looks at the second man levelly. "You use this chance for spite, and try to drag your fellow with you? I see. You have made your choice." She nods at Koveras to proceed, then turns her gaze to the first man.

"You may try again."

Aiwë considers. "Where does your family live?"

With some of the group busy handling the Iron Throne guards, Aldous puts a gentle hand on Stella's shoulder and directs her away from the scene.

"So... This has all been crazy. How are you holding up?"

"You can travel with us. Prove you mean what you say, and we can write you a letter to the temples of Torm, Ilmater, or Lathander. We'll write to another if you prefer, but our word will go farthest there." She nods at Koveras.

"Let him up."

Turning away from him, Aiwë looks to the freed captives and wrings water from her braids. When she tosses them back they are completely dry.

"Where are you all from? How far do you have to travel?" She moves through the group, drying and warming their clothes as she hums and listens.

Trying to be polite despite the palpable discomfort in the air she shakes Stephans hand trying for a small courteous smile"I’m Ida." releasing his hand she asks "how did you end caught up in all this mess?"

Quote:

With some of the group busy handling the Iron Throne guards, Aldous puts a gentle hand on Stella's shoulder and directs her away from the scene.

"So... This has all been crazy. How are you holding up?"

Trembling from cold, nerves, and a grazing cut from a bloody, lifeless guard lying directly in front of her, Stella allows herself to be led away. She runs a hand through her loose, wet hair, then flicks her wrist downwards, magically flinging all the water from her body.

She then leans into Aldous for comfort, closes her eyes, inhales deeply, and breaths a heavy sigh.

"...Surprisingly well, but...exhausted..." she says. She puffs a laugh. "And disturbed. But that's nothing new..." She opens her eyes, a calm violet, and looks up at him. "And you?"

"Will you all have what you need for your trips home with the supplies in the camp?" She looks at Stella. Maybe they can spare some funds for their journey...

"Poor choice of teacher, I'm afraid." He magically cleans and dries his robes. "I've been apprenticed to the wizard in charge of this place for the past year or so."

He looks at Ida's clothes and gear, dirty from travel (and possibly from the flood too!) and holds out his hand. "I can take care of that, if you'd like. Not that you look dirty! Far from it. I just feel rude cleaning myself up and not offering, so...?"

Aldous is about to put his arms around Stella, but then draws back as he notices something. "But I'm all wet! And you just got dry... and I'm afraid I don't know that trick. I don't suppose you could teach me sometime?"

Quote:

She opens her eyes, a calm violet, and looks up at him. "And you?"

Aldous smiles. "I'm actually feeling quite well! It's been quite an adventure, and I feel like I've actually contributed! My magic is progressing, and that feels good."

He looks over to nearby Yeslick, who seems to want to speak. "And this is the prisoner you went to such lengths to rescue? Might you introduce me to him?"

Quote:

Aldous is about to put his arms around Stella, but then draws back as he notices something. "But I'm all wet! And you just got dry... and I'm afraid I don't know that trick. I don't suppose you could teach me sometime?"

"Oh!" Stella blushes, then clears the water off him too with a flick of her wrist, then puts a hand on his chest and leans into him again. "I do it more druidically than wizardly...but I've a habit of mixing the two, so I could certainly try and teach!"

Quote:

Aldous smiles. "I'm actually feeling quite well! It's been quite an adventure, and I feel like I've actually contributed! My magic is progressing, and that feels good."

"Definitely! That Burning Hands was especially helpful. And now we can both say we've been hit by a Lightning Bolt and lived!"

Quote:

He looks over to nearby Yeslick, who seems to want to speak. "And this is the prisoner you went to such lengths to rescue? Might you introduce me to him?"

"Oh!" Stella steps away, turns to Yeslick, then brushes her hair out of her face and straightens her travel skirt. "Uh, certainly!" She gestures to the dwarf to introduce him. "Aldous, this is Yeslick o' clan...I'm sorry, I've already forgotten!" She smiles and cringes sheepishly. "He was extraordinarily level-headed for someone who was nearly drowning. Yeslick, this is Aldous Silvershield. He came to help us shut down the mine."