With the beast fallen, the party recoups and looks over the potential spoils... But a few feel a little different.
>>5738915Squire inches closer to the dying beast, near to its face. Perhaps a small risk, but he does not fear it any more. Instead, he feels pity. As he crosses to its eye, he sees the hollow socket filled with hatred close, and then open again to the wet and gentle eye of a doe, before it cries a single tear. Squire smells no salt on this tear, and somehow, without being told, he knows what to do. Cupping his hands, he takes the tears flowing from the eye and raise them to his scaled muzzle to drink. It is the sweetest water he has ever tasted.
<span class="mu-s">Squire has been <span class="mu-i">Blessed</span>. He can no longer be Cursed.</span>
Finally, mercifully, the great spirit of the forest dies.
The other party members are discussing what to do with the beast. Pineneedle mentions how many of its parts could be useful- its antlers could make a great replacement staff for her, any of the rogues could benefit from its thick hide as a form of armor or cloak insulated from the elements- and its meat could grant great strength to any of their warriors- besides Myron of course, he has more in common with the slain beast here then any of his fellow companions...
"Enough! You sit here and play with trifles while the true prize is just out of reach!" Alfred suddenly roars, motioning to the top of his head.
"The Crown! The Starcrown! That is the true power on this island; and if this spirit was corrupted by the old King- then the crown is stronger then the very spirit of the forest itself! Any artifact with a power over another must be older and stronger- that means the Starcrown possesses a magic that is older then the forest itself. The very bones and creation of the world- only the magic of the <span class="mu-i">Ancient Ones</span> could fit that description! That is the true treasure here!"
While his one-track mind to get the treasure has begun to grate on the party, he does have a point. With plenty of daylight left, it may be time to finish their quest on this island...
