< @Uriel1339 >

Calaiah smiled a bit more and chuckled at Quanthal's questions. "I'm afraid I am not privy to the deepest parts of the tree, dear chronicler." he said with a smile, looking over to his brother and then back to him. "I am but a huble servant of Isha. I can say, however, that she is one of the most beautiful things I have ever beheld. She is gem, yet tree. And there is no doubt there is a presence about her.. as if yes, Isha had caused her to be grown from the ground as legend says."

@Uriel1339

Feeling some ones gaze felrin stopped eating for a moment to look up. Noticing that it was the nightstalker who was looking at her felrin raised her left eyebrow wondering if the other wished to talk with her. If the nightstalker initiated a conversation then felrin would naturally reply but other wise she went on with eating her meal.

"Cal knows the legend and meaning better than I, but that tree is also a perfect place for a nap."
Soki replied with a carefree smile.
"In my childhood, I did not find any caverns or tunnels leading to riches. Trust me I've searched, just ask Thune or Cal." His smile grew and he pet Thune again. The unicorn softly brayed in response and bopped his head once. Thune sniffed at a loaf of bread and reached for another apple that had rolled further on the table.

Mr. Skitters looked at the huge beast again and tries to thought speak with it, not knowing if it could hear him like Puru could hear him. @Wata "Hello. Friend? No hurt me?" Skitters questioned it, the face tendrils seemingly staying in a limp neutral stance as he kept his gaze on the fur covered quadruped.

Thune had managed to reach another apple but it dropped from his mouth when someone addressed him in a manner of telepathy. The unicorn slowly turned to look at the source, finding a weird tentacle face responsible.
There were no words in response, only thoughts were sent back that basically said that Skitters looked weird and that these apples taste amazing.

@BuriasDempsey
Puru watched from a distance, but of course eventually looked across the table to the master of the mighty four-legged beast. It was just a glance, to see who the owner of the other creature was that her own companion communed with. She trusted Skitters, perhaps a bit too much, but how else would he get a little bit more independent?

"Interesting creature. I know I have met it, him, rather, during our first meeting. But even as I travelled, nobody could identify it at all. Not even the chroniclers of the bestiaries. It sure is a unique creature, some even rumor it is a cursed of Kurnous who has totally fallen into the curse, instead of being freed of it or being blessed with at least being half-Eldar still. But with no matter who or what your companion might be, I am curious if we will find more of his species as we will travel the lands near and far." Kandirath commented to Puru.

@Tamu
Her eyes were glued to the blade dancer, not speaking a word with lips nor mind. Just looking while she consumed her delicious garlic-flavored bread with a fruit and cheese spread. Her eyes were dim, yet filled with the hint of a glimmer. The hunter's eye, someone who has found prey and was not going to let it go away. Or at least that is how the war dancer might interpret the intense glare. But perhaps it was far more innocent and nothing more than a staring contest between two warriors?

@Casavay , @Wata & @BadDo9
"I could have said the same." Derin said with a chuckle, giving Quanthal a slight elbow to the side. They were obviously a bit closer than the rest of the fellowship, considering they come from the same town they might have trekked the whole way together.

Quanthal frowned slightly from the statements from Calaiah and Soki and poked around in her food a bit, looking occasionally up but not saying anything. So Derin spoke for her.

"You see, our fellow chronicler here does not believe all too much into the gods, but rather treats them as ... Theory. Hypothetical creatures. But instead she thinks there is a logic explanation to everything, without the influence of greater beings. Or at least not without them having an explanation. For example the dark gods, yes? Obviously we cannot deny their existence. What we can deny is them being actual gods, as per Quanthals theory. They are not almighty, which a god-being would be, but instead their power depends on how many worshippers they have."

The blacksmith looked at Quanthal with a 'did I get that right?' look. She only hummed in agreement, giving it slight nods. Most likely she was expected to get ridiculed, since after all it is a ridiculous claim. All the legends, the tales, even the very existence of the Tears of Isha amongst Craftworlders and so many more things such as Faolchu bringing the mighty blade Anaris to Eldanesh. How could all those be explained without god-beings such as Vaul?

"I however believe that the Sapphire Birch is rather a curse. Someone's prison. I mean think about it. Farseers turn into crystals when they start to die from old age, due to the warp. Would it not make sense the crystal birch to act as prison of evil witches?" Derin smiled brightly on the idea, becoming energized from the thoughts. Without doubt, the blacksmith was entertained by conflict more than the expectation of treasuries.

OOC: Seating Chart:
Bold = Players
Italic = NPCs

"Oh..." Was the only thing Mr. Skitters thought as the horse creature didn't even spoke back to him, just sent something about apples and him being weird, which he did not fully understand. After all, he wasn't the one with a random horn jutting out of his head. Focusing his multiple eyes on one of the red orbs called apples, Mr.Skitters flatten himself against the ground and let his color blending ability kick in, gingerly reaching over with a taloned hand to get an apple away from the horse and try one out for himself. It was hearing what Prince-Leader was saying to his Leader-friend, but it did not quiet understand what it all meant other than the idea of there being more of him, something that had not crossed his odd mind before.

< @Uriel1339 @Wata >

Calaiah's face slowly went slightly grim as the chronicler continued to speak, and if he looked, Soki would easily be able to tell his soft-spoken brother was getting either upset, or saddened. Which would make sense as most of Calaiah's life had been devoted to caring for that tree and to hear such a thing be inferenced as something wrong, something bad... that would tear at the young Servant's heart. And for the gods to be but theory.. what would his life be meant for then?

However, he was much too centered and polite to words such things, though his brother could tell he was bothered. "It's an.. interesting theory. Both of you." he said with the slightest catch in his voice before attempting to close things off and just focus on his food - wanting some time to return himself to his center.

Soki glanced with concern at Caliah. He frowned, but only for a brief moment before he sported an encouraging smile. He put an arm around Cal's shoulders.
"Pfeh, don't let theories shake your faith so easily, brother. What matters is what you have here." Soki gently poked Calaiah's chest with his finger, right on the heart. @BadDo9

Thune on the other hand watched the tentacle faced creature take an apple away from him. A quiet confused huff of air followed. He sent more thoughts at the strange critter, which came across the same way as before not really words but the thoughts themselves. In those thoughts Thune introduced himself and asked for the other's name, he was very confused over what the being really was and wanted to know if he liked apples too? @BuriasDempsey

~~ Last Night before the Journey ~~
@BadDo9 | @Wata & @BuriasDempsey

Quanthal saw the interactions between the brother and nodded slightly. "I'm not here to shake your faith. I'm here to record, but also to remember us of the mistakes that have been done before us. I can imagine our good prince only took me along since one of my specialties are the very artifacts we appear to be hunting." The chronicler said in an apologetic tone.

Derin also looked a bit upset of the reaction that Caliah had. "You are a servant of Isha, just like I'm of Vaul. You mend with your mind, where I mend with my arm and hammer. Fret not about what might be or what may not be. But like your brother rightfully points out, follow your heart and your instinct. We all come from different backgrounds with different histories. It is yet to show whether it will strengthen us, or weaken us." The down-to-earth Eldar noted and offered a warm smile.

The feast would continue until everyone was full, then they retreated into their individual quarters so that each and everyone of them could prepare in their own rituals for the journey to come. Thune had to spent the night along with regular horses in the stables, while Skitters - thanks to his smaller size - was simply sleeping with Puru Puru in a bigger bed.


~~ Journey for the Kurvan Vault, Days 1 & 2 ~~
The group gathered at the gates during the first rays of sunshine, leaving not much sleep - but enough for those who were used to travelling. Everyone got a horse, and although they were without a doubt royal steeds, none of them compared to the majestic Thune in the center of the group.

As usual the prince and Hyrandas were on the front. And despite they travelled officially and with purpose, no banner was carried, nor adorned emblems on the horses. Which would explain why there was no farewell committee bidding the adventurers good luck. They were travelling with purpose and he didn't want to be delayed. Kandirath did not want to be delayed.

The group was enroute the Swamp of Kurvan, even with a small group like theirs on double march - it was at least a week away. There was one stop half-way there, the small town named 'Kurvan'. Once it was right at the edge of the swamp, but it shrinked with each year ever since the Dragon Machataia had been bested in a battle of minds. The first day went fine without conflict, so did the nights. Both times, Nightstalker did take the night watch, feeling more comfortable to do that than actually rest. Although it always seemed she was asleep atop her horse during the day.


~~ Journey for the Kurvan Vault, Day 3 ~~
The group was riding casually along the road with it's 3 foot high cobblestone wall, just to keep wild animals off the road. However as they came around a turn, they saw a merchant's wagon having fallen to the side, even missing a wheel. The presumable owner sitting up against the closest chunk of wall with his back, holding his chest which was bleeding judging but his red hand. He could barely move, eyes shut tightly and a constant groan leaving his lips.

Kandirath got off his horse and rushed to the side of the man. Hyrandas, Nightstalker and Quanthal stayed back, while Derin got off to look for the missing wheel for the wagon. The prince did not indicate the others to join or stay back, which made it obvious that he allowed free will for his fellowship and have them act as they see fit.

Nightstalker casually drew her bow and readied an arrow, just in case the assailant would show himself. Hyrandas on the other hand only had a hand on his blade, then again - when didn't he? But with no enemy in sight and no trees anywhere nearby to hide on this lonely land road, there was no purpose in getting ready for a fight. For all the group knew at this point, the merchant may have fallen off his wagon when the wheel snapped and cut himself with a blade in the process.

@Casavay
@BadDo9
@Wata
@Tamu
@BuriasDempsey