Subject: Re: Leaving the town behind; riding through the night

A rapid succession of emotions run through Garyth as Pensive speaks. Anger and vulnerability at the thought of his emotions being invaded, quickly tempered by a strange relief that his pain is shared, then fear of the demon's power, then resolve.

"Thank you for telling me this," he says. "It makes it all the more clear that we must be swift and remain vigilent."

He turns and beckons to Osred and Rennik. When they draw near, Garyth repeats Pensive's worries about the demon's power to them. "We have to be careful," he says. "The demon's arm is long, and none of us is completely safe from him. But I think of all of us, sergeant, you may be the safest--your closeness to Hieronious may help shield you." He pauses for a moment and looks straight into Osred's eyes. "If the rest of us should fall to the demon, you must see this through." He lets the words sink in for a few seconds, then continues. "In any case, for now we're still our own, and we should take what precautions we may. No solo patrols or watches--not that we would anyway, of course, but the less time alone any of us have the better. And though we must be watchful, we cannot allow our suspicions to run away from us. I'm sure the Black One would like nothing better than to see us all die stabbing each other in the backs."

Subject: Re: Leaving the town behind; riding through the night

Osred gazes steadily as Robert as the man speaks, then finally shakes his head. "Kenneth made his choice. He worshipped at the altar of worldly pleasures, and he'll collect his reward for that. It's a hard truth, Robert, but better you hear that than a comfortable lie. You make a choice in this life, you face the consequences. I was a brawler before I found Hironious, and I worshipped the false gods of ale and flesh, same as Kenneth. If I'd died before Hieronious lifted my face to His Light, I'd have had no god to protect me in the life after this one. I'd have been alone in the cold, lost forever in the freezing darkness."

"Kenneth has a chance he wouldn't have had if he'd fallen at the hand of an ordinary enemy. The foe that ended him was the tool of a Great Evil, and Kenneth stood before it, sacrificing himself that those townpeople might live. Because of him, fewer souls will be devoured by the abomination, and there are fewer servants of that Evil to do it's work. That is was a great good, and the gods of good may take pity on him and guide him in the next world because of it. Hieronious may yet offer him a place as a foot soldier in his Great Host."

He rides in silence for a moment. "This is a time of testing, Robert, and the gods watch what happens here. Hieronious can be your shield against this Evil. If you feel the tentacles of this Kor Garesh wriggling at the edges of your mind, call on The Lord, and he will help you."

Subject: Re: Leaving the town behind; riding through the night

Osred meets his captain's eyes, his face grim. "My strength is nothing compared to Kor Garesh's, sir, but my Lord is stronger still, and he will not let me fail in this. Through His grace I will finish this."

OOC - Ty, I've updated Osred's upcoming spell list to reflect the new, not shepherding situation the PCs find themselves in.