Moving back to the Valley of Sunset was easy compared to their pursuit. However, it took considerably more time to cover the same amount of distance. The group had run itself ragged. They had a small burst of good luck and encountered no obstacles, other than the physical effort of carrying two bodies through the high country.

Sadly, nothing remained of Galen’s corpse when they checked his cairn. The stones were scattered and deep furrows had been dug out of the earth where his body had lain.

In the evenings, or during long breaks, Cire worked with Durg on developing the Meditation skill. He hoped to avoid losing control during his rage when he had to next utilize it. Durg had been right, it wasn’t a difficult skill for him to pick up and Durg made an interesting teacher.

Selene helped him with his sword play and martial training, she was not as skilled an instructor as Stacy, but she made up for it with other talents and a different skill set. Wielding two daggers with blinding speed, she was more than enough to keep him on his toes. She taught him a few new tricks, as well as vulnerabilities in his current technique.

Putting off his notifications had become a bad habit for the Cire. On the last day before returning to the valley, he finally took care of them for the first time since starting the Pyrrhic trip.

You have gained the skill: Meditation (Uncommon)

“It is the mark of a divine mind to always be contemplating something noble.” -Democritus

At initiate rank you receive +5% to Mental Resistance.

Skill level up! You have reached level 14 in Blades.

Skill level up! You have reached level 14 in Large Blades.

Skill level up! You have reached level 9 in Armor.

Skill level up! You have reached level 9 in Light Armor.

Skill level up! You have reached skill level 10 in Martial Combat.

Skill level up! You have reached skill level 10 in Fluid Motion.

You have received 5,000 experience for Defend Sunset from the Attackers II.

Level 11 Acquired!

Received per level

Points

Health & Mana Points

You receive 5 – 10 hit points per level + constitution modifier (4)

You receive 5 – 10 mana points per level + intelligence modifier (3)

13

11

Skill Points

You currently receive one skill point per level.

11

Ability Points

You currently receive one ability point per level.

2

Racial Bonus

You receive an additional skill point per level that is restricted to a martial skill of your choice.

11

Cire dismissed the skill growth and point information after giving it a quick scan. A significant benefit to saving up the points was not having to decide where to put them each time. He had started to amass a healthy stockpile of points.

Some of Cire’s skills were getting close to level twenty as well. That was when they would move from the initiate rank to the adept rank. Not only would he gain a small amount of experience for the advancement, he was wagering that they provided decent bonuses as well. In a pinch he use the points to push them over into the next rank.

Cire brought up his status page and skimmed it with as little enthusiasm as the previous notifications.

Biographical Information:

Name: Ciresil

Level: 11

Experience: 69,904

Race: Vampire – Sun Elf

Class: Unavailable – Requirements not met

Alignment: Neutral (+1 to Good, +1 to Orderly)

Languages: Divine Elvish, Common

Stats:

Health: 136/136

Mana: 119/119

Armor: 18

Dodge: 4.5%

Strength: 14

Dexterity: 19

Constitution: 14

Intelligence: 13

Spirit: 9

Charisma: 19

Luck: 9

Resistances:

Immune to Electricity

25% Enchantment

25% Water

20% Weather

5% Mental

5% Physical

-50% Holy Magic

Aspects:

Indefatigable

Trustworthy

Favored Enemy:

Gnolls

Skills:

Wilderness Survival 3, Natural

Martial Combat 10, Natural

Sub-skill: Fluid Motion 10, Natural

Blades 14, Natural

Sub-skill: Large Blades 14, Natural

Scavenging 3, Natural

Armor 8, Average

Sub-skill: Light Armor 8, Average

Meditation 3, Significant

Herbalism 1, None

Lore 4, General

Communication 1, General

Sub-skill: Persuasion 1, Natural

Abilities:

Shapechanger, Bite (4), Regeneration (3), Blood Rage

Traits:

Child of Night: Vampiric abilities, Darkvision. If noticed by others, your true nature may have drastic consequences. Other elements of this trait may reveal themselves over time.

Child of Heaven: You have retained a divine soul. Reduced susceptibility to Holy Magic, vampiric light vulnerability negated, vampiric hunger reduced. Other elements of this trait may reveal themselves over time.

Elven Heritage: 25% Enchantment Resistance.

Inventory:

Basic Set of Clothing (Body)

Blessed Fine Steel Longsword (equipped)

Yeti Hide Breastplate (Chest)

Yeti Hide Trousers (Legs)

Yeti Hide Sleeves (Arms)

Yeti Hide Gloves (Hands)

Yeti Hide Boots (Feet)

Yeti Hide Balaclava (Head)

Steel Longsword (unequipped)

Small Pouch of Coins (pocket):

1 Star Ruby, 2 gold, 34 silver, 14 copper

Quest Title: Survey the Swamp.

Condition(s): Track the perpetrators of the gnoll massacre to the Stymphalian Swamp. Discover their motivations for encroaching on the forest.

Rewards: Unknown

Penalty for failure or refusal of Quest: None.

Do you Accept? Yes or No

Cire thought “yes,” and went back to mindless trudging. He didn’t have the motivation to contemplate the quest’s information or requests. It didn’t seem important. Returning home with the previous quest officially completed, but far from concluded, felt empty. Chasing ghosts was futile.

Almost two weeks after leaving the valley, they crested the final ridge over Stout's Knob. This was the recognizable bulbous, barren crag that overlooked the only accessible entrance to their home. Moving between the familiar Twin Pines felt soothing, and Cire’s clouded thoughts began to dissipate.

How much do I owe the people of this valley? What would have happened to me if he had run into a group of gnolls first? Something worse? True, Eugene did shoot me. Stacy almost killed me too. I suppose it wasn’t the warmest welcome, but they didn’t toss me out either. They put me up in their home, fed me, and taught me how to survive. How can I blame them for testing me and being a bit suspicious? I probably would have felt the same about any stranger that appeared on my doorstep out of the blue dressed in bloody furs and half naked.

Cire felt a growing need to communicate to the people of this place how much it had all meant to him. He wanted to do something after this failed expedition. Cire had no outlet for his anger or sorrow. His previous oath to Zeus replayed in his mind. Then he started repeating the scout oath in his head, searching for something to hold onto.

On my honor I will do my best to do my duty to God and my country and to obey the scout law; To help other people at all times; To keep myself physically strong, mentally awake, and morally straight.

Meeting the party at the edge of the woods were several townsfolk, one ran off to get Maisy. It was also clear that one of those waiting to meet them had been Galen's sister. Running off crying from the group's arrival, no one had the heart, or energy, to stop her.

They would tell her of the man's sacrifice, as meaningless as it was, when she had time to recover. There was at least a finality to what had befallen the hamlet. The bodies found their way to the newly-dug graves in the cemetery behind the lodge. They would buried along the well-worn trail to what had been Cire's friend’s farm.

After resting for a while, they group broke up to get clean, eat a proper meal, and have some personal time to reflect. No one wanted to jump into the company of others so soon after what they had seen. Stout went to the tavern to relay the basics of what had happened to the townsfolk. Many desperately waited for information.

Regrouping at the tavern a few hours later, Stout pulled them all to a large table in the middle of the main room. No one else was present yet, although they were gathering for a wake in the lodge. Standing on one of the tables he looked each of the men, dwarves, and the two elves in the eyes one after the other.

“We did not have a glorious victory. No revenge was reaped on those who took our loved ones. All of us, Galen included, saw the task to the end.”

Directing his last statement almost overtly at Cire he finished. “People of the Chimera’s Mane never yield, and always protect their own.”

Raising his left eyebrow at the now-friendlier gnome, Cire figured that this was the best time he could say his part. Taking a deep breath, Cire looked around at the gathered friends he had just fought, cried, and grieved with.

Pressure felt like it was building throughout the room, it was palpable. Not surprised at the eyes on him, since Stout had drawn attention towards him, Cire took the opportunity and offered up his piece.

“We have been hounded by combat, loss, and blood. I am truly grateful for being welcomed here as I have been. I owe Eugene and Stacy my life.” He looked Stout straight in the eyes as he spoke his next words.

“I was scared, and I hid behind my fear as an excuse. I am sorry for my failures and grateful for the trust others have placed in me.”

Thumping his fist to his chest, he almost made the scout sign out of habit. Cire plagiarized the oath that meant the most to him, transferring some of his emotions tied to it as he did.

“On my honor, I will do my best to do my duty to protect the Hamlet of Sunset and its people.”

Wind rushed through the tavern and thunder crashed in the distance.

Your oath has been accepted by Zeus. You have been honorbound to the Hamlet of Sunset. You must protect the Hamlet of Sunset and its residents to the best of your ability or you will receive a divine penance. Other elements of this bonding will reveal themselves over time.

Effect: while within the Hamlet of Sunset you receive +5% bonus to all actions.

Bated breath caught in most of the throats of those present. He was pleased with the overall result, he had left the wording of the oath vague enough that his intentions would largely dictate its results. He had event gotten an unexpected buff. Cire looked about, satisfied, until he heard the tavern’s proprietors reaction.

Stout started laughing hysterically. Maisy swatted his arm, rather forcefully. Everyone else at the table seemed to have adopted a strategy of avoiding eye contact. Selene was doing a masterful job suppressing a giggle fit behind a delicately placed hand.

Cire sighed exasperatedly.

“What am I missing?”

With a gentle tone, but loud enough to make out over the chuckles, Maisy let Cire in on the joke.

“Honey, only Stout and I stay here during the winter most years.” Stopping only a moment to let her eyes drift back to the table and then over to him again. “When the pass snows in, no one can get through. So, while your oath is appreciated, you won’t want to be staying here during the winter to protect Stout and me.”

Downing half of his ale in one chug, he hurriedly attempted to shift the conversation. “Why do you and Stout stay here all alone?”

Cackling would about describe the old gnome's reaction to that question. Maisy actually gave the back of his head a hard slap, sending his forehead into the table before him. At least he could make Stout so happy on what had been a dreary series of days, that was a small miracle. Calmly, the dwarf with the silver hair answered him.

“Well, I stay here because when you 'heal' the wrong dwarf king too many times and his wives find out, it is best to enjoy life elsewhere. Our kindly bartender here, well he just does not like people all that much. Besides, in the winter there is less... potential for accidents.”

She grinned and took a deep draw from her mug. “It will be nice to have you around 'Slayer.' You’re always welcome, but you don’t have to stay each winter. One or two every once and a while will be just fine.”

Winking suggestively, Maisy let loose her own deep chortle. Still laughing, Stout walked over to the door and propped it open to let the remaining residents of Sunset into the tavern. With a rather unusually gregarious shout he let them all know the latest news.

“First round is for those we lost. The next is on Cire!”

With a few confused looks, smiling faces poured into the revitalized place of laughter, camaraderie, and peace.