Harvest Rain (Date 1/9/21)

None but the oldest living citizens of Malwan could recall a harvest festival with similar bounty. The streets teemed with happy people sharing, food, song and spirits. Even beyond the walls, a tent city had sprung up, and here to throngs danced and celebrated blocking Prince Euwyn and his entourage as they hurried back with the news of Coronado’s Ferry. News that would come too late on that day, for the King had already retired by the time it reached the castle.

Marty heard that Mjelde had returned and asked after him. When he found her, she related the news that Shelby and Justice had begun a romance while sharing time down at the fort.

In the morning Euwyn delivered the news to a partial and distracted collection of councilors, slipping away once questions turned from the demon to talk of colonization.

Left to their own devices, Ilyana and Edgar flirted with the idea of disobeying the Prince’s orders and trying on the powerful, but potentially, cursed ring they had brought back. Though she was certain the ring was safe to use, and excited about its power, Ilyana was true to her word not to touch it, though it pained her greatly.

At the invocation ceremony, during the King’s address a powerful storm swept across the lake from the west, soaking the various stands and displays and driving the fancily dressed citizens from the streets. Though the downpour was brief, a powerful stroke of lightning shattered a temporary façade under which Shelby and Justice had taken cover with several civilians. Bravely tossing others to safety in her stead, Shelby was buried under the rubble. Justice tore at the wreckage in the rain as several others, including Giada and Lexington, hurried to help. When she was pulled free, Shelby was alive but one of her legs had been shattered. It was obvious to all who saw that, if she lived, she would never walk again.

Lexington stabilized her with a magic potion and dispatched Giada to summon Brother Marty. Word spread quickly, and the entire party gathered at the fallen warrior’s side. The situation was grim and the atmosphere matched, until Marty was struck with an idea. While the magic of the ring purportedly only healed damaged sustained while wearing it, if the damaged limb were severed, perhaps it would grow back whole. It was their only shot.

Carrying Shelby by wagon to the tower, they laid her out and presented her with the situation. She placed her faith in Strom, much to Justice’s chagrin. A spell deadened the pain, the ring was donned, and the axe strike was true and strong severing flesh and bone cleanly. All stared (save Edgar who had been sent from the room) as no blood spurted forth. The wound healed over into a clean stump at first and then, in a matter of minutes, as they watched, a new and pristine limb grew in its place. Shelby got gingerly to her feet, tested the leg and found it strong, before dropping to her knees in front of Brother Marty and swearing her life anew to the service of Strom.

Shelby was there in church the next day, sitting alone – word was that after strong words, Justice had left the city in the early hours, returning with his men to the frontier fort.

Marty saw her and smiled as he prayed over the largest flock he had ever seen in the temple. The place was getting cramped. Among the teeming multitude, he saw Drova looking up at him with beaming eyes and just a few rows back Lumi was sitting her head bowed in prayer. He cast his mind forward to the end of the ceremony when both of them would come to see him at the same time. A silent prayer ran through his mind and was - to his great surprise - almost immediately answered! Prince Euwyn arrived with the party. He was needed. Gnolls! Or something… In his excitement he had missed the precise threat, but bidding the congregation a hasted farewell, he hurried to follow.