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The Third Session (The Completion of the Circle)

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Lilaryn had chased the shapeshifting devil-beast across a direction, moving over frozen tundra and ice-capped forests until the cold gradually abated and she found herself in the warmth and greenery of the East. She had caught glimpses and sights of it, enough to know that no matter what concealing form it held the sight of it's blood-red eyes stood out. Thus she moved through the wooded landscape, following closely on the trail of the beast that had destroyed everything she had known, for the answer to 'why' as much as any vengeance.

The trail led her into a large forest clearing, which a large gathering of strangers entered at nearly the same time. Every moment that she paused the beast she hunted moved that much further ahead, but Lilaryn stopped and talked to these regardless -- giving a quick glance over them, first, to check on the color and nature of their eyes. Both groups moved somewhat cautiously, neither having expected to run into so many others. Lilaryn wondering what they were doing, and the Circle pondering that they had once again run into a mounted traveller in the midst of what should be fairly barren forestland.

Twice, in the same day, in fact...

Suspicions were raised, when the stomping of a hoof on the ground made itself known -- all turning to look upon the body of a great stag, a massive rack of antlers and red burning eyes marking it, even as it turned and bolted into the forest with such speed as to suggest its nature as a Devil or a God of some kind. Almost at one, the new woman bounded off after it as well -- weaving her mount through the thick forest, struggling to keep pace with the small and fleet stag.

The Circle was caught somewhat off-guard by this, and merely stood blankly for a moment before raising mute questions about what had transpired. With some fleetness, however, the decision was made to follow after the two and see what transpired. All were convinced that the beast was no simple animal but some manner of fell creature, maybe even of a like to what they themselves hunted...

...while the group discussed their options, however, Lilaryn's quarry beated forward for some distance, running with it's considerable speed to the point that she began to worry that it would once again outpace her and loose itself in the forest. That was when it leaped up, ambled up a tree and kicked off back toward her -- shifting into the four-armed Tiger Demon that had slaughtered her company, meeting her with blade and fearsome counteance even as she quickly pulled the trigger on her crossbow ... sending a bolt into the odd flowing silver breastplate that had appeared on the torso of the tiger-demon.

Daiklave met Flame Spear as the two warriors met in combat, a horse ambling away from a harsh slash of tiger-claws while its rider pierced the silver breastplate of the demon with her spear and brought him to a heel. It was at this point that Forsath, soaring through the sky with a devillish cry of his own, pounded on the large beast feet first, slamming him to the ground and knocking no little wind out from him. Ozmathon came next, roaring through the underbrush and leaping -- changing into the form of a panther in mid-leap, clawing and slashing as he pushed the larger brute away from Forsath just as it began to stand upright once again.

The battle ended almost before it had begun as, injured and faced with a burning spearpoint in his face, the Lunar let his essence-bloated muscles shrink and folded himself into the shape of a man. Words were exchanged, as the aged general demanded to know why one of his apparent brethren had attacked this Warrior. The truth, it turned out, was a strange tale. In time past, the Mercenary Company had taken out a contract to deal with a raiding band of Linowan who had dealt harshly with their neighbors on too many occasions. They had succeeded in this bloody task before Lilaryn had even joined them, destroying all of the large band -- except for a single man, who crawled away bleeding and survived as best he could for weeks at a time in the wilderness. Before Luna came to him.

It was hard for Lilaryn to do, but she raised her spear and let the Warrior go. Even if she still desired vengeance, she would have to gain it on her own merits. One day, they would fight, but it would be man versus beast -- without the aid of any other. Thus, watching the Tiger limp off into the Forest, Lilaryn wondered what she would do now. So far from home, with no task remaining her.

Lilaryn joined the company with little fanfare, vouched for by Ozamathon and following them around -- not even fully understanding what it was they sought, until the group found time to stop from its trail and rest for the night in a lonely outcropping protected from wind and rain. Dreams were once again marked by unease, each mind touched by the shades of time long past. On the coming of the Dawn, preparations were made for the days travels -- food prepared, and supplies gathered. The trail was growing shorter, and everyone knew that they would catch up with the Fae Party in a few days at this rate. None were quite sure what that would bring...

What they didn't know is that the Black Rider had noticed their trailing pursuit, and had sent off a dozen of his Warg Riders in the night to hunt down the circle. If it was not for their luck in finding a secluded camping spot, they would have been awoken in the early morning by the sounds of a hunting party in the midst of their very presence -- if they woke up at all. Yet, the Hobgoblins had passed directly by them and not picked up their scent by some trick of destiny. Even so, the nature of what had nearly occured became obvious once they set out to follow the trail.

Moreover, it became quite obvious to all that the Hobgoblins were once again on their trail -- even as Forsath explained what he found in the dirt below, the piercing howl of 'wolves' resounded over the terrain. With precious few minutes to prepare, the group hid themselves away and prepared for the coming battle. They had fought the Fae, and triumphed, before but none the less there was some worry in the air. Even more so once the brutes and their massive beasts appeared, racing toward them.

Callandra took aim with her powerbow, massive arrows sprouting from the necks and heads of the leading Hobgoblins even as the ones behind them raced over the corpses of their brothers and drew their massive gossamer blades. Then, the battle truely began as the two groups clashed in a few seconds of epic and resounding battle.

Blood flowed and pounded in the veins of the heroes, as Ozamathon took his warform and Forsath pounded with his great fists into the beasts, as Jemas unleashed burning golden blades and Fox unleashed the fury of the Snake Form -- then, even as the pounding of Lilaryn's mount's hooves died down, the group began to realize that they were alive. The burnt and broken bodies of the Hobgoblins and their mounts beside them, the magnitude of what they had accomplished began to occur to them. Of them all, only Ozmathon had been injured -- and slowly, his wounds began to knit themselves.

It was at this time, as if predestined, that the strange monk found them.

With knowledge of their persons and strange occult titles, he babbled on about their divinity and how they were heading into the very heart of danger before they were ready -- offering to lead them back to his master, one Joran Carat, who could show them better how to use their great power in the benefit of all Creation. These claims he proved with strange words that seemed to resonate in their deeper souls, and occult symbols that held some signifance to their eyes.

And so, with some debate and worry that they were walking into a trap, they followed the Cultist Lirran.

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