the blood running through your veins

[Halsin Silverbough]

(there is blood and sweat everywhere, anywhere, on everybody, not only yourself; there are wounds and scratches and bruises, some more, some less, and you would like nothing more to tend to their wounds, all of them, one after another - but there is something else you need to do, somewhere else you need to be; and most of them seem more than capable to handle themselves) (first, though, you need to thank them - or her, the least you can do) Thank you. For helping with those goblin leaders.

[Nouzin Petzeiros]

You've never taken a life. Not before the crash. You've fought, surely and plenty. It's been part of your upbringing. You had to learn to fight. But never to kill. And to do so - it still feels wrong. But you do your best to not let it show. You've got a mission and you don't want anyone to think your mind isn't set on your goal.

There's a voice. It doesn't catch you by surprise. Just a little off guard. Makes you straighten your back before you raise your gaze to meet his. Your hands still dipped into the stream, cleaning yourself from all the blood. (It doesn't help. You can still sense it even if it's gone.)

nouze

No thanks required.

You offer him a smile.

nouze

I would say they had it coming but -

You don't like to think like that. Those thoughts don't align with the values you were raised on. All of this - you fear it might kick your soul out of balance. But - those are worries for another moment. Right now you're just glad you found the Archdruid and with him maybe a cure for the unwelcome guest in your head.

nouze

- such judgments only cloud the mind.

Shruging your shoulders before getting up from crouching.

[Halsin Silverbough]

She was the first person you saw; the first person that wasn't one of the goblins. Not the leaders, not the children, not the rest - she was someone else. She came from outside, came to rescue you.
As did everybody else.
(But she was the first one you noticed.)
You nod at what she is saying, sensing there is something within those words that you yet don't know about - something you yet don't know about her, or anyone else. You have never seen these people; they are not familiar to you. You heard names shouting in the battle, but nothing stuck out to you.

Halsin

I think I didn't quite catch your name.

Saviour, you silently think to yourself. She did have help, but she was the first in the battlefield, at the front. The first to look towards you, to break you out of that cage. To realize that it was you, and not just a bear trapped by goblins.

[Nouzin Petzeiros]

There was no time for exchanging names. No time for any of the niceties that usually came with new people. You've barely even exchanged any words when you got Halsin out - or rather the bear you thought was being tortured by those cruel goblin young. To think that this man standing in front of you is also the bear with that desperate look in its eyes - it's still hard to wrap your head around.

Nouzin

You did not?

You chuckle at that while drying your hands by rubbing them on your pants. There's no point in being picky now. You're covered in goblin blood from head to toe. You'll have to wash every piece of cloth you're wearing anyway. Might as well rub your hands.

Nouzin

Perchance it is because the moment for such endeavors has not yet revealed itself.

There's a cheekiness to your words. Some friendly banter after making it out of battle. No harm meant.
You reach out your hand. Offering it to him for a proper introduction.

Nouzin

Nouzin.

You offer him yet another smile. Warm and welcoming. Because that's how you feel around him. You don't know much more than his name and the stories the people from the Grove told you but - he's got this kind of energy around him. The energy of someone you can trust. (The voice of your mother in your head is telling you how naive you are.)

Nouzin

However, in the company of friends, (a smirk on your lips - a different kind of offer you're making) Nouze is the name that resonates best.

[Halsin Silverbough]

« You have been in this world long enough, have met so many people; captivating ones, too, (sometimes quite literally). People who have caught your attention with every fibre of their being, beautiful inside and out. »

You have been in this world long enough, have met so many people; captivating ones, too, (sometimes quite literally). People who have caught your attention with every fibre of their being, beautiful inside and out. You have seen them fight, have seen them talk passionately about something. You have seen so many, so much - and yet it always catches you by surprise, again and again, when you meet someone new, someone so riveting.
You take a look at the hand being offered to you and take it without hesitating. Nouzin, she calls herself - the name has a nice ring to it.

Halsin

Nouze it is, then.

Shaking the hand given to you, careful not to crush her fingers. She looks like someone who could endure a bit of strength, but yet you don't want to push your look. You have had enough for today, with them showing up to your rescue. You will have to thank them all later, perhaps, if you will see them again. Right now, though, everybody else seems to be busy with themselves - or each other.

Halsin

Halsin.

You tell her your name as well, thinking that she might not know who you are - or rather not expecting her to know who you are.

[Nouzin Petzeiros]

He takes the hand you've offered. This time no reason to hurry. No need to feel pressured. Just your hand in his and soft pressure. A new friend made. And hopefully one who'll be capable of telling you more about the worm stuck in your head. Now that there aren't any bars keeping him locked anymore. Then again - he's been locked up for so long. It'd be tactless from you to demand solutions to your problems when he probably hasn't breathed fresh air in days nor seen the sunlight above his head.
You let your hand sink. Eyes wandering to the light above you like you're trying to imagine what it must feel like out here for the first time after being imprisoned for so long.

Nouzin

Halsin.

You repeat his name like you're trying to savor the taste on your tongue.

Nouzin

I've heard a lot about you. Your presence has left an impression on the stories that circulate around here.

Your gaze sinks again to meet his. He looks like a man who has an answer to everything. Like a man who's been harboring knowledge for centuries. You can see why the Grove puts so much trust into him. You'd trust him too.

Nouzin

And your researches.

Indirectly asking him about his tadpole researches although you know better. You weren't raised to be like this. To push and demand when people should rest and be given space. You've been raised to be considerate and always thought yourself to be just that. But - there's a worm nested in the midst of your brain and your sister somewhere in Baldurs Gate, miles away from your reach. Desperation makes you lose your manners more often than not lately.

[Halsin Silverbough]

Halsin

You have?

You are surprised to hear that she knows of you - about your researches, about who you are. You don't need to ask what she meant by that, what researches she is talking about. If she has been around here for a few days (you have never seen her or anyone else around here - except that young tiefling who is standing on the sides), then she might as well know.
But still, you don't think of it as appropriate to talk about your knowledge and your researched without being asked.

Halsin

Then you have been around.

Here, perhaps in the Grove as well. Perhaps talking everybody else, all the people you have tried to help. All the people who have been in danger even more ever since you have been captured; the danger of the goblin leaders who would have liked nothing more than to raid the grove and kill everybody in it, without caring whom and which age; elderly, children, and everyone in between.

[Nouzin Petzeiros]

You've barely had time to exchange any words when the battle broke out. Or rather when the bear in front of you broke out. Crushing one of the goblins beneath the iron gate. Not feeling any pity for it although you should. Your mentors teaching you at early age that every life has value. Even if you disagree with the way its life was spent.
These days lately. They've been very confusing.
Such is the worm in your head.

Nouzin

We have been.

You look around. The company you've made. Travelling throughout the Wilderness searching for a cure for your problem.
The man in front of you is the closest you've been to that in days.

Nouzin

Our path led us to your grove. Aradin, I believe was his name, informed us -

But your morals get the best of you. You shouldn't push for answers now. He's been through a lot more than you think you can imagine. Any of you, really.

Nouzin

I'm sorry. You must be exhausted. I don't want to burden you with those stories. You should get some rest.

Slightly shaking your head. Disappointed with yourself for giving into temptation just then and there.

[Halsin Silverbough]

You shake your head when she apologizes. Time is in the back of your head, always, now more than ever, because you are eager to get back to the grove - but you are interested in what she has to say as well. What it is that has lead her here and, more importantly, what has made her help you in the first place.

Halsin

I intend to go back to the grove as soon as I can.

You tell her, because that is the very truth, your most important goal as of right now - to tell them that the goblin leaders are dead and that they are safe and that everyone who needs to has now safe passage to the Shadowlands, heading to Baldur's Gate.

Halsin

Though if you are headed in the same direction, perhaps we can talk on the way.

An offer, an invitation, not quite certain if she wants to. But it seems that there is something on her mind, something that she wants to ask, something that made her talk to Aradin and head to the grove and talk to someone there. You think of Nettie, who has taken your place as a healer while you are gone, and perhaps you know the direction this is going to take. You don't want to assume anything, though.

[Nouzin Petzeiros]

Nouzin

Of course.

You nod understandingly. After all he's their Archdruid. They look up to him. (Quite literally. He's the first man you've met in the past days who's taller than you are and not a hobgoblin out to screw your head off.) They depend on him. Now more than ever. With the spell Kagha put everyone up to.

Maybe you should mention that. And that you've stopped her from converting the Grove. That she's stepped down ever since. Or maybe you shouldn't. It's not your place to interfere with his business.

His next words make your ears ring. You look up to him again. Clearly considering his words. Then your gaze moves over the castle grounds. Your companions all over the place. Some still recovering from the fight. Others busy stocking up on supplies. No one's to say when you'll get another chance at that much provision. Is this the right time to leave? Then again: you're way beyond your teenage years. You can come and go as you like. Certainly capable to defend yourself if you were to be ambushed.

Nouzin

They will surely handle themselves just fine.

And if not: Zenisse' doesn't mind rounding them all up like the lost sheep they (you included) can sometimes be.

Nouzin

Just allow me a moment to retrieve my bag.

Stepping away for a short moment to reach for your backpack and shouldering it. A comforting heavy weight on your shoulders that feels like it's grounding you.