Pendar - Session 11

45 Merrysest, Sunsday -
The next morning, the party wakes, and sets to planning their next move. The shadows of the day before could almost be forgotten in the clear morning sunlight...

Nimue: "Woah."
Maximilian suppresses a yawn as he greets the others.
Nimue: "A baby pegasus!"
Nimue scrounges through her backpack.
Maximilian: "Cute little pal to show up overnight, nay?"
Nimue draws out a carrot.
Atremis yawns, his mouth exposing his vulpine fangs as he begins his morning search for food.
Nimue stalks towards the baby pegasus with a carrot in hand.
Sana: "The pegasus is under my care."
Nimue speaks in a soothing tone. "You want a carrot fella?"
Sana rubs the Pegasus' nose affectionately.
Sana: "Good. Morning, Pegasus."
"Rest well?"
Efta sits cross-legged on the ground, holding his face in his hands.
Efta: "Nngh..."
Young Pegasus carefully approaches Nimue slightly, but stays nearer to Sana, looking at her happily.
Atremis wanders over to Maximilian, reaching a paw towards his food pouch while looking at him.
Sana withdraws a small apple from her pouch, and a pastry.
Sana: "Atremis, I have your breakfast here."
Sana offers the pastry to Atremis with one hand, and the apple to the Pegasus with the other.
Atremis wanders back over to Sana, his tail swaying.
Maximilian limply watches, pie in hand.
Atremis grabs the pastry with his teeth, bringing it over and eating it with the group.
Nimue: "Mmhm."
Atremis reaches up and grabs the pie Maximilian was offering, adding it to his morning meal.
Nimue packs away the scorned carrot and starts making breakfast.
Maximilian pets the fox, and lifts his head to the main group.
Efta: "Ugh, how shameful for me to be in this state in the presence of women!"
Maximilian: "So, what actually IS our plan for the day?"
Atremis yips in response.
Efta limply gets up, dusting himself off.
Efta: "Was anyone else bitten by those nasties down there?"
Maximilian: "It looked like Sana had a scuff or two."
Nimue grinds coffee beans while speaking.
Nimue: "Well, the catacombs are out, so go to the next city to return the lost lamb and Mr. Grumpy Pants."
Atremis barks in approval, attempting to hold back a yawn.
Maximilian: "So, we really are going to leave what lurks in there, are we...?"
Atremis looks at Maximilian, curious.
Maximilian: "Well, I suppose an escort task is fine too."
Pol Trisk: "I can find my way to the capital. As long as the roads aren't full of dead things. That's easy."
Efta: "It's the least you can do after we saved your hide!"
Maximilian: "Well, I don't know about dead things, but we do have a road map we took off some kidnappers!"
Pol Trisk: "Efta, come on, back me up. I was the guard for a reason."
Nimue: "If you want to travel alone fine by me."
"Still, my impression was that there was no real will to clean out the catacombs"
Efta: "I feel we should."
"It's the least we can do for the poor residents of this humble town."
Atremis whimpers, thinking about the horrible undead things down there.
Nimue has finished preparing the breakfast.
Nimue points at the food.
Nimue: "I am willing to share."
Maximilian: "Likewise, Efta."
Atremis helps himself to a little cooked meat, to finish off the pastry and pie he received from Sana and Max.
Sana sits crosslegged in her armour, petting Atremis' tail happily, and rubbing the pegasus's snout.
Young Pegasus nuzzles Sana, with a glance at the food.
Sana still has the apple in her hand, offering it to the Pegasus.
Sana: "Have this, Miss Pegasus~"
Young Pegasus delicately grabs the apple from Sana, munching away.
Nimue offers coffee to the group.
Nimue: "So what are your plans, if not cleaning out the catacombs?"
Maximilian accepts the warm drink.
Nimue: "Me, I would go to the next city, they are generally more fun"
Maximilian: "We're searching for criminals plotting to steal the throne."
Atremis looks at the new drink skeptically, glancing at Sana for advice.
Sana: "Ah, Atremis, you won't like that."
"It tastes like mud... but for some reason people like to drink it."
Hastur returns to playing with the found ioun stones.
Atremis looks vaguely confused on why everyone else is drinking it, but decides to heed Sana's advice and retreats to her lap.
Nimue: "I disagree with your assessment of taste, but beyond that it is a big boon on concentration and wakefulness."
Maximilian: "W-well, when people are fit to make a decision, I'll be back. For now, I should have my morning prayers."
Nimue: "Well, I should go through my spell book too"
Efta: "(Maybe later, then...)"
Maximilian plants himself under a tree, and opens a small book, quietly muttering words of peace.
Nimue takes out her spellbooks and starts to refresh her memory.
Efta wanders around idly..
Atremis climbs out of Sana's lap, taking glances at Nimue's book with curiosity.
Nimue looks up.
Nimue: "Fine either way."
Nimue puts away her spellbook, arranges the ioun stones before her, and casts identify.
Maximilian snaps his book shut, and rises from the tree.
Nimue studies four of the stones intensely.
Nimue: "Okay, I know what those four do."
Nimue raises the last one.
Nimue: "Mmhm."
"Efta, you have some training in spellcraft?"
Maximilian: "You know, with you two around, I suddenly feel very silly for some earlier purchases."
Atremis barks at Maximilian.
Maximilian: "True, we did get you that nice scroll!"
Atremis looks content.
Maximilian: "I can at least try and have a look at that rock."
Efta tilts his head at Nimue, turning his attention to Maximilian.
Nimue gives Maximilian the stone.
Maximilian: "Hmmm..."
Maximilian takes the stone, his vision ebbing into a magical gaze.
Maximilian: "...nope! Was worth a shot!"
"Say, we got this wand from a wizard. I figure you two are better at using it than I."
Atremis looks at the stone everybody is making a big deal about, curiously.
Efta: "Ah, is that so?"
Maximilian walks over to the bag by his bed, and pulls out a clean, unused wand.
Maximilian: "Ah, here it is! Attuned to scour magical properties! I bought it before realising that I was actually no good at using it."
Efta: "Ah, most interesting."
Nimue: "Efta, would you do the honors?"
Efta: "I can try. Could you toss me that wand and the stone please, Max?"
Sana: "(I think it's a magical stone that will give us special powers, Atremis.)"
Maximilian: "Certainly!"
Maximilian passes the wand and stone to Efta.
Maximilian: "Honestly, there's a lot of tools that provide magic to the uninitiated. I should be more aware of which suit me..."
Efta lays the wand on the ioun stone, as the tattoo on his back begins to glow.
Atremis stares at Efta's actions, fascinated.
Maximilian: "Hm, I wonder if Atremis could use magic? He's probably smart enough."
Nimue: "Isn't he a familiar?"
Hastur starts to hover around Atremis.
Maximilian: "Certainly not, miss!"
Atremis paws at the stones comprising the ioun wyrd's body.
Efta grins, bringing the ioun stone closer to his eye.
Hastur gives the impression, despite lacking eyes, that it scrutinizes the fox.
Maximilian: "He's a crafty fellow we found in the woods."
Efta kneels down, beckoning Atremis to come closer as he holds the ioun stone out in front of him.
Sana: "Atremis is my friend."
Atremis attempts to see if he can grab one of the shinier stones. [Sleight of Hand: 14]
Hastur scurries away.
Atremis falls over while attempting to reach, however, stumbling out of Sana's lap.
Maximilian smiles, and picks the stone Efta was holding, and lifts it to Atremis.
Nimue: "So what is that?"
Atremis looks at the stone curiously.
Maximilian: "Hm, is there a way we can activate it for him?"
Nimue: "Huh?"
Efta: "Hmm, I wonder."
"It makes one blend in more with their environment, from what I can tell."
Nimue: "Well, this Ioun stone helps with schmoozing people, that one with cryptology and linguistics, that improves one's understanding of the arcane and, last but not least, that one helps with mechanics and locks."
Nimue points at the four she identified.
Nimue: "Also that belt helps with acrobatics."
Maximilian rubs his head.
Efta: "Keeping the stones in a wayfinder should do the trick."
Maximilian: "I wouldn't mind holding onto the linguistic one, though it might get in the way a little."
Nimue: "I would like the arcane understanding one, Hastur would be happy about a new stone."
Atremis tilts his head, a massive portion of this conversation being beyond his understanding.
Maximilian: "Magic can do a whole number of things, Atremis."
Atremis yips curiously.
Maximilian: "This little stone might make you a little harder to see, from the sounds of it."
Atremis yips questioningly.
Nimue: "So no one has a problem with me taking the Mossy Disk one?"
Maximilian: "No, no. Frankly, I'd like to wrap this up so we can hit the road again."
Nimue takes the mossy disk and whispers to Hastur.
Hastur opens a hole to the chamber inside him.
Nimue puts the mossy disk inside.
Nimue: "Good wyrd."
Nimue pets Hastur.
Nimue: "So What are your plans now?"
Atremis barks in response.
Maximilian: "I suppose we should ride towards the capital. This map has the next town marked."
Efta: "Seems like we're joining you too then, Pol?"
Sana pets Atremis and the Pegasus idly, getting up and preparing to depart.
Pol Trisk: "Sounds that way. But you say that like us two wouldn't stick together anyway."
Atremis heads over to the bedroll he slept near, pulling out the familiar darkleaf armor.
Sana: [Speak With Animals] "{Miss Pegasus, we're about to go, out on the road, you will join us? There may be danger, please try to not get hurt.}"
"Atremis, do you need help with that?"
Nimue puts away her things.
Atremis barks.
Nimue: "Okay, ready to go."
Young Pegasus: "{I will be careful. Leaving? Never left here. Mother was here.}"
Maximilian: "We just need our fox suited and booted, then we're good to go."
Nimue: "Booted? Cat in boots would be weird enough"
Maximilian: "I think you'll find that it's a manner of speech, young miss."
Sana: "{Your mother was here? I will try to keep you as safe as I can if you come with us, and you'll be fed and loved with me.}"
Nimue snorts at being called young.
Young Pegasus: "{Following you. Nice like other human. Miss other human and mother.}"
Atremis gives up, seeing that Sana is too distracted with Marigold Two, and pulls the darkleaf over to Maximilian.
Maximilian: "Oh! I'm a little familiar with barding, let's see if I can help."
Maximilian bends over to pick up the armour, assessing where the harnesses and fastening points are, before kitting the fox up.
Atremis tests the way the armor was put on, and seems satisfied with Maximilian's work.
Nimue: "So, you want to give fox the stone?"
Sana: "I believe Atremis would greatly appreciate the magical item."
Maximilian: "I think it'd be a rousing plan!"
Sana: "Please give it to him?"
Nimue: "Mmhm."
Nimue offers the stone to Atremis.
Nimue: "Take the stone into your mouth."
Atremis bites onto the stone, holding it in place.
Nimue steps back.
Nimue: "Now release it, it should start hovering around your head."
Atremis lets go, and watches as the stone begins to hover, circling around his head.
Atremis attempts to paw or bite at the stone every time it comes into his field of view.
Nimue crouches down, looking Atremis in his eyes.
Nimue: "I really gotta figure out what you are."
Nimue stands back up.
Sana: "He is a fox."
Nimue: "Not a normal one by far."
Maximilian: "He's a cracking fox at that."
Sana: "He is... special."
Nimue: "So, everyone ready to go?"
Atremis begins to walk in the direction of the rest of the party, pausing momentarily to nip at the stone floating just out of reach before moving to catch up.
Sana beckons the pegasus onwards.
Hastur bounces up and down in the air, happy about his new stone.

The party returns to the road, passing through a swamp in the afternoon.
Nimue: "What was that about a kidnappers map?"
Atremis attempts to pounce on the stone continuing to elude his efforts to catch it.
Maximilian: "During our travels, we encountered a bunch of troublemakers, attempting to kidnap a nobleman's daughter."
Efta: "Ah, it'd be useful if you filled me in on that too, Max."
Nimue: "And you slew them and part of the loot was a map?"
Maximilian: "It was a crude map of Ataleta, but some of the towns were marked, and one of the main roads was highlighted."
"Sure enough, we found trouble further down the road. We suspect they're trying to pressure nobles who side with the prince."
Young Pegasus trots behind the front lines, slightly wary.
Marigold sniffs the sickly creature.
Nimue: "In whom employ?"
As the group approaches, one of the fish flips in the water, seeming to watch them.
Atremis pauses from trying to eat the ioun stone to look at the fish.
Maximilian: "You know, even swampy water has its beauty."
Nimue: "Huh, look at that."
Efta: "Indeed it does~"
Nimue: "That is weird."
"That looks like a Myrillian river trout."
The fish jumps from the water again, shifting as it does into a completely different form, that of a small humanoid female, before grinning at Max.
Maximilian: "Well!"
"That is no ordinary river trout, if you ask me!"
It stays on the surface of the water to stare, tilting its head and speaking an unknown language in a curious tone.
Atremis stares at the fish a little more, before losing interest due to his large breakfast sating his hunger and goes back to pawing at the ioun stone.
Maximilian: "Fascinating..."
"I could write a poem about this."
Efta: "Oh my! Which beautiful girl would grace us with her presence here?~"
Maximilian hops off Marigold to meet the strange creature.
Maximilian: "I am... Max."
Nixie: [Sylvan] "Here? Why here? A wish? Make a wish~"
Nimue: [Sylvan] "Good day. We are traveling towards the city."
Maximilian tilts his head to Nimue.
Maximilian: "You know what it's saying?"
Nimue: "She is a water fey, a nixie".
Efta: "Sounds like Sylvan to me."
Nimue: "It is."
Sana: [Sylvan] "Make a wish?"
Nimue: "She wanted to know what we were doing here, I told her that we are traveling towards the city, and she wants us to make a wish, I would be careful about that, they can be quite malicious."
Sana: [Sylvan] "...I wish to be able to speak to the animals so they can understand me."
Nixie: [Sylvan] "Make a wish~ Stay here and play~"
Nimue facepalms.
Maximilian: "Really? That's a shame."
"Why are the beautiful creatures always the cunning ones?"
Nixie: "A trade? Give something for the wish~?"
Nimue speaks in a very dry tone.
Nimue: "Thank you."
Atremis seems to be completely oblivious to the party's distraction, continuing along the path and attempting to focus on the ioun stone.
Sana: [Sylvan] "I have some food and money, oh, and a scroll!"
A few other fish swim over, shifting into fey as well.
Nimue: "Sana, be careful."
Maximilian: "Well, you three handle these little creatures. I'll keep an eye on our flank."
Nixie: [Sylvan] "Give... scroll? Give money? For your wish~?"
Efta nods to Maximilian in agreement.
Maximilian mounts Marigold once more, and trots around the group.
Sana: [Sylvan] "Would it suffice...?"
Nimue step back a little.
Nixie: [Sylvan] "Plenty~"
Nimue observing the negotiations with a wary eye.
Maximilian: "...where is our wayward fox going?"
Sana: [Sylvan] "..I would be able to speak vulpine?"
Nimue: "He is obviously the most intelligent one, ignoring the evil fae."
Sana: [Sylvan] "Or... perhaps if I could speak to all the animals..."
Nixie: [Sylvan] "Yes~ Speak~"
Nixie steps out of the water, pawing at Sana's pouch.
Nimue tries to get a count of nixies and river trout.
Maximilian: "Say, Atremis, have you found something?"
Sana opens her pouch, giving the small creature the scroll.
Sana: [Sylvan] "Here is the scroll, I have been told it makes one more agile."
The creature takes the scroll, dancing cheerfully.
Sana feels a strange tingling, and her own innate ability to speak to animals growing stronger.
Sana: [Sylvan] "I can feel magic... thank you, really, little being."
[Sylvan] "I am able to speak to the animals now~"
Nixie: [Sylvan] "Elf? A wish~?"
Nimue intones a couple of short ancient elven words and starts to study Sana. [Detect Magic]
More of the creatures wander onto land to approach the party.
Sana: [Sylvan] "Did you also want to play, little creature? We could play... hide and seek...?"
Maximilian: "Uh, this is getting worrying."
Nixie: [Sylvan] "Play. Play lots. More trade~?"
Sana is aware of how many are climbing onto land.
Sana: [Sylvan] "But that depends on my companions feelings towards it, and I'm not good at the game..."
Nimue: "I would suggest we leave, quick"
Sana: "We have to leave...?"
Maximilian: "Yes, I think we should."
Efta: "We'd best be on our way, Sana."
Atremis still appears to be completely distracted by his ioun stone.
Sana towards the small creatures.
Sana: [Sylvan] "I am sorry, little friends, but it seems we must be on our way... but thank you, a lot, for this wish."
The nixie grins fiercely, revealing a dagger it had held behind a fin, and takes a hostile stance toward Nimue.

[Nimue - Initiative: 23
Bog Nixie - Initiative: 23
Bog Nixie - Initiative: 22
Bog Nixie - Initiative: 19
Efta - Initiative: 17.03
Maximilian -Initiative: 13.01
Bog Nixie - Initiative: 13
Atremis - Initiative: 12
Bog Nixie - Initiative: 6
Sana - Initiative: 4)

Sana: [Sylvan] "Why are you fighting us, little ones?"
Maximilian: "Atremis, the faeries are attacking us!"
Atremis looks startled, giving up a grab that he was sure would have gotten the ioun stone this time to look around.
Nimue: "Frigg, frigg, frigg."
Sana shouts to Atremis.
Sana: [Speak with Animals] "{Atremis, I can speak fox now, and we have bad people trying to hurt us!}"
Nixie: [Sylvan] "Wanted more play. Wanted more trade~"
Nimue: "Only for a couple of minutes."
Sana: [Sylvan] "But... fighting isn't the answer to that..."
Nimue intones the word for magic armor and moves back. [Mage Armor]
Hastur moves back with her, bouncing protectively around her during the spellcasting, and starts to hide behind her after she is done.

Sana: [Sylvan] "We could use our words, play a while, and then go on our way without needing to exchange blows.."
The previously friendly nixie ignores Sana to try to chase down Nimue, moving awkwardly on flippered feet.

One of the others advances on Sana, brandishing a tiny weapon.
[Bog Nixie : Shortsword, Attack: 16, Damage: 1]
It harmlessly bounces off armor, and one of the others swims closer.
Nixie: [Sylvan] "No! No fun. Elf no fun. We'll make elf be fun."

Efta rolls up his sleeves, grinning as a series of tattoos along his arms begin to radiate energy. He meanwhile incants a spell, releasing a pair of magic missiles from each arm at the nixie. [Magic Missile, Damage: 2, 4]
Efta's spell strikes the creature, and it chatters at him angrily in a completely different language.

Maximilian: "Get away from theeeem!"
Sana: [Sylvan] "I don't see why we need to fight..."
Maximilian tugs at Marigold's reins, and the two go careening into the sprite harassing Sana. [Casting Divine Favor]
[Maximilian : Lance Charge, Attack: 27, Damage: 38
Marigold's Bite (PA), Attack: 19, Damage: 9]
Maximilian's lance pierces the creature, nearly shredding it entirely.

One of the other nixies remains in the water, loading a small crossbow and aiming for Max.
[Bog Nixie : Light Crossbow, Attack: 22, Damage: 1]
It strikes him, but scarcely draws blood.

Atremis takes a brief moment to figure out what's going on before he reacts.

Another nixie advances on the group, giggling to itself.

Sana: [Speak With Animals] "{Please, Pegasus, get away for now!}"
Young Pegasus attempts to move away from the fighting.
Sana gestures to one of the fey, words laced with magic.
Sana: [Sylvan] "Please, drop your weapon" [Command, DC 15]
[Bog Nixie - Will Save: 9]
The nixie stares at Sana, transfixed by the spell.
Sana: [Sylvan] "We don't have to fight, you could just drop your weapon..."
Nixie: [Sylvan] "We tried to play~ You wouldn't keep playing~"

Atremis prepares himself, darting across the field with incredible speed to attack one of the hostile fish-things.
[Atremis : Fox Bite, Attack: 11, Damage: 4, Sneak Attack: 8]
Sana: [Sylvan] "I wanted to play, but my companions..."
Atremis bounds toward the nixie, apparently misjudging the distance and biting at air.

Nimue: "Pretty damn sure ya did not want to spend the rest of your life underwater."
Nixie: [Sylvan] "Fight with us! Be with us~! Get many wishes~"
Nimue speaks in ancient elven again, conjuring a flaming sphere.
[Flaming Sphere, DC 17, Damage: 8]
[Bog Nixie: Reflex Save: 15]

The fey sidesteps away from the fireball, making a mischievous face at Nimue, before slashing at Atremis with a pair of knives.
[Bog Nixie : Daggers, Attack: 17, Damage: 2
Attack: 15, Damage: 4]
Another one swims closer, stepping onto relatively dry land.

Efta releases another pair of missiles from his arms at the same nixie.
[Magic Missile, Damage: 3, 2]
The nixie takes another minor wound, but looks like it could still handle another hit or two.

Maximilian: "Y-You want to fight too, do you?"
Maximilian spins his lance towards the newly arrived Nixie, thrusting at it.
[Maximilian's Lance, Favor, Attack: 18, Damage: 9]
Max manages to strike the nixie, but does substantially less harm to it, something seeming to interfere with the attack.
Marigold inches closer, snapping and thrashing at the creature.
[Marigold's Bite (PA), Attack: 25, Damage: 10
Marigold's Hooves, Attack: 11, Damage: 9
Marigold's Hooves, Attack: 17, Damage: 6]
Marigold's attacks weaken the creature, and it begins cowering before the horse and rider.
Maximilian: "You started this! You can still leave!"

The nixie still in the water lets the crossbow fall from its hands with a splash, and it retreats slightly.

Another moves to gang up on Atremis.
[Bog Nixie : Daggers, Attack: 11, Damage: 1
Attack: 17, Damage: 3]
It barely manages to land a slight cut on the fox.
Atremis whimpers.

Sana rushes to Atremis' side, brutally attacking the fey that hit him.
Sana: [Sylvan] "Leave Atremis alone!"
[Sana : Greatsword, Attack: 13, Damage: 9]
Despite Atremis's help and the momentum from the charge, the creature manages to dodge Sana's sword.

Atremis uses the opportunity to bite at the fey in tandem, before carefully moving away.
[Atremis : Fox Bite, Attack: 26, Damage: 6, Sneak Attack: 3]
Atremis's fangs manage to pierce its skin, slightly.

Nimue moves her left hand in a complex pattern, directing the sphere to burn one nixie and then throwing two fiery wisps at another. [Magic Missile, Damage: 9]
[Flaming Sphere, DC 17, Damage: 9]
[Bog Nixie: Reflex Save: 12]
Nimue's magic significantly injures the nixies, finishing off one.

The one near Maximilian and Marigold attempts to back away into the water, whimpering.
Maximilian: "Don't trouble travelers, again!"
Sana: [Sylvan] "Please stop fighting."
It looks cowed, shifting back into a fish again.

Efta scrolls through his spellbook, waiting for the others to make their move.

Maximilian wheels around the last faerie, Lancing it as he passes.
Maximilian's Lance, Favor, [Attack: 24, Damage: 9]
Max's lance strikes true, and leaves the nixie barely standing.

The other nixie bobs underwater, diving to retrieve its crossbow, reloading it as it surfaces.

The heavily wounded nixie takes a weak slash at Sana, before trying to back away.
[Bog Nixie: Dagger, Attack: 17, Damage: 4]
[Marigold's Bite Attack of Opportunity
Attack: 25, Damage: 10]
Marigold manages to finish off the creature, without it doing any harm to Sana.

Sana moves over to the nixie next to Max, channeling weak healing magic into the broken body.
Sana manages to stop the fairy's condition from worsening.
Sana: "There's just one left in the water..."
Maximilian: "If it's going to keep shooting at us, we should move on."
Sana: "I was thinking just that."
"Let us move on, quickly."

Atremis runs to the edge of the water, looking at the one with the crossbow and wondering if he can imitate Nimue and Efta's ranged attacks.
Nimue: "Let's have a look what they have managed to steal and trick into giving first"
Maximilian: "I suppose. It's not a very good shot."
As Atremis ponders, a faint light glows around his tail, and flames flare up around the nixie.
[Foxfire, Attack: 9 [Touch], Damage: 3 Fire, Sneak Attack: 6]
Maximilian: "Whoa now, just what kind of stone did you give it?"
The nixie seems unsinged, but confused and startled.
Sana: "Maximilian... if you could stop...."
Nimue: "What the heck?"
Sana: [Speak with Animals] "{Atremis! When did you learn to do that?}"
Nixie: [Sylvan] "No burn! No wishes for you! No wishes!"

Nimue walks closer to the fox, casting detect magic and disregarding possible loot, to try to get a glimpse of what the "fox" has done.
Atremis looks confused.

The nixie-turned-fish dives into the water, disappearing from view entirely.
Sana: [SWA] "{Atremis... you're incredible!}"

Maximilian: "You did it, boy!"
Maximilian rides up to the fox, hopping off.

Nixie: [Sylvan] "Mean, mean! No more play!"
The nixie fires a bolt at Max, before diving and vanishing into the water.
[Bog Nixie: Light Crossbow, Attack: 19, Damage: 1]

Sana: "At least they are gone, now..."
Sana channels healing energy into the bleeding out nixie.
Nimue dimisses the flaming sphere with a move of her hand.
It fails to leave even a scratch, and no more of the fey seem to be present.
Nimue: "How did that fox learn to cast a spell?"
Maximilian: "I could ask the same thing."
Atremis goes over to the fallen Nixies, attempting to pull the swords out of their grasps.
Nimue sounds utterly baffled.
Sana picks up Atremis.
Young Pegasus approaches Sana tentatively, shaking.
Nimue crouches down.
Nimue: "You intrigue me, fox."
Atremis struggles against Sana's grip, one of the shortswords in his mouth.
Sana: [SWA] "{Pegasus, the Nixie gave the magic that I could speak to you!}"
Maximilian: "Told you- he's a smart little blighter."
Sana puts Atremis back down.
Atremis manages to assemble a pile of six small daggers, all surprisingly high quality, with hilts wrapped in seaweed.
Atremis starts putting the shortswords away from the nixies, laying them at Max's feet.
Maximilian: "Thank you, Atremis."
Nimue: "That magic is gonna be over in a minute or two, the nixie cast a speak with animals spell on you, I tell you."
Maximilian collects the blades, walking over to the water to clean them.
Nimue keeps watching the fox for a moment, then shakes her head.
Atremis: "{They won't hurt us without these, right?}"
Sana: "{It'd be extremely difficult for them to.}"
"...oh... only a few minutes...?"
Nimue: "Well, let's have a, slimy, look"
Atremis: "[...Sharp things are evil. They make things into bad peoples.]"
Nimue: "Probably."
Maximilian: "That's well put, Atremis."
Nimue starts to search the body of the nixie before her.
Sana looks sad, but continues to speak to Atremis.
Sana: "{I can at least freely talk to you and the pegasus for a while...}"
It still clutches the scroll Sana gave it, though nothing else.
Nimue: "Mmhm."
Atremis looks at the scroll curiously.
Sana rubs the pegasus's nose, petting Atremis' ears.
Nimue: "Only the scroll here."
Nimue takes a look at the scroll.
Maximilian: "They probably have a little nest or something under the water."
Nimue: "I would like to copy this in a quiet moment."
Maximilian: "What kind of magic is it?"
Sana: "It's a scroll of agility."
Nimue stands up and turns over the scroll to Sana.
Young Pegasus: "{Scary. Dark things, mean things. Like nice woman was fighting.}"
Atremis looks at the scroll, then to Sana.
Atremis: "{Like the one you bought me?}"
Maximilian: "Well, isn't that nifty? We can get more of them for Atremis this way."
"Though I suppose if you folk can learn the spell for yourselves, we might not need to make more scrolls."
Sana: "{That was the one I bought you, but... I thought being able to speak with my animal friends would've made it a worthwhile trade...}"
Nimue: "It does cost a penny but yeah."
Atremis: "{But... it was mine...}"
Sana: "{...I am sorry, Atremis...}"
Nimue walks over to the other nixie and has a look.
Atremis: "{You've... you've been so friendly with Marigold Two.}"
"{I thought I was your friend.}"
Nimue speaks without looking up from her search.
Sana: "{You are my friend...Atremis...}"
Nimue: "Next time I tell you people about creatures being malicious, please listen."
Sana: "{I...I thought if I made that trade, I would be able to freely speak with you and be able to aid you further...}"
Maximilian: "Yes, I'm glad you warned me."
Sana sits down.
Atremis whimpers.
Sana: "{I am sorry, Atremis, I'm very sorry...}"
Maximilian turns to the fox whimpering.
Nimue: "Well, this is a bust."
Maximilian: "Is something the matter?"
Sana sniffs.
Nimue sighs.
Nimue: "Combat, blood shed, and nothing gained."
Nimue pats Sana awkwardly on her head.
Maximilian: "Battle shouldn't be for gain."
Nimue: "There, there."
Nimue crouches down.
Nimue: "Do foxes like cheese, Atremis?"
Atremis tilts his head.
Young Pegasus watches Sana, still shaking in fear.
Nimue rumages in her backpack and getting out a piece of cheese.
Sana withdraws into her armour.
Sana: "{(Who was this woman... Miss Pegasus....?)}"
Nimue breaks off a piece and offers it to Atremis.
Sana: "{(She sounds like someone who fought unliving things... dark things in deep place.)}"
Young Pegasus: "{Nice woman, friends with mother. Magic like yours. Started crying every day and went into the ground. Didn't come back.}"
Atremis nibbles at the cheese, grabbing the chunk offered in his teeth.
Maximilian: "Aww, looks like you've eased his worry, Nimue."
Young Pegasus: "{You came out of same ground. Dark things still there?}"
Sana: "{Most dark things gone forever.}"
Nimue: "Maximilian, if I risk my life I would like to gain more then simple survival. This time we got lucky with barely a scratch, next time we might need the money for a tombstone."
Sana: "{We make dark things, scary things go away...}"
Young Pegasus: "{Nice woman there?}"
Nimue: "Well, look at that."
Maximilian: "Ah?"
Sana: "{I did not see a nice woman there... I am sorry...}"
Nimue: "At Atremis eating cheese."
Maximilian: "Yes. As I said, you cured his worry at least."
"Hm, I will think on your ideas about gain."
Sana hugs her knees meekly and stares at the ground.
Young Pegasus: "{Promised she would return. Was looking for man. Lots and lots of suns ago.}"
Atremis whimpers a little more, nuzzling Sana's hands.
Nimue stands up.
Sana pets Atremis gently, stroking his ears.
Maximilian turns to Sana, and the fox.
Maximilian: "You two alright?"
Nimue: "Be happy, you are still alive, heck, even those two road hazards are still alive."
Sana: "{She promised she would return... but she might not return....}"
Atremis: "{You humans get big shiny sharp things and shiny metal clothes and all those shiny circles.}"
Young Pegasus continues whinnying to Sana, too absorbed in what seems to be a conversation to react to anyone else.
Atremis: "{I just wanted something to be 'mine' too, without it getting taken away from me...}"
Sana: "{I'm sorry... I'm sorry...}"
"{I didn't mean to take away your things... Atremis...}"
Maximilian: "She seems pretty lost in all of this. Should I splash her with water to snap her out of it?"
Nimue: "No clue."
Maximilian: "Sana, can you hear us? Have the little critters cursed you to speak only animal?"
Sana looks up briefly at Max, before uttering several magic words. [Command, DC 15]
Sana: "...please leave me be, Max..."
[Maximilian - Will save: 14]
Maximilian: "...fine. I don't know what's gotten into you."
Atremis whimpers, following Maximilian.
Maximilian saddles up onto Marigold, before realising what just happened.
Sana: "[Atremis, please don't go....]"
Maximilian: "Atremis, do you know what the matter is?"
Atremis shakes his head.
Nimue: "What the heck!"
Nimue tries to drag Sana to her feet, and tries again, fails and starts panting. [STR check: 1]
Maximilian: "I think those faeries did something to her."
Nimue: "You do not cast spells on your traveling companions!"
Atremis walks further along the water's edge and away from the party, using his head movements to motion for Max to follow.
Maximilian follows the fox.
Atremis reaches up to Max once they're a reasonable distance, attempting to get onto his lap without disrupting Marigold.
Maximilian helps the fox up, finding a balanced position.
Sana curls up, tearing up.
Sana: "Leave me alone, stranger, please..."
Nimue cast detect magic to check for lingering magic.
Atremis curls up as best as he can on horseback, whimpering.
Atremis: "(Sana...)"
Maximilian gently pats the fox.
Maximilian: "(She's really aggrieved by something. Looks like she upset you, too.)"
Nimue: "What is up with you?"
Young Pegasus steps between Nimue and Sana, looking at Sana with sad eyes.
Atremis: "(My scroll...)"
Maximilian: "(Wait, was that the same one the faerie had?)"
Atremis whimpers a little more.
Sana silently ignores Nimue, reaching out a shaking hand to stroke the Pegasus' nose.
Atremis: "(I asked for it... I don't get anything...)"
Young Pegasus nuzzles Sana back.
Maximilian: "(I see... daft girl, I thought she knew that you were more than a pet.)"
Atremis: "(...I guess I'm... just a 'familiar' as far as they're concerned.)"
Maximilian: "(Well, mistakes are to be learned from. I suppose none of us are used to a companion like you.)"
Nimue throws up her hands. "Oh frigg it."
Atremis pauses for a moment, it slowly dawning on him that he's holding a conversation with Maximilian before curling up tighter.
Maximilian: "(Come, they'll learn to respect you as an equal in time. No point throwing everything aside just because of one mistake.)"
Nimue walks over to Max.
Nimue: "No word from her, you okay?"
Maximilian: "Yeah. The girl tried trading away Atremis's scroll without asking."
"Honestly, they got on well before. I think we can mend this little issue."
Nimue: "What I want to know how she gets on that narrow plank to cast command on you."
Sana shuffles away from the unconscious bodies.
Maximilian: "My family used to say 'beware the quiet one' when they were around me."
"Now I see why. Did I used to be like that?"
Atremis looks at Maximilian, tilting his head.
Young Pegasus follows Sana, edging away from the nixies.
Maximilian: "I used to cause my family a lot of trouble, Atremis."
"Now, there's another time for that. You still want to be friends with Sana, right?"
Atremis pauses for a bit, in thought, then nods his head.
Maximilian: "Right. Let's see if we can't come to an agreement."
Maximilian lifts Atremis into his arms, and slides off Marigold, before letting him onto the ground.
Atremis takes a moment to regain his balance, before walking off behind Maximilian.
Young Pegasus: "{Hurt? Sad.}"
Maximilian: "Sana... Atremis told me he still wants to be your friend."
"I... I know you two are hurt over the scroll, but we have it here again! We don't have to worry about what could have been."
Nimue rises a eyebrow at this.
Young Pegasus: "{Nice woman is there. Hurt. I see in dreams at night. Spirit... dark. Your spirit turning dark?}"
Maximilian: "Just, just... all he wants... is you not to do that again. ...right, Atremis?"
Maximilian turns his head to Atremis.
Atremis yips in agreement.
Sana: "{My spirit not go dark, Pegasus... I stay not dark...}"
"Atremis... I won't do it again... I'm sorry."
Atremis makes a pawing motion towards Sana.
Young Pegasus: "{Want to save dark ones. Even though scary.}"
Sana: "{...save dark ones...?}"
Young Pegasus: "{Under the ground. Spirits gone dark. Like nice woman. Crying in dreams.}"
Maximilian: "Are you two going to be okay? You're a team."
Sana: "Mm... Atremis means more to me than anything..."
Maximilian: "Then I'm sure you won't forget how much his things mean to him. Thank you."
Nimue: "Okay, that leaves two things. One, if you cast spells on one of us again against our will, I will hit you, clear?"
Sana retreats back into her armour.
Sana: "{Helping them is hard, pegasus... but we can try...}"
Nimue lets out a frustrated sigh.
Maximilian: "She's a very fragile girl. We'll have to try again at another time, I suppose."
Sana: "{We can go back there again... sometime... would that be okay...?}"
Sana shakes in her armour, tearing up again, feeling horribly guilty.
Maximilian: "Atremis, you should keep her warm."
Nimue: "Okay, second, what are we going to do with the road hazards?"
Atremis nods, crawling into Sana's lap and beginning to nuzzle.
Maximilian: "That's a good question. We've taken their weapons, but they could easily fool travellers into giving them more."
Sana: "A-atremis..."
Sana holds onto Atremis tightly, burying her face in his fur.
Atremis: "(Please, Sana...)"
"(The reason the scroll means a lot isn't because I wanted stuff to...)"
"(It's because... you bought it for me...)"
Sana: "(...Atremis...)"
"(...I want to get you a lot more nice things, Atremis.)"
"(You mean everything to me, in my foolishness I made a mistake...)"
Atremis begins to doze in Sana's grip, falling asleep.