[Pathfinder] Wrath of the Righteous, part 51: Recovery

Respected Master:

Please receive this missive from your unworthy pupil and know that your teachings are always in my thoughts.

Reconstruction of the Citadel and the town of Drezen is underway. My friends and I are quite busy providing what aid we are capable of giving in this effort. Each day I spend some time with Aravashnial learning more of the ways of the Riftwardens and teaching those ways to suitable candidates Aravashnial has identified from the populace. As the most senior surviving member of that organization, he has determined that it is no longer wise to remain hidden from public view. One cannot recruit reliable and dedicated new members easily if one is too secretive about one's purpose.

I have at last sufficient time to study new spells and add them to the enchanted book I had the good fortune to acquire. It is a pleasure to spend my evenings performing this familiar task rather than discussing strategy or resting in the healer's tent. In time we will depart from Drezen and make a foray out into the wilderness and I wish to be well prepared for such evil creatures as we may encounter. I have also been lending what little knowledge I have to the process of removing the corruptive power from the forge so that we may employ it to remove corruption.

While I have been occupied with these concerns, young master Jiro has been busy cleansing the spirits of this place, working with cleansing the forge, healing the sick, and seeing to repairs within the Citadel. Runa has been employing the power granted her by Iomedae to repair damaged equipment, and is preparing to begin ministering to the townsfolk in a spiritual capacity. Zosta has been teaching fighting skills to any who wish to learn. And our newest comrade, Zero, has left the town each day to patrol beyond its confines in search of the woman who once rescued him, who we now believe to be the redeemed succubus Arushalae. Meanwhile the cell in which Arushalae was imprisoned is the only part of the Citadel that did not need to be cleansed, and has been made a shrine to Desna as it required no consecration to make it a holy place.

Holy symbol of Desna

In the midst of these other activities Runa asked if she might make a journey to her home village, which lies some distance to the east of Kenabres. This request was agreed to by Irabeth, and she took with her a list of items that Jiro sought, primarily seeds and seedlings for his garden. When she reached home and gave her father the list of things she hoped to return with, she was overwhelmed by the response. The villagers gave her so many crops, farming implements, tools, and other useful items that she was obliged to travel to Kenabres to seek aid in transporting it back to Drezen. There she met with the members of Cennami's tribe and spoke to Rhino, who surprised her by deciding to accompany her on her return journey. Cennami and Rhino created a portal through which she could avoid crossing over some of the territory between Kenabres and Drezen, and after assisting in creating the portal Rhino dove through it himself before it could close. I regret that I did not have the opportunity to witness such an event.

Rhino

Zosta had been enjoying herself by joining the scouts in battling some of the former occupiers of Drezen who had been away and did not return until after the town was reclaimed. Naturally it was a very pleasant surprise to her to see her adoptive brother. Rhino surprised us all by having manifested wings since last we saw him. Zosta had given the cloak he sent previously to Bohgong, and he now presented her with another, as well as a cloak and bone ring for Zero. He has assured her that creating magical objects no longer drains him as it did in the past, which was a matter of much concern to her, but I am not sure she entirely believed him.

Morale has greatly improved here due to the presence of the banner and the removal of the miasma of foulness that formerly engulfed this place. Runa's arrival with livestock and fresh foodstuffs was also most welcome. Jiro's grove has also grown considerably in quite a short span of time. He went there to introduce himself to the young treant and learned that it is in effect a child of the tree-woman we set free, placed there for the entire purpose of looking after the grove. It has no name, but Jiro has encouraged it to choose one that suits it. I look forward to seeing what becomes of that relationship in future days.

Sword of Valor

I shall write further when we have departed from Drezen to begin our explorations of the wilderness. Until then I remain your faithful student and pray that Qi Zhong brings you health and peace.

Next: part 52, Many Labors