Ch13 - Goodbyes

Ch13

(A/N I spent way too long making an entire stat block for Charles. To summarise, he's basically like an eldritch knight fighter multiclassed with conjuration wizard. Level 9 with high everything but dex)

I stood there feeling power well up inside me, with this I can be near untouchable! I can finally find my party again! I look at my list of possibilities and transform into my [AF], then I use [change shape] to look exactly like the normal backpacker I am at heart. I can't believe it, I'm truly alive again and in my own body!

I start running my hands upon every surface I could find, it just felt amazing to simply feel. I nearly well up with tears, shaking them away I know I have to find everyone.

[Scrying used (inactive until 06:00 tomorrow)]

A cloud forms slowly before me, lightning silently zapped inside of it itching to be used. "Show me my former adventuring party"

The cloud went black for a moment before shifting inside of itself, once it finished it revealed a feed of the entire group sleeping at the Last Light Inn, along with the new member, Karlach. There, that was my goal, I leave my room to give Ethel the bad news.

I take a deep breath through my nose, I never knew how rancid the smell was here, but I suppose that's just how it works. I walk over to Ethel and tap her on the shoulder, reaching up to do so.

"Who goes there!?" She spins around with malice in her voice. Nothing new really, but nearly scared the shit out of me. She looked down at me, eyebrows raising, "So you managed it have you? I doubt you'd be willing to tell me how?"

"I'll tell you, it had a lot to do with my new knowledge of hags" She looked twice over before it dawned on her. "You! You've become fey? What manner of ritual have you done for that?"

"Because of how much help you've been I'll let you in on a little more" [Hag form- Sea hag] my form grew and thinned to become the ugliest of the hags. "I've become part hag" I begin switching between my hag forms before her eyes.

She paused for a moment letting it sink in, "So…as you can function as a hag, could you even start a coven?" A good and valid question, one I haven't thought of yet, and I can see where she intends to lead it.

"I suppose I can, but it won't be a while before I start to consider it. I'm a traveler at heart so the realms and cities are nothing but gold mines to me. But I have to give you one thing quickly." I use my ornate knife from Dammon to peel away my nail, surprisingly enough, not painful at all. I start polishing it until it's shiny enough and then I form it into a ring. "Annis hags have a feature called iron token, I would like you to have one. If you need help call me, and if you can could I call upon you?"

She smiled, it might be the only time I've seen her smile aside from when she resurrected Mayrina's husband as a zombie, "Thank you dearie, I understand you want to go on your journeys and whatnot. Just don't forget about your time here, and all the materials you've wasted here" She said the last part as a joke… I think.

"I won't, thank you auntie Ethel, hopefully when I next see you, you will be a proud mother of a powerful green hag." I gesture to her pregnancy, Mayrina's baby was basically destined for a shit life anyway with a crazy mom and a zombie dad.

-

Flying quickly, I pass over important parts of act 1. The emerald grove was standing stable, more spacious and more importantly, not covered in thorns. Looks like giving the group that tip worked after all.

The goblin camp was in shambles, fire smattered the building and dead goblins are littered about in varying states of decomposition. Finally, I make my way to the start of the mountain pass. It's a long journey, but one that can be made shorter without my disguise.

I cancel my [Change shape] to revel in my aberration form, my stats don't change but longer legs will always help. I lunge forwards, striding huge distances for every step. I had one isolated target to go to and I made damn sure I knew the way. Animals, monsters and undead in the way were sliced without discrimination. Caravans were evaded and bandits harvested.

It took only 3h to get past the mountain pass and I could see the entrance of the Shadowlands. Heading into a more civilised area may restrict me somewhat but not too much. I [Change shape] back to normal and cast [Conjure Hag: Night hag].

A gnarled, black, deformed hag appeared before me bowing deeply, "What is it you need Charles?" Thank god she didn't say master, I find that whole trope quite weird really.

I begun to give her the instructions, "First, use [change shape] to appear as an average woman, I'll be travelling through the Shadowlands, where you'll be acting as my fake guide. Throughout this, you'll be casting whatever illuminating cantrips you know to keep us well lit." She nodded and changed into a woman in her late 40's, long black hair, glasses and a tailored purple robe.

With that confirmation, we stepped forwards into the Shadowlands. I casted light on my bag, and the Night hag, who I will call Nelly, cast light on her robes. We strode confidently and with purpose towards the destination of last light inn, at this time they should be still sleeping/meditating so I still have plenty of time to get there.

Strange critters attempted to garot me, but they were dealt with easily by crushing their windpipes. I have no interest in anything about them so I left them behind, clutching at their strings through rigor mortis.

I could see the dome of light up ahead, they're all within reach now.