All for Haluth'Maug

For the first time in what seems like hours the desert is quiet. The only thing that can be heard is the blowing of the wind, the calls of the circling birds, and, of course, the heavy panting of everyone who was involved in the battle. The lot of them fall to their knees the second the final lizard is dealt with. Luther's tentacles slink back to where they came from and the soil beneath them returns to normal. It was a hard fight, and they didn't come out unscathed, but not one of them died. Even those that are injured can expect to be healed rather easily once the chief recovers her power. They've won.

Elysia finally lets her spell wash away, ceding control of the hideous plant monster and letting it fall impotently to the hardened soil. She can still feel the residual madness buzzing in her mind, and, now that the tension of the fight is released, it's almost enough to bring her to tears. She doesn't believe the chief should be seen to show weakness though, so she persists in her stoicism through sheer will alone.

She was connected to those plants for too long. Every few seconds she has a flash of sensation in her head. It's similar to deja vu, however she knows she has never experienced anything like the feelings her brain is bombarding her with. She closes her large, elven eyes tight through each wave and her arms shake under her as she tries to support herself on all fours. When next she opens her eyes, she sees a shadow next to hers. She's a bit startled, but without the energy to jump she merely turns her head. Luther stands next to her, his knees wobbling like mad.

"Are you alright? (Are you hurt?)" Luther says, his voice's echo starting to weaken into a whisper.

"..yes.. just.. those plants.." Elysia tries to choke out an explanation, but her throat is too tight.

Luther looks at her with pity and guilt in his eyes. He bows his head penitently.

"Ah, yes (mmm)." he says, solemnly, "You poor thing (my apologies), that must have been terribly unsettling(uninitiated). Don't worry(fear not), it will fade shortly(nothing lasts)."

Elysia is briefly distracted from her symptoms by the eerie nature of Luther's voice. Now that all is quiet and there is nothing else to focus on, she finds it incredibly disturbing. On top of that, he still has a small amount of mysterious black liquid streaking down his cheeks. Still, she's accustomed enough to strangeness now to quickly move past it.

"Yes.. good." she says, "How are you?"

"Not uh, particularly well (bad).." Luther says, trying to gently lower himself onto his knees as his legs buck beneath him.

Elysia can't help but laugh at him. Luther, face streaked in black and eyes still flickering with chaotic power, raises an eyebrow at the village chief.

"Your second voice gave you away." she says, smiling weakly.

A small smile works its way up Luther's face, though he doesn't have the energy left to chuckle along with her. Still, he is happy he gets to see her smile, and the others' as well. He did it.

"Brother Luther. Are you alright?"

The two of them turn to see a battered and scraped up Gavyn approaching. He looks more grizzled than ever, but also happier than Luther has ever seen him.

"Yes, I'll be fine (madness..)" he says, smiling wider.

Gavyn stalls in his steps and looks at the priest sideways.

"Are you sure?" he asks, glancing at Luther's black cheeks.

"I'm sure (indeed), it's just a side effect of using too much power (overwhelmed)" Luther says, using his robes to dab his eyes.