148 Homes (2/2)

”I see,” said Li. ”So the bronzemanes are probably tame right now because you and Launcelot have convinced them to be.”

The table nodded, and Li motioned to the destruction and motley diversity of species around him. ”But what about the others? There certainly seemed to have been some level of chaos here.”

”Certainly, there was,” remarked Launcelot. ”When that foul black magic was lifted from the minds of these women, there was of course a tremendous amount of chaos. However, Iona, with but a few words in a language I have never been witness to, calmed them to the extent that we could carve some order out. You should have seen it. It was truly wondrous, like a deity or high spirit alighting upon the earth.”

Iona paused nervously.

”The healing spell she cast has a second chant to it that eases confusion. That was what soothed them. I should know - I created the spell,” cut in Li. He knew Iona did not want to expose that she knew any forest spirit language to an adventurer no less. She had already risked much of her own safety for his sake.

”Ah, so an eastern language, then?” nodded Launcelot. ”I must say, the spells of the east seem far grander and better than those we learn here.”

”We all have our strengths and weaknesses,” said Li. He stood up and tapped Iona on the shoulder to get her to come with him. ”If you will excuse us, I want to have a talk with the beastwomen. It would do well for me to know where their homes are to find a way to get them home.”

==========

As Iona and Li walked away, he talked to her in a quiet voice. ”What did you tell the beastwomen to calm them?”

”Forest spirits are held in high regard in the north among beastmen tribes as harbingers of the future. They rely on the forests and the weather for their survival, so they see us, beings who have say in controlling such factors, as prophets of a kind. Thus, I told them to not fear, to wait calmly for soon, good fortune would come to them.”

”Simple enough,” said Li. ”And it worked very well, all things considered. There could have plenty more destruction than this. Thanks for holding down the fort so well. It's a good thing they respect the voice of the forest to this degree too. They're growing on me.”

Iona nodded, smiling at the praise.

”Now then, it's time for me to get a feel of how much good fortune I can bring to them,” said Li as he made his way to each group of beastwomen.

There were four distinct groups of beastwomen in the Flagon.

The Bronzemane Feli that lived in the north generally all wished to go back for they had prides waiting for them, though a few of them did consider staying here for Launcelot.

There were a smaller group of Goldmane Feli here, the kind that Azhar was familiar with, and they, too, wished to go back to their tribe in the West. The one that Azhar talked to had found her little sister in the crowd as well, so it seemed like most loose ends were tied up for that group.

The Lupi, however, were at a tense situation. Their northern pack worshipped the Moonwolf – a form of Noctus – and were far more isolationist than the other beastwomen tribes.

If they tried returning to their pack, they would likely be rejected for fear of being tainted by outside influences; a belief that arose when Noctus fell to eldritch influences, draining much of their faith based abilities away or afflicting some of them with the dire curse that rendered them savage and insane.

They would need a new home, and Li would extend them a place at the farm or at the very least, a place within the Winterwoods if he could. Though for now, he did not yet forward any such offer. He had to settle the rest of this case first, after all.

The Serpi were interesting. They all feared Li for the Serpi he had dealt with was among them and had told of them about his ability to influence even their revered goddess herself. As a result, some of them, valuing knowledge and being bolder and more curious, wished to stay around Li, though the majority wanted to return home to their people in the far northern deserts.

The harpies were far fewer in number but each had different ideas of what they wanted. Unlike the rest of the beastwomen, they did not have a strong sense of shared community. They worshipped the Phoenix – a form of Helius – and their doctrine was that of journeying wherever the sun managed to shine its wide faring rays.

They were highly individualistic and did not ever consider any one place a home, using their wings to travel anywhere they wished. Thus, some of wanted to try staying in the South, others wanted to fly away and explore, still others were undecided.

Overall, Li figured there would be quite a few new additions to the farm by the time he was done with this all. When he finished talking to each group and got around to sitting back at the table, the Flagon doors opened again.

The rattle of knightly armor echoed outside, and Li watched as Meld entered first, then Triple Threat, then a few knights of Lys, though a sizable force of knights did stay outside. Perhaps as a show of force? A precaution to keep the order?

Regardless, Li was ready to end this whole case and get what he wanted out of it.