<strong>Happenings</strong><br/><br/>The bard deduced that Iona was also a ball of nerves, and so attempted to subdue his own emotions for the betterment of all.  He took a deep dramatic breath and then exhaled, much the same way that he did before he assumed his more fabulous self.<br/><br/>"Adventure begets ideas," he said.   "When I was young, I found so much inspiration from my adventures.  That is, until..." He then pointed down at his leg.  Though Jocy was a very graceful person, he walked with a limp.  His days dancing to the ballads he sang were cut short by an orc's warhammer.   "Well, you know."  But even then, the bard had found some inspiration in his loss.<br/><br/>The bard accepted Iona's gold coin and stared at it in his gloved palm.<br/><br/>When Iona asked him, "You'll check in from time to time on them, right?  I'm confident the widow will do her best, but... this might give her a bit of incentive not to cut corners.  Know what I mean?", the bard nodded and said, almost tearfully,  "Yes, of course.  I will see to it."  He pocketed the gold coin in his coin purse.<br/><br/>When Iona asked, "Any words of wisdom before I run off for fortune and glory?", the bard had but one reply.<br/><br/>"Yes, but I am not supposed to say," the bard started.  He then neared Iona and whispered something.  The following is secret knowledge: only Iona will know of it, unless a character can succeed on a DC 25 Perception Check.<br/><br/><div class="spoiler_container"><div class="spoiler_header" onclick="hideSecond (this);" role="button">Jocy's Whispered Message</div><div class="spoiler_body"> "The townspeople really play this event up as being very dangerous, but no one has ever been killed," the bard said.   "Injured, yes.  But killed, no.  Some of the townspeople have gone out into the forest to play tricks on you to make your adventure more... difficult, so to speak.  Challenging?  Maybe.  Be on your guard, but know that a lot of what you will see is not what it seems."<br/></div></div><br/>Meanwhile, Father Prasst was embracing Ria, smiling down at her.<br/><br/>"Of course!" he replied to request for a blessing.   "Nothing would please me more than to provide you and your party the blessing of Erastil.  You will tread in his domain, after all."<br/><br/>Father Prasst, in a booming military voice, said:<br/><br/>"Gather, ye finders of the flame, and accept the blessing of Old Deadeye, the Stag God, Erastil," he said.  He lifted his hand up, and an earthly glow emanated from it.  If your character accepts Father Prasst's blessing, they shall receive:<br/><br/>Deadeye's Lore for Six Hours:  (While subject to this spell, you take upon yourself the mantle of the hunter, channeling the insights of the spirits of the wild.  You gain a +4 sacred bonus on all Survival checks for the duration of the spell, and you do not have to move at half your speed while traveling through the wilderness or while tracking.While subject to this spell, you take upon yourself the mantle of the hunter, channeling the insights of the spirits of the wild.)<br/><br/>