Chapter Three - Return to the Mournland

Torhak quickly grabs his waterskin from the side of his bag, uncorks it as he moves toward Laulalith , "I've got you Bard!" then with a deft hand he began to empty the waterskin on her hand and the ring.

Vice cautiously speaks up "I admit to having little knwledge of magic rings, but does that always happen? Will she be alright?"

Meepo approaches. "I can help cool it off but it might hurt more than the ring hurts" Meepo looks worried and not really sure what to do.

"maybe ring doesn't like you. Some magic only likes certain type of people or only hurts certain types of people."

Tryne watched carefully as the woman fought with the ring, "It might be bonding with her... I don't know...."

Tryne looked closely to see if the heat was coming from the ring or from the woman herself, if there was burning of her skin or just intense heat. Trying to think if he had seen anything similar to this or can recognize anything with the ring.

"I can try to heal or shield her - but that would just be temporary."

"Hold fast Laulalith... you'll get through this..."

Tryne stands as close as he can to be supportive without getting scorched.

To the others, "I think the magic is infusing with her - the heat is on the inside of her, not just the ring - its attuning her to it - I hope."

Laulalith hears Tryne's words through a haze of pain. She had been about to call on her own power to summon a layer of ice to protect her skin from the searing pain, but she realizes that he is right. This is not something to fight or flee from. This is something she has to endure and embrace. She had been a fool to think otherwise.

With a warning glance from her golden eyes, she shouts to her companions. "Stand back."

She gasps, as she struggles to control her fear and tries to avoid the unwelcome visions of charred flesh and smoking bones that threaten to weaken her resolve. Then she opens her mind and body to the fire coursing through her and tries to focus her attention on the song she hears within. Using all her training as a bard, she tries to isolate and understand the melody in the roaring inferno that fills her mind.

Torhak watched as Laulalith continued to fight off the influence of the ring. It looked painful, and she was obviously very strong for enduring it. He was impressed, but wondered to what end this would come? Was the rings power worth this? As requested he took a step back and put away his waterskin, but he stayed ready in case he needed to help remove the ring...or a finger...or a hand.

The artificer stepped back, but was still close enough to respond if needed, hoping he was right and that the woman would not burst into flames. He glanced over at Torhak noting that the big minitour stood ready to jump in to help also.

Still breathing heavily from the ordeal, Laulalith cannnot believe that her hand is unscathed. She had half expected to see charred strands of flesh dangling from scorched bones when she finally found the courage to look at it. Now, she looks in wonder at the pale smooth skin of her hand and the pulsating lights within the ring. She concetrates and looks deeply into the gemstone, searching for the source of the words that formed in her mind. At the same time, she tries to emulate the firery melody swirling inside her to form words of her own: "Where are you?"

Vice, assuming she is okay, hopes to break the tension "Sooooo, you always have an illusion up as a disguise? That seems exhausting"

Tryne realized he was holding his breath, letting it out slowly. Tryne smiled at Vice's comment, adding his own, "Is everything going to be a performance with you L? Warn us next time you want to accessorize."

Laulalith admires the ring on her finger and whispers "It's full of embers." She is lost in thought, contemplating the circle of life and the eternal internal combustion taking place in all living things when she is interrupted by Vice's words.

She drags her attention away from the ring and composes herself. Only then does she fully realise that her disguises had melted away under the onslaught of the fire and she sees no other option than to tell the others the truth - or at least some more of the truth. "Exhausting? Yes. Yes, it is. Unfortunately, I have enemies that seek what I seek, so I keep my identity concealed for my safety. But I'm glad that you have seen the truth. It is better this way, and I have a feeling that I can trust you with this secret."

She lets her illusionary disguise drop and stands before them unconcealed. She is a little short for an elf, and her skin is slightly darker than average for her kin. The golden light has subsided, and her eyes are green again. Her hair is black, semi-long in the right side and cropped short in the left side, so it doesn't obstruct the view to the mark of shadow curling up the left side of her neck towards her ear. A row of small silver earrings adorn each of her pointed ears, and a jagged scar runs across her left cheek. Most of this is unchanged from before. Only the dragon mark and the scar were concealed - and there may have been a few almost imperceptible cosmetic changes to her skin, lips, and eyes.

She gives them all a short formal bow, and introduces herself - again. "Laulalith of House Phiarlan, at your service."

When Tryne speaks, she sends him a small smile and winks. "Every time I accessorize? Do you know how often that happens?" Then her expression turns serious. "But I do thank you, Tryne. You saw what I should have seen myself. I might not have survived if you had not shown me that I had to embrace the fire instead of resisting it." then she turns to Torhak. "And you too, Torhak. You acted swiftly when I called for aid. I appreciate it, and I won't forget it. She places a slender hand on her heart and gives them both another short bow.

Then she looks at Vice and 37 and holds up the ring. "I ... I didn't mean for this to happen. I wanted to understand the ring, but now it is bonded to me. I know it's not mine by right, but maybe I can pay you for it out of my share of the salvage we are seeking? She shrugs apologetically. "I must admit that the ring has become precious to me after what I just went through."

Torhak chaffed, "Looked painful. I know a little something about that. What does it do...?" he said motioning to the ring she had attuned to.