out with lanterns

Lena

and sweetest in the gale is heard
and sore must be the storm

Back in the comforts of the Celestine, amidst the beautiful gardens and the familiar landscapes, Lena crouched before the shrine as she’d done many times before. That too was solace; a sort of respite in the adherence and resilience of faith. Smiling, she grabbed the portions and pieces of sweetgrass from the Hollowed Grounds, the memories an intriguing bounty all their own, along with evidence of her poultices, some remaining and not yet used.

Then her staff, laden before her knees, and another bountiful offering of berries and cream, with some tropical infusion from her recent sojourn amidst Torchline. Taking another deep breath, she bowed her head, trusting she’d done exactly as detailed – and this would be one more step towards more of her goals and aspirations. “Frey, I’ve completed my tasks. Thank you so much for the opportunity.”

--

Turning in Lena’s quest acquired here: believing in tomorrow to upgrade her healing staff:

Type: Light | Style: Other | Level: Basic
Healer's Staff | A wooden staff that continues to bloom and grow leaves despite having been separated from its mother tree. Capable of delivering Basic Healing to one target.

1. Complete a thread using the staff to heal someone, as is its intended purpose.
- Healed Zavien here

2. Complete a thread practicing non-magical healing (e.g. creating poultices/mixing medicines/non-magical first aid) etc.
- day by day

3. Complete a thead encountering a unicorn and witnessing it using its horn to heal a person/animal.
- [SE] tell me about your dreams

4. Complete a thread collecting Sweetgrass in one of the locations where it can be found.
- [SE] they needed sunshine

that could abash the little bird
that kept so many warm

Frey

Frey blooms like so many of the flowers present in the Celestine, golden and naked and smiling to see the healer returned to the shrine. "And you have completed them wonderfully," they confirm with a nod, reaching out not for the offering (not yet) but for the sweetgrass Lena has brought. The stems ignite within Frey's radiant palms, emitting a vanilla essence, and they wave the smoky tendrils over the staff in the caretaker's lap.

Whilst it does not change outwardly in appearance, all that Lena has done to improve her knowledge also infuses into the item she holds, strengthening it, bonding it further to her and her cause. "I think," says Frey, once the sweetgrass is little more than fragrant ash, "that just about ought to do it. What do you suppose?"

---

Lena has completed her quest and has upgraded her staff!

Type: Light | Style: Other | Level: Upgraded
Healer's Staff | A wooden staff that continues to bloom and grow leaves despite having been separated from its mother tree. Capable of delivering Upgraded Healing to one target.

Lena

and sweetest in the gale is heard
and sore must be the storm

An incandescent smile radiated from her face the moment Frey made their appearance, and she bowed again before her favored herald. Then her eyes widened, gloriously impressed, as they altered the sweetgrass into nothing more than fumes and vanilla, waving the smoky essences over the staff. Within a few moments, it seemed unchanged; the leaves still beautiful, the armament still sturdy; but that much more enhanced. Perhaps the Caretaker as well, with new knowledge and healing provisions at her fingertips.

As always, she gave forth her generous sentiments. “You’re wonderful yourself. Thank you so much. It’s magnificent.” And perhaps, in time, she’d be able to unfurl it further – and her own practices – into mastery.

[FIN]

that could abash the little bird
that kept so many warm