"It is rude to come into an old woman's home without being invited you know." The coarse voice of the hag puts on a mockingly sweet affectation to feign niceness.

Gerhart comes into view with his hands up, seemingly unarmed as his weapons disappear from sight.[1] He takes a few steps into the room before stopping, a little smile and laugh on his face.

"I think some might argue this isn't your home."

"Well I live here, my things are here, seems like a home does it not?"

"Sure, but someone else owns this place you know."

"I didn't see anyone else here."

"Maybe not, but that doesn't mean no one owns this place. Wouldn't you be breaking your own rules of hospitality by not asking if you could move in?"

The kindly grandma exterior, thin as it was, fades as Gerhart continues to challenge her. She scowls and mutters something before throwing a handful of powder and magic towards the ranger. Gerhart feigns getting knocked out[2] by collapsing to the floor. The hag cackles as she begins to walk over.

"So much for your friends." She bats the wisp as she passes by, still unaware of Sarne.

---

1. Unseen Companion
2. Sacrifical Bond

Casually stepping out of the shadows with his sword still in its sheath his hands a little away from his side Sarne's celestial features silver hair color shining like metal. His tan-colored with lustrous skin. Sarne's eyes change to a piercing gold everything about him shines.

Sarne knew Hags represent all that is evil. Though they looked like withered crones, there is nothing mortal about these monstrous creatures, whose forms reflect only the wickedness in their hearts. Sarne could easily see that.

Sarne remembered they were ancient beings with origins in the Feywild, Hags are cankers in the mortal world. Their withered faces are framed by long, frayed hair, horrid moles and warts dot their blotchy skin, and their long, skinny fingers are tipped by claws that can slice open flesh with a touch. Their simple clothes are always tattered and filthy. This is what he was always told about and vowed to destroy.

[1] Before the hag could do anything a circle of light illuminated the immediate area. This light traveled up to the Hag. The light struck the Hag. It wrapped around her like a vise, restricting their movement. Sarne knew she would be restricted for a minute. Preventing her from moving and most actions.

Sarne's light pulsates out. [2] Sarne watched as it healed his friend and it started Gerhart's celestial bond to waken as he transformed to his celestial form.

[3] The Crest on Sarne's back glowed as he walked toward the Hag. The Hag hissed at Srane. Her eyes grew wide at the fear she felt toward Sarne. The Hag's eyes darted around looking for a way to get away.

"Now that I have your attention evil one." Started Sarne his tone ominous and cold. Sarne eyes showed a touch of anger. "You Hag, are on someone's land My family lands! My land Marquis of Silvermyist. You Hag, made a fiddle error. By harming my friend by invading my land with your evil," said Sarne with a slight smile on his lips.

The Hag could feel the binding fading there was hope. The hope disappeared. [4] When Sarne moved the speed was hard to see three instantaneous strikes from Sarnes's sword that appeared in his hands as Sarne moved by the Hag in a blur. Sarne slid to a stop from the move. The light damage was more than the Hag could take as embers raised from the strikes of Sarne's sword. The flames of light started to engulf the hag as she burned.

[1] Binding Light
[2] Prevailing Justice
[3] Looming Fear
[4] Cyran's Haunting Blade

Gerhart keeps his eyes closed until the flash of light fades, quietly pulling himself up to his feet. With a bit of a disgusted look as he flakes off a bit of dead whatever the hag had been collecting and some random detritus. He does give the hag a sympathetic look as she burns and fades away. His attention is quickly refocused as the wisp starts to bounce against the cauldron.

"Hold on, hold on little guy." Gerhart regains a smile as he puts a hand in front of the wisp to stop the bouncing. He reaches to pull the lid off the cauldron, but the second there is any space the water inside the cauldron bursts ups.

A horse-like image takes shape in the water as it neighs out, shaking its watery mane with its newfound freedom. The wisp starts to excitedly buzz and circle around the Kayren.

"Well this explains a lot." He chuckles as the horse turns its gaze on the two men. The water starts to froth and foam around it before the wisp flies in front of it. It bounces and the light worbles.

"They are right, we just wanted to help, no need to keep you here." Gerhart smiles, seeming to understand the conversation. The kayren looks beyond the wisp to the other two.

After a moment, it does start to exit the cauldron, following the wisp out of the spire. The galloping receeds as the two fey seem to head right towards their portal home. Gerhart puts his hands on his hips with a smile.

"Well I was wrong in what to expect up here...didn't think it would use a creature like that for its pot. Maybe it adds extra magic or something?"

Seeing his friend get up. Sarne sighed in relief. As the little light moved about Gerhurt walked over to the cauldron talking to the little bouncing light. when the lid was lifted Sarne jumped back some. The Kayren a horse-like appearance takes form in the water and ascends out of the cauldron. The Kayren looked Sarne's way. Sarne dropped his sword and put his hand up in submission. hoping he did not have to fight it too.

"Oh, Freedom is yours, great one," said Sarne with sincerity and respect. Sarne stepped to one side to make sure he was not blocking any exits off this floor and out of the tower.

The Kayren stared at Sarne. Lord Sarne said something in ancient elvish and gave a nod to the Kayren. The Kayren leaves the cauldron escaping the tower with the little light. The little light and Kayron head right towards their doorway home disappearing into the portal of light vanishing from sight.

"I do not know what that evil Hag had in mind. It does answer some questions on what was happening in the area," replied Sarne walking next to his friend. "You have done a great service today, Gerhart," Sarne complemented Gerhurt. "Know that you are always welcome on this land as I am too," remarked Sarne with a grin. "Also did Shaa ever teach you to dodge?" Sarne joked with Gerhurt.

"You gotta be willing to take a hit if you wanna get the job done." He smiles, this was actually one of the few times he came out relatively unscathed. Maybe a few spots in his vision from Sarne's blinding move, but those will fade.



Gerhart puts his hands on his hips as he looks over the room once more. This really was an odd set of circumstances. Before he speaks, he can feel his body kind of pop as the reverse aging effects wear off. It's instantly noticeable in how much better his armor fits.



"That's good news!.....Still...a shame it had to go down quite like this...seems like she was just looking for a new home. Probably got destroyed after Vulcawhateverhisname was....but what would pull her into a city? Not exactly a prime spot especially if she isn't going to bother trying to hide."



The ranger shrugs as he starts to head downstairs. At the very least they should tell some guards the place is cleared. This may have been a very odd and strange situation, but at least it was done. As they trot down the stairs and out of the spire, Gerhart stops them a moment as he smiles.



Out ahead of them where the flowers used to be are a pair of red algae woven crowns. Gerhart grabs one and puts it on with a grin, tossing the other to Sarne.



"I think this is its way of saying thanks. This is so cool, Rice isn't going to believe I got to meet a Kayren." The ranger was over the moon with this gift, happy to see a job well done.