Not exactly what was meant to.

I didn't really have any major expectations of what the process Siliva would have to go through would be, however it at first seemed I would not get to figure it out. The first thing that happened after she spoke was that she started walking away from us, towards the surrounding trees. I began to follow behind, but Grutrod help up a hand cautiously.

After I stopped, he called out to his elven party member. "Aye, Lass! What do yeh need?" The way he asked implied that he wasn't simply requesting a list of items she required. I didn't quite know the full story, but it seemed there was some history to do with what was soon happening.

She stopped and spun around somewhat gracefully, looking over the group. Her eyes immediately brushed past Millana and the guards, paying them no heed at all. She merely glanced at Natalia before the witch quickly nodded, causing the elf to move her attention onwards again. Giving Isabell an appraising glance, she shook her head before squinting at Lana in consideration. Clearly unhappy with her own decision, she at last turned to me and Karen, looking quickly between the two of us with little to hide her clear dislike.

At last, she spoke to answer Grutrod's question. "You can act as 'Warden'. Natalia can play 'Maiden'..." She nodded to the two of them in turn as she spoke before looking back to Lana, "The young priest can act as 'Channeler', I guess." At last she glared at me and Karen, and I resigned to not being a part of whatever would soon happen. "... and..." She took a deep breath before shutting her eyes and pushing them closed forcefully, as if she could hide from what she was about to say. "and..." With one last sigh, she spoke as quickly as she could to get it all out at once. "AndMathewcanbe'Medium'."

To say everyone was surprised would be a massive understatement. Natalia blinked a few times in rapid succession, clearly shocked. Grutrod and I both raised our eyebrows in surprise. Trying to make the most of the moment, I gave a bow. "I greatly appreciate the honor of being a part of such a seemingly personal event."

When I looked back up, Silvia was openly glaring at me. "Trust me, if I had better options, I would have gladly taken them." After a moment to let those words sink in, she looked away and spoke in a less angry tone. "However, you have an inherit connection with life magic, which means you are most suited to the role." She then mumbled under her breath, "And there's no way in hell I'm letting that bitch see anything of my culture."

Before I could say anything else she spun around again, walking back out to the woods. When we all started following, she called out over her shoulder, "No one who I didn't mention is allowed to be there. That is not up to debate." The guards seemed somewhat disappointed, however Millana and Isabell did not seem to care much in the least. Karen simply let out an entitled scoff.

Once we had moved a decent distance away, we all waited in silence as Silvia went around, making preparations and explaining our respective duties. "Grutrod, you already know this but the 'Warden' acts as the physical barrier between the malicious spirits and the ritual, so keep the evils away, yeah?" A grunt and a nod was the dwarf's response, earning a smile from Silvia before she turned to her other party member. "Natalia, this may be your first time but I explained this to you before. 'Maiden' serves as the caller of the spirits, you beckon them forth and give them the mana to follow so they can find us to speak with." Natalia straightened up and gave a salute of sorts, her oversized hat bobbing from the movement. Turning to Lana, Silvia continued, "Little miss priest, you are the 'Channeler'. May sound fancy but it just means you do your best to keep funneling mana to these two, "She gestured to me and Natalia, "in order to make sure the ritual doesn't end prematurely." Lana gave a deep breath before giving a thumbs-up. At last Silvia looked to me, glaring for a moment before shaking her head begrudgingly and speaking. "Mathew, you are the 'Medium', that means you are going to use your god's magic to funnel the spirits' message into the tree so I can understand them. Your 'lord' fine with that?" She raised an eyebrow at me, perhaps seeking a confrontation of sorts.

My response was to pick up my mask from my chest and move it to my face, an action that caused Lana to stiffen slightly. Looking to Siliva through the smooth object that did not block my vision, I answered her in earnest. "What is required, I shall provide." I then gave another bow before standing at the ready on my position for the beginning of the ritual.

The others reached their marks, and after taking a deep breath, Silvia gave the signal to Natalia. Slowly, the young witch began a chant of sorts, a harmonious melody echoing out as I felt her stir the mana around us. Momentarily distracted by this visual, I snapped out of it due to seeing movement from behind the trees. Squinting my eyes, I was able to make out shapes within the greenery.

After I was able to make them out, I was able to identify them. They were spirits, though they were quite different from my first form. Before I could begin to examine them in earnest, a growing sense of unease washed over me as I took in the sight. "Pardon my intrusion, but are there meant to be that many of them?" My words at first earned a glare from Silvia, before she looked where my eyes were watching.

Immediately I could tell my concern was justified, as her eyes went wide with shock and fear. However, she wasted no time on getting Grutrod's attention as well. "Look alive Gru, we've got incoming."

Turning to see the commotion, Grutrod's shoulder's slumped slightly as he looked at the wave of translucent entities approaching slowly. Turning his head half to Silvia, he spoke as he entered a heavy stance. "How in the bloody hells am I meant teh keep that many of 'em out? I can't even tell which of 'em are evil 'er not!"

As if to answer his question, the first of the many spirits in line let out a ghastly shriek before charging forth, flying forward at high speed only to get slammed in its translucent head by the dwarf's war hammer. It's body dispersed slightly before reforming a slight distance away, beginning to circle the group as it looked for a chance to get past our appointed guardian.

Looking towards the crowd, I can only ponder what we may be about to face.