Tri'lanna returns and a mark is removed

[Author's Note: Credit goes to Manbear, for providing the fact that Tri'lanna's **** mark is goblin magic and it is restricting her thoughts, and Torg, for pointing out the issue of crosses for Druids.]

The day turns closer to sunset and you are standing with Ceinwyn at the druids' graves once again. It has been a long day for the both of you and there were a number of rites that Ceinwyn had to perform for her fellow druids, but she is looking much better than before. Her lips aren't so ashen anymore and she is actually starting to smile. This time Ceinwyn is holding a sapling in her hands, and she assures you that this is the last ritual.

"Thank you for all your help. I would have never been able to do all of this myself, but your symbols are not ours." Ceinwyn says, pointing at the crosses you planted at their graves, "Only life can console ****."

You concede and watch as Ceinwyn kneels down and digs a hole large enough to fit the fledgling tree. As she is digging, you spot someone in the distance skipping towards you, not trying to conceal their presence at all. It is Tri'lanna.

When she catches sight of you Tri'lanna starts to run, smiling the whole way. You note with relief that she is unharmed and mostly unruffled, except for a few twigs caught in her hair. As she draws close, you catch a glimpse of the **** mark on Tri'lanna's arm, a crude symbol drawn onto her upper arm in dark blue ink, and you remember that you came here, not only for the Shining Stone, but to find a cure for Tri'lanna's madness. Taking the elfgirl by the arm, you lead her to Ceinwyn. She is just finished with planting the sapling and her eyebrow raise questioningly as she looks at the elfmaid by your side.

"Ceinwyn, this is Tri'lanna." You say, "She helped me get here, and I couldn't have done it without her."

"Hello." Ceinwyn says, nodding her head towards her.

Tri'lanna grins and babbles in comprehensibly. Then, without warning, she grabs each of the druid's hands and pulls the girl towards her. Ceinwyn's eyes widen in surprise, but she has no time to say no, as she gets led along by the elf. Tri'lanna twirls the confused girl around and dances with her, singing and humming in a melodic tone. When they finally stop spinning, Ceinwyn lets out a sigh of relief and smooths out her clothes.

"Uh, is she...well?" She asks carefully.

"I rescued her from three goblin slavers many days ago, and found this tattoo on her." You explain, "I think the mark is enchanted, since she hasn't regained her senses yet. Do you think you can help her?"

Grateful for something to take her mind off her dead kin, the young Druid agrees to help and peers at the blue ink curiously, lightly touching the mark with her finger. When the mark fails to disappear, she rubs harder against Tri'lanna's skin, but it stubbornly stays.

Looking closer at the symbol, you can begin to make out rough shapes drawn on her skin. The **** mark's most defining feature are three jagged points, which look like a trio of mountaintops, that overlap slightly to give the illusion that a set of canine teeth are biting into her skin.

"It looks like Shamanistic magic. Goblin in origin." Ceinwyn says after a minute of inspection.

"You see these three angled marks at the top of the symbol, yes? Well, goblins believe that teeth are the patron symbol of one of their deities, Kurgayagbo, the god of slavery and oppression. Those who wear teeth around their necks or arms are usually slavers, and the ones with teeth inscribed on them are enthralled slaves."

"So, this mark is used to control her mind?" You ask.

"Not exactly. Goblin's aren't smart enough for those kinds of complex spells and as much as I hate to admit it, goblin shamans aren't that different from druids. We can only manipulate what is already there, we can't make something from nothing. The **** mark is there to dull her wits and confuse her thoughts. Someone who wants to exert their own will upon her will find little resistance."

"So can you fix it? Or remove the mark?"

Ceinwyn places a finger on her lips thoughtfully. "I think I can. Since the **** mark is meant to weaken her senses, I suppose if I inscribe a druid's mark on top, a symbol to sharpen her senses, the two should cancel out."

Ceinwyn takes a few minutes to prepare, gathering a few dark-leaved plants and grinding them together with a mortar and pestle, making a thin, black paste. Getting Tri'lanna to kneel down next to her, Ceinwyn then begins to draw on top of the slaver's mark using her ink. You can hear her chanting, drawing out the energy necessary for the spell, and inscribing a circle to surround the 'teeth' of the tattoo. When the circle is finished, she draws several straight lines, connecting different ends of the circle and intersecting with the pointed tips of each tooth.

When the symbol is completed the blue ink of the **** mark flares brightly, like it was set aflame by a white fire, and then dies down, turning a jet black color. Ceinwyn raises her hand and runs her palm over Tri'lanna's shoulder, wiping away the tattoo. The mark comes clean off, like it was drawn on with water paint, and the elf maid's skin is as pure white as the rest of her.

"It may take some time before Tri'lanna's wits fully return, since the mark was on for such a long time, but don't worry she'll be back to who she was in no time." Ceinwyn says cheerfully.

It suddenly comes to your attention that you have no idea what Tri'lanna was like before the **** mark, and you start getting rather nervous. What will she be like? What will she think of you? These thoughts plague you as you look out to the horizon, seeing the sun setting on this day. It is time to make camp and decide your next move.