Back to Talona's temple

What a difference a single day made. The day before she was a fidgeting poor thing, plagued by the illness that constantly haunted her for straying too far from her bounded tree, the next she was a confident Red Wizard, with a leonine bodyguard tailoring her steps.

She joined her hands in Talona's inverted triangle and thanked the Mother of All Plagues for another day free of disease.

"I knew it was close, beloved Daphne, but I didn't expect you to return wearing the red robes just the next morning" the priestess came from nowhere, as she was bound to, but this time the dryad's senses weren't so impaired as that the old prank actually scared her.

"Only thanks to you, and the Mistress warning" she decided to err in the side of caution, Talona was well known for being one of the more fickle goddesses.

"What can I do for you today? I trust the last potion has yet to lose its potency" the priestess paid the lion man a cursory glance, but her attention was mostly on Daphne. She could tell how much had changed on the deflowered mage, and for some reason it brought feelings of shame to her.

"It is fine. But I have obtained an 'item' that I believe the Goddess would appreciate, so brought it here as a goodwill offering." She produced the vial with a mixture of diluted green and pearl whitish liquids. "It is somewhat tainted, but I understand it cant really be obtained otherwise."

The buxom clergywoman took what was once a wine bottle and examined its contents. "A Dryad's virginal blood. If you were so willing to part with it, why not give it to me yesterday? I assure you, I would have been gentle."

Daphne decided to be diplomatic. "... I made a mistake, I admit. Siheow" she inclines her head towards the wemic "was many things, but gentle wasn't one of them". The priestess touched the tattooed holy symbol she had on her shoulder and made a quick prayer. "You aren't with child, and it will be another week before your fertility comes. Would you like some healing?"

"Yes, please." Another prayer and a gentle touch and all the aching and burning that she still felt faded to nothing.

"The reason why I came here is not only because I received the red robes, but also because I have the opportunity to make my own enclave." She gave her spiel of the endeavor, highlighting the wealthy partner she had already secured and the authorization from the Guild of Foreign Affairs. The church of Talona was known to trade in toxins, **** and cures, so of course it would also be interested.

The priestess considered the bottle and then said "I do have a member of my congregation who has been itching to travel. Her name is Ariadne Soza, my daughter. I would be grateful if you took care of her for me."

Daphne opened her mouth to ask, but the priestess continued "She will be able to cure your affliction while on the road, dear one. If you were a dryad I would also suggest you to bind yourself to a new tree once you get there"