A fateful encounter

*Nods her head and guides them a little deeper into the woods. They find a small clearing a handful of yards off the trail. She slides down onto a rock and leans against a nearby tree. She watches at the priest and Julian get comfortable.*

Under the guise of handing her some food, Julian approaches Lilith and whispers to her. “What’s the plan?”

*Leans over her back to start pulling out her bread. She whispers back* Sounds like a prime opportunity. We've been needing a payday. I say we help him sleep very well and relieve him of the burden.

Julian nods. “At the very least, we can go through his pockets.” He gives Lilith a smile. “You want to do the honors, or shall I?”

In the meantime, Tristram has taken a seat on a rock and begun taking off his shoes.

I think he would trust a fellow cultist more than me. All yours baby bro. *Rips off a piece of bread and hands it to Julian*

Smiling a little, shaking his head at “cultist”, Julian accepts the bread, then turns in one fluid motion, grabs his mace from his belt, and whacks Tristram upside the head with a blunt portion of the handle.

Tristram’s eyes roll back in his head and he goes unconscious immediately, tipping off the rock and onto the ground.

Julian huffs, satisfied. “Trust has nothing to do with it.”

*Laughs happily, shifting into her usual blue head and slim self. She jumps up and saunters over to the priest. She uses her foot to push him over. There is a bit if blood trickling down his forehead from the injury site. She leans down and starts checking his pockets. Her hands finally stumble on a piece of parchment. She pulls it out and realizes it's a letter. * Well, well. *She reads it quickly and hands it to Julian.*

Julian reads the letter and his eyes go wide. “Well,” he says, looking up. “What do you say to a little impersonation game?”

*She lights up. Truly very few things make her this excited* You are speaking my language Jules!

Folding up the letter, Julian tucks it into his pocket, then carefully removes Tristram’s necklace with his holy symbol. “No time like the present.”

Ooc:// I feel like this would be a good place to skip ahead to having the doom wheel?

Ooc:// Completely agree. Do we want to start a new thread or keep on this one?

Ooc:// I don’t think we need a new thread! Unless you want one, I’m chill here!

Ooc:// Sounds good!

As soon as they’re far enough away, which doesn’t take long given how quickly the doom wheel moves on water, Julian hops off and lands on shaking legs. He collapses on the riverbank and breathes in and out heavily. His hands trail vaguely over his injures, the blood running from his forehead, the singe marks on his clothes. He coughs, then speaks, his voice hoarse. “You okay, Av?”

*Lilith shuts down the wheel and lightly leaps from it, joining Julian. She lifts his chin up to get a look as the wound on his head.* Better than you. God how did they hit you so hard? Where the hell was Bav!

Julian chuckles darkly. “If I’m unconscious, Bav’s unconscious,” he says, coughing again. “Who knew that damn cleric was so powerful?” He grits his teeth in pain. “I must’ve pissed off his god something fierce.”

*Lilith pulls out bandages from their pack and douses them in alcohol. She dabs them at the cuts while taking a swig herself and offering some to Julian* Well, it was a wild first run. *She pauses and glances over at the massive weapon sitting next to them.* God's...Julian it's beautiful.

Though weak, Julian lifts his head to look at the wheel. He laughs and lets his head fall back. “Definitely worth almost dying for.” He accepts the alcohol and sips. It hurts to swallow. “Ow.”

*Looses herself in thought. Drinking here and there she gets up and walks around the wheel. Examining the construction, admiring the mechanics. She has never felt more fond of a single object in her life. After a few minutes she joins Julian again.* Can't you heal yourself more?

“I can try,” Julian replies. He places his hand over his forehead and recites a healing spell under his breath. The wound on his forehead closes, and he looks to be a little less in pain. “I think I should save the rest of the pool,” he says. “In case we’re followed.”

*Nods her head in understanding. She climbs on top of the wheel and draps herself, comfortably in the top.* I'll keep watch, get some rest. Once you're feeling better we can keep putting more distance between us and them. I'd say let Bav come out, but he can't heal you- so you're gonna have to suffer with this bro.

“I don’t *want* Bav to come out,” Julian replies. He weakly pulls himself into the shade of a nearby tree. “The blackouts aren’t exactly fun, Av.”

*Shrugs* But at least you wouldn't be in pain. Oh well, doesn't matter anyway. Sleep Julian. I've got this.

Frowning, Julian shuts his eyes. After a moment, he relaxes, and another moment later, he’s asleep.

*After several hours, Lilith takes out a hard roll from her pack and with the deadly accuracy of a sharp shooter-nails Julian in the head with it.*
Alrighty Jules, wake up sleeping beauty.