As promised, Faerbol's spell has returned Tasencia to the party, albeit in a new form. Nearly frostbitten from over-exposure and devoid of any clothing, Tasencia has found them after a good deal of wandering. Her new body is about 3'6" tall and fairly fit, with curly blonde hair past her shoulders and clear green eyes. She looks nothing like her former self, but her first utterance makes it rather obvious that it is, indeed, Tasencia. halfling: (shivering) Oh, by the grand triumphs of Rao, I've found you! Greythur: (beaming, he whispers a prayer to Fharlanghn) Tas, can it be you? By the Wanderer's Beard! It's good to have you back! Ozzy: (with a shocked look) Oh boy, you've got to be kidding me! Autumn: (stares speechlessly at Tasencia for a second) Oh my. Eagle: (pointing) Hey look everyone, it's a naked halfling woman standing in the forest! Tasencia: N-naked halfling woman? (she looks about, then realizes he's pointing at _her_) Eagle: (to Tasencia) I think it's the wrong time of year to run naked through the woods. Near my village we usually only do that in the summer time-- not that I mind! Alenniel: Oh, now _that's_ discreet. Tasencia: (looking at her arms and body) Oh Rao... what has become of me?! I am a halfling! Eagle: (realizing that the naked halfling is Tascencia's new form) I think I'm going to like the new Tasencia better than the old one. Tasencia: My body is so cold. It feels like I have been wandering for days! Alenniel: Um, Tas... you look a little cold. (he grabs a blanket and gives it to her) Tasencia: (wraps the blanket around herself gratefully) Th-thank you. Ozzy: (turning to Faerbol) Is this your idea of a practical joke? (he motions towards Eagle and Ajax) It's bad enough that we have to deal with these two, but now her? You've got one sick sense of humor there Faerbol! Faerbol: (confused) I'm not sure to what you're referring. There is no joke here. Tasencia: I am so glad to see that you are all alive. (she looks about briefly) Where is the other halfling? Don't tell me he is gone! We had moments, but life is life and I must not wish harm on any of it. Ajax: (eavesdropping from his tent) Is she back?!? Tasencia?! (throws open the flaps and scrambles out) IS SHE...? Oh... my.... (he faints dead away face first in the snow) Ozzy: (putting more wood on the fire and mumbling, mostly to himself) ...man oh man.... Rimli: (cough) `Ells Tas! It's good t' 'ave ya back an' ye be a sight more attract've `en when ye left! Alenniel: Geez, give the lady some privacy! She's had a hard couple of days. (he picks up Ajax) Come on, let's find her some clothes. Ajax: (comes to as Alenniel disturbs him) Gods, what a nightmare! (he shakes his head to clear it) I dreamed that Tasencia came back, and she was like... (he turns to face the party) ...ummm, that. Autumn: (digging through her pack) I always carry an extra set of clothes with me, but I doubt they'll fit her. Ajax: (still trying to clear his head) Autumn: You okay there, Ajax? I can't be calling you the Mighty Ajax if you have fainting spells. Ajax: (oblivious to her) Clothes! Gotta have some clothes! (he dives out of Alenniel's arms and back into his tent, searching madly for some spare clothing) Tasencia: Where have I been? Greythur: That's a tough one... maybe-- Ajax: (pops out of his tent with a bundle of clothes and starts talking a league a minute) Okay, here's a tunic, and some pants... put these on-- do you want to use the tent for privacy? Silly of me! You're already naked out here, anyway! Eagle: Hey, Ajax, take it easy! There's nothing to get so worked up about. It's just Tas, but now she's a halfling. Ajax: (faints again) Tasencia: (picks up the clothes) I think I'll just get dressed in the tent, if nobody minds. (she does that thing) Autumn: I can hardly blame Ajax for reacting like that. She threw me for a loop, too. Ozzy: (nudges Ajax with his foot) C'mon, buddy. Snap out of it. Ajax: (opens his eyes and shakes his head again) Lemme guess. It wasn't a dream, was it? Eagle: Nope. Tas is back, and she's one of us. (he smiles at the thought) Tasencia: (emerges from the tent, fully dressed but still shivering) I am so confused. I am glad to be in the company of friends, though. It seems, since my last memories, we have found a new friend. (she walks up to Faerbol) I am Tasencia Calinthedera. Faerbol: Blessed be, Tasencia. I am Faerbol Caules. Your friends care about you a great deal. Tasencia: It appears that I have been raised from the dead, if my knowledge serves me correctly. As a consequence, I am forced into another body. Faerbol: More or less, yes. Through the power of the Goddess, your life essence has been transferred into another vessel. Ozzy: I'm just glad it's a vessel that can talk! Tasencia: A halfling it is. My family will be most depressed. No offense to those present of halfling nature. Ajax: You'll get used to it. Tasencia: (sighs) My parents had many goals for me as a grey elf. Ah, well, life and nature are still things I deem worthy. Faerbol: You may be in another body, but you are still yourself. That has not changed. Tasencia: Perhaps in this form, I may gain new insight and knowledge of others. Hmmmm... very interesting. Eagle: Yeah, maybe you won't give me such a hard time anymore... but I doubt it. Tasencia: I hate to be forward, looking like this, but do you still have my possessions? Ahh yes.... (as she wanders closer to her former body, a tear drops from her eye, but she stifles no more as she rises and looks upon the party) I am Tasencia. I am a seeker of knowledge. I have devoted my life to Rao. I will not be deterred from any goal in any form I may have. If you all are still accepting of my skills and advice, I greatly wish to rejoin the party I once traveled with, the party of my friends. Even you Rimli. It is a shame I can not look down upon you when you do bull-headed things. (she reaches across from her and pats him on his shoulder) Rimli: (smiles) Och! Lass, it dinna matter. Ye c'n jus' look me in th' _eye_ instead. Alenniel: Of course we want you to rejoin us! That's part of the reason we accepted Faerbol's offer to bring you back. Ozzy: Yeah, halfling or not. Besides, if you _really_ don't like being a halfling-- Ajax: Though this is unlikely. Ozzy: --I bet we can just get a mage to change you back into an Elf later. I bet whatever's inside that chest is worth enough to pay for that. (he looks at Ajax and Eagle) You two want to give it another go? Ajax: No way. I tried to pick it, and I can't. Eagle: Same here. (he shrugs) Ozzy: What, you can't pick that lock? What the heck are we going to do now? I don't think we should break the lock. No, that chest is probably worth a lot more with the lock intact. Rimli: 'Sides, lad, I nae think we _could_ break th' lock. 'Tis bloody _mithril_! Ozzy: (looking to Faerbol) Hmm, can you pick a lock? Faerbol: I'm afraid not. Eagle: (insulted) You're the all-powerful wizard. Why don't _you_ open the chest?! Ozzy: (likewise insulted) Well, well, maybe I will! I guess I'll have to do this the old-fashioned way, with magic-- once things calm down around here, that is. Tomorrow I'll memorize the spell. Tasencia: Spell? What spell? What are you talking about? Ozzy: Hey, just because you were _dead_ for a while doesn't mean the rest of us stopped living. A lot has happened, you know. Faerbol: Indeed. I am glad to see you reunited with your friend, but now I must depart. I have other matters to attend to. We will meet again. Everyone thanks Faerbol profusely, and she walks off into the woods, leaving you to your own devices.