As an entirely evil smile crossed his face, Hougan began mentally casting his personal buffs. None of them were anything special, just luck, and range buffs. His plan was rather simple and thus didn't need anything else.
However, while Hougan remained silent up on his makeshift stage, Elves with staunch loyalty to their mother, noticed that something wasn't right. As a result, they all started humming the wonderful lullaby left behind by their mother. Everyone knew that this particular lullaby held power, they didn't know what kind of power, only that it was there, clear as day. In their minds they sang the words for extra effect, and some even whispered it in a soft voice in their attempt to protect their newborns.
Hougan, having finished his preparations, calmed his smile and relaxed, his aura expanded and shifted. The moment he did this, the handful of elves that had been slow on the uptick, instantly fell into a hypnotic trance. The other elves had resisted the trance, with a handful having a complete immunity towards it.
"That evil woman, she's a dark elf! And is not fit to rule over anyone. She will only lead you astray." Hougan's words spread out through the crowd, and even still they didn't have nearly the desired effect. Huh? I guess a simple speech won't be enough to change their minds. "I am the one true father of the elves, a high elf turned god! Put your faith in me and I'll show you to the promised land, and a better future."
The elves who'd fallen to the trance, cheered. With each of their voices jabbing into Night Silver's heart. She cried from afar, seeing how her people were being attacked in the worst way.
The elves who'd been smart enough to activate the lullaby's power, had not only been protected by their mother's power but gave her a direct visual of what was happening. Her anger flowed like coursing currents, her rage boiled like fields of active volcanoes. Elsewhere, a volcano erupted, slowly creating an island. The world was responding to her anger.
Her children, they could feel themselves connected with her, a euphoric feeling like being wrapped into her embrace. Their only thoughts were of apologies, and pleas that needed no words.
"Mother, you'll still welcome us home to your arms? This man… He is our enemy."
"Children, those of you who called for me, make your way home to me. I'll accept all of you home with a bath, hug, and a kiss."
The elves, feeling as though their previous betrayal of their mother had been forgiven, cried. And thus they decided to do just what she said.
Hougan on the other hand, saw a different sight. He looked out to see a flood of elves crying into their hands, their loved ones, or even just to the sky. Heh, that bitch never stood a chance against this method. Perfect! With this many of her babies changed sides. She'll never get away with killing me. Hougan turned to leave the stage, internally laughing at Night Silver's weakness.
An hour later, the elves who'd been unaffected by Hougan's horrible actions, finished their preparations to leave. They felt a pull towards certain locations throughout the small city. With them, they brought nothing but the few minor necessities to keep caring for themselves on the trip they'd soon embark upon.
"I don't see everyone from my village…"
"I don't either. This means only one thing."
"They fell victim to the evil god's charms. And thus failed Mother's minimum requirements…"
"Wrong, they didn't fail her requirements. They actively betrayed her. All of us here used the lullaby to protect ourselves. They're the ones who didn't do that even in the obvious signs of danger."
"That's right, they turned their backs on Mother. They deserve what they'll get from now on."
"How dare they turn their backs on her like that. Never again. Let us return to her arms together."
Each of the gathering locations the elves were drawn to, were each making their final arrangements to leave. Many wielded weapons for protection in this dangerous world. However, instead of leaving, a weird doorway of sorts appeared before them. It flickered with a familiarly comforting energy.
"Is that-"
"Come home my children."
"It's mother's power, she's delivering us to safety… My brothers, my sisters… let us beg our mother for her forgiveness together."
The elves vanished into the flickering portal. This happened in several dozen locations around the small city. All at once, the elves, desperate for their mother, vanished from Hougan's lies and oppression. And the best part was, it happened all under his nose.
The elves that remained, slept soundly, feeling like nothing changed. They turned their backs on their mother twice now. Yet had the audacity to sleep soundly like that. This city would soon never have it easy.
On a rather important looking stone monument, a powerful energy carved words. Once they were read by Hougan, or any of his bloodline, or even followers, they'd unknowingly give up their protection granted to them by their true mother, Night Silver.
~ Tus Nadair ~
A wide, open air bath, with no divisors was the first sight that the elves returning home witnessed. Around the bath were several ladies of elven descent, some had gifts of clothes ready for everyone, some were naked, wading into the bath, and others were clearly ready to nurse and handle infant & young children's care.
In the center of this bath were 3 women, one stood atop the bath's surface, her perfect figure radiant in the moonlight. The other two were clearly younger than the other woman, But were of moderate maturity, each boasting a similar figure to the woman in the center. There were 2 young men to their sides as well, each boasted a body that would both inspire, and induce jealousy in young men.
"Tonight, we welcome home my lost children. Come, and take a bath with your mother, and be welcomed home. Strip down your old life's clothes, and join me."
The ladies on the side of the bath took hold of the baby's, taking care of feeding and washing them. After all, everyone needs to be welcomed home by the mother, which will not be easy to do while taking care of their own child.