The Council
Subject The Council
After so long in the saddle many of the party want to luxuriate in the warm water and the clean feeling they get bathing. Soreness seems to flow out of aching bones and sore muscles like water flowing out of a pitcher. Even Ragnar, whose fondness for swimming is only second to his fondness of horse back riding, takes a turn washing in the shallow end of the pool. However, Salix keeps them from taking too long and with in the hour the last of them are drying off and putting on the white robes. Just as Ragnar, the last one to finish, is adjusting his robe the MountainFather steps into the tent. He speaks with out hesitation "The Council is assembled. We must go." Mund is a bit surprised at the druids timing "How did you know we were all done?" Salix answers "A little bird told him" and then the two druids burst out in a fit of laughter. The rest of the party look at each other, not comprehending.
After a few seconds the two druids get control of themselves and notice the others staring at them. Salix blushes a little "Old druid joke. Sorry about that." The older druid slap Salix on the back, and his arm across his shoulder guides him out of the tent, talking to the younger druid as they go. The others look at each other and quickly follow the two. The MountainFather leads the party to a path that winds its way around and up the hill before them. The trees start thinning out even more and they can see that the top of the hill is tree free. The huge stones at the top loom as they approach the top of the hill.
The path leads around and then up to the top, coming in from the north. The stones stand almost 25 feet high in a ring around the top of the hill. There are 12 standing stones and 6 sets of stones set across others, forming an door way of sorts. The ring is almost 100 feet across. Sitting in the center of the ring are 11 men. The MountainFather leads the group through one of the stone gateways and to the center of the ring. He points to a spot several feet in front of the seated men and goes to join them. Salix motions for the others to take a seat on the ground and assumes the position himself.
One of the other druids speaks first. "Wealward Salix, I welcome you to the Druid Council. I am ForestFather Bindle and by consensus of the others, head of this Council." The greeting is very formalized and Salix recognizes it. "ForestFather, and honored druids, I come to you as requested by MountainSister Sephira and StormFather Acer. With me, as requested, I bring companions who have come willingly." Several of the druids nod favorably at this comment but a few scowl." Bindle nods. "Yes we know. Acer left a long note with us before he left and Sephira" here the druid tone takes on an odd tone " told us you were on your way here when she reported in almost two weeks ago. Then she followed after Acer."
He pauses for effect before continuing. "And we have heard nothing from either of them since they left. Some of us" he gestures to the Council "feel that we must go investigate in force. Other feel that we should heed Acer's thoughts. Acer felt that there might be something preying on the druids we sent. So far we have lost almost a dozen druids investigating whatever is going on up there and I am loathe to risk more. Acer thought that a group made up of non druids might have a better chance. You, young Salix, have had experience working with those outside of the order, so Acer thought you, and your friends, might be what was needed. Reluctantly, the Council has agreed."
He continues. "In the northern part of the Woods, beyond where most maps show, there is a town, just outside of the fringe of the forest. This town, Bodentown, is the last refuge for scoundrels and low lifes who can get to it from the Wildlands or anyplace else. They eek out a living with some trade, they do some logging, but we have kept that mainly under control. We have lived in peace with them until about a year or so ago. A new "Mayor" had been elected, it seems, and the town was getting more aggressive in it's attempts to use the woods. The the local druid started finding bad things. Animals killed. And I mean large animals, but not used for anything. Not meat, not fur, just killed and left to rot."
The local Wealward sent message and went to investigate. When we did not hear anything for two months, we sent a group of Wealward's. We never heard back from them. When we did not hear anything back from them Acer decided to go. It has now been two weeks and nothing from him. Understand, this a man who can move from one end of the forest to the other in a few hours at most. He would have been at the town with in an hour of leaving this grove. We fear the worst. And then Sephira, against orders, followed him and there has been no word from her either."
"We would ask you, Salix, and your friends to find out what is happening at Bodentown. Find the druids, if they still live and return them to us. We would warn you though, Salix, to be very careful. More than a dozen druids have been sent and disappeared. There may be something hunting druids and I fear you may be the prime target." He sighs and looks at the others. "Do you have any questions?"
OODM: Now is the time to ask questions.
From: Derek
Subject The Council
Allistair raises his hand. "Yes, Forestfather. Has any sort of divination or scrying been used to determine the what happened to any of the druids or where they might be? Also, did any of these druids send a message of any kind, regarding even the most mundane thing, after they left to go investigate Bodentown?"
From: Mark
Subject The Council
"Yes we have. We have attempted to scry on the druids sent and we see nothing. Either they are dead or warded. We have sent scouting animlas. Those that have returned report only that the town has grow substantially and that the forest around it has been abused. Most of the animals have not returned. We have only gotten messages from the druids sent to investigate telling us that they have arrived and then nothing."
From: Porter
Subject Council
"Bodentown? Woah. I hear that's a tough place. If most of druids you sent were like that joker Lantonto, then it's no surprise that they never returned. Looking down on people there will probably get you kilt right quick."
From: Mark
Subject Council
"That is part of the problem. We would not expect any of our druids to enter the city. They would be out of thier power there. We would have expected them to stay in the woods and deal with the problem from there. You have travelled a while with a Wealward. Now imagine dealing with 5 of them, in the woods. Ask Salix about the powers that the StormFather had at his command. The woods itself would wake and do his bidding if he asked. There is some power thwarting us. Of all of you party, should they all decide to go, I fear for Salix the most."
From: Porter
Subject The Council
Mund realizes the implications of what the stormlord says and quiets immediately.