Silverbranch, check in, distance and time
Subject Location
"Watch out for trouble," Salix says to the group. "I'm going to check this out. Mund, come with me." Salix will approach the tree the voice seems to be coming from. When he gets closer he will say "We are friends. We have come to help the forest. What has happened here? What can you tell me?"
(OOC - I'm a little confused about where everyone is and what we are doing. Also, where are we in relation to the area where we fought the swarm. Also, can I get a knowledge check? If this *is* what Salix suspects, what does he know about it and is there anything he can do to help it?)
From: Mark
Subject Location
Everyone is within the 10 foot circle of protection around Ragnar. They are about 40 feet from the north edge of the clearing. This is the area where the swarm came out of the woods.
I will let Karl know what Salix knows.
From: Mark
Subject Silverbranch
Mund and Salix slowly leave the area of protection and move towards the edge of the woods. When they get there they can see that the tree has eyes. In repsonse to Salix's questions a knot hole on the side of the tree opens and the voice rings out.
"What has happened?" The anguish in the voice is palpable. "They have killed the forest. Not just the trees but everything. The grass, the birds, the creatures that crawl in the ground. All dead." The creature starts making noises again that sounds like branches breaking.
After a few minutes of this the creature finally gathers itself again. "I am "and it lets out a long, raspy series of sounds, "but am known to the druids as Silverbranch. I am a guardian of the forest." At this statement he starts cursing and mumbling to himself. Salix recognizes the language as the language of the forest and is shocked by the words the creature is using. He is even more shocked to hear that Silverbranch is refering to himself.
From: Karl
Subject Silverbranch
"Do you know who had done this?" Salix asks.
From: Mark
Subject Silverbranch
The anger in his response suprises Salix. "Bodentown. Those filthy, fire loving, wood burning savages. We should have awakened the forest and torn down the city when we had the chance. But Gnarlbranch said we could wait this out, just as we have done in the past. But this time was different. Usually they would just come into the woods and cut some trees. A loss but nothing that time could not fix. Eventually, with the help of the druids we would reach an agreement and the cutting would stop."
"But not this time. This time the druids went to negotiate but never came back. The cutting continued. And then something new. We would go to plant seedlings in the areas they had abandoned but the ground was dead. Then the moot gathered and it was decided to remove the interlopers. Many of us went but none come back. Even Gnarlbranch did not return. I have been wandering the forest since them, avoiding the evil that has come."
From: Karl
Subject Silverbranch
Salix was alarmed at this new. If so many had gone to investigate this problem and none had returned, how could their small party hope to defeat this evil? He said a quick prayer in his head to Obad-Hai asking his protection and guidance.
"Silverbranch," Salix said. "You have been wise to avoid this evil. We have not heard from any of the druids that went to negotiate, and even the Stormfather has gone missing. I am Salix, Wealdward of the Great North Woods, and my party and I are here to help.
"Is there anything else you can tell us about the nature of this evil?"
(OOC - I'm betting not, so assuming the answer is "no", Salix will ask. . . /OOC)
"Our council has not heard anything from any of the druid parties sent to investigate and does not even know if we have arrived safely. Can you get to a safer part of the forest and send word somehow to the council at the main druid grove that we have arrived and are alive and investigating this evil? Also, please tell them all that you know about this situation as well? If you can get to safety and send this message, stay there. We will send word to you as soon as we are able. Perhaps you can encourage the treants farther in to take actions to at least keep this evil from spreading further."
He will say to the group, "There is nothing I can do here. We should get to Boddentown with all haste. We need to see if we can learn the nature of this evil and why it has taken hold of the forest like this."
From: Mark
Subject Silverbranch
"I know very little about it. It seems to seep into the woods, like an infection. Can you not feel it all about you?"
The creature takes a step towards Salix and Mund. It's leg looks like a tree stump with roots for toes. "You are here to help? Thank the One Tree. Be careful. The evil is not in Bodden town itself, but that is where you must go, I think. Boddentown is also but a sympton of this. They have always been cavalier with the forest but never cruel and wanton on this level. Things started soon after the new "Mayor" took office. Soon after that is when this started."
"I was commanded to stay here, but will do as you say. I fear I will die if I spend too much more time in this area. Already my leaves have all fallen out and I am afraid that too much damage has been done. I will do what I can to report to the druids."
"One last thing. Beware the forest. All is dead here, but there are things out there, that are alive. The evil things of the forest that we and the druids kept in check. They are free to roam now. Head to Bodentown with all haste. The woods are not safe."
From: Karl
Subject Silverbranch
That's it then. Let's book it to Bodentown!
From: Mark
Subject Check in
I would like a check in from everyone before the party moves on. Anything else you want to ask or do before you leave.
From: Kevin
Subject Distance and time
Would the group have been told approximately how far Bodentown is from the grove they appeared at? Do we have an idea of how long the trip would have taken normally?
From: Mark
Subject Distance and time
The town itself is about 12 miles from the grove. The edge of the forest is about 6 miles away.
From: Randy
Subject Check in
Ranthir nods in acknowledgment and readys himself for the march to the town.
From: Derek
Subject check in
Allistair nods with agreement that they need to get to the town with all due haste. Allistair especially used up most of his powerful spells in that encounter (needlessly, perhaps) and needs to rest and recover, which they probably can't do out in these 'evil' woods.
Mund is also in agreement. "What 'er we waitin' for? Let's get goin!"
From: Jason
Subject Check in
Other than healing and trying to cover his shield again, Ragnar is ready to go. Like Allistair, he's used many of his powerful blessings already, and hopes to have the chance to rest before anything else happens.
From: Jason
Subject Check in
Oh, and Ragnar is willing to use his 0 level blessing Mending to patch up his shield's cover if that's necessary.