The Night the Forest Walks - 13/12/2022 - Archie’s Extracts
Dec 18, 2022 18:48:16 GMT
Velania Kalugina and Derthaad like this
Post by Andy D on Dec 18, 2022 18:48:16 GMT
On Taking Juniper - my Awakened Shrub Assistant - to the Feythorn for a Party
A group of us had all received invites to a party held by an individual by the name of, Hypothalmus Grey, on behalf of Silvanus - a god. I took the invite to Mendal, my long time cleric friend, on the chance he might enlighten me on why a god was inviting me to a party. Mendal said that the time Kavel met Selune was a one off, and I wasn’t meeting Silvanus, at best Silvanus would ‘move in mysterious ways’. “Well done on the invite mate, but this is just self-serving god shit. Still, it’s a party, so it should be fun!” - these were the words of a ‘cleric’.
Given the nature of the god in question, I decided to take Juniper, my awakened shrub, wizard assistant with me. She’s never been to a forest, and a forest party sounded like an especially good treat for her.
I walked to the rendez-vous spot in the Feythorn Forest accompanied by Kavel's frequent adventuring partner, Sergeant Derthaad of the City Watch - a blue scaled dragonborn sorcerer, and we were joined by The Great Drake, a mysterious adventurer, magically gifted, and in spite of the mask, it appeared TGD was an aarakocra.
We were eventually joined by Amble, fellow wizard, gnome accompanied on his mount, the mastiff, Stiify. Accompanying him was Sterling, the halfling artificer - prickly individual.
On Meeting Sentient Fungi
It was dark by the time we all met in the forest and we were not given a specific address or route to follow. I was worried I was about to disappoint Juniper, but then we saw a strange florescent light in the undergrowth. It was a line of mushrooms that glowed, led by a slightly larger mushroom. Amble casted the Speak with Plants spell to communicate with the sentient fungi. It turned out they were on their way to the same party as us, and knew the way! Although, they were moving terribly slow if they were to reach the party on time. So, we volunteered to carry them. We looked like fancy Christmas trees with the glowing mushrooms balanced on our shoulders.
On Perils in a Dark Forest
Despite our acquired, luminescent companions lighting the way for us, the ground was still dark and treacherous. TGD and Amble (on Stiffy) fell down a slope into the mouth of a cave. Amble - from whom I learnt the Feather Fall spell - casted Feather Fall to soften their landing. They were unharmed, but not safe just yet - the mouth of the cave was closing!
I passed down one end of my 50ft adventuring rope, guided by my telekinesis. Top side crew pulled our fallen party members back up.
Cup, the leader of the mushrooms announced that it was fortunate he and the other mushrooms on TGD, Amble and Stiffy were not crushed in the fall - not only would the impact have killed them, they are poisonous. Upon hearing that, we learned later that it was at this point that Sterling secretly popped one of the little fellas into a vial for study!
We began noticing a rhythmic bass in the ground. At the same time, Sterling was querying his captive how he knew the right way to go. Upon seeing this, we were all a little horrified with our companions' actions. I politely suggested to Sterling that Silvanus, our host, would not approve and given he is likely much bigger than us, Sterling should let his captive go. Sterling saw reason and let the poor mushroom out. Said mushroom and the other mushrooms on Sterling moved hastily from him and onto the rest of us.
On Forest Clearings and Sentient Rats
The origin of the rhythmic bass noise that we could feel in the ground was revealed to us. The clearing we entered looked fresh; tree stumps and rooted trees surrounded us, the trees discarded to the side. The trees beyond the clearing appeared to be dancing.
Upon a central, large tree stump with yellow and red flowers sprouting out around it, was a jumbo sized rat with a crown of flowers round its head and wearing a dress of woven oak leaves. This was Hypothalmus Grey.
'Thalma' showed our mushroom friends where they needed to go for their party and gave Juniper a welcoming pat on the head. Thalma was familiar with Dr Killian,the man from whom I acquired an Awakened Pot. Like most people, Thalma was not warm on the Witching Court's arcane master.
Thalma was a very good, if disinterested host. Her duties to Silvanus were all part of some penance for trying to destroy Daring Heights. She instructed us to gather leaves for a ritual to Silvanus, and then led us to an unexpected river where we threw the leaves in and announced our wishes. I asked if the Feythorn would help unlock the secrets to Human longevity.
On Forest Protectors and Unicorns
TGD wished to see the Feythorn's protector, a unicorn. But, nothing much happened after we made our wishes. The leaves we threw into the lake sank to the bottom. Although, with one exception; Sterling's leaves floated away - he wished for metal for his artillery work.
Upon returning to the clearing, festivities were under way, as the clearing was full with all manner of creatures and monstrosities enjoying themselves. There was even a unicorn, who came up to us and introduced himself telepathically. This was Narradeem, the Feythorn's protector.
Narradeem explained to me that he was 350 years old (young for a unicorn), and kindly allowed me to cast Identify on his horn, the most magical part of a unicorn. I became aware of his healing proficiencies for poison and disease. Unfortunately, without obtaining a unicorn's horn, there will be no benefit to humanity, and unicorns are rare to come by, and I would not wish to obtain a unicorn horn in an unethical manner.
On Compromising Ethics
Before we could enjoy a feast, Narradeem wished for the festivities to continue elsewhere for us adventurers. We performed… another ‘ritual’ in honour of Silvanus. The ‘ritual’ included gardening and a bonfire made from pre-used wood. Narradeem and Thalma enjoyed the fruits of our labour. No details will be written here. This is all that will be written on the matter. One hopes that it is common practice for land owners to have insurances that cover all eventualities.
On Entertaining Awakened Shrubs
Juniper had a jolly good time dancing with the luminescent mushrooms and other flora, and communicating through vibes. Celebrating Silvanus may have to be an annual event for us.
