S01E13 - Toma and the Vines

General Summary

In a forest thick enough to make even the most seasoned adventurer second-guess their life choices, the party—comprising Jared Maximus, Ashryn, Chupbacca, and Maia—found themselves grappling with animated vines that seemed to have taken a crash course in aggression, all thanks to a nasty miasma. Their mission? Track down a boy named Toma, who had bravely (or foolishly, depending on your perspective) wandered into these woods after a mysterious fire swallow, presumably looking for a friend or perhaps just some adventure.

Things kicked off with a vine-related tussle that felt eerily familiar, reminiscent of their previous encounter in the abandoned town of Willowhaven. Ashryn, ever the optimistic spellcaster, decided to take a swing at the vines with her star metal staff. Spoiler alert: it did not go well. Instead of vanquishing the animated greenery, she ended up turning her prized staff into a pile of kindling. Jared, not to be outdone, retrieved his sword but quickly found himself ensnared, feeling like a fly caught in a particularly angry spider’s web.

Just when it seemed like the party was about to become a salad for the vines, Maia swooped in with a revelation: these vines were not just aggressive; they were corrupted and could be purged with a little bit of purifying magic. Chupbacca, ever the supportive ally, took a moment to pray for protection, granting the group a much-needed breather. With a new plan in mind, Maia tapped into her witch mark, aiming to connect with the miasma and, hopefully, rid the vines of their foul influence. Despite a few hiccups in her power channeling—think of it as trying to tune a radio while wrestling an octopus—Maia managed to purify the miasma, causing the vines to retreat and freeing Jared from their clutches.

With the forest finally quiet, the group resumed their search for Toma, following the tracks left in the snow like breadcrumbs leading to a fairy tale gone awry. They soon found Toma, unconscious and looking like he’d had a rough night between two trees, his appearance marred by the miasma. When he woke up, he sported a glowing eye surrounded by dark tendrils of miasma, which, rather unsettlingly, communicated a desire for peace. The party was left to ponder the implications of Toma’s new look and the miasma’s hold over him. Chupbacca suggested they seek help from holy folks back in town, a plan that Jared backed, albeit with some concern about the potential fallout of returning Toma to his mother.

Upon their return to Hi Glade, the festive atmosphere felt more like a lead balloon, weighed down by anxiety over Toma’s transformation. Jared, sporting injuries from his vine encounter, used his sword as a makeshift cane—talk about making a fashion statement. When they met Toma’s parents, Jared carefully explained the situation, recounting Toma’s misadventures and the unfortunate changes he’d undergone. Toma’s father struggled to wrap his head around the new reality, while his mother clung to hope like a lifebuoy in a storm.

The party decided to keep Toma close for observation, with Ashryn planning to share her findings with local magic practitioners. As they discussed Toma’s condition, the conversation took a philosophical turn, diving into the nature of mortality and existence itself. Toma, now a living enigma, engaged in deep discussions about his new life, prompting the others to reflect on their own beliefs and relationships—because why not throw a little existential crisis into the mix?

Throughout their journey back, the miasma within Toma began communicating with Jared, expressing curiosity about humans and its own existence, which is a pretty big conversation starter. The group found themselves navigating a dialogue about trust and vulnerability, exploring the intricacies of their unusual predicament. With Jared’s past encounters with hostile miasma entities lurking in the back of his mind like a bad memory, they decided to head to the estate to learn more about Toma and keep a watchful eye on the miasma. After all, who wouldn’t want to keep an eye on a potentially sentient cloud of corruption?

Steward’s Log — Incident Report, Miasma-Linked Boy

The companions—Lord Jared Maximus, Lady Ashryn, Chupbacca, and the witch Maia—proceeded into the Thornbrush perimeter woods after the disappearance of young Toma. The child had apparently chased a “fire swallow,” which, if memory serves, coincides with a prior tale of omen-bearing creatures during the Swallow Year. Whether the boy acted out of courage or idiocy remains a matter for the gods.

Within the forest’s increasingly compromised edge, the group encountered animated, miasma-corrupted vines. These were not simple flora; they moved with malevolent intent, echoing the behaviors of similar growths once documented in the lost village of Willowhaven. Lady Ashryn attempted to repel them with her star-metal staff, which regrettably did not survive the exchange—its destruction more a result of miscalculation than malice. Lord Jared, ever at the vanguard, was soon entangled in the vines’ grasp, his weapon retrieved but himself ensnared like a bird in a bramble trap.

Lady Maia, to her credit, deduced the nature of the corruption and acted with clarity. Drawing upon her mark—one I suspect none of us fully comprehend—she reached into the miasma’s essence. Her efforts, though not without strain, succeeded in purifying the corruption, prompting the vines to recoil. Chupbacca contributed his own warding magic in the moment, providing the group with the breathing room required to act decisively. Lord Jared was freed without permanent injury, though he emerged looking far from victorious.

Tracking resumed, with the party following Toma’s trail deeper into the wilds. He was found unconscious between two trees, altered. Veins darkened, one eye aglow, and tendrils of the miasma creeping beneath his skin like roots beneath a pond. Upon waking, the boy displayed not fear nor madness—but spoke words of peace, though the voice may not have been wholly his own. The implications of this are not mine to weigh, but I advise caution when peace comes wearing another’s face.

Lord Jared chose to return to Highglade, a decision I concur with, though I question the wisdom of delivering a half-transformed boy to grieving parents without warning. Still, he bore the weight of the conversation, leaning on his sword in lieu of a proper cane. The child’s father appeared unready for the truth; the mother, admirably, clung to hope.

The party has determined that Toma will remain under their observation. Lady Ashryn intends to confer with local practitioners of the arcane arts, and perhaps gain insight into the boy’s altered state. Philosophical dialogue ensued thereafter—on life, death, and the strange place between. I will not recount the finer points here. I’ve always believed that when people start speaking in riddles about mortality, it’s a sign they’ve stayed in the woods too long.

Toma remains stable. The miasma watches, perhaps through him. Whether he is a conduit, a casualty, or something new entirely, time will reveal. Until then, I shall ensure the manor is stocked with salt, sage, and rope—not because I believe in every superstition, but because one can’t run a proper estate on hope alone.

—G.H.
Steward of Thornbrush Manor