The Lotus Flower

Welcome back, adventurer! Our journey through Kena'an continues, and I'm thrilled to have you here for the next chapter, following the story from our very first Clover Hunt! In that adventure, you made a choice- one that ensured the mysterious trinket you found remained in your hands instead of entrusting it to the ever-persistent Pipwick. . But was it the right decision? That answer lies ahead.
At the end of each adventure like this, I’ll present you with a question, and I can’t wait to hear your decision! Be sure to share your choice in the comments, as the option with the most votes will influence the direction of future adventures and could even become part of Kena’an’s official lore.

If you haven't experienced the first adventure yet, be sure to check it out by following the article block below to catch up on the story and see how it all began!

A Strange Dream

The warmth of the Clover Festival still lingers in your mind as you drift into sleep. Your dreams are unusually vivid- filled with golden laughter, twinkling lights, and the scent of wildflowers. A soft melody, both familiar and strange, weaves through your thoughts like a lullaby carried by the wind. A profound sense of calm washes over you. Here, in this dreamscape, you are not a mere spectator- you can shape the dream however you wish.

What do you choose to dream about?

A vast library, with thousands of stories all for yourself

You find yourself in an enormous library, the walls stretching higher than your eyes can see, and shelves upon shelves filled with countless books. The smell of parchment and ink fills the air, and each book seems to hum with a story just waiting to be told. You reach out, knowing that every word is a treasure, ready to be discovered at your fingertips.

A big table with all the people you love, full of food and joy

You’re surrounded by the people you cherish the most. A long table, laden with food, stretches before you. Laughter fills the air as stories are shared and old memories are brought to life again. The warmth of love and joy is palpable, and you feel an overwhelming sense of belonging, of home.

A shimmering lake in the mountains, beautiful nature and serenity

A peaceful lake stretches before you, its surface reflecting the clear blue sky and surrounding greenery. Birds sing softly, and a gentle breeze stirs the trees. The world here feels so tranquil, so at ease, that for a moment you feel as though you could remain here forever, simply existing in the serene beauty of nature.

It’s a pleasant dream, one that leaves a sense of peace lingering in your chest.

But when you wake, that warmth is gone. Instead of your cozy bed in Brighthollow, you find yourself lying on a bed of moss, deep within the heart of the forest. Moonlight filters through the canopy in dappled patches, and the air hums with something unseen; something alive that has its eyes set on you. That's when you first notice it.

The trinket in your pocket hums and is warm to the touch.

A Night in the Forest

As you rise from the wet moss, the chill of the earth still lingers on your skin and your eyes slowly adjust to the low, silvery light. For a moment, you think you're still dreaming, but the unmistakable scent of pine and damp soil tells you otherwise. This is the forest of Brighthollow- your childhood forest. Yet, something about it feels... different. Larger, perhaps, and more alive than you remember. The trees stretch impossibly high into the night, their leaves rustling with secrets. The air is cool and crisp, refreshing, but also strangely heavy with magic. A quiet hum resonates from the trinket you carry, its rhythm steady but urgent, almost as though it is trying to speak to you, to guide you.

You have no recollection of how you ended up here. The forest feels both familiar and foreign, an enigma wrapped in the blanket of night. The way forward is unclear, but you sense the presence of three distinct paths, each calling to you with a pull you can’t quite explain.

Which path do you choose?

Tiny luminescent fungi sprout along the ground, forming an ethereal trail that seems to shift and twist whenever you look away. They pulse gently in the darkness, their soft light beckoning you deeper into the unknown. The path feels alive, as if it responds to your every thought and movement.

Walk the mushroom path

The fungi pulse gently, casting a soft, eerie glow that winds deeper into the trees. The air grows thick, as if the world itself is holding its breath. As you walk, the path twists unnaturally, making it hard to tell if you're moving forward or back. Then, just as unease begins to settle in, you see it- a clearing with a strange stone, its surface shifting like water in the moonlight. A small socket is carved into it, perfectly shaped for the trinket in your pocket.

The towering trees around you seem almost sculpted for climbing. Deep grooves in the bark fit your hands and feet perfectly, as if the trees themselves are inviting you to scale their heights. From above, perhaps you could glimpse the forest’s hidden secrets, uncovering what lies beyond the veil of the forest floor.

Climb the trees

The bark is rough beneath your hands as you ascend, the wind carrying faint whispers between the leaves. Higher and higher you climb until you reach a sturdy branch- and see it. A small clearing, hidden deep in the woods, bathed in silver moonlight. At its center, a weathered stone glows faintly, carved with twisting letters. Even from this distance, you sense something important about it. You climb down, making your way toward it, and find at its base a hollowed-out socket, waiting.

A figure emerges from the shadows, its form tall and graceful—an elegant deer with eyes that gleam like liquid gold. It watches you intently, unblinking, before turning with a purposeful air, stepping gracefully into the undergrowth. There’s something deliberate in its movements, as though it wants you to follow, to see where it leads.

Follow the deer

The deer’s eyes lock onto yours before it turns, moving gracefully through the undergrowth. Its presence is calming, its movements almost deliberate- as if it wants you to follow. You do, weaving through the trees until the creature halts at the edge of a hidden glade. Then, without a sound, it vanishes, leaving only a circle of strange, fragrant flowers surrounding a smooth stone tablet. Its inscription shifts as though alive, and at its base, a socket waits for something to be placed inside.

You step cautiously toward the stone, feeling the pull of the socket as though it is drawing you in. The trinket in your pocket hums louder now, its rhythm unmistakably quicker, like a heartbeat. The hum is no longer just a sound; it’s becoming a melody, sweet and resonant. The air around you vibrates, and you feel a strange warmth emanating from the stone.

Suddenly, with a gentle leap, the trinket slips from your hand, its glow intensifying as it floats toward the stone, guided by some unseen force. It lands softly in the socket, fitting perfectly. Moments later, you see the small thing absorbed by the stone, leaving behind only an engraved lotus flower. As it does, the letters on the stone begin to shift and twist like liquid, reforming into a new phrase you can now understand:

“Hope is the light in the darkened world. Seek it, and it shall guide you.”

A New Visitor

Before you can process what has just happened, a soft rustling sound comes from behind the stone. You turn, and there, emerging from the shadows, is a tiny creature; pixie-like, with delicate wings that shimmer like moonlight on water. It is no taller than your palm, with a glowing aura around it, and an expression of pure joy. The creature giggles and flutters around you, its laughter like the tinkling of bells.

"Well, well, well! Look who’s gone and freed me!" the fae’s voice sings, light and musical with a playful, teasing tone. "Aren’t you just a clever little thing, hm? This old trinket was such a bother, stuck to me like a stubborn leaf! I've been waiting forever for someone like you to come along!" The fae twirls in the air, its wings beating softly like a butterfly's, before hovering in front of you, smiling from ear to ear.

The creature bows low before you, its wings fluttering rapidly. "But where are my manners? Here, I’ve got a little something for you. Consider it a gift, a token of my... undying gratitude, born from your heart's desire. I’m sure it’ll eventually prove useful to you, so keep it close, right?"

It holds out its hand, and out of no where you see a glowing object hovering over its palm. The item hums with energy, and the most surprising thing is that it’s a perfect reflection of your dream.

What was the dream that brought you here?

The Library

The fae presents you with an ornate key made of silver, etched with symbols of knowledge and learning. "This will unlock secrets hidden deep within the world, waiting to be discovered."

The Feast

The fae offers you a small vial filled with glowing golden liquid. "This will heal wounds and restore you, filling your heart with warmth when you are weary."

The Lake

The fae hands you a delicate, shimmering stone. "This stone will calm your mind and spirit, helping you find peace in the most chaotic of times."

The Fae's Proposal

The ground behind you suddenly trembles, as though the earth itself is waking. Slowly, a path begins to materialize, flickering like a distant, wavering lantern. Through the shimmer, you can just make out the outline of Brighthollow, as if viewed through a pane of glass, distant and elusive.

“Well... now that you’ve got your prize,” the fae says, its voice sweet and a touch coaxing, “I’m sure you're itching to return home, right? Back to Brighthollow, to the comfort of the familiar. It’s only natural! I understand completely.” The fae gestures to the shimmering path behind you, a smile tugging at its lips. “This path leads straight back to where you belong. You can forget all about me, just head home, and go back to your life.”

It pauses, eyes narrowing playfully, wings fluttering. “But… if there’s a spark of kindness in that heart of yours…” It flutters a little closer, its voice turning almost pleading. “Maybe you’ll think about helping me just a bit more.”

The fae glances around nervously, its tone shifting to one of vulnerability. “You see... I’m too small, too squishy, to face the forest on my own. This place is big, and dangerous, and full of things that would like a tiny creature like me for lunch. But you…” It pauses for effect, then beams up at you. “Well, you’re certainly big enough to help. I’m certain you’ll make a fine escort, and I’d be terribly grateful.”

The fae hovers, wings shimmering in the soft light. “I need to reach the fae queen’s court. She’s been waiting for... a very long time for my return. I will warn you though, the queen doesn’t exactly like outsiders, especially not ones who are not fae. It would not be easy, but I promise I’ll make it worth your while.”

This is your final choice adventurer. The one that will decide what happens next: Will you return to your home or will you help the little fae reach its own?