Session Seventeen: The Druids of Ashbarrow

General Summary

- 7 of Solas -

Yarrow woke up with the young druids early in the morning and helped them with their chores. He began to cook breakfast and clean as the party began to stir. Alabaster woke himself, refreshed from the night, and began to cast Sending. He knew what he wanted to say now and that he would need to explain how sending works to Captain Baldwin.

"Twenty-five word limit to respond, try again. We've run into the tenders ,Yarrow is not one, try to get info about temple in grove."

"Ah Yes I understand, I have an audience with Gifu today. Message me again in a few hours. Best of luck with the Tenders Bard."

The party decided to stay in Ashbarrow and gather information about the grove and the temple within it. Looking around the house many of the druids here seemed low rank and doing menial chores. Cyrus and Aldous moved over to talk to one and Yarrow and Alabaster went outside to find someone of higher status.

---

Heading outside Yarrow and Alabaster saw a sea of people and animals. Druids, healers, birds, and beasts were running to and fro delivering things, farming, and crafting. In the center of town was a congregation of druids with yellow and brown armaments taking orders from two druids. One was a tall Cervan in a bright poppy red robe who was standing in front of the crowd and mainly the ones delivering orders. Behind her was a stout Luma in a pure white robe. He was nodding behind her in agreement but added nothing to the orders given.

On their way over Alabaster cast Detect Thoughts behind Yarrow. Yarrow led the charge and the group parted for him. Whispers came from the crowd about the Tola being sent from Gifu and that he was a Tender from another land. Yarrow ignored them and introduced himself to the Cervan. She sent the younger druids away to their assignments and turned to Yarrow. Without missing a beat the Tola asked about the Scorched Grove and the temple. The Cervan introduced herself as Bonda of the Summer Path and the Luma as Taru of the Winter Path and offered to talk to the two of them in private.

---

Cyrus peered around the house at the various druids. Cleaning, cooking, stacking, writing the druids seemed busy. With his keen eye for prey Cyrus found a young druid who looked unsure of himself. Cyrus approached him and Aldous stealthy cast Detect Thoughts. The Druid was named Cula and was a new druid in the Tenders. Cyrus asked him about the town and the Mapach was eager to help. They learned that the big tree in town housed the great library and in the back of the great library was where Gifu lived. Aldous read the Mapach's mind and all of his thoughts were about helping and being useful. With that information the two left and began to plan on what to do to get into Gifu's living quarters or to different parts of the library.

---

Yarrow and Alabaster meanwhile talked with Bonda and Taru. Bonda told them of their hardships surrounding the grove and the trouble with the bandits and the lack of communication lately. Alabaster pressed her for more details about the grove while Yarrow suggested that they use burrowing animals to deliver messages. Bonda explained that the scorched grove was frightfully dangerous. Creatures touched by flame and madness, fire rain, petrified trees and creatures, and the fires themselves feel as thought they are alive and malevolent. The temple was underground and protected by spells and traps to remain hidden. There used to be druids there but when the fires spread the area was lost. Anything else she did not know as her focus is the grove and regrowing it and not the temple within the grove. Alabaster focused his detection on her and all her thoughts ringed with her words. She was telling the truth and seemed to genuinely want to help them.

Bonda then turned to Yarrow and asked him about his antlers. She informed him that Gifu Dustclaw the head of the Tenders was a Gallus with long antlers like that of a Cervan. Some Cervan when they have survived a traumatic experience are gifted and cursed by Cairith, the Resolute. They grow long antlers and are given visions of that which is yet to come to help others around them. Gifu is said to be gifted in this way. He also has claimed to have met the Spirit of the White Stag and been charged with saving the forest. Yarrow told her of his ties with the White Stag and his charge to stop the Calamities as well as the Seed of the Darkbringer. Bonda and Taru looked concerned at these revelations but none the less stayed calm. Bonda informed them that if they wished to travel to the grove that they should go to the library for information and visit Tanca Whitedust in town to grab some potions to help protect them from the fires.

---

Cyrus and Aldous made their way into the library. Aldous began to look around the room as Cyrus looked at the people. The library was in the largest and oldest tree in Ashbarrow. It towered over the town, the top of it petrified as it erected above the town's protective barrier. The library had several floors built into the tree. Each one was smaller than the last and only the first floor was open to everyone. The floor was open and large, bookcases and desks everywhere as well as animals and people.

Cyrus found his way to a corner and saw a young druid reading a book with a bit of secrecy, Botany and the life cycle of the Orchid. Sneaking over he saw the young man holding a card with spaces punched out of it. The card covered most of the words save for some which seemed to be reading an elicit story of some sort. Cyrus walked by and brushed against the young Strig who immediately panicked. Cyrus winked and said he also enjoyed the book making the Strig grab his card and run from the library.

Aldous made his way around the walls. In the back were two large doors mimicking the ones to get into the library. Next to the doors was a Vulpin in robes and blue armaments writing at a desk. Several books were piled on the desk about the Healer's guild and their histories. Aldous went to the door and tried to open it.

"What are you doing?! Those are Gifu's quarters!"

The druid stood up and hit away Aldous' hand. Cyrus ran over and began to spin a tale about the Corvum being senile and unsure of where he was. Leaning into this Aldous sputtered around for a minute and then began to walk away.

The two met up with Alabaster and Yarrow who were also on their way to the library. Aldous told them that they needed to get beyond that door as it was the door to Gifu's quarters. Yarrow nodded and hopped up to the door and tried to enter. The Vulpin quickly stood up and looked at Yarrow and then to his antler's with confusion.

"Uh, I, um." The Vulpin was sputtering a bit confused. Yarrow turned and smiled.
"Can I be let in please?" He said taking the Vulpin off guard.
"Well, no these are Gifu's quarters." He said in an uptone. Yarrow smiled and nodded. "Exactly."
The Vulpin thought for a moment and then asked, "What's the passcode. So I know that it's really you?" Yarrow began to panic a little. Alabaster nudged Aldous as they sat behind a nearby bookcase and watched. Alabaster cast Detect Thoughts and focused on the Vulpin. 'There is no passcode. This is so strange. Why did he just not enter? Why is he a Tola?' Alabaster whispered to Aldous to use Message on Yarrow and to told him.
"There is no passcode. This is Aldous Brackshaw and you can respond to this message."
"There is none." Yarrow said gleefully. The Vulpin looked at his feet for a moment and then asked, "What is my name?" After a few seconds Yarrow looked at him with an eyebrow raised. "Loni that's a terrible question. Lots of people know your name."
"W-well, How was your trip?" Loni stuttered unsure of himself.
"What do you think? Druids are going missing, the fires are spreading, and people in black armor are attacking innocents outside of town." The Tola was trying to be a bit indignant but he had to choose his words carefully.
"Oh, I didn't know that." Loni looked down, his face contorted in confusion and worry.
"Plus we have to worry about the Seed of the Darkbringer." Yarrow said closing his eyes. "W-WHAT IS THAT?" Loni exclaimed obviously overwhelmed. "Exactly." Yarrow replied.

The guard was now sufficiently distracted and Aldous reached for Cyrus. The Dancer cast Invisibility on him and then he used the The Bellows of Dissolving Mist to turn himself into smoke. The Bellows fell from his claws as he cast and fell to the ground with a loud thud. Startled, some of the druids in blue armaments came over to the back of the library as Aldous floated into Gifu's room as an invisible cloud.

Inside Gifu's room Aldous changed back into meat and grabbed a fabric from his bag. He placed it under the door as to not alert anyone and then cast Light on his walking staff. The room lit up and before him was a large meeting area and living space. A large ornate circular rug adorned the floor covering most of the space. A large meeting table was in the middle of the room with chairs. Along the west wall hung five staves and a space for another. A pair of boots underneath the staves pointed to the chest in the corner. In the back west corner was a gargantuan bed and a dresser. Along the east wall was bookcases filled with scrolls and ancient looking texts. A writing desk was in the back east corner.

Aldous took a moment and turned on his Eldritch Sight. The room lit up with magic. The staves had swirling energies around them as did the boots and the chest. The writing desk was giving off a concentrated magical force and the air in the room was thick with magic creating almost a fog. Aldous went over to the bookcases and not seeing any signs of abjuration magic protecting them he began to read.

---

Cyrus and Alabaster panicked and went to pick up books. Alabaster picked up a story book about heroes of old and Cyrus went to pick up the book he saw the Strig reading earlier. Inside he saw a small missive in the beginning of the author thanking their loyal readers.

"Thank you to everyone for your enthusiastic support. I hope to bring a little passion to everyone with the helps of my patron and my deliverers. Once you are done with this story bring it somewhere where it can be shared. Soon our work will spread across the world, all it takes is a little planting.

~Meni"

Two druids came and confronted Alabaster and Cyrus. The two denied any wrongdoing and when they looked over at Yarrow talking with Loni they decided to leave and to go get one of the elders.

In the room Aldous found scrolls and books on many topics. The elementals planes, the ashen temple, the scorched grove and so on. Looking around he decided that this would be a good time to cast Elevated Sight as a ritual. He got out his ashen tome and began the spell so he could get a better view of the library above.

"Exactly? Why are you in that form?" Loni asked the Tola growing increasingly concerned. Yarrow sat silent for a moment and pondered.
"If Gifu were to return, in broad daylight, when thieves and bandits are looking to hurt the druids. Wouldn't you be worried that the bandits would attack them to take out the leader of the Tenders?" Loni looked off absolutely taken aback by the question.
As he pondered Taru entered the library. Alabaster and Cyrus went back to their books. Taru made it a ways in and looked to be headed to Yarrow in the back of the library when Alabaster waved to him. One of the druids in blue tugged at Taru's sleeve. "Those are the ones causing the ruckus Elder Taru." Taru smiled and nodded.
"Yes, I can see that. Are you enjoying the library Alabaster?" Taru said warmly. Alabaster nodded. "Yes of course. Lots of fun stories to learn about." Taru looked over to the Tola talking with Loni.
"Yarrow making some friends as well it seems." Alabaster rolled his eyes. "He makes friends with everyone if he can." Taru laughed and made his way out waiving the two younger druids away. As he left his eye caught Cyrus down the way. He waved and moved forward.
"You must be Cyrus. Your friends told me of you," Taru reached a claw and put in on the book Cyrus was holding, a card with holes cut out of it slipped down the page and into the Vulpin's paw. "I see you have good taste. Enjoy." The Luma turned and started to walk out of the library.
Meanwhile Yarrow was beginning to get anxious. "Why maintain your horns then? Doesn't that break your disguise?" Loni asked pointedly. Yarrow quickly retorted, "My antlers are very stubborn and I can't make them go away if I wanted to. The wizard I met on my journey isn't the best so he hasn't been able to help me with them." Loni tilted his head.
"You met a wizard?" Loni looked at Yarrow and narrowed his eyes. "Y-yes." Yarrow replied timidly. The Vulpin librarian sighed.
"Let me call Havel and Tevor. They will know what to do. Forgive me but I'm just too confused. You've met with them already yes?" Loni raised his hand to call over some of the other librarians. Yarrow nodded.
"Yes they were upset about the Tola who came last night" Yarrow said remembering the interaction.
"You mean you?" The Vulpin retorted arm still raised. The two druids from earlier started to make their way over. "P-presumably." Loni stopped and looked at the Tola, "Presumably?"

---

Aldous read mostly about the Borealis. A mystical artefact that can house elementals and energies of the material plane. It was crafted long ago by a group of people and has been used to seal the anchor points that bind the elemental planes to the material plane. Aldous read through this scroll quickly, breezing through the details. Then he placed this scroll and as many on the shelf as he could stuff into his pack. Looking around he began to cast Elevated Sight as a ritual. This allowed him to see the next two floors above of the library. There weren't many people on the second floor and fewer on the third.

---

"I'll call Havel and Tevor." Loni motioned towards one of the librarians. Yarrow began to sweat and fidget.
"L-let me, Uh-" Yarrow panicked and shifted into the avatar form of the Spirit of the White Stag. Everyone in the library looked to Yarrow. Fingers pointed and mouths agape Yarrow became the center of attention. The Tola started running, straight out of the library, past Taru and the librarians. Outside he stopped looking for an alley or some cover of darkness. The town was small and Yarrow was unable to find a suitable spot.
Alabaster ran out of the library following Yarrow. Yarrow turned and saw his friend and in a flash was behind him. With some cover Yarrow shifted back into his native form. People from the library and from the square in town surrounded the Tola and the Hedge. The druids and healers started yelling for the white stag and asking questions. They all wanted answers. Yarrow, overwhelmed, opened Alabaster's bag of holding and hopped inside to hide from the crowd. Alabaster tried to counter balance to compensate for the Tola's movement. As he collected himself he saw Elder Havel walking towards him, a furious look on his face.

---

Aldous moved across the room to the staves. He took the second from the right. It was smooth and had a gentle gradation from light to dark. It radiated with enchantment magics. Aldous took the staff into his hands and replaced it with his own. Looking down he did the same with the boots beneath him. Moving to the other bookcase and avoiding the rug in the middle of the floor Aldous shifted to the other bookcase that looked to have more books than scrolls. Aldous also pocketed these books placing them in his backpack. He then moved to the door and, remembering with startling accuracy, used message to talk to Cyrus.

"I'm done in here and I need you to distract the guards to allow me to get out. This is Aldous Brackshaw and you can respond to this message."

---

Alabaster and Havel argued in the square. Alabaster not backing down for anything and yelling at the Elder in front of his vassals. Elder Havel quickly tired of the Hedge's insubordination and cast Geas on him. He instructed the bard to follow the rules of the town and to do nothing that would incite or excite the people of the town. Also that he was to leave town and stay out until given permission to enter.

Alabaster moved to leave. As he left he whispered to some of the druids that they should revolt against their elder. Searing pain boomed through his mind and a magical vice started to crush him. Alabaster ran out of town and stayed just at the edge of the magical border of Asbarrow.

---

Two druids came into the library and went to Cyrus. They informed him that he had to leave town as his friend broke town rules and the elders were going to talk about things. Cyrus also got a message from Aldous at the same time.

"I'm ready whenever you are. I need you to distract the guard and turn me invisible once more. This is Aldous Brackshaw and you and can respond to this message." Aldous then snuffed his light, moved the towel, and used Gaseous Form.

The dancer held his book and thought for a moment. Then he told the druids that he needed to give his book to the librarian just over the table. Cyrus took the opportunity to fake a fall, dancing and casting, and rolled over to the door, his paw slipping underneath the door. Aldous moved and touching Cyrus became invisible once more. Cyrus performed so well and his magic was so foreign that the druids believed his fall. They helped him up, asked him if he was okay, and led him out of town.

---

Cyrus was led to the border of the town. Alabaster was standing there struggling with his bag of holding. The druids told Cyrus and Alabaster that if they needed them to call them over. The Elders were going to talk and probably scold them but that they would be allowed back in most likely shortly.

After the druids left Alabaster pulled Yarrow out of his bag. The Tola, still embarrassed, used Mold Earth to help himself dig a hole and then hopped inside. Aldous made his way to the group and broke his concentration to take form around them. Cyrus asked Alabaster what he had done. Alabaster rebuffed him and told him that it wasn't his fault. The dancer argued with him and told him that his volatile behaviour was going to get them all in trouble. Aldous asked why they would stay in town at all and that it was time to leave. Yarrow and Cyrus both told Aldous that no one was out to get him and that he didn't need to hide, run, or steal. That people would help him if he asked.

Yarrow overwhelmed by things motioned for the druids to come back. Aldous made his way out of town and hid in the brush nearby. Once the druids arrived Yarrow told them that he was sorry. He wanted to get into Gifu's room to see if he could learn more about what was going on and that he shouldn't have lied. Also that he was sorry for taking the form of the White Stag but it was the only form he could take well since all his other forms had a chance to fail. The druids reassured him that all was well and that they would go talk to the elders.

Aldous emerged after they left and said that the party should leave. The rest disagreed and Aldous said he was going out of town to make camp and when the party saw his side of things they could come and get him.

Alabaster took this time to cast sending once more to Baldwin.

"Last talk today, what has Gifu said and what information were you able to get? Also will Gifu be returning soon?"

"Gifu says, do not venture alone. I will return and we will work together to help the Scorched Grove. There is too much at risk."

The elders, all four of them, came to the edge of town to talk to the group. The party made their case for their reentry, Cyrus talking of his hometown, Yarrow of his mission, and Alabaster of his innocence. Havel apologized for his outburst and his use of magic. Bonda told the party that an agreement was to be offered. They could reenter and stay in the town and the elders would help them with preparations. In the meantime they were to obey the rules of the town and Yarrow would help lead the druids and healers talking to them and answering their questions about the calamities and the White Stag.

The party agreed and made their way back into town. Bonda nudged Havel who released his enchantment over Alabaster. The elders asked what happened to their researcher friend. The group, successfully, lied to the elders and said that he grew impatient and most likely head to the Scorched Grove alone.

Taru took Yarrow to center of town where the town had amassed to meet him. Bonda took Cyrus to her place to talk to him about something important to the dancers. Alabaster meanwhile, cast Animal Messenger and sent a bird to tell Aldous that would be in the town tonight and then moved to the center of town and placed out a hat and began to perform to earn some money and to support Yarrow.

---

Aldous got the messenger from Alabaster and shrugged. He set up camp and spent time looking at his new boots and staff. The boots were used to cover ones tracks and could transform to leave any tracks the wearer wanted behind them. The staff was a staff of charming and had powerful enchantment capabilities.

---

Yarrow took a prominent spot in the center of town with Elder Taru at his side. The druids and healers were ravenous with curiosity. They wanted to know everything about him. They asked about the Calamities and the guardian spirits of Humblewood. Yarrow tried his best to answer but the crowd grew quickly out of control. Alabaster meanwhile added music to the affair gaining some money and foods from the druids and healers.

---

Bonda took Cyrus into her home. They sat down and Bonda confessed that she had something that traveling dancers gave her long ago. The dancers came to town and talked to her to help safeguard some knowledge. They were afraid of the knowledge getting lost and feared that a ruling body or some force would harm them and their peoples. Bonda brought Cyrus a scroll. It was a recreation of an old text that Cyrus recognized the markings of. It was a scroll that showed how to perform The Lysta Mixixe, The Dance of Wishes.

---

The crowd around Yarrow was growing restless and asking question and after question. Taru couldn't gain control of his vassals as they talked over the Elder. Yarrow pulled his flute out and played it, the sound echoing loudly in the back of everyone's mind. The ground underneath him began to glow and streams of light and colour came from the ground and shot to the sky above. The crowd looked shocked and stayed silent. Yarrow himself shocked at the colours and lights quickly regained himself and began to speak.

"I am what is called Fey touched," Yarrow gestured at his antler, "which I believe is why the white stag approached me along with another more personal reason. I was approached and shown that these calamities has come before in the past, that they have their meaning, but they have been stopped before. The White Stag has granted me a different Druidic path to help accomplish this. This also means that this has been done before, it isn't impossible, it can be done if we keep our wits about us. We can stop this calamity and save the Scorched Grove and Humblewood."

The crowd was silent. Taru motioned for the Tenders and healers to look to him. He then instructed them all to get ready for bed and that they would talk of this in the morning. The Elder turned to Yarrow and asked if he and his party would like to stay with him and Bonda tonight to avoid Yarrow being hounded with questions by the lower rank Tenders. Yarrow agreed.

Cyrus, Alabaster, and Yarrow were made comfortable in Bonda and Taru's home. They were given space on the first floor of the house and told that they would be helped in the morning.

---

Aldous stayed in his camp and opened his Ashen Tome, pouring over the contents within.

Report Date

04 May 2020