03 - 01/27/25 : A Perilous Adventure
With their preparations made, the duo gathered Nessali at the Seven Stars Inn. Before departing, Ardyn gave the party the ley orb attuned to Nessali's ley line and a set of Scrolls of Returning which would bring the students back to Everlight's teleportation circle when used. He also showed the party their carriage, pulled by the automaton horses created by Bellbrexilden called "Stablewrights," and explained their basic functions.
The students began their journey to the nearby village of Alaric's Landing, a short day's travel away. As they arrived, they found the villagers jumping at shadows. Elara, the village elder, tried to inspire the villagers not to give up hope as she noticed the students' arrival. Assuming them to be adventurers, she plead for them to help. Just as Snow was preparing to whole heartedly offer their assistance, the town was set upon by living, violent plants. Ezri quickly took to the safety of the sky where she bombarded the enemies with fire, as Snow and Nessali combined forces to tear apart the rest of the monstrous plants.
As the battle ended, the trio learned that these "thornwalkers" had been attacking the town for a little over a month, coming from the dangerous neighboring Whisperwood. Their timing and attack patterns were sporadic, but this was the worst attack the village had seen to date. As Ezri realized that this likely had something to do with the ley line they were hunting for, she grudgingly agreed with her companions' decision to investigate this situation.
With Nessali leading the way, both with their navigation skills and attunement to the ley orb, the students entered the Whisperwood. After some traveling, they entered a peaceful glade with an especially large and old tree. Snow and Nessali decided to rest under the tree, while Ezri, still cautious of the plantlife after their encounter in town, instead chose to hide in a burrow with a number of small woodland critters. Nessali and Snow received a message from the tree, a spirit of the Whisperwood, informing them of an obelisk that had been corrupted and was creating the thornwalkers.
With this knowledge, the party followed Nessali's senses north towards some ruins that likely contained the obelisk. Along the way, they encountered a waterfall where a ghostly woman directed the group to the nearby lake. Snow doffed her armor and dove in to find what might lurk beneath, eventually finding a Ring of Protection which was given to Ezri.
As the group approached the ruins, they were set upon by a wandering Owlbear. The beast nearly tore into Ezri, but as she managed to escape, her magic spontaneously summoned a flumph, which was traumatically immediately eaten by the owlbear. The party managed to defeat the owlbear with minimal injuries, and continued on to the ruins. As they investigated, a flash from Ezri's lantern lead them to the remains of a mural, which depicted thornwalkers being destroyed by druids utilizing an obelisk.
The party didn't find the obelisk in the ruins, but Nessali confirmed that they were getting very close to it. With a little more traveling, they found an especially dark patch of forest, where the corrupted obelisk laid. As the students approached, a razorvine blight rose from the ground, threatening the party if they hoped to stop the thornwalkers' invasion. As combat began, the blight summoned forth a small army of poweful thornwalkers. Combat ensued and the party found themselves being badly assaulted by the enemies. Nessali made a beeline for the obelisk, seeming to have some idea of how to use its power. The students worked hard to defend their guide, but their strength was beginning to waver, but hope was not lost yet.
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