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#Post#: 1139--------------------------------------------------
429 AC Hierophant of Chislev vol. II Story One: The Blackthorn C
onspiracy
By: Dungeon Master Date: May 17, 2025, 1:34 am
---------------------------------------------------------
Warning: strong, sensitive, and implied subject matter ahead.
This story begins after 429 AC, Lashia the Wizardess Windrider
Story One: The Dragon War in the East, Finale Chapter Ten:
Memorial and Victory
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[center]Hierophant of Chislev
vol. II
Story One: The Blackthorn Conspiracy
Chapter One: Merwellyn
Talidaar was created by DCR[/center]
Eleventhmonth
Late Autumn Dark
429 AC
Western Ansalon
Abanasinia
Merwellyn Forest, also known as the Dire Woods
Pixies fly ahead to carry the word that Talidaar and his animals
are approaching. He is speaking to the different inhabitants and
tells the council members to meet him in the meeting glade,
where Talidaar addresses the Forest Council and the Merwellyn
Circle together to find out the state of the forest in his
absence. They report back that nothing has been amiss. Talidaar
thanks them for protecting the forest in his absence, and now he
relates the recent dragon battle and happenings in the east.
Talidaar asks if any messages have arrived from Nebris. The
answer is no, they have not.
…Troubling. He was sure he would have heard something by now of
his son’s mission.
Meanwhile, at Dae Dyrnastaerynfalos (The Family Keep)
Lashia settles the Dwarves that came with her in and provides
them with refreshments. Then, she goes to the master bedroom and
starts to pack while Marilee packs for herself.
The Kender Longshot has found his old room he hardly ever slept
in before his long disappearance. He finds all the objects that
he forgot the last time he was here, and is quiet for a while.
Lashia hears Talidaar return from the Forest and informs him
they will have to go into the vault before they leave. Talidaar
nods, he also knew this was going to come up. He is not a miser,
but does not like spending with abandon either. Lashia, for her
part, has no complaints about living the frugal lifestyle she
has chosen with her family to live in the forest. But Lashia did
come from an old family that was close to the crown. Her accrued
wealth was down there, too.
Lashia tells Talidaar plainly that “Daera needs a Ball gown, do
you think that is going to be cheap in Ergoth?
They go down into the vault and come away with enough that makes
Lashia happy, and she goes to pack it away within her bags she
is taking with her. Talidaar comes back and goes into the
sitting room and speaks with the dwarves as he leads them to
Sylvan Vale, a small Tree Village, and a bar on the ground near
a stable shelter.
Torin Stonebeard and Ragrim Shattershield enter behind Talidaar,
Talidaar taps a keg and cleans out some glasses, and pours the
brews, and the three enjoy some ale as Talidaar awaits a message
from his son. He will head out tomorrow with Lashia as she gets
the Dwarves from the Stone Mountain and will bring them back to
Digfel before heading to Northern Ergoth to be with the kids.
Talidaar explains how to contact him from Digfel, at the General
Store, and they will send a bird with a message to me. After
talking a bit more, Talidaar realizes they have been talking
about Bale, one of the ones still on Southern Ergoth, and the
newest bearer of the Silver Arm of Ergoth.
Talidaar remembers back to last summer, the dark-haired dwarf
and the anguish on his face, and the haunting sound when
Talidaar turned him over. The Bandit group had moved into Digfel
and found Bale feeding the miners who had been trapped
underground when the bandits struck. They chopped off his right
arm, which he used to hammer as a blacksmith. Once Talidaar had
been alerted to this attack by some bird companions, Talidaar
acted swiftly in the dawn. He shapeshifted into a grey wolf and
covered the distance to the village. The birds have already told
him how many there were. Talidaar takes out one bandit guard by
leaping and tears out his throat.
Talidaar transforms into his normal form and wipes the blood
from his face. He almost trips over a dark form that turns out
to be a seemingly lifeless body in the tall grass. Talidaar
investigates and discovers the body of one of the Blacksmiths.
Talidaar knew this one as Bale. Talidaar remembers hiring him
for work. Talidaar heals Bale’s wounds, but he cannot replace
the arm that he has lost. It often took a lot to enrage
Talidaar, hacking off this man’s arm…. The townspeople Talidaar
had come to know were hanging from trees across the field. No,
this is evil.
Dark, thundering storm clouds began forming and rolling in from
over the New Sea.
Talidaar almost single-handedly takes out the entire bandit
army. Even Talidaar’s animals get in on the action; his wolf
Shadow and black panther Kas both take out their share of
bandits, while Talidaar tosses seeds into the wind and they
sprout into animated trees that rip apart the bandits with
nature’s vengeance. Lighting streaks across the sky as Talidaar
takes command of the vines and chokes anyone to death that he
has missed. Their remains are pulled into the ground to give
over their nutrients to the earth.
Talidaar frees the miners from the cave and helps them to
freedom. He does not want to move Bale but tells them how they
might keep him alive long enough until Talidaar can return with
some medicines to deal with any infections that might arise.
Talidaar had come to know Bale. He tells his guests that he is
pleased to know that Bale yet lives and has found purpose again.
A blessing.
“It’s peaceful here.” Says Torin, Ragrim agrees, “I cannot
believe we are so close to Digfel, and this is like, another
world.”
“If you keep this place a secret, you may return and visit over
a brew. It will be a sin if you break this promise.
“That we will, friend.” Torin then looks over at his
comrade-in-arms, and Ragrim gives his word to the Hierophant.
That night,
Lashia and Talidaar are in bed and debating what is the best
thing to do with Longshot. They can’t believe they are having
this conversation again after not having it for so long. If he
goes to Northern Ergoth with Lashia, he will end up getting
thrown in jail, but that’s not all, because the person who
sponsors a Kender visitor into the city is also liable and
responsible. Lashia asks Talidaar if he wants to see “his wife
in jail, and that you should really think about what you are
going to say to me when you come to bail me out.”
This makes Talidaar second-guess his thoughts on the matter.
“You know, it’s inconvenient for him to be exiled from Hylo.
Maybe it wasn’t a lifetime ban, maybe just a few years. We
should check that at the first opportunity. In the end, they
settle on asking Ash, the Ranger friend of theirs, that make a
circuit through Abanasinia, something that will keep Longshot
busy while we are away. This decision puts Talidaar back into
Lashia’s good graces as they enjoy one last night together
before they separate paths again. They lie back together and
their kisses get more intense and hotter as bedclothes start
coming off, and the scene fades to black…
The Next Morning,
Abanasinia
Eastwall Mountains.
Outside Tantallon,
Tantallon is a small, remote town that lies northeast of Solace
in the Eastwall Mountains, and is dominated by Castle Tantallon,
which lies just past the town. Talidaar has shapechanged into a
hawk and spies the lone traveler. Talidaar flies ahead of the
Ranger and shapechanges into his half-elf form and appears to
the Ranger.
Ash is mildly surprised by this; he has only been told by at
least thirty birds before this that Talidaar was looking for
him. “Well met lord Hierophant, what brings you up into the
mountains?”
The Hierophant sighs, “I’ll be up front with you; this is about
a kender.”
Talidaar explains his predicament and asks if Ash would be
willing to travel with Talidaar’s friend through the winter.
It’s not what Ash wants at all, but given the amount of respect
Ash has for the Hierophant, he agrees. Talidaar tells the ranger
that his kender friend will be in Digfel, and he will eventually
get bored, so please, make haste.
Ash tells Talidaar he is heading out now, and Talidaar watches
him go, and he shapechanges into a hawk again and flies back to
Merwellyn.
Soon, back at Dae Dyrnastaerynfalos
Talidaar finds that his dwarven visitors have risen, and
somebody in the house has made kefre** for their guests. The
Dwarves are drinking the steaming beverage in the sunroom, a
scenic spot within Dae Dyrnastaerynfalos. Talidaar finds Lashia
packing, and he reports that Ash agreed. Lashia asks him, "if
the deed is done."
Talidaar comes to her and kisses her on the lips gently and
tells her, "yes, the deed is done."
Lashia gets done with what she is doing and walks over to tell
Talidaar, “Thank you.” And she kisses him in part to reward him
and in part to thank him. She tells him, “We are about packed,
with nearly everything on the ship, and we can leave when we
have everything aboard and when we have the tides. She pours him
a cup of kefre and hands it to Talidaar, to which he thanks her
before going out and seeing how his daughter Marilee is doing.
Marilee is in the weapons room, where she is testing a few
swords that she has collected in her years of adventuring.
They share a bit of small talk, and Talidaar sees that she might
not be up for talking and is about to leave when Marilee asks
his opinion on a matter she has been thinking about. Talidaar
awaits his daughter’s words.
Marilee asks his opinion on forming a fighting school, set in
New Ports, that she will be putting a focus on that endeavor,
and pulling back on leading the mercenary group, as she is just
not up to it right now; she does not foresee when she will be up
to it. She is not in the right frame of mind, she is not trying
to do anything rash, she just needs to step back, for how long,
she does not know…
He is supportive of anything she decides. A school sounds like a
good choice. He put in a word for her to not disband her
Mercenary Army just yet, to take the winter to consider the
future.
Digfel
Talidaar has walked Longshot over and gotten him a room for a
couple of weeks, or until Ash is ready to leave. Longshot
actually took the news pretty well that he was not accompanying
Lashia or Talidaar. The Hierophant and Longshot shake, and
Talidaar tells him he will be back as soon as he takes care of a
few things.
New Sea
With Longshot taken care of, the tides become favorable, and
goodbyes are made. Talidaar soaks in the air of Merwellyn before
he must leave it once again in the care of his circle. The ship
is boarded, and the Navigator sets out into open waters and
takes to the sky, its bearing, Southern Ergoth.
See 429 AC Lashia Windrider Wizardess vol. I, Story Two Chapter
One, First, before coming back here.
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Dae Dyrnastaerynfalos* Talidaar Keep he built for his family
within the heart of Merwellyn, known as Dire Wood.
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Kefre** A caffeinated beverage served warm, or through a special
process, ice cold. It comes from the bark of a certain tree that
grows in Khur.
#Post#: 1164--------------------------------------------------
429 AC Hierophant of Chislev vol. II Story One: The Blackthorn C
onspiracy Chapter Two: Castle Eastwatch
By: Dungeon Master Date: June 28, 2025, 3:43 am
---------------------------------------------------------
See 429 AC Lashia Windrider Wizardess vol. I Story Two Chapter
One: "Setting Out" first, before coming back here.
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[center]Hierophant of Chislev
vol. II
Story One: The Blackthorn Conspiracy
Chapter Two: Castle Eastwatch
Paladian Dragonhelm was created by Trampas Whiteman[/center]
Western Ansalon
Southern Ergoth
Castle Eastwatch
Evening,
Talidaar has come to Castle Eastwatch to speak with the Knight
Commander, only to find Riva Silverblade, died just before
Frost, the last of the Dragon Overlords. An untested, but
dedicated subordinate has been left in charge until he is
relieved by command. Otherwise, more knights have been sent to
Eastwatch since the death of the Overlord. That might be one
thing that has stirred up the Kagonesti. Talidaar meets with
Sir Paladian Dragonhelm, the Temporary Knight Commander of
Eastwatch. He appears steady, with big shoes to fill. Talidaar
momentarily thinks of Riva before he asks about his son Nebris,
and the Grand Druid.
Paladian clears his throat, sits up a little, and considers his
words. “They came through here a week ago. The Grand Druid was
clear in her distrust of the large increase in knights of
Solamnia, everywhere she turns on the island. She told me there
are sacred lands called the Elderwood, that his men should not
approach, and was warned about defenders of forest spirt in the
south.”
Talidaar supports the Grand Druid’s position; the Knights have
no reason to go where she has marked off.
Dragonhelm argues that the majority of the Kagonesti people and
all other elves moved to Cristyne to the Fey Woods beyond the
Mountains.
“This is holy land to the Kagonesti; they don’t want it
disturbed.” Talidaar insists, “My Goddess requires that you take
the words of her Grand Druid to heart. Is your god demanding you
take this land? Perhaps you should consult with your god, are
the Knighthood’s intentions right in this?
Dragonhelm argues there are enough ogres to retake this Island
at this very moment. They are in the mountains and Daligoth. We
have to rid the Island of Frost’s influence and all of the
creatures he has brought here, like Thanoi and Ursoi. “
Talidaar agrees with his point about the threat of the ogres and
the invading species that have been left over from the Whites’
dominion. But challenges him with the Knighthood’s transparent
intentions concerning Southern Ergoth.
“You know this runs counter to the emperor of Ergoth’s claims to
this territory. Is the Knighthood going to challenge him on the
battlefield if it comes to it?
Dragonhelm says he is aware of the emperor’s designs and has
seen his surveyors, and he has seen a lot of them dead.
Talidaar had been deep in thought when Dragonhelm’s last words
hit him. “What do you know of these deaths?”
Dragonhelm replies, “Kagonesti arrows mostly, poisoned blow
darts, slung stones, it appears to be the work of wild elves.”
Talidaar hears the doubtful choice of the word “appears.”
Talidaar asks what he means by that.
“I don’t mean to necessarily to discount the possibility of it
being wild elves, I have just heard some crazy stuff in the
night, seen some crazy stuff too, but the noises, we can’t
figure out their origin. They are unnatural. Changed Owlbears,
abominations of some dark god.”
Talidaar takes in this new information and asks what else.
“There has been some cult-like activity going on in the night,
figures sometimes wearing black, and some wearing brown.”
“You told this to the Grand Druid?” Talidaar asks.
Dragonhelm nods and says, “they were headed south to consult the
spirit of the Southern Forest.”
Talidaar just says, “Wonderful.” Here in Southern Ergoth, not
only will Talidaar have to deal with the Grand Druid, Wrynn
Darkfeather, someone he is very much acquainted with, but she
always was overzealous, Talidaar hears that she is an avenging
force of nature, he does not question Chislev’s motives, she
must see that Wrynn is necessary to acts as her will.
But also, another Hierophant, from a time before the Cataclysm
rocked the world. He-or-She laid down for the deep sleep and
arose sometime before Talidaar became Grand Druid. Within the
Southern Woods is this mysterious figure known only as "The
Hierophant", who is the master of all druids in this realm. A
mask of a thousand faces. He or she seems to be old or young,
male or female, human, elf, or half-elf, and something else
besides, depending on whom you ask. All agree, however, that he
(she?) is a figure of terrifying power.
Talidaar has only dealt with this Hierophant once before. He
would not choose to go through the experience again, but his son
is in the South with the Grand Druid, and that's where I need to
go.
Talidaar thanks the Knight Commander for his time and tells him
he will look into this cult on his behalf. Talidaar walks out
into the blowing wind. His mind is racing as he makes his way
out of the castle and out on the path leading south. Talidaar
notes the appearance of several ravens on the castle battlements
and the Curtain Wall of Eastwatch. He begins his trek south and
falls deep into thought. Who are these black and brown figures
in the night? And who corrupted the Owlbears? ... perhaps
Morgion... Talidaar does not rule anyone else out until he has
some more solid proof. Talidaar shapechanges into a hawk and
takes flight, and flies south.
#Post#: 1183--------------------------------------------------
429 AC Hierophant of Chislev vol. II Story One: The Blackthorn C
onspiracy Chapter Three: A Conspiracy of Ravens…
By: Dungeon Master Date: July 8, 2025, 8:14 am
---------------------------------------------------------
Warning: strong, sensitive subject matter ahead. Consider this
Chapter M/A Rated R
[center]Hierophant of Chislev
vol. II
Story One: The Blackthorn Conspiracy
Chapter Three: A Conspiracy of Ravens*…[/center]
429 AC
Eleventhmonth
Late Autumn Dark
Western Ansalon
Southern Ergoth
Just South Last Gaard Mountains
North of the Elder Wood
Talidaar is gliding along on the wind currents, but there is a
terrible crosswind that is causing Talidaar to have to expend
some energy to stay on his course. He is traveling by Moonlight.
White Solinari is in its Last Quarter, while Lunitari is Waxing
Gibbous. The stars were crystal clear under a cloudless night.
Talidaar was glad to get confirmation that his son was alive and
doing what he asked of him, to find the Grand Druid, and try to
mitigate her rage. Wrynn Darkfeather came to Merwellyn to follow
the Grand Druid’s teachings, his messages, late in Talidaar’s
ministry, but she ended up staying and becoming one of
Talidaar’s best disciples, and one of Chisilv’s greatest
Defenders.
Talidaar senses that a large cloud has moved in above him,
blocking the moonlight. Talidaar looks up and back. It’s a great
looming black cloud that… Talidaar’s bird of prey eyes see that
it is not a cloud at all… It's over a thousand of ravens.
Before Talidaar can get very far because of the sudden head
winds, Talidaar tries to evade the oncoming mob, but they start
pecking at his outstretched wing feathers. He sees their glowing
eyes and their seemingly murderous disposition that brings dread
to the Half-Elf as he is engulfed by the black. Talidaar tries
evasive maneuvers, but they stay with him. They land on his back
and start clawing flesh off his back. More than one has tried to
peck out his eyes. These animals are unnatural in their
bloodlust. At this point, only Talidaar’s inner compass can
tell him which way to fly as his vision is all but impaired
inside this great cacophony of winged death.
His body is being picked away, they are getting through his
eyelids, Talidaar dives, and that was the one thing the ravens
did not expect. Talidaar opens a gate into the Elemental plane
of Fire, and a great flock follows him. They instantly burst
into flame even as Talidaar becomes a firebird streaking through
the realm of flames. Talidaar exits the Elemental plane and back
to the Prime Material
Through bloodstained eyes, Talidaar sees the Forest below and he
tries to lose the ravens in the forest, but he is finding it
difficult, and careens into some bushes and ignobly and rolls
into his human form, fully healing his terrible wounds all over
his body, even as the ravens arrive renew their bloody assault
all over him, Talidaar commits to a plan and works through the
pain. He retrieves his yellow feather of Chislev; elsewhere on
his bandolier is the bark of an oak from his forest.
The bloody ravens are pecking and tearing holes in his skin,
ripping at the sinew on the backs of his hands, the flesh of his
cheeks, and Talidaar’s nose is being pecked to pieces. Blood
drips down from his face, it is pandemonium as he prays, makes
the ritualistic somatic gestures as he speaks the verbal words
that cast the spell- Talidaar’s body becomes covered entirely by
Tree bark. (Talidaar’s Level is such that he is well protected
with Barkskin for a long time.) Solace, at last. The Raven pecks
and tries to get to his eyes, but they find no joy. He has
effectively become impervious to their ravings. He is safe, for
the moment. Talidaar starts walking and has to bat them away.
Talidaar no longer stands still. He travels south, secure that
he is protected. Talidaar walks on as the ravens fly up, but not
away. Many line the path he is taking, in the trees, just
looking at him as he lumbers by. It’s unnerving to see all of
these glowing eyes looking back at him in the night.
Well, Talidaar has never been savaged like that before. The last
few minutes still seem so unreal. Great, Talidaar had just
looked up. Now they are circling him high above.
Talidaar weighs this experience against the only other recent
humbling experience recently. In the fight against the Mad
Titans. That was something altogether different. This is black
and evil contamination. He wonders if the same thing happened to
his son and the Grand Druid. Talidaar finishes that thought as
he contemplates the unthinkable if the Hierophant of Southern
Forest becomes corrupted, that might well doom us all. Talidaar
asks How did whoever it is that did this find me and do this?
Talidaar answers his own question. They followed him from Castle
Eastwatch. Could he be any more obvious? Can this be the work of
this dark cult Dragonhelm spoke of with some worried trepidation
in his voice?
Talidaar filters out the raven’s chatter and allows all of his
senses to come alive. Talidaar connects its roots into the
mycelium network of the surrounding forest. The information
download is nearly overwhelming. He interprets the different
pulses of biochemistry. Analyzing an infinite amount of
information, He disconnects immediately. The corruption has
spread here as well; his query may just move that area of
corruption to this one just because I asked a question through
the net. He can even smell the corruption now. Before now, this
was just a formality to keep the Emperor happy, and thereby
keeping my wife and children safe during their stay in Gwynned.
But now, these evil bastards have Talidaar's full attention.
Talidaar vows to end this disease before it spreads even more.
All of a sudden, A sound shrieks out of the night from behind
him. This thing is corporeal; he can hear it in the woods. It
was like a screech from the Abyss… Talidaar looks up at the
ravens in the Trees, just eerily watching him from their
perches, while others are looking to see what is coming.
Talidaar hears now. The thing is moving in the darkness as it
lets off another gut-wrenching screech that chills Talidaar to
his bones. Talidaar begins to feel stupid for just standing here
waiting, so he begins to run, as well as he can in his Barkskin
condition. (Not very fast.) Talidaar can feel vibrations in the
earth under his feet, it's at least 1500 pounds, what the hells…
Then the thought descends upon him. The Knight Commander said as
much earlier tonight. It screeches again, and there is no
mistaking, it is getting closer.
He can hear it tearing through the forest now, moving fast. It's
headed straight for him.
*The collective noun for a group of ravens is a conspiracy of
ravens; a unkindness of ravens is also accepted parlance.
#Post#: 1260--------------------------------------------------
429 AC Hierophant of Chislev vol. II Story One: The Blackthorn C
onspiracy Chapter Four: Hunted
By: Dungeon Master Date: September 17, 2025, 3:56 am
---------------------------------------------------------
[center]
Hierophant of Chislev
vol. II
Story One: The Blackthorn Conspiracy
Chapter Four: Hunted[/center]
429 AC
Eleventhmonth
Late Autumn Dark
Western Ansalon
Southern Ergoth
Just South Last Gaard Mountains
North of the Elder Wood
Talidaar steps into a nearby suitable-sized tree and type, and
steps inside of it, passing through the root systems.
The beast rushes through the woods, searching for its prey. It
is not making noise now; Its other senses compensate. It runs
through the area, following where the scent ends and where else
it could be. It is through in its search. The Arctic Owlbear
starts digging at places he has been, and Talidaar starts to
hurry through the wooden tunnel that he is passing through. It
is getting closer. The creature looks like a cross between a
snowy owl and a polar bear. Both the creature’s fur and feathers
are a snowy-white, while the claws and beak are both black.
Yellow, glowing eyes look forward from the rounded head.
An arctic owlbear’s coat ranges in color from pure white to a
dirty white/grey. A fully grown male can stand as tall as 12
feet and weigh 2,500 lbs. Arctic owlbears, as with normal
owlbears, attack prey — any creature bigger than a mouse — on
sight, always fighting to the death. They slash with claws and
beak, trying to grab their prey and rip it apart.
Suddenly, the Arctic Owlbear stops, rears up, and listens.
Talidaar listens too. He once again reaches out ahead in the
wood root system and hears several approaching from two miles
away. They are running this way. Talidaar recognizes his son’s
steps. The Arctic Owlbear sniffs the air and goes back down on
all fours. It calls out in the night air that eerie abyssal
screeching, and then is off on its way toward the incoming prey.
It passes overhead and is off into the woods, and Talidaar
sighs. He cannot let it attack Nebris and the Grand Druid. Once
he reaches the next tree and steps out in wolf form, Talidaar
chases after the Arctic Owlbear, now afraid for his son.
Talidaar turns back into his half-elf form and yells at the
Arctic Owlbear. It stops and turns, and looks at the half-elf.
Ravens fly overhead. The beast bounds towards the lone figure;
the ravens are circling. Talidaar shapeshifts into a large
grizzly bear and meets the beast in battle. Talidaar's claws rip
into its hide, and black, corrupted blood spills forth. The
Arctic Owlbear is larger and shrieks its abyssal scream of hate.
A scream that echoes through the woods brings Grand Druid Wren
Darkfeather and the others of her party to a stop and assess. A
brutal fight is going on, a grizzly bear by the sound of it.
Wren says, “There are no grizzly bears in the Elderwood.”
Nebris gets a bad feeling and starts running toward the fray.
“It’s my father.”
The Grand Druid Wren and her ghost tribe follow Nebris in the
woods.
#Post#: 1314--------------------------------------------------
429 AC Hierophant of Chislev vol. II Story One: The Blackthorn C
onspiracy Chapter Five: Grand Druid Wren Darkfeather
By: Dungeon Master Date: March 1, 2026, 12:23 am
---------------------------------------------------------
[center]Hierophant of Chislev
vol. II
Story One: The Blackthorn Conspiracy
Chapter Five Grand Druid Wren Darkfeather [/center]
The sounds had been horrendous to listen to for Nebris; every
time the Grizzly yelled out in pain, it only made Nebris run
faster. Listening to the sheer savagery of the loud crashing and
violent thrashing into creaking trees and rolling into bushes in
the last mile was just crazy to hear. Their minds could hardly
wrap around what was happening, but it was terrible. The shrieks
from the owlbear have been constant and horrifying.
When Nebris, Grand Druid Wren, and her Ghost Tribe finally come
upon the scene of shocking violence between a large, badly
bloodied grizzly bear and a clearly corrupted arctic owlbear.
For black blood is freely flowing from wounds all across its
neck and chest onto the white body of the arctic owlbear. Wren's
animals, a red fox Sero by her side, and her eagle, Tana, is the
air, looking for a way to help Wren.
The beast’s head tilts and turns, and its large yellow eyes gaze
in the newcomers' direction, its asymmetrical hearing already
pegs their approach, though, clearly not all of them. Its
momentary distraction and hesitation are its downfall.
As Nebris and the Grand Druid are instantly shapeshifting into
Grizzly Bears as well and running toward the owlbear. Before
they arrive, there is a thunderclap and a flash of blinding
flash of lighting. What the bears see when they arrive is a
smoking hole in the seared and smoking chest of the owlbear.
It twitches its last hateful jerks and expires before their
eyes. They turn to see a fully healed Talidaar, bearing a
twisted cypress wood staff. Cervidae antlers are affixed at the
its head; it is known as the Staff of the Hierophant
“Thank you for your distraction. He was starting to win, and I
wanted to end it.”
“Before I got involved,” Nebris finishes.
Talidaar tells his son, “That was my intention.” Talidaar turns
to the Kagonesti woman and tells her, “Grand Druid, it is good
to finally see you again. We clearly have a lot to talk about.”
Wren nods to the Hierophant and takes a closer look at the
owlbear. The bolt cauterized much of the neck and chest and
burned away some of the evidence; there was enough black blood
for the druids to use in an investigation. Wren is satisfied
that they have enough. “We can ask the root system where this
black bile originated from.”
“Excellent. Nebris, if you don’t mind, keeping an eye on those
Ravens. They are working for somebody; they attacked me when I
left Castle Eastwatch. looking back, I think they wear watching
me when I was talking with the Knights, I did not think about it
at the time, but on reflection, whoever is watching us tied to
kill me twice, once with a conspiracy of possessed Ravens, the
other was this owlbear.”
Nebris casts his eyes skyward and tells his father, “We noticed
an increase in the ravens flying about but did not think it to
be malicious.”
Talidaar tells his son to take another look at his robe.
Nebris can see it now, hundreds of holes poked into his robes.
Talidaar’s robe is soaked with blood flow, front and back.
Nebris asks his father. “Are you okay?”
Talidaar exhales a small sigh and answers, “Yes, I can’t say
that I enjoyed the experience. It’s something that is going to
stay with me for a while.”
Grand Druid Wren looks over Talidaar’s robe. Ravens from South
Ergoth did this?
“I’m afraid so. Somebody would have to be extraordinarily
powerful to do this, to command so many, to use so many for
eyes.”
Wren closes her eyes and is still waiting for the information
from the root system to come back.
Talidaar decides to venture a question to the Grand Druid. “I
have to ask, though I take no joy in it, Do you know who is
killing the Crown’s surveyors from Northern Ergoth?”
Wren opens her eyes and answers,” Though I have met several of
such men, I have also come across their remains. I was not the
cause of their fall, but I do not mourn their passing. I
declared that they not to enter the Elderwood, there are those
that do not accept any natural right this “emperor” says he has
over this land.”
“The difference being he has an army and the Solamnics of
Northern Ergoth will join the invasion force, it is inevitable.”
The Grand Druid returns, “The Knights want Southern Ergoth for
themselves.”
Talidaar answers, “I don’t disagree, but the Knighthood would
have had to drop so low as to be responsible for the surveyor
deaths. They intimate it appears like Kagonesti attacks. “
One among the Ghost Tribe of Kagonesti, following Wren,
states,”We had nothing to do with these attacks.”
Talidaar accepts this and says, “But you are being implicated, I
need to find out who really killed them, I ask for your help.”
Wren asks, “Why are you so interested in these deaths? What are
they to you?”
Talidaar relates his situation: “My daughter Las has purchased a
house in Gwynned, my sister has a Gladiator School in Gwynned,
and while my Wife and I have been away fighting in Khur, I sent
my younger children to stay with Las. Now my wife and other
daughter have gone to spend the winter with Las and our children
in Gwynned. All of a sudden, nearly all of my family is in
Gwynned.
In a visit earlier this fall, I was called upon after being seen
at a party. I was summoned to the Emperor and asked if I could
look into the matter. I told him I had to fight a war in Khur,
but after that, I would agree to take on the duty. There was a
subtle remark that the Emperor mentioned; he indicated that it
was he who gave his sister a special dispensation to run one of
the schools.
It was sometime during that conversation that I realized he has
power over my family at the moment, the power to protect them,
or not to. I know I am going to get my family away from there as
soon as possible, but I told him I would do it. I plan to see
that through, no matter what.”
“I will help you, Dad, even if it’s for geopolitical reasons,
and our family is basically hostages for the emperor. How did
this happen again?
Talidaar answers, “I sent the kids with Las to be completely out
of danger. Wydara was already there.” He address the Grand
Druid, I will follow your lead Grand Druid, on what you think
needs to happen for Southern Ergoth, but there are other forces,
that are going to raise large hosts to settle their issue, It’s
not ordained, its not Ergoth’s special right, I mean it was
their land, but it was spilt apart during the Cataclysim, it has
a right to it own determination, but the fact remains, these
hosts will press their issue, and I hope you agree, there is a
way to find compromise, a way to protect the Elderwood.
We could repopulate the northern reaches of the island with
woods, and an agreement that if they rotate and regrow, a Druid
will come here and form symbiotic relations can be formed, and
reinforce the peace. We cede the Stone Mountain to the Knights,
and Eastwatch, some additional holdings on Zhea Harbor, Redic
VI will want Daltigoth, and access to Zhea Harbor and the new
forests we could create, and we make sure they follow the
agreement to stay out of the Elderwood. That’s my opening pitch.
”
The Grand Druid has been following along; she rocks her head
back and forth, as if she is really thinking about what the
Half-Elf is suggesting. She nods. This is agreeable terms to me,
but they won't be to others in the forest. The root system comes
back with the information. Wren interprets that "The corruption
began north of Zhea Harbor. That's where it all started on the
island.”
Talidaar nods. We will have to check that out. He feels
emboldened and tells them, “It will be up to us to convince them
otherwise and test if there might be ways we could convince
them. Are any of these people that might have something to do
with the surveyor’s deaths?”
Grand Druid Wren considers his question, and she speaks
kagonesti to the Ghost Tribe. Talidaar and Nebris understand the
kagonesti question. They also understand their answer. The Ghost
Tribe huddled, and they nodded to one another, and one among
them raised up and answered, ”The Shadow Circle.”
*****************************************************