by Troy Osgood
The pond had become a small stream, the trees running up to the bank and around to the side, the vines the only gap, the wall of the rock ring forming the rear wall. Disappearing into the rock, the little stream flowed and fell across rocks, making a soft background noise. There was no cave in the rock, just small indentations that resembled shelves. Small bottles, books and other items filled them. To the right, where the forest curved to meet the wall, were more hanging vines, one opening as a Druid stepped past. Hall caught a glimpse of what looked to be rooms formed by the thickly clustered trees.
In many ways it reminded Hall of the clearing and cave at the rear of Meadow Grove where Leigh kept a bed and supplies.
Between the stream, trees and rock wall was a small grass-covered clearing. Small stones, the tops smoothed, lined the edges. Roots and thick vines crossed the grass, but left the center free. Arranged around that small area were wooden plates piled high with fruits and dried meats, a wooden pitcher next to them.
“Please join us for some food,” Guilvan said, leading the way.
Hall glanced at Dain, who nodded.
“I can send a couple of the Rangers back to get the supplies we left behind.”
“We can go back as well,” Caryn said, elbowing Roxhard.
“Yeah,” he said, voice filled with disappointment. He had been eying the plates.
“Again, I mean no offense,” Guilvan said, his back to the water.
The movement of the water, the splashing as it hit and cascaded down the rocks, was pleasant. Hall was more relaxed in the Druid Grove than he had been in a long time. There was peace there, serenity. More than even in Meadow Grove back home. Was this what all Groves were supposed to be like? What Meadow Grove had been and could be again?
“None taken, Elder,” Leigh said.
Hall noticed she had started calling him by that title as they had eaten. She didn’t seem to be trying to remind Guilvan that she was technically his superior. Hall would have been. The Elder Druid had again shown surprise and question at Leigh’s status as Custodian.
“I know I am young, but the Branch chose me,” she continued. “But I would welcome any experience you can give me.”
“It has been a long time since I have seen a Branch,” Guilvan said, his tone turning wistful. “They are beautiful things.”
Leigh nodded.
“You said that Nilyn was your sponsor to the Circle? I met her once. Remarkable woman. Dedicated to her craft. Do you know if she still lives?”
“Sadly, I do not. I have not seen her in a couple of years. After leaving the Crescent Circle on Cumberland, she said she would be traveling to the lower islands.”
Hall leaned back, looking up at the tightly woven canopy above them.
The trees grew close together, the branches interweaving to form the walls of the clearing, similar happening for the domed roof. But somehow sunlight was still able to come into the space, not quite as bright as outside but still bright enough. It was odd, Hall couldn’t see any gaps in the canopy. It looked watertight, which he assumed it had to be. Not even Druids would want to sleep or eat in the rain.
The vines leading to the rest of the Grove parted, two Druids entering. Both were Wood Elves, a male and female. Each stood the same height as Hall, with thinner builds. The male wore a robe in a muted green, belt across his waist. On one side was the small pouch that Hall recognized as the Druid’s inventory. A dagger hung off leather cords near it. On the other side were potion bottles hanging by cords and another pouch that Hall knew was a potion carrier similar to his own. Brown hair streaked with tan hung over the Elf’s shoulders, slightly darker than his dusky bark-colored skin. Green eyes shifted from one member of the group to another. He carried a gnarled staff taller than he was.
Next to him, the female had long silvery hair, streaks of green throughout. She had it done up in a high ponytail, two small braids hanging down the sides and over her shoulders. Her robe was brown, the inventory pouch on one side along with the dagger hanging by leather. On the other side of her waist was a larger pouch. Her tan eyes took them all in, not looking impressed.
“May I introduce Tello and Surri,” Guilvan said, motioning to the two newcomers. “They will be going with you to the north.”
The male, Tello, nodded, his smile wide. Surri just scowled.
Both moved to take seats behind Guilvan.
“They will follow you, Custodian,” he said, looking over his right shoulder at Tello and then left at Surri. To Hall it looked like he spent more time staring at her. Hall also noted the extra emphasis Guilvan had put on Leigh’s title.
Leigh was Gael, human, and young. Hall, even though he was half Wood Elf, wasn’t good at judging the age of that long-lived race. They typically lived a couple of hundred years. The two behind Guilvan could have been in their first century of life or only in their first couple of decades. There was no way they were younger than Leigh. Guilvan wanted them to know that she was in charge. She was their superior and to not try to undermine her authority.
Hall wasn’t sure it would matter to Surri. The female Wood Elf didn’t look happy to be chosen to go with them.
“Neither are fighters,” Guilvan continued. “Our little Circle has never needed Druids to fight. The Green Cloak Rangers have always dealt with any conflicts in the Northern Territories. Out of the Circle, they are the two best at communicating with the natural world.”
Leigh studied the two Druids.
“Cleansing the corruption, if it is like that which had infected Meadow Grove, is not easy,” she stated. “It takes time, and you must be able to see the original natural pattern of the plants.”
“That does not seem complicated,” Surri said.
“It can be when the corruption is fighting back,” Leigh continued, keeping her voice level, not rising to Surri’s bait. Hall was proud of her. “The energy of the corruption is different from anything you have ever seen. It is opposite of the life energy of our world.”
“It is not of this world,” Sharra added. “The corruption of Meadow Grove was caused by demonic influence. Which it sounds like you are facing to the north. Demons come from another plane of existence, a realm called Tormor.”
Leigh and Sharra, along with her grandmother Mulah, had spent some time examining the last bits of the corruption in Meadow Grove. It had spread through the black iron nail infecting the Branch and through the corruption of Vertoyi. The plants, the Grove itself, had been infected with the energy of the demons. Without the constant flow of energy from the nail to Vertoyi to the Grove, the demonic energy had nothing to feed on. Which was what had allowed Leigh to start cleansing it.
Surri and Tello both looked at Sharra, glancing at Tulla in her cage. Their eyes rose, asking dozens of questions in a glance.
“I am of the Jaden Empire,” Sharra answered those questions. “We have been at war with the Desmarik Republic for a very long time. The Desmarik are demon worshippers and summoners. I have much experience with demons.”
That seemed to be good enough for the Druids. They still looked at Tulla, but Sharra offered no answers. The small fairy, glowing faintly violet, leaned forward in the cage, staring at the Wood Elves. She stuck out her tongue, causing Tello to smile and Surri to scowl.
Hall worked hard to keep from laughing. Guilvan just lifted an eyebrow at the fairy, who shrugged. Hall thought he saw a faint smile on the older man.
“The problem we will face is that with energy still flowing from the source, we will not be able to cleanse the infected areas. We might be able to stop it from spreading but would have to cut off the flow of energy at the source.”
All three of the Loch Hedn Druids’ faces fell, Surri’s becoming angry.
“The corruption spread from the Expedition Lumber Company’s town on the northern edge,” Surri growled. “There is no way we can get through all their forces to get there. We will not be able to stop the infection from spreading.”
Hall didn’t like her. He wasn’t
happy that she was to come with them, tempted to ask Guilvan to send someone else. But the Elder Druid knew his people. If he said Surri and Tello were the best, then they were the best and the most logical ones to send north. Hall figured somewhere along the way, someone would fix Surri’s attitude.
“How do you know the corruption started at Tradon Port?” Hall asked instead of what he really wanted to say to the Wood Elf.
Surri opened her mouth to respond, but a glare from Guilvan stopped her. The Elder Druid sighed, looking apologetically at Hall and Leigh.
“We do not,” he replied. “It is our best guess.”
“You may be right,” Hall told him. “But we won’t know until we go north and investigate. We might not need to assault Tradon Port.” He paused as a squirrel scampered into the clearing from the edge of the water. The small animal stood on its haunches, looking at the gathered people. It chittered twice and ran off, disappearing through the vines into one of the other rooms. Hall watched it go. “I know there isn’t another Grove in the Northern Territories but is there a…” He paused, trying to think of the right word. He wanted to say “holy,” but that wouldn’t work in Sky Realms Online. “A place where the land is more connected to the natural energy of the world?”
It didn’t sound right to him, but he hoped the point was made.
Guilvan must have understood. He shifted to face Tello and Surri, the three bending close together. They started talking quietly. Hall heard numerous places rattled off, each one examined and discarded. Finally Guilvan turned back to face Hall.
“There are numerous places in the north,” he began. “But we think it is Warfang Hill.”
Dain sat up straighter, recognizing the name. All eyes fell to the Ranger.
“Not as bad as having to go to Tradon Port but bad enough,” he muttered. “Warfang is between the northern shore of Graymalkin and the foothills of the Frost Tips. Deep in Expedition-controlled land.” He sighed, nodding. “But it makes sense if I understand what you all mean.”
“What is Warfang Hill?” Hall asked.
“The site of a bloody battle a hundred or more years ago,” Dain answered. “A clash between the Warfang Clan of Trow and the early human settlers of the area. The humans won but at great cost.”
“The Trow had long considered it a sacred site,” Guilvan continued. “It was where their Shamans had performed many of their tribal rites.”
“But no longer?” Leigh asked.
“Not for a long time,” Dain replied. “Especially now that the Expedition Company controls the area. The Trow were pushed back to the western Frost Tips soon after the Battle of Warfang Hill. We have long thought that the Trow chose that hill because of a strong connection to the world’s energy. We think a root of the World Tree might pass under it.”
Roots, sometimes called ley lines, were the energy of the world. The Branches of the World Tree kept all the islands floating in the skies of Hankarth, but it was the energy passing along the ley lines that provided the magical power that kept them aloft.
Hall pulled out his map, reaching into his inventory pouch for the physical representation. He laid it on the ground, smoothing the edges. The map showed the entire island of Edin, at least the outline of the island. Only the southwestern part was covered in detail, the areas where Hall had been. Nothing was shown on the southeastern side past the city of Auld, continuing up to the north. There were revealed lines from Skara Brae to Timberhearth Keep, but areas on either side of the path of travel were not shown. What was shown was incredibly detailed. There were numerous markers, small symbols reflecting villages, dungeons, caves, and anything else Hall had encountered.
“You are a Cartographer?” Dain asked, awed at the level of detail.
Hall nodded. “Where is Warfang Hill?”
Dain and Guilvan leaned forward. Both studied the northern edge of the island, fingers tracing along the jagged line, moving south to an area that showed nothing.
“Here, I believe,” Dain said. “It is hard to tell without the lake and mountains.”
“Have either of you been there?”
Both men shook their heads. Neither had.
Hall tapped the map where Dain had indicated, a small question mark symbol appearing.
Skill Gain!
Cartography Rank Three +.3
He rolled the parchment up, returning it to his pouch. Somewhere along the way would be someone who could direct them to Warfang Hill. In other games he’d been given stepped quests where you had to follow clues and learn more along each step until the final destination was revealed. As he thought about those old quests, a notification popped up in his vision.
Guilvan, Elder Druid of the Loch Hedn Grove, suspects that an old Trow sacred site, called Warfang Hill, could be where the source of the corruption is. Warfang Hill is deep in Expedition Lumber Company territory, and none of the Druids or Rangers have been there. You must seek out directions to locate Warfang Hill.
FINDING WARFANG I
Find someone in the Northern Territories who can provide directions to Warfang Hill 0/1
Rewards: +300 Experience
Accept Quest?
Getting the quest was a good indication the location was the right one, Hall thought as he mentally accepted it.
Chapter 29
Hall stopped. He could hear them just ahead.
A small patrol on a set route through the forest.
The Greencloak Rangers had led them north, first following the road to a small village called Eastshore. From there it was days of walking through the forest away from the road. Still two days from LakeEdge when the first Expedition Lumber Company forces had been seen. One of the Rangers, Ganner, had been out scouting. He’d rushed back to tell them. A four-member group. Archer, two fighters, and a caster of some kind.
Ganner hadn’t heard or seen any more, but they didn’t want to take chances.
Their group could easily overwhelm the patrol, but it could be loud.
Being so close to the occupied town, they needed stealth.
Hall and Dain had the group spread out, wrapping around the patrol. The edges would keep an eye out for more. Hall, Dain, Sharra, Ganner and Leigh had the patrol. Pike flew somewhere above, sharp eyes out for any other Expedition Company forces. Angus moved as quietly as a highland cow could.
He watched, seeing four figures step into view about a dozen feet away. All were human, two Gaels, a Storvgarde, and an Arashi. The Gael was the Archer, a bow held in one hand. A staff pushed aside some branches for the Arashi. From the dark robe and wand in the man’s belt, Hall assumed him to be a Witch. The other two were Wardens.
Each of the fighters wore mostly leather armor, metal plates attached at hips and chest. The two suspected Wardens wore pauldrons, the Archer didn’t. They were rough-looking men. There was no true uniform among them, the armor not matching. Each wore a black armband with a symbol stitched in white. A tree with two crossed axes behind it.
Hall waited for the signal.
The four Expedition Company soldiers weren’t in a tight group, spread out to walk around the trees. Spaced five to ten feet apart, the trunks rose tall, the branches thick overhead, blocking out most of the sun. No bushes or shrubs grew beneath, the ground littered with moss, pine needles and leaves.
None of the four were looking anywhere but forward.
Lazy, Hall thought, shifting his feet. Good for him, bad for them.
Skill Gain!
Identify Rank Two +.4
Expedition Bladeswinger (white)
Expedition Bladeswinger (white)
Expedition Longbowman (white)
Expedition Shadowcaster (white)
A bird’s call cut through the forest. Sharp and shrill. Three quick notes.
Hall stepped out from behind the tree he’d hid behind, activating Leap. He kept low, covering the distance quickly, arm covering his face to protect from the low branches. They snapped, his momentum pushing him through. The four soldiers looked up.
Using Leaping Stab, Hall’s weapon slammed into one of the Bladeswingers, knocking the man off balance. He landed in front of the Shadowcaster, his Attack of Opportunity from Leap giving him a clear attack. His spear shot forward, slamming into the Shadowcaster’s stomach. The soldier was caught by surprise. Activating Double Thrust, Hall hit him again, aiming higher with the spear, catching the Shadowcaster in the throat. The Expedition soldier fell to the ground.
He twisted to the side, ready to take on another soldier of the patrol.
There was no need. The others were dead.
Angus stood on top of one of the Bladeswingers, giving one last stomp.
SLAIN: Expedition Shadowcaster
+35 Experience (+35 Faction Enemy Bonus Experience)
SLAIN: Expedition Bladeswinger
+10 Experience (+10 Faction Enemy Bonus Experience)
Skill Gain!
Polearms Rank Three +.1
RETAKING THE NORTH I
Kill members of the Expedition Lumber Company 4/150
“Any others?” he asked.
Dain tilted his head, listening. The forest was silent.
“No,” the Ranger replied.
Hall dismissed the notifications, glad he had set the Expedition Lumber Company as a faction enemy for the Breakridge Irregulars.
Their allies to the sides closed in, signaling they saw or heard nothing either. Hall looked through the thick canopy at the sun, judging it to be midafternoon. They had a couple of hours before nightfall. Hall wasn’t thrilled with the idea of camping within the Expedition Lumber Company’s patrol radius. It meant no fire and double watch.
“We’re a couple of days from LakeEdge still,” Dain said to the gathered group.
They were in a circle, the other Greencloak Rangers on the outside, facing away and into the forest depths.