Into the Feywild
After the Battle of the Bulettes, Dala'gse, Ironica, and Nancy set off for Bask's grove. They found her in front of her rustic cabin dwelling in a beautiful copse of old growth trees. While Nancy warmed herself by the firepit on a roughhewn bench made of a downed log, Safad wandered back into the forest and followed the tracks to find the group.
Bask was very concerned for Nell, the girl violated by Kearn'an at her family farm, who Fendral had spirited away. She called up a few brown bear cubs whose mother she had befriended and had them cuddle Nell inside on sofa made of felted cushions stuffed with sheeps wool and extra warm blankets made of two layer of boiled wool with goose down in the middle. Nancy kept her company and played easy music, slowly coaxing her out of her state of shock.
Ironica delivered the Dogsbane and Pigweed and Bask went inside to mix the analeptic. She came out with three vials of the stuff. The group was a little confused. Wouldn't Dala'gse just be taking the stuff and be cured? Bask explained that Laudinsfös is made from the hisperin plant which has its origins in the Feywild, a Plane that exists in parallel to the Material Plane--a land of soft lights and wonder, music and death, that occupies the same cosmological space. The Feywild mirrors the Material Plane but amplifies its natural features. For Dala'gse to truly get rid of his addiction he had to cut out the roots from the source, and journey into the Feywild. While he could go alone, it can be an unpredictable place, and it was suggested that Bask accompany the larger group and help Dala'gse defeat anything he might encounter.
Bask, Safad, Ironica, and Dala'gse downed the elixir and waited. Nothing seems to happen at first but they all were drawn to an ant bumbling along, tracing the grooves of a boot track in the snow. The ant found a small hole in the footprint and crawled towards it. The hole slowly expanded, growing bigger and bigger and bigger. It finally opened wide enough to reveal, there in the dirt, an old stone staircase leading into the earth…
As they descended into the ground they saw light at the bottom of the staircase…except suddenly it seemed like it was actually the top of the staircase. They emerged into some primordial version of the forest they were just in—lush, choked with growth, late spring or summer time, slightly humid but not hot, and the light...it was this twighlighty fading golden hour.
They followed a path to a rock outcropping with a strange scene taking place on it. A large deer-like / goat-like / man was seated on a throne of antlers, flanked by two sprite/pixie guards standing to attention. In front of them, sobbing, were two humanoidish leaf creatures. Dala'gse explained that they are called Fortians, race of sentient leaves that raised him on an island called M'balu. The seated "king" introduced himself as a fauno and asked for their advice in administering judgement.
The fortians explained that they dwelt together in the same lodging while their partners were away fighting a war against invading creatures. One night, the first fortian explained that the other smothered her baby in her sleep and wickedly stole her living child, replacing it with the dead child. The second fortian claimed it was a lie, and to prove it showed the king the resemblance between her and the child she claimed was her's--unfurling her foliage hands to reveal a furry dwarf baby.
The king asked what he should do.
After some questioning, Dala'gse learned that one of the mothers was a weaver, the other a net-maker, and both would feel immense shame if the child did not grow up to carry on the family trade. It was a cultural thing. Safad toyed with the idea that the king should have a guard split the baby in two, each getting one half. Dala'gse decided the best thing for the baby would be to send it away to raise itself. The mothers were sad, but one stoically placed a tattered map over the child like a blanket as it was led away to a makeshift bassinet. The deer/goat/man king was pleased with the judgement.
The fortians were not and immediately transformed into strange alt-fortians that Dala'gse called Casters, those who had been outkast from Fortian society for their belief that Fortian creation was not divine will but a strange--albeit beautiful--accident. The fortians attacked, were ensnared and pinned down, and then disappeared. The king grinned and pointed the group down another path.
The path led to a cave set in the side of the mountain. Inside was illuminated by glowing fungi set in among the dripping vines and stalagmites / stalactites. A wooden bridge led over a deep turquoise pool rimmed with thick mangroves. Through the mangrove forest was a more open cavern with a Dala'gse looking creature was pinned against the wall halfway up, suspended by thick gnarled roots growing into the cave from the cavern ceiling. His face was covered in thick roots. The two Casters were perched on his shoulders, taking turns breathing onto his covered face.
The group flew at the strange scene, Ironica slaying the first Caster while Dala'gse smashed the second. The Dala'gse creature fell to the ground, the roots releasing him from their hold. Dala'gse helped him up only to realize the face was not his, but that of a crazed braying DONKEY with bull-like horns. It gored him and combat began.
Ironica sneaked around the back for a backstab. Safad cast magic missile. Bask lashed out with her magical staff. Dala'gse slammed it with his hammer of swirls. The Dalagtaur suddenly had a warhammer in his hands as well and pounded Dala'gse right back. Bask cast a spell on the creature, paralyzing it in place, while the group took turns battering it with their respective weapons. Rook drank deeply of its blood. Dala'gse finally smashed its head in with a lightning bolt punctuating the hit. The creature crumpled to the ground, defeated.
Dala'gse was free of his addiction.
Ironica found a potion of massive healing in the cave.
Bask led the group back to the gate to the Material Plane. They passed the granite court of the antlered king who told Dala'gse there exists an island, far to the west, where this realm and the material plane share a border. Dala'gse was from that island and all fey recognized its mark on him.
The group left the Feywild and back to tend to Nell.
Bask was very concerned for Nell, the girl violated by Kearn'an at her family farm, who Fendral had spirited away. She called up a few brown bear cubs whose mother she had befriended and had them cuddle Nell inside on sofa made of felted cushions stuffed with sheeps wool and extra warm blankets made of two layer of boiled wool with goose down in the middle. Nancy kept her company and played easy music, slowly coaxing her out of her state of shock.
Ironica delivered the Dogsbane and Pigweed and Bask went inside to mix the analeptic. She came out with three vials of the stuff. The group was a little confused. Wouldn't Dala'gse just be taking the stuff and be cured? Bask explained that Laudinsfös is made from the hisperin plant which has its origins in the Feywild, a Plane that exists in parallel to the Material Plane--a land of soft lights and wonder, music and death, that occupies the same cosmological space. The Feywild mirrors the Material Plane but amplifies its natural features. For Dala'gse to truly get rid of his addiction he had to cut out the roots from the source, and journey into the Feywild. While he could go alone, it can be an unpredictable place, and it was suggested that Bask accompany the larger group and help Dala'gse defeat anything he might encounter.
Bask, Safad, Ironica, and Dala'gse downed the elixir and waited. Nothing seems to happen at first but they all were drawn to an ant bumbling along, tracing the grooves of a boot track in the snow. The ant found a small hole in the footprint and crawled towards it. The hole slowly expanded, growing bigger and bigger and bigger. It finally opened wide enough to reveal, there in the dirt, an old stone staircase leading into the earth…
As they descended into the ground they saw light at the bottom of the staircase…except suddenly it seemed like it was actually the top of the staircase. They emerged into some primordial version of the forest they were just in—lush, choked with growth, late spring or summer time, slightly humid but not hot, and the light...it was this twighlighty fading golden hour.
They followed a path to a rock outcropping with a strange scene taking place on it. A large deer-like / goat-like / man was seated on a throne of antlers, flanked by two sprite/pixie guards standing to attention. In front of them, sobbing, were two humanoidish leaf creatures. Dala'gse explained that they are called Fortians, race of sentient leaves that raised him on an island called M'balu. The seated "king" introduced himself as a fauno and asked for their advice in administering judgement.
The fortians explained that they dwelt together in the same lodging while their partners were away fighting a war against invading creatures. One night, the first fortian explained that the other smothered her baby in her sleep and wickedly stole her living child, replacing it with the dead child. The second fortian claimed it was a lie, and to prove it showed the king the resemblance between her and the child she claimed was her's--unfurling her foliage hands to reveal a furry dwarf baby.
The king asked what he should do.
After some questioning, Dala'gse learned that one of the mothers was a weaver, the other a net-maker, and both would feel immense shame if the child did not grow up to carry on the family trade. It was a cultural thing. Safad toyed with the idea that the king should have a guard split the baby in two, each getting one half. Dala'gse decided the best thing for the baby would be to send it away to raise itself. The mothers were sad, but one stoically placed a tattered map over the child like a blanket as it was led away to a makeshift bassinet. The deer/goat/man king was pleased with the judgement.
The fortians were not and immediately transformed into strange alt-fortians that Dala'gse called Casters, those who had been outkast from Fortian society for their belief that Fortian creation was not divine will but a strange--albeit beautiful--accident. The fortians attacked, were ensnared and pinned down, and then disappeared. The king grinned and pointed the group down another path.
The path led to a cave set in the side of the mountain. Inside was illuminated by glowing fungi set in among the dripping vines and stalagmites / stalactites. A wooden bridge led over a deep turquoise pool rimmed with thick mangroves. Through the mangrove forest was a more open cavern with a Dala'gse looking creature was pinned against the wall halfway up, suspended by thick gnarled roots growing into the cave from the cavern ceiling. His face was covered in thick roots. The two Casters were perched on his shoulders, taking turns breathing onto his covered face.
The group flew at the strange scene, Ironica slaying the first Caster while Dala'gse smashed the second. The Dala'gse creature fell to the ground, the roots releasing him from their hold. Dala'gse helped him up only to realize the face was not his, but that of a crazed braying DONKEY with bull-like horns. It gored him and combat began.
Ironica sneaked around the back for a backstab. Safad cast magic missile. Bask lashed out with her magical staff. Dala'gse slammed it with his hammer of swirls. The Dalagtaur suddenly had a warhammer in his hands as well and pounded Dala'gse right back. Bask cast a spell on the creature, paralyzing it in place, while the group took turns battering it with their respective weapons. Rook drank deeply of its blood. Dala'gse finally smashed its head in with a lightning bolt punctuating the hit. The creature crumpled to the ground, defeated.
Dala'gse was free of his addiction.
Ironica found a potion of massive healing in the cave.
Bask led the group back to the gate to the Material Plane. They passed the granite court of the antlered king who told Dala'gse there exists an island, far to the west, where this realm and the material plane share a border. Dala'gse was from that island and all fey recognized its mark on him.
The group left the Feywild and back to tend to Nell.
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