Session 8: A matter of perspective Report

General Summary

"To believe in faeries is to step into an enchanted space where the rational mind meets the irrational heart, and all things become possible."

-Brian Froud             The greatest thing a leader will be known for is not the battles they won or lost but the choices they make. This is what Darius Clay had to do, make a choice. The people of White Gold Hot Springs had no idea what was going on and yet he and his companions knew only that the fae was trying to get them to choose. The trip back from the expedition to the Spider Fae of the Forest of Crows was not what they had expected. Each of the groups had mixed feelings about the fae, but they had to make a choice to either side with the spiders and have peace with them or to work with the crows to do something that they didn't understand.       After they had rested in peace by the hot springs the party thought it was time to make a choice on the matter of the fae. They called down a crow and by the use of magic spoke to it once again. They demanded an audience with the crow's leader and they responded by flooding the mind of Kellen with the diagram for an item they wanted to be made and brought to a place in the northern part of the forest. Having agreed to this the spider known as Envoy was told that they'd not accept the offer and it replied that they had two days before everything returned to as it was.       The diagram was complex but allowed for some supplemented materials for its construction. Darius Clay agreed to craft the parts at the bush forge and others went out to collect clay for molds to cast in. By the end of the second day, they had crafted this odd device that weighting at twelve pounds was ready, or at least they thought it was. Having completed the task and ready to travel the group selected the best of them to travel across the forest to the northern reaches.       The trek from the springs was slow, but the scouts allowed for the best routes possible within the thick brush and trees. Taking nearly two days to get to the clearing they found what they were looking for. Beyond the perfect ring of trees lie a small stone structure, rings of stone and stacked in a circle to create archways for smaller folk. Reaching the inner area was a fae ring of mushrooms around a small mound of grass. On the top of the mound was a metallic bar handle where a crow rested.       Only a few of the members of the party went forward to avoid danger and do not seem as aggressive. The crow awaited them and as the spell was cast to speak with it the entire group who entered the circle now found that they too could speak with this creature. The magic was a surprise to Geoff Whalerman who for the first time in his life was able to speak with animals. The group spoke for only a few moments before the crow mentioned them to pull on the bird's perch. The smallfolk of the group did so and soon a metallic hatch was reviled going deep within the ground. It was a metal shaft with handholds within the wall, yet it was clearly very old but no signs of rust could be found.        Having no better choice than to go below with the part they had made they slowly started the descent into darkness. Once they reached the end of the shaft they found that the very floor and walls were highly crafted metalwork. Before anyone was able to light a torch the lower sides of the walls began to glow a soft white. Having no place to go but forward they continued onward until they reached a place where a collapsed area was. Nearby a panel was highlighted by the lights. They opened the panel to reveal a part like the one they crafted was slag from some kind of energy. Darius Clay and Kellen CrazyFire Folkor got to work removing the damaged part and stowing it away before installing the new part. Each step was dangerous yet they were able to place it in and connect it up before an arch of lightning hit both of them. The gnome was sent crashing into the wall as his tools were glowing hot in his hands. Lord Darius for a moment was still attached to the equipment before stumbling backward. With both surviving and the part in place, the area began to rumble back to life. The sounds of liquid slowly began to move once again within the pipes of the hallway until it was a rushing of liquid.       Having nothing more to do below and nowhere to go but up they ascended to the surface. The crows have long gone from the ring and the task complete they now assumed that the choice was made now. The Forest of Crows and the crows themselves might very well be allies.