View

Perennials

by Rick

The wolves were on us like locusts to fresh grain.

Curie, the wild mage, was the first to fall. I was the second: "This is not the sweet embrace of the earth I wanted..."

"It was day, and then it was night, and now it is day once more. Serenrae and Desna be praised."

The quiet was broken again by the earth in strife:

The ground shook, the earth swelled. It was like a beautiful nightmare, all twisted of dirt and bone and rotten things. The form became humanoid, towering over us all -- and it introduced itself as a guardian of this place. Grateful, it pointed us northwards.

My new friends spoke to it, as I stared wide-eyed and slack-jawed. "Verdant Tailweaver," came its name.

Verdant took us northwards with him, the greens parting from his way. Once we were near to his goal, his body let go of dirt and greenery until Verdant's form became not dissimilar to ours.

On the way, Lily would explain to me that we had met a leshy, a plant-creature that is more common than we conrasu are.

He was soooo cooool.

Welcome to Erta

Verdant had brought us to Erta, a town under his protection.

Lily spotted an abandoned-looking church, which Curie and I stuck our heads into while we walked further into town. The signs within looked like a journey: an old road well-travelled. "But not something I recognize..."

Venrick found a general store, and dropped some coin for clothes, rags, and the like.

Mana found the tavern, The literal Good Place. Everyone (save Lily) grouped there, exchanging food, curatives, and good energy. I took some time outside, to take in Erta's atmosphere and feel the sun on my shoulders.

I broke meditation when I spotted a familiar face: Verdant, striding through the earth. As un-awkwardly as possible, I scooted past the leshy to rejoin my friends and hide my embarrassment.

Verdant Tailweaver had a proposition for us: we had run into the hobgoblin bandits earlier, and there were more bandits to be hunted. He hinted at a bandit leader and possible hideout within a day's travel of Erta.

Our leshy friend also mentioned the existence (and bandit attacks on) homesteads outside of Erta, a few farms and the like.

We listened on, with a few rounds of wine and much patching-up of the party. It was nice, to share food and drink and that feeling of sibling-care amongst new friends.

Greg, the Farmer

Well-rested, we grouped up and decided to visit the farmstead. Later in the day, we would find a pack animal to help us travel as well.

Greg was an interesting creature, humanoid and insect-like. I did not like him.

He told us about the bandits, and their leader with a broken-circles tattoo on the cheek. He also told us of a building to the north: a structure with new plant life surrounding it. "Them's torches 'r newly lit," Greg intoned solemnly.

Continue reading...

Germination
04.18.22

Perennials
04.25.22

Chaff
05.02.22

Honeyclover
05.09.22

Corpse-Finder
05.30.22

Deadnettles
06.08.22

Glorybower
06.20.22

Cutworm
06.27.22

Rock Tripe
07.12.22

Oleander
07.25.22

The Olive Branch
08.01.22

Blackwood
08.08.22

Snakewood
08.15.22

Chrysanthemum
08.29.22

Duskpetals
09.05.22

Star Petunia
09.12.22

Pleated Inkcap
09.19.22

Wheat
10.03.22

Sprouts
10.17.22

Mimic Orchid
11.07.22

Broken Stems
11.21.22

Hemlock
11.28.22

The Black Bat Flowers
12.12.22

Miner's Hollyhock
01.09.23

Pyrophytic Moss
01.16.23

New Light's Gazania
02.06.23

Dark Hedge Holly
02.27.23

Perennials

Welcome to Erta

Greg, the Farmer

Continue reading...

Find your way!

Resources

WHO WE ARE

LEGAL

Get the news

Listen to our Podcast

Our Allies