Onwards towards the west

Following her mother’s advice to keep a low profile for the remainder of our visit and stay out of trouble, Liliana suggested that we might spend the day showing the Colline siblings the town. This worked out well for us as Onvyr had delivered us some news during breakfast. Sadly the remainder of the journey would be made with a reduced group. As the merchants and their guards decided to stay behind and return back to Tarn. However that was their choice and there nothing we could say to change their decision. So we decided that since we no longer had to wait for them to peddle their wares, we would leave the following day and make for the Logvale. A logger’s camp around 7 days into the Lorewood and the next stop on our trip to Keralon.
 
So with that news, we went our way to enjoy the sight of Hillfield. Acting like a normal toerist under the skilled care of the De La Roost siblings. However despite our intend to stay out of trouble, it was not to be. For it quickly became apparent to most of us that we were being followed. Just as I was about to make a move to separate myself from the group in order to flank our pursuiter, Hayley simple turned around and walked towards the cloaked figure. As I stated before, Hayley can be quite bold. And while I appreciate that quality of her, I due sometimes worry that it will lead her into troublesome situations.
 
Sensing that she was spotted, the hooded figure attempted to dash away from us into an alley. But to no avail, as we quickly caught up to her. Despite her cloak, it was obvious from her stature that we were dealing with a Satyr. My apologies, I need to correct myself. The correct term for a female Satyr is a Faune if I am correct. She immediately called out to Ileas, who was most surprised when she removed her hood. This was Griselda, a childhood friend of Ileas whom he knew when he still lived with his old tribe. She had recognized him and wished to speak with him. That was why she was following us, in order to wait for an opportunity to do so privately. Out of respect, we took some distance so they could have their talk. But just to be safe, considering our earlier trouble with satyrs, I decided to keep my guard up. What can I say, these ears aren’t just for show and besides, their voices carry.
 
She explained to Ileas that while their tribe allied themselves with the baron in his rebellion against Keralon, they had a good reason for doing so. For he had promised that if they help him, he would return unto them their ancestral lands. Lands that currently belong to Hillfield. However because he fighting had gotten worse lately, she hoped for Ileas his assistance. In fact she wished for him to bring a package to the guards. Inside was an offer of truce between them and the Satyr tribe and seeing that Ileas was on close footing with the De La Roosts, she figured that he might more look than her in successfully delivering it. sensing no double cross, Ileas accepted the parcel. Upon which Griselda told him that if he wished to speak further, she would be staying in an old watchpost just outside of town.
 
When she left, Ileas returned to us and explained the situation. However despity Ileas his faith in his old friend, we agreed that it would be a good idea to inspect the package first. And a good thing that we did as Luke was quick to point out that there was a strong magical aura on it. An evocation aura, meaning that the parcel was most likely a bomb. News severely depressed Ileas and who can blame him. And it is here that I would like to interject my own opinion in regards to the matter. For while the issue concerning the return of their ancestral lands is an extremely complex one, I do not fault them for their wish for independence. Afterall, the ability to make your own choices and chart the course of your life is the only true freedom that we have. What I due fault them for is the way the go about doing this. If your plan consists of attacking civilians that have no way of fighting back against you, it might not be a bad idea to revisit your plan and see if there might be a better way to go about it. And while that action is deplorable beyond a doubt, it is still not as bad as the implications of their master plan. The idea of using an offer of truce as a cunning trap to kill your enemies is so abhorrent to me, that I cannot even fathom why anyone would consider this a good idea. It might not seem that this is worse than the killing of innocent citizens, but trust me when I say that this action holds greater consequences. For whenever some tactical genius comes up with it, it cheapens the value of a truce for all of history. For whenever you give a new offer of peace following this, people will worry that this might be a trap. Causing even a genuine offer to be dismissed out of hand simple because it cannot be trusted. Resulting in more lives being lost throughout the channels of history. So no, while I can understand with their motives. I cannot agree or tolerate the actions that they had chosen to achieve them.
 
So we delivered the package to Berris, whom quickly had a wizard dispose of it. however as we explained the situation to him, Hayley once more surprised us. For she explained that Griselda would not be found at the guard post that she mentioned. But instead could be found at a local pastry shop called Sylvan Pastries. When asked how she knew this, she simple smiled and stated that these are simple things that a witch just knows. So Berris despatched some guards in order to arrest them. He would also send some guards to the guard post just in case. The raid at she shop was a success and he informed us that several rebels were arrested thanks to this.
 
This did little to alleviate the heartache that Ileas was feeling following this betrayal of course. And Liliane and Alistan spend most of the remaining day trying to console him. In order to change the topic, Luke wished to have another crack at identifying the menhir that was located in the garden of the De La Roost manor. However lady De La Roost had anticipated this and made sure to have a guard placed their at all times. And despite Alistan his best efforts, there was no going against his mothers orders. A lesson that every child learns at one point in their life.
 
The remainder of the day went by rather uneventful. With one small exception of course. Onvyr explained to us that he had managed to find another companion for our journey. A dwarf whom had run into some trouble in town and that had to leave rather quickly. I don’t think it takes a genius to guess the suspicion that we were all having at that point. But we decided that what would be would be.
 
The next day, after we said our goodbyes to Mathilda and thanked her for her kind care, we were surprised to see Onvyr shouting at Edward. It seems that the young lord ad decided to dismiss his guards. Which was a problem, as Onvyr had been counting on their presence in order to help guard the caravan. But Edward had been tired of running around with a couple of essentially babysitters and considered the matter closed. Frustrated, Onvyr let the matter be for now. But while I understand Edward, I distinctively remember hoping that we would not come to regret this brash decision. A feeling not helped by the sight of the usually calm and collected Onvyr stomping away in anger.
 
Fortunately, the De La Roost twins were able to change the subject by telling us of an offer that their mother had made. It seems that she had used considerable resources in order to have her children travel to Keralon by means of teleportation. An offer that they were quick to refuse as they wished to continue traveling with us. A good thing they did as I am sure that had they told us that they would be leaving us, I think we would have seen Onvyr spontaneously combust at the spot. So despite her best wishes, Alistan and Liliana chose to remain with the bad influence of their friends. But I do feel that I must clarify something. I have described Lady De la Roost in a rather negative light and I should clarify. While I admit that our first impression might not have been the best for both sides. Especially with the revelation of Liliana her fate and the breaking if her very nice bedroom door by Alistan. I do not consider her as villainous as I have made her out to be. I believe that she is simple a mother trying to do right by her family. And while I do not agree with some of her choices and actions, I can at least respect that much.
 
But to get back on track, we then met up with our new travel buddy. And as you might have expected, this was indeed one of the dwarves we had confronted in the sewers. It was in fact Dorr, the leader of the dwarves, who had decided to join us. As you can imagine, he was surprised to see us again. And while he might have preferred different company, I due believe that he did not really have a choice in the matter. So with three carts now remaining, we decided to head out towards the west. To Lorewood, Logvale and Keralon.
 
Now I would like to say that our first day back on the road was rather uneventful, but that would be a lie. For besides the constant threat of a storm brewing overhead, we quickly came upon a sight that invited trouble. At a crossroads in the distance, I spotted three horses a bit of the road. Horses that, according to Alistan, bore the mark of Hillfield. But with no sign of their riders in sight. Upon reflecting, we surmised that these most likely belonged to the guards that were send to inspect the guard post that Griselda mentioned earlier. Despite my reservations so split up the group, Onvyr assured us that there would be no problem if they simple placed the carts a bit of the road while they waited for us as we made our way to the guard post. And with that assurance, I started following the tracks.
 
It did not take us to long to find the small tower in the distance. Though it did seem like it has seen better days, as the roof had partly collapsed due to the passage of time. The first thing that we noticed were the clear signs of battle. Marks that were covered with drag marks, satyr hoofprints and the claw marks of a large catlike creature. As we made our way towards the tower, Griselda came outside to greet us. Or more precisely Ileas. She explained to him, that it was never the plan to hurt him. That she knew that when he handed the parcel, they would gather the council first. And that when they opened it, they would have removed the snake’s head. Which would bring them one step closer to getting back the lands they stole from their tribe. All without hurting him. This I found to be complete folly. For while that may or may not have been her intend, the moment she failed to inform him of his role in the plan, she deemed him as an acceptable sacrifice. But for Ileas his peace of mind, I choose not to reveal this.
 
Ileas implored her to stand down as it was not yet too late and that they could resolve this peacefully. But she could not believe that he stand against her and their tribe. To be with the people who stole him away. But despite all this, she stated that if we were to simple turn around and leave, she would let us go. But that was something that Ileas could not do. So he turned to Alistan and asked him what he would do. Alistan stepped forward and told her that she would need to come back to town and be judged for her crimes. A notion that did not sit right with her as she called out in Sylvan. Yelling attack, as a giant displacer beast jumped out of the tower.
 
It was at this moment that I was overwhelmed with a feeling of confidence and assurance. That even as I stared down this predator that moved towards me, that there would be nothing to fear. That I would not stand alone in my time of need. And as this feeling of reassurance grew ever stronger inside of me, I raised my hand and whispered in Sylvan “grow”. And with that, I casted my first spell. Now as you know, magic can generally be divided into three forms. Here is arcane magic, divine and finally primal. Now I’m not even going to try to explain the first two as either Luke, Hayley or Ileas are better equipped to explain the mysteries of arcane magic. Just as Liliana can give you a better idea on the nature of the divine powers that she can tap into. But primal magic, is in a league of its own. For primal magic, is a force that surrounds all of us. It is the hands of the father, protecting us as we take our steps in life. It is the embrace of the mother, shielding us from the cold around us. When calling out to it, we not only fill ourselves with the essence of the spirits surrounding us. But we also come to understand just how delicate and beautiful it all is. We feel the passion of the fire inside us, the resolve of the earth we stand on, the intuitiveness of the water surrounding us and the freedom of the air above us. The reason I am telling you all this is so that you have a proper idea of what emotions filled me when the magic flowed onto my words to guide the spirits to influence the plants around Griselda and the displacer beasts to grow and restrain them.
 
Unfortunately, while it slowed her down, it failed to restrain Griselda for long. As she quickly broke free and dashed into the forest. And despite the valiant attempts of Hayley and Alistan to stop her, she was long gone before we knew it. Fortunately I had more success with the displacer beast itself. Allowing us to quickly dispatch it without much difficulty.
 
We then inspected the tower itself and sadly indeed found the remains of the guards inside. Not wanting them to remain here, Hayley used her raven in order to send word to Hillfield to inform them of their fates. Afterwards we returned to the others and continued our way towards the west.