As the dawn rose across the old woods Braz was struck by a sudden feeling that this dawn was not just for a new day, but lit the paths to the future.
With the escape from the temple of Demetria, as well as the chaos and destruction her crazed grief had wrought, Braz felt a sense of lightness and joy to be surrounded by the souls she had tried to take and a renewed commitment to the oath he had sworn.
Progress through the Oldwoods was slow with such a large and varied group but the young folk were fun and playful. They spoke incessantly in a patois of seemingly contradictory phrases. Being out of his depth socially was not new to Braz. Since he had left the quiet and routined life of the village with a plan to find a permanent solution to the menace that had brought poverty to his home and kin he felt surrounded by ill-ease and discomfort, like having a stone in his hoof. However he had also started to see the joy and life of the youth around him, different and more chaotic than the bustle of the city but no more alive, equal in value and he felt a warmth of gratitude to be surrounded by these strange and elusive beings in the pit of his 4 stomachs.
The journey was long but it passed in the blink of an eye as Braz learnt some of the words and phrases the young folk used - he was unsure why they laughed so much, perhaps it was his pronunciation, but he continued to use the phrases, describing things that bought him pleasure as completely “Bambals” and greeting people with a cheerful “Chizzy Deeps!” whenever the opportunity arose.
The long day on the path led the party into a small village. The houses squat and shrunken. As they walked into the town the residents, all gnomes, were distressed. This common feeling led Braz to fade back into the ranks of youngsters, allowing the others to converse with the town.
Theo and Helikaon disappeared into the village and were seen heading towards the river but their time away felt brief in the light and breeze that was so different to the stifling underground lair they had been in so recently.
The party reconvened and were informed that there was a group of poachers outside the village who had been destroying the forest and bothering the fine folk of Woodhike. Although Braz was always pleased to help out those in need it was evident in Theo’s eyes that this was not a normal stoppage and that this place meant a lot to him. The party went to aid the town.
As they journeyed deep into the wood the party were able to blend into the forest surroundings thanks to the magic of their centaur guide. Before long they came into contact with a 12ft one-eyed brute - Stelios. The party showed kindness when he spoke about his bullying associates who used him for protection for their poaching activities the party took pity on him and Calliope entertained and enthralled him with the tambourine.
Confronting the poachers was swift. They talked up their power but when it was apparent they had been castrated of their might through kindness they fled, never to return.
The Gnomes of Woodhike were initially reluctant to care of Stelios but understood the relation could be symbiotic and agreed to care for him, and him for them.
The party continued on the path to Estoria. As they approached a storm was forming overhead - a flash of silver and a thunderous voice declared the presence of Gaius. Atop his dragon mount and surrounded by the image in the clouds of Sydon himself he commanded the party to give up their quest.