As the sun dipped below the horizon, Dervish, Luna, and Sparrow decided to establish a camp within the tranquil forest of Soil Mother, nestled at the bottom of the cliff. While Luna set out to scavenge for food, she inadvertently ingested some of Soil Mother's spores, and soon, an unusual sensation washed over her—she began to hear the calling of the enigmatic entity herself.
As they travelled along a shimmering stream, the party stumbled upon a captivating fungal meadow that seemed to have an entrancing effect on Luna. Acting quickly, Sparrow intervened, saving Luna from falling deeper under the mesmerizing sway of Soil Mother's influence. Concerned for their friend's well-being, the group made a swift decision to turn back and seek help from the purifying portal in hopes of healing Luna from the spores' effects.
Before they could use the portal, a handsome devil approached them, offering assistance with Luna's affliction. However, Luna wisely declined the devil's offer, and with a mysterious smile, the creature vanished into the desert, leaving a promise to return.
Instead the party reached to the Toad Alchemist, who saw an opportunity to renegotiate the deal with Soil Mother and secure more hidden treasures. In exchange, he offered a healing concoction for Luna about .
Determined, the party returned to the forest, and with careful steps, they ventured toward the towering Red Oak, where they successfully retrieved the message they sought. Finally, they began negotiations with Soil Mother, discussing their intentions and presenting their offer in hopes of gaining access to more treasure locations.
After some deliberation, Soil Mother agreed to their terms, but in return, the heroes were tasked with carrying a seed of her essence to a distant place. Luna cast a ritual summoning a mouse to be infected by Soil Mother and secured the mouse in a jar. With the arrangements made, the party finally set out to return to the Toad Alchemist and finalize the agreed-upon terms.
But the adventures of our heroes were far from over. Their curiosity led them to explore nearby ruins, only to discover that accessing the ancient tombs within required either heavy machinery or advanced magic. With new challenges on the horizon, the heroes took a moment to gather their thoughts and plan their next moves.
As the Forest Dwellers concluded their exploration of the desert ruins, they found themselves mildly satisfied with the treasures they had uncovered. However, they couldn't shake the feeling that there should have been more to discover. As they prepared to depart, they struck a deal with the lizardfolk residing in the desert. The lizardfolk granted the Forest Dwellers the right to roam freely through the desert in exchange for access to a mysterious purifying portal. Seeing an opportunity, the heroes decided to piggyback on this treaty to safely travel to more common parts of the Royal Garden.
As the lizardfolk began to use the purifying portal, disaster struck. Some of the reckless young lizards lost their footing and tumbled down a cliff, falling into the warm embrace of the Soil Mother. This ancient entity now understood it had been played by the heroes and started plotting its revenge.