The party ventured into the fringes of the Stormwoods, where they soon encountered the local wildlife. A young Owlbear cub tumbled out of the underbrush, catching their attention. Responding with composure, the party offered some rations to the cub. Moments later, the mother Owlbear emerged and peacefully reclaimed her offspring.
As the group proceeded deeper into the forest, they encountered a dramatic shift in the landscape. They were greeted by the sight of enormous plant life, such as colossal mushrooms and towering trees.
The Grave Of A Grail Knight
Evidence of previous travelers became evident when they stumbled upon a wrecked carriage, which, upon closer examination, was identified as belonging to two hunters who had ventured into the woods in search of game. The party also skillfully avoided attracting the attention of a massive giant beast, responsible for the damaged carriage they discovered.
They came across a small encampment with two hunters who was looking for game, not far from their camp the group stumbled upon an ancient grave, the resting place of "Sir Nicholas Umeren Denova," a Grail Knights from nearly three centuries ago.
A mysterious gust of wind stirred Bartimaeus' curiosity, prompting him to venture into opening the sarcophagus. His companions offered assistance, and together, they revealed the remains of Bartimaeus' old comrade and brother in arms. Within the sarcophagus, they found a magical necklace and a peculiar stone seal, which they carefully retrieved before sealing the tomb once more.
As the wind subsided, the sky darkened, and the party decided to join the hunters at their modest camp for the night. With the arrival of nightfall, an unusual buzzing sound emanated from the vicinity of the encampment. This piqued Varis's interest, leading him to venture closer to investigate. He discovered small, dragon-like creatures buzzing in the moonlight. After a while, these creatures eventually departed, and the night progressed uneventfully as members took their respective shifts.
With the arrival of morning, Varis relayed his encounter with the strange creatures to the hunters. In response, they advised him to steer clear of them and provided him with a vial of holy water "just in case they sting," without offering further explanation.
The Old Ruin
The group gathered their belongings and resumed their journey. They had been traveling for what felt like hours when they began to suspect they were going in circles. The ever-changing woods made it hard to keep their bearings. Eventually, they stumbled upon a new path and realized they were close to their entry point into the forest. Ignoring the temptation to return, they pressed forward and came upon an ancient ruin.
As they approached the ruin, a powerful gust of wind suddenly pushed them away. A mysterious, ethereal figure materialized before them—an imposing elf woman wearing a mask, perched atop a majestic elk. She issued a stern warning, recounting how her kind had deceived travelers before and that entering the ruin would be perilous.
Despite the ominous warning, the party ventured into the ruins, finding themselves at the heart of the Stormwoods. They encountered a dilapidated bridge and, with Keiras resourcefulness, rigged a rope to aid their crossing. Their first challenge came in the form of a massive Flayer Rose, which ensnared Amelia and Varis in its roots while the rest of the group grappled with the menacing plant.
Further exploration led them to a sealed vault. Varis and Aislinne inspected the chamber, discovering a pile of bones near the entrance. Inside, they found a skeleton with a handwritten note that conveyed a chilling tale: "He deceived me, clouded my mind with false promises of greatness. I succumbed to these lies like a thirsty wolf near a pool of tar. I swear it wasn't me. He manipulated me, the voices... They took over. It wasn't me. I won't let him cause more harm. I'm so sorry. Maybe, with your grace, I'll finally find peace. Forgive me."
Encountering The Veloren Remnants
After some time, the party continued on their journey. Keira and Amelia, from a distance, practiced their archery skills on a distant plant target. As they moved forward, they neared another ruined archway, only to be abruptly halted by a hail of arrows and a command to stop. The words were spoken in Sylvan, a language that Keira understood. The voices fell silent when Keira attempted to ask questions, so the group decided to proceed. Beyond the archway, they discovered themselves in a small village. As they reached the center, armed elves confronted them, once again demanding that they leave. The party managed to initiate a dialogue, and it was revealed that the elves were led by a young girl named Nelvana Umeren, who extended a gesture of goodwill by preparing a powerful soup for them. Everyone partook in the meal, except for Kiera.
In the village, they encountered a statue of an elf-like woman, distinct from the rest of the inhabitants, with all the plants surrounding her wilted and dead. Nelvana explained that their connection and protection from their Queen had been lost about 2-3 months ago. During the same period, a human male and his group had visited the village, leading to chaos and the exodus of the villagers from the forest. A foreboding stone gate had been sealed with something malevolent inside.
Curious about the gate, the party approached it, only to be confronted by the same elven woman they had seen as a spectral figure before, this time in the flesh. She warned them to leave, but when Amelia introduced herself with her full name and her father's name, the woman recognized her surname and promptly threw a spear, piercing Amelia's chest. She revealed that the "Despoiler" the elves spoke of was none other than Amelia's father, accusing her of sharing in his crimes.
A tense situation was defused as the party was informed about the nature of the seal. The elven woman explained that whatever was locked behind the gate was causing the land's deterioration. She didn't know how, but it had already twisted the minds of several villagers, suggesting a more significant influence. Regardless, she adamantly refused to allow the party to enter.
Meanwhile, Kiera managed to sneak closer to the sealed gate, but the black root-like tendrils surrounding it touched and injured her, marking her, according to the Elf woman. In a desperate bid to save Kiera, Bart offered to cleanse her, initiating a prayer. Miraculously, his prayer was blessed by some distant rivers, causing harm to Kiera but persuading the Elf to permit the party to take her along.
Seeking a safe passage out of the Stormwoods, the party was directed by the Elf to an elder horned owlbear, which would guide them back to the main road. They decided to spend the night in the village with Neleva to rest after a challenging day.
Leaving The Stormwoods
The group awoke after a brief night's rest in the serene elf village. Their stay was short-lived, as they soon embarked on a journey through the dense forest, led by an elderly horned owlbear. They eventually found themselves back on a familiar trail, leaving the woods behind. Upon their return to the waiting carriage, they were immediately met with a disheartening sight.
Strewn across the ground were scattered papers, torn clothing, and broken crates. Their once-trusty horses were nowhere to be seen. Archibald, the loyal dog, lay amidst the chaos, bearing the marks of a brutal encounter. Surrounding this disarray were three distinct piles of sand, a sight familiar to some, though utterly perplexing to Mary Whispermouse.
She couldn't help but notice that this sand was unlike the local variety; it possessed an unnaturally fine and smooth texture, reminiscent of ocean sand. As the group inspected the scene further, they discovered the telltale sign of human involvement - blood droplets, serving as a grim reminder that foul play had transpired.