Episode 24 - A Sudden Farewell

The griffins drop off the party two days march from the Towering Wood. The weather resembles that of fall, not summer. A chill wind blows, sometimes from the north west, sometimes

from the north. The sun never peeks through dark clouds. The leaves on the trees have turned red and orange. Squirrels and other small animals of the forest frantically search for nuts and seeds. The feeling has returned that you are being followed.

Hagstone fears Fie's coat, saying, “I feel those eyes watching me night and day.” Thorn feels an itching sensation on his skin. No matter what he does, he can't seem to be rid of it.

Friends in the Woods

The party meets a group of three druids, Barras, Grinwell, and Emerson. Barras is Hagstone's aspirant, his commander. The other two are initiates and well-known to Hagstone. They serve a master druid, an eladrin called Wren. The druids look strangely at Fie. They ask about her bizarre coat. “What sort of dark magic is that?”

Barras says, “Monsters from Droaam are seen far into the woods. We have killed many worgs and ogres, but still they come. Strangely, they don't seem to be following a strategy. They aren't coming as an army but in small bands. This doesn't seem to be the doing of the three hags. The ogres seem almost maddened. They shout about killing eyes."

“Also, the unnatural winter grows worse. Snow now falls to the north and west of the Towering Wood. It will not let up, and it moves further south and east every day. Scouts say the weather is worst near the Shadowcrag mountains."

“Oalian summons all to a grand council. The high council has met and will inform all druids at the grand council about the threats to the natural order. We were in the south, monitoring Droaam.”

Barras must proceed to the east before he returns to Tower Wood. They must gather two young initiates that they left in an arbor nearby. Barras tells the heroes to continue to the north. Barras promises that he will be there in time for the council. Barras tells them to be careful. The forest is dangerous now.

The Coat whispers to Fie, “Don't trust them. They will turn on you. They will ambush you in the dark of the woods. My master will protect you from them. Go to the north.”

Faeries

The heroes hear music that is becoming all too familiar, and Hagstone says, “Faeries! They are upon us again. Why do you hound us, little folk?” But the tinyfaeries do not answer, as they emerge from the trees. Upon delicate wings they slowly fly around the group. A large number circle Fie. They look fearful until one flies up to the Coat of Eyes and pokes it with a finger and then darts away quickly. Then a few more try.

Another group of faeries circle Sypheros. They point, whisper, and giggle.

The heroes notice several female figures in the trees, peeking around tree trunks. They

appear to be staring at Sypheros.

A soft breeze begins to stir to leaves, and you hear what sounds like a voice, but you can't make out the words. Then the faeries depart, flying off into the woods.

Ogres, Wolves, and a Worg

The heroes feel vibrations through their feet and hear tree branches braking. Then they hear the snarl of wolves. As foes emerge from the trees, you recognize one as a worg, but its eyes have a strange red hue. The worg is flanked by two large gray wolves. Also emerging from the woods are two very large ogres wielding clubs. They stare at Fie and say, “Eyes! Kill eyes!”

The Faerie Queen

After dispatching the wolves and the worg, the ogres flee, and the party resumes its journey.

Many female figures emerge from the forest around the heroes. Most are eladrins and elves, but there are also a few humans. The group notices that their backs gape open to reveal what appears to be a hollow carved of wood rather than flesh, muscle, or bone.

One woman stands out. A beautiful, red-haired eladrin maiden appears before you. She wears a gown of green and gold. The heroes notice that her feet seem to barely to the leaves and branches of the forest floor. Her appearance is an illusion that some in the group see through. The see that her body is riddled with brambles and thorn-covered vines. They protrude from the flesh of her feet and back, trailing in the dust or sliding across nearby trees or hedges. Her nails and teeth are jagged bark, and her eyes ooze sap like constant tears.

She says to Sypheros, “Torrheval, I found you. I've waited all these years. Why did you not come back to me?”

Sypheros replies, "I don't know you, woman."

She continues, “Why do you reject me?! I was faithful. I waited through all the years of the war for your return. I loved no other. Nay, and I have taken no joy since the day you parted from me. Will you return with me to the Court of Stars?”

Sypheros says, "No."

She says, “Torrheval, do you not remember our time together in fair Thelanis? We rode, and lived, and loved, and we governed the Green Fey together. For a lifetime of these crude mortals, we were together. Return with me now to the Feywild.”

“While you were gone, I was faithful. I stood at the edge of the woods and awaited your return. I was so lonely. I ... changed. (her face grows dark. For a moment the heroes see what appear to be thorns and vines protruding from her skin. But then her face clears.) I built you a palace. Come with me now.”

Sypheros says, "No, I can't."

She cries, “Noooo! These mortals will die! And you will return to my palace!”

Then the women sieze the heroes, and the red-haired women pulls Sypheros away and then appears to melt into a tree, carrying Sypheros with her. The other women then vanish.

Shocked, the party searches for Sypheros but find nothing.

The Towering Wood

The trees growing increasingly large and ancient, And the heroes see more pine trees than before. The sky in the north and west is very dark. In the distance, the party sees a grove of trees that stands far taller than the surrounding trees, which is saying quite a lot, since all the trees in this part of the forest are tall and ancient.

Hagstone says, “There it is: the Stelling, the oldest part of the forest. It's there that we'll find Oalian.” As the heroes find their way toward the Stelling, they see a great community of orcs, elves, and humans who live in and around many of these ancient trees. Their homes are simple tents, lean-tos, slings, or platforms. Many dwell among the enormous tree roots or the most ancient, hollowed-out trees.

The inhabitants of the Towering Wood are afraid of Fie and her coat. They are also terrified of Hammer. They point in fear and say, “Is this not an abomination? Should machines walk around as men?”

The group is shown to quarters in a massive tree inn that is run by an elf named Yong. The heroes enjoy free rabbit stew and mead. They also meet Silvertop, the a wizard and purveyor of potions and various magics. They meet Stokell, a seller of various provisions.