ruthste

Dear High Druid Skywise

I had a strange dream, again repeating over a number of nights and, as always, welcome your guidance. I climbed a tree and found myself walking on clouds towards a castle. Then a harpy flew over and I followed it to a wooded area where I found bears fighting zombies. The final night, I was able to act on my own desires rather than seeming to follow a script and choose to help the bears alongside another druid (I think the local, Thunder Claw). Once the zombies were destroyed, the bears invited us to join their picnic.

Obviously dream interpretation could take this many ways except, a couple of days later and with the grove settled, I attended my first full patrol here and began to understand the strange conversations I've overheard around here.

We were assigned to escort the local Lieutenant to a council meeting of the tree-ents. I don’t think she really needed our help but maybe more things would’ve tried to attack her if she’d been on her own. There were a handful of people I’d previously met and a couple of strangers but everyone was really friendly (maybe a little too friendly in the case of the half-orc, whose as high-pitched as the local sprites - at least she wasn’t one who leant their metal axes against the tree I was healing from though Pathfinder Undsee did apologise after I pointed it out).

We encountered one of the anarchy storms, this one with mostly mud woses, presumably because it’s been too wet for anything else but that was a minor nuisance before the main proceedings.

In order for the Lieutenant to reach the council in good time, we had to travel into the dreamworld (which I’m told isn’t fae, but it definitely has a lot in the common with Cethlan’s island). We did this by taking the cat 'bus' as I described to you from my previous dreams.

In the dreamworld it was already spring and we found ourselves in the middle of a desert area. We were attacked by sand sharks, which were constructs not natural animals (inasmuch as any of the creatures of the dream realm are strictly natural).

Moving on, apparently more through applied will than actual fixed paths, we encountered - yes, bears being attacked by zombies. They didn't look exactly like the ones from my dream, but close enough that I couldn't discount the whole thing having really happened.

We fought more undead, some more constructs, and a castle with moving walls, to reach the magic mirror which took us to the tree-ents’ council place. (I didn't have a chance to speak to them but they certainly were impressive).

We were directed to rest in a nearby area, which had a little farmhouse in it, which turned out to be connected to the dreamworld and a tornado of dreamstuff picked it up and carried us back into its realm, back into the sands.

We found a strange market, (of course I didn't eat or drink anything), fought several more groups of undead - including at least two harpies, ended up playing some strange game in order to destroy some shadows. I think I missed the explanation for how we knew where to find them but it seemed we were assisting allies previously made by other patrols and then were finally guided to a portal back to near the Coach House.

Assuming the others are correct and that none of this is fee-related, do you have any advice on handling it?

Yours in nature
Eilwen

Arch Druid Skywise

I am happy to say our efforts have been successful and the mysteriously appearing islands are now one.

Sent out to collect components for the balance ceremony required to restore the balance of nature, we fought past shadows and elementals taking form with bones. The strength of the animals aided me in this.

Later, finding ourselves in rat- and spider-infested tunnels, I was able to use my empathy to determine the animals were merely hungry. The Arborian Emissary was again present and wanted to control them, trying to persuade the freedom followers amongst us that this enslavement was preferable to killing them, without any attempt at driving them off first (which did later work). I pointed out that his suggestion was not only immoral but also illegal but didn’t find much support.

As we prepared for the ceremony the Emissary again conversing with the creature, Rhonech, this time about learning dark magic. Several other patrollees also seemed strangely fascinated by this school, having no apparent understanding of its danger.

The ceremony to merge the islands involved us all taking on aspects of the three islands. I was assigned to the original island, with myself and my companions being somewhat disconcertingly veiled in shadow and the form of Rhonech’s dog-elementals. We fought off elementals, empowered the circle and performed the necessary rites.

The ceremony was a success, with the three groups drawn back together.

It seems the entity Rhonech is likely dead (or returned to its own plane) and with the issue resolved, it appears they will be dissolving this patrol group.

I hope to return before the solstice.

Yours
Acolyte Eilwen

Arch Druid Skywise
The Green Wood
Ludshire

I attended another patrol, again joined by the Arborian emissary and the eastern Paladin. Another druid has arrived at our camp but she didn’t join us so I haven’t yet had the chance to spend any time with her.

I forgot to mention a couple of things about the island in my last letter. Firstly there are standing stones on it – don’t worry, they’re not magical or miraculous like the Shire stones but are apparently records of agreements between different groups previously living here. One of them mentions a treaty between Amazons and orcs – perhaps you could ask Tempest if she’s ever heard any legends of this place?

Also, we found a box with flint arrow heads which are apparently part of why the Arborian emissary is /here/ because they are being smuggled into/out of Arboria (I’m not sure which and I didn’t want to ask him too many questions).

So, we ended up inside the island with the elemental beasts – but for their coloration I could have thought them cwn Annwn – who could understand us, if not easily communicate.

They led us to the entity called Rhonech. It (he?) isn’t a deity exactly but probably close enough. They can grant miracles from the four principles along with Balance (or so they claim, but we saw evidence of Life and Order castings at least). More disturbing they also cast from the school of darkness. Some of our patrol, including the Arborian emissary, appeared to see no problem with this but I was cautious.

Rhonech claimed the wood- and sand-woses were unnatural and came from the new island which is damaging reality. They wanted to make bargains with us to deal with it for him. Although I’m not completely sure he can be trusted, it certainly bore investigating so I I volunteered to join the group which went though I didn’t agree to any deals.

We defeated a number of goblins, a hobgoblin demonologist and several probable-demons, allowing the local Defenders to reach the island and wipe out the rest of the goblins.

I continue to observe the Arborian emissary. This time I saw him cast actual dark druidism to control animals – rats and spiders attacking us in the dark tunnels between islands. I can’t deny it was in reasonable self-defence and he sent them away after, but it left me uneasy, especially after he had also spoken privately and at length to Rhonech. He also spoke to the soul of the dead hobgoblin demonologist who apparently said the new island had been dead for many years. I’m sure we’ll be investigating this in more detail in the coming weeks.

As always, I welcome your advice.

Yours
Acolyte Eilwen

**

Orc/Amazon Stone

Me, Rutzik Icebite, King of Icebite clan, leader of all orcs, goblins, half-bloods and whole bloods, declare that the land between the big rivers to the south of our lands belong to the so-called Mother of Mothers and her women until 100 years pass and a new orc champion challenges the women’s champion and wins. We will not raid these lands again until that day.
_____

[Missing – a similar declaration made in good faith by representatives of the Mother of Mothers.]

Greenfolk/Gnome Stone

Ancient boughs agree
To raise no anger
At the underhill
As long as they raise none in kind
While the Sun or Moon
or stars cast shadow.
_____

Whilst Sun or Moon or Stars cast Shadow, we, the high court of the Prince-tinker of the Gnomes
Shall ne’er cast or make war upon the green Folk of the Forest
Or their descendants and their kin
And leave the overhill to them and theirs

Hassani Jackal/Ram Stone

Jackal people, be it known that from this day forth, we are to not attack, harass nor harry the people of the Hassani Rams. They, in return, will no longer attack, harass nor harry our people. On Rhonech, we swear.
_____

People of the Hassani Rams, by order of the General, we are to bear no arms against the people of the Jackals at this time. On Rhonech, we swear.

Fae/Ogre Stone

We, the forest folk of the mountain of sparrows hereby put our differences aside with the oldest of the magi, the ogrekin of the sky city. Should the followers of the star gods, practicers of necromancy and other arts find us in breach of this truce, in word or spirit, they may appear to Rhonech for arbitration and we will accept the decision.
_____

We, the chosen of the stars, blessed with the strength of body and of mind, do accept the folk of sparrow mountain’s peace and truce, and we will take no further direct or indirect actions against them. The sky city shall never go within fifty leagues of the peak of the mountain. If the satyrs and nereids find us in breach of this truce, in word or in spirit, they may appeal to Rhonech for arbitration and we will accept the decision.