Alfan Druid Grove

<body topmargin=0 leftmargin=0 marginheight=0 marginwidth=0> <table cellpadding=0 cellspacing=0 border=0><tr> <td valign="top" rowspan="2" width=210 BGCOLOR="#99CC99" TEXT="#080000" bgproperties="fixed" background="12a8dfc3.jpg"> <div> <A HREF="id302.htm" TARGET="_top" TITLE="An Island Paradise I"><U><B>Back to Island Paradise</B></U></A></div> <bR> <div> <A HREF="id230.htm" TARGET="_top" TITLE="Frontier Map"><U><B>Frontier Map</B></U></A></div> <bR> </td> <td valign="top" colspan=2 height=82 BGCOLOR="#CCCC99" TEXT="#080000" bgproperties="fixed" background="12b8dfe1esnpes.jpg"> <div> <FONT SIZE="5" COLOR="#336666" FACE="Arial" ><B>Missiledine's Archives</B></FONT><B>     </B><B>|</B><B>     </B><A HREF="index.htm" TARGET="_top" TITLE="Missiledines Archives"><U><B>home</B></U></A></div> <div>                                                   </div> <div> </div> </td> </tr><tr> <td valign="top" height=398 colspan=2 BGCOLOR="#CCCC99" TEXT="#080000" bgproperties="fixed" background="12b8dfc3.jpg"> <div> <I>Alfan Druid Grove</I></div> <bR> <bR> <div> Missiledine: Fin, you owe a visit to the Druids on or shortly before the Solstice, which is only a few days away. You cannot make it back to the original Grove, but you can visit one near the City</div> <div> FinLongham: Yes I see some new things on the Armor list. but  most of it is still to high for me to buy at the pirce I need to pay.</div> <div> FinLongham: Ok I will go to the grove closes then.</div> <div> FinLongham: I am going to go with scale armor this time.</div> <div> Missiledine: ok</div> <div> Missiledine: the nearest Grove is outside the Village of Alfan, which is about half a days ride from the city</div> <div> Missiledine: do you go alone?</div> <div> FinLongham: I tell the others. See if any want to follow me. IF not I will go by myself.</div> <div> Missiledine: put it in the chat then</div> <div> Missiledine: You take your wagon?</div> <div> FinLongham: I take all my gear that I have. (The boat is not here with me so I don't take it.) The backpack felled with my smaller gear. I am wering my Scale armor,upper class. with a new sword, thrusting broadsword.</div> <div> FinLongham: Yes I take wagon.</div> <div> Missiledine: you drive the wagon or walk?</div> <div> Missiledine: ok</div> <div> FinLongham: "What a long ride this is, Huh Rolb?"</div> <div> Missiledine: sorry.. getting questions from all sides1</div> <div> FinLongham: Worry about me last then I am still fixing my charcter some more.</div> <div> Missiledine: You will set out the morning before the Solstice, Rolb rides his horse alongside the wagon</div> <div> FinLongham: k</div> <div> Missiledine: The journey down will be uneventful, the road is icy, but shows signs of a lot of traffic on it, indeed you will see much traffic going both ways. Mostly freight wagons</div> <div> Missiledine: The Village of Alfan is famous for its honey and its mead</div> <div> FinLongham: Ah good old mead.</div> <div> Missiledine: Arriving outside the village, Rolb points to a less used track heading south east from the road. "That's the way to the Grove."</div> <div> FinLongham: I follow the way he points.</div> <div> Missiledine: About two miles down this path there is a small cottage with an open air fire pit with a cheery fire burning in it. Three men, wrapped in heavy cloaks are standing by it, watching as you approach. One says, "Rolb! Well met! What brings you this way?"</div> <div> FinLongham: Again I try to hide my Shock of this from Rolb. I then look around more closes. </div> <div> FinLongham: Try to figure out which one of the men is in charge.</div> <div> Missiledine: None of them appear to be particularly notable, though you can see mail and leather under their cloaks... From the grins on their faces you would guess the other two know Rolb as well.</div> <div> FinLongham: "How about introduseing us Rolb?"</div> <div> Missiledine: Rolb grunts and says, "Top of the dat to ye Hew, how how is the family? Bran, Jess, how have ye lads been?"</div> <div> Missiledine: "This be Long, an elf as ye can see. He has buisness with the Druids."</div> <div> Missiledine: The men all nod to you. "That be Hew, that one is Jess, and the ugly one is Bran." Rolb points ythem out</div> <div> FinLongham: "Nice to meet all of you." Being very polite about the hole thing.</div> <div> Missiledine: The men return your greeting Hew offers some warm mead. "They said you'd be comin down this way today." He tells Rolb </div> <div> FinLongham: I thank them for the mead as I take a mug of it.</div> <div> Missiledine: Rolb takes a mug and the five of you stand around in the cold air drinking for a few minutes</div> <div> FinLongham: I drink my mead at the same pase as everyone else.</div> <div> Missiledine: Draining off his, Rolb says, "Keep an eye on our stuff if ye will."</div> <div> "Aye, Si... Rolb." Hew seems to catch himself and nods</div> <div> Missiledine: Rolb sets his mug down, "Are ye ready?" He asks you</div> <div> FinLongham: "Aye, lets go see the druids."</div> <div> Missiledine: The two of you walk down the path to a pair of huge holly trees that bracket the path.. Another man is waiting, "Rolb." He nods and looks at you "And the elf." He says as though confirming something "You may enter."</div> <div> Missiledine: Rolb waves briefly, "Cal." Is all he says as you pass by.</div> <div> FinLongham: I nod</div> <div> Missiledine: Beyond you see several small cottages and beyond that an almost solid wall of holly trees and hawthorne bushes... The path goes through a break in this barrier. There is smoke coming from the chimney's of most of the cottages, but there is no sign of anyone around</div> <div> FinLongham: Keep following Rolb.</div> <div> Missiledine: You pass through the barrier and pass by a large oak tree that seems to actually move slightly, dipping towards you before pulling back... Beyond you see the standing stones and altar and pool of all groves. Two Druids are waiting for you</div> <div> Missiledine: Rolb bows as you approach</div> <div> FinLongham: I will also bow</div> <div> Missiledine: One speaks, "Rolb, it is a pleasure to see you again."</div> <div> "Master Saren, it is always an honor." To the other Druid he says, "Master Delek, a pleasure." Indicating you he says, "This is Master Longfellow, from Minfolin. These are Masters Saren and Delek, the Memory and Caretaker of this Grove."</div> <div> FinLongham: "Master Saren and Master Delek it is a pleasure to meet you."</div> <div> Missiledine: Saren, who is the Memory and therefore the senior, says, "Welcome to Alfan Grove. We have been expecting you."</div> <div> Missiledine: "have you fully recovered from your illness?" He asks</div> <div> FinLongham: <This is a different Grove right?></div> <div> Missiledine: <yes></div> <div> FinLongham: I look at them awkwardly for a moment. "Yes, I feel great now thanks for asking. I know in my old age I mush have forgot how you know all this." </div> <div> Missiledine: Saren smiles, "We keep in touch on happenings about the land. Just as we knew you were coming today."</div> <div> Missiledine: "As I'm sure you recall, the Druids that healed you requested a service in return for your healing, a service that you are here to fulfill."</div> <div> FinLongham: "Yes, that is what I am here to fulfill. And also help this grove out in any way I can."</div> <div> Missiledine: Saren seems pleased with your answer. "Good, then I will explain what needs to be done, then we shall have some supper." He leads the way over to the pool. "Please stand here." He indicates a spot and points out one to Rolb. "Watch the water but do not speak."</div> <div> FinLongham: I just nod.</div> <div> FinLongham: and stand where she wants me to be.</div> <div> Missiledine: For about a minute nothing seems to happen, then you see the ripples on the water go still and the water seems to get darker. After a few seconds the water brightens and you are looking down from a great height at a village on an island in a large body of water, you assume it to be Lake Adrin, the only big water in the Kingdom. Saren begins to speak. "This is the village of Sharpstone.  The people who live here are a mix of the Faithful and the Mitraens.  They are being slowly engulfed by Darkness and it must be stopped!"</div> <div> Missiledine: "You are to journey there, with Rolb and as many companions as you can find, and free the people from the evil that is besetting them.  The exact nature of the evil is unclear to us, but it has spread through many and will, if not checked, consume them all."</div> <div> Missiledine: "There are no Druids in Sharpstone, but there is a Chapel of Mitra, tended by a Friar. The village is ruled by a Lord Ashton, a liege of Duke Sommel of the Frontier.  He is of Mitra but is reputed to be fair and honest."</div> <div> Missiledine: "There is an elderly hedge wizard, by the name of Farnoch living there as well. He is a recluse though and has little contact with the villagers."</div> <div> Missiledine: The view of the village drifts away, across the water and the scene suddenly goes blank and you are looking at the water again.</div> <div> Missiledine: The two Druids step away from the pool as does Rolb, you can move now as well</div> <div> FinLongham: I back up. Then ask,"If the evil is unclear. How am I going to know what I am looking for?"</div> <div> Missiledine: "There are about two hundred people living in Sharpstone, the Lord has about twenty retainers. The village makes its living primarily by fishing and farming, but there is, or was, a silver mine on the island. It is played out but its tunnels are quite extensive."</div> <div> Missiledine: "That is why we are sending you to investigate." Says Delek</div> <div> FinLongham: "Ok, I will do what I can when I get there. I am sure we have a few people back in town that will help us."</div> <div> Missiledine: Rolb grunts, "Wat abot the Companies?" He asks</div> <div> "There are none on the island."  Saren answers.  "The nearest will be Lakewood."</div> <div> Missiledine: "You must set out immedietly." Saren says "I fear that there is little time to lose."</div> <div> Missiledine: "Why dunno some of the Lakewood lads handle this?" Rolb asks "There some fell hands there about."</div> <div> Missiledine: "You were requested." Saren answers calmly</div> <div> Missiledine: "Me? Or us?" Rolb asks</div> <div> FinLongham: "Which one of us was requested or us?"</div> <div> Missiledine: Saren smiles, "You in particular Rolb, but as an Elf, being close to Minfolin as the island is, your aid will be invaluable."</div> <div> Missiledine: "Bloody." Rolb mutters</div> <div> FinLongham: "Well that good to know."</div> <div> Missiledine: "Come, let us have some supper! After eating you should start back. I would offer accomodations, but time is short."</div> <div> FinLongham: Follow back and try to think of some more questions that need to be answered.</div> <div> Missiledine: The two men lead you out of the grove, back to the cottages. Inside one of the larger ones you are seated at a table and served a hearty meal of hot stew, bread, cheese and mead</div> <div> FinLongham: I ask Saren,"Is there any more information that you can think of that will help in this quest?"</div> <div> Missiledine: "If we had anymore I would offer it." He says</div> <bR> <div> FinLongham: I ask Rolb, "Could this be related to Sharkey? In some way or another.</div> <div> Missiledine: Rolb frowns, "I doubt it, but ye never ken."</div> <div> FinLongham: I eat. with nothing more coming to mind.</div> <div> Missiledine: after you eat the Druids walk you to your wagon and horse... Saren will hand Rolb a leather bundle about a foot long. "Mika asked me to give you this." Is all he says. </div> <div> Rolb thanks him and puts it in his saddle bags</div> <div> Missiledine: he doesn't open it</div> <div> Missiledine: They bid you farewell and good luck as you mount up</div> <div> FinLongham: I dissmis it and go on. "I think you for you kindness." Said to all of the of driuds. there at the time</div> <div> Missiledine: ok</div> <div> Missiledine: You set off on your return trip and arrive at the city gates by about 9pm... It is dark and bitter cold</div> <div> FinLongham: k</div> </td> </tr></table></body>