The Aleph Druid's Grove

  Present:

• 

  Phoebe Lacrosse,
  Barbarian

  Napoleon Twig (elf druid) - Ian
• Joe Manco (human fighter) - Shane
• Balder Dash (gnome wizard) - Jamie
• Kosha Pickles (human rogue) - Darryl
• Phoebe Lacrosse (human barbarian) - Andrew
• Red Feuersturm (human temple fighter of Hob) - Chris
• MARMALADE: Grizo Muso (human thief) - Jeff
• Malcolm Gandhi (gnome thief) - Kevin

By Andrew (and Robert E Howard).

Treachery !

Napoleon Twig and Phoebe Lacrosse, the likes of us, we fell in with that hardy group known as "Joe's Lot." In the time-honored tradition of such matters, they took us in, no questions asked, no concerns raised. Little did they reckon the dark designs that nestled in our cunning hearts. For in the shadows of night's embrace, as we stood sentinel beside the slumbering crew, our blades gleamed with intent, keen as the very fangs of death.

Napoleon Twig, Druid
(Priest of Caribou Gorn)

No need for whispered secrets or exchanged glances; our shared purpose coursed through our veins like a dark river. These unsuspecting souls, comrades by day, would be naught but shades by morn. They had embraced us as brothers and sisters, but little did they know that their kinship would lead them to the precipice of oblivion.

A deft flick, as swift as the striking of a serpent's fang, upon each unsuspecting throat, and the task would be accomplished. The only sounds would be the dying echoes of their dreams and the soft rustle of their last breaths. We had joined their ranks under the guise of friendship, but beneath the mask, we harboured only betrayal and the promise of their ultimate demise.

In the world of shadows and steel, where trust was a currency easily spent, we had come not as allies but as harbingers of doom. Napoleon and I, the silent executioners, ready to reap the harvest of treachery we had sown in the very heart of Joe's Lot. Mwuahahaha.

Or Not...

Ah, but worry not, dear Reader! 'Twas but a joke.

For in truth, we harboured no dark designs upon our newfound comrades. Our association with Joe's Lot was not born of treachery, but rather, a shared purpose. We had come together for a quest both mysterious and fantastical, drawn by the enigmatic call of adventure.

Joe's Lot had been assembled with a mission in mind, one sent forth by none other than Oswald, a gnome sage hailing from the distant Hackerton. Our destination was the fabled Aleph forest, a realm shrouded in ancient mysticism and whispers of long-forgotten magic. There, amidst the towering trees and echoing silence, resided a forest witch by the name of Constance.

It was said that Constance was the keeper of a rare and peculiar growth, a mushroom or fungus of otherworldly nature. This unique flora, it was rumoured, required the unusual substrate of human flesh to thrive. Oswald, the sage from Hackerton, sought this peculiar specimen for his own arcane studies. In exchange for our service in procuring this elusive fungus, he promised to unravel the mysteries surrounding a cursed blue egg, an artifact that had ensnared the very soul of our gnome wizard, Balder.

Willow

Under the canopy of the starlit sky, our ragtag group made camp at a waystation, a respite for travellers on their journey to Aleph forest. This waystation, a mere day's travel from the town of Aleph (on the funken end of the Aleph forest itself), served as a temporary sanctuary for weary souls seeking refuge amidst the wilderness. As we settled around the flickering fire, we found ourselves in the company of a dozen woodcutters who had chosen this humble abode for the night.

Willow, druid

Among the gathering, a figure of particular interest caught our attention—a druid named Willow. Her presence was like a whisper of nature itself, and it was to her that we turned with inquiries about Constance, the forest witch we sought.

"Good evening, Willow," Napoleon greeted her with a nod of respect, "We've heard tell of a forest witch named Constance, who dwells within the Aleph forest. Can you share any knowledge of her whereabouts or how we might find her?"

Willow, her eyes reflecting the wisdom of the ancient trees, regarded us thoughtfully before responding. "Constance, you say? Aye, she's a creature of the woods, but for such inquiries, it may be best to consult with Alysia, a druid in Alpha town. I hazard a guess that Alysia will know Constance better than most."

Phoebe, her curiosity piqued, inquired further, "What can you tell us about the Aleph forest, Willow? Are there any dangers we should be wary of as we venture deeper?"

Willow's lips curled into a faint smile, as if she had been expecting such a question. "The Aleph forest is a realm of enchantment and mystery, but it holds its share of peril. Occasionally, a woodcutter or traveller ventures too deep and is never seen again. The woods have their own secrets, you see, and they do not always welcome outsiders."

Balder, our gnome wizard who carried the cursed blue egg, spoke up, "Did you, by any chance, be meeting a gnome sage named Oswald during your time here?"

Willow's eyes twinkled with recognition at the mention of Oswald. "Ah, Oswald, a curious gnome he is. Yes, I crossed paths with him two seasons past in Aleph. He was on a quest of his own, seeking knowledge and artifacts of ancient magic, no doubt."

Alysia

As the sun dipped below the horizon, casting its fiery hues upon the town of Aleph, we found ourselves at the threshold of this quaint settlement, our destination at last. Aleph, with its population of 620 souls, bore the marks of a community closely attuned to the natural world. Temples dedicated to Super Fosfait, the god of growth, and groves in honour of Caribou Gorn, the god of nature, stood as testaments to the reverence for the forces of life and the wild.

For our lodgings that night, we found refuge at the "Fried Oyster" inn, a humble abode that provided the comfort and sustenance needed to replenish our weary bodies and spirits.

With the dawn of a new day, our hearts filled with anticipation, we made our way to the sacred grove of Caribou Gorn. It was there that we met the druid Alysia Fullwright, a woman whose connection to the natural world was palpable. Her presence resonated with the very essence of the forest.

Alysia Fullwright, druid

Alysia, her eyes gleaming with an understanding of our quest, nodded in greeting. "Greetings, travellers. I sense that you seek Constance, the forest witch of Aleph. You have come to the right place."

Phoebe, our ever-curious seeker of knowledge, spoke up. "Tell us, Alysia, what can you reveal about Constance? We've heard whispers of her, but we seek a deeper understanding."

Alysia smiled warmly. "Constance is indeed a druid, like myself, and she is not innately dangerous. She is a guardian of the forest, a protector of its secrets and a conduit of its magic. If you seek her, you will find a kindred spirit."

Rupert

Balder, still carrying the burden of the cursed blue egg, ventured, "We would be being grateful for any help you can to be locating Constance. Our journey is being dangerous, and we are wishing to approach her in safety."

Alysia's eyes twinkled with empathy. "I understand your concerns. Allow me to introduce you to Rupert, my trusted man-servant and an Elf of the woods. He shall accompany you as a guide, ensuring your safe passage through the Aleph forest and to Constance's sanctuary. Together, you shall embark on a journey that may reveal the mysteries hidden within."

Aleph Forest

As we ventured deeper into the heart of the Aleph forest, our journey took a more challenging turn. The initial paths, though well-trodden, soon gave way to a tangle of ancient trees and overgrown vegetation. The forest's embrace became denser and more unforgiving, with the paths growing narrower and less frequented by those who dared to tread here.

Rupert, our guide, pressed on with unwavering determination, and we followed in his wake, our resolve undiminished. The canopy overhead grew thicker, casting an eerie twilight upon the forest floor, and the occasional flickers of spider silk strung between the gnarled branches served as grim omens for the night ahead.

The encroaching darkness left us with no option but to make camp amidst the looming trees, though there were no clearings to offer solace. We did what we could to secure our resting place, setting watches to guard against the lurking dangers of the forest.

It was during the second watch, deep in the heart of the night, when the sinister forces of the woods made their presence known. Gandhi and Red, stood vigilant, their eyes scanning the shadows. With hearts pounding, they witnessed a nightmarish sight—a horde of seven giant spiders silently descending upon our camp.

Their shouts pierced the night, rousing us from our slumber and hurling us into a frantic battle. With no time to don our armor, we faced the arachnid assailants with the steel of our resolve and the weapons close at hand. The battle fierce and unforgiving, the clash between our group and the giant spiders marked by both valour and chaos. As the arachnids fell one by one under our combined might, it seemed that we might emerge victorious from this perilous encounter.

However, in the midst of the fray, a sinister twist of fate intervened. Red's cursed ruby ring, a malevolent artifact that had plagued us with unpredictable berserk rages before, once again unleashed its dark power. Red, succumbing to its influence, turned on his own comrades with a frenzied madness.

In the blink of an eye, Red attacked Joe, his blows striking with deadly force, rendering the fighter unconscious and helpless. Gandhi, too, fell victim to Red's brutal assault. Panic and chaos threatened to engulf our group as the curse threatened to tear us asunder.

Phoebe, ever quick-witted and resourceful, sprang into action. She bravely took on the giant spider that had been engaging Napoleon, freeing him to assist Joe. Through a combination of magic and swift action, Napoleon managed to revive Joe enough for him to regain his senses and retaliate against Red.

In a desperate struggle, Joe and Rupert, managed to subdue their berserk comrade. Red, though unconscious, was at least no longer a danger to the group.

Hammer and cold chisel

Red's cursed ring had proven itself a menace far too often, and now, with the threat momentarily subdued, the time had come to deal with the source of this relentless curse once and for all. Joe, resolute and determined, undertook the grim task of amputating Red's finger, cursed ring and all, with a cold chisel and hammer, severing the malevolent connection that had tormented our group. With the accursed ring safely bagged and entrusted to Balder, finger and all, a sense of relief washed over us, for in that act, we had taken a significant step towards securing our path through the treacherous Aleph forest with one less curse to worry about.

Gandhi gestured to the gnarled tree boughs and branches above us, where there was a thick ceiling of spider webs and silk, and he mused to Rupert "Pity you did not be looking upwards when you be choosing this camp site."

"Well," exclaimed Rupert defensively. "Neither did you!"

We shifted camp to a spot with no spider-web ceiling.

Red's unconsciousness yielded him a Major Wound, and Napoleon deliberately did not cure it. This moment of justified vindictiveness turned out to be a good thing in the end.  Because the next morning, our guide Rupert, who had been bitten many times during the spider fight, ended up paralyzed at daybreak. Napoleon had barely enough magic left to cure Rupert of his poison, and he could not have achieved this succour, had he cured Red. Karma, indeed.

Constance

After our steadfast guide Rupert the Elf was cured, we broke camp, and he then continued leading us deeper into the tangled wilderness. The forest had grown denser, its twisted foliage seeming to defy our every step. The very air was thick with the weight of centuries, and the unseen eyes of the woods bore witness to our passage.

Then, in a moment that felt like a shift in the very heartbeat of the forest, we all came to an abrupt halt. Eight rabbits emerged from the underbrush, surrounding us in a curious and enigmatic dance. They scampered to and fro, their movements deliberate, as if they bore a message from the heart of the woods itself. Rupert, ever attuned to the language of nature, urged us to heed their call.

Without hesitation, we followed the rabbits as they led us along a meandering path, weaving through the labyrinthine depths of the forest. Hour after hour, we trod the wild trail, the cacophony of nature's chorus serving as our guide.

Then, as if summoned by the very earth beneath our feet, a thunderous tumult echoed through the undergrowth. A she-bear, formidable and untamed, burst forth from the tangled foliage. Her growl resonated with the primal power of the forest, and Rupert's hushed voice urged us to hold our ground. With a scrutinous gaze, the bear assessed our presence before vanishing into the shadows, leaving us unscathed.

Following in the wake of the bear, the unperturbed rabbits led us to a place of respite and intrigue—a vast clearing adorned with a meadow, a babbling stream, and a profusion of vibrant flowers. At its edge stood a humble hut, and from within, a woman in her fifties emerged, her presence radiating the ancient wisdom of the woods.

Constance, the druid

Rupert, bowing in deference, introduced her as Constance the druid, the very figure we had sought within the depths of the Aleph forest. With a gracious welcome, Constance bid us enter her domain, but she proved to be an intriguing and restless presence. Her demeanour was marked by constant fidgeting and an insatiable restlessness. She moved like a whisper through the meadow, never settling in one place for long, her bearing mirroring the ever-shifting rhythms of the forest itself.

Balder, carrying the burden of the cursed blue egg and now the cursed ruby ring, sought to engage Constance in conversation. He inquired about Oswald, and Constance admitted knowledge of Oswald but seemed unimpressed, even irritated and annoyed, by his pursuits.

However, when it came to our mission and Oswald's request for the unique fungus that thrived on human flesh, Constance displayed a decided lack of interest. She offered no assistance, nor did she admit any knowledge of such a peculiar growth within her forest.

Yet, in a moment of unexpected generosity, Constance agreed to aid us in one aspect of our quest. She took Red's cursed ring from Balder, and with her ancient and potent magic, she unraveled the malevolent curse that had plagued our comrade. The cursed ring was transformed into a mundane and harmless piece of jewelry, freeing Red from its sinister influence.

As the matter was settled, Constance's restlessness grew more pronounced. With a final nod, she bid us to make ourselves at home within the clearing she called her own. Without further ceremony, she transformed into a graceful swan and took flight, vanishing over the tree-tops.

With Constance's departure, a curious impulse took hold of Phoebe and Gandhi, drawing them into the witch's humble abode. The front door, left ajar, invited their curiosity, and they ventured inside; after all, Constance had all-but invited them, right? What they found was a scene of disarray and chaos, as if the very essence of the forest had taken root within the hut. Rubbish and discarded items littered the floor, and an air of untamed wilderness permeated the space.

Phoebe, her natural curiosity undeterred by the chaos, explored further, discovering a door leading to a small, unkempt bedroom. The signs of Constance's restless spirit were evident throughout the dwelling.

Meanwhile, Gandhi's keen perception led him to a more ominous discovery. A trapdoor in the main room beckoned his attention, but he sensed a malevolent magical trap guarding its secrets. The aura of enchantment hung heavy in the air, permeating every object and crevice within the hut.

Balder, ever vigilant, cast a Detect Magic spell that shrouded the entire room in an aura of mystic revelation. The very air seemed to shimmer with enchantment, and every object within the hut pulsed with arcane energy.

Napoleon, who had remained outside, experienced a vision that sent shivers down his spine. In this unsettling fugue, he witnessed Gandhi on his knees, his hands and bulbous nose melded into the very floor of the hut, a grotesque and nightmarish sight.

Napoleon urgently relayed his vision to us all. With caution in our hearts, we decided to quickly withdraw from the hut, for the depths of enchantment and the unknown perils that lay within demanded a more considered approach. 

We chose to set up camp in the serene and peaceful clearing, maintaining a safe distance from the enigmatic hut  The night passed without incident, the forest itself seeming to offer us a respite from its mysteries.

Constance does breakfast

In the morning, as the first rays of sunlight filtered through the forest canopy, we were roused from slumber by an enticing aroma that danced upon the breeze. The scent of freshly brewed coffee, porridge, scones, bacon, sausages, beans, and an array of succulent fruits filled the air, wafting from a source that was both unexpected and bewildering.

There, at the heart of our campsite, stood Constance, the forest witch herself, engaged in the preparation of a sumptuous breakfast feast. The sight of this bountiful repast filled us with a mixture of astonishment and gratitude. Our weariness from the trials of the forest was momentarily forgotten as we partook in this unexpected feast.

As we savored the delectable meal, Constance casually mentioned that the meat products were "vegetarian" in nature (air-quotes and all). This revelation left us both intrigued and puzzled, for the flavors and textures seemed uncannily meat-like, yet we had been assured they were entirely plant-based. That, or they were road-kill and carrion.

After the breakfast feast, Constance addressed us all "I have some work for your group, leader Joe. Two days travel klibwards of here, lies the end of the forest. I sense a disturbance there. I request and require you to investigate and, if necessary, remedy it."  Then she added after a pause "And I won't take 'no' for an answer."