Chapter 1: The Adventure Begins

Wait. The grove is just a burnout piece of land right? How can it clame another city? Unless there was a new fire. Is that what we saw in the horizon the other day?
Bandits and the Birdfolk Council. Two groups that Cyrus would prefer not to tangle with

The Grove has been around for a long time. Back during the Great Calamity it started nothing more than a single fire but spread to cover an entire region to the size it is now. The Tenders believe that if we care for the Grove we can bring it back to the lush forest it once was....

If it has started to expand again, something terrible must have happened. The whole Wood could be in danger, not just us.

Completely finishing her surprisingly satisfying breakfast, Sherry smacks her lips and gently strokes her full belly and burps gratified. After extracting a bit of ham with a toothpick between her razor sharp teeth, she jumps from her barrel on a crate and back to the ground. Placing her snow-white paws on the hilts of her scimitars, she waltzes slowly to the rest of the group, with her typical swaying hips.

These are some dire news! Always a good chance to make a quick coin. Or many of them!Professionally suppressing a giddy greedy grin, Sherry's mood sours after a few heartbeats. The others don't ask for a compensation for their trouble.
And she wants to change her life, the mapach woman admonishes herself with a bit of guilty conscience. Even change to a better person maybe. A girl has to eat, but not turn a profit from the misery of others, that has always been her rule.

Not revealing anything of this, she nods as well as everyone of their group declares their intent to help and bring the letter to Alderheart.

I hope the bandits were not foolish enough to tamper with the forces sustaining the Grove. It seems too coincidental that they were there in strength just when this event happened. Or perhaps a bandit mage was responsible for the fires and hoped to use the Grove's proximity as a cover of their blatant attack on the people. I suggest the Perch Guard of all nearby settlements be warned and you call up a militia as quickly as possible. Charu speaks before thinking. The elder likely has already had these thoughts, and more.

Turning to address Ardwyn, a bit embarrassed ,he asks Is there anything else you wish up to do on our way? If not we should set out immediately. It also may bear more weight if you can give us a short written report or token to indicate we bear word from the Meadowfen leadership.

Cyrus catches the eye of Sherry, but then addresses Charun:
I wouldn't count on bandits keeping their hands to them self, if they saw an opportunity to fill their pockets. Even if it will be the death of us all.

These are all good things to consider but we cannot know for sure. Thank you all for helping. You may want to stop in Winnowing Reach on your way to Alderheart. They have representation in the Birdfolk Council unlike us, if their Magistrate provides introductionto the court it may prove useful

Charun will ask again for a letter or other token from Ardwyn to carry as proof of legitimacy then go to grab his pack to set out as soon as possible.

Here is a letter, though that can only be proof of what happened. Unfortunatelyi do not think even my signature would garuantee a timely audience with the council. For that I would seek assistance from the Magistrate in Winnowing Reach Ardwyn writes a note detailing what happened.

Leif looked at Charun wryly. Must be nice being a Luna, having the confidence that the Perch Guards would help. Leif kept held his tongue and turned to the Mayor instead.

"So, seek the Magistrate in Winnowing Reach to get us an audience with the council. Anything else that you think would be helpful? Any equipment here that could help? Cara, you have any weapons at your shop that could help us out? Potions, scrolls, anything useful, Mayor? Any friends in high places? The town’s survival may ride with us, if you’ve any favors owed, now’s the time to settle your accounts, Mayor."

Unfortunately us here in Meadowfen live quite an isolated life just outside the Wood. Our political power in Alderheart is quite small. As for equipment, I am sure Cara will provide anything she can give and I could provide each one of you with one of these... Ardwyn goes over to his desk and pulls out a few potions and hands them to the group.

Cara then looks at Ardwyn solemnly Unfortunately most of my good wares are lost with the militia, I am worried that if we give what we have left and need to protect ourselves we wont have the means.

"I think between all of us we’ll manage. Please, save what you have."

Huron pulls back his hood a bit more and looks to Cara.

"Did you personally witness what may have stoked the flames of the Grove? Can we be sure bandits have a hand in this or possibly something else? If not and it truly is the Grove itself perhaps the Tenders would have answers."

I did not see who started the fire, when we arrived in Ashburrow it was already aflame. What I do know, is that the land of Grove. The desolation that happens within it, has spread to overtake the entire town. Bandits I believe just took advantage of the situation to fill their pockets. Cara looks down and sighs. The town itself was filled with emberbats, as well as something else, I didn't get a good look but the earth around us shifted and some of my men disappeared. This was not the work of bandits.

Leif takes the potion with a grateful nod of his head and stows it away. "Perhaps after we deliver our message, we can head out to Ashburrow and investigate there, but first thing first: alert the powers that be, and hope they'll deign to listen to us."

Not the work of bandits... Cyrus sounds relieved. You are right Leif, we should get going.

Fire could be the thing... he mutters and heads over to the small cooking flame. He takes out the wooden amulet devoted to Gesmer that he was working on this morning. He holds it over the fire and lets the surface char black. Yes this is right
While the others are getting ready for the journey, he is burning his amulet until it is black. Still smoking he puts it on.

I am ready

As you all leave town you can see that a crowd has begun to gather around the Elder's home. Some of the faces you recognize from the stay, others you don't.

The Innkeeper, a Gallus woman, gives you all 5 days of rations (enough to make it to Winnowing Reach), stopping to thank Cyrus speficially for the help earlier. Leif's parents see him off as well giving him the affection they usually do when he leaves after a visit. Cara and Ardwyn stand in front of the crowd and give you all a final goodbye before you leave.

The road to Alderheart runs through Winnowing Reach. The Reach is 5 days away through the forest road or 2 days quicker if you cut through the dangers of the forest.

Charun, being a bit short may not move as fast as some of the others but will use his strong wings and ability to glide to speed his way so as not to slow the others down. As they leave town he suggests We should try and take the shortcut if any here have experience navigating the woods and looks at the other questioningly.

"Don't forget to feed yourself." Leif's mother told him as he hugged her. "And not with just candied treats. Hmpf, when will you find a girl and settle--"

"Urrrgghh..." Leif drowned out her talking as his father laughed.

Finally, goodbyes were said, Leif was happy to get back to his companions. Charun had suggested taking the shortcut, and Leif nodded his head. "Shortcut is more dangerous, but there are five of us, how bad can it be?" He knew he was tempting the fates for saying such thing, but Leif was a contrarian in that way. "Surely no one would dare cross us with you around, eh Charun? I know the woods well, as does Cyrus I think, we should definitely brave it."

Avant! cries the paladin cheerfully.