CHAPTER 03
Feyic Vault, Astraena
Four hours prior to midnight one fortnight and three days after August's first full moon

The P.A.R.T.Y. sits around a crackling fire in what was once a stable (or an animal prison, depending on who you ask).

Keef and Lyriel are off to one side, discussing morality and similar topics, while the rest have their attention fixed on Cassandra, their prisoner.

She has spoken for nearly an hour, telling the tale of a young girl who possessed an affinity with woodland creatures, and eventually set off into the wilds to seek her fortune among them.  Over time, she learned that Nature would heed her call, as would many animals.

One day, perhaps a decade ago, she stumbled upon a gate of twisted briers and brambles in which a squirrel had become entangled.  She freed the creature, and it transformed into a man she would come to know as the Master.  With her help, they were able to unlock the gate and venture within.

This was how the Master and Cassie came to discover the Feyic Vault, and how they came to live above it.

Eventually the pair discovered Veilspire's tomb, but the Master forbid her from disturbing anything within it or near it out of respect for the deceased.  As the days passed, the Master worked on ways to get through the trials, while Cassie spent her time collecting animals to help them.

At night, both were visited in dreams by someone who claimed to be Veilspire himself.  It was here that they learned how to transform forests into swampland, albeit at a painfully slow rate.

One day, Cassie awakened to find that Nature would no longer heed her call.  She ran to the Master in tears, but he seemed to be expecting them.

"I was visited in a dream last night," Master told her.  "He predicted this might happen, and showed me the cure in a vision."

The Master then took her to a hidden room, in which they found an iron choker engraved with vines laying in the middle of the floor.  As soon as Cassie put it on, the clasp molded itself back into the metal, and her connection with Nature was restored.  She's worn it ever since.

Over time they recruited more to their cause, but the only one who stuck around for any length of time was Binkles.  He seemed to thrive on their mission, and was positively gleeful about receiving dreams from the great Veilspire -- though he grew fearful of incurring the wrath of Wildheart in the process.

This fear grew so strong that Binkles asked the Master to brew a potion for him that would remove his ability to be afraid.  The Master complied, but something went wrong -- Binkles lost the ability to feel most emotions, and it ultimately drove him mad.

The Master took this failure personally, and devoted himself more feverishly to accessing the vault, which his dreams suggested held the cure along with countless other treasures.

"That was three years ago," she concludes, "and still we remain unable to penetrate the Vault's defenses.  On the plus side, the swampification of the forest around this area continues to go well.  Veilspire says it would go faster with more druids, but very few are willing to see the truth."

[Crossroads]
This message was last edited by the GM at 15:46, Tue 15 Oct 2013.

In reply to DM (msg # 1):

And did you stop, at any point in time, to consider that following the visions of a deceased and corrupt druid who could speak to you from beyond the grave would somehow have deleterious consequences and that said evil druid may not have altruistic reasons for aiding you in this quest?

I'm just saying, because from where I'm sitting, you sound like a really high priced pawn in a game of some pretty ancient and magical chess.

Me? I prefer being a knight. Unconventional movement and complex strategy required. An apt metaphor for any interaction involving Sir Giles Thistleworth.

Zuriel listens to her story attentively. "Do you ever miss it?" he asks during a pause in her story. She looks at him quizzically. "A true connection to nature, I mean. Your current powers are derived artificially from that necklace. Do you ever miss your true connection with the land and with animals?"

And yet Chomper is still your trusted companion.  Surely this means that you have some innate connection to nature remaining?
This message was last edited by the player at 16:54, Tue 15 Oct 2013.

So what drove you was a personal connection then?  You had your affinity with animals, and you met someone else like you.  When the choker meant that you could have both this mentor and your previous affinity, why wouldn't you take it?

And faithful Chomper has stayed by your side.  You could have that connection again, a real connection, not something fashioned from a magical device.

Boreas' gem starts to glow softly.

Somehow... I just know you could.

He addresses Chomper:

And you, my friend.  What's your story?  How long have you known Cassie, and what can you tell me of your past?

***

Before everyone beds down, Boreas will lay caltrops at the entrances to the area.  If there is no discernible entrance on the far side, he will spread them across the pathway farther down.  Then, he will warn everyone, including the animals, not to tread in those areas.
This message was last edited by the player at 17:16, Tue 15 Oct 2013.

In reply to Boreas Highwind (msg # 5):

Before bedding down, Chubbs will inspect the caltrops and give them his general disapproving glare.

In reply to Keef (msg # 6):
[ooc: continuing from earlier]

Lyriel laughs at Keef's description of tea, I suppose tea is an acquired taste. She grins, but then her face becomes more thoughtful at his questions.

I am a priestess Keef, and as a member of the flock of Tassada I would never dream of using evil to accomplish good, because as with all things evil there is a price to pay, and you never know what that price could be. You see Keef, the mark of a true hero is one who can press on and do the right thing even if you are presented with an easier option of questionable morals. Using evil to make people happy might work in the short term, but in the long run there are even greater consequences, and you could end up doing far more harm than good. She pats him on the knee, That is why it is always best to leave evil out of the equation, even if you have to go about things the hard way.
This message was last edited by the player at 17:33, Tue 15 Oct 2013.

In reply to Lyriel Vesper (msg # 7):

"I hardly remember doing things any other way at this point," she says, frowning slightly.  "It doesn't feel any different, far as I can tell.  So no, I don't think it's fair to say I miss it.  Veilspire provided me with the means of salvation after being affected by whatever feyic devilry inhibited my powers from manifesting normally, but I will not allow that to interfere with our work.  Though sometimes I do wish I could remove the thing, if only to make bathing easier."

She smiles again as Chomper perks up and yips a few choice noises.

[Private to Boreas Highwind: "Met Cassie after she already had the collar; can't say what happened before that.  I don't get bad dreams though.  Mostly just eat and sleep and nip at the other animals that need to be shown who's in charge."]
This message was last edited by the GM at 17:57, Tue 15 Oct 2013.

Zuriel relinquishes his gaze, disappointed.

There has got to be a better way. I know there is good in her yet. Let's take a different tack.

Aloud, he says "I keep hearing about this Wildheart. Who is he, and why do you fear him so much?"

In reply to Zuriel Silendril (msg # 9):

"They really don't teach you anything but righteous indignation in Hae'driel, do they?"

Cassandra smirks, and even Chomper seems to laugh a little.

"Wildheart battled Veilspire a century or so ago, defeated him, and went on to became a rather well-known, if reclusive, hero of sorts.  Some accounts claim he was a mercenary, instead.  Either way, when it become known to him that Veilspire's spirit survived, after a fashion, it's said that he became obsessed with eradicating his previous enemy once and for all.  If you believe in ghost stories, there are plenty that claim Wildheart's furious soul still wanders the woodlands seeking Veilspire's annihilation."

She shakes her head in wonder.

"I've never bought a word of it, but those stories scared Binkles half to death."

Zuriel and Boreas exchange a look.

Well, we have a way to verify whether or not Wildheart exists. It might be a good idea to learn more if we can.

"Interesting. Tell me more about this Master. Was he a Druid too? He must have been quite the charismatic leader to turn you from your original purpose to what you are now."