First Steps Beneath the Boughs of Shadowglen

The Road

Shadowglen opened around me in the late afternoon light, and I stood very still while the glen was discovered. By me. Possibly the trees had known it all along, but I like to think they were pleased to be introduced. The light came down through the branches in long gold ribbons, and the whole place hummed like a held breath.

From there my feet carried me up into Aldrassil, the great tree itself, and I discovered that too. I went back and forth between the glen and the tree's embrace all through the day. I stopped to greet the bark each time. It did not answer, but I felt it was being polite.

Battles

The balance of nature, it turns out, is maintained with a staff and a certain amount of apology. I thinned the young nightsabers, seven of them, and the young thistle boars, five. Then one full-grown thistle boar, who was not part of the plan and did not seem to care for my plan.

I also met a single grellkin. I will say only that the Fel Moss task has begun to feel less like a rumor and more like a shadow at the edge of the glen. I whispered a short blessing for each creature. The boars did not wait for the end of mine.

Deeds

Conservator Ilthalaine welcomed me with "the beauty of Shadowglen never ceases to delight my senses!" and I agreed so loudly that I think I startled a bird. She asked me to thin the nightsabers and thistle boars, for the spring rains had been heavy and the beasts had flourished past what the glen could feed. I did so, and she said I had performed my duties well. I wrote that down twice. She then asked for more: seven mangy nightsabers and seven thistle boars, "in the name of balance." She also gave me a Verdant Sigil from Mardant, my druid trainer, who wished words with me.

Melithar Staghelm spoke of strange news carried by the whisperings of the forest spirits: the dryad Tarindrella had returned to Shadowglen, and it had not happened in years. I was sent to find her, and I did, to the southwest. She said Melithar was wise, that I had much to learn, and gave me a book for my education. Then she asked me to gather eight Fel Moss, because the Gnarlpine furbolgs have deserted their homes and something wicked is at work. She also asked for four Gnarlpine totems from their abandoned camps. I brought them back, and she read the engravings with a grave face. The Gnarlpine had dreamed of being wiped out by a great shadow, and fear turned to rage, and the shadow wore the faces of their elven friends. "To be aware of your own mind slipping away from you..." she said. I did not have a joke ready. I just stood there a while.

Mardant Strongoak called me brother, which I treasured, and said he would be my mentor and guide. He spoke of the Emerald Dream and the long hibernation to come. I had the sigil read and delivered by then, and I felt very official about it.

Last, Dirania Silvershine told me her friend Iverron had not come by at his usual hour. He often goes to the cave to the north, where there are spiders everywhere. I said I would keep an eye out. I did not yet go, but I am already keeping an eye out, a little, in general.

Fellowship

I walked alone today, though never quite unaccompanied: the trees, Elune, and all those watchful NPC-less spirits of the glen. The people I spoke with were Conservator Ilthalaine, Melithar, Tarindrella, Mardant, Terunne Bearshaper, and Dirania. Terunne asked if I cared to learn how to gather leather from slain beasts. I said yes with such feeling that I think it was too much for a Tuesday-ish afternoon.

Spoils & Craft

Tarindrella pressed a book into my hands for my education, and I have not stopped smelling it. I also learned Tanning and Skinning, so the beasts I thinned will not go to waste. Nothing in the forest should, and I say this as someone who has thought about snacks all afternoon.

Growth

Strength rose in me quietly, like sap in spring. My staff-work and my guard both improved a little. Then Mardant taught me the Mark of the Wild, and when I cast it I felt the whole forest lean toward me, just slightly, as though to check that I meant it. I did. I certainly did.