Saplings, Sabers, and a Sigil from Mardant
Betas wanders Shadowglen in the amber late afternoon, thins the sabers and boars, hears dark news of the Gnarlpine, and is named Mardant's pupil.
The Road
The day began in Shadowglen, and I stopped on the path as the name of the place settled over me. Discovered Shadowglen. The late afternoon light came down through the branches in long gold ribbons, and the whole glen seemed to be holding its breath for me. I stood there some time. I may have rehearsed an entrance for no one. Nobody saw it, so the trees will have to be my witnesses.
From there I climbed to Aldrassil, the great tree itself, and discovered it too. The bark hummed under my palm, or perhaps that was my own pulse. I went back and forth between the glen and the tree all evening, and each time the light had shifted a little more toward honey.
Battles
Fourteen creatures fell to me in Shadowglen today. There were seven Young Nightsabers, five Young Thistle Boars, one full-grown Thistle Boar, and a single Grellkin. I do not say this with pride. Each of them was part of the forest's great breathing, and I asked their pardon every time, though I admit I said it faster toward the end.
I came away unbroken. I am a little proud of that part.
Deeds
Conservator Ilthalaine greeted me by marveling that "the beauty of Shadowglen never ceases to delight my senses!" I felt the same, so I took it as a sign of kinship. She asked me to thin the young nightsabers and thistle boars. The spring rains had been heavy and the beasts had flourished past what the glen could feed. When I came back she said I had "performed my duties well." I will remember that line on dark days. She then asked for more of the same, this time against mangy nightsabers and thistle boars, "in the name of balance." I have only begun on that. She also handed me a sigil from Mardant.
Melithar Staghelm sent me to find Tarindrella, the dryad, after the forest spirits whispered that she had returned to Shadowglen. I found her to the southwest, and she said, "Only in Nature do we find purity." I wrote it on my hand so I wouldn't forget it. She said I still had much to learn and offered me a book to further my education. Then she told me of the Gnarlpine, furbolgs once peaceful and now twisted, and asked me to gather eight Fel Moss. That task is still open. She also sent me to search the abandoned furbolg camps for totems, and I brought them back. Their engravings told of nightmares of being wiped out by a great shadow, and of fear turning to rage, and the rage turning on their elven friends. Tarindrella said, "Oh, it's even worse than I thought." I thought of a mind slipping away from its owner and had to sit down for a moment.
At Aldrassil I read the Verdant Sigil and brought it to Mardant Strongoak. He called me brother and said he would be my mentor and guide, to teach me the spirits' speech and the secrets of the Emerald Dream.
Last, Dirania Silvershine told me her friend Iverron is hours late, and that he usually haunts the cave to the north, where the spiders are. I said I would look for him. I have not yet gone.
Spoils & Craft
Terunne Bearshaper asked whether I cared to learn how to gather leather from slain beasts, or buy new tools. I learned Skinning, and Tanning too. I do not yet know what to make of leather, but I have already looked at my boots differently. A pair of Young Thistle Boar hides would make a fine pouch for snacks. I mean for sacred herbs.
Growth
Partway through the evening a new strength settled in me, like a second heartbeat arriving beside the first. My guard grew steadier and my staff swung truer. Mardant then taught me the Mark of the Wild. I felt its green blessing settle on my shoulders like a cloak of small leaves. I whispered thanks to Elune. Then, because the moon was just rising, I thanked it again directly and waited for the wink. It was either a wink or a cloud. I am counting it.