Ches 25, 1387 Year of the Emerald Ermine - Bramblewood

[DM Betelgeuse]

Ches 25th, 1387DR Year of the Emerald Ermine - Bramblewood:

    Darius, Merriss' dutiful companion, had chosen to spend the evening walking through the Bramblewood collecting herbs, roots and the various plant that the temple needed to make its potions, poultices and other supplies. He had swapped his usual green robes for the muted colours of his travelling attire. Simple leathers, a wooden shield on his back and a sickle on his belt. He was squat low as he examined a particularly promising patch of herbs. His ear twitched as he heard the conversation of passing adventurers. They where discussing something he could not quite make out. Something was happening, deeper in the woods. He raised an eyebrow, some of his animal friends had spoken of strange happenings there a few days past.

    He stood quietly as his eyes traced the group moving for the tunnel. He quietly reattached his sickle to his belt, waited for a few moments before following the group. He maintained his distance, squinting into the darkness to try and make out the figures. Alas, he could not recognise any of them. So he simply followed, quietly. He hugged the corner of some cover as the group made it's way inside the tunnel, heading to the heart of the Bramblewood. Once the group had moved in, and an appropriate amount of time had passed, Darius pushed off from his hide and made his way forwards, following the footsteps of the group - using theirs to mask his own. He stopped in his tracks, moving to take cover behind a nearby wall as he heard the din of combat. After it stopped, he move forward. The group had departed the tunnel and left corpses of beetles in their wake. He sighed and dropped to a squat, harvesting useable parts, before making his way in their trail again. His nose wrinkled as the familiar smell of Hob Goblins assaulted his nostrils. He followed the scent, seeing a small pack of the beasts. He shook his head. Now was not the time. He turned on his heel and quickly picked up the trail again. It was not difficult. There was a trail of corpses in the groups wake. Ettercaps, spiders and various other things. He sighed, following along while collecting useable parts. He eventually arrived at where they had gone... with a frown. This was the ruins of Ar'ques Lalendril. He shook his head. No good came of that place.

    He drew a breath, mustering his courage, preparing to take the step forwards when... what was that? Evil pulled at his senses. It was mild, not a very strong presence, but it was there. Something foul had disturbed the balance. Darius grit his teeth as he turned his head left and right, swallowing nervously before his head eventually stopped. He inhaled through his nose, a sour look formed on his face and he opened his eyes. He was looking at a stone wall. But it... it was not natural. It was not singing the song of stone, as it should be. It was crying, warped. He reached out a hand and pressed it to the wall, running his fingers over it. He could feel the indentations with the rock. They should not be there. With a blink, he looked down and paled. He was stood in the centre of a pentagram, burned in the grass. He quickly stepped out of it with a sigh... What would Merriss say if he had been caught? He looked around once more, shaking his head. Something beyond his perception had happened here. Something vile. Something that altered the balance.

    But what was it? He did not know and, with a sigh, he headed for Greatgaunt.