The High Mage of the Forest
Brave woodfolk, rangers, adventurers, I implore you for help. Our forests are under threat by a druid who has abandoned good and begun corrupting the trees, the plants, all that is wholesome in our land. He calls himself the High Mage of the Forest and we have discovered that one of the Crystals he uses to fuel these terrible changes is nearby. We have failed to reach it and destroy it ourselves. Please, come and help us be rid of this terrible magic.
If you succeed, we can offer rewards worthy of the task at hand.
- Owen, Archdruid of the Thorned River
Recap
Merrick, Nyra, Nock, and Yulvik find themselves helping Archdruid Owen of the Thorned River by destroying one of the crystals that is powering a druid-gone-evil who calls himself the High mage of the Forest. Merrick guides them expertly and quietly around a number of forest obstacles to reach it, with a little help from Nyra spotting still, yet animate trees.
Unfortunately, the dark dryad guardian guarding the crystal saw Nyra on their approach and had the chance to cast Plant Growth and impede their movement before their attack. She’s able to fly out, Nock Thundersteps himself and Yulvik out of harms immediate way after a round of attacks, while Merrick takes the brutal brunt of two animated tree slams.
Everything stands on a razor’s edge for a moment, but Nyra pulls Merrick out in time after he gets some hefty swings in, Yulvik heroically steals the guardian’s vine staff, and Nock manages to destroy the crystal despite being near it causing him to forget about doing so for a moment, sending shockwaves that seem to particularly damage and weaken their opponents. The party is able to finish the job and bring back evidence of their achievements to collect their rewards and get back to Luck for much needed R&R.