The only thing you find of worth in the barn and chamber, is a cat's eye precious stone about the size of a man's fist, and a warm luminescent green color.
"Hmmm, that gem is a religious implement.
If we want to remove it safely, it may have to be consecrated first.
Let us leave it for now, and seal of the barn so nobody stumbles on it accidentally."
Sonechka nods at Green. "I would not wish to remove it, my lord." She looks at the sleeping cult leader. "I will stay with her at the jail to speak with her when she wakes. She may be more willing to speak with a woman."
"Perhaps, unless she will think of you as a traitor to womankind.
She is a zealot after all.
Still, I don't think I need to worry for your safety, I doubt she could match you on a good day."
Furiel returns, quiet and deep in thought for a change.
"I think she may be eager to share her viewpoint with me. She was suspiciously eager to draw us into battle. I want to know why. But I will be wary, of course, my lord."
"I shall attempt to get as much sleep as possible in what's left of the night.
Unless something truly monumental happens, wait until after breakfast to inform me.
That goes for everyone."
The Green Man grins and heads off to bed.
She is patting the walls as she shuffles around the perimeter of the cell..
Her searching hands have found the door, and now the bars in the two-foot window.. which she grips.
"It wasn't my plan to lose, my blinding beauty... Oh.. I had so many arrows in my quiver when you put me under." She shakes her head and tsks. "Dozens of soldiers would have fallen, but you.. snipped my string before my arrows let loose."
Her eyes have adjusted - she looks left then right.. catching the smallest amount of ambient glow from distant torches.
"I'm not blind... it is dark." She grins "You are interesting.", and backs away from the door. "My mind is tingling with thoughts... I doubt I'll able to sleep!"
She cackles, then sighs as she takes a seat on the cell floor.
Morning comes.. rumbles of thunder, grey skies, and mild but persistent rain.
Not long after you've had your breakfast and gone through your routines, Kesten gathers the council.
"Trouble m'lords.. m'lady. A rider arrived from the Karrasin lumberjacks.. " he gestures to the rain-soaked man who now bows...
"They've received warning from a fey sorceress... if they do not leave that grove in one day's time, she claims she will drive them out by force."
He adds, "This would directly affect us, of course, concerning construction in Tatzlford."
The Green Man, having been slouching in his chair, gives a gusty sigh.
"Ruling isn't exactly a lark is it? I would say it's another one of those things you can file in the "not as easy as it looks" pile."
Tapping the armrest for a moment, he considers.
"It sounds like something that should be resolved quickly, so that means we'll have to get personally involved.
And it sounds like we don't have a moment to spare, so have our horses saddled and ready to go."
Dolgrym was ready to get back to action after a few days of rest at court. He quickly gathered his supplies and met the others. He had grabbed a few extra biscuits and a large hunk of cheese. "For the road, you know..."
"Cheese travels well, and so does smoked ham.
Together they make a fine afternoon snack.
Might as well bring a bottle of wine, if we have all three, the road won't seem nearly as long."
The ride is cold and wet.
You soon come within sight of the woods. All the leaves have changed, and some by now have started to drop.
After about four hours of riding, you reach the old Narthropple camp.. about halfway to the lumber camp.
"Hmmm...from here on, I suggest we proceed with caution.
Considering how short the time limit is, there is a chance that either side might have been provoked into starting something ahead of schedule."
The Green Man takes the front and continues the journey.
Sonechka nods. "It took time for the message to get to us in the first place; we have no time to waste if we are to meet the fey's deadline."
You continue along the Skunk River, which takes you into and through lizardfolk territory. You see sentries ready themselves as you near, but you are recognized and waved on before any spears are thrown.
The Green Man chuckles a little.
"You know, fey law probably doesn't work the same way as ours do, but she claims the grove...
So this could be said to be a meeting between nobility.
Funny that..."
You ride another couple hours...
The river makes a sharp bend, widening into a deep pool dotted with lily pads and fringed with waving reeds. Several freshly felled trees lie beside their stumps on the shore of the pool, their crowns dangling in the water among fading tendrils of mist.
There appears to be a stand-off. A half dozen men stand near the felled trees facing two others who have their backs to the pool. Behind the two is another man on the ground clutching his wounded leg. As you come closer, you see another individual mostly submerged in the pool... only her head is above water.
One of the men in the larger group jogs toward you.
"Ho there! From the young kingdom? Tell ya.. I'm done bein reasonable.. damnable fairies.. I've had it! Just tryin to do our %#&@ job, and she tells us get out in a day or die. Day's not even up yet and here she is.. bewitchin and injurin my %#&@ men." He angrily points at the female in the water, and then indicates the wounded man, and the two facing them - positioned as if protecting the female in the pool forty feet away.
The Green Man slowly and deliberately rides until his horse is placed between the two groups.
He takes a moment to look to either side before clearing his throat.
"We've been called here to try and solve this situation, preferably without bloodshed, and preferably in such a way that each side is satisfied.
However, at the moment, tempers appears to be up, and blood is running hot.
If you truly don't want this to escalate, if you want this to be done peacefully, then start by relaxing so that we can hear both sides."
Sonechka nods and responds quietly to the man after she dismounts. "My suggestion would be that you and your men leave the grove for the moment. Not leave entirely, but far enough to be out of the creature's sight. She may be more amenable to our suggestions if she is not constantly reminded of what started this encounter."
Aid another Diplomacy
"Everyone just stand down while the King susses things out. There doesn't need to be more violence today!"
Malgorzata responds "I do what I can to earn her blessings."
"Before intruding on our shrine, and slaying my sisters... no more than any man."
"As a kingdom?" she shrugs "Civilization lures, breeds, and harbors smug entitled men whose existence warrants our efforts. If you do not see the worth now.. so be it. Perhaps one day you will."
*** *** ***
The leader of the loggers exhales minor frustration, and curtly gestures for his men to back away from the scene. They acquiesce.. "Yes sir... aye Corax."
Corax curbs his angry cursing.. speaking his mind before walking away as well. "I only hope you are on the side of the people... that her words do not sway you from supporting honest working men."
The woman in the water rises slightly "Farewell... you will have to string me up and drip me dry another day."
Corax pauses.. balling his fists. He shoots you a glance, then continues walking away as requested.
The Green Man gives the woman what he hopes is a regal nod.
"Well, we will have to hear both sides of this problem before it can be solved.
But as you are the one closest, we may as well begin here.
Tell us your name lady, what you feel the problem is, and how you would suggest solving it."
Let's hope both sides are reasonable enough to...well...to listen to reason I suppose.
Sonechka gives the fey a deeper bow than Green had but does not address the woman directly. Instead she quietly murmurs to Green and anyone close enough to hear "Those two are clearly enchanted. Beware she does not ensnare you as well."
The fey woman moves a few feet closer. She speaks slowly and stern.
"My name, orc man, is Melianse. The glade is not here for men to raze. These trees have been growing for two hundred years, and deserve a far better fate than serving as tables for some grimy peasant's slop!"
"The only solution I see is for the sweaty apes to replace the five trees they've felled here, and leave these woods."
The Green Man frowns, while "Orc man" might not be much of an insult, or even intended to BE one, pointing out his race was something of a sore point with him, especially since she was only HALF right.
"I am called The Green Man, not "Orc man".
Taking a deep breath, he attempts to calm down before speaking again, with a slightly sifter tone.
"Forgive me for being blunt, but I cannot believe you claim dominion over ALL the woods?"
"Would you truly object if these men were to resume their logging at a different place?
Now that the confrontation is over and tempers cooling, I believe it would only take some persuading and finding a good place for them to move to."
He was in fact fairly confident about that statement, and the woods were quite big, the idea of not finding a suitable place was unlikely at worst.
But another problem did make him wonder...
"Replace the trees you say? And how would you propose this would be done?"
"Green Man..." She nods thoughtfully.
"The glade here is my home, and the nearby wood has seen enough loss. I rarely stray far from this bend in the river."
"You assume that I've not thought of asking them to move elsewhere? They are as stubborn as they are crude. The man who so eloquently slings curses grumbled about the need to fell hardwoods... that other groves simply would not do." She says this last bit with a "poor loggers" mocking sad tone and expression.
"If, in truth, you feel they could be convinced to move along, Green Man and cohorts, I may have a suggestion... a means for reparation. Alas, I've come to believe words are not enough for these men." She gazes at the two charmed loggers and grins mischievously.
Know. Nature
The dwarf approaches the half off and whispers, "I seem to remember there was an ironwood grove around the locale where we defeated Tiny Dogman. Maybe we could shear the grove down, if needed."
The Green Man was just about to open his mouth when Dolgrym spoke up, so instead he turned to him and gave him a grateful nod.
And THIS is why rulers surrounds themselves with competent advisers.
Well, the competent rulers do at least...
Still, while the possibility of offering an alternative to the loggers might be more than enough, some reassurance for the fey wouldn't go amiss.
While not a mental giant like many others on the council, The Green Man was not stupid, and he had picked up a little here and there.
Slowly, an idea began to take form.
Promising to protect the glade might not be enough...but is there a legal way?
Oh...oh! Oooooh, I think I may just have an idea!
"Eventually the kingdom will expand to include all the forest, including this grove.
And it strikes me that we could then grant the logging rights for the trees in the grove to anyone.
Now, should these people not chose to use them, and yet retain them...
Why legally, no-one else could use them as long as they are already granted.
And they could be granted for life, possibly hereditary as well..."
The Green Man was pretty proud at the moment.
Sure, it was a simple plan, probably not the only plan possible, or the most elegant one.
But he had managed to come up with it, and at least for now could see no problems with it.
"I infer from your musing you have the power to grant such a thing?"
She glides about in the water for a moment as she mulls it over.
"There is a dryad not far from here named Tiressia who is able to craft what she calls tokens... each of which - when used - instantly grows a tree. I will not send these loggers to her... it must be you who seek her out. You will find her that direction by dusk if you leave now." She points west northwest with a bluish webbed hand.
"Your return will not escape my notice. Until then... farewell." She disappears - ducking down into the water.
The two loggers suddenly look like they've snapped free of a trance. Corax quickly hustles over. "You boys alright?" .. they both nod slowly - clearly confused.
The Green Man raises an eyebrow in amusement.
Yes, the fact that I said "we" might have been a clue...
He then turns to face Corax and his loggers.
"She has released your men, and we have negotiated a settlement that WE, the rulers shall see to.
You have no need to worry about that.
Furthermore, as none of us has any wish to take your jobs from you, there is a solution to avoid further problems here.
There is another grove of Ironwood which no longer have anyone living in it.
You are welcome to use that one instead."
Sonechka nods, ready to give the loggers directions if they seem amenable to the compromise.
Now, what are the odds that this dryad will just happily hand us over five such tokens?
I doubt she would have any use for gold...
He exhales... a bit put off, but nods. "Alright. Could be worse, eh? Ironwood'll work for sure. Though if it's a hike from the river, it'll slow us down. More work hauling means more cost, mind you." He looks over the faces of his men. "Can't say it don't burn me a bit her getting what she wants'n'all." He shrugs.
"We'll pack up camp if you'll just point us in the right direction."
The Green Man looks towards the direction indicated for a moment.
He ahd really just wanted to avoid showing the grimace on his face.
Sour grapes even in victory? You really feel that the fact that it was a shared victory cheapens it?
Ah well...
He then brings out the still far from finished map and indicates where the grove in question can be found.
"Well, if we are to finish this, then let us do it promptly.
To Dryad next."
You travel in the direction pointed out by Melianse. By mid-evening the forest become more lush.. much like what you'd seen in the old woods near the nest of Pervilash. Your pace is slowed by the lack of even ground or trails of any significance. There is - what seems to be - an ever-changing variety of twittering birdsong along the way.
Not long after the sun descends you hear music.. a flute playing a melancholy, sedate melody. The trees part to reveal a peaceful glade dappled with moonlight. A small pond lies placidly at the roots of an enormous oak tree with a scattering of leaves floating upon its surface.
There you see a satyr with his back against the mighty oak playing a pan flute. You see a woman curled up with her head in his lap. She is dressed in flowing vines and leaves which barely cover her slender form, and her hair appears to be petals of orange and red - still vibrant despite the bluish tones of late evening.
The satyr stops his tune as you come within sight. The woman sits up and wipes her eyes with the back of her hand.
She speaks softly... "Hello?"
The Green Man bows to the pair, still atop his horse.
"Greetings, we come seeking the dryad Tiressia.
I am called The Green Man, and with me are M'lady Alkaeva, Master Sharpaxe and General Furiel.
We were sent here by Melianse to negotiate for the use of some tokens to help her restore some trees that were cut down."
She stands, and starts to step forward, but the satyr gently tugs on her arm as he rises.
She speaks..."I am Tiressia... this is Falchos." The satyr nods with a cautious look. Falchos speaks "A worthy endeavor, but... these tokens have their worth as well. You do not expect to receive them without some form of payment, I suspect."
Tiressia glances at him, then to you... with worry in her eyes, and mildly protests his meaning yet unknown to you. "They could be badly injured.. as you were, dear Falchos."
Falchos asks "You are... capable adventurers, yes?"
"Well, one's own judgement is often a little unreliable, but yes.
Yes we are."
The Green Man then favours them both with his MOST toothy grin as he pats the side of his mount.
"So don't be coy, tell us what you have in mind, as you can see, my mount is getting sleepy.
She is not as young as she once was.
I had thought to find a mighty elk to ride, but so far, no luck."
Tiressia bow graciously "A malevolence has intruded upon this part of the Narlmarches. A scythe tree which hungers for dryad flesh above all. Falchos was grievously injured attempting to drive it off, and no others among my woodland friends would be able to face it and live."
"I cannot leave here... this is my home. We've been waiting here by my bonded tree... waiting for our violent end."
"You are welcome to stay here for the night. I will call for a guide when you are ready to seek it out."
Falchos adds... "Its lair is a blighted hollow eight miles to the south."
"I think we might just take you up on your most gracious invitation.
And it will also give us more time to talk about this monster of yours.
A scythe tree did you call it?
What do you know about it?"
"It is terribly evil.. sadistic.... It revels in causing pain. Larger than a wood giant, its reach is significant. It will be difficult to damage... more so than the most armored man. Though it roams at night, it will most likely be in its hollow throughout the day."
"Hmmm, in it's hollow, it would have trouble using it's reach, but it would also mean we can't play keep away..."
Know. Nature
The dwarf tries to recall any information he can about such a wicked tree.