Into the Woods

The FGC takes their leave of Nila, Shadow, and Crandon, striking out into the Savalirwood.

The party makes their way to the spring campgrounds but there's nobody home. Sigils carved into the trees with a claw indicate that the water supply here has been fouled, and it has forced the nomadic Nightback Clan to move on.

Snow leads the group on two days of travel north and east, hugging the outer edges of the wood close to the Dunrock mountains. They continue to follow a trail of sigils, fighting denizens of the wood on the way.

For those who remember the treetop home of the tabaxi at Raska’s Edge, there’s a stark contrast here in the heart of the Savalirwood. The Nightback encampment fades into its surroundings, making use of the natural materials that are in the immediate areas. Pliable small trees are bent and tied to form narrow domed structures, which are then covered with sheets of salvaged bark to keep out the perpetual chill. Hide stretchers are set up and used to tan leathers and furs. Off to one end of the camp is an eating area where a brisk fire sits under a large, unidentified beast on a spit, which smells good enough to make your stomachs growl in response. In bowls and baskets around it are a complement of odd berries, tubers, and plants that you assume are edible.

A lone, broad-shouldered tabaxi in a furred cloak approaches you at the edge of the settlement. His long, dark fur is greying around the muzzle. He walks with confidence and an air of authority. You realize he has no reason to be cautious, as you catch the telltale glint off of a half dozen arrow heads all pointed in your direction in the cool gray light.

They arrive at the encampment and are greeted by Five Piece, one of the tribal leaders, and his sentinels perched in the trees above.

Snow leads the group to her family's home where her mother and father and younger brother Thunder with his cubs are thrilled to see her after so long away. Snow asks after Shadow, and the conversation turns to her family's concerns for their daughter. Shadow has been working nonstop and is worn out, and dreams have been troubling her as well as the rest of the clan.

When Shadow joins them, the conversation turns to what's beset the tabaxi. Many are experiencing dreams that shake them to their core. Once the dreams start, the victim slowly wastes away. They've lost three people so far, and this has been going on for several months. Many of the dreams are sowing dissent and dissatisfaction with leadership within the Nightback. Shadow and Candle, another healer in the tribe, have been tending everyone who is afflicted.

Shadow is quiet and reserved, and she and doesn't smile much… but then these days she doesn’t have much to smile about. Tentatively, she tells the group what her own nightmares have been.

In my dream, The Wildmother speaks to me. Piece is leading us to our destruction. He has angered her. He has upset balance of nature. If he becomes ill… if I hasten it… then she will be appeased. We can retreat to safety, and the wood will begin to heal.

Shadow takes them to see Dusty Quill, who is one of the worst off of the lot right now. He is notably gaunt, with deep circles under eyes that are fighting sleep. They convince him to tell them about the nightmares he is experiencing. After asking his wife to take their daughter and leave, he tells the party about his experiences.

There's a willow tree that weeps blood. It speaks with the voice of my grandfather. I tells me that I should save my family. That death is better than what awaits us. The curse of the wood is coming for the Nightback Clan. The water is fouled, the edible game is vanishing. The elders will lead us straight to the heart of the corruption and we will be overcome. Or we will be forced to leave our home and be sitting ducks in the war-torn expanse of the heartless empire or the cold dynasty. The willow promises me that it will care for the souls of my family, that they will be at peace with our ancestors.

Ferric wastes no time bringing the healing power of Bahamut to bear on Dusty, easing his suffering through greater restoration. Phelan's potions then have a visibile effect on him. Shadow tells them that before Ferric's magic, no poultice or potion or distillation was helping. With Dusty on the mend, the group decides to go visit Candle, the other healer involved in caring for these patients. Shadow tells them that Candle has also been afflicted with the nightmares, and went into a decline, but has managed to slowly recover from it. The party hopes that she may be able to share her journey and how they can use it to help the other ailing members of the clan.