The Bone Orchard

The Caretaker

Over steaming mugs of herbal tea, Nila explains that she's here watching over the Blooming Grove while its primary caretakers, the Clay family, are away. The last of the Clays to live here, Caduceus, set out at the behest of the Wild Mother to try to find a way to heal his home and stop the corruption of the surrounding Savalirwood from spreading.

Caduceus and a party of adventurers he was traveling with rescued Nila, her child, and her mate. Without a home to go back to, they agreed to come here and watch over things until he could return. But Nila is troubled. The sickness of the wood seems to be finally breaching the last wall of this grove. And in just the month or so that Nila and her famliy have been here, it seems to be spreading notably faster.

Nila hasn't had any visitors, and there's been no sign of Snow's relative yet. So the party resignes themselves to wait.

Hunting trip

Rather than sit around idly, the core of the FGC set out for a midafternoon hunt. The sun sets earlier here in the north, but there's plenty of time to find trouble. For those new to the Savalirwood, the twisted purple and grey foliage that dominates the woodland is eerie and unsettling, almost malevolent. While the plants are not dead, they're not thriving and alive, either.

Storm on the Horizon

A tall, slightly stocky tabaxi emerges into the firelight where you sit drinking tea. They wears an eyepatch over one eye, which is bisected by a jagged scar. Their fur resembles Snows, with a wintry white base covered in black leopard-like spots and a thick tail. However, their chin and chest sport a mane-like plume that’s braided almost like a dwarf’s beard, and secured with bright colored beads of foreign make. Their ears are pierced numerous times with a series of gold rings, and they sport an azure tunic under a thick fur lined duster, and loose wool trousers that tuck into scuffed and worn over the knee boots. They walk with a pronounced limp, compensating with a slender cane topped with a spiraling, helix-like knob. The lute strapped to their back leaves no question as to their profession. They carry themselves with a studiedly casual air, but move with the kind of care that usually indicates some kind of chronic pain.

“Snowball, my beloved girl.” Storm pulls Snow into a fierce hug, gripping the back of her head before leaning away from her to inspect her thoroughly. “I didn’t expect you to come so quickly. Your reflexes haven’t lost their edge.”

Storm clasps her shoulders with a grip still strong despite their older years. “The adventuring life suits you, darling. The girls must be all over you.”

Snow demands some answers as to where Storm has been all these years, and why they never reached out before now.

Oh, Snowball. I am truly sorry. I was… unfortunately delayed. After I left the Clan, I started out heading south. I worked my way over to the elves of Bysaes Tyl, hoping they may have stories or artifcts or literature that might help me. I did some work attempting to earn their trust. Things .... didn't go according to plan... and it ran me afoul of the Cerberus Assembly in the Dwendalian Empire. I had to get out of Wildmount quickly. So I spent a number of years staying out of sight and pretty much cooling my heels in Tal'Dorei. Once I was able to travel without as much fear of being detected, I made my way back across to Uthodurn. The elves there are justifiably leery of strangers, especially those with any ties to any organization within any short distance of The Run. So I've some allies there, but I've had little success finding information. Until I got word from Shadow.

With that, Storm's grin gets somber. “She managed to track me down. The Nightback Clan is imploding, Snow. The corruption seems to be gaining strength, and they’re starting to succumb to it. Fights are breaking out. Members of the clan are experiencing debilitating nightmares that are inciting fear and an even more aggressive and distrusting view of anyone who is an outsider. The nightmares are leading the elders to plan more and more aggressive measures both inside and outside the clan to ensure their safety and isolation. And Shadow fears that given their superstitious nature, it’s only a matter of time until suspicions fall on her. After all… she’s the resident witch.”

The Path Forward

The Freaky Grey Company discusses their next steps. Unfortunately, Storm's injuries have left him unable to handle the terrain and treetops of the Savalirwood, and he'll never again see his home. But the party decides to track the Nightback Clan and find Shadow before fear and anger put her in greater danger.