Advance Into The Grove

Verena walked ahead of the group, her shield raised before her. Amelia followed next, her staff held in both hands, shaking ever so slightly, betraying her fears. Ilia came up the rear, her sleeves shucked up and her fingers held in first position for a number of devastating spells. They had left the shelter of the trees and were crossing the open field of rotting vegetation. Visibility was incredibly poor, as pale yellow fog swirled around them.

“Keep moving.” Verena said out loud, as much to herself as it was to the others. The conditions in the grove seemed to be getting worse. The foul muck that coated the ground sucked at their boots with each step and ahead of them strange groaning noises that filled the air before going completely silent.

Through the fog in front, Verena saw monumental black shapes. Approaching she realised it as one of the pillars around the old stone circle she had glimpsed from the edge of the grove. The three women moved quickly and methodically into the circle where to their surprise, there was no fog. It swirled around beyond the boundaries of the circle but inside it was clear as day.

“I don’t like this fog, Verena.” Amelia said, clutching her staff and nervously peering out past the stones of the circle. It doesn’t feel like any druidic magic I know of.”

“Is it safe to traverse?” Verena asked her two magically inclined party members.

“We’ve made it this far.” Ilia said with a shrug.

“But no further.” A figure stood ahead of the group, a black silhouette in the fog. The figure was taller and broader than any of the group.

“Weapons at the ready” Verena hissed to the party, giving her mace a few experimental swings.

“Who are you?” Ilia called out to the figure.

“I am Gerkalka.” The hood was thrown back and the face of a female Ursaren was revealed, “Servant of Felxagohl.”

“Y-you profane this place of nature.” Amelia said, her voice wavering. Verena was surprised that the young druidess’s even said anything, but when she glanced over she saw Amelia’s face furrowed with rage.

“Indeed. We shall corrupt it from branch to Machine. Felxagohl’s glory shall rise from the stinking fetid carcass of this grove.”

As the Ursaren stopped talking Verena heard a strange creaking sound from behind the group. She turned and looked beyond the edge of the circle. Nothing,

A creak to her right sent her whipping around that way. Something was moving in the swirling fog. The sound began to echo from all sides and the members of Chiming Grove moved closer together and prepared for battle.

The first of the beings moved out of the fog and into the circle and Verena gasped in shock.

It had once been a man, but his body was rotting and dripping. Coming out from under his rib cage and spreading over his chest were blackened roots that crept up his throat and disappeared into a hole in his cheek.

“Oh gods above...” Amelia whispered, “They’re druids...”

“Were druids.” Gerkalka corrected Amelia, “Now they are but empty vessels that carry the rot of Dead Felxagohl. And soon enough you to will be the same, your rotting corpses will bear Felxagohl’s glory to all of the Machine.”