The Call of The Grove

All conversation in the village of Donnel was about the druids grove. None of the locals in the hamlet of just over two hundred people had seen any of the Greensplinter Grove's inhabitants for a few weeks, and rumours spread around of mass hibernation or perhaps some kind of fertility orgy keeping the druids from visiting. The rumours all died when the first sign of corruption was sighted. Strange pustules began to appear on the wildlife. Angry weeping sores, a colour of purple so deep it was almost black. Whatever sickness had taken root spread to plants and even the earth itself. Trees becoming warped and twisted, a constant flow of blackness pouring from wounds in the bark.

A few brave hunters decided to investigate and approached Greensplinter Grove and found as they went that the corruption got more and more prevalent. When they reached the outskirts of the grove they found that the place was obscured by a thick fog. The fog had a strange purple tinge and the smell of it stopped the hunters from getting any further. The village gathered to discuss the findings. The corruption was still spreading through the woods and it threatened their livelihoods; their crops and their cattle. They were going to need help.

And so they sent a petition to the Adventures Guild in Marth. They put their funds together to pay for the service and waited. Too long and they would be forced to leave and if they decided to stay. Who knew what the corruption would do to their bodies and minds?

The money the village had collected was not a lot but the Guild decided that this job was one that needed immediate attention. The leaders picking from their stable of adventuring groups to take on the quest and save the village.

The chosen party met up early in the morning outside the Adventurers Guild. A cart pulled by two lepsi with supplies stood waiting for them, having been prepared overnight by the servants at the Guild. The antlered lepsi pranced on the spot impatiently, all ready with harnesses on their backs and their eyes covered by blinkers. When Verena arrived she found Mimi already there, feeding carrots to the beasts. The demkin giggled as the lepsi nudged her with their snouts and lipped her hair looking for more delicious treats.

"You're up early Mimi." Verena walked over to the cart and climbed up on back to examine their supplies. Everything was taken care of. Tents and cooking supplies and food to last them a few weeks, all preserved and nicely packaged.

"Too excited by half!" Mimi said with a laugh. She scratched one of the lepsi behind the ears as it bent down to her level. "Always this way before a job. And those were ones just in Marth! We are going somewhere else!"

"I'm glad you are in a good mood. I'm nervous. Really nervous." Verena confessed to her demkin companion. She sucked in a breath and bid herself to be strong.

"Don't be! You are a good leader. We will be fine." Mimi was a bundle of enthusiasm and Verena appreciated it this morning, going into a job that promised to be dangerous.

A few minutes later the last two members of their party, Amelia and Ilia, joined them.

The druid. Amelia Penewin, was a novice with the Blue Apple Glade druids. She had left the Glade on her her Sojourn; a length of time when a young druid would go out into the world, visit other druid circles and just gain experience in general. She was shy and nervous but had taken a liking to the other members of the party.

Ilia Favranoc was a recent arrival in Marth and the newest member of the group, a skilled mage who came fresh from her studies at the Amethyst Tower with glowing recommendations from her instructors.. She didn't know the other members very well and as a result kept herself to herself. She was a serious woman who preferred the company of a hefty magical tome to that of others.

It was decided Mimi would guide the cart alongside Verena, with Amelia and Ilia sitting in the back.

"We leaving yet? Surely it's time to leave? Right Verena? Shouldn't wait too long." Mimi bounced in the carts seat, the reins clasped in both hands. She had a grin from ear to ear and her eyes sparkled with delight.

Verena smiled at the demkin warmly. They had worked together on a couple of small missions and she had come to rely on Mimi's skill with the dagger and her ability to get through locks. Though on certain days she could have done without the chipper attitude and the incessant bouncing.

Verena cast her eyes on the other three women and smiled to herself. They were The Chiming Spring, a name that would someday be spoken of alongside the greatest of parties. Nothing could stand in their way.

"Yea. We should get going." Verena said as she mounted the cart beside the bouncing demkin, "We have a long journey ahead of us."