The Dawn's Light Expedition

The supreme priestess recognized the threat such a blight would be to the entire region, left unchecked. Though the dryads had a rocky relationship with any outsiders, their desperation was clearly shown upon the pale-green face of the dryad who had plead for their assistance. Her dark eyes fixed firmly upon the leader of the sect. She was clad in a simple gown made entirely of leaves and other foliage, and sandals carved from fallen wood. Many of the prim and proper Sisters of the Dawn, she was an affront to cleanliness itself. As such, when no one was rushing to volunteer for an expedition, the Supreme Priestess took charge.

Among the retinue of paladins being brought along as protection from the forest's dangers, they were also accompanied by a few wood elf rangers who were also interested in the forest's well-being. A few of the Supreme Priestess' most devoted were invited along as well, knowing that their healing services would be required to aid the dryads. Sisters Avery, Eirlys, and Lithiel were selected for the task. Though it was a strange choice on the surface, the Supreme Priestess was very particular it be these three. Avery was reliable, and simply needed practice in the healing arts. Eirlys was similarly talented, but was often too skittish to ever leave the chapel. Lithiel was, as always, on the short list for being disciplined and a grueling expedition to the untamed wilderness was perfect for that.

Though only one dryad emerged from the forest to greet them, many eyes were trained upon the visitors as they entered a clearing just before the forest proper. The corruption lay much farther inland, kept to a crawl by the efforts of many such dryads. Those that remained to watch did so quietly.

This dryad was of a paler orange complexion, a result of their aging cycle. Dryads were born a deep shade of green, and followed a similar path to the leaves on a tree. "Peoples of the Outside, I welcome you to this most sacred place. You'll find ample space here to set up your camps."

The Supreme Priestess knelt down, gesturing for them to do the same. "You honor us, fair dryad. We will not sully this fine land to the best of our ability, and show utmost respect to your order."

"The sentiment is appreciated. We will return in the morning to answer your questions and discuss the crisis." Without another word the dryad vanished behind the treeline, and the feeling of being watched slowly faded. They were as alone as the protectors were willing to let them be.

"Eirlys, breathe." The Supreme Priestess instructed, causing the aforementioned healer to gasp. She could practically feel the tension through the air as the young healer stood dutifully behind her.

"R-right... hahah..." She couldn't help it, that dryad was the only person more imposing than the Supreme Priestess herself.

By morning the camp was fully built and patrols were being worked out for the paladins. The dryads forbade weaponry from entering the forest. Lithiel had already made herself scarce, and Avery had been struck by a sudden onset of allergies. The abundance of plant life pollinating the area was the likely culprit. This left Eirlys to attend the meeting between the Expedition's leader and the Elder Dryad. They were blindfolded and brought through a particularly dense pocket of the forest, emerging in a grove completely concealed from sunlight. "We ask that you remove anything you wear upon your feet." One of the attending dryad asked. "We tread upon sacred grass." Each of the dryads removed their odd wooden sandals and entered.

The Supreme Priestess dutifully removed her shoes and socks, entering the grove next. Eirlys hesitated, knowing what grass was going to feel like on her bare skin... "Sister Eirlys, don't tarry for long. The Elder's time is precious." She called back, jolting the young woman into action. Eirlys bared her feet and gingerly began walking ahead. "Eep... hmmm!" A dozen blades of grass slid across her soles, and between her toes with each step, causing a maddening tingle. At least the darkened grove would conceal her strained smile. How was the Supreme Priestess so collected?

Bioluminescent moss and insects provided an eerie greenish light, through which they could see a figure pinned to tree. As every Elder did before him, this dryad had merged with an ancient oak tree, giving him a true connection to the entire forest. Though unlike his kin, his skin was a sickly shade of beige, blotched with yellow. The twinge of a dying plant, and the tree he had been merged with reflected this. When he spoke, all the dryads fell silent and listened intently.

"My... children. They are... dying." The Elder Dryad croaked, his jaw audibly popping and scraping as he spoke. "The forest typically provides... life. It has become... twisted. Those who enter..."

"Father, please." The dryad from before interjected, affectionately holding the Elder's chin in her hands. "You put too much strain on yourself, please allow me to brief the outsiders."

He merely exhaled, and spoke no further. "You may call me Gillia." The daughter of the Elder continued. "Our forest bears a great burden these last few months. Though it can be perilous to travel in better times, there is a distinctly evil influence residing there now." She paced forward to address the visitors more directly.

"Normally, outsiders are only tolerated within the outer reaches of the forest. To allow them any further is to invite an incident such as this, where the very Heart of the forest is at risk." Gillia explained, though this was merely a summary of what they already knew. "Our oracle has, fortunately, had a break-through. Through her deep connection to the very life-**** of this world, she has been granted a vision. Within it are the details of a ritual that would return the joy of life to our Forest." She bowed her head, furrowing her brow in frustration. "...and I am not one to question the Oracle, regardless of my own misgivings. But it goes as such, in your tongue..."

"In Times of Greatest Strife, Bring Together the Gift of the Forest and the Mirth of an Outsider, Pure of Heart. From this combination, the Catalyst shall banish all Evil and Misery From the Forest."

So, that was why they were invited, and why Gillia was not terribly pleased. Their own prophecy required them to seek outside aid! Eirlys was amused by the irony of it, but concerned what the "mirth of an outsider" would entail. Eirlys hadn't spoken up, which wasn't unusual for her, but she was fighting a battle of her own. An ant had found its way up her foot and was now crawling about. Swatting it off wasn't an option, knowing it would pain the Elder Dryad to see any of the Forest denizens harmed... As such she was resigned to stifled laughter until the insect moved on.

"So, you thought to contact a religious organization." The Supreme Priestess commented. "That is quite astute, for how little your people interact with us." There was a bit of venom laden in that remark, but Gillia didn't seem to care.

"Indeed. But you forget, outsider, that birds reside here. Insects, too. They all speak, but you don't have the ears to hear them. It's no fault of yours, and I mean no offense by this, but it is merely some you cannot understand." Gillia shot back, still restraining herself but her tone was getting incredibly short.

"You're... quite right." The Supreme Priestess replied diplomatically. "My apologies, please continue." No good would come of dredging up bad blood that predated her own appointment to the position.

"The oracle has also provided us with a description of the outsider in her visions. They are described as... fair skinned, dark hair..." Gillia ran down a rather vague list of physical features, that could have easily described half the women in the Expedition camp, including the Supreme herself.

Gillia smiled a bit, pleased with herself. "We've already devised a method to test each outsider for 'purity' of heart. The 'Gift' described within the prophecy is already known to us." She held out her palm and closed her eyes, conjuring a greenish sphere of energy upon it. "Pure life energy, able to be delicately woven and molded into a trillion different forms. We are able to draw it from the plant life and direct it for rituals and ceremonies. When a compatible human is tested, the life **** will react with what it is meant to be combined with."

"And that test is...?" The Supreme Priestess was clearly getting impatient, wanting to know what exactly was at stake here. They were treading dangerously close to apostasy, after all.

The dryad gestured to a small sapling, one of many planted around the room. "These saplings were recovered from the edge of the corruption that seeps out from the Heart of the forest." Gillia explained. "Each of you will provide Mirth, and when combined with our Gift, it should reverse the damage and give it a proper chance at life. Mirth is the term for your godly magic, correct?"

"Not... exactly." Eirlys had to speak up, the ant was crawling up her ankle! It seemed to fall to the grass as she took a few steps forward. "But only a few of us are able to conjure it at will." She slowly realized that a dozen eyes had fallen upon her as she spoke. "And, I, um..."

"Could it mean something else, that isn't magic?" The Supreme Priestess mercifully cut in. "Mirth in the common tongue means happiness, joy, or laughter."

"Can you produce laughter on command?" Gillia asked. Did dryads refrain from ever laughing? It would certainly suit their demeanor thus far. "Are there ways to elicit it?"

"There are..." Even the Supreme struggled with this question. Was she really about to suggest such a thing as the ritual that saved an entire forest? Yes, she was, even if that meant an unpleasant time for herself and Eirlys. "...I suppose if you were ****, you could... tickle us. Only for a short time, mind you, it isn't something we humans enjoy!"

"That is... acceptable. Explain this concept." Gillia requested next, cocking her head slightly to the side and closing her eyes. She accessed the vast swathe of shared memories from her kind, ignoring the congregated people for a few moments. "There are only sparse memories of this for us. Long ago, when we were mere mortals ourselves, fighting the forest more than living within it."

The gathered dryads and Eirlys were then subjected to an awkward explanation of how it worked, but Gillia wasn't satisfied. "Why would you touch the skin of another in such a way? Demonstrate."

"D-demonstrate?!" The Supreme Priestess retorted. "Goodness, me..." She mulled it over. It would be simple enough to offer Eirlys as an example and spare herself the humiliation. This would certainly endear her to the dryads as well, if they were the sympathetic sort. Still, she would feel terrible if it were anyone but herself giving such a demonstration.