Unusual Activity: Esrogoth

Grace left the grove reluctantly. She'd been seeking some peace and quiet, a respite to think over what had been happening. Recent events had led to her having to chase down scattered druids and pry answers and responses from them. A few of the encounters had left her clothes torn and bloody, although her wounds had quickly healed thanks to Nagealai's blessing. A few years ago, none would have known here, but now it seemed she was getting a reputation for being a busy body among the Inner Circle. Still, she hadn't received much in the way of answers, and as for a response to the strange organised groups of 'monsters'...

The druids seemed reluctant to get involved. If any druid did decide to join the cause to prevent the attack on the towns and cities, it'd be by their own volition. Grace herself wasn't entirely sure how much her creed encouraged her to go. She didn't care for hunting down giants and goblinoids, or the reptilian races- not since she was younger and wanted to pit herself against everything, needing to prove herself. On the other hand, druids were meant to play peace makers between the wild and civilization. The small folk didn't deserve to have their farms raised, even if more zealous druids argued for the destruction of the cities.

The messengers of the forest, birds, had been tweeting new gossip and movements for a while now. Carrion eaters, such as the crows, where especially excited. Apparently the cities had finally mustered up some troops of some sort, and where beginning to set up camps- especially in the Humfoo region. Grace frowned. It'd take a fair days journey to travel from the Esrogoth forest where she'd made her way to, to arrive at Humfoodale. However, taking the portal near the entrance to the Eastern Citadel may cut her time by a great deal.

With that, Grace made her way to the Eastern Terminal.

In the Eastern Citadel, instead of consolidating into a circle, camp has spread out to allow maximum workspace for craftsmen.  A few men have taken to sawing down a tree or two, and are now carting them back to the woodworking area now that night is falling,  to prep it for crafting in the morning.

People spill out of the Last Rest, obviously having a good time in their cups.

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Further study of the camp in Esrogoth shows that those maintaining production are not making much involved in the way of arms and armor, rather most of the material made is going to support the reconstruction of a bank destroyed in the raid a few months back, and the market area around it. The arms shop in the Citadel has also benefited, thanks to what little is being made from camp.

More people are being allowed inside, though each day every person needs approval before entry into the city is allowed, and all must leave before night falls. Locals are suspicious of those who come from the camp, though one man is gaining trust. A man of perhaps 30 years who, so much as anyone in a group of merchants, tradesmen, and their families, seems to be the leader. He goes by Garrett and seems to be setting contracts with those in camp and those in need in the Citadel.

Grace frowns at the activity going on outside the citadel's gates. She'd known the Citadel had been attacked, and suffered badly, but somehow the presence of the camp, busy going about repairs and tiptoeing around the now wary city, surprised her. At the sign of trees being cut down, the frown grew deeper. It appeared to be only a few, for now, but some may argue one is too many- especially if they had not sought Nature's blessing first. She imagined that, with the presence of monsters growing ever higher, transporting wood from Toltaw may prove difficult. While it appeared the campers were mainly using near by trees for immediate needs, if they decided to try and supply the wood they would normally have gotten from Toltaw with trees from the neighboring forests...

Toltaw had an arrangement. Esrogoth did not- and it was the heart of druid territory.

Grace approaches the camp, looking it over. Her plan was to move straight to Humfoodale, but she should check to see what is happening here first- and urge the campers to pay proper respects to the forests. Even Benin Oz Dohral, back in the day, had ensured he had Deeproot's blessing before clearing the trees from the north road and city borders.

Her currently bedraggled appearance might not do her any favours, but Grace moves into the camp, looking to find the one in charge and ask about current affairs.

You reach what seems to be the center of camp before being stopped by a few men. It's perhaps an hour or two before sundown, and you can tell it's going to be a chilly night.

The one of the three men steps forward, not hostile but not happy to see you either.

"Can I help ye with somethin miss? I don't recognize ye from the trip, and ye donna have the look of city folk about ye"

Grace's eyes flick over the man, obviously assessing him quickly, before giving a half smile and one shouldered shrug.

" I was born in Dohral, surprisingly enough. Although it's been some time since I could say I lived there." Grace bows her head in a short nod, and lowers her hood "Grace Fennerset, Druid of the Outer Circle. I was wondering about the nature of this encampment."

Grace frowns as she looks around the camp, honey coloured eyes appraising the other two men, before an eyebrow raises up. She took it they where wary of travelers. True enough that not everyone on the road was a friend, but she would think there were more pressing threats out in the open than a single person. Perhaps she was not in possession of the full details.

"There have been attacks, as I'm sure you are aware. I worry that this camp might be at more risk than the Citadel, which was breached despite it's defenses. What would bring you here?"

He seems to relax a bit, but after looking back at his two friends he steps forward once more.

"Are ye blind missy? We're helpin restore those defenses. Garrett's working hard to build up good relations with the Citadel, and he's promised we'd be safe enough."

Grace raises a brow, and turns to look at the city, taking in the visible damage with a frown. That'd require stone, wood and time. That didn't bode well for the forests, but giving a lecture now would likely worsen the situation. So the encampment was a group of people hoping to gain coin by offering to repair the Citadel- although it seems the Citadel had not requested their help, if they need a spokesmen to parley with the city.

"Garret?" By her tone, its obvious she asking who he is.

An owl swoops quietly nearby before landing in a tree's branch near Grace and the other three man, it stares at them and at the nearby encampment with an angry frown. It remains motionless, only moving its head to look around. And listens closely to the conversation.

After looking at the chopped trees, it becomes clear an unpleased expression.

"Yeah, Garrett. He's in charge here. Goes into the Citadel almost every day now. He's been arranging contracts and makin deals to make sure we're paid and protected.

He looks up, checking the position of the sun. "Should be back before too long, they still won't let us stay the night in the city."

Grace wondered what sort of man Garret was. Must be charismatic, to be trusted with bargaining for other mens wages. He may also have been the one to convince those very men to come all the way out here. She'd have to watch herself around him, if she was given the chance to speak with him. If he had ill intentions he'd hide them well, although Grace didn't have any cause, yet, to doubt his character.

"May I speak with this Garret? I know these lands by heart, and could offer him council. If he's wanting to protect you, such advice would be useful to him." Grace looks at the darkening sky pointedly.


//OOC: To clarify, what day would it be/ what stage is the moon?

Currently the moon is waxing, day 5.

He looks at her pointedly, not sure what to make of her request.

"Well now I suppose that will be up to him, wouldn't you say?" He gestures for the men to leave, and makes to follow them. "I'll pass him word of your offer, perhaps he will meet with you."

As he leaves, you hear him muttering "That was one odd looking owl, never saw one that looked so...grumpy"

A few minutes after his departure, the drawbridge lowers and a handful of people begin making their way back to the camp.

Grace watches them go, glancing at some of the other people inhabiting the camp, who go about their own business. She supposed she'd have to wait and see how this man would react to her. Creating more conflict would not help matters, but Grace felt she should attend to this matter before leaving for Humfoodale. Likely, among those leaving the Citadel, Garret was returning.

Grace takes the opportunity to move away a little from the camp, although still in view, lighting up a latern so she was visible, and sit and meditate, attempting to connect with nature and let it speak with her.

*Commune with Nature*

There was... The tree's seemed content. It was rare for trees to feel anything but a calm steady prescences, and even these trees simply took in their loss and moved on. Grace could feel the hubub of the camp, the life signature of each one, vague, human, dwarf, elf. The city felt almost like an empty space- the dead stone walls muting the life within. A.. prescence. Intelligent? Elemental? Wild? What?

Grace pulled back into herself, her own mind and identity. She'd gone deeper before, but now was not the time. Nature didn't seem angered yet. Precautions would prevent it from doing so. The men approaching would be here soon.

Activity picks up and excitement spreads through camp, making it clear that Garrett and the others have returned. A fire is quickly built and becomes a central location for tonight's business. It even appears that they are celebrating something, meat is being roasted and that and other smells fill the air. A man stands in the center of a flurry of activity, directing and delegating to organize everything.

He wears a plain brown robe, seems middle aged, and exudes confidence and charm.

Grace watched for a moment before deciding she wasn't going to get an audience when what ever celebrations were happening took priority. She was still trying to figure out exactly what she had sensed. There where almost a 100 people in the area, and even more life signatures from passing animals. It was hard to focus on a single presence among them. She blew out her lantern and stood, trying to place what she had felt. The tree close by was complaining, as much as trees can complain, about a weight in its branches. A cursory look revealed it to be a great owl. Curious that one was getting so close to the activities. Perhaps...?

"[Hello there, friend.]"

The owl blinks and stops staring the camp, its frowned eyebrowns return in place a bit, but the expression of dissapointment still on its face. It moves its head to Grace, its black feathers barely reflect any light. With a slight bow, it greets Grace.

["Hello to you Grace."]

//OOC: Owls cannot move their eyes that is why they turn their entire heads to look in each direction! *Smartass mode off*

Valerion wrote://OOC: Owls cannot move their eyes that is why they turn their entire heads to look in each direction! *Smartass mode off*

//Really?! Well, that's odd, *shugrs, editing* Thanks Val >_>

Grace tilts her head, thinking. When you had many acquaintances that could take on animal form, it was sometimes hard to tell who you were speaking to. Dru preferred owl form, she knew. If it was the dwarven druid, that could complicate things. Dru was a good druid, if a bit zealous, but each druid had their own role. In Grace's eyes, Dru's was not that of a mediator. Hopefully discussions with the campers would not result in an angry druid taking revenge for perceived slights to nature.

"[Dru?" Grace tilted her head questioningly, "[It's been a while. I hope you and your duties go well.]"

Grace turns towards the camp again, and this time speaks in common, knowing the great owl would understand her, "I'm going to try and speak with the camp leader, ensure he and his campers are preforming the proper rights before felling any more trees, as well as try and get an understanding of what's going on here. A large camp like this is going to put a strain on the local resources, and it may be a good idea to discover how long they plan to stay and how they're going to go about supplying themselves."

Grace begins to head into the camp, making sure her approach is obvious, striking a balance between confidence and respect, "After, if all is done here, I plan on going to Humfoodale. Apparently there is unusual movement down there as well." Grace pauses and looks back, offering her shoulder. The owl would be a bit large, but unless Dru wished to locate a nearer tree, then he was welcome to use her shoulder as a perch. She knew how the other druid disliked being around people in his dwarven form. Sometimes it was hard to think of him being a dwarf at all, and she supposed in some ways, he really wasn't, just like she could no longer be considered human.

"Do you wish to join me?"

The owl gives a nod, and fly its way to Grace's shoulder, landing carefully, its claws a firm grip on her shoulder, but not enought to a point where it could get unconfortable.

["Thank you for the offer, I will gladly accept.

It turns its head towards the camp again, frowning again, the grumpy expression seems to never leave it.

["I didn't intervene the situation yet because I saw you, and I know you're better than me when it comes to... Talking. And I hope I don't need to intervene. You deal with them, and if anything goes wrong, I'll cut them off and set ablaze their bodies just as they're doing with the trees. For their sake, I hope you can deal with this your way; talk."]

And with that, the owl falls silent.

Activity in camp seems to settle down, though festivities are still in full swing. Those in charge seem content to let things run themselves now, and actually try to take part in the feast and other things going on.

Interrupting the celebrations to 'talk business' may not be the most tactful of approaches, but Grace didn't really want to waste time waiting around for a more opportune moment. Especially not with Dru involved. If she couldn't convince the campers (And thus Dru) to preform the rituals of respect to Nature or a nature deity, and avoid using too many natural resources, things could go badly wrong. The last thing the Druid circle needed now, was the 'civilized' powers believing all druids to be zealous savages, because Dru decided to massacre a camp.

She pressed on through the camp, and approached the man she suspected to be Garret, who had appeared to have been at the centre of the attention before.

You approach, and spot the man you were taking with earlier having a conversation with this leader. He spots you approaching, and waves the man away. He stands, gesturing welcoming and inviting you to join him.

"Welcome, welcome. To what do I owe the pleasure of a new face in these parts?"

Grace's eyes briefly follow the man who left, before looking back to Garret, eyes flicking up and down in quick appraisal.

"My name is Grace Fennerset, Druid of the 9th ring of the outer circle. I... realise this is a moment of celebration for you, and apologise for the interruption but it is necessary I speak to you on some matters. This region is under druidic protection, and powerful beings guard these woods. I would urge you to seek to fulfill the proper rituals to appease nature, if you have not done so already. A druid, or cleric of Deeproot, can aid you, if you have not."

Grace vaguely knows the ritual, but only in theory. She has never had to enact it herself, and would need time to remember how its done *.

"You have a great many people here, who will need food, lodgings, warmth... If you look too much to the forest to provide for these things, there could be.. consequences. Poaching and excessive felling of trees would be a poor idea, if not only for the trouble it will bring from the forests guardians, but also because the woods are filled with magical beasts that will not take kindly to being disturbed."



*(Rituals like this are mentioned in druidic handbooks, and seem to be common pratice among DnD druids, but aren't really explained in great detail. Also, if rituals like this are ruled to be learnt ICly only, then I guess Grace wouldn't know- But then again, the druidic quests aren't fully complete yet, so PC druids won't know a lot of things they should by Grace and Drus level.)