Chapter 7: Blue Sky, Green Earth

The leshys snickers at your mention of one last trick. "What did you have in mind?" one of them asks.

"You could pretend you are possessed and chase them off," one of them suggests.

One of the leshys nods their head. "Yes. Yes. Yes."

Another one pipes up. "I wanted to see them soil themselves in fear. But I guess it could work."

"They were there," one of the leshys replies with a shrug. "We haven't had anyone to play with in a while."

"And they cut down trees for their camp," one of them adds. "And they didn't ask for permission."

You are about to crawl back out when you see the earth part aside and from up above a beautiful creature appears. She slides down gracefully like a leaf in the wind. Green mossy hair waves dramatically in the air (despite the lack of any wind). She smiles at you.

"Thank you for treating the little ones with respect," she says in a sing song voice. "I am Daphelia."

The creature is indeed a Dryad. She smiles at Iroven. "You have nothing to apologize for. They didn't ask, but nor did they know to ask," she says. "Since my little ones decided to prank them rather than inform them."

"They wouldn't have listened anyway," one of the leshys mutters under its breath.

"I thought I'd nip this in the bud," Daphelia chuckles from her own pun before continuing. "Before anyone got hurt. I am sure we can share the forests' bounty. In fact you have treated my little one with respect, so I feel bad that I have to beg you for a favor."

"This tree is has a twin on the other side of the valley where my brother Bargott lives. Due to the trees connection I have always been able to feel his presence," she touches one of the roots and it moves ever so slightly. "Lately however, I feel nothing. I suspect this is due to the valley falling outside the sway of the seasons, which has caused it to become cursed."

She opens her hand and reveals a seed. "This is a seed from the elder tree. Would you please deliver this to him so he can know he's not alone."

"Thank you," Belguese replies. "We would be honored if you'd come with us to the camp. I'm sure Commander Montgrim would love to speak to you."

A couple of days after leaving the mendevian crusaders you reach the edge of the forest and come upon a battlefield. You can see charred bodies, churned soil and blood stained flora as the forest gives way to plains. A foul stench permeates the area. Though you see bodies, not nearly enough to warrant this kind of destruction.

Some of the bodies seems to belong to the Mendevian crusades, while some seems to be the necromancers you have seen sign of. Some of them looks to have been in various stages of decay, possibly zombie soldiers.

Your looking is suddenly interrupted by a loud sound coming from over a nearby hill, followed by a voice in the distance. "Stay back foul beast." Finally you hear the familiar sound of weapons on weapons.