Guardians of the Grove - Recap 04/20/23

 A Soul Saved

The battle resumes with one Druid left standing between the Guardians and Mira. After a few close calls, the group is able to dispatch the druid and end her before things got any worse…things got worse. The underground cave begins to shake, unclear if the shakes are from their earlier explosions to enter or dismantling Mira’s magical orbs. With no way to run, climb, and escape while carrying Mira, Eltuire recalls purchasing a scroll of teleportation to the town of Worchester, she quickly pulls out the scroll and begins casting. With a casting time of a minute, every second feels like hours as the earth crumbles around the Guardians and they do their best to shelter themselves and each other from the falling debris. With enough concentration and motivation from the group El is able to finish the circle and just as the largest boulder caress Wulf’s luxurious hair, the group blinks out of existence and reappears at a magic circle safely in Worchester.

                                                                  What is a Name?                             

With no rest for the weary, the group is immediately thrown into another predicament, surrounded by Worchester guards the group does their best to disguise who they are exactly and provide fake names, unsure if this ploy was successful, the group proceeds further, but not without Atheya catching the attention of a guard who writes something down. While attempting to find their way to the Inn, Corvus feels uneasy and detects the presence of a fiend, simultaneously Edson DuVall arrives in the carriage. Expressing his disappointment in the manner in which they arrived, but also eager for them to honor their request and provide a certain document or documents to him to repay Atheya’s debt. Edson departs and guarantees that he will be in contact with them soon and to be ready. After wandering some more, the group is unable to find an Inn. Blood takes one for the team and lures an innocent drunk into leading the party to a luxurious hostel where discretion #1. At the entrance, Wulf pays for everything with large amounts of platinum and gold. Food, Wulf. Rest, Wulf, Potions, Wulf. Who knew he was Mr. Moneybags. Unfortunately, the drunk is literally turned away at the door anD killed by the fiend guards. Eltuire will remember this…

                                                                                  

                                                                               Exalted

After reaching their room and being fascinated by the built in features such as having their appearances automatically change to protect their identities, unseen servants cleaning up after them, and impeccable service, the group finally rests. They finally lay Mira to rest, who appears restored but in a deep coma of recovery. Not all is what it seems though as unseen forces move in the shadows or in the sky. A possible Elder Brain Dragon, a possible fiend employer, and other forces make their moves. However, the urgency to repay a debt stands above all and the Guardians strive to protect their own always and are ready to accept the job to protect Atheya.

Guardians of the Grove - Recap 04/13/23

 Earth, Wind, Water, and Fire!

As the Guardians regroup after the druid ambush, Corvus walks towards the mark of Kovish presented on the corpse of one druid. Without notice, Corvus’ blade stabs thze mouth of Kovish, and in its place is left a gaping hole with no sign of Kovish remains. The group, at least confident in one means to erase Kovish pushes forward and decides to rappel further down the cave but is almost immediately impeded by the gas-filled chasm. Wulf and Atheya attempt to descend but immediately fall back due to the acidic toxins in the air. Wulf coming through like a true badass artificer, comes up with a soundproof plan to create a chemical component to bond with the gad below and use Eltuire’s Fire Magic to ignite the gas; what could go wrong?

                                                

                                      BOOM!                              

Almost instantaneously, the fire from Eltuires magic explodes the gas and shakes the entire cavern causing the plateau that Wulf and Eltuire are standing on to implode. Wulf and El begin to fall, unable to save themselves; Atheya and Corvus descend through magical means to rescue the duo. Atheya is able to hook El in her talons and bring her down to safety. However, Corvus is unable to grab Wulf in time. Wulf crashes downwards from rock to rock (almost comically) and lands below. Wulf brushing off the debris and aching body, quickly notices that next to him lies an incinerated corpse of the druid who fled during the previous battle.

                                                                                            Peace Talks Breakdown?

After a quick regroup and stretch, the Guardian moves into Mira’s chamber, where she is recuperating from the previous encounter. Corvus, moved by the gods themselves, begins to speak with Mira and convince her that he wants to help; he wants to right the wrongs committed long ago and save Mira. While they talk, Atheya relays to the group that there is another creature near Mira. As Corvus begins to get through to Mira, communications break down when Mira pleads for the Guardians to help her before the creature bonds with Mira and she enters an empowered state. The room ignites with powerful orbs emanating powerful magical energy matching the elemental forms Mira had taken. The Guardians enter a battle to save and not kill for the first time in a long while. They attack the orbs strategically while battling the lair's many elements and Mira's onslaught. While the Guardians focus on the task of destroying the orbs that seem to cut off Mira’s powerful druidic connections, Blood attempts to take on Mira and almost bites the dust, but thanks to ♥️ ELTUIRE♥️ can survive another chain of attacks. Ultimately the group is able to cut off Mira’s power source, and she returns to her original shape. The creature previously bonded ejects from her and return to its true form, Kestra, a druid and possible ally to Kovish. With the rescue of Mira still underway, only one more obstacle stands. Resources drained and heroes exhausted, one more battle remains.

Guardians of the Grove - Recap 04/6/23

 Oh Bugbear, Oh Bugbear, Wherefore Art Thou

The group tired, exhausted, and grieving push on below the manor still in search of Mira, who has escaped further down. Eltuire is able to find a small alcove to rest safely. El then convinces Wulf to use a spell to help the group recover from their wounds; at that same moment, a light shines down at the group's center and washes over them with familiar warmth. Corvus reappears rejuvenated and with a mission to save Mira. Corvus relays the message of Iya and Oya and his choice to save Mira instead of simply destroying her. With that said, the group decides to push deeper into the lair and find Mira, not sure what saving her entails.

                                               

Triple Teamed!     

  Pressing further, the group approaches a staircase that leads down; from the bottom, they see an eerie green light. Weary, they proceed and enter a large room with a pungent smell, and the light appears to emanate from these pustules along the wall. They appear to be filled with an ominous substance. The group is faced with the challenge of descending deeper. Using Ropes and just “expert” jumping skills, most of them can descend. However, several Earth Elementals ambush the group. Blood quickly discovers that they can see invisible things through some strange sense. Corvus and Wulf fend off one, while Atheya and Eltuire deal with another. When two appear to gang up on the ladies, Blood is able to provide enough support to help knock one off the ledge and finish off the other. Surprisingly the group is able to learn that these elementals are druids. Unfortunately, one can escape due to a well-placed fog cloud.   

 Atheya discloses to the group that the Druid was concerned that 

the Guardians were thwarting some sort of plan. To find some 

answers, El goes through the corpse of a single druid and is instantly struck

with pain. She slices the druid sash off to reveal an abomination 

familiar to most of the group: a mouth with the same qualities 

as the fallen god Kovish, Corvus's old Master. With the unsettling news, the 

Guardians find themselves again in a god's possible crosshairs.