Guardians of the Grove - Recap 01/19/23

 Impersonator Found and Dealt With

The Guardians and Eltuire continue to deal with several aggressors and dispatch them one by one with the help of Eltuire, the group is mostly unharmed before continuing. With the help of El and Wulf, the group is able to learn that their leader Xoren was responsible for impersonating the group after they left and was a big fan of fire. Not done with their investigation, the group marches on. Corvus, despite his amazing devil sight, falls into a trapped floor. At the same time, Atheya and Blood walk into another area, where more impersonators ambush them. In addition, a magical hidden door opens from the opposite direction, and appear several more impersonators along with “Xoren the Guardian,” armed with a particularly deadly weapon and an eye on the smallest (but deadly) creature in the room, Eltuire.

                                                  The Mystery Gang!

Engaged in an epic battle occurring in several areas, the group somehow overcomes the impersonators. Atheya and Blood wreck the large room from shadows and with beastly attacks. Corvus and Wulf engage several enemies at once, cleaving and smashing their way through the odds. While El barely survives her onslaught by Xoren. Through amazing teamwork and coordination, Wulf and Atheya are able to rescue El and get her back into the fight. With the tides of battle changing in the true Guardian's favor, Xoren makes his escape, and the other stragglers retreat in the opposite direction. Through combined efforts, the group is able to dispatch Xoren before he makes his escape.

Remembering a Friend     Eltuire is quick to retrieve the scimitar covered in mostly, feeling overprotective of her own blood since the last time it was used to summon a fiend of sorts. While she cleans it with a spell, Corvus can’t help but be reminded of Diego and his fascination with magical weapons, particularly bladed ones. For a minute, he wonders what the Guardian's next steps are.

Guardians of the Grove January 12th 2023

 High High Tea Sales Through the Roof

The Guardians are visited by Argyle in the late evening, seemingly beaten and injured by some unknown assailants. Argyle informs the group that the Priestess Kieva has been taken, and a tribute was claimed by a group posing as the “Guardians of the Grove.” The group decides this is worth looking into, and to repay the kindness of Kieva’s guidance; the group returns to the church and, coincidently, to Arglye's nearby home. Several members enter the home and assist Argyle by brewing some high tea and ensuring his safety. Confused and bewildered (obviously) by Eltuire’s presence, he sees his deceased wife, Barbara, and listens to El’s instructions to go to bed and rest. El puts out the fire, and the group heads to regroup with Wulf.     While inside the house, Wulf was elsewhere, finding tracks that led outside the church and to an apparent burial ground. Wulf relays the news, and the group pursues the tracks further in search of Kieva.

                                                  The Mystery Gang!

Wulf and the gang follow the tracks to several altars in what looks like a place where bodies are brought, similar to a burial site. The group spends several minutes searching their surroundings and making a suspicious amount of noise, discovering that there may be more to the place than meets the eye. Atheya discovers a hidden wall and, with the expert timing of Corvus and Wulf. Through the door, the group heads down twin spiraling stairs and arrives at a floor with booby traps and a chair that screams, “give me your soul.” On the other side of a pair of doors, the gang hears many voices lying in wait. A battle ensues when El opens the door and reveals the presence of an unnerving amount of possible enemy combatants. Only finding more questions in this fight, the group fights for their survival once more.

Disclaimer  Guardians of the Grove do not endorse the unsafe consumption of weed and other weed products. Please be safe with your Tea. Don't tea and saddle. ~High High Tea Founder Atheya Willowcrown

Guardians of the Grove January 5th, 2023

 

The pen is mightier than the sword

~Guardian Watch~

5 Copper  Piece

Campaign One

Guardians of the Grove

January 5th, 2023

Heroes but not Heroes

The Guardians successfully retrieve Diego’s body, head, and Fennec’s staff, but with a great price. Nirruk, one of the original members, sacrificed himself to finish Fennec off and give the Guardians a chance to save Diego, whose soul is currently trapped in Limbo.  The Guardians return to Mattias in Darkpoole to relay the news of their trip. The Keepers tend to the bodies and prepare them for travel.      The Guardians teleport home to Gladesedge using the services of the Arcane Eye’s Tianna, a former contact of Nirruk. Upon returning to Gladesedge, they meet with Wulf’s mom and let her know about the loss of Diego and Nirruk and the sacrifices made. Wulf looking to learn more about reviving decides to urge the group to the Divine Philsopical; Nathee offers them a warm meal once they return from their business in town.

                                                      What is an Argyle?

The group arrives at the church and is greeted by an odd fellow; reluctant at first, he excitedly offers to help revive Diego. The group offers 3000 gold, a suspiciously low amount. Half expectedly, once the transaction was complete, the stranger proved unable to revive Diego. Kieva, an actual disciple of the church, arrives. She reluctantly shares that the only to “restore a soul” may only be possible with some divine intervention. Corvus and Atheya commune with the Goddess Iya and Oya and discover that a method to restore Diego’s soul may be beyond the Divine Gate at Valoria. A vision of a lake of crystal and people resting in clear white water remains burned in their eyes as a possible location to restore Diego and rescue him from Limbo.

Upon returning to Nathee’s workshop and resting. The group pries further into Eltuire’s past. Prompting her to reveal that she is indeed an Aasimar by showing the markings on parts of her body. This also reveals why Eltuire has been chasing and traveling with the Guardian, the supposed “heroes” of Woodberry. Eltuire confronts the group and Corvus, as a follower of Iya and Oya, unable to stop the Master and the sacrifice of thousands of lives. Corvus responds by taking responsibility for the actions of that event and offers Eltuire his blade, and accepts any punishment she would deliver. Eltuire, not willing to bring harm to the group, storms off. However, as soon as she opens the door, she sees Argyle, who quickly asks for “Barbara?”

~ Diego ~ Corvus ~ Wulf ~ Nirruk ~ Atheya ~ Blood ~ Reaper ~ Eltuire~

Guardians of the Grove 11/3/22

 Guardians of the Grove

Stop Being So Negative

Hunt for Fennic Arc

Session 11/3/22

Wulf and Nirruk have a heart-to-heart about the payment for Lexa. Wulf argues that she did prove useful and made good on her promise to help. Nirruk argues about the principle of the matter and that her taking Diego's equipment could have affected his combat proficiency during the Fennic encounter. 

After butting heads, the two Guardians decide to be better for the future and move forward. At this time, Nirruk sends a message to Eltuire to learn their whereabouts. Eltuire reveals their mission to save Mert “right a wrong” and that they are currently leaving the fort. 

Eltuire, Atheya, Corvus, and Blood recuperate from the onslaught of zombie-like creatures and decide to move away from the fort before another group appears. Seeing that the zombie-like creatures were somewhat organized and possibly sent, the group wanted to leave the area as soon as possible. After leaving the fort's proximity, they are able to revive Mert. Mert is a little traumatized by his death; knowing that Blood caused it doesn't help. He avoids a line of sight from Blood while moving back to Darkpoole. 

The Guardians reunite with Wulf and Nirruk and share what had happened with Mert and the fort. Together they begin to head back toward Darkpoole while having some small discussions. Blood tries to offer the Unicorn book to Eltuire, giving a narrative of the group's journey. Eltuire is unable to read it and turns the book away. Corvus comments on Blood and Eltuire. Blood responds about how Eltuire is the aggressor in their “relationship,” and he only reacts. The group laughs at Blood's defensive behavior as they arrive at Darkpoole. 

When the Guardians finally arrive at Darkpoole, they share some of their research into finding Fennic and entering the Underdark. Eltuire reveals that she has been studying Fennec’s diary and has made an interesting discovery. Before they can make their way to a safe location, they are confronted by an elderly gentleman seeking Eltuire. Confidently, the Gentleman throws an empty vial toward El and asks for her blood introducing himself as Barrett only. The group questions Barrett with little to no success as he is unwilling to express his motives or employer. Eltuire adamantly refusing to give Barrett any blood causes Barret to signal an attack on the group. The Guardians, currently surrounded and sandwiched between unknown forces, are faced with a new and unknown threat. Who is Barret? Why El’s blood? Can we bring Diego back safely?

Guardians of the Grove 9/8/22 (2)

 Guardians of the Grove

Hunt for Fennic Arc

A Past Revealed

Session 9/8/22 

Corvus, Blood, and Eltuire continue their infiltration of the camp to retrieve Orvo for Mattias. Plans go sour real quick with Blood over poisioning the stew, Corvus encontering some “excited” Keepers and getting captured, and Eltuire literally doing her best to lie her way into an easy win only to baffle her way into an encounter with the entire camp. Subtle.

Back in Darkpoole, Nirruk learns that remnants of Diego’s soul may  retireveable. However, before doing so the first step would be to retrieve Fennic’s staff and preventing her from using it once more. The next step in restoring Diego remain vague.

Wulf determined to grow back his leg, purchases several healings crolls ands seeks out Atheya who has been wandering the town solo. Upon finding Atheya, they also discover a mysterious stranger witha  tiger like appearance and a unique pair of hands. He revealed to Atheya that is time to repay her debt by retrieving something for him or else. A debt of 75k and possibly more.

Guardians of the Grove 9/8/22

 Guardians of the Grove

Hunt for Fennic Arc

The Tres Amigos

Session 9/8/22 

After an overdue long rest, the group has been given a new task by Mattias to bring back their friend Diego. Meeting Eltuire outside the Villa, she negotiates her way into the group for her own personal reasons. The following day the group is split as Wulf, Nirruk, and Atheya go to speak with the Arcane Eye’s Tianna to learn more about a possible item for Nirruk. Meanwhile, Mattias approaches Corvus, Blood, and Eltuire about a possible captain who has retreated to a nearby fort. Blood excited to show off his new self-appointed role as “strongest” decides the party should take the job. 

Before leaving the town, they head over to the armory where Eltuire is able to negotiate her way into receiving some Keeper attire. However, the bumbling duo of Corvus and Blood do not receive the same kindness and leave empty-handed relying on their own magical means for disguises to infiltrate the fort. 

On their way out of the city, Blood and Corvus are confronted by Lexa, the opportunist. In which she extorts the duo on behalf of Diego's Death and interest of 1000 gold a day until the debt is paid. After coming to terms, and no Wulf to dispute the current terms she leaves but not empty-handed as he pilfers Corvus’  magic amulet which is quickly discarded and discovered by some nearby children that Corvus pays to relinquish his item. 

After camping nearby, the group develops a plan, and Eltuire wonders how they ever got anything done, as several iterations of “sneaking in” leads to the group deciding to attempt to poison the fort by posing as soldiers still but contaminating their food supply in order to leave with their captain alive and retrieve the bounty of 6000 instead of 3000. After talking their way into the fort, the trio is let inside and navigate their way to the chef whom makes some rude accusation that Eltuire should be helping in the kitchen. Rightfully embarrassed he leaves to go get the spices with Corvus while Blood decides the amount of poison to put in the food.

How Eltuire sees the group currently  

Corvus: an open book - friendly

Wulf: angry bear, but softy - neutral

Nirruk: quiet - too quiet - neutral

Atheya : the voice - friendly

Blood: cocky - defensive

Diego: Dead - “Strongest”

Guardians of the Grove 8/18/22 Guardian Down

 Guardians of the Grove

Darkpoole Arc

Guardian Down

Session 8/18/22 

The Guardians enter the room for what appears to be their last trial. In order to retrieve the last gemstone, they must move past chains that seem to magically wrap around anything it touches and pull it violently towards an unknown direction. After trying many things to avail, the guardians are stumped. For all their power and destructive presence, traps tend to hold them in their place. Wulf decides to attempt the retrieval of the gemstone with his extended reach; he believes himself to be the best option at the moment. Through continued trial and error, Wulf can make his way toward the gemstone. Taking some considerable damage, he is able to throw the gemstone back toward the group. However, despite wrestling with the chains somewhat successfully, his success is short-lived when one chain is unable to be wrestled from his leg, and the leg is torn off almost immediately. After pocketing the gemstone to deactivate its anti-magic field, the group tends to Wulf and effectively wraps his leg. Wulf, visibly upset, endures his pain and uses his hammer to proceed further. The group, battered and beaten, makes their way to the door and opens it. 

Inside the room, they are immediately blinded by the darkness. The group quickly finds themselves stepping on a large amount of webbing coating the entire room. In the distance, Corvus and Diego can make out a halfling and Mattias inside the webbing at the room's far end. At the same time, Nirruk uses a light cantrip to light an area of the room. Diego also notices that there is no actual floor and only webbing. Eventually, the group's initial fear approaches; spiders. After fending off some of the spiders with little difficulty, Fennic appears in a new form from the doorway. Her lower body is a spider, and her upper frame remains the same though altered slightly after the merger. The group engages Fennic and the spiders under her control. Blood immediately antagonizes Fennic about her brother's death. In contrast, Diego remembers his training with Maximus to defeat Fennic. 

Poisoned, webbed, and outnumbered, the Guardians do their best to strike down Fennic. Diego knowing what rides on his shoulders is able to resist several hold-person attempts and evades being disintegrated as well. Dodging every attack from the other spiders, Diego focuses on Fennic with his allies by his side. However, even with support and healing. Diego is unable to finish Fennic off before she ultimately crushes his soul. His last thoughts are of the Guardians, their adventures, and the times they shared, as he would not trade them for all the fate-touched items in the world.  With no time for mourning, the group continues to attack Fennic in hopes of avenging Diego and surviving. With Fennic’s renewed vigor from consuming Diego, she quickly downs two more guardians with maddening darkness. With the situation most dire, the Guardians face their most challenging battle yet, and with no signs of victory in sight, one can only hope that Ios has not heard the last of the Guardians of the Grove.

A special note to those who read this.
Thank you for looking out for Diego/York and keeping him alive the best you could since the beginning.

-Diego B.

Guardians of the Grove 8/11/22

 Guardians of the Grove

Darkpoole Arc

Who knows where in Darkpoole!?

Session 8/11/22 

Weary from the trek down, the Guardian takes a short rest to lick their wounds. They make their way down towards the next room, entering a large area with two pedestals, one with a blue aura and one with a red aura. The brilliant detectives the Guardians are and employing their golden rule “touch everything” split into two groups and touch. Corvus, Wulf, and Blood are transported immediately to a previous room and use the same device to return. However, Atheya, Diego, and Nirruk were transported to the beginning of this dungeon. Putting together the situation the best they can, they hurry back through the lightning tunnel and head downstairs. Rushing toward the others before they make the same mistake. Luckily they are able to arrive in time just before the red aura is touched.

Heading into the next room, the group is surprised to see goliath-sized constructs in a non-receptive state. As well as perceiving the presence of a pool in the center of the room and an egg-shaped object behind. As Atheya and Nirruk approached the egg, the construct would turn their attention to them. Fearing the constructs were meant to either protect the egg or prevent it from leaving, they backed away. However, not before Nirruk would try to enter the egg's mind and suffer from it later. Nirruk falls to the ground from some unknown shock. After moving him away from the egg, he can stumble to his feet but becomes alert to a possibly new and hidden threat. 

Upon inspection in octopus form, Atheya discerns a means to travel further into the dungeon by a bright light at the bottom of the pool. The group swims down below and gets transported to another room. In this room, there is a giant humanoid-like skull, and opposite this skull is a door with three slots of different shapes. Seeing two paths at opposite ends of the room, the group searches the left side first. Upon entering a room with two doors, the group comes upon a plethora of skeleton bones. After a quick inspection, the skeletons come to life. The group tactfully deduces that flames and radiant damage permanently destroy the bones. During the battle, Nirruk's head begins to ache, and he is unable to cast higher-leveled spells. A combination of torches, holy magic, and a flapping sphere leave the group victorious. Diego looking tattered is tended to by the majority of the group, for which he is most grateful and, after an awkward moment with Corvus, can stand on his own again. Blood, on the other hand, patches up his scrapes in silence. 

After the encounter, the group enters the first door and quickly finds a gemstone with a familiar shape to the door mentioned earlier. Atheya, with no regard for her safety, grabs the stone and quickly leaves the room, triggering a laser-like beam to pierce out miss her by a hair’s length. Although she left with a haircut, little did she know that it was almost the end of Atheya Willowcrown. The next room left the group nervous and wary. Pressure plates were the new theme as the walls closed once the wrong plate was stepped on. Wulf navigated carefully throughout the room and successfully put the next gemstone in a bag tied to a rope. Once outside, together with the group, they could pull the gemstone out of the room. Being a trendsetter, Corvus decided to catch the stone with his face. Triumphant, the group heads back to the main room and down the next hallway to a door. The Guardians can see the last gemstone required when they look inside, but the room is filled with chains running across in all directions with barbed edges. However, knowing that their goal lies beyond the door, the group readies themselves to solve this problem like any other. 

Bonus Art* Non-Canon Fanfic

Guardians of the Grove 8/04/22

 Guardians of the Grove

Darkpoole Arc

Who knows where in Darkpoole!?

Session 8/04/22 

After infiltrating the Villa and following Fennic downstairs, the group arrives at an engraving of a quarter moon; Corvus quickly deduces that the symbol and its purpose have been desecrated. Along with Diego’s study of celestial language, the duo can deduce that this may be related to Iya and Oya. Inscribed on the floor were the words reaping, sowing, and balance. Taking this too literally, the group wastes some time standing on the platform in a “balanced” formation. Quickly moving forward, Diego, Corvus, and Atheya are struck by a lightning stream that continues to strike throughout the hallway. After deciding on the order, the group decides to rush through the lightning to reach several gem-like devices. Once the group touches the three devices, the path is cleared enough for everyone to quickly rush to a lift that takes them lower into the Villa.

After the shocking experience, the group arrives at another device and four altars.

The warning on the device roughly reads, “all things in balance, equally, if not, you will suffer the wrath of the elements.” The group successfully applies the correct elements and spell levels to the altars and powers up the device. At the same time, four elementals pour out from the altars. Their presence alone is intimidating and concerning for the guardians, but before any aggressive move is made, they acknowledge the four altar's success and leave. At first, the device presents no purpose as Wulf touches it, and nothing happens. Then Blood touches it and is switched with Wulf. After several attempts to reclaim their original bodies, they are able to proceed as themselves. The group can move on. However, the Guardians will always wonder what life would be like with the two permanently switched.  

The group moves to another room where a spherical crystal object stands above a floor that visually shows a constellation. The Guardians being who they are and following the logic of “touch everything” are quickly stunned when Corvus touches the Sphere and disappears. The Guardians follow his example and arrive at a dangerous confrontation with a powerful construct. 

The battle with the Construct drains the Guardians further as it was capable of taking down several members with the assistance of several wraiths/spirits of the dead. While the Guardians strategically take down ghosts and construct alike. The combined efforts of arrows, a hammer, and a thrown sword brought the goliath-like construct down. Severely worn, the group moves forward to the next room. Not expecting much resistance, they have a moment to cool down after stumbling upon documents, books, a mask, and bracers. Again adopting the group motto “touch everything” Wulf touches the bracers and is immediately both charmed and empowered to attack the group. Luckily the encounter was not too severe as the group was able to wrestle him to the ground and dispel the bracers. Resources drained and the group looking worse for wear, continue to push on.

The group stumbles upon a tree in the middle of this unknown location. Blood casts speak with plants, and with Atheya asks the tree several intriguing questions. Though tensions run high, we learn the tree has been down here for a while, there are two caretakers, trees can't see, and it hasn’t been cared for in days. As a kindness, Blood takes a pinecone from the tree to bring to the outside world to grow. Corvus also breaks out a waterskin and pours some water before moving on. Most importantly, the tree reveals that one of the caretakers has passed by recently. The Guardians, beaten, bruised, and drained, move towards the next set of stairs downwards, still on the Fennic’s tail. 

*Throwing a sword works*

Guardians of the Grove 7/21/22

 Guardians of the Grove

Darkpoole Arc

Return to Darkpoole

Session 7/21/22 

The Guardians reconvene after their shopping trip acquiring the goods and means to stop Fennic. After an initial failed attempt to use the teleportation circle to enter the Order of the Arcane Eye in Darkpoole, the group decided to use a teleportation scroll. Successfully arriving in the Dark Water Inn in Darkpoole. Upon entering, the group is warned by Vilt that the town is on high alert, looking for the Guardians. Vilt quickly kicks them out, and the group sneaks their way to the Villa. However, with no solid plan, the group hides in an abandoned pottery shop. Before establishing the next move, they notice that Blood and Corvus are not with them.

Elsewhere while disguised as Keepers, Corvus and Blood were pulled aside by a commanding officer of the Keepers. Ordered to help raise an additional Balista in a watchtower stationed in the middle of Darkpoole. After providing shitty assistance, they are sent to the latrine to clean. Convinced they were keepers, the duo head over to the latrines and stumble upon Fennic in the most unlikely place. The duo is able to convince Fennic they are doing their job, and she leaves. Nirruk, concerned about the duo, also finds his way to the latrines and encounters Fennic. Luckily, after a tense moment, he can proceed unbothered, retrieves the duo, and head back to the pottery shop.

Before Diego could embarrass himself and call out to the middle of nowhere for Lexa, he remembers that Nirruk could also reach out to Lexa, which he does. Lexa arrives on the scene and informs the group that the soldiers are still on high alert. She also proves her worth by telling the Guardians how she has poisoned the soldiers. Which Corvus and Blood were able to see firsthand with Fennic. The Guardians, with renewed confidence, set up a plan. Lexa will use her Keepers' horn to distract the Keepers in town, pulling them away from the VIlla while the Guardians approach Fennic. However, additional info about the disappearance of Mattias and a possible underground lair where people are being taken is revealed to the Guardians. Fueled by his desire to crush Fennic, Diego insists on getting Fennic first, losing sight of the big picture. The group breaks and successfully makes it to the Villa unseen and heads inside. 

Inside, it is not long before the Guardians attract attention; even while disguised, the group can make their way in, but after a suggestion spell wears off, the group is caught in a small skirmish. The Guardians quickly dismantled the Keepers before they could blow the horn. However, a small debate ensues about going after Fennic or to the underground where people are being kept. Atheya leads the group past the blood pool and encounters a large gelatinous creature that provides a challenge for the group before a sickly Fennic joins the fray. When the tide of battle turns in favor of the Guardians, Fennic hastily retreats into a door with Arcanic runes. Unfortunately, while Atheya and Nirruk combine their Arcanic knowledge to dispel the door, Fennic is able to escape. At the same time, the group stumbles into a dark underground chamber, not knowing what dangers lie ahead.

Special note: Wulf* did not die but rolled four critical hits!