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[Haydn ab'Arawn]

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As she sat in the library of Terot Skitas, gazing into her enchanted globe of Sosaria, she concentrated on the life energy of the land. She could sense the gentle warmth of the pixie woods above Spirituality in Ilshenar. She could sense the new life of trees growing in the sun of Trammel.

As she came to a region midway between Umbra and Luna, however, she felt uneasy in the pit of her stomach. Something was very very wrong, there. She chanted a few words over the globe, bringing the picture to her mind of what was causing the distress.

She saw an image of Sanctus. Probing deeper with her mental connection, she focused on a vaguely familiar tree in the pixie woods behind the hostel.

Ahh, yes, the sacred tree that those people in Sanctus cut down to rebuild their homes.

Cutting that tree had removed some of the wholesome nature magic permeating the woods and surrounding areas. Many wards had been broken with the tree's death. And one very powerful spirit of Nature had been freed, in the process. It had not been seen or heard of in a long time. But still, this was not giving her the feeling in her stomach that had made her focus on Sanctus.

Looking across the landscape of Sanctus, she felt a tug to her instincts, causing her to stare at Castle Blackguard. As she did, a vision entered her mind. A vision of the ghost of Talon Skyfire. A voice spoke to her then.

"Behold, Child of Mine, Daughter of Nature, look ye upon King Talon Skyfire in his true form."

With that, the scene changed dramatically, a new image of Talon Skyfire, pale skin, with lifeless eyes appeared before her.

"Behold, an enemy of Nature and Life. He has awoken from whence he truly belongs. He is breaking the natural cycle of life. He drives the land to the brink of war, as well, my child. He must be returned to his resting place."

The voice of Lord oaks faded from her mind, filling her with a sense of duty, of Justice. This undead, Talon Skyfire, was an abomination. Not just any normal undead, but one with a very large army to back him. She stood and opened her eyes. It was time to call the friends of the forests and of the fields back to do their duty.

Closing her eyes, she sent forth a great sending to all the druids of the land.

It is time to awaken the spirit of nature inside of you, my brothers and sisters. It is time, again, to protect the balance.

[Merci d'Rue]

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Her dreams had grown increasingly disturbing of late but tonight the dreams tenure changed. The horror began to unfold before her and she thrashed about in her bed sweat breaking upon her brow. Flames of fire licked at the great woods, animals fled from their homes their cries befalling her sensitive ears. The stench of warfare, the mechinations of man destroyed the fields, and streams ran red with blood. UnDeath ran greedily about snatching up everything it touched, it was not to be stopped. For who could stop it? In her dream she ran barefoot her feet cut and bleeding, the pain of the lands to share as her own, the forests cried out to her as she passed. Deserter...

The satyrs song was silent, the dryads dance was done. She screamed out in her dream. Lord Oaks! I have forsaken you...I am so sorry....so sorry.

Yet the dream would not relinquish, it continued its destructive fury and Wisteria sobbed falling to her knees staring down at her horse shadow, destroyed, his carcass burned, his eyes staring up at her accusingly. Shadow! She screamed loudly sitting up swiftly in bed, her body shaking she pulled the covers up about her arms.

There is a great unbalance, someone is calling me, calling me back. I left it all behind, I said I would not return. Yet can I turn my back on the animals I call friends? War, it destroys, the druids must renew. She closed her eyes. Maelwyn...I hear you...her words drifted off softly carried on a gust of air thru the open window, the trees cradling it in their massive branches as they passed it from one to the next.
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May destiny guide you...

[Rend]

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Rend tore through the woods quickly and aggressively, dodging and ducking every branch that threatened his passage. He was almost there. Almost to Sanctus, where he would eagerly offer his bow up to Lord Talon Skyfire himself. Just this thought made Rend run even quicker. "Who cares if it is midnight" he thought. "I will wait in front of the castle until the next day if I must!". Rend sensed he was growing nearer. The tree branches were becoming less frequent. Suddenly Rend came to a complete stop, breathing heavily and grasping his knees for air.

At this time the curious creatures of the wild dared peep their beady eyes out to see just who this intruder was who woke them up so early. They saw a man, wearing naught but leather pants and soft leather shoes, his bare chest exposed. He was lean and fit, but had a very vicious feature. His face had three deep scars on it, stretching from his left ear to his chin and neck, obviously clawmarks. On his chest were other scars, these intentional, some designed to resemble runes, others wards. They were little more than mere superstitious tattoos from his village, but they were eloquently designed and deep. They demanded respect.

As Rend took a breather, he glanced at something in the night. A stump...but wait...could this be? His scarred face looked curious. His eyes widened in surprise. A stump. Rend used to chop wood in his own village, but this stump was different somehow. This was an elder tree, something that should be left alone for the sake of balance in the forest. How would the saplings ever grow to their full potential, now? Tears filled his eyes as he shrank to his knees. Funny, he could see the Hostel in the distance, and the White Gate towering in the moonlight. Nothing felt welcoming at that moment. Rend covered the exposed top half of the stump with his own body, as much as his small frame would allow. Tears now streamed from his face and dripped onto the fallen forest Lord.

And there they stayed, scars against scars, as the weeping man felt like nothingness.

Rend would not be going to sanctus in the morning, nor would he become the great warrior he always wanted to be, so it seemed. He knew he had to do something to ease this feeling of foreboding he felt. Who would he turn to?

[Saidhe Skyfire]

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As Saidhe' looked up at the Great Tree, her thoughts went back to her
childhood here. Dancing amongst the pixie circle, with many of her
fey friends. They would dance and dance untill the sun peaked over the
horizon. Those were days of joy, days before the thought of war,
days before her head was burdened with the Crown. Just sitting here
amongst the other fey always calmed her. Staring at the beautiful
tendrils of moss crawling up the tree reminded her of how easily
the forest could take over ones heart and being. It reminded her
of her lessons of the Virtues and how they would take over ones mind
and fill ones heart with joy and peace, as the moss took over the
tree.. protecting it as the virtues had always protected her.

She put her tiny palm to the tree to feel its energy. Her hand pulsed
and glowed a slight greenish color. Ahh.. it was healthy still, it almost
seemed to smile at her. Saidhe was lucky to have the gift of the
forest, it would aid her in times like this, when she needed the plants
to calm her spirit and keep her strong. She turned from the Great
tree and began flittering to the Hostel, her heart full of happiness
and her thoughts calm. "Thank you", she whispered as she flittered
away. "I will be back to see you soon, my mother, my father,
my teacher." As long as the tree stood... she would always be at
peace and her heart forever filled with joy.
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Saidhe is more metal than Barl.