Auntie T. flew with Kyril, accompanying him on his journey to meet with Brann mac Thorn. The archdruid of this region appeared to be equal parts human and plant matter and, as he spoke, there were long pauses in communication. Brann informed Kyril that this would be the last time he could help Kyril gain a level. From here forward he must work with the Great Druid directly.

Kyril told Bran that he had seen some giant bees (MM2 pg 17) around the area and that he would like to obtain some royal jelly. Bran communicated where he knew such creatures to be, and suggested a method of payment for the bees; the meadows around Lost Dwarf Lake were extensive and verdant, with many flowers blooming. Kyril could direct the bees there.

Kyril also inquired about the Misty Moors. Bran told him of a great hydra which lurked there, and that an enormous crocodile (perhaps the largest of its kind) is known to inhabit the eastern end of the moors. These were the alpha predators of that region. Brann also spoke of ’the Widow’, who presided over, with her offspring, a path known as the ‘Widows Tunnel’ in the wood south of Westkeep.

Kyril also asked if there were sprites around? He had brought gifts for them and hoped to spend time in their splendor. Brann discussed the location of a community in the mountain meadows south of the forest…

Kyril spent the week in the Dryad Woods and trained to become an Initiate of the 9th Circle. Brann let it be known that the Great Druid wished to commune with him at some point in the upcoming days.

Kyril +7 hit points (76/76)

The Initiate’s Errands#

After a week of training, Kyril set off southeast in search of the sprites (MM pg. 92). He was able to coax them into making themselves known, and he’d brought whiskey and pastries for them as gifts. They were dismissive until they sampled his gifts, after which they became more friendly. They had no problems with the Widow, though they steered clear of her. They were friendly with the giant bees. They disliked and avoided the many-headed dragon that lurked in the area.

Kyril told them that the party had taken out the Wendigo and that there was no need to fear another extensive winter. They were thrilled to hear this.

The druid then went in search of the giant bees. He cast slow poison on himself as a precaution. A small group of enormous, fearsome soldier bees approached and warned him that under no circumstances would he be allowed to approach the hive. After casting speak with animals, he explained his intentions: to provide information or otherwise barter for some royal jelly. The soldiers buzzed around like idiots for a bit at the mention of royal jelly but presently calmed down.

They couldn’t imagine what Kyril could offer that would be worth the cost of royal jelly to the hive. He told them of the meadows by Lost Dwarf Lake and that, furthermore, he would drop by and cause the already bountiful flowers to grow and multiply considerably. The soldiers sent a worker bee to check out the meadow. The worker returned, telling the bees the druid’s story checked out.

The druid cast plant growth around him to show what he could do in the meadow, and the local brambles, shrubs and flowers went crazy. The soldier bees sent word to the hive asking the queen for direction, and having received it, agreed to Kyril’s deal. He handed them 6 flasks and it was agreed he would be back on day 9 to get the flasks after providing four plant growth spells to the flowered fields.

A map of the general area is available here.

The druid then flew to Westkeep to acquire more victuals for the sprites, whom he would revisit after obtaining his flasks from the bees. He made it to Westkeep without incident.

Cornelius at the Tinker’s Hall told him the only whiskey he had of any value was Captain Leif’s preferred tipple, and it would be expensive. He mentioned 15 pieces of gold for 5 bottles and Kyril smiled and agreed. Leif would be vexed, and he’d better get a new batch on.

Cornelius and Cora could not help with the pastries, though. Cornelius suggested Kyril meet with the fisher family for sweetbreads. Apparently, the mother was the best baker around. Kyril found this worthy woman and offered her 5 gp for a batch of her best pastries. A princely sum to the woman, and she agreed happily. He could pick them up the next day.

Kyril returned to the Feral Forest in search of the sprites. He handed them the whiskey, chips and pastries. He hoped to return to them again some day and they said “whatever, thanks for the whiskey, now bugger off”. The druid then traveled to Lost Dwarf Lake and cast plant growth in the area, effecting four 22 yard square areas. It was impressive, the bees would be pleased. He returned to the soldier bees at the appointed day and time. They sent the worker off to check the meadow and it returned, clearly excited. The soldiers then fetched 5 flasks of royal jelly from the hive and handed them to the druid.

I’m Not Amused#

Upon returning to Brann’s grove, with Brann and Auntie T., he communed with nature. Presently, The Great Druid joined from Hibernia and communicated with the druids in Brann’s grove. The Great Druid advised that he has been watching Kyril’s progress. He is pleased that “the Wen-di-go which disrupted the natural order of this canyon area and these beautiful mountains has been returned to his northern stronghold.

The roots and the bees and the blind cave fish and the bats and the beetles which crawl in the caverns have whispered to me that you are bound to the sands of the south. That region is not in harmony with nature. The supernatural powers who the folk of Stygios worshipped grew displeased with them, because they had fallen under the sway of elder, unnatural things that are foreign to and contrary to the harmony of nature. The south is a dry place, but the transformation of that land to a nearly endless desert is an affront to nature, but one which, alas, the gods of Stygios have decreed.

I have spoken to the roots and the trees and the dryads and the squirrels and the owls and the deer and the weeds and the branches in the places you have been Kyril, and it has been communicated to us that it is the minions of these elder powers who so offend nature that are determined to bring these elder powers back to our world. This, of course, would be a grievous affront to nature, and as the all-Druid who supervises initiates of the 9th circle, I would not only encourage you, but declare that your efforts to stop the encroachment of these elder powers upon our natural world be of highest priority. Please proceed accordingly…

Finally, let it be known that when you are ready to ascend from the 9th circle to a Full Druid, there can be only nine of such rank. It has become known to us that Diocletian MacDonnell, the high Druid of the Sperrins, the highlands in the North of Hibernia, has been using his powers to commune with things that reside in the depths of the seas north of Hibernia, which he has justified as communing with the natural world which surrounds the island, and thus justified by the requirements of our order. I have meditated about this, and am not convinced of this, and fear that such things are a sign of those elder forces which so offend nature, elsewhere. Perhaps when your time of single combat comes, the Sperrins may need a new steward. I have been displeased with the amount of trees felled in those highlands, which is in the province of Diocletian MacDonnell.”

Kyril agreed and thanked The Great Druid and the communal connection dissipated.

Hunting the Hydra#

Kyril assumed the form of a giant crane and took off. He flew back and forth in the area between the mysterious mound and the misty moors, looking for signs of a hydra. He then landed in the center of the moors and, returning to elf form, cast invisibility to animals. He wandered around in the very heavy mist. The area was filled with the smells of rotting and decomposition. Definitely not a place for a non-druid.

He cast commune with nature and was then able to seek out 11 facts. He extended his senses and searched for clues. The lair of the hydra was detected on the far western edge of the moors. In addition, he sensed, to the south and east, the presence of a very large crocodile, protecting her eggs. He was also looking for an appropriate creature to ride (giant crocodile, moose, giant boar) in order to help him scour the area. He had no luck finding such a beast.

He dropped the invisibility and set out on foot, sending all the plusses on his Staff to his armor class. After some meandering and sightseeing, he changed shape into a great poisonous snake and headed west, eventually wandering into an area which showed signs of fire damage. A tree lay broken and burned, on its side.

Something large had passed through here, laying waste to the undergrowth and snapping branches. His snaky senses told him that very large thing was also headed his way. Returning to elf form, the druid climbed atop a stone mound, rising from the marsh, which held the entrance to a cave. Attempting to be inconspicuous, Kyril watched as a hydra stomped into the frame, smoke coming forth from its eight heads. It became obvious to Kyril that he was noticed, and as the monster approached Kyril changed shape again, this time into a giant owl, and shot up into the air. Two heads of the hydra whipped upwards and breathed fire at the fleeing owl. He barely won initiative and had some singed feathers to show for it.

The druish owl buggered off with maximum haste. After circling a bit, the hydra was seen returning to the mound. It seemed vexed Kyril was in its territory.

Darkness was falling to the ground so he flew back to the Feral Forest. He changed back into an elf and sought out an oak tree that was near the edge of the forest in the direction of the hydra’s lair. There he cast plant door and entered the oak for a bit of a kip. The oak would provide him with plenty of cover for a rest, thanks to the spell, having only large praying mantises, large deer, a pack of wolves, and a sounder of boar moving through the woods by the tree for company.

Day 11.

Done with his oaken rest, he emerged refreshed and immediately cast weather summoning and brought forth a heavy (electrical) storm. While he still had the canopy overhead, he then cast call lightning. He then returned to the hydra’s lair and shouted: “come on out you big 8-headed dick”. The hydra complied and emerged, enraged.

Working from surprise, he called down a 13d6 lightning bolt, doing 53 points of damage to the monster. It would be 10 rounds before he could call another. This plainly hurt the beast and it charged forward. Kyril cast wall of fire and the beast marched right through it, unscathed.

• initiative win
• Kyril changed into a peregrine falcon and flew straight up, making his save with druid plusses and only taking one point of fire damage when one of the heads let loose
• the druid circled in and out of range keeping its attention and waiting 10 rounds
• he landed and called down a second lightning bolt, zapping the monster for 54 more points
• he flew to the entrance of its lair and changed back into an elf
• it crawled back to him with several dead heads and the 2 remaining heads breathed fire, with little effect
• he was able to take out the remaining heads with his staff
• pyrohydra, 8 heads

The hydra’s lair was a wet, natural cavern. The back of the cavern slowly rose from the mud into a shelf. Kyril detected magic somewhere in that area. Searching around he found old, torn sacks and crates, some adorned with the symbol of the merchant’s guild, last seen in Markheim or Westkeep. Two skeletons lay there as well. A staff held by one skeleton radiated magic, as did a source within its backpack. Two flasks in the backpack radiated magic, and Kyril found a bottle with a scroll in it as well. The sacks themselves contained thousands of coins.

The letter in the bottle read as follows:

Hydra loot!

• 1,170 gp
• 290 ep
• 2 flasks (magic)
• letter (above)
• staff (magic)

He flew back to the Dryad Woods and communicated with Bran, informing him of the gestating crocodile and of the hydra’s timely demise. Bran approved, moderately. The druid would stay put for 6 days, writing a scroll containing Conjure Fire Elemental.

Day 18.

Return to Markheim.