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Interlude – The Grove

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Interlude – The Grove
Published
Dec 1, 2024
Word Count
26,511
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Interlude – The Grove
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Interlude – The Grove is the 56th chapter of Volume 10.

tl;dr

  • Lyonette and her group enters the Congress of Root and Steel, a location-bound skill within the Vale Forest, discussing and prepare for whatever they'll meet.
  • They meet the Gladelords of Tauslech, who are simulacra for the true representatives of the Forest to embody when they used to be alive.
  • Talks between the two groups are shaky as the Gladelords are stubborn about having full control of the fate of the child within the Ironwood Wand.
  • Hethon and Nanette face the reality of what is rather than what they want to see.
  • Lyonette accepts a pact with the Gladelords for Bush Shamblers as remuneration for the hostility done towards The Wandering Inn.
  • The group comes to learn that the Dyed Lands have grown enough to become a Greatwoods which can foster the birth of the child.
  • Negotiations die as Taletevirion removes the wand away from the Gladelords which causes a conflict to ensue, Taletevirion kills Skytree Orelic-Deyana to stop them from further threatening their way on the matter.
  • Lyonette gives the Gladefolks one final time to plead their case before they depart back to the inn.

Synopsis

Within the Vale Forest, there's a meeting place called the Congress of Root and Steel which was created when the first Humans of the Veltras Family forged a pact with those of the forest. A location embodied within a skill, unlike others of its nature, has two requirements: the first being of someone having the Veltras bloodline, and secondly being somewhere on the continent of Izril.

As the group goes through the transitional period of the skill, they're witness to time dilation effects, Vaulont ask Lyonette what they'll face with the children being asked for their experience during the Winter Solstice. Preparing for the worst, the group make their way forward learning from Taletevirion that this place was a giant conference spot from when the forest negotiated, that these lords and ladies of the woods are bound to the area with no purpose as the forest is dead. Visophecin brings up what's on the table for negotiating and if they have anything of leverage, Taletevirion remarks on how they would've acted if they were smarter even if they were on the same side as them, for they would do the right thing with the wrong methods and ruin it for everybody.

Reaching the clearing in the middle of the woods, they come to see the eleven oddly humanoid figures nearby a round stone table. Visophecin is astonished by their odd forms while Rhisveri tries to determine what's wrong with the Gladelords. He figures out that they are just puppets for the true representatives of the forest to embody, but since the forest is dead, they're just facsimiles of their original handlers.

They begin to introduce themselves alternating from each group, as Rhisveri introduces himself he uses the old speech of the Northern Continent which astonishes the Gladefolks but they turn dower once they learn the last Dryad had died. When Visophecin introduces himself, Skytree instantly binds the Lucifen within a cage of roots of vines which drains at his mana, Taletevirion manages to calm down everyone's nerves and informs Lyonette that something has empowered them. The Gladelords call forth for the child, but Lyonette puts her foot down that they have to work out a deal for that to happen which enraging the Gladefolks, negotiations for the Ironwood Wand and the seed within begins.

They all, by Rhisveri's suggestion, share their intentions, plan of action, desires until they come to a mutual arrangement. As Skytree begins her spiel, Taletevirion whispers to Lyonette of how things work and a bit of history of the tyrant the Tree of Vale was in its forest. The Gladefolk refuse to have interlopers interfere in the growth of the child naming Roshal as one they will never make a pact with again; their eyes shift to Taletevirion and task the Unicorn to take care of the child. They speak of his many titles which provokes Taletevirion into making him utter that he's not there to be ask of something or produce miracles, just to make sure that nobody does the wrong thing.

Skytree moves on to ask for an inspection of the child to see if it's well enough to plant. Taletevirion questions their viewpoint as there isn't any place in the world to grow the seedling also pointing to the lacking support it'll have even if it's planted. one of the Gladelords share that there's a forest powerful enough for its growth to the shock of the Unicorn with him trying to narrow down where such a place can even be. With no champion in Taletevirion, the Gladelords task the two children Nanette and Hethon into succeeding the cause, Lyonette refuses the notion as they are too young for it naming Ryoka as a suitable replacement to the confusion of the Gladefolks unknowing of the name. The Gladefolks with no champion begin to argue and name people for the cause that were most certainly long dead.

Hethon was beginning to regret ever coming to the Vale Forest, he liked the feeling of being special but once he realized that this was a task fit for those on the level of Named Adventurers, he knew that this was beyond him. He too notices Nanette crumbled expression as she's feeling the same as him, sharing their regret with one another. He moves to where Jericha and Swamp of Oswenia were overhearing their argument. Speaking with Oswenia, Hethon asks her of the previous Veltrases she has met, she brings up a Lady Veltras that she helped raise and guide until she was old and withered. Hethon asks for the Lady's name but can see that Oswenia did not bother to remember it like she can for things of the forest.

Feeling conflicted, Hethon petitions Oswenia to help in the restoration of the land of Oswen. She inquires to what Otterdogs are thinking that inducing them to reproduce will be enough for the request. Hethon, in an outburst, points to the dead people and the broken land of Oswen itself, Oswenia see that as a Veltras concern as the swamp is still there, even if parts of it have fallen into the crevasse which might create something new. Returning back to Nanette, he confirms that they were misguided in their childish beliefs promising to himself that he would become someone who lives life like things matter. Nanette understands the desire, pointing to other Witches in her life that fit the mold of that character, even Mrsha right now is doing something that matters.

The two children watch a number of other entertaining conversations such as; Todi trying to come to an accord with Tree of Sighs to make a super dreamleaf to sell, Elosaith badgering one of the Galeladies of the nature of her construction, and Bird attempting to win the conversation by claiming possible war only to fall flat to Skytree. They feel the strain of the time dilation effects arguing with a bunch of stubborn trees, they think on how to move forward with Visophecin sharing his thoughts to ransom the wand for their plans and the condition of the child.

Following with that in mind, Lyonette demands their intentions and remuneration of the Gladelords for the hostile magics against The Wandering Inn for them to be able to appraise the child, after a bit of prodding the Gladelords share a number of options such as giving them Bush Shamblers to defend the inn. Nanette asks if the Shamblers have the potential for more like becoming Khoteizetrough, the Gladelords laugh expressing that there's little to expect out of the shamblers as there's not much to them. Protecting the little witch's feelings, Lyonette accepts the pact for the shamblers.

Rhisveri tells the Gladefolks that the child can reside in the Ailendamus since there's a community of equals there. The Gladelords reject the notion wholesale, Taletevirion then questions how they'll even plant the seed since all of the great forests are dead. They share that they felt a wild, budding sprout grow to a mighty land in an instant. Lyonette deduces that it's the Dyed Lands to the shock of the rest. Skytree becomes fervent from all of the potential of the birth of the child, but Taletevirion paints a picture of what would really happen with the forests being burned down. Seeing no point in talking any further, Taletevirion grabs the wand out of the Gladelord's hand which provokes the Gladelords to throw out a high tiered spell to prevent anyone from leaving. Rhisveri tries to reason with the Gladelords but they soon realize that he's a Wyrm and return back into throwing magic. Talks die as Rhisveri and the Gladelords begin to have a magical duel with one another.

The inn group gathers around Visophecin's cage to take cover, Nanette sees that Rhisveri is only facing against five of the Gladelords while the others recover from the attack inflicted upon them by Vaulont. While Rhisveri aptly fends off against the Gladelords, they discuss on what their plan is. Lyonette puts her foot down to remind the Gladefolk that they put the children in danger with their act, she then summons a ten-foot-tall chess piece that go on the offensive. Elosaith, Bird, and Vaulont play defense while Rhisveri frees Visophecin from his cage, once freed the Lucifen starts hacking away to quell a bit of his anger. During a lull in the fighting Taletevirion slowly strides in cleanly slicing Skytree in two killing her, he tells them to make whatever request they have under no threats of violence. The Unicorn walks away as Oswenia calls out to him to question what he'll do with the child, he will think on the matter and if he doesn't come with a good reason hide the child away until the world has changed for the better.

The inn group was about to leave when Nanette pleads with Lyonette to stay with the Gladelords so that she can hit them hard when they're at their lowest. Understanding her adopted daughter's thoughts, Lyonette and the rest of the adults meet with the Gladelords for a final chance for them to represent their interests. While departing the grove they discuss the sad state everyone is feeling for the remnants of the forest, even if they wouldn't do the same in turn. Rhisveri hesitates if he should allow the rest to keep their memories of his secret but speaking with the [Princess] about her poor dealings make him trust the woman and her cohort. She tells him that she will call on the both of them from Ailendamus for aid for when the time arises. Returning back to the inn, Lyonette is told by Hethon that Ushar urgently needs to speak with her, the [Princess] begins to run looking for Mrsha.

Characters

( * = First Appearance)

Groups/Organizations

Locations

Items

Statistics

Statistics Revealed

Tree of Anapulis

  • Spells:
    • Estimated Tier 6:
      • [The Flower of Anapulis]

Dalimont

  • Skills:
    • [Shield of Cover]

Rhisveri Zessoprical

  • Spells:
    • [Avalanche of the Stone Giant]

Elosaith Soulbound

  • Spells:
    • [Detect Life]
    • [Unlife Tremor]

Statistics Obtained

Lyonette du Marquin

  • Class/Levels:
    • [Princess of the Inn] Lv. 38 (+2)
  • Skills:
    • [Royal Artifact]
  • Titles:
    • [Diplomat of the Tauslech Forest]
      • Title Skill: [Wildspeech]
  • Pacts:
    • Skill: [Defenders of the Inn (Shamblers)]

Nanette Weishart

  • Class/Levels:
    • [Sariantfriend] Lv. 11 (+7)
  • Skills:
    • [Basic Spell Proficiency: Nature Magic]
    • [Peaceful Gesture]
    • [Goat's Kick]
  • Spells:
    • [Watertwister Orb]
    • [Nature's Stride]

Quotes

  • (Nanette to Hethon): "—I thought that there’d be some good magic left. Something uncomplicated I could trust. A Unicorn. Tree spirits. But it’s not. It’s all just bogs and cruelty of a different kind. Hanged bodies over a bog, sacrificed to the earth. That’s all it ever is.”
  • (Bird to Lyonette): “Only their own kind. They did not weep for Taletevirion’s sadness, or for the Otterdogs. Only for themselves, which I believe means they think they are the only real people. I do not like them. But they weep, and I am sad.”
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