12/11/2024
26th Day of May 1492
Weather: Clear.
High Temperature: 15 degrees Celsius.
Low Temperature: 9 degrees Celsius.
Mission: Find the Hart of the Forest
Campaign: Forest of Wyrms
Location(s): Forest of Wyrms, Sacred Glade.
Present: Zinalla, Seraphina, Brielle, Elysande, Glepper, T'or &Thaumat.
The Battle of the Corrupted Trees
The second Encounter: The Redcap Goblins
The seven adventurers approached the second corrupted tree cautiously. Its bark was blackened, twisted into grotesque, spiralling knots, and the air around it shimmered with a malevolent energy. Zinalla, the human paladin, led the way, his shield raised and his longsword ready. “Stay alert,” he cautioned, his voice carrying the weight of his years of training. Double battle line formed they waited for Glepper to throw the oil bottle and T'or to hurl his lit javelin into the tree.
The final battle was one of fire, fierce attacks, and relentless tenacity, with the party splitting into their battle formation and moving as a deadly unit.
Battle Formation
Front Line: Elysande, T’or, and Zinalla stood shoulder to shoulder, weapons drawn and faces grim. T’or activated his shield, bracing himself as he prepared to protect his comrades.
Back Line: Seraphina, Brielle, Thaumat, and Glepper took their positions behind, watching their fronts while preparing spells and ranged weapons.Brielle cast bless on herself, Glepper and Seraphina.
The Goblins Emerge
As they neared the second corrupted tree, they wasted no time planning their assault.
“Glepper,” T’or said, striking a flint to light his javelin, “get the oil ready. This tree’s about to feel the heat!”
Glepper gave a mischievous grin, “Oil’s on its way, big guy!”
With a gleeful cackle, the goblin hurled the flask of oil onto the trunk of the gnarled tree. T’or immediately followed by launching his flaming javelin into it. Flames roared up the side of the twisted wood, sending thick smoke into the sky. But just as the fire caught hold, three figures jumped from the bushes—small, wiry creatures with green skin and red hoods, their jagged teeth glinting as they hissed and lunged.
“Redcaps!” Zinalla shouted, gripping his sword tightly.
The Fight Begins
Seraphina darted forward, her blade flashing as she struck the first goblin, drawing a hiss of pain. But her movement drew the attention of another Redcap, which lunged past her and slashed at Brielle, its sharp claws raking across her arm.
Brielle cried out but quickly retaliated, her wrist daggers igniting in flame as she drove them into the goblin. “Mielikki’s wrath burns brighter than yours!” she spat, searing the creature with holy fire.
Elysande swung his greatsword but missed, his strike just a hair too slow as the Redcap dodged to the side.
T’or attempted a follow-up, but the Redcap ducked under his swing with uncanny agility, its laughter echoing as it evaded him. Glepper took his chance, lunging in with his venom-coated dagger, but he too missed, the goblin weaving around his attack with ease.
Zinalla aimed his sword in a powerful arc, hoping to land a blow, but the Redcap dodged again. Frustrated, Thaumat cast Poison Spray, her magic finally landing, causing one Redcap to choke and stagger.
Seeing the opening, Seraphina sliced it again, her blade biting deep, and it fell back with a grunt.“Stay focused!” Brielle called, casting Sacred Flame. The spell missed, but she kept her faith, determined to protect her allies.
Elysande found his mark at last, striking a goblin with a devastating strike. T’or, laughing wildly, grappled one of the Redcaps and bit down on its shoulder, growling, “I’m gonna eat all of ya!” His sharp teeth pierced its skin, sending it screeching.
Meanwhile, Glepper flanked behind Brielle, stabbing another Redcap with his venom dagger, sinking it deep with poison. “Dibs on the cap!” he shouted. “I want that silly hat!”
Despite the onslaught, Zinalla missed his next swing again, much to his chagrin, as Thaumat also tried to strike with her dagger, missing as well.
The goblins fought back fiercely. Brielle barely dodged a claw aimed at her face, and Glepper took a hard hit, hissing in pain but remaining on his feet. Elysande also got clipped by a claw but shrugged it off.
Brielle called for Mielikki’s aid and began a Prayer of Healing, golden light gathering around her as she steadied herself. “Divine lady, mend our wounds and strengthen our fight.”
Elysande, T’or, and Glepper continued their attacks, Elysande landing another heavy blow, while T’or struck with his maul. Glepper, grinning wickedly, used Cunning Action to dash behind a goblin and sink his dagger for more damage, the creature screeching in agony as poison seeped into its wounds.
After a long, grueling fight, the goblins finally fell. Their bodies lay motionless on the forest floor as the corrupted tree withered into dust, its dark energy dissipating.
The Third Corrupted Tree - Gloomwings Descend
The party, still breathing hard, approached the second corrupted tree. T’or again lit his javelin, while Glepper readied another flask of oil. With perfect coordination, Glepper hurled the oil, followed by T’or’s flaming javelin, igniting the bush and part of the tree.
But no sooner had they set the tree aflame than two creatures emerged from the shadows. They were Gloomwings—pale, white-faced creatures with massive, black wings that hovered ominously above the party.
Seraphina moved first, launching an arrow that struck one of the Gloomwings.Before anyone could react, one of the Gloomwings dove, slashing Brielle with its talons. She staggered back, clutching her side as blood trickled down her fingers. The other Gloomwing struck T’or with brutal force, nearly knocking him off his feet.
Elysande charged forward, swinging his long sword to land a clean strike against the first Gloomwing, sending dark ichor spilling onto the ground.
T’or swung at the second Gloomwing but missed, his previous injury hampering his movement. Meanwhile, Glepper found his mark, stabbing with his venom dagger for a lethal amount of damage, followed by poison that weakened the creature further.
Zinalla managed to land a rare hit, his blade flashing as he cut into one of the Gloomwings.
Seraphina took advantage of the opening, slipping into the shadows and reappearing behind a Gloomwing. With a swift, devastating strike, she let an arrow fly in a single critical hit, incapacitating it.Brielle, bleeding and weary, healed herself with a prayer, her body glowing with divine energy as her wounds closed.
Elysande struck again, his battleaxe slicing for another causing more damage. But as T’or closed in for an attack, the remaining Gloomwing swooped down and struck him for heavily. T’or’s body buckled, but with a fierce cry, he activated his Relentless Endurance, refusing to fall but barely clinging on to consciousness.
With a few more focused attacks, including Zinalla’s much-anticipated strike and Thaumat’s melee hit, they finally vanquished the Gloomwings. Their bodies dissolved, the corrupted tree behind them crumbling to dust.
The Final battle- The Shadow Demon
The party stood at the edge of the pool of dark, swirling water. Shadows pooled around its roots, and as Zinalla stepped forward, a chilling laughter echoed from the darkness. The Shadow Demon emerged, its form a mass of living night, flanked by two shadowy figures. 
The battle began with a burst of unholy energy. The shadows lashed out, striking Glepper, who stumbled backward, his vision dimming. “I... can’t see...” he whispered, falling unconscious. Zinalla rushed to his side, laying hands on the goblin to revive him. “Get up, friend. We need you,” Zinalla commanded, his voice a beacon of hope. Wandering how his spiritual healing had returned.
Elysande charged the Shadow Demon, his battle axe cutting through one of its shadow allies, but the creature’s return strike sent him sprawling. He lay there, blood pooling beneath him, dangerously close to death. Brielle knelt beside him, pressing her hands to his wounds. “Mielikki, I beseech you!” she cried, and golden light enveloped Elysande. His eyes fluttered open, and he gasped for air, life returning to his massive frame.Seraphina danced between the shadows, her daggers flashing. She managed to wound one of the shadow creatures but was caught by the Shadow Demon’s claws, black energy searing her skin. Thaumat, desperate and barely able to stand, called upon the spirits of the forest. Vines erupted, ensnaring the shadow allies, though they still writhed and struggled.
T’or, fuelled by rage and a need to protect his friends, let out a war cry. His maul bit deep into the Shadow Demon, but the creature retaliated with a blast of shadow magic that almost stopped his heart. He dropped to one knee, the world spinning. “Not... yet...” he growled, refusing to fall.
Brielle cast Prayer of Healing, and a warm wave of divine energy washed over her allies. Wounds closed, and their spirits lifted, though exhaustion still pulled at them. Glepper, regaining his senses, aimed a Fire Bolt at the Shadow Demon, and the flames seared through its darkness.
Zinalla, seeing an opening, channelled every last ounce of his holy power. “By the light, be gone!” he roared, driving his sword into the Shadow Demon’s heart. The creature let out an ear-splitting wail before shattering into a million shards of shadow.
With the Shadow Demon defeated, the pool’s corrupted waters cleared, revealing a crystalline, pure spring. The final corrupted tree withered into dust, and from the centre of the pool, the Hart emerged. The unicorn, the earthly avatar of Mielikki, was radiant and beautiful, its presence banishing the last remnants of darkness.
Brielle took a moment to cast a mass healing spell, her voice calm and serene. “Mielikki, bless this ground and mend our wounds,” she prayed, golden light washing over the group. T’or’s shoulder wound closed partially, though he still grunted in discomfort. Elysande stood straighter, his pain ebbing.
The battle finally over, the adventurers stood amidst the clearing, victorious yet worn from the gruelling fight. The last of the Redcap Goblins lay motionless, their twisted bodies sinking into the mossy earth. The Gloomwings had been banished, and the dark presence of the Shadow Demon and its shadowy allies had dissipated into nothingness. The air felt lighter, no longer heavy with malevolence, as the final threads of darkness unravelled.
The ground trembled, and from the pool emerged the Hart, a gleaming unicorn—the earthly avatar of Mielikki. Its majestic presence filled the clearing with warmth and peace, the taint of darkness finally lifted.
“Champions,” it spoke, voice echoing like a melody through the forest, “you have restored the balance.”
The adventurers knelt, exhausted yet triumphant,
The adventurers knelt, and Brielle whispered a final prayer, tears streaming down her face. “Thank you, Hart of the Forest.”
Before them, the Hart of the Forest emerged in its full glory, a magnificent white unicorn with a mane that shimmered like liquid starlight. Its presence radiated calm, and its sapphire-blue eyes glowed with gratitude. As it stepped forward, the ground itself seemed to welcome the return of its rightful guardian. The adventurers, weary yet resolute, watched as the Hart’s power began to ripple outward, settling the wild, chaotic magic of the undercity that had threatened to tear the forest apart.
The Hart bowed its head, and its voice resonated like a clear, bell-like chime. “You have done well, brave souls. By freeing me from the Shadow Demon’s curse, you have restored the balance that this forest so desperately needed.”
Zinalla, the human paladin, stepped forward, his battered armour still shining faintly with divine energy. His jaw was set in determination. “Hart, it is a great honour to have aided you. But what of the Yuan-Ti? They have long been a blight on this forest. Should we not rid these woods of their corruption?”
The Hart regarded Zinalla with ancient, understanding eyes. “Paladin,” it said gently, “the Yuan-Ti are not an abomination, but a part of this world’s intricate design. Their ways are not your ways, but they have a right to exist in the Forest of Wyrms, as do all creatures. Balance must be preserved.”
Zinalla furrowed his brow, struggling to reconcile his lifelong quest to vanquish evil with this newfound understanding of balance. Brielle, the wood elf cleric, placed a reassuring hand on his armoured shoulder. “Zinalla,” she said, her voice warm and melodic, “we must learn to live in harmony with all beings, even those we fear or do not understand. The gods teach us to heal and to protect, not to destroy without thought.”
Seraphina, the human assassin, stood a few paces away, idly cleaning her twin daggers. She looked up, her expression half-amused, half-curious. “So, we’re just supposed to let the snakes do as they please?” she asked, her voice tinged with scepticism.
The Hart’s gaze shifted to Seraphina, and it smiled, a serene and knowing expression. “Assassin, even the most venomous creatures have their place in the world. If you keep your blades sharp and your wits sharper, you will find that balance often requires vigilance, not mindless eradication.”
Seraphina’s lips twisted into a smirk. “Fair enough,” she conceded, sheathing her short sword with a fluid motion. “Vigilance I can do.”
Glepper, the goblin arcane trickster, piped up, his wide grin revealing his crooked teeth. “So, what you’re saying,” he said, his voice high-pitched and excited, “is that as long as they don’t get too naughty, we just keep an eye on them and maybe have some fun along the way?” He waggled his eyebrows at his companions, eliciting an eye roll from Elysande.
The Hart chuckled softly, a sound like rustling leaves. “Indeed, little one. Your humour will be needed to lighten the world’s darkness.”
Elysande, the goliath fighter, hefted his massive battle axe, his serious face betraying a hint of a smile. “A fine battle, Hart,” he rumbled, his voice deep and steady. “But if the Yuan-Ti challenge the balance, we will answer that call.”
The Hart nodded. “Your strength is a gift, Elysande. Use it wisely, but understand that strength alone is not always the answer.”
Thaumat, the druid, knelt by a bed of blooming wildflowers, her fingers brushing the newly awakened petals. She looked up at the Hart, her eyes full of wonder. “The forest sings again,” she murmured. “Thank you, Hart, for reminding us of the balance that binds us all.”
The Hart turned to Thaumat, its gaze full of warmth. “Druid, your bond with nature is strong. You and your friends have rekindled the forest’s spirit. Continue to protect it.”
T’or, the half-orc barbarian, folded his massive arms, his muscles still tense from the battle. His voice was a rumbling growl, but there was a softness in his eyes. “Balance or not, if the snakes cross us, I’ll crush them,” he said, though the threat sounded almost... protective.
The Hart’s eyes sparkled with humour. “Your strength of will is admirable, T’or. Channel your rage wisely, and you will be a mighty guardian.”
With its final blessing, the Hart raised its shimmering horn, sending silvery light cascading into the air. The wild magic of the undercity was drawn back, subdued, and woven into the very essence of the forest. The cracks where chaotic portals had begun to open sealed themselves, and the forest sighed in relief, a living entity breathing easier.
The adventurers watched as the unicorn began to fade into the forest’s embrace. Before disappearing completely, it turned and spoke once more. “Go now, champions, and know that you have done more good than you will ever realize. The Forest of Wyrms will remember you.”
Zinalla finally nodded, his heart heavy yet resolute. “We understand,” he said. “We are not here to rule but to defend the balance.”
The companions shared a final glance, their bond forged in battle and strengthened by wisdom. They had fought for this land, and they would continue to protect it. As they began their journey back, the light of the forest seemed brighter, the path clearer, and their spirits renewed.
Though their adventure here had ended, each of them knew their story was far from over. There were new tales to tell, new threats to face, and, always, the balance to uphold.
CHARACTER EXPERIENCE:
