The door to the tavern opens and Lantana of the Hedgeriders enters, softly pushing it closed behind her. She is immediately recognizable by the Hedgerider green tunic. The Wylde elf crosses to the area peppered with scrolls and notes, giving a short nod to anyone looking her way. Without hesitation, she pins a roughly pulped page to the wall with a long, sharp thorn. The script is thin and a bit spiky, but clear.
“In the name of the Moon, I give greetings to the people of this town. The Hedgerider clan is new to this land, and we do not know the established order here. We seek guidance to establish a new permanent Wood, where we can plant our grove and protect our trees. Any assistance we may offer during the cold months is available.”
She smooths the paper down, pressing it against the wood with a gentle touch. Turning away, Lantana seats herself neatly at a table with a tall candle and pulls a slightly withered apple from her satchel. She takes small, precise bites, and eats it down to the core, before wrapping the seeds back in the satchel.
A petite maiden in a embroidered floral dress enters shortly after. Her lengthen white hair shimmered with rain drops from being outside and her soaked boots made leathery squeeze sounds with every step.
The screendoor slams rudely behind her bringing in a cool gust, a customary sound in New Haven.
"Oh ze may! Tink, tink and tinkith cold rain all le day..." she said in a pout and shiver.
She held a basket in one hand with spools of wool, inspecting them before placing them to a table and begin removing her cloak. Her staff stood beside her patiently, it too flicked away raindrops on it's curly head in a shiver.
But despite the rain, there was a soft content smile on Aleena's face. It has been over three, perhaps four months since there has been any dangerous incident? A well receive peaceful winter. The little priestess was suspicious naturally of course? New Haven hardly stayed quiet for too long from her experience, but she naturally embraced this idyllic moment with a smile.
Would this be perpetual is unknown? But by Inil's grace, it was muchly needed...
She halted to see a new parchment by the door and leaned in daintily to take a gander.
"hm?"
Her living oak staff also casually leaned in, whether it was actually reading along or not noone would know, not even the owner.
"A grove...hm, they--" she halted from talking to herself when she heard the crunching of fresh apple. Aleena looked over her shoulders and meet eyes with the limegreen wearing wyld elven Lantana, a familiar face, but not one she knows beyond an acquaintance?
Aleena smile with cheerful spirit. "Ah, gooden morrow mademoiselle! How art thee? Did joo place dis parchment?"
Delicately pointing to the note and slowly sauntered to her.
"Ne, so joo would know? Tis a grove here already for sacred trees? Joo may want to speakith vith ze lead of the Druids? They call themselves Protectors of the Grove and followers of ze Forest Fae. Her name is Katesh, a Kojin, short of ze maple hair? Also an enchanter..? She lives in ze area."
She explained politely with a nod, her staff also nodded it's curly head.
"Are joo a devote to ze moon? I am too! Our dearest Eldest of Inil, tis her lunar chambers ! Ve should zee a crack of her door open very soon ne? A crescent moon, spewing her great love and light upon all, her message of hope...." embracing a hand to her heart closing her eyes momentarily, Lantana could see the symbol of Inil in white from her forehead.
"Ne, what kind of ze tree le Hedgeriders are planting?" Batting her lashes curiously,
"We are in ze great need of flowers in ze moment, farmers and herbalist would be ze wonderful add here..." she smiled.
From her seat, Lantana smiles gently as Aleena engages her. "Good day. That is mine, yes." She listens to her, responding in the pauses.
"I have heard there is a grove here. It is well, that the people respect the earth. I have deep respect for a Fae's disciples. It is not often we see such levels of devotion. That is worthy of an open hand. Katesh, you say? Thank you for that information. I will be sure to ask her for the procedures to establish land rights." She catches Aleena's eye, then continues, polite but unyielding. "Our tribe cannot share a grove. The sacred trees cannot ever be accessible to those who have not sworn to protect them."
She purses her lips at the question. "The Hedgeriders are not devoted to the moon. We do follow the Moon, though." The different emphasis is audible.
"Our sacred trees are the blackthorn and whitethorn. We are skilled in herbalism, but we do not farm. To avoid over-harvesting and soil exhaustion, we forage. Is starvation a threat in these lands?"
Aleena crossed her wrists before her while listening before melting in to a soft worried gaze. She speaks with a empathetic tone.
"Yes it is." she frowns saddly. "It iz as you may have suspected, we do face a resource problem."
"Our populous grows every month and it seemz farming would be a need. There isn't enough flowers for ritualists or alchemist to cleanse people from malignant forces like ze Spawn of Shothar that keep attacking us. Also alchemists are in need to make health potions when we fall under attack by the Exiles."
"And as for food, well, only recently have there been enough food for us to consume. But that can changith at any ze moment. Just last Octobi, we fed a few hungry farmers from the Raddish Family who's farm could not produce. Tis very unfortunately..." she lamented.
"Scavenging I am afraid is not enough with this populous anymore,...but many do try."
She closed her eyes petting the nose of her staff.
Exhaling she changes the topic, "But as far as sharing protection of the grove, you might be surprised to find similar minds here? They, the Druids, have a shared vow of protection for all trees in that Grove, allowing no one else to go if they have never taken the vow. They share protection over that area with the halflings who guard passionately over their Bellena Tree."
She places a fist to her heart.
"My ze dearest friends, Rholin and Trex, gave up their mortal lives to plant their halfling tree."
"So believe me when I say jou'd find ze others like your self. And if you do not mind me sayin? I feel combining forces of ze Hedgeriders and ze Protectors of ze Grove would be a splendid idea for everyone."
"But do not take my word for it..." she holds a finger up with a encouraging smile. "Speak to Katesh about it and ze Haflings...."
A letter finds its way to Lantana in the following days, delivered via a Red Cap
"Dear Hedgerider Clan,
I am writing in reply to the post I found in the tavern. I have what I hope will be information that might at least get you started, but is by no means extensive.
The legality of land ownership is a tricky one in the Exiled Lands as there are many vying entities for space. The Elendari of course claim ownership over territory they control after their landfall. They protect, though don't entirely lord over it. I have seen them in one case grant some as a gift to a group before for their aid, so it is possible for them to part with some. At least as far as the land grant is recognized by their authority.
You might find well placed allies and kindred spirit in a local clan of Wylde Elves known as the "Pine Elves." They have struck good accord with New Haven in the past. Though I fear of their current situation. They were in the path of an attack by some of the undead. We were able to save one (as much as one is saved from such an encounter) though we lost track of where he fled after the battle. How many of them are left, and where, I cannot reliably say.
Within New Haven there is a group known as the "Protectors of the Grove" who may be of more aid than myself. They were founded to protect a site important to the fae. Their leader lives here in town; a Ko'jin by the name of Katesh who is an enchanter by trade.
Not mentioning my name might be best to keep her in a good mood.
Aside from that, be wary if you spend time scouting the wilderness. There is a creature calling itself the "Spawn of Sho'thar" that spreads an odd but unique disease that can only be countered by combining blood letting via leeches and cleanse rituals. Moreover it is a creature of shadow that feeds on fear, and it has many broken but dangerous followers that seek to retrieve offerings for it. Additionally there is a Blood Fae loose that seems to be able to control any mortal creature through blood manipulation. It also has fanatical devotees to be wary of.
I'm sure the Hedgerider Clan is no stranger to peril, but these lands have their own unique flavor.
If I may be of assistance, I can be found in New Haven.
Regards,
-Theron Lachaylan
The Knights Transcendent