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Kashenin had been in the region known as Sundren for a tenday now. It was a beautiful land; so much frontier, untouched by civilization. He was currently following a road east, toward what was marked as the Viridale Forest on his map. Rumors of gnoll incursions brought him that way. While he did not hold a great love for cities and civilized life, as a ranger, he could not disregard his duty. The wars of man and monster cause much destruction in nature, and must be stopped, one way or another. Of course, I could always let the gnolls overrun the men, he mused to himself. But they were his people. Maybe not Dale folk, but just as human as he was.
Soon he passed a check point along the road into the forest. He knew the guards had no authority to stop him, and, despite their protesting against him 'foolishly' entering those woods, he simply passed by without a word. "Yer a bleedin idjit!" One of the guards called after him. Shruging his shoulders, he disappeared into the shadows of the woodland.
He was no fool to the ways of the forest, however. Stepping lightly, senses keen to the world around him, he slowly made his way along the road. There was no rush, and haste brings about swift death, more often than not. In his periphriel, to his left, however, he caught glimpse of a light flickering in the distance. Gnolls? He thought to himself. He turned and followed the light into the woods. Deeper he went, and more lights appeared. The animals were calm here; the deer did not flee his presence as they did in other parts of the world. Slowly, he picked his way into a clearing. A few people, as well as animals, coexisted here among nature's habitat. One, a female, stood by a campfire. Slowly, he placed his swords into their sheaths, and cautiously walked up to the girl, "Miss, what is this place?" He asked respectfully. He knew as much that it was a special place, touched by the spirits of nature, but he was curious none the less. She looked at him, and noticing the symbol of the goddess Eldath, she smiled and explained, "You are within the Druid's Grove. It is a place of tranquility in a world held siege by material and fleshly desires. You will find no war, no violence here. It is a safe place."
He smiled, and whispered a prayer to the Quiet One, thanking her for guiding him to a place that, to him, was paradise.
Soon he passed a check point along the road into the forest. He knew the guards had no authority to stop him, and, despite their protesting against him 'foolishly' entering those woods, he simply passed by without a word. "Yer a bleedin idjit!" One of the guards called after him. Shruging his shoulders, he disappeared into the shadows of the woodland.
He was no fool to the ways of the forest, however. Stepping lightly, senses keen to the world around him, he slowly made his way along the road. There was no rush, and haste brings about swift death, more often than not. In his periphriel, to his left, however, he caught glimpse of a light flickering in the distance. Gnolls? He thought to himself. He turned and followed the light into the woods. Deeper he went, and more lights appeared. The animals were calm here; the deer did not flee his presence as they did in other parts of the world. Slowly, he picked his way into a clearing. A few people, as well as animals, coexisted here among nature's habitat. One, a female, stood by a campfire. Slowly, he placed his swords into their sheaths, and cautiously walked up to the girl, "Miss, what is this place?" He asked respectfully. He knew as much that it was a special place, touched by the spirits of nature, but he was curious none the less. She looked at him, and noticing the symbol of the goddess Eldath, she smiled and explained, "You are within the Druid's Grove. It is a place of tranquility in a world held siege by material and fleshly desires. You will find no war, no violence here. It is a safe place."
He smiled, and whispered a prayer to the Quiet One, thanking her for guiding him to a place that, to him, was paradise.