The path of the Oak-man

[MithrilBlade]

“Nature take you and your horde!” he yelled, striking his spear through the heart of the goblin chieftain, ending the leader's life and returning the clan back to its regular chaos until next leader would be ready to take over the clan with the help of violence.

Only several hours ago he and his two dwarven and one halfling companions had worked through the war bands of Spittlefist clan into the heart of the goblin colony, fighting for every step with all they had.

He looked at the others, who, despite their dwarven endurance, were exhausted and injured, but at the same time proud of their victory over the savage hordes of goblins.
They heard clicking sound about and alarmingly glanced at the direction of the sound as they saw the hin at the chest of the chieftain, quickly snatching all the treasures from the chest before the three approached and the hin quickly dropped the goods.

“Look at all this treasure! Can I have the armor of bone and the dagger pleeease?”

The rest of the band rolled their eyes, but quickly noticed the goods that the hin had taken out, a masterfully crafted full plate mail and dwarven waraxe with magical enchantments, along with a cloak that was formed of strange tentacles that had been put together from the top.

The dwarves, having interest in the masterfully crafted smith work, tossed a die to determine who was to have the precious mail, while Tredonael approached the cloak with great interest. " “I’ll have to find out what is this thing later” he though and he packed it with him as they left the cave.

Outside the successful team split up, but Tredonael felt somehow different and as he assumed the form of a deer to travel quickly between the lands of Sundren valley, he noticed that he was now able to channel spells while in another shape. This made him ponder if he could truly master the art of shapeshifting so he traveled to the druid grove and talked to the keeper

“Master Keeper of the Grove, I am Tredonael Cyphres, druid of High Forest and foster child of Turlang the Lord of Treants. May I request your wisdom?”

The powerful druid glanced at Tredonael, who held his head lowered for the respect and nodded, replying
“Very well Tredonael of High Forest, foster son of Turlang. What is it that you want of me?”

“Master Keeper, I seek your wisdom. I realized today that while my will is strong, my body may be lacking to properly serve Mother Nature.”

The Keeper studied the young druid carefully before replying
“What do you propose then child?”

“I wish to be able to escape the boundaries of this wretched body. I wish to do this for the sake of nature herself, to be able to defend her.”

The elder druid furrowed his brows
“Do you realize that there is a price to be paid for this kind of power? Were you to seek it, you would be forever bound to this valley. Are you ready to devote yourself like that?”

The comment brought quick realization into Tredonael’s head, he would never again see his father or the woods he grew in. Saddened by this, his mind traveled to the last meeting he had had with the treant lord, where he had requested his foster son to leave his home and find his own place which to defend.
Realizing the meaning of those words, he glanced up to the Keeper once more and replied with determinacy
“I understand the price and I am gladly willing to pay it to be fully able to devote myself to servitude of nature”

Keeper, able to read any lies from his lips, seemed satisfied to the answer and nodded
“The path you are about to take will be a long and difficult one. You need to find this woman” he said, channeling the natural scrying pool of the grove and displaying the image of a young woman with a badger. “She is called Annaleen and she will guide you to the beginning of your journey. I must attend to my duties now.”
After saying that, his attention slowly faded to the pool, where non-comprehensive images whirled wildly until they faded once more from his eyes and the tranquility of the grove took over him once more.
Tredonael bowed his head in thanks and set off to search this woman called ‘Annaleen’, only knowing what she looks like.

-- (( To be continued, those involved, feel free to post to this thread )) --

[MithrilBlade]

The first lesson

The next day he spent meditating and seeking information about this young druidess he was ordered to find until he came upon the grove once more to buy supplies as he suddenly saw Annaleen standing there discussing with another man, a ranger.

He approached her and bowed his head of respect before the girl, probably younger than Tredonael himself as he spoke
“Annaleen, elder druid of the grove. May I speak to you?”
The young woman glanced at him with suspicion and replied hastily
“Who exactly are you and how do you know my name?”
The druid bowed his head deeper to banish any thoughts of ill-intentions from her
“I am Tredonael, a druid from the High Forest. I am trying to unlock the mysteries of shape shifting and after speaking to The Keeper, he told me to seek you out.”
Annaleen relaxed somewhat, nodding as she approved his words.
“I do not follow the path you speak of, but I may be able to help you understand it better. What shapes are you able to take currently?”
The druid seems relieved by the fact that she is willing to assist him as he continues
“I thank you for the offer. I am able to turn into most simple animals of the woods, as well as take the form of domesticated animals.”

The elder druidess nods and notices the boar that has taken place next to the strange silver-haired man, before starting to shift her shape, turning into a massive boar with hard bone studs lined across her back like armor, along with a huge maw and broad fangs able to cut tree in half if necessary.

Tredonael simply observed the grand dire animal form in awe as he to his disappointment replied
“I cannot take any forms as powerful as that, I am limited to the shape of boar currently. I however, can become stronger than this weak body can sport by turning into bear. In that form I can effectively fight for nature.”
Annaleen lifted her brow “There is much more in shapeshifting than fighting. You must become one with the animal, learn its instincts and mind. Also you must retain your humanity and not get lost in the animals.”
Tredonael, whose view of world was vastly different than that of Annaleen, who had grown among humans, nodded to this wisdom and carefully memorized it before Annaleen continued
“As I see it, humanity is like a bubble that holds your mind within. Even when you change your shape and turn into animal, that bubble will hold your true self within.”
The silver-haired druid apprentice considered this metaphor, gaining new viewpoint of shifting, since for him shapeshifting had always been act of becoming completely one with the animal.
“I understand this; I have also attempted to use it to learn the nature of the animals themselves. By becoming one with the animal you can learn its strengths outside the physical side, for example the fury and determination of a bear can give the courage to win a battle against impossible odds”
She nodded and replied “You would do best to study the shapes when you are calm and concentrated, without external disturbances.”
“Thank you for the lesson today, I shall keep these pearls of wisdom in my mind as I continue my studies. I must go now. Nature’s blessings upon you.”

He bowed and walked out of the grove to further meditate the lesson, which had given him perspective in matters, which seemed to be part of some much greater mystery.