Prologue: To Boldly Go Where People Have Not Been in a Good

"That's the spirit Katheryn! Avandra helps those who help themselves." Zoe nods at Hunter, "I'm all set."

Consensus reached, Hunter leads the party down the road towards Ludmilla's cabin. Everyone spots the dire turkey tracks, which are easily larger than a man's and the sound of the flock can be heard through the trees. The party speeds their progress to avoid conflict. When you guys arrive at the cabin you find the old woman waiting for you, though she's traded in her hunter leathers for a chain helmet and studded leather all in greens and browns with the symbol of the Harken Rangers emblazoned on the chest. Her magnificent short swords hang from their hooks but she has supplemented her arsenal with a cadre of darts secured on both vambraces and the shoulders of her armor for easy access when throwing.

Harken Rangers:

"Greetings, but introductions must come on the road. We must hurry for I have already had reports of another band to the south. Come." The old ranger wastes no time getting you all back on the road, moving at a light jog for 30 minutes and then walking for 10. The pace eats up the miles without unduly tiring you out.

During the journey she takes the time to learn each of your names and to exchange a few words about how you like to fight and to let you know some of her own tactics. She prefers to soften up targets from surprise with her darts and then proceeds to move around the battlefield constantly inflicting many wounds on as many enemies as she can, leaving her allies to finish them.

At about the 2 hour mark she leads you east off road along a path down a game trail, a game trail oddly big enough to accommodate the cart without much problems. 30 minutes more and the forest gives way to a meadow, just as the game trail becomes a wide road of packed earth leading towards the hills on the other side. The meadow teams with life, from the buzzing of insects to the movements of animals like rabbits, gophers, and occasional grass snake. A sense of calm pervades the place, speaking to the sacred nature of the grove. As you draw near the closest hill all of you spot a great cave entrance, overgrown with the roots of nearby foliage, making for an effective door.

Near the entrance stand two elves. Both ladies are supermodel pretty in that way elves usually are. They both have long red hair, worn wild and loose but interspersed with twigs and leaves. Their gowns are knitted from the forest itself, a mixture of moss and ivy magically fused into a light and airy material. It doesn't leave much to the imagination. One clearly stands guard over the other, her hands resting on two wicked looking sickles. Her eyes never leave any of you and any movement is carefully noted by those calculating eyes. The older of the two, for it's written there in her eyes for anyone to see, holds a great staff shaped from some sort of tree and an aura of great power surrounds it. It is she who speaks first. "Greetings Ludmilla. So these are the mercenaries you have recruited?"

Ludmilla sniffs in disagreement. "Nay, Nesme, they be volunteers that be helping us with our predicament. No payment has been nor will be exchanged."

The elf's eyebrow raises in surprise and addresses the group directly. "I am Nesme, Heirophant (leader) of the Harken's Heart druid circle. This is my daughter Allinandra. To whom am I speaking?"

Zoe is also busy checking out the elves, Allinandra in particular, but she's more interested in the view than the gowns. When she finally meets the sentinel's eyes, Zoe winks and gives the woman a double thumbs up, which looks pretty silly with a big wooden shield attached to her left arm. Allinandra is caught off guard by the cleric's reaction and can only turn away and "hmmph" snootily in a vain attempt to recover her air of menace. "Hi Nesme, I'm Zoe, maybe the cutest one? I don't know, he may be talking about Katheryn instead. But whatever, Avandra's grace to us all in this meeting of new friends!" She raises her arms and gives a full-on hooray cheer. It's as awkward and out of place as it sounds.

Immediately recognizing the danger of letting Zoe talk too long, Jojo inserts himself into the conversation with a dramatic pose atop the wagon's driver's seat, immediately drawing all eyes to him! "Yes, blessings upon this, our first meeting fair ladies of the wood! We heard of your problem from Ludmilla and I am here, Joshua Jordstad, solver of problems, peddler of dreams, and the last merchant you'll ever need! With my friends and I on the case, your gnoll problems will soon be a thing of the past!"

Both elves blink in shock as they recover from Jojo's charm assault (Charisma (Persuasion) check result 20, PASS) but Carlos' and Hunter's followups get the elves back on track. Nesme looks thoughtfully at the party and finally says, "Very well. I approve. Beyond these roots is a cave leading into a greater cavern with many passages. The gnolls have spread throughout the complex seeking a way out even as they destroy and defile the Grove. Dark magics are being used, and I believe they are seeking to summon demons to their cause.

I will open up the door but be prepared. Even now gnolls bite and claw at the roots. My daughter will distract them with a great burst of light. Be sure to look away or you too will be blinded. Show them no mercy, adventurers, for they will show you none in return."

The two elves prepare for the door to come down. Mother off to the side so as to not draw attention from the enemy, daughter in the middle, the words of her spell already on her lips.

Okay, map time. You'll see an area on the right for you to fill out. Choose a color, write down your hp/hp, roll initiative, and then place yourself around Allinandra in some way that makes sense so we can start this thing.

MAP

During the short rest, Hunter approached Allinandra and this is what took place:

Hunter and Allinandra:

After the druids have sealed the party within the Grove again...

As the party heads east to check the last door, Zoe notices that Hunter has looked sullen since his talk with Allinandra. She hangs back and quietly talks to him. Half way there she yells, "She called you WHAT?!"

"It's nothing I haven't dealt with before, Zoe," says Hunter, trying to shrug it off.

The half-elf is having none of that. She says, "Guys you need to hear this."

When everyone has gathered Hunter says, "So...Allandra just spat a racial slur at me." He then tells the tale of trying to get to know Allinandra, leaving nothing out. "So, in addition to hating us, these people are racist."

Zoe is so mad her face is flushed red. "I can't believe those...those..ugh! I'm so angry!"