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Message: <blockquote data-quote="Rel" data-source="post: 2168623" data-attributes="member: 99">Ahead on the horizon the towering oaks of Great Root’s Grove formed a bulge in the even canopy of the Darkwood.  Spring was coming on and the treetops were becoming alive with a pale green that almost seemed to make them glow.  It was as if the land was oblivious to the darkness that stalked the world to the west.Speaks alighted among the treetops and immediately noted that something was amiss.  The birds were not singing as loudly as was typical and he did not see so many flickers of movement as the squirrels and deer scampered around the edges of the Grove.  It felt abandoned.  Speaks’ pulse raced as he flitted from perch to perch looking for some sign of what had happened.His eagle eyes picked out some telltale gouges in the earth and he flew down to the ground to inspect them.  After a few minutes of close scrutiny he determined that Great Root had left heading west and a large number of animals were with him.  Was he fleeing something or did he know of Bale’s return?  Only one way to know for certain.  Speaks took to the air once more.It was nearly sundown when he saw the herd of animals moving westward.  In their midst Great Root’s crown swayed back and forth with his lumbering stride.  The other trees improbably never quite seemed to be in the way of his huge, oaken branches.  But that was one of the benefits of the close ties he and Speaks both shared with the land.  Speaks alighted nearby and resumed his human form.The other animals continued to move while Great Root paused to greet his friend and ally, “I was hoping I might see you again before we go to our fate.”“So you know about Bale?” speaks asked.“The Destroyer walks the land again, as he did when my father’s father’s father was but an acorn.  It is a terrible responsibility that has befallen our generation my young friend.  And yet I would wish it on no other.”Speaks felt the sense of calm pervade him as it always did when in the presence of the Guardian of the Darkwood.  “I had come to tell you of Bale’s return and to seek your aid if you would lend it.  I should have known that you would already be moving to stop such a force of death.”“I shall do what I can.”“We will need whatever aid you can lend.  The Tribes of the Fodor are thin in number after last years war with the Orcs.  And their Shamans lack much of their strength when outside their tribal boundaries.  I wish I could make them understand how to embrace the whole of the Wild instead of only the aspects represented by their totems.”The bark on Great Root’s face furrowed.  “It may soon be that they have no choice my friend.  I have foreseen something terrible that may come to pass before this conflict is over.”“What is it?”“We shall discuss it later my friend.  It shall happen or it shall not happen but it is not something that you or I can change.  And so it is best that we put our strength to the things that we can change.”“What you say is true, Great Root.  And there is little enough time to do the few things that can most make a difference.  Let me tell you a few things of which I have need…”-----------------------------------------As dawn broke the following morning, Speaks awoke to the swaying motion where he rode among Great Root’s branches.  The Treant Druid stopped to let the human down and bade him goodbye.Speaks thanked Great Root for his aid and reverently held in his hands the crown of thin, oak branches that had been given to him.  He gently placed it upon his head and walked over to a nearby oak tree.  He turned back to Great Root once more, “I will tell them to expect you at Hrogar’s Hill within three days.  They will be glad of your aid, great one.”“I come as fast as my old limbs will carry me, friend.  I will be there.”Speaks turned back to the oak and closed his eyes.  He stepped forward toward the Tree and with a single Stride he vanished to reappear far to the west amid a copse of trees.  He could hear chopping noises downhill and moved to the edge of the clearing.An army was encamped in front of Hrongar’s Hill!  Imperial Legionary Banners flew next to a pavilion and all along the edge of the woods Legionnaires stood shoulder to shoulder with Fodor Tribesmen as they cut trees for the palisade.  For a brief moment Speaks cringed at the thought of the hundreds of young trees that were being cut down.  But their lives were sacrificed for a just cause and this was no time to start that argument.He transformed into an eagle and flew the final half mile up onto the Hill.  He went straightaway to Udrax’s Mead Hall where he found the Chieftains, including Uthreld, in consultation with Marcus and Lucius Capito as well as a couple other men in the livery of Legion officers.  All of them looked to the Druid for news and he did not keep them waiting, “Great Root comes and he brings the creatures of the forest to fight along side him.  They should be here within three days.”The others gave each other worried glances.  Marcus spoke for them, “It will be close but that should be in time.”  Turning back to Speaks, Marcus addressed their personal mission, “I am hoping that the others will have returned here by this afternoon that we may depart for Glynden.”Speaks nodded.  “I have a few things that must be done before that.  I will be in the forest to the west if you need me.”Marcus returned the nod and went back to leaning over the maps laid before the collected soldiers.Speaks made his way into the forest and sat down with his back to a tree.  He took out a quill and a small vial of ink and in just a few minutes had written a handful of short notes.  His magic called out to the birds of the forest and as each came to him he tied the small notes to their feet and released them into the air.  Two flew west, two east, one south.  All carried a plea for help from old friends and enemies.------------------------------Bale came south and his minions flocked behind.  The constant bellowing had stopped.  He was out of the Blackpeaks now and the creatures of this land did not answer the call of his blood.  Instead they fled before him not needing to hear his malevolent voice to sense the coming evil.The godling came within sight of the first Nervii village at sundown.  Aside from a few stray chickens the livestock was gone and there was not a human in sight.  But one never knew when there might be a stubborn farmer or lost child cringing in some shed or barn.  And even if he knew that not a sole remained in the village he would still tear it to splinters.  It was what he did.A boulder came loose and rolled down a nearby hillock.  A moment later there was a rumbling from deep within the earth and the entire hill began to tremble and shake.  Bale stopped in front of it.Before him the ground rose up and began to take the shape of some sort of four-legged creature.  It continued to rise until it stood some 30 feet high, just taller than Bale.  The form refined itself into that of a huge wolf made of earth and stone.It has been many seasons since you walked the land, Destroyer.  Your absence has not been cause for grief and you will not be missed when you are gone again.  Hate is all you sow and hate is all you shall reap.I know that you are no more capable of turning away from me than water is of running uphill.  So come at me and let us see who shall prevail and who shall be destroyed.A deep laughter came from Bale’s throat of blood.  He drew himself up just a bit taller than the Spirit of the Land.  You know me too well, Wolf Spirit.  Hate me as you like, you have still seen your last of this world!  Bale charged.The Spirit of the Land knew this would happen and ducked under Bale’s swing.  Earthen jaws brought giant teeth of stone closing around Bale’s torso and began to clamp shut.  But the Blood that made up his body was not so easily harmed or seized.  With a howl of hateful triumph, Bale brought his Black Mace down onto the side of the Spirit’s head.  He would have encountered no more resistance if he had struck at a shadow and the ebony sphere drove through the Spirit’s head and emerged from the other side.  The world stopped in shock for an instant before the earthen wolf collapsed into so much loose stone and dirt.Bale’s blood sang with the destruction of so powerful a force.  If each Spirit challenged him as he entered its lands, he would soon be invincible!  He raised his voice to the sky and screamed his defiance.  Not to any purpose.  Not for any gain.  He screamed his triumph for the same reason he did everything.Because he could.</blockquote>

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