Althena looked up at Cor as he spoke, and did feel comforted, if only a little, when he placed his hand on her shoulder.

“Keep him safe in your heart and mind. You can draw strength from the knowledge that he is still with you and always will be as long as you remember him.”
Then Conall said, “MiLady Althena, Cor and I live by a Code of Honor. I also live by rules I have set down for myself. One of those rules is to never make a promise I intend not to keep.”

At this, Althena stood and looked Cor right in his eyes. Her voice was urgent as she almost pleaded with him to understand and believe her. “It is not just in my memory that Alasdair is alive.”
She looked at Conall and back at Cor. “I tell you, he IS alive. Somewhere, somehow, he’s alive. Even if he’s dead, he’s alive.”
She looked down, almost confused at her own words, shaking her head slightly, then looked back at them both, “I know that doesn’t make any sense….I don’t know how else to explain it other than my connection to him is still there.”
She took a deep breath, fighting back the new flood of tears she felt coming. Her voice wavered as she continued, “You know of our mental connection. It is still there, strong and true. Surely it would not be possible if he were truly dead!”
Althena bit her lip, almost too hard, as the tears filled her eyes and drew dangerously close to spilling over. “I know you are both men of honor. I have no doubt in your word or your ability to fulfill your promises. I will draw strength from the knowledge that he IS out there somewhere, and that we will bring him back.”
Althena hesitated a moment, then hugged Conall, then Cor. “Thank you both for being here, for being my friends and for your words. They bring me hope, for with two as fine and true as you both, I know Alasdair will again be with me some day. Thank you.”
She stood silently in thought for a moment as Conall moved to his things, bandaged his hand, and brought out drink for him and Cor. When he returned and suggested they move closer to the fire, Althena went and sat with them. Though the pain was still there and evident in her face, there was a new light in her eyes. A sort of determination, and resolve had settled upon her. She sat straight, her eyes clear and seeing those around her again. She was no longer distant and withdrawn. She was there, and determined to get this mission completed.

"My vows may be a bit less showy than Connel's but make no mistake, they are just as serious. With Odin as my witness I will do what I can to return your love to your side."
Althena smiled at Cor. “I have faith in you Cor. And I take comfort in your words. Thank you, again, for … everything.”

Kenji finished salt curing the remainder of the venison and wrapping it put it away in a couple of sacks so that the load could be divided as the others saw fit. He kept an eye on the two large tenderloins he had on a spit over the fire and catching the drippings in a cup he continually basted the meat using a wooden spoon.

Seeing the meat was near medium-rare, he dug into his pack and brought out a small sack and a couple of vials and a small flask. Opening the small sack he brought out a stack of unleavened flatbreads and using a small knife he cut thin slices of the venison off of the hot tenderloins and laid several slices on a piece of flatbread. From the small vials he sprinkled a couple of herbs and spices then added a little of a dark thin liquid from the flask and then folded the bread making a neat hand held sandwich.

This is what he was doing as Cor, Conall and the Lady Althena walked up and sat by the fire, turning to them he bowed his head in greeting.

“Konichi… ah.. Well met!” he said adding a second bow as apology for not using their common language. He sometimes found it hard to remember to speak in the common language of this land, he found it especially hard around those he traveled with and therefore felt more comfortable.

Turning to the Lady Althena he held out the venison flatbread he had just made as they walked up.

“If it please the lady..” he said with a bow which he maintained until she took the proffered fare. If she took it he would turn and rather quickly he made two more and offer them to Cor and Conall and then make one for himself and sit down to eat. If for some reason she would refuse his offer, his head would lower slightly in embarrassment and then offer that to Cor or Conall before whipping up two more.

They would fine the venison juicy and since he had cut it in thin slices against the grain it was very tender. The little bits of herbs and spices, from his homeland, add a hint of sesame and ginger and the dark liquid sauce has a unique taste that is slightly sweet, sour, salty and even a little bitter. The sauce and the spices seem to compliment the venison perfectly and create a mouthwatering delight of flavors.

“Will the others be joining us to eat?” Kenji asks when he is done with his wrap, and he gets up and moves the venison to the side of the fire where it will keep it warm without over cooking the meat.

Kenji doesn’t ask about specifics of the two he assumes are off scouting the mountain in some, to him, unnatural form. He can except that Cynil and Ulthok are not evil demons and they do not strike him as users of evil magic, but he still doesn’t like the idea of humans turning into creatures.

He looks around the camp trying to spy either Haila or Rayne, wondering if they too have gone off scouting or hunting. If they are about he will call them over and when they arrive he will make them one of his venison and flatbreads; he will also make seconds for anyone else who wants them.

“Please eat as much as you like,” he says to them, “there is plenty left as I was very blessed in my hunting today.” He smiles proud of his ability to at least feed the group as he feels that, because of his strange behavior and background, the group might not embrace him as openly and comfortably as they would if he had been of another race.

Althena smiled at Kenji and accepted his offer of food, as she wouldn’t dream of refusing such a generous and scrumptious smelling offer. “Thank you Sir Kenji. It smells wonderful. I hadn’t even realized until now, how hungry I am.”
She lifted a portion of the venison and placed it in her mouth. Her eyes fell closed of their own volition, and she smiled almost dreamily as the meat practically melted in her mouth. “Mmmmm. This is delicious! My Alasdair would love th…” Althena blinked, her words fading off. For the briefest of moments, she had almost forgotten the ache in her heart. It came flooding back in that instant, a sudden rush of air bursting forth from her chest. She felt as though she had been kicked in the chest by a horse. His face was clear and vivid in her mind’s eye, his name the softest of whispers on her lips.

Althena took a slow, deep breath, an array of emotions crossing her face as she fought to keep her composure, and exhaled slowly.

She looked back up at Kenji and smiled almost too brightly, her eyes shining from the tears she held back. She glanced quickly at Cor and Conall before looking back at Kenji. “Where did you learn to cook?” She was somewhat surprised, and proud of herself, that she was able to keep her voice light and upbeat.

Althena looked around, and waved Haila and Rayne over. “You two really should come over and try this food. It is wonderful!” Then she took another hefty, and rather unlady-like, bite of the tender meat.

Haila had been silent during the conversation shared between Althena, Cor and Conall. Minding her own business as she sat upon a rock not far from the group who had lingered at their campsite. Kenji had returned and began cooking his catch from the day's hunt. The foods had begun teasing her senses and made her stomach rumble its protest to being ignored. After everything that had gone on, she hadn't thought about eating.

In her lap was a needle attached to a long piece of thread and the rest of her embroidery kit. Smiling softly to herself she began to since and ancient song of peace. It was her habit to sing a song while embroidering for it kept her from growing bored of the task at hand.

Though she was embroidering the entire time Kenji cooked,and hunted, she had not failed to notice anything. She was able to take note that Kenji had been graced with the luck of the gods as he had managed to kill a nice deer and was able to have a great portion of venison to store for later in their adventure. Haila had also noticed when Cynil had transformed into a goat and went off to explore. The woman also watched as Ulthok transformed into a beautiful bald eagle. As a child, she was occasionally blessed by a vision of the lord of birds, but it was a rare since her youth.

From inside her pack she heard her Elven Cat meow for attention. Silently she beckoned for her companion, "Niamedris, come here darling." she fell silent anew and set her work down. Her familiar had come to her and she smiled as the feline jumped into her lap. After only a short while she heard Kenji's words and shortly afterwards hearth Lady Althena's. Smiling to both she rose gracefully, her feline leapt off her lap and went hunting nearby for a mouse or bird.

Haila walked over towards Kenji and his dinner, and she thanked him with both words and actions. A smile lingered upon her lips "Kenji, I thank you kindly. I fear without your offerings I would soon starve. I haven't had an appetite of late, but the food you prepared smells delicious." falling silent she wrapped her arms around him to deliver a quick hug of affection to display her gratitude. The faint smile lingered upon her lips as she walked over to Althena leaving her embroidery with her pack. Haila sat beside her friend and she smiled "Mi Lady Althena, how are you my dear friend?" her voice was kind, but it lacked something that lingered when she spoke to or of Kenji.

The young woman smiled to Kenji as she sat down and crossed her legs as she began eating the dinner he had prepared, while conversing with her friend. In which time she decided Althena needed an apology. A quick pause between her first words she added "I an sincerely sorry for my lack of conversation and more less, lack of interaction from everything recently. I have just been distracted as of late, I pray that you have not taken my silence as a means of anything negative. I've just been off in my own world." she fell silent as she began eating the food Kenji had prepared.

After her first bite she turned to Kenji "The food in splendid Lord Kenji. Again, I thank you. Maybe you will teach me the recipe you used on it, and I can learn it." she smiled cheerfully towards the man, and yet was also listening to Lady Althena's reply.

As Kenji offered a plate to Cor and then to Conall, “How would I say thank you?” then with a smile Conall added “or should I wait to taste the meal first.” Conall found a place by the fire that would allow him to watch the mountain and any sign for the return of those that let that morning. For Conall it was getting late but he knew it was not late enough to yet worry.

It was then Cor spoke words to Althena, "My vows may be a bit less showy than Connel's but make no mistake, they are just as serious. With Odin as my witness I will do what I can to return your love to your side." It was at that moment Conall felt a slight tingle in the back of his neck and he remembered the sacrifice his brethren made and Conall gave a silent prayer to Odin before eating his meal.

Ulthok is up and flying around the mountain top and down with each flight watching for any area that looks like it could be a passage way into this mountain. After much flying and searching he has really come up with nothing much, the only thing he feels might have been a slight clue was a slight shimmering or wavering of the air he had just caught out of the cornor of his eye on one of his passes around the mountain. With his time in the air running low as his spell winds down he decides to try something if he can find a place to do it at.

he knows that this has probally no better chance of helping him then just spitting into the wind, but he feels he must do whatever he can no matter how small the chance of success may be for one can never tell. So the first thing he does is bring back into memory as best as he can the exact area where he saw the slight shimmer in the air. Then positioning himself so he can view that area the best he request to now change from an eagle into a small pixie or brownie, whatever type of creature he can change into the will have the hands and mouth he needs to cast his next spell.

Once in position he brings up in his mind the spell he wants to cast and while being held in place by the wings of the creature he has become he concentrates on his spell and uttering the words while preforming the proper movements,

“nees eb ot emoc ti yam cigam yb ereh neddih si gnihtyna fi dna rehtegot thguorb eb naitnuom siht dna em sdnuorrus that cirbaf cigam eht yam. Upon finishing the uttering of the powerful magic words he points to the area he wishes the magic to effect as a 30 ft cube of dispell magic takes effect in the area he hoped he had seen the shimmering air.

and he waits, hopeing that it may help and hoping there is no ill effect from his actions this time.

Althena smiled at Kenji and accepted his offer of food, as she wouldn’t dream of refusing such a generous and scrumptious smelling offer. “Thank you Sir Kenji. It smells wonderful. I hadn’t even realized until now, how hungry I am.”

She lifted a portion of the venison and placed it in her mouth. Her eyes fell closed of their own volition, and she smiled almost dreamily as the meat practically melted in her mouth. “Mmmmm. This is delicious! My Alasdair would love th…” Althena blinked, her words fading off.
Not knowing of Lady Althena’s past and her lost love, Kenji wasn’t sure what caused the pain and sadness he saw in the woman’s eyes. He started to ask if something was wrong with the food, but somehow he didn’t think that was the problem. While he had been cooking he had seen Cor and Conall talking to the Lady and during that time he had noticed that she appeared to be crying or attempting not to cry. He only assumed that something about his food had sparked that memory again and with it brought a great sadness to her face.

She looked back up at Kenji and smiled almost too brightly, her eyes shining from the tears she held back. She glanced quickly at Cor and Conall before looking back at Kenji. “Where did you learn to cook?” She was somewhat surprised, and proud of herself, that she was able to keep her voice light and upbeat.
Kenji had a concerned look on his face as he watched the Lady struggle to maintain her composure. When she smiled and asked him about his cooking he took the opportunity to try and help to get her mind off whatever was troubling her.

“In my homeland a warrior must do more than make war,” he said with a smile, “he must learn art, music, writing and even cooking… A warrior must learn to appreciate life so he does not take it needlessly.”

Haila walked over towards Kenji and his dinner, and she thanked him with both words and actions. A smile lingered upon her lips "Kenji, I thank you kindly. I fear without your offerings I would soon starve. I haven't had an appetite of late, but the food you prepared smells delicious." falling silent she wrapped her arms around him to deliver a quick hug of affection to display her gratitude.

The young woman smiled to Kenji as she sat down and crossed her legs as she began eating the dinner he had prepared. After her first bite she turned to Kenji "The food is splendid Lord Kenji. Again, I thank you. Maybe you will teach me the recipe you used on it, and I can learn it." she smiled cheerfully towards the man.
As Haila embraced Kenji she could feel him stand stiffly and receive her hug, but then she felt him relax before she let go. He was taken by surprise when she reached out to hug him but then he reminded himself that such signs of affection were common here so he strove to accept these strange customs. The action however did embarrass him slightly and a bit of color came to his cheeks when she released him and stepped back.

“Ah… you are most welcome,” Kenji stammered slightly, “but please… I am not a Lord as you say.”

As she sat down to talk to Lady Althena, he turned to attend to the remaining venison to make sure it was not drying out and that it would stay warm till the others had come back to eat or everyone else had partaken of their fill. When she asked about learning the recipe he smiled slightly and shrugged as if it was nothing.

“It is simple.. I have done nothing special,” Kenji replied, “it is simply learning when to cut the meat and the proper way.”

“You have to cut against the grain as it gives a tenderer piece,” he said as he demonstrated by reached out and drawing the small knife he used to cut meat from the spit. Slicing several pieces he laid them on a piece of the flatbread and setting down the knife picked up the spices.

“Everything else is all in the spices and the sauce,” he said with a faint smile, “which I will admit will be difficult to obtain once I run out.” He tried to busy himself with talk about his food and its preparations and he would make more for anyone who asked for it.

As Kenji offered a plate to Cor and then to Conall, “How would I say thank you?” then with a smile Conall added “or should I wait to taste the meal first.” Conall found a place by the fire.
Kenji smiled then chuckled slightly at Conall, “Taste first then you may thank me or not.”

Since it seemed that fo rnow the rest stayed in camp Rayne sent out her wolves to hunt for caves and such. Also she added the prohibition of no eating of goats. She wouldn't want them to find Cynil a tasty treat. **If yo find anything return to me** shse as them using the ring of animal commmunication. SHe also gave the ferrets the same instructions and set them loose on the mountain. their curiousity got them into plenty of places that other could not find.

The wolves, Storm and Shadow, were a matted pair, slipped away into the forest on the lower slopes of the mountain and soon faded from her shight. They were both dark coated and soon were lost in the forest shadows. The ferrets Munch and cruch, named for their habit of eating hard chittered at her eager to run free in the wilds and tayne set they down and let them scamper off their movement so different form the wolves. the long bodies humping and extended but they too rapid move off scurring under the the brushy undergrowth.

With Arwen up and the rest of her animal companions out hunting Rayne kept watch over camp. Kenjii had gone out hunting and returned with two mice deer. She offered to help cut one up and if he accepts her help she makes quick work of the deer saving the offal and other less edible portions for her companions when they returned.

LAter when he offer food to them all she joined the other is dharing his cooking. She knew the tast of venison well but this was something different. The spice he used were differnet and the way he cooked it as well. Small thinly sliced it was suprisingly tender for not having hanged for a time which tenderizes the meat.

Taking her plate over to a fallen log she sits done with her bowl and tries his cooking. It is certainly differnent from any venison she has tasted before "This is very good, Kenjii The taste is quite different from what I expected but tasty none-the-less. There is something you used that is quite spicy and has a hotness that is not pepper. What is that? Rayne tries to d3escribe the previously unknown taste. IT is almost like a flash of momentary heat in my mouth but fragrant as well."

"A most interesting flavor this meat has Kenji. Certainly one I have not tasted before but one I will remember as a most favorable one. Seems you may have a future in the innkeeping business should you ever decide to retire for food such as this would draw crowds." Cor ate his first sandwich quickly and then another. Soon after the last bite was swallowed he let out a rather loud belch. "Buuuurrrpppp! Ah, that was a fine meal indeed and still tasty the second time around."

The cat was a giant of its kind, and well adapted to the mountain it lived on by having a coloration that blended into the landscape, its medium long hair being a grayed tan, taupe, and very lightly dappled with slightly darker spots like those of a leopard. The wind stirred the silken overhairs naturally blurring the outline of the big cat (description is sort of like that of a RL snow leopard, that lives in the mountains in Asia.)

Cynil's shape blurred as she changed to face to cat with the Staff of the Woodlands in her left hand. Cynil, immediately reaching her true shape casts Charm Animal.

Conall finished his meal, “A fine meal, the spices those of like none I have tasted before.” Conall leaned back as the rest fished their own meal his gaze never straying far from the path taken earlier that day by the scouts. When all were done eating Conall pulled out his pipe and a pouch to pipe weed. Filling his own pipe first he then offered it to Kenji, “Would you like some? That is if you do enjoy the pipe.”

Taking her plate over to a fallen log she sits done with her bowl and tries his cooking. It is certainly different from any venison she has tasted before "This is very good, Kenjii The taste is quite different from what I expected but tasty none-the-less. There is something you used that is quite spicy and has a hotness that is not pepper. What is that? Rayne tries to describe the previously unknown taste. It is almost like a flash of momentary heat in my mouth but fragrant as well."
“Ah.. The spices I use are very unique to my homeland,” Kenji says and seeming to think for a few seconds he names off a few, “the heat is probably from a very little powdered suraisu ninniku (dried garlic).. .. Other spices are powdered gari (pickled ginger) and sesame seeds to name a few.” He shrugs slightly and adds, “all very common in the cooking of my people.”

“The sauce is called Ponzu,” he says as he begins to slice off the rest of the venison tenderloin to wrap it up and save it for later, “it is made of a lot of things.. Too many for me to remember.” He smiles apologetically at his short answer.

"A most interesting flavor this meat has Kenji. Certainly one I have not tasted before but one I will remember as a most favorable one. Seems you may have a future in the innkeeping business should you ever decide to retire for food such as this would draw crowds." Cor ate his first sandwich quickly and then another. Soon after the last bite was swallowed he let out a rather loud belch. "Buuuurrrpppp! Ah, that was a fine meal indeed and still tasty the second time around."
Kenji laughed at Cor’s critique of his cooking and bowed slightly to him, “I will take that as a complement as I am sure that is the way you intended it.”

Conall finished his meal, “A fine meal, the spices those of like none I have tasted before.” Conall leaned back as the rest fished their own meal his gaze never straying far from the path taken earlier that day by the scouts. When all were done eating Conall pulled out his pipe and a pouch to pipe weed. Filling his own pipe first he then offered it to Kenji, “Would you like some? That is if you do enjoy the pipe.”
Since everyone here appeared done, Kenji finished wrapping up the last of the meat he had cut into strips; storing that away along with his spices and the sauce.

“Domo,” Kenji says and bows to Conall at his offer of the pipe, “ah.. Thank you but I do not …smoke.. Such things cloud the mind.” The last added as he completed storing the breads and meat in his backpack.

Kenji turns to look up towards the mountain suddenly thinking of those that have left the camp but not returned.

“Do you think Ulthok and Cynil may have ran into trouble up there?” He asks those still in the camp. He didn’t know how long they intended to be away from the camp but it seems that one or both should have reported back by now.

(OOC: Brianna - I didn’t address the question Rayne had about helping in dressing out the deer as I had already mentioned that he done that where he made the kills. He didn’t want to leave the mess too close to camp as it might attract predators during the night. )

“In my homeland a warrior must do more than make war,” he said with a smile, “he must learn art, music, writing and even cooking… A warrior must learn to appreciate life so he does not take it needlessly.”
Althena’s smile became more genuine as she listened to Kenji. “Music, you say?” She took another bite, pensive for a moment, then swallowed her food. “Do you sing? Play an instrument? Perhaps we can have a song from your homeland? I love music, and I love to sing.”
The delicious meal didn’t stand a chance against Althena’s hunger, and was gone before she knew where it went. A small burp escaped her lips, and she covered her mouth with her fingertips and giggled slightly. She looked around, her cheeks flushing to a soft red. She looked around to see if any had noticed her most unlady-like behavior. She even had seconds, and this time ate more slowly, savoring every bite.

As she ate, Haila came to sit next to her.

"Mi Lady Althena, how are you my dear friend? I an sincerely sorry for my lack of conversation and more less, lack of interaction from everything recently. I have just been distracted as of late, I pray that you have not taken my silence as a means of anything negative. I've just been off in my own world."
Althena smiled at Haila, looking at her somewhat questioningly. She noticed the difference in Haila’s tone when she spoke to Kenji. Althena looked up at the gentleman in question, then back at Haila.

A sadness crept back into Althena’s eyes, though she tried to retain composure, as her Alasdair’s face came to her mind. She sighed softly, then smiled sadly at her friend.

“There is no need for apologies, my friend. I haven’t been fully here either. I just have to take it one moment at a time. Conall and Cor helped remind me of the importance of what we are doing here, and helped me regain a bit of focus on the task at hand.” She looked at the pair, then back at Haila, taking a deep breath and exhaling slowly.

“They’ve promised to help me bring my Alasdair back.” Althena’s voice caught in her throat, and she swallowed back the tears. She closed her eyes for a moment, her love’s face as sunshine in her weary mind. She opened her eyes and looked back at Haila, her eyes shimmering once more with unshed tears, but with something else as well. Hope.

“When this is all over, and the task before us is completed, we will find him, and he will be with me once again.” She couldn’t keep from smiling at that thought, and even began to hum as she finished her meal.

"I'll be coming for you my love. Even if I had to come after you myself, alone, I would do it. Wait for me, love...I must finish what we started together first, but fear not, for I am coming."
…

Althena listened to the exchange between Co and Kenji, and had to hold back a laugh at Cor’s way of showing his appreciation for the meal. “I guess you enjoyed the food almost as much as I did.” she said with a hint of laughter in her voice.

“Do you think Ulthok and Cynil may have ran into trouble up there?”
Althena looked with concern toward the mountain, where the two were still scouting. “I sincerely hope that is not the case, Sir Kenji.” She sent up a prayer for her friends that they would be kept safe and would return soon. Hopefully with some good news.

As morning passed into afternoon those of the party left behind hunted, kept watch over the camp, and finally had a chance to talk since the town of Main.

With the hunting skills of Kenji they all found themselves feasting on a late lunch early dinner of very tasty deer meat with enough cured to last each many days. During this time of waiting all got to know one another better and even the halfling Divot, so quiet since Main, was able to introduce himself to Kenji as the brother of Ulthok. With most of the companions animals back from scouting, having found no sign of any type of entrance, they awaited the return of Ulthok and Cynil.

Uthlok had seen something out of the corner of his eye, he was sure of it, some type of shimmering in the air perhaps nothing more then rising tendrils of heated air ,yet perhaps something more. Moving towards the area as best as he remembered he decided to change his form as to have the ability to cast spells, a quick thought and where once was a great eagle now floated a male pixie.

Facing the area of the shimmer, he began the casting of the spell of Dispel Magic

“Nees eb ot emoc ti yam cigam yb ereh neddih si gnihtyna fi dna rehtegot thguorb eb naitnuom siht dna em sdnuorrus that cirbaf cigam eht yam.”

His voice sounding as if a squawk, a finger pointed at the location, the Halfling Fighter/Mage waited and watched, hoping for some result but was disappointed as nothing happened.

Cynil was calm in the face of such a big cat as it readied itself to attack, but yet for some reason it did not as if somehow sensing the goat in front of it was not truly a goat.
Without much movement, the Elvin Druid caused herself to change back to her normal self, a louder growl meeting her as she did so. The lion looked angrier, more threatened as before it was no longer a goat, but a humanoid.

Cynil with the Woodlands Staff in her hand quickly cast the spell of Charm Person or Mammal and though it had the effect of pausing the big cat in its attack, clearly unsure if the Druid was friend or foe, still the cat was hostile to the druid in front of it, as if guarding something more important then itself. What that was Cynil could not see for the cat bared her sight as well any forward movement.

With the sun slowly moving towards night and midday turning to evening so far this first day no entrance had yet to be found.

(OOC: Ok there you have it My post!! also just to let everyone know the character of Divot will be active once again and will be played by eithier Dragonmist or Keeper until Eol returns. I will create an avatar for one of them to use as soon as I know which of the two will take him on so the character does not go unnoticed as has been happining these past few months.

(To Dragon Mistress, as no spell of Charm Animal exists in any form or ability I substituted the spell of Animal Friendship.) Since corrected

Also below is the description of a Staff of the Woodlands powers. As you can see you do have the ability to Speak With Animals.
Other then that good posting by all.)
Staff of the Woodlands:
This sort of staff is always made from oak, ash, or yew, finely grained, beautifully carved, and bound with bronze. It is effective only in the hands of a druid. Each such staff has the following powers, with each expending one charge per use:


• Wall of thorns
• Animal friendship plus speak with animals
• Animate tree*

* This function duplicates the ability of a treant to cause a large tree to move at a movement rate of 3 and attack as if it were a largest-sized treant, and in all other respects becoming a virtual treant for eight rounds per charge expended. Note that one round is required for the tree to animate, and it will return to rooting on the eighth, so only six of the initial eight rounds are effectively available for the attack function.

In addition to these powers, each staff of the woodlands has a magical weapon value. Those with a lesser value have extra magical powers that do not require charges and can be employed once per day: The +4 staff has no additional powers; the +3 staff also confers the power of pass without trace; the +2 staff confers the powers of pass without trace and barkskin; the +1 staff confers the powers of the +2 staff plus the power of the tree spell. To determine which sort of staff has been discovered, assign even chances for each of the four types.



Copyright 1999 TSR Inc

Conversations sprouted in all directions with those who had returned and those who had stayed with the campsite. Sometimes they would speak in turn, other moments they would have several conversations. From a short distance the buzz of conversation could be heard but only occasionally understood.

Althena, she could tell, was choked up and still emotional about the loss of her love. Haila placed a hand upon hers and she smiled softly "Friend, I would go with you to the ends of the earth to find love." It was all she had to say in reply to the words they had earlier exchanged. For Haila herself knew what it was like to love yet not have that love returned. She could only imagine what it must be like for Alethena to have the perfect love torn from her, one she loved and who loved her in return.

Haila listened to the buzz around the camp and her eyes rose to the sky. At this moment pain shot through her, she wondered where her friends had gone. Ulthok was still searching and soon it would be dark as the moon continued chasing the sun from the sky. Shaking her head some she rose from where she sat and she moved towards where her companions had disappeared. Cynil had also not returned and Haila grew more worried with each passing moment.

Without a word she decided to walk a few paces from camp and sweep her surroundings with a slow glance. Searching high and low in all directions in which their two friends had gone early that morning. For the first time since Cor and Conall had returned, she felt a heavy heart while she stood waiting for the party to be complete once again. A rock stood a little ways from their camp where she could sit and watch, on guard, until their friends returned.