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HeavyHalfMoonBlade · May 10

On 5/10/2025 at 5:09 PM, Ithillian Turambar said:

Nyra seems pretty clear about the order of things to do lol

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Just as well some is. I approve 🙂

Though didn't we vote to talk to Kerin like Nyra told us to, not talk to Nyra? This works too though, Nyra obviously well worth the gold crown we paid for her. Maybe we shouldn't mention that when she is around though.

Ithillian Turambar · May 10

I may have got confused.

Ithillian Turambar · May 10

Oh I think it's cos I read what you said rather than the votes.

Sorry about that.

HeavyHalfMoonBlade · May 10

No worries 🙂

Was just checking my phone wasn't reorganzing the order of the votes or something silly like that.

Ithillian Turambar · May 10

Let's go visit Kerin before we go to bed, and then we'll be ready to set off in the morning.

Ithillian Turambar · May 10

Totally didn't get muddled up about what you all wanted to do lol

The common room above has quieted for the night. Lanterns burn low as you make your way down to the cellar. It’s cooler here—stone walls still holding the chill of the mountain night. Where once there was a locked cell, there’s now a tidy alcove.

Kerin sits by a small lamp, flipping through a worn book. The glow highlights the softer lines in his face—no longer sunken with guilt and fear.

He notices you and straightens. “Didn’t expect a visit this late.”

You share your plans—Verdant Hollow, the Bloomgate, the path ahead. Kerin listens carefully, then reaches into a wooden box by his cot.

“We never cracked the Hollow,” he says. “Too wild. Too awake. One cult agent tried to burn through the roots—he vanished. We called the barrier the Bloomgate. Only opens when the Hollow wants to open.”

You show him the Scroll Fragment: Whisper of the Roots. His eyes narrow, scanning the worn script.

“Yes. This matches what they whispered. ‘Where sorrow flowers, memory follows.’ You’ll need more than strength. Grief, Spirit, Earth—something deeper.”

He hesitates, then hands you a carved item from the box.

“This root twisted into shape while I was meditating… felt like it remembered something.”
“I don’t know what it is, but… maybe the Hollow does.”

Inventory & Lore Update:

+ Root-Etched Effigy (Quest Item – May react at the Bloomgate or within the Hollow)
Codex Insight – Verdant Hollow (Updated):
- Entrance hidden beneath root and stone, attuned to memory and sorrow.
- “Bloomgate” responds not to power, but emotional resonance.
- The cult sought to corrupt grief buried there—“verdancy sealed in grief.”

Kerin sighs. “You gave me a path out. If you show the Hollow the same... it might let you in.”

From upstairs, Nyra’s soft steps echo faintly. The night deepens.

What would you like to do next?

Rest until morning, then head toward the Verdant Hollow (Earth Temple)
Return to the market or forge before bed
Ask Nyra about the Root-Etched Effigy or the Bloomgate
Fuse the Whisper of the Roots scroll fragment into the Codex
Review full inventory, spells, and Codex attunements

Donchadh · May 10

A little chat before bed?

Turin Turambar · May 10

I think sleeping first. Chat in morning over breakfast.

Ithillian Turambar · May 11

Ok we're doing this. A quick sleep then off to the Earth Temple

The morning light finds Windrest Hollow draped in mist. You gather your gear as Nyra stretches her wings, silhouetted by the rising sun. Kerin sees you off at the edge of the village, giving a nod but saying little more.

The path toward the Verdant Hollow winds east through dense forest, then descends into mossy cliffs. The air grows heavier with every step—damp, alive, humming with quiet breath beneath the earth.

After hours of travel, you reach a ridge overgrown with thorn and vine. A vast wall of living roots coils across a stone arch: the Bloomgate.

It isn’t just a barrier—it watches.

As you approach, the Root-Etched Effigy warms in your pack. The vines shift slightly, curving inward like a breath drawn through green lungs.

Nyra lands silently beside you. “We’re close. I feel something here… not just life. Memory. Sorrow.”

You reach out and hold the effigy up to the Bloomgate. The moment it nears, the Codex pulses.

A low chime sounds within your mind—roots twisting, a memory uncoiling.

Codex Alert – Vision Triggered
Attuned Relic Detected: Root-Etched Effigy + Binding Bloom Sigil

Vision – “The Hollowed Grief”
A boy kneels in a glade, tears soaking into the moss. Flowers bloom around him, pale and luminous. A voice:

“Where you bury sorrow, the Hollow listens.”
The scene blurs. Now the same boy is older, cloaked in ritual garb, laying the effigy into a knot of roots.
“When the bloom weeps, it remembers.”

The vision ends. The Bloomgate’s vines ripple once—and then part.

You have gained entry to the Verdant Hollow.

The passage is narrow at first, then widens into a lush cavern, lit by glowing fungi and streams trickling from tree roots above. The air feels ancient.

“This place is... alive,” Nyra whispers. “And waiting.”

What would you like to do?

Explore the Verdant Hollow’s outer sanctum carefully
Use the Codex to scan the area for magical resonance
Attempt to commune with the Hollow itself using Spirit
Prepare your spells and gear before delving deeper
Rest briefly to regain EP and focus before entering

HeavyHalfMoonBlade · May 11

Trying to talk has generally worked before. Seems rather low risk as well.

Turin Turambar · May 11

Hmmmm, 1, 2, or 3?? I kinda wanna get a lay of the land if you will.

I think 2 but will definitely go along with 3.

Ithillian Turambar · May 11

We scan the area

You steady your breath and open the Codex, allowing its power to flow freely. As your fingers trace a weave across its glyph-etched surface, your attuned relics respond—the Binding Bloom Sigil glows soft green, and the Soulmark flickers faintly.

The air thickens with hums of ancient resonance. The Codex unfolds a delicate magical scan, threads of elemental force weaving out through the Hollow like roots seeking water.

Codex Scan – Verdant Hollow: Outer Sanctum

Primary Element Detected: Earth (Verdant life resonance, deep root leyline)
Secondary Currents: Spirit (Residual sorrow and memory echoes)
Tertiary Signals: Water (Flowing through hidden channels beneath)
Hazards Detected:
- Dormant seed guardians, earthbound and reactive to sudden movement
- Dense illusion fields layered through central paths (Spirit may pierce them)
- Pockets of unstable flora (release sleep spores if disturbed)

Nyra narrows her eyes. “Something’s cloaked up ahead. Not just vines—memories too. We’ll need more than fire to cut through this place.”

You focus. One path pulses faintly in your Codex’s vision—less overgrown, edged by spiraling carvings in the stone floor.

Your Unified Elemental Bond surges faintly in response to the leyline. You feel a slight restoration: +1 EP.
(EP: 18 / 17 – temporary surge)

What would you like to do?

Take the spiraled stone path – cautiously follow the leyline
Attempt a Spirit-based commune with the sorrow bound to this place
Use Aqua Surge to wash spores or clear a path through the dense flora
Trigger a minor Earth weave to shake loose any hidden traps or guardians
Wait and observe – let Nyra scout slightly ahead while you focus

Turin Turambar · May 11

Empathic bond? Maybe get the ground on our side? All seem reasonable though.

Ithillian Turambar · May 11

We are one with the force

You kneel among the tangled roots and moss-veiled stone. The Codex responds as you call on Spirit, its sigils glowing with gentle violet-white radiance. You press your palm to the ancient floor—cool, smooth, and faintly trembling with memories.

You cast Soul Veil, letting the weave ripple outward.

The world quiets. The light dims.

Whispers emerge from the Hollow’s breath.

“We bound it… to protect what slept below…”
“He took the bloom. Made it scream. Roots poisoned…”
“No rest—only rot and memory…”

Visions flood your mind: cloaked acolytes burying a radiant seed beneath this place; a masked figure whispering to a glowing flower that weeps and closes its petals; a twisting of the garden into a prison of vines.

You see faint outlines of lost spirits — former wardens. Their sorrow binds them still.

Codex Insight Updated – Verdant Hollow’s Curse

The Verdant Hollow once held a Life-Bloom, a sentient elemental flower of great power.
Cult forces defiled and twisted it into a corrupted Heart-Seed to fuel their greater ritual.
Spirits of the wardens still guard it in torment.
Spirit-aligned weaves may soothe or redirect the guardians.
Earth-based force may trigger unintended defenses.

Your vision fades. Nyra is kneeling beside you, her feathers bristling.

“They’re not gone,” she whispers. “They’re… waiting.”

What would you like to do next?

Follow the spiraled stone path toward the leyline convergence
Call out to the wardens again—offer peace through a Spirit weave
Prepare your strongest hybrid spell: Veilbrand Surge, and advance
Set up a defensive weave—ready Water Barrier before proceeding
Return to the surface briefly and reassess the entry path

HeavyHalfMoonBlade · May 11

2…or 3?

Turin Turambar · May 11

I think 2

Ithillian Turambar · May 12

We offer peace

You rise slowly, extending your palm once more over the moss-covered floor. Your Codex glows with soft amethyst light as you weave a gentle stream of Spirit essence, not to command — but to comfort.

You cast: Soul Veil (Enhanced)

Range: Wide (influenced by high Spirit)
Effect: Calms lingering spirits, reveals emotional states, can establish temporary communion

The mist thickens. Shadows retreat. The flickering echoes you saw before now take fuller form — five spirits cloaked in green and silver, their eyes hollow yet watching. They hover in a silent circle around you.

“We remember... pain.”
“The bloom screamed… and we failed.”
“Your bond… it feels like the grove’s breath…”

You gently channel the Binding Bloom Sigil, letting the faint floral resonance hum through your Codex. At the sight, the spirits hesitate—then bow their heads.

You have soothed the Hollow Wardens.

Minor Spirit XP gained
Passive protection granted while inside the sanctum (reduces incoming Spirit or nature-based effects)
Spirit-based dialogue and spells will resonate more strongly here

One of the wardens steps forward and gestures. A patch of wall — once sealed by thick vines — now parts with a sigh. Beyond it, stairs wind downward, glowing with bioluminescent roots.

“The path to the Heart lies below,” the warden intones. “But she is not what she was. She is still bound… and angry.”

Nyra draws close. “They’ve shown you mercy. That won’t last if the Heart still sees you as a threat.”

What would you like to do next?

Descend the newly opened stairwell into the Heart-Chamber
Prepare Veilbrand Surge and ready a hybrid spell before continuing
Speak further with the spirits and ask about the corrupted bloom
Return briefly to Windrest Hollow to consult Halwen before continuing
Meditate here to restore EP or check inventory before moving forward

HeavyHalfMoonBlade · May 12

Speak some more?

Turin Turambar · May 12

Might as well see if we can get anything helpful while they are not trying to kill us.

Could the answer be to free the heart?? Dunno

Ithillian Turambar · May 12

Ok let's do a bit more talking

You bow your head slightly and step closer to the spirit who last spoke — the one who mentioned the bloom and its pain.

“This Heart you guard… is it the Heart of the Elements?” you ask, voice low, respectful.

The air grows still.

“No…” the spirit answers. “The Heart below is but a fragment… a seed-core planted when balance still held.”
“It is one of many—used to anchor the Verdant Hollow to the great cycle. But this one… was touched.”
“Twisted by flame not born of fire. She sleeps, but dreams dark things now. She may not know friend from foe.”

Your Codex pulses — the Soulmark Token responding faintly to the warden’s words. This is not the true Heart of the Elements, but it is linked to it… perhaps once part of the ancient framework that maintained elemental harmony.

You continue your questioning:

“What corrupted her?”

“The Cult… not with hands, but with memory. They sang to her from the deep roots. Lies. Pain. Echoes of the Shrouded Flame.”
“And she listened. She believed them abandoned.”

Another warden steps forward.

“If you seek to restore the Hollow’s Heart, you must show her truth. Or endure her grief.”

Nyra folds her wings quietly, eyes narrowed.

“This seed-core may be the key to Earth’s altar. If it’s twisted… your next trial won’t just be stone and vine. It’ll be sorrow made real.”

Clarification:
The Heart referred to in this temple is not the Heart of the Elements, but a Verdant Seed-Core, one of several ancient “fragments” used to maintain balance in each elemental domain. This one may help restore or awaken the Earth Altar, but its corruption must be healed — or overcome.

What would you like to do next?

Descend the stairwell toward the corrupted Seed-Core (Earth Altar trial begins)
Prepare Veilbrand Surge and other hybrid magic before facing the Heart
Ask the spirits how to restore the Seed-Core rather than fight it
Return to Windrest Hollow for supplies or to consult Halwen one last time
Rest and attune Codex further to Spirit for bonus perception in upcoming encounter

HeavyHalfMoonBlade · May 12

Ask about cleansing?

Ithillian Turambar · May 12

Which one would cleansing be? Oh the ask how to restore it option?

Turin Turambar · May 12

Restore sounds best. If they can give a clue how to do it we might be able to right a wrong done by the cult.

HeavyHalfMoonBlade · May 12

On 5/12/2025 at 1:01 PM, Ithillian Turambar said:

Which one would cleansing be? Oh the ask how to restore it option?

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Sorry, used the wrong term. Must have been translating in my head, lol.

Ithillian Turambar · May 12

Ok, we're gonna try to restore it

You step closer to the ethereal wardens, your voice firm but laced with compassion.

“I don’t want to destroy this Heart… If there’s any way to restore the Seed-Core, I want to try that first.”

The spirits pause—wind and leaves drifting as if time itself listens.

One warden lowers their hood, revealing eyes that shimmer like dew on moss.

“Then you must descend not as a conqueror, but as a witness. Her pain must be understood… not merely challenged.”

Another spirit raises a pale hand, and a soft pulse flows into your Codex.

Codex Insight – Restoration Path (Seed-Core of Verdant Hollow):

If you enter the Hollow’s core with Spirit-weaving active, you may attempt restoration through resonance and memory interaction.
You will face illusions, echoes, and the buried grief of the Seed-Core. Success depends on empathy, Spirit level, and Codex resonance.
Casting Veilbrand Surge, Soul Veil, or other Spirit-Water hybrids may help reveal truth beneath corruption.

A final warden offers you a fragile object woven of roots and memory-thread:

Memory Thorn (Rare – Spirit Focus Item)

Usable once during the upcoming trial.

Inflicts no damage, but may “pierce” illusion or pain-based mental constructs, grounding the Heart in truth.

Recharges only in places of Spirit convergence.

Nyra touches your shoulder gently.

“So we won’t just be fighting... We’ll be listening too.”

Inventory Updated:

Memory Thorn (1 use, Spirit utility item)

What would you like to do next?

Descend to the Seed-Core and begin the restoration trial
Use the Memory Thorn preemptively to open a connection with the Heart
Meditate to strengthen your Spirit affinity and Codex resonance (gain small bonus to restoration)
Prepare a hybrid weave (Veilbrand Surge or a new fusion)
Return briefly to Windrest Hollow for anything missed or to speak with Halwen

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