Fiction | Game | Medium Adventurers League ⚔️
The Circle of Gathering
The Queen, the Forest, and the Goblin Lord, cont’d
This is part of a story that works as an interactive game. You’ll need to have some paper and dice at the ready! Click here for the beginning of the story, and the beginning of this quest here.
Go back to the previous chapter if you wish, click here to go back to Hearthstone Hideout, or here for the rules.
You awake, calm and well rested. It is dawn, and there is a light that permeates even the heavy foliage of the Feyglades.
You stand, taking a deep breath, and realize that actually, you feel better than you have done in some time. Could it be because you didn’t consume any of the dodgy booze from Hearthstone Hideout? Is it the air in the elf-controlled area of the forest? Or perhaps all the exercise you’ve been getting lately?
One way or another, you feel healthy and resilient — better than ever, in fact!
Add a permanent +1 to health, and restore your health to its maximum.For the rest of the trip, you are going to have to walk along a narrow path through some of the most ancient areas of forest. With some effort, you get the wagon turned, and the halfling driver heads off back in the direction of The Bastion, leaving the four of you to continue on foot.
Soon, your small gathering is underway again. The elves begin singing a quiet, melodious song as you walk onwards. Clearly, this place is special to them, evoking old memories. The trees give off a gentle light, and you see that this was mingling with the light of dawn.
It creates a magical feeling, and together with the path, which looks both ancient and pristine, paved with tiny bricks of blue rock, the entire place has a magical feel.
“Not far now until we get to Fey Serene,” says Chantilla, looking over her shoulder and smiling at you. “I think you’ll like it there.”
“What kind of a town is it?”
“Elf towns are not like what you are used to, city dweller,” says Queen Arriana. “You grew up in Westport, right?”
“Yes. That’s correct.”
“So smelly,” she says. “That town is so… squished together. In Fey Serene we gather in a set of linked clearings, but the elves live in various places. Some in the trees, some in houses, others even beneath the ground.”
“Interesting.” You had imagined some kind of tree house arrangement — it appears that this was an over-simplistic idea.
As you proceed, Polkin and Queen Arriana take the lead, with Chantilla walking alongside you, just behind.
“Which way first?” asks Chantilla.
“We will go directly to the Circle of Gathering,” Arriana replies.
“Is that wise?” asks Polkin in a low voice. “Blackbottle’s followers will be there.”
“The elves will want to see their queen,” replies Arriana, frowning. “They will expect me to come to the heart of Fey Serene. So it really is necessary for us to go there first, even if it’s the most dangerous place right now. I can’t slink into town like some kind of common criminal.”
“It’s a fair point,” Polkin replies.
“Just keep your bow handy,” says Chantilla to you in a low voice. “And if it comes to it, be ready to run.”
“Understood.”
What the heck have you got yourself into?
There is no doubting the Circle of Gathering when you get there. It is entered through a magically glowing archway, sparkling and golden, set into an enormous, ancient, and twisted tree, that is somehow regal and magnificent.
Beyond, you come to what is without doubt the largest forest clearing you have seen in your life, with some of the biggest trees growing around it.
The open area is probably wider than the lake in The Bastion is long, and it slopes gently upwards towards a further huge tree in centre. This particular tree has silver bark, and is surrounded by several ornate wooden chairs, the largest of which looks like a throne to you. All of the chairs are currently empty, however.
As you walk out into the mighty clearing, you look around at the nearby elves. You can see around thirty, each engaged in mundane tasks such as sorting through pails of berries, washing clothes, or fletching arrows. Many are singing quietly to themselves.
But when Queen Arriana steps out, everything changes!
There is a hush for a moment, followed by shouts and yelps from some. Around half of the elves run forward and throw themselves at the queen’s feet, kissing her hands. She pauses to take in the admiring words of her followers.
It doesn’t escape your notice, though, that at least as many elves — probably more — have held back. All have stopped what they are doing. Some have simply paused, watching to see what will happen next. Others, at least a dozen, have drawn back with obvious hostility written across their face, hands going to weapons. You notice that some are wearing armor.
And at least a few of the hostile elves have run off into the forest.
What have they gone to do? Off to alert the usurper Blackbottle, perhaps?
“Friends, elves,” cries Queen Arriana, stalking calmly towards the centre. “I have returned to you. Every voice will be heard. This is the beginning of a new age for the Feyglades.”
You follow, watchfully, still beside Polkin and Chantilla. You haven’t forgotten Chantilla’s advice to keep the bow handy. All the same, you try not to look like you are keeping the bow handy.
Both the queen’s loyal followers and the more skeptical elves have moved towards the centre of the area. But before you reach the set of wooden thrones, a newly-arrived group of elves dressed in black robes move out to intercept you, and several of the armored elves join them. There are twenty in total blocking your path, and in their lead is a tall and muscular elf with a long braided black beard and rose-colored skin. He alone is mounted upon a pony.
Queen Arriana stops as the elven man approaches. “Blackbottle,” she cries. “You are a traitor to your people.”
“Not so. Your time is done, Arriana. Nobody wants queens and princes anymore. It’s time for a new, powerful, elven realm, and a stronger, more efficient economy.”
She looks from one of his followers to another. “Why are you all wearing black?”
“These are my shock troops,” replies Blackbottle. “The elven realm will not live as feeble berry gatherers hiding in the trees anymore. That was the way of things under you and your family for generations. No more! We will dominate the forest, and then all of Primatria. We’ll show all the species that they should bow to us.”
Chantilla speaks up. “This is madness. You are mocking our traditional ways. And as for other species bowing to us — to what ends? Do you really think that you can rule over the whole island?”
“Well, why not?” says an elven woman who stands by Blackbottle’s side. “If not us, then the humans of The Bastion get their way. They are the real enemy.”
“The humans are not our enemies,” cries Polkin. “Indeed, this truly is madness!”
But Blackbottle has heard enough. “Seize them!” he calls.
In the struggle that ensues, many elves loyal to the queen try to intervene, but they are quickly overpowered by Blackbottle’s shock troops, who all have weapons and steel armor.
You now notice that it is not traditional elven armor, though. Some of it is rather ill-fitting…
Within a minute, you find yourself together with Chantilla and Polkin pushed back against the central silver tree, bow raised, unable to escape.
Blackbottle marches towards you. “Surrender, false queen,” he calls out. “Your kind is no longer welcome in the forest.”
“Usurper,” snarls Queen Arriana.
“Surely you don’t want bloodshed,” replies Blackbottle. As he speaks, he raises a spear to the neck of a struggling elven youth nearby — one of Arriana’s loyal supporters.
“You wouldn’t hurt a civilian?” gasps the queen.
“If you give us what we want, the civilians don’t need to die,” Blackbottle replies. “It’s simple.”
“You must respect the ancient laws,” she snaps back. “It is the law of our people that the throne be respected.”
“Yes. And I have been sitting on the throne in your absence. Our laws say nothing about you or your kindred. I am the elf who holds the throne, and it is therefore treason to disobey me.”
Queen Arriana’s shoulders slump, and the sword drops from her fingers. “I can see that I have no choice, then,” she says. “After all this time, I must…”
But Chantilla interrupts. “Wait! The Laws of the Ancient Book dictate that they who sit on the throne must accept a lawful challenge. If two dozen or more of our people speak up in favor, a challenge must be heard.”
And despite the threat they are under — many with sword or spear points raised to their throat — at least thirty elves speak up in support of Arriana’s claim. “We name this a lawful challenge,” they chant.
Blackbottle’s face crumples in rage, but after an exasperated sigh, he gives a curt nod. “Very well. But let this be the end of the matter. Let everyone among us hear and acknowledge this moment. I will defeat this challenger, and when I do, none of her kindred may ever dispute my rule again.”
“Agreed,” says Arriana. “And as the laws dictate, I can name a champion.” She turns to you. “Will you do this thing for me?”
Do you…
If you refuse, you are allowed to leave the forest in peace, and told that you must go before the battle for the throne commences. Apply -1 to your reputation, then head back to Hearthstone Hideout.
A shoutout to Sieran Lane, who has been doing an amazing job of checking and editing these Medium Adventurers League stories! Thank you!! 🌟