[h2]A clash of titans in the darkwoods[/h2] In the darkwoods, two majestic stags squared off, and the forest would quake at their battle. On one side, a Huwu’idang, the deer of growth, a titan of flesh, hide and horn that stood tall as trees. Against it stood the challenger, the gnarled form of eldest of all the Redwood Deer to have ever grown in the Darkwood’s depths, a colossus of wood, leaf and bark. For too long had the redwood stag stood in the shadows of the towering guardian. AN intruder, in its mind, for it had been first, and so did it not deserve to be renowned by all deer kind? Today, it would prove itself a superior protector of its herd, and of the forest itself. That the creation of Ia’Akhul seemed to show no fear at its challenge, and only a slight sense of admiration akin to that of a proud father infuriated it only further. The two great beasts hooved the ground, the redwood bellowed its challenge one more time and then, in sync, both lowered their heads and brought their antlers to bear. Hoofalls struck like thunder as they charged each other, but this sound was naught compared to the cacophony that followed. Antlers of bone struck antlers of timber and resulted in a crash that sent a shockwave pulsing through the forest and sent all of nature fleeing…. And called a mad mortal forth to witness the spectacle despite her companion’s fears Heads locked, deer of flesh and wood dug in their hooves and tried to push the other back, antlers clattering when one tried to adjust the angle enough that they could gore the other. The Huwu’idang forced the challenger back, back, till it was pressing it against a tree, only for the deer of wood to kick off this very same tree, cracking it and ramming its foe into a thicket of saplings, the young trees splintering under hoof. The Huwu’idang brayed in pain, but not for itself but for the forest their battle was harming. It was clear this redwood lacked the respect the Huwu’idang’s kind held for the woods that were their home and duty to defend. This would not stand, and it was clear this one was not worthy. Yet. The metaphorical gloves came off and the guardian put the challenger slowly but surely in its place. Crash went the antlers and the trees as the ever more desperate forest-kin tore up the woods, the beast nearly trampling a pair of elves and a (much smaller than it) redwood doe in the process of its hard fought but ultimately fruitless battle. That was the very last straw. The protector of the small twisted its neck and rammed it’s great antlers into the challenger’s side, tearing bark and flesh below as it hurled the great beast of timber aside. The redwood deer crashed to the forest floor, causing one last bout of destruction. It brayed in pain, tried to rise, and failed. The battle was over. The Huwu’idang brayed, but not in victory. No instead as its deep call rang out the remarkable happened. The dark woods lit up as green energy flooded out of the titan’s form, sweeping across the ruined battleground. Upturned soil settled and broken plants began to heal, not least among them the redwood deer, who’s wounds began to slowly close, much to its confusion. The Huwu’idang trotted over, and bid it rise. It had a lesson to teach. [hr] “Just, hnnnrgh, hold it together Stag!” Fern strained as she tried in vain to push the fallen tree off of Stag legs. Even with the [ranger]’s animal companion Doe, a female redwood deer, butting at the felled log, it was no use, and the trapped elf knew it. “Just leave me. They’re coming!” he insisted, pointing up behind the [forest-friend adventurer], prompting her to turn and gasp as she beheld the two titans of the forest, now looking down at them. [hr] The Huwu’idang grunted, and gestured towards the beleaguered elves and forest-kin with its snout, trying to communicate something to the Redwood Deer. It huffed, and raised a hoof to crush the two hunters of its kind, only for the Huwu’idang to bat it away before it could end their lives. Clearly it had not gotten the lesson. Grunts and barks echoed between the pair as they crudely communicated, until a third voice interrupted with a trio of simple words “Please… Please help?” as the untrapped elf reached a hand up towards them, having sensed, perhaps, the guardians intention, or, more likely, just throwing hope out into the dark. Sometimes hope was rewarded, the Huwu’idang leaning down and ever so gently pressing its snout against the palm that it dwarfed so, causing the [forest friend adventurer] to gasp in awe. Then it pulled back, nudged the redwood deer who had finally got the picture mostly due to Doe braying at it like her calf was trapped, and carefully reached down, grasped the felled tree in its jaws and hauled it off of the poor elf. Fern gasped with surprise and relief as she watched this, before turning and bowing to the two titans of the woods. She offered them a “Thank you” before practically tossing herself on Stag to hug him in relief “Owowowowow, watch the legs” Stag complained. Fern apologized and began to help him up from one side while Doe scooped herself under him on the other, when all three realized that the two massive deer were still looking down at them intently. “Um. Is. Is there something I can do for you in return?” she asked, to which the titan made a sound she, naturally, did not understand. “I’m sorry, I don’t-” she began to communicate this, before being interrupted by a familiar voice “It wants you to pay it back by taking care of nature. It's a bit concerned by these whole building and [pyromancers] things and would appreciate it if you elves would self regulate on that a bit” Jeon, who was dangling over on a branch like a lazy panther and/or cheshire cat helpful informed her. “Wha, Jeon?” Fern stammered “how long have you been here? Why are you here?” “Same as you, duh” the god who had been here to watch the giant animal fight replied before moving on “so yeah, live in harmony with the trees, protect nature, get into wars with dwarves over 3 saplings they uprooted, you know. Classic elf stuff.” “What's a dwarf? Or a war?” Fern asked “Not important. What is is that you are now burdened with glorious purpose” Jeon informed the elf, resulting in an “Oh no, not again” from Stag and a question of “I mean. I would like to do that, I think, but how? People want homes, and it's not like the can all move to sanctuary” “Oh yes”Jeon replied to Stag before addressing the matter at hand “Don’t worry though I’ll help you out with this one. Plus this’ll go well with advancing your [forest friend adventurer] class” Jeon said, before hopping down from the tree and stepping between elf and forest titan. “Ok, so, you” he pointed at the Huwu’idang “lower your head down, and then you” he pointed at Fern “are going to shave off a bit of this guy’s antler. And then eat it” “What?” Fern replied in confusion and shock that was mirrored by the towering forest guardian “Do that, and you’ll be able to take just a bit of his nature restoring power as your own. Then you can cultivate it, grow it, level it up, and do all sorts of things. The main one is help plants grow faster, but you could do so much more than just that” Fern considered the possibility, looking around at the plants visibly growing around her, and had a thought “Could grow something like Sanctuary, by, by shaping plants as they grow like that maybe?” “Exactamundo you clever elf” the god praised her while giving her a pair of finger guns. Then he back peddled a touch “Well maybe not on your own. Not for a while, maybe not ever in your life, but if you think smaller individual power wise, get more hands on the task and do some experimenting to figure it out…” Jeon suggested, and in so doing fully opened up a whole new world of possibilities for wood elf technology. Understanding now, the Huwu’idang bowed its head and offered its antler to the elf, who, after ensuring that stag was safely supported by Doe, stepped forwards, took out a knife and scraped just a tiny little bit of the mighty antler. Dust in the hand really. Then, after a moment of hesitation stuffed it in her gob. “Blech,” Fern made face at the taste, before waiting for a moment, and then asking “well, now wha-” [Class Unlocked! - Apprentice Druid - Level 1] [Level Up! - Forest-Friend Adventurer - Level 25] [Class Consolidation: Apprentice Druid + Forest Friend Adventurer-> Druidic Adventurer - Level 25] [New Skill - Forest Creature Empathy] [New Pact - Huwu’idang Pact: Duty: Protect the Forest and the Small] [New Skill - Huwu’idang Pact: Encourage Growth] [New Skill - Huwu’idang Pact: Heal Environment] “-t” she finished, a smile on her face as the rush of leveling filled her. This, she knew, was the beginning of a wonderful new age for her kind. [hider=mp] Start: 2mp/2ap 1 ap: teach the basics of Druidry to the elves of the dark wood, allowing them to gain variations of the [druid] class by entering a symbiotic relationship with Huwu’idang that lets them gain the same environmental restoration and growth encouragement magics as it. Then with levels and technology, they will be able to do so much more. End: 2mp/1ap [/hider] [hider=summary] A Huwu’idang (Ia’Akhul’s tree sized nature healing deer) is challenged by an equally massive redwood deer (one of Jeon’s violently anti lumberjack forest kin) for its position as head guardian of their patch of forest. The Huwu’idang wins, but in the process the redwood really tears up the place (in a way not befitting a first guardian) and in the process topples a tree that pins Stag the wood elf to the ground (he was there because fern was there, and fern was there to be in awe of the giant deer fight). The Huwu’idang heal’s its fallen foe and then the two go and help free the elf. In return the Huwu’idang wants the elf to help protect the forest. Jeon (who was also here to watch the giant deer fight) then steps in and sets up a symbiotic relationship between wood elf and Huwu’idang, where the elf gains the powers of the Huwu’idang in exchange for also taking on its duy as protector of nature and defender of the small. [/hider] [hider=prestige] darkwood adventure guild start: 15 plays a significant role +1 10,000 characters +1 darkwood adventure guild end: 17 [/hider]