The Derlson Treachery & The Shepherd's March on Cordor
In this missive, I will pen the events by my reckoning which came to pass after I was called to the Derlson Estate.
The ranger Dominic and I ventured to the house of Lord Derlson, after learning of the white stag's successful capture by the Derlson mercenaries. Our goal was to negotiate its release, or at the very least, verify that Harrod did in fact possess the stag. We were welcomed inside, and brought to the holding of the white stag.
It was a massive creature, its holding far too small for its size. It lay near dying in a pool of its own blood, gurgling weakly. Whenever it would cease breathing, a human priest would approach and cast minor healing magics to keep it on the cusp of life and death. Dominic was able to communicate with it briefly, confirming that it is a spirit-beast. The Cordorian guards and druid Gwen alongside us claimed they were powerless to put a stop to what was occurring. I pushed through them and began healing the beast while Lord Derlson commanded that I cease. I refused.
I was put in shackles for disobedience and led out of the estate, to the Cordorian prisons. Per Dominic's persuasion, the Cordorian guards agreed to release me once I?d been escorted out of the city. I was brought through the city in chains, for until we reached the Outskirts and my peers arrived in time to see me imprisoned.
Minija, Elirand, Shevarra, and the myriad other shepherds demanded the stag's release as I was unchained. This was, once again, disregarded by Cordorian guards - as I shouted to my peers the wretched condition we'd found the stag in and Derlson's ultimate plan to prolong its torture. Elirand pushed beyond the guardforce and we followed, marching through the Outskirts toward the gate.
When we reached the gate, it had been locked and barred shut. Shepherds pounded at it to attempt to break down the door, while citizens and guards alike stood idle and mocked our conviction. I shouted rallying cries to my peers, and when one of the guards smirked to me and said "Yeah yeah, we heard you the first time, druid", I cast a spell to kill him.
Our peers emboldened, they bravely fended off guards who set upon us until the barricade fell away from the door and we breached the city. We were met by Cordor's cavalry force, once again flatly demanding we turn and leave. We continued, exclaiming we would depart once the stag was freed. That one noble's pride need not cause all of this mayhem.
An unknown gnome, who had joined our rebellion, flung a spell from our numbers at the guards and they set upon us and began slaughtering our shepherds. I rushed through the chaos and made immediately for the Derlson estate, but the door had been locked and barred. I attempted to break it down, but Dominic rushed to me and bid me flee before the guards caught me. That he would remain and face what may come.
And so I did as he bade, for it was lost. Myself and those surviving returned to the Heartwood to heal and send word to all who would hear of the Derlson's torture of a forest spirit, and how they put me in chains for attempting to grant it some brief respite. I support my peers, and I believe the time for negotiation has ended. The forest spirit lay drowning in its lifeblood and shepherds were chained and slain for attempting to protect it.
I did not want for this to come to the chaos which ensued. However, I was immensely proud and heartened to see all druids - of Bendir Dale, Myon, Guldorand, even Cordor - come together to stand against such wretched, vile displays of tyranny with us of the Heartwood circles. We are all stewards of unspoiled Nature, and it is my belief that we will earn our rightful places within the Houses of our gods, at the end.
-- Signed Saorlaith of the Greenseer Order, Woodherder of Emmantiensien
Day 26, Month 4 (Tarsakh), 185 AR
Saorlaith