The Woodberry Journeys, Vol. II - The Heartwood Conflict

* Writen by the Veteran Ranger of Heartwood Grove, Wotan Woodberry

Never invite wolves to the land or risk your sheep being consumed by them. Only good monster is a dead monster.

The event known as "Heartwood Conflict" happended during the Cyric War, when united City of Andunor waged crusade on the surface settlements in the name of Mad God.

Back then I worked as Hawk Commander of Hawk'ins military in the Bendir Dale, led by Mayor Meriam Fuzzypaw the Druid of Sheela.

Our tale begins with the old Hearwood tradition of survival of the fittest, where only the strongest of druids were allowed to hold title of Archdruid.

Personally I always hated this rite, as it was all about strenght but not about wisdom. With it we could be led by the Archdruid who just happended to be strong but was really dumb.

To continue our tale, Meriam had won the right to be new Archdruid of Heartwood, but due to her being mayor of the Dale and Grove's sacred neutrality forbid involment with settlement leadership, she was unable to be both.

Thus she passed the title to young druid known as Lilah Lannald.

Lilah was a good girl, but her spirit felt raw with inexperience, lacking clarity and common sense. But Meriam assured me to trust her wisdom with this choice when raising my doupts.

My doupts turned into fear after Lilah revealed me her plans to open the Heartwood Grove for the Underdark races right next to the settlements of Bendir Dale and Myon.

I raised my voice against this, pointing out that it would be an insult against all the nature walkers who had fought very hard to keep all the monsters and drows from the Arelith Forests, blighting the sacred land and risking security of nearby settlements.

Lilah and her followers were having none of it, as it was told as the will of Archdruid and thus the will of nature. Beside due to me being an ranger and they following the old traditions, I had no right to question the druids, treating me as lesser.

I tried to bring my concerns to Meriam as Hawk to Mayor, but she too stood with Lilah and asked me to keep trusting her wisdom.

And soon we were followed with issues of monsters and drows walking at the surface on open roads. Archdruid Lilah started to work with the kobold tribe to help them to settle in the Grove.

When questioned, the reply was always like "Not all monsters are evil, give them a chance and dont be jerk." I kept reminding that we were at war with Andunor and executed a gnoll in public to make example, as it had wandered next to the gates of Earthkin Village.

Lilah's followers were growing sick and wanted to get rid of me, as I was ranger who dared to question the will of druids. Thus they started to exclude me from the gatherings at the Heartwood without giving a word about them.

I was supposed to be part with the meeting to make my case, but they never told about invite in order to make me look bad, telling I was a coward with not showing my face and never interested about the Grove affairs. Would have joined if I had known.

But my voice had not gone unheard, as druid Beryl Whitestorm shared my feelings and revealed me being left out on purpose, Lilah with her followers wasting whole time in the gathering to bad mouth my name.

She too had grown afraid for the Heartwood Grove with another ranger, Edgar Linneaous and sought me out as I was the only one who had openly opposed the druids when others had not. They felt I had right to be heard.

Issue of taking down Archdruid was because if we used the old traditions, Meriam would step in to act as Lilah's champion and Beryl was not strong enough to fight. Not to mention her followers telling that those who dont attend the meetings dont matter.

Beryl had also told me that Lilah had grown awfully passive, mostly nodding and lacking any real reply. She had allowed Cyricist Leader Vance Gravelle into Heartwood, letting his necromancers in our sacred home and give threats to those who had issue with it.

Instead using strenght to make the push against Archdruid, I decided to use loud voice of wisdom and common sense without giving her any room to breath.

I tasked Beryl and Edgar to spread the word about our conflict, gather evidence about grown monster activity, seek out other nature walkers who shared our feelings and invite them to join us, either with their presence or letters if unable to come.

I also rallied the Order of Radiant Heart, Elves of Myon, Dwarves of Dominion and any Earthkin from the Bendir Dale who did not agree with Meriam's wisdom, which she had kept repeating to be trusted at this point.

The conflict in the gatherings was loud and took two tendays as our heads bashed hard, but we prevailed as Lilah was forced to step down. Former archdruid with Meriam and her followers held a grudge, accusing it being a coup and ruining their work.

With high support and nature's blessing, Bery Whitestorm was chosen as new Archdruid through her wisdom and respect. Together we turned rangers and druids equal, as well took down the survival of fittest as tradition.

Edgar Linneaus soon rose as Archranger of Grove and later married Beryl. We three grew as close friends during the conflict and still keep touch with each other.

With the Heartwood Grove saved, I returned to my duties as Hawk Commander of Hawk'ins to fight in the Cyric War against the scum and villainy of Andunor.

The End.