Three years after the invasion’s end
It was on a beautiful Autumn day that Zalia prepared to leave Nature’s Reclaim to travel across Endaria once again. Since they had settled into their comfortable. relaxed life within the Grove, Zalia had taken to travelling three or four times a year, just by herself. She loved her family more than anything but in her heart, she would always be introverted. Sometimes, she just needed to spend some time alone, to recharge.
This had become especially true now that Aylie was fifteen. She had grown out of her silent stage, becoming more and more outspoken as the events of the past faded into memory. There were still hard times for her when the trauma of the invasion made getting out of bed impossible, or put her on a hair’s edge from an emotional breakdown. Even with Ember’s emotional healing ability, Zalia guessed that it would always be something that affected Aylie like that. It was simply too big a piece of her life.
Aylie had listened to Zalia’s every word like a devoted worshipper since she had saved her from the demon that had killed her family and fully intended to kill her. Those times seemed to be a thing of the past however, as the teenager quickly grew both in height and power felt the need to start taking more and more control of her life. That might have been something caused by the powerlessness she must have felt when losing her family, or just a natural part of growing up, but Zalia was thoroughly exhausted by it. She had to tip-toe around every conversation, to not cause another argument. Ember, of course, managed it with apparent ease.
It was for this reason that Zalia was going on her fourth trip this year. Usually, she went up to the north to see Glemp, Zen and his family, to make sure they were okay and doing well. The two groups there had formed quite a nice relationship, working together towards survival. Zen and his people taught the Heat and Stone denizens about their “modern” construction and farming techniques, while they learnt about nature and the spirits in return.
This time, Zalia felt like going somewhere different. When she had returned from Cormaine, it had been in an expansive desert to the south of the kingdom. She had met a woman there, Sazcha. The woman had been stuck on top of a rocky outcropping surrounded by some type of underground wurm that would wait for travellers to walk overtop of them before striking. Being the first person Zalia had seen in a long while, she’d had a short conversation with Sazcha before saving her from her predicament.
Zalia wanted to go and see what life was like for those people, whether they lived in cities, roving tribes or even alone. It was another way of living that she was keen to learn about. They might even be powerful allies in the times to come if they were forged into powerful people by the hard life they lived. She suspected it might be so.
She was a little upset that Boreal wouldn’t be coming with her this time. Her fluffy companion had grown more and more independent over the last years, taking to her own adventures. She had once been gone for a month before coming back with a scar across her cheekbone and a new heirloom item. A new heirloom item called “Crown of Frozen Terror”.
Crown of Frozen Terror (Heirloom) - Bonded Silver rank.
Tin - Cowardly enemies are more likely to freeze in terror at seeing you.
Iron - Even enemies stronger of the mind have reduced reaction speed and movements while they are aware of your presence.
Bronze - Enemies that are aware of your presence but cannot see you hear whispering footsteps, brushing fur and other sounds that distract from your real location.
Silver - The effects of “Predator and Partner” and “Embodiment of Frost” are made significantly more powerful.
Zalia had no idea where Boreal had gotten it from, nor would she even give a hint as to where she had been. The item was a cold, frozen crown that looked to be made of the same material as the icy spikes protruding from Boreal’s shoulders, spine and tail. It was a half-crown, jagged and sharp, form fit to sit between Boreal’s ears on her head yet floating ever so slightly.
While Zalia was yet to rank up any of her heirlooms to Silver, Aylie had finally managed to bond with the staff that they had taken from the body of the Silver rank illusionist demon they had killed in Ostoss. Upon bonding, it had changed itself to suit Aylie, something that Zalia’s own heirlooms only seemed to do when blessed or deeply bonded. She had a suspicion it had to do with her astral connection.
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Starlight Priestess’ Druidic Staff (Heirloom) - Bonded Silver rank.
Tin - You can draw upon the light of the stars to emit a brilliant light from the staff.
Iron - All Druidic and Star-based abilities are enhanced when cast through this staff.
Bronze - When calling down Starfall, you may take extra time to cast the spell using the staff as a focus to call down a second wave.
Silver - Using the staff as a focus, you may concentrate to form a deeper connection with the astral and spiritual worlds for a time. This allows your perception and affect on those worlds to be deepened.
They were all there to see her off, Aylie with her gently glowing wooden staff, Boreal with her crown and Ember with her radiant smile. Lumin was there as well, of course, frolicking with the grass off to the side. Zalia had a feeling that it would take a long, long time for the pup to regain their previous power.
Zalia herself had a big decision to make. Now that she had reached Silver rank, her Druid Grove ability had a new effect that she would need to consider strongly.
Active 3 - Druid Grove - spell - targeted - realm
Tin - You may place herbs in stasis. Additionally, you are able to establish a small Druid Grove.
Iron - Herbs in stasis may now be put into a spatial storage. Plants and friendly creatures within your Druid Grove are constantly affected by the base effect of Healing presence separate to your aura.
Bronze - The spatial storage effect of this ability is now linked with ‘Ethereal Vault Gauntlet’, creating one larger space. This space is considered part of your Druid Grove.
Silver - Druid Groves are now only possible to remove with an extensive on-site ritual. You may have two Druid Groves. Your Groves are now managed by three ancients. These are the ancients of War, Life and Wisdom.
Ancient of War: The Ancient of War is represented by a feline. This Ancient’s purpose is to look after the defense of the Grove.
Ancient of Life: The Ancient of Life is represented by a tree. This Ancient’s purpose is to look after all living things within the Grove.
Ancient of Wisdom: The Ancient of Wisdom is represented by a crow. This Ancient’s Purpose is to consider the future of the Grove.
Your Druid Groves are now linked together with a portal located in the Ancient Hall, allowing free travel between them.
Druid Grove Added Effects
Healing Presence.
Grove Portals.
The Three Ancients.
Druid Grove Base Effects
The protective energy of your Druid Grove extends to ward off harmful magical influences and creatures, providing an added layer of defence to those within its bounds.
Your Druid Grove changes with the seasons, adapting its flora and effects accordingly. In spring, it might emphasise growth, while in winter, it offers protection from the cold.
Your Druid Grove becomes a haven not only for plants but also for animals. Creatures within the grove may form a bond with you, aiding you in various ways.
Mana - low / n/a
Cd - n/a / n/a
The Ancients were a calming presence for Zalia, knowing that the Grove would be looked after while she wasn’t there.
The Ancient of War was the same plains cat that had been there in her first Grove in Endaria. The one that had made quick friends with Boreal. It had apparently been offered a place as the protective Ancient within her Grove and accepted upon the rise of that ability to Silver rank. She often saw it prowling around the perimeter of the Grove, now Silver rank itself, and wondered what kind of powers it had.
The Ancient of Life was the large tree at the centre of the Grove. It was… awakened, kind of. She had tried a few times to talk to it and had only once managed to receive words back. What the tree was actually doing, she had no idea.
The final Ancient, the Ancient of Wisdom, was a crow that looked exactly like the first form of Ro-ak, the one she had met before knowing he was a god. It lived in the house with them under the tree, often saying things that made no sense until a few days later. It was like having an oracle that could see the future but only spoke in a broken language that it was trying to use to make riddles.
So far, Zalia had found the Ancients to be a little underwhelming in what they could do, but figured in a hundred years, or a thousand, they might be incredible to have around. That was, if she lived that long. Which was something she was considering now that it was a possibility. Something that she still hadn’t quite wrapped her head around.
Going by the previous ranks of Survivalist which went from reducing her requirement to eat, sleep and breathe to eliminating it, the fact that it reduced the speed at which she aged at Silver might mean it would be eliminated entirely at Emerald or Diamond rank.
The more important part of the ability was that she could now create two Groves. She had wanted to put one up with Glemp and his people but decided against it. The mountain was quite close to her current Grove relative to the size of the world so she wanted to make one farther out. Another reason she was going to the southern desert.
With a few final goodbye hugs and kisses, she left her family in the Grove, flying up into the sky and accelerating towards the south.