The Grove Part 9

## Episode 43 - The FeyWild West

In the Grove over the next few days, the people, sensing Seline wants to be helpful, enlist her aid in several things including gardening while she tries to convince them Gaspard is the Warden's new name. Talia's training progresses to performing tasks while maintaining 3 headspaces. At night, Talia checks the guest house to see if James has visited. Seline thinks about what it means to be fey and tries to separate her negative feelings about them. Middle of the second week of the progressing training, Talia is now focusing on one thing while learning rune forms. In the third week, Talia is now learning to work the runes into the way druids do magic. Franya explains they bind nature into various tasks. Seline convinces Sylvaka, Gaspard is the name for the Warden that they should use in worship. With Sylvaka's help, Seline learns about fey history. About the iron sword, it is forged in revenge to win back a lover's hand. The forging of this sword is what caused iron to be abhorred in the feywild. There's a story about how Longfellow got a fey to come to his party. There's some about his Rippling Majesty, Ulorian the River King. The River King befriended a mortal. They went on several adventures in which the mortal saved the River King’s life. The River King in turn bestowed gifts upon this mortal. However, the gifts turned on the mortal in odd ways. A boat that would sail forever under the morning sun sailed away without the mortal leaving him stranded. After a few gifts like this, the mortal began to politely refuse the gifts. The River King was hurt that his friend didn't like his gifts but also saw the hardships that gifts caused. The River King continues to give gifts and the gifts continue to cause trouble. The River King did also try to make sure that the mortal could get out of trouble. On the mortal’s death bed, he thanks the River King for all the gifts and help and ask the River King if he could request his final gift. With his final request, he asks the River King not to give any gifts to his children. For Nicnevin, it says that she's extremely powerful, a single lock of her hair had the power to grant a wish. At one time so many witches and warlocks had pledged an oath to her, she nearly ascended to godhood. At the height of her power, a child came to Nicnevin for a life of service to her. After agreeing to the request, Nicnevin found that she was powerless to give the child what she wanted, a mother. To keep her word, Nicnevin set her power aside and became the child's mother. After the child grew old, Nicnevin found that she didn't wish to take up her power again because she found more joy in comfort and the protection of children. Seline also spends time with Sylvaka in his garden and asks about poisonous plants. One evening after week 5, Talia comes back from training to the mansion and finds a light on in the guest house. Captain James Wilde says that he's fine but wasn't expecting to show up and have to check-in. Talia explains the money in his room was for Jaldin and Blackwater. He wouldn't mind sending money to Blackwater. The Airpike Militia is building a facility in Jaldin. They're calling it Developmental Sciences. Seline joins them echoing Talia's concern for James's well-being. Captain Wilde doesn't look as rundown as he did before. Some former DMP have joined the militia and others are helping James keep an eye on the militia. However, a group of former DMP found a corrupt mayor in Odinston publicly executed him before declaring themselves the law in the town. A Detachment of the militia from Jaldin responded to this and the ensuing conflict burned half the town down. The militia reported that the DMP try to trap the militia and in doing so ruined the good reputation of the DMP. In the end, the six former DMP inflicted two dozen casualties on the militia not including civilian casualties (with one of James's informants) before take being taken out. Talia and Seline start to question their choice to be in the Grove instead of being available to stop the trouble in Odinston. James however points out that unless they had been and either Odinston or Jaldin, by the time word would have reached them it would have been too late and not to blame themselves for something they could do nothing about. Seline's cards say, don't rush off be in control, don't lose it in a fit of haste (King of cups and the page of Swords inverted). Talia asks James to give the money just to Blackwater. At the beginning of week 6, Talia successfully cast druidcraft and mending. Over the next several days, Talia practices the rules for wild shape. On week 8 day 3, Talia wild shapes into a wolf. Talia runs around excitedly as a wolf howling with Seline. She cries tears of joy when she changes back to her normal form. Franya says this concludes Talia's training. In time, she will learn more if she focuses on nature and Franya could teach her more if Talia wants it. Talia and Seline said that despite being able to learn more here things are happening outside the Grove and they need to protect the district. Franya’s father, the god-emperor Antonius, had committed many horrible atrocities and after seeing so many she shut herself away from the rest of the world. Talia counters her father, her pack leader, had also tried to isolate the pack from the outside world and the pack was attacked and wiped out anyway. Talia says that she will try to help the ones who can't hide even if she has the luxury to hide. Franya says that they are welcome to return whenever they want. Seline asks to remain till the end of the week so they can celebrate Talia's birthday. Seline opens the door to the mansion for wolf Talia, who quickly runs in. Talia playfully attacks Jareth, sitting on him and licking his face. After telling Jareth this is Talia, Talia and Seline go outside so Talia can commune with the Wolf.

## Characters

### Players

* Seline Argent-Grey
* Talia Argent-Grey

### NPCs

* Jareth Argent-Grey
* Adrienne Argent-Grey
* Chief Elder Franya
* Sylvaka