Alder
Arnaya's Account
Recently there have been some developments with Alder (The man tree that resides in Harrow Glades, Valley of Totality Entrance), and I would like to make sure that the city is aware of these events.
On March.28/2017, Alder was located on his own in Harrow Glades by Arlyana Jax, Frey, Zenobia, and Arnaya. The four immediately went to investigate. Alder was warm in his greetings, but expressed that he was unable to remember much even of the blood and memories that were given to him on a previous occasion. Frey contributed some fresh blood, and Alder seemed strengthened by it, standing straighter. He again mentioned about "Blood is Memory" and lamented the loss of his own. On a previous evening, Arnaya had conducted a brief effort to locate any resonances to Alder's essence and received a brief sense of something in the area of Cairn, Upper Illapse, or Gloom Peaks.
So, the group set off to start their search in the closest area.... Cairn of Sorrow. Arlyana Jax focused the groups search to start in the area of Analinde's Prison. In the Dark Temple, several leaves were blown and the sound of falling wood was heard. So the group focused their attention there, finding an amulet of protection that Arnaya had given to Alder some time previously. Both mystical and physical search techniques were used, including digging into the walls a bit. No results were noted initially, except for some dark ooze dripping in congealed form out of the wall.
Frey taste sampled a tiny bit of the ooze, and that tiny sample had the functional equivalent of near a 90 plat poison. Reducing his avatar to less than half its dreamsoul before Arnaya could get provide an Antidote. The mystic efforts resulted in the walls darkening and tendrils rising from them, concentrating on the roof above Frey. The group acted quickly and were able to disperce the tentacles before they could attack. The group resumed digging at the wall, using both blades and energy based attacks, Arlyana Jax spearheading the work. Movement could be heard inside the wall, before finally, a burst of dark energy flung Arlyana Jax back. A small codex falling from the wall at the same time. The codex read: "The secrets of Sorrow are not yours to take". With that, the group decided to leave efforts for the evening. Arnaya returned Alder's Protective Amulet to him, hanging it around his neck.
On Apr.03/2017, Elmer and LadySilver were found speaking to Alder, who seemed to be recounting what he could recall of how he came to be where he was. That story is recounted elsewhere in the Archives, so I won't go over it again here. Arlyana Jax brought down one of the samples of Dark Ooze to see if Alder recognized it or could get anything from it, but as soon as he touched it, it started absorbing into him. Alder started screaming in pain, and yelling about Memories of Sorrow. Arnaya had prepared in case there was a problem with it and immediately began directing purifying energy towards Alder, though much of it was reflected. Arlyana attempted to bolster Alder with Dreamsoul, while LadySilver poured pure water on Alders roots.
The winds that protect Alder rose, lashing the assembled group with a razorwind effort of branches and sharp leaves. The remaining members of the group (Kailee, Frey, and Elmer) joined in to assist Alder as his hand began to blacken. Eventually succeeding in halting the spread of the blackness at his wrists as Alder lapsed into quiescence again. After a few moments, the Protective Amulet that Arnaya had given him previously fell from his torso, blackened and twisted from its original form and function to as follows:
Blackened Amulet A small, delicately carved wooden amulet with a blackened gem at its heart. The smooth, grainy surface is covered with sigils and pictographcs, appearing burned on. It is cold, and smells of ashes. It had 10 charges, and a curse effect of 8 hours duration, where it had been warm, with a vibrant gem at its heart and a protective (5 to 10 minute) effect bound into its heart.
