A Change in the Winds

The crushing reality left me reeling, not able to understand where I was or what I was doing. Dark thoughts filled my mind, thoughts reminiscent of another time of great loss, yet this time it was deeper. My goddess, the great Tree Dreamer, the creator of the Druid Tree, and the protector of all nature, was gone. I did not know when or how, but waking in the cold dawn light on that late winter day, I found an empty spot in my soul where she once had been. Looking down, my armor sparkled in the harsh light of that dawn. It had protected me so well from so many things, yet it only dragged at me, seeming to pull me towards the unyielding ground, telling me to just lay down and stop in my tracks. I had no power to stop it... I fell and lost all sense of myself.

A soft gentle breeze woke me from what was seemingly a deep nightmare. Gathering myself, I looked around the area, trying to gain my bearings. A grand grove of trees spread in all directions around me, its trees reaching for the heavens, their great forms towering above me, seeming to hem me in. It was a feeling I had never felt before, lost in nature, bereft of what it usually gave to me, a sense of peace and belonging. I felt as if I was an outsider and not wanted in the nature I loved so much. The forest's scorn had made me forget the pain of my loss, but suddenly it announced itself once again, and my mind swirled in the passing of Maedwynne. Falling to me knees, I felt the world had turned on me, I had no more to live for, nothing left. Suddenly, the breeze brushed against me once again. Only, it was more than a breeze, it was a presence felt all around and nowhere all at once. On that wind a haunting and melodic voice that I could almost recognize called to me.

"Barset, you have nothing to fear, I am not lost for you hold me still in your heart."

Looking around, I could not locate the speaker. "Who is there?" I asked the woods about me.

"I will never be gone Barset. I will always be here to protect the wilds of the realm, to make sure they come to no harm, to watch over you my Guardian of Winter. You must not be discouraged my ranger, guard well the winter for every season has its place. But do not forget the others, and their part in the life of all things."

With those words, the tangible feeling of her presence was gone. However, there lingered in me something that I had lost. I looked around at the glade and found it to welcome me once again. The trees still towered and reached to heights untold, yet they seemed to smile down upon me, giving me a warm sense of protection and comfort. I gathered myself up and walked to the nearest tree, marveling at its beauty and magnificence. Sitting down and leaning back against the wonderful wood I looked out over the forests and all the realms. A new purpose was before me, the breeze had left me with it and it pulled at me. It told me to search the realms. Search it for knowledge, for those that needed help. Get to know all the realms and all they entailed. Search it and I would find my way. Know its wonders and protect them to the end.

The loss of Maedwynne was yet the beginning of a new time, one in which all the realms needed to find their new way. I was ready to find mine.

A broad grin crept onto my face as I walked into a fine and beautiful grove of trees. It was a deep winter evening, the trees laden with snow, the clear sky with all its stars shimmering, the moon so bright that it seemed early morning, yet it was just past midnight.

The grin was in recognition of coming full circle. I knew this grove well, though I had not seen it in many, many years. It was here that I set out on my search, and here that I had happened to return after many an adventure in the wide lands. I set out all those years ago with one thought in my head, to search out all I could of the world in which I lived. I came back to that place with knowledge, hardship, camaraderie, sadness, joy, all wrapped into my years of traveling the realms. The grove brought back the past, but it only made me happy for all it had brought to me and shown me. I made my way to an old friend, the mighty tree that I had truly began from. I took a seat and leaned against it once again, letting the feelings of warmth and protection it gave me seep into my soul.

Drifting in my thoughts I wondered if I had accomplished what I set out to do. Many deeds had been accomplished in my fight to protect the realms. The Dawnbringers were gaining strongly and enhancing the light wherever they made passage. Nature was holding strong and it was doing well in its continual cycles. Yet on that night, doubt stirred in my mind. Doubt I had not known in quite some time.

These thoughts were just starting to work their way up and gnaw at me when a blaze of starlight flashed down from the heavens, its glory so bright I had to shield my eyes from the its magnificence. The brilliant light slowly faded leaving a light not so bright, but it had something more than the pure intensity the initial flash held. Before me, shimmering in an ethereal radiance was Tatianna, the Star Goddess. I moved quickly to my feet, befuddled and confused as to what the Goddess would come to a simple mortal such as myself for.

A grave look upon her face, Tatianna looked intensely at me for what seemed to me to be days. Her look was much more than a mere gaze, it left me bare and without protection. She seemed to look inside me and search me for something. Finally, with an imperceptible nod, she addressed me, "Barset, a great evil is beginning to be perpetrated upon the lands. Someone is trying to destroy all of nature through contaminating the soil and the water."

Standing dumbfounded for a moment at this grave evil, I knew what had to be done. "I must stop this foul conspiracy. This must not be allowed to stand!"

The Star Goddess nodded her head solemnly. "From what we can gather, someone is placing a potent poison...in the soil. The rain will soak into the ground and carry the poison into the waterways and through the whole world."

I shuddered in terror at the very thought of such a horrible crime against nature and all of its creatures.

"First," Tatianna continues, "you must find where the poison is, and then find and destroy the evilness that is perpetrating this awful deed."

"One more thing I can offer you ranger." With that her voice alighted into some mystical language completely foreign to my ears, and appearing between the two of us, a heavy stone bowl emerged from nothingness, its waters mirroring the snowy forests around us. "This bowl of scrying can show you what you need to see, if your heart is true. Look deep into its waters."

The wide-rimmed bowl was but a finely crafted marble bowl to my eyes. It seemed much like others I had seen, save that it had just appeared out of nowhere. I leaned over its waters, looking into them and wondering what I had to do with such a world-shaking event. I thought of the terrible poison that would be streaming through the land, how it would be destroying the world I loved and all that dwelt within it. My mind told me that I had no power to stop such a thing, but I knew I had to act; I had to stop this foul plot.

In an instant, the once calm waters of the bowl that had reflected the snowy landscape around me, started to dance and swirl, creating a cacophony of light that swooped and soared in my mind's eye. Suddenly, all was placid once again, but the reflection was not what it once was, but of a different grove of trees, ones I dimly remember from my wanderings of the realm. As I gazed upon the scene I saw the lush vegetation and the wonderful forest, but sprawled in the middle of the grove was one dead tree trunk. Much different from the normal and expected falling of an old tree, this one marred all its surroundings. The plants surrounding the fallen tree seemed to recoil at the presence of death in the otherwise prosperous forest. Cutting through the grove, a small ditch was dug under where the tree might have once stood, and a low pulsating red glow emanated from within the depths of the ditch. With that brief view, the image vanished and was but a reflection of the snows around me once more.

"Go now Barset, you must find this tree! Stop this evil deed from taking all of nature from us." Again the Goddess dropped into the tongue I had not heard before and my body was warmed by a divine radiance. "Go with my blessings Dear Barset," and with that, a shooting star whisked away into the night sky, with the Star Goddess riding in its shimmering wake.

No doubt left in me, I bounded away down the trail to where my destiny lay. I knew the grove that I had seen in the reflection, and I knew that it was quite a ways from the mountains that were moving by me as I ran. Towards the warmer regions I had to go, to where my fate waited for me, and to where I could only hope that the rain would hold off until I could find some way to stop the poison. It could not be allowed to work its way into the water supply.

Clouds amassing over the Kithan range glared at me as my two-day trek had brought me to the Windy Bluff forest. I knew the poison was waiting inside the forest's walls. Luck was being good to me, and the rain had not come yet. Thus far, tired legs were the only problem after all the running. However, the dark clouds brought fear to my heart, and I knew that I had to take care of the poison quickly or all would be lost.

Picking up a game trail, I made my way quickly through the forest. Birds chirped and leaves rustled in the trees, yet there was worry in the air. Everything seemed to feel that something was amiss. With all haste, I made my way to the heart of the forest, to the glade that I had seen in that reflection.

The forest stood as it always had around that hidden glade, but now it seemed to want to uproot itself and take leave of the scene. Everything seemed to lean away from the fallen tree; its blackness gleamed of death and destruction. All around where its dark form sprawled the forest was already browning and withering. The whole scene was pulsating in deep red, it seemed flames engulfed all that was before me. The flickering red came from the ditch, where an insidious looking liquid sloshed about. But in the middle of this unnatural scene, a wavering misty form kneeled, its face twisted in worry and despair.

The form caught at the back of my mind. It could not possibly be...but there before me, Zendel, or rather, his ghost, worried over the poisoning of the land.

"Ah, it is indeed a tragic day. This tree and its death is an utter mystery to me." Zendel's ghost sat down in front of me on a tuft of dying grass and pondered his words. "A spell had been cast upon this grove, to ensure prosperity to the flora growing here," as he said this, he opened his arms to encompass the surroundings, the flicker of a smile crossing his lips, but that smile quickly turned to a frown, making the ghost seem old and withered. "As you can see, it was working brilliantly until just now. The only clue we could find was that small ditch dug here, with the odd liquid in it. You must seek out the greatest rangers of the realm. They would know what you have to do."

I glanced at the pulsating red glow emanating from the ditch. Looking around at the ghastly red flicker it created on the glade, my heart knew of whom Zendel spoke. "It saddens me that you were troubled enough in your last sleep to be brought here again in this great time of need good ranger, but I am glad indeed you have come. Nature will always be protected as you watch it from your star." Bowing low to the great ranger of old, I caught that flicker of a smile at the corner of his lips again.

"Nature will never perish my friend, take care of it for me, and in great need, you may see me again," and in a swirl of mists, Zendel dissipated leaving me alone with the pulsing red. To the elves I had to go. The rangers in Erinswood could tell me how to fix this evil. Zendel surely knew of what he spoke.

Off again, I ran through the forests. Time...I never had enough time. The clouds over the Kithan's loomed, but all I could do is run. The rain had to hold; something had to be done to give me just a bit more time. I could do little...but, the druids; of course, they could surely hold it off for me.

Running, still running, it is all my legs knew. Even as I ran, I tracked the man I sought. Zanglo, a great druid, and an old friend. He could surely help me and hold off the impending rain. My searching had found this lonely druid many years ago, and our love of nature had created a bond between us quickly. He would surely understand and do everything he could.

His tracks were light as his wood lore was great, but luckily, he was not being careful. I knew where it was he liked to tread. The Green Reaches were spread before me, their thick foliage covered by every imaginable shade of green moss and lichen. The red light of the setting sun filtered down through the branches, and through an opening in the canopy, the clouds that so impended doom burst like flame in the dying of the light over the Kithans. The track was fresh, if only he would continue to not be careful, I would surely catch him soon. Just then, I caught the sound of a melodic note carried by the wind. Turning towards it, I made all haste towards it. As I came nearer, the song started to be apparent to me. I smiled inside, for the song was one I knew well, one Zanglo and I had sung frequently.

"Zanglo! I need you council if you could spare me the time!" I yelled out, letting him know who it was that was crashing through the thicket towards him. Just then, I burst upon an opening in a beautiful vale, Windy Vale I recalled quickly, and there, sitting with his feet dangling in the water of a shallow silvery pool, sat Zanglo.

Looking up slowly the druid seemed to talk not to me, but to the air, "Who is this bull that crashes through the magician's shop? Surely it is no ranger of the wood. No ranger would make such a commotion in such a fine a glorious spot as this." With that, he turned towards me with a wry grin on his face.

Smirking I replied, "Ahh Zanglo, it is good to see you too. However, we have little time my old friend, a terrible thing is going to occur. I need your command of the airs and skies, we must stop the rain!" As I explained the situation, Zanglo's face became more and more grave.

"Barset..." the druid shook his head woefully, "but who would do such a thing..."

"I do not know, but now we must not worry about such things. I must go to the elves. They will surely know how to deal with this. Please, do all that you can my friend, and please hurry." Bowing low, I turned and departed. Wasting no time, I heard behind me Zanglo's chanting, and it gave me new found wind beneath my feet as again I picked them up to set out on the road. Hope was rekindled, but Erinswood was still far, and even if my good friend could hold off the rains for a time, he could not do so forever.

The gusts beat into my face, but that wind was welcome indeed, for with it, the clouds sped their way north as I ran to the south. The rangers I sought were within my reach. Erinswood rushed by, my need now, to find the ranger's leader. Through the woods I sped, heading for their meeting place in the heart of the forest. I came into the clearing, and before me, a priest knelt and prayed to his gods, and the leader of the forest rangers stood before me. "Please my fellow...," I tried to get out betweens gasps, as I skidded to a stop in front of the elves.

Before I could even finish my sentence the ranger looked me in the eye saying, "You bring us some distressing news, fellow ranger, but it something we have foreseen. At this time, we do not know the magnitude of the infection. But we do know that for now, the poison must not be very potent, as it only murdered one tree. It was indeed good that you had Zanglo turn the rains, it gave us some much needed time. Now, you must find the person responsible for this and stop them before they can continue their research further!" The ranger began pacing the clearing in front of me, his brow knit with thought. "We know of someone else whose mystic powers surpass even ours. Barset, you must seek out the Mystic Woman who lives in the western regions. She will certainly help you find the source of these problems. We will clean the infection in the other forest while you're gone. Hurry, Barset." The ranger turned around and started into the woods. He pulled an elven flute from his pouch, and blew three notes that danced and seemed to take on their own life. The forest around me stirred as many forms flitted in and out of the tree trunks, all heading north. I knew that the poison would be taken care of, now I had to find more answers.

"Thank you," I said to the now empty clearing. The mystic woman. Another forest, another run. I felt like a messenger running about the lands, but I would run to the ends of the realm and back again if it meant saving the forests. Steeling my mind for the run ahead, I set out again. The wind at my back as I sped north, the forests blurring into a sheet of green, the clouds ahead racing me on my path. To the ends of the realm I would go.

The wood giant lumbered its way down the path, surprisingly delicate for something so immense. I moved to the side of the trail, knowing that the good beings of the forest would leave me be, for we understood each other, but also knowing that something so small as a little dwarf might easily get trampled. The giant made its way on, and I moved on again to the small cottage where I hoped to get answers. I hoped that the elves had cured the forest of the immediate danger of the poison, but I knew that someone was lurking behind these acts. Surely, that person would not stop at this. The cottage appeared through the trees to my right, its chimney giving off a small stream of smoke that drifted lazily in the evening air. The first stars gleamed down from the sky, one star, an odd ring shaped one, burning brightly, giving me hope.

I walked into the small cottage, a bit pensive, for anyone with more wisdom than the elves was surely knowledgeable indeed. I had come across this old woman before, but she seemed removed...unapproachable; I did not know what to expect from her. She sat on her porch, rocking softly in a rocking chair. A glow from an oil lamp lit her face, and the lines of great age showed even in that dim light. "Excuse me, but might you be able to help me?" I implored.

"The Elves sent you? I knew they would. It was only a matter of time." She seemed to drift off a bit, nodding to herself, and taking no notice of me. Then her eyes met mine, deep eyes like bottomless lakes, they looked at me. "You're seeking Oughenthkal, aren't you? He's hidden a ways from here. You look like a decent fellow, I guess there's no harm done if you pay him a visit. He isn't a very friendly sort. His chamber is hidden far to the west, near the edge of the world! I don't know how he stands the salt and humidity though." She looked at me, opened her mouth as if to say more, then fell asleep. Perplexed, I boggled at the conversation, and her narcolepsy. Bowing to her, and turning on my way once more, I knew now whom I sought. Indeed, it was to the ends of the world I was bound to go, and there I would go to find this Oughenthkal. I hoped the woman's advice did not lead me awry, hopefully he had some connection to what had happened; I had to find what it was. The River Ki would speed my travel this time. Down it I would flow to the end.

The towering trees near the meandering River Ki blocked my view, but the salt air on the breeze and the roaring of the falls told me that soon I would come to the coast. My mind set on what was to come, I hoped that I would find some answers here. Oughenthkal...what a name. Could it be him that did this to nature. I needed answers and would soon enough get them. A final turn, and the river opened up into a vast marshland, but the sea gleamed in the west. The white cliffs shone in the distance, and I could just make out the water pouring downwards, falling in its last plummet before its waters were swallowed by the vast ocean. Under that cliff, that is where I needed to be. A path led down near the ocean there, and to answers.

The mists created from such a great fall of water made everything wet and slippery. The path, treacherous without the water, was like ice and much of my time was spent sliding rather than walking down. The mists created a great rainbow offering a window on the vast and endless blue of the ocean. Such things passed quickly through my mind, even in this decent. More falling than anything else, I came at last to the bottom of the narrow trail. Hanging above the ocean, a narrow ledge stood out from the shear walls, completely hidden from the outside world by the great falls. The ground held tracks, a good sign, and even better for they were quite fresh. Looking about I noticed a darkening to the east. I made my way cautiously towards the foreboding opening.

A dark cave opened its way before me. It seemed to have been dug into the wall of the cliffs some time ago. A strange darkness emanated from the cave. Light seemed to be drawn into it and lost in its depths. Moving into the cave's opening many strange appliances met my eyes, most with some odd substances littering them and many cloudy vials brewing. The vials emitted a red, pulsating light, while the light seemed to be swallowed in the eerie darkness, I knew quickly I had found the end of my journey. I could just discern a shadow moving about the corner lab bench, seemingly mixing some more of the vile liquid.

Stepping forward, the shadow looked up, and I saw it was not just a shadow, rather it was a dark hooded figure wearing flowing robes of the deepest black. The hood pulled low over his face made it impossible to make out any features. "Could you tell me what it is you are doing here at the ends of the world in this hidden cave? Might I have found the one that they call Oughenthkal?"

The creature then truly looked at me, and throwing back its hood, it cackled with malevolence. Its dark eyes rimmed with fire and hatred, it sneered at me in contempt. "Do you honestly think you could stop me?" Oughenthkal then laughed mercilessly towards me. "Leave before you hurt yourself." The dark thing then turned back to its bench, seemingly ignoring my presence in its lair.

The cave, though at first seeming vast, was little more than ten feet deep. I moved closer to the creature wanting to know what it was about, "So it is you that has done these things. Why? What would bring you to want to destroy nat..."

A dark dagger flashed at my face as Oughenthkal spun and hurled the weapon. I moved just quickly enough, and it only caught my ear rather than the middle of my head. The Guardian Light came quickly up in front of me, waiting for some more attack from Oughenthkal. A sneer crossed his lips once again, and at the same time, two knives appeared in his hands, and he attacked with a fury I had never encountered before. The attacks came quickly, so quickly it was all I could do to just deflect the blows. Backing and blocking, I was fast running out of space. The edge of the small area was behind me, opening into the waterfall and a long drop to the sea. His fury seemed to peak, and he made a vicious stabbing blow. He attacked with such ferocity I saw my opportunity and took it, I quickly moved aside. His exuberance sent him past me, and my sword glinted as I thrust it into his side. I pulled it clear quickly, knowing that my deed was done. Oughenthkal staggered away from me, back towards his evil works. 'You will never find out my secrets!' With that, his body exploded into a burst of flame. His work and papers burnt quickly and violently, leaving only ash and cinder behind.

I trudged out, heart heavy. Killing... Wasn't Oughenthkal just another of nature's creatures? Shouldn't I protect all of it, even the likes of him? But he had gone too far. He had to answer for what he did, and what he obviously planned to do. My drifting thoughts had led my wandering feet to the edge of the cliff. Looking through the spray at the vast ocean, I felt adrift, but I knew that I had done what was needed.

Staring through the falling waters, suddenly, the water spun and twisted, forming and reforming, then sparkling and twinkling, the night sky opened up before me. My mind swirled and my stomache wrenched, I closed my eyes until the dizziness subsided. Opening my eyes slowly, I peered about. It was the grove that had been spoiled by the work of Oughenthkal. A gash still ran through the land, but already the forest was reclaiming the fouled land. Small plants and grasses were growing once again. A small sapling reached its newly formed branches to the swirling stars of the heavens. Shaking my head slowly, I marveled at the work of the elves. Smiling, I bent over to inspect the new life, when the entire grove took on a faint glimmer. The glimmer slowly waxed to a soft blue glow, and out from the edge of the grove, Tatianna made her way slowly towards me. She looked from me, to the sapling, then back to me, a stern look on her face, but her eyes belying a smile within. "Barset, you have done much in these days. I have seen your actions. You dealt out death...quite the price to pay for Oughenthkal."

Bowing my head, I thought I had completely misread the smile I thought I saw in the great Goddess's eyes, "I felt I had no choice. He had to answer for what he did. He gave me little choice. Life is not something I take easily Goddess, but sometimes the good of all needs to be looked after."

The Goddess then reached down, put a finger under my chin, and gently lifted my head so that I looked into her eyes. "Indeed Barset. You have been just in your actions and saved the realms and nature. Little more could have been done. I thank you for your efforts Barset. I have a gift for you, it will guide you in your times of need." Tatianna then raised her other hand, and opened it, revealing a glittering star. The star twinkled, creating its own pulsating light, dazzling and dancing before my eyes.

I moved to one knee, once again bowing my head. The beautiful and deft hands of the Goddess put the star upon my collar, its touch warming and invigorating me. "A star to lead me in my times of need. A greater gift I have never received. Thank you Tatianna. You are too kind."

Looking up, I saw her whole face beam with a smile. Then she dissolved into ten-thousand glittering lights and rushed away like a comet to her stars. Heading back to watch over the realms once more from her stellar abode.

Standing I marveled once again at the sapling that grew from the ditch in the ground. Waving, I turned and headed out once again. The forests and all of nature needed a watch, and I would do all I could to protect it. Stepping into the woods, I blended into the trees and sped away into the thicket, unnoticed by all but the most watchful.

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