Not far from Rosewater, hidden amongst the labyrinth of brambles and thorns, lies Thornheart Grove. It was once a hallowed place, teeming with verdant life and the nurturing presence of forest spirits. At the center of this grove stood the Heartwood Bloom, a flower of such potent healing properties that it was said to cure any ailment and even reverse the touch of death itself.
As ages passed, the spirits that guarded the grove began to fade into myth, and with their departure, the grove’s vitality withered. The brambles grew thick and twisted, a reflection of the corruption that took root in the absence of the spirits. Yet, despite the malevolence that now pervaded, the Heartwood Bloom persisted at the grove’s core, its powers untainted but imprisoned by the thorny embrace.
Rumors of the Bloom’s existence became the stuff of legends, whispered by healers and sought after by desperate souls. It was during the reign of the crimson moon that a young healer named Lyanna heard such whispers. Her village, plagued by a mysterious malady, lay on the brink of despair, and Lyanna, with hope as her guide, ventured into Thornheart Grove.
The path was fraught with peril. Thorns tore at Lyanna’s flesh, and the air was thick with the stench of decay. The grove seemed to sense her presence, its brambles writhing like serpents, eager to sap her life away. Yet, Lyanna pressed on, her resolve fortified by the thought of her ailing kin.
As she reached the grove’s heart, she beheld the Heartwood Bloom, its petals glowing softly amidst the darkness, untouched by the corruption. But as she approached, the grove unleashed its fury. Thorns lashed out like the claws of a beast, and the air itself seemed to constrict around her.
In that moment of despair, Lyanna’s blood, shed by the grove’s assault, mingled with the earth, and a silence fell. A whisper, ancient and gentle, filled the air, the echo of the lost spirits. They spoke of a pact; the Bloom demanded balance. To take from the grove was to give in return.
Understanding dawned on Lyanna. With tears in her eyes, she offered her most cherished memories to the grove, a sacrifice to the spirits’ memory. The brambles retracted, bowing to her selflessness, and she reached the Heartwood Bloom unharmed. With a trembling hand, she plucked it from the earth, its light enveloping her in warmth.
Lyanna followed the clear path out of the Grove and walked into the forest, never to be seen again. You see, Lyanna sacrificed her most cherished memories, all of which were of her home. Now she could no longer remember the village, her friends, or her family. Lyanna walked on forever, the glowing bloom in her hand, with no destination in mind.
So remember children, if the spirits of the forest ever offer you what you desire, think on the story of Lyanna. The gifts of the forest come with a price, a balance that must be maintained. The allure of the spirits power can lead to sacrifices greater than one might anticipate.
The storyteller looks at your group with sadness in her eyes and says “I told the story of Lyanna and the Heartwood Bloom last night at the great hall. It is meant to be a cautionary tale for children. I fear I was careless with my words. You see, a young boy was there, Hamarand is his name. His mother is very sick…dying I am told.”
The storyteller looks off into the distance and sighs. “In the night, Hamarand ran off into the forest. He left a note for his mother explaining that he would retrieve the Heartwood Bloom from the Thornheart and return to heal her. He wrote that the because he knows of the tricks the spirits will try on him, he won’t forget her.”
Please, you must help me find Hamarand. The story is an old myth, but the dangers of Thornheart Grove are real. I need brave heroes to save Hamarand before rabid bugbear hunts him down, or the vines of the grove shred his flesh and bone.
