Session 0025: Cathlynn's Journey
General Summary
The air in the chamber was heavy with an ancient energy that seemed to hum just beneath the surface of the fresco. Cathlynn Strongbow traced the lines of the carved mountain with her eyes, captivated by the tiny dwarven figures nestled in their cavernous homes. She felt an inexplicable pull toward the stone tub recessed in the floor, as though it called to her in a voice too soft to hear but impossible to ignore.
She stepped into the tub without a word. Her companions exchanged uncertain glances but said nothing, watching as she knelt within its cool stone basin. Cathlynn ran her fingers along the carved edges, her breath steady, her thoughts focused. Then it happened: a faint, sweet scent—so subtle it was almost imperceptible—floated up from the tub’s drain. Feverfew -- once a source of her greatest weakness—had been absent from her life for years. The rare plant’s absence had allowed her to feel free, untethered from the visions and disorientation it once brought. Yet here it was, unmistakable, a whisper of its essence drifting up from the drain.
When her roots burst forth and began to burrow into the drain, something deeper than instinct took hold. As they sought water or nutrients, they touched something hidden—a patch of Feverfew, growing wild in the unseen depths below the chamber. The contact was not ordinary; Cathlynn’s nature as a Floraspawn Woad transformed the interaction into something far more profound.
Where once Feverfew had brought her confusion and hallucinations, now it acted as a conduit, awakening her deep connection to the natural world and the Fey. The plant, so closely tied to her past and her transformation, reacted to her roots as if recognizing its kin. The potent, latent magic within it surged through her like a flood, unlocking pathways between the material world and The Feywild.
Her body reacted before her mind could grasp what was happening. Her vision blurred, her thoughts slipped away, and she fell into a deep trance. Roots burst from her feet, snaking into the drain in search of water or perhaps something more. Branches sprouted from her arms, reaching toward the ceiling, adorned with blossoms that glowed faintly in the dim light. Her face remained unchanged, serene, as though she were simply sleeping.
Her companions called her name, their voices tinged with worry. They tried shaking her, pulling at her arms, even yelling, but Cathlynn didn’t stir. Hours passed, and still, she remained motionless, more tree than person now. Finally, unsure of what else to do, her companions made the difficult decision to leave her behind, hoping they might find answers elsewhere and return for her later.
The Vision
Cathlynn’s awareness drifted in a haze of green and gold, and she realized she was no longer in the chamber. She stood in a vast forest of towering trees, their trunks impossibly wide and their leaves shimmering as though made of sunlight. The air buzzed with life—birds singing melodies that seemed to speak, streams bubbling with laughter, and the whispers of unseen presences. The Feywild. She knew it instinctively, though she had never been here before. Her body felt both her own and not, as if she were rooted in two worlds at once. Looking down, she saw that her feet had melded into the soft, mossy ground, roots burrowing deep into the soil. She was part of this place now, a conduit between The Feywild and the material plane. A voice, soft and melodic, filled the air around her. “Sproutling, you have come.” Cathlynn turned to see a figure stepping out from behind one of the great trees. It was Verenestra, the Fey Lady who had granted her resurrection. The Fey’s form was ethereal, her beauty otherworldly, her presence both comforting and commanding. “You seek my bracelet,” Verenestra said, her voice lilting like a song. “But you are not yet ready to find it. First, you must understand what it means to carry my favor and what it means to be one of nature’s chosen.” Over the next thirty days in The Feywild, Cathlynn experienced a life that was both a lesson and a trial. Each day brought a new challenge, a new revelation: Day 1: She learned to communicate with the trees and plants, feeling their life force and understanding their silent language. They whispered secrets of the natural world, teaching her to sense the flow of life energy around her. Day 5: Verenestra tasked her with growing a forest from barren land. Cathlynn poured her will into the soil, coaxing seeds to sprout, trees to rise, and flowers to bloom. By the day’s end, an entire grove stood where there had been none. Day 10: A swarm of moths, bees, and hummingbirds—creatures drawn to her Woad nature—gathered around her. They spoke to her in symbols and movement, showing her how to balance the needs of all living things. She learned that harmony did not mean peace but the interweaving of chaos and order. Day 15: Feverfew appeared in her dreams, its daisy-like blossoms glowing with a strange light. Verenestra warned her of the herb’s dual nature—a cure and a curse, a gateway to insight or ruin. “It is a mirror, Sproutling,” Verenestra said. “It shows you what you wish to see, but also what you fear.” Day 20: Cathlynn faced her own reflection in a pool of crystal-clear water. She saw her bark-like skin, her branch-like hair, the creature she had become. For the first time, she did not feel alien to herself. She understood that her transformation was not a loss but a gift, one that bound her to the natural world in ways few could comprehend. Day 25: Verenestra took her to a great tree at the heart of The Feywild, its branches reaching beyond sight. The silver bracelet dangled from one of its limbs. When Cathlynn reached for it, the bracelet dissolved into light. “You are not ready,” Verenestra said again. “But you will be. In time.” Cathlynn’s hand hovered where the bracelet had dissolved, the faint shimmer of light lingering like an echo in the air. As Verenestra’s words settled over her, the truth struck with startling clarity: the Fey Lady had not lost the bracelet. The story of its theft was a construct, a clever guise to lead Cathlynn on a path she might otherwise have resisted. This was no mere quest to retrieve a trinket—it was a spiritual journey, woven intricately with her transformation into a Floraspawn Woad. Every challenge she faced, every lesson learned, was a step toward understanding her new identity and the balance she was meant to strike between the natural world and the mortal one. The bracelet was not an object to be found but a symbol of the wholeness she was destined to achieve, one that could only be earned through growth, sacrifice, and an unwavering connection to the power of the Fey. On the thirtieth day, Verenestra smiled and touched Cathlynn’s brow. “Return now, Sproutling. The roots of this place will always welcome you back.”The Return
When Cathlynn’s awareness returned to her body, she felt an aching stillness. Her branches retracted, the roots pulled back into her feet, and her bark-like skin softened to its usual texture. The chamber was silent, empty. Her companions were gone, and a thin layer of dust had settled on the fresco. She stood, her legs weak but her spirit stronger than it had ever been. Thirty days of wisdom coursed through her, though only a day had passed in the material world. The memory of The Feywild lingered in her mind like the echo of a dream, and though the bracelet was still beyond her reach, she understood that her journey was far from over. The mountain still held its secrets, and she would uncover them in time.
Report Date
29 Dec 2024
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