10-10-2025: Berries, Beasts, and Bad Ideas

The next morning, Jaina and Aerith were the first to rise and step outside.

Yslenor, still blanketed in a fresh layer of snow, looked like something out of a fairytale. The houses were built with thick wooden beams and topped with thatched roofs. They were simple but charming, nestled among frost-dusted trees. In the streets, villagers were already going about their morning routines—hunters prepping gear near the woods, women with baskets preparing to forage, and, most importantly, a small group of children building a snowman.

Exactly the kind of people Jaina and Aerith had been hoping to find.

They approached gently, starting with compliments on the snowman. From there, the conversation slid easily into talk of the Candy Witch in the woods. The children were thrilled to report that they were planning to visit her during lunch.

A boy had questioned why adults would care so much about candy. Jaina and Aerith had shrugged. Adults like candy too, you know.

Then, a suggestion; if the kids could beat them in a snowball fight, they would earn eternal glory. If they lost, though, they had to take the Order to the cottage.

The challenge was accepted.

Snow flew as the countdown ended. Though outnumbered, Jaina and Aerith were ruthless. Jaina’s accuracy was flawless—headshots and chest-hits on nearly every throw. Aerith kept pace, delivering a few icy hits of her own. Most of the kids eventually laughed and admitted defeat, though one particularly stubborn boy insisted they had clearly cheated.

Still, a deal was a deal. They agreed to meet at the waterwell during lunchtime.

Back at the inn, the rest of the party had gathered around a table.

Leo and Gotrick were deep in debate: Gordon Ramsay’s sour mats vs. the witch’s candy—who would win in a confectionery showdown? Mind, meanwhile, had completely forgotten about breakfast, head down, scribbling carefully into his spellbook as he copied 'Absorb Elements'.

By midday, the group—now five strong again with Serosh trailing behind—headed to the village’s waterwell. The children were already waiting, bouncing with energy, each wearing small belt packs. Their eyes went wide when they spotted Kiwi peeking from Jaina’s bag and Serosh came out from behind the group.

The girls swarmed Kiwi, whispering and giggling over how adorable he was. The boys were immediately drawn to Serosh, trying to climb onto his back and stroke his mane. The celestial mount huffed in irritation, but endured it with a few begrudging head shakes.

Eventually, after much pleading, the children agreed to take them to the Candy Witch’s cottage. The walk through the snowy woods was peaceful. Birds chirped overhead, and the trail wound through frost-covered trees. The path wasn’t direct, but it was beautiful.

At last, they arrived at the edge of a small clearing. There, nestled among overgrown ivy and moss, stood a round cottage. Its roof and walls were covered in greenery, with windchimes and hand-crafted decorations hanging from the porch and eaves. It looked like it had grown from the forest itself.

As they reached the edge, one of the children turned.

“You'd best wait here,” she said, and began walking across the clearing along with the other children. Mind immediately narrowed his eyes.

“Why?” he asked suspiciously, but the children had already darted forward, giggling as they ran. Jaina called after them, half-annoyed, half-curious. “Why are you laughing like that?”

The Order exchanged looks. Was there a magical barrier here?

Jaina was the only one who could clearly see what was happening across the clearing. She described it to the others as she watched: the children touched one of the windchimes near the door, and it opened. Standing in the doorway was a woman.

She had long, blonde braids and wore a flowing black robe with wide sleeves. A large, floppy hat with small chimes hanging from it shaded her eyes. She stepped out onto the porch in black boots, fuzzy socks peeking out from above them. Her blue eyes gazed toward the Order as she listened to the kids.

Then, with a calm but confident gait, she walked across the clearing with the children beside her. When she reached them, she asked what they were doing here.

The children jumped in before the group could speak. One girl said that this group wanted candy too. The stubborn boy informed her that they had cheated in their snowball fight.

The woman raised her hand gently, silencing them with warmth rather than reprimand. She turned back to the party asking the children to let them speak.

Mind stepped forward. He introduced the group as adventurers, explaining that they helped with all kinds of tasks, large and small. They’d heard about her candy, and would love to try some—perhaps in exchange for a bit of work.

She tilted her head slightly, while the chimes attached to her head rang, studying them. Her gaze was thoughtful, not unkind. She asked where they had come from.

Aerith offered a calm explanation—that they had traveled from Arsica after finishing a job. Jaina added that the job had involved helping out with some local issues. Leo spoke next, saying they’d wandered a while since then, picking up work here and there, until they heard about a witch who made remarkable candy from an innkeeper in Yslenor.

The woman didn’t quite smile—but she seemed satisfied enough. She tapped each of them on the shoulder. A small sparkle of magic flared from her fingers. It tingled briefly. She introduced herself als Selira.

Now, they could step into the clearing too.

As they stood on the porch, waiting for the witch to open the door it smelled like fruits. Mind asked her about the chimes and trinckets. She simply replied that she just likes the sound of them.

They entered her cottage and they were overwhelmed by a warm feeling. It was extremely cozy in here; the kids sat down on blankets around the fireplace in the middle of the cottage, waiting patiently and hopeful. Upstairs there was a little loft where the witch slept and in the corner was a kitchen and an alchemy table. While she was in the kitchen preparing something, she told the kids to eat their lunch first and then they could get some candy. The kids opened their belt packs and ate their packed lunch, a small loaf of bread. The group immediatly were under the impression that this woman was kind and cared for these children.

When the kids had eating their lunch they were munching on some candy. After a few hugs to the witch, they left the cottage and the woman turned towards the group. They had some small talk about her candy, what she makes and how she does it all on her own as a hobby. Mind asked if they could perhaps help her with finding some ingredients for her. She explained that she had no trouble doing this on her own, but if they insisted, they could do two things for her.

They would have to split up, but one group could forage for some Duskleaf berries and the other group could look for a Mossbuck. Gotrick was stumped, what in the world is a Mossbuck? Selira’s eyes twinkled as she answered. The Mossbuck, she told them, was a rare and majestic guardian of these woods—an elk-like beast with blue and purple fur and a thick collar of moss around its neck. Its antlers secreted a viscous, magical mucus that needed to be carefully milked and stored. She pressed an empty vial into Leo’s hand as she spoke.

The Mossbuck is clever and cautious, she warned. It can hide itself, sense the presence of any creature nearby, and it watches over this forest. You won’t find it easily. The men of the group exchanged a look. This sounded like a job for them. And so, Aerith and Jaina would stay with Selira to hunt for Duskleaf berries, while Mind, Gotrick, Leo, and Serosh set off in search of the Mossbuck.

Aerith and Jaina soon discovered that gathering Duskleaf berries was not the simple chore it sounded like. The “bushes” that grew the berries were very much alive. Each time they drew near, the squat, leafy shapes lifted their roots from the snow and shuffled away on spindly tendrils, hiding behind trees or clumping together just out of reach. Selira, amused, mentioned another small inconvenience: the bushes were home to wasps. It was, to put it mildly, not ideal.
Dodging buzzing insects and trailing through the snow, Aerith and Jaina tried again and again to corner the elusive shrubs. As they worked, Selira asked questions. The two women answered with half-truths, careful deflections, and gentle lies—enough to keep their secrets without outright insulting their host.

Selira listened, unconvinced but not unkind, weighing their words without pressing too hard. No matter what tricks they tried—sudden rushes, planned flanks, patient waiting—the bushes kept skittering away, leaving them berry-less and increasingly exasperated. At last, they called it for the day. A little defeated, but warmed by the easy conversation and shared struggle, Aerith and Jaina followed their own footprints back through the snow to Selira’s cottage, empty-handed.

Meanwhile, deeper in the woods, Mind’s thoughts had taken a stranger turn. As they searched for signs of the Mossbuck, he casually shared a “brilliant” idea with Gotrick and Leo. If he had seen the Mossbuck once, he reasoned, he could Polymorph Leo into a copy of it—and then they could just… milk Leo instead.

Leo stared at him in dawning horror. Gotrick looked equally appalled. Before the debate could spiral further, Gotrick suddenly raised a hand and they all went silent. Through the trees, they saw it.

The Mossbuck stood in a small clearing, a breathtaking vision of blue and purple, its mossy collar glowing softly against the snow. It radiated a wary, ancient intelligence, every muscle tensed and ready to flee.

They sprang into action. Leo disguised himself as Selira to try and earn the beast’s trust. Gotrick and Serosh slipped into invisibility, keeping their distance, while Mind hung back, readying a Major Image spell to give Leo the Candy Witch’s scent and aura.

Under layers of illusion, Leo stepped carefully into the clearing.

The Mossbuck did not seem impressed. From the moment “Selira” approached, the beast grew restless. Its hooves scraped lines in the snow, body coiled with tension as it circled Leo, nostrils flaring. Leo spoke softly, trying to soothe it, but the Mossbuck’s eyes never softened. It could feel the deception in the air.

With a sigh, Leo dropped the disguise, standing before it as himself. Calm, patient, he tried again—this time in Sylvan, the lilting words of the Fey tongue. At the same time, he telepathically urged Mind to be ready. For a heartbeat, the guardian hesitated. Then it charged.
Leo braced behind his shield, only to see the Mossbuck vanish mid-leap, dissolving into nothingness—only to reappear a second later, slamming into him from an impossible angle. He barely managed to catch the impact on his shield as snow exploded around them.

Mind reacted on instinct, casting Hypnotic Pattern in a swirl of colors. But the Mossbuck shook off the enchantment with ease. The spell backfired horribly, leaving Leo dazed and confused instead. Mind immediately dropped his concentration, cursing under his breath.

The Mossbuck, offended and thoroughly done with their tricks, lashed out with a powerful kick that sent Leo staggering. Still, Leo refused to give in. He lunged, trying to mount the creature, but it bucked and twisted beneath him, throwing him off almost immediately.

That was when it spotted the others. Mind, Gotrick, and Serosh had drawn too close. The Mossbuck bolted, a blur of blue and purple weaving through the trees.

Mind answered with a flash of his own, suddenly stepping through space to appear alongside it. Gotrick, astride Serosh, and Leo tore after the beast through the drifting snow.

The Mossbuck had one more trick. It shook its powerful body, sending a spray of shimmering sparks into the air. The magic washed over the three men, seeping into their minds. In an instant, the urgency of the chase faded. Why were they pursuing such a beautiful creature? It seemed pointless—almost cruel. By the time the enchantment wore off, the Mossbuck was gone.

Frustration simmered just below the surface as they regrouped. Mind’s gaze slid to Leo with renewed purpose. He turned to him briskly, and for a tense moment both Leo and Gotrick had the same horrified thought: he was finally going to go through with the “milk Leo” plan. Instead, Mind raised his hands and transformed Leo into a giant raven. Gotrick recovered quickly, casting Haste on the newly transformed Leo. With a powerful beat of his enormous wings, Leo snatched Mind up in his talons and launched into the sky, tearing after the Mossbuck’s trail.

The forest rushed by beneath them in a blur of white and shadow. Up ahead, the Mossbuck crashed through the undergrowth, still fleeing at full speed. The beast darted between trees, cutting sharp turns and leaping over fallen logs, but the raven was faster. Leo swooped down, and at the perfect moment, he hurled Mind onto the Mossbuck’s back. Mind barely managed to grab hold of its soft, moss-framed fur.

For a few wild heartbeats, he clung to the guardian as it bounded through the snow. Then it leapt over another fallen tree, and the jolt shook Mind loose. He tumbled into a drift of snow, rolling to a stop as the Mossbuck and the raven vanished between the trees. By the time he scrambled to his feet, both beast and bird were already distant shadows.

One last, desperate attempt: Leo dove, aiming to latch onto the Mossbuck’s antlers. But the duration of Mind’s spell was fading; his speed dropped at the worst possible moment, his claws closing on empty air. With a final, graceful jump, the Mossbuck soared forward and slipped out of existence, vanishing into nothingness as if the forest itself had swallowed it whole.

Silence returned to the woods, broken only by the sound of their ragged breathing as the men slowly regrouped. Gotrick let out a short, disbelieving laugh. He jokingly said to the rest that the milking time had finally come.

That broke the tension. They all started laughing, the absurdity of the entire chase washing over them. Mind, however, wasn’t entirely joking anymore. He insisted on trying his original plan. By this point, Leo was too tired to argue. They went through with the bizarre idea—only to find, of course, that nothing happened.

Mind smacked his own forehead. “It’s a Fey beast,” he groaned. “Of course that wouldn’t work.” Gotrick doubled over laughing, he couldn't believe Mind only thought of it at the last moment.

Back at the cottage, Leo told the whole story—every failed trick, every wild leap, every ridiculous idea—to the others. Selira listened with clear amusement. She couldn’t quite hide the grin that tugged at her lips as he spoke. When he finished, she shook her head lightly.

She told them that they had moved too fast. The Mossbuck isn’t fooled by rushing, or force, or spectacle. It had taken her months to earn its trust. Mind muttered to Jaina under his breath, insisting that nothing they could have done would have made any difference.

But the Order of Adamant was not ready to admit defeat. They decided that the next day, they would swap roles. Leo and Jaina would go searching for the Duskleaf bushes, and Mind, Aerith, and Gotrick would handle the actual berry gathering. Selira assumed they were on the verge of giving up on the whole affair, but she granted them permission to try again. She would not be joining them, however. Tomorrow, she had candy to make.

After a restful night at the inn and a chance to reset their bruised egos, they approached the problem with fresh eyes. This time, there was no Candy Witch watching over their shoulders, no immediate pressure to impress. Leo and Jaina focused on locating the wandering bushes, while Mind, Aerith, and Gotrick slipped into invisibility, baskets in hand.

Without the weight of expectation, everything went smoothly. The bushes shuffled and rustled like before, but this time, they never noticed the invisible trio weaving around them. Whenever a breeze stirred the branches or some other sound echoed through the forest, Mind, Aerith, and Gotrick quietly plucked Duskleaf berries and dropped them into their baskets. The wasps remained blissfully unaware. One by one, they stripped the bushes bare.

At last, with their baskets filled to the brim with dusky, glistening berries, they trudged back through the snow to Selira’s cottage. They arranged the baskets neatly in front of the door. Aerith added a small handwritten note, apologising for the Mossbuck debacle and their failure to gather any berries the day before, and hoping that this bounty would make up for it.

The Order of Adamant might not yet have won the Mossbuck’s favor—but they were far from done trying to win the Candy Witch’s.