Trolls in the Krasta Forest

Military: Battle

In the interest of making the local area safer, the group makes their way to the Krasta Forest with the intention of destroying a band of trolls that have been terrorizing the villagers of Biege. Within this forest, they meet a new character who knows something of the group and their overarching quest.

A few weeks pass after the conflict with Riverest, and the party is in need of their next adventure. The people of Biege have been snatched up, killed and eaten by a band of trolls that have set up shop in the dark and terrible Krasta Forest, a cursed place that only the heartiest dare tread. Accepting the meager gold the town could muster, with the promise of whatever loot they would find, the party descends into the forest. Within a few miles of marching through dense difficult terrain, the forest has a sudden opening as a charred scar breaks the claustrophobic woods. A large straight-line scar traces from the south-west, a definite mark that the Phoenix had flown overhead and burned a straight path, cauterizing a forest of choking density. Here, an ebon-skinned minotaur is in combat with a burnt wood spirit, and swiftly the group approaches to assist. After brief introductions, and a revelation that he is looking for the Szarkai, the group is attacked by a fire elemental spawned from the power of the Phoenix.   After their victory, the band of seven make their way once more into the impassable woodland, only making forward progress with the leadership of the ranger. A brief battle with a squad of forest trolls confirms the presence of the green giants. Further investigation brings them to the corrupt glade that serves as the home of this band of trolls, a dark moss laden tower of a tree with tunnels burrowed underneath its grasping roots.   Taking the night to rest and camp, the night does not shake the ever-present dread of being watched the forest imposes. Thaleia is then approached in camp by a draconic speaking creature lurking out of the campfire light. She takes up her bow and marches into the woods, and fails to return that night. Myrddin, speaking with an oddly intelligent squirrel, becomes aware of the true ruling power of this corrupt place, The Jade Queen.     Come the morning, the party resolves to put the trolls aside to face the enigmatic Queen of this country.   It is after their audience with the Jade Queen that the party returns to the rotten tree, and massacre the trolls that laired within, completing their task of eliminating the foul threat.