The day started out like any normal summer day but today we had the day off. Abby decided that a picnic was in order for the day so she invited Brother Ben and his girlfriend Jenny, Brother John and his girlfriend Rachel, Billy and Ivan on a picnic. All of the food packed up and ready to go the girls decide they want to go to Egan’s Woods to see if we could catch sight of a mite trying to catch and tame one of those giant blue striped spiders. After that the plan was to have lunch over by Wisher’s Well.

We headed out mid-morning and headed over to Egan’s Woods. After an hour they decided to give up on trying to see a mite attempt to tame a spider so we headed over to Wisher’s Well. At the well Ben and John lowered a torch attached to some twine. The smoke from the torch made seeing anything almost impossible. We were all looking down the well trying to see anything when something chewed through the twine and the torch went out. Ivan pulls out his bow but he can’t see anything. After a few minutes they headed over to a camp site that Ivan often uses while hunting.

Everyone has lunch and it becomes obvious to Ivan that the others wanted some private time to themselves. Ivan leaves the others and heads back down to Egan’s Woods to check on his hunting traps. He finds that something as removed animals from the traps aggressively. That is the problem with setting traps in Egan’s Woods; the mites and the spiders both enjoy taking advantage of small animals caught in traps. All of the traps either did not catch anything or something else got it.

Ivan was about to head over to Mosswood when out of nowhere the Elf Druid Alistair appeared. It had been over a year since Alistair had blessed the crops and the women.

Ivan says “Alistair it has been awhile since you have been in these parts.”

Alistair Says “Yes it has been a little while but there are a lot of farms that need my attention these days. I wanted to find you before the others knew that I am around”

Ivan says “OK”

Alistair Says “Follow me”

Alistair regaled Ivan on his travels as the two walked for about 10 minutes before Alistair stopped in front of an oak tree. Alistair put up his hand to shush Ivan. Ivan stands there quietly while Alistair completed his spell.  Alistair puts his hand on Ivan shoulder.

Alistair says “We need to step into this tree”

Alistair and Ivan step into the tree and come out in a wooded area that he has not seen before.

From the shadows Ivan hears

“He should not be here”

Alistair says “Its ok he is with me and you can trust him”

From the shadows “Why didn’t you bring the sister or the mother? We so enjoy when the mother comes and visits us”

Ivan begins to speak but Alistair shushes him.

Alistair speaks “Ivan wait here and be quiet”

Alistair walks over to a tree and begins chanting. Ivan is pretty sure that he is watching Alistair cast spells but he wasn’t exactly sure. After 20 minutes Alistair finishes up and walks over to Ivan.

Alistair speaks “Now we eat”

Ivan turns around and a small table is full of food. Even though this was a meal without meat there where so many other delicious foods to try that he found that he did not miss having meat, at least for one meal.

Alistair speaks “The Red caps want to take over the area. A few years back they poisoned this tree and the dryad leader Akoni entered the tree in an attempt to heal it. I come here and provide what healing I can provide but only time will tell when Akoni will return. The red cap leader Grustmier led the attack in hopes of taking over these woods. “

Alistair and Ivan finish the delicious meal provided by the fey and say there good byes to the tree and the fey still hiding in the woods surrounding the grove.  Alistair casts his spell once more and then they step through the tree again. Ivan steps through and finds himself back where they started.

Ivan speaks “Are the red caps bad?

Alistair speaks “Red caps are little fey that generally relish in pain and suffering of other creatures. These are evil creatures that can never be trusted. Red Caps like other Fey resist normal weapons. To properly defend yourself against Red caps you will need to use Cold iron arrows or cold iron weapons.”