We had set forth from the home of our dear friend Merth early in the evening, with many a smile on the faces of the town folk that we passed. We had prepared for our journey in full, not knowing when we were to return. Vepl had made sure that our warriors armor was in place and that their weapons were sharp. Our mages had readied the scrolls and spells that would be used within the dark of the Blighted Grove. We had to cut our way through the tangled vines of the huge, corrupted Yew tree, but finally had made our way through to the horrors within. We were ambused by the minions of Lady Melissande as soon as we made our way through. First was the ferocious half croc half demon known as the Thrasher, next was the serpent Coil, Tangle and Abscess where soon to follow, as was the mutated harpy known as Saliva. All fell to our blades and our spells, as we ascended to the highest point of the ancient Yew tree. There we were assaulted by a band of Enslaved Satyrs who had been driven mad by the corrupt druidess. The battle was fierce, but we had the edge, that was until the Lady took the field herself. She summoned up the spirits of the nethers to aid her minions, who had taken a gleeful beserker rage at her presence on the field. We fought bravely, but one by one our warriors fell to her foul presence, till I alone stood and stared at her across the ancient branch that had made our battleground. With a word she turned her minions upon me, so I did the one thing that would deal with the on coming horde...

I made myself invisible and moved away from her vail piercing sight. Her minions scoured the ancient tree searching for me, as I strode through the corpses of my fallen friends. I found Aliandra's body amongst the fallen, and summoned elementals of energy to deal with the two nearest Satyrs. With what remained of my spells, I summoned the spirit of the noble paladin whose body I stood above back to her body and healed her wounds with silver fire. Her eyes opened wide, but she arose firmly to her feet and prayed to the virtues to bring back our fallen comrades. Vepl took charge immediatly, issuing sure commands that brought both strength and purpose to our noble band. Eowyna started summoning elven magic to aid and encourage us as we stared down the path at where the fallen druidess awaited us. Lifting weapons that had fallen to the ground, we marched on with the sure purpose that together we would defeat the evil before us...

Urmmmm, Cabe you forgot to finish your story.......

I was hoping that someone else would rise and finish telling the tale, plus my fiance made me go to bed,

Cabe had just finished off the enslaved satyr. Fortunately he had enough mental strength to call Aliandra back to her body. Looking around Aliandra knew what she must do. As a Paladin she knew she had to give of herself. Noble Sacrifice always takes you to the point of death. If anything, even the slightest mishap it would mean death for her. But she had to. It was for her comrades. Well more then that. They where her friends. Aliandra took a deep breath ...... and it worked!!!! Everyone was gathering there armour and weapons. They where preparing to meet there foe once more.

Vepl was dressing as fast as he could. He remembered how fresh and eager everyone was while still at the guild house. The banter and jokes just covered the uneasy feeling in each of them. Things had been very tough earlier. Blighted Grove was aptly named. The battles had proved what he already suspicioned. Aliandra would stand fast. She could fight and was skilled with a band aid. Vepl was very glad she was there. He never really understood mages and archers. They always seemed so .......... flighty. Why he even heard one of them asking if her polar bears behind didn't have the cutest wiggle. *shakes head* Vepl did give them credit. They each fought valiantly. They used all there skill and prowess. It was the combined effort that had gotten the group this far. Now if he could only get them to run to the healers instead of away from them.

It was time. Everyone was dressed and armed. Bandages had been handed out to those in need. The mages began there incantations and the archer had nocked his arrow. Looking around you saw a group that had been hit hard. But they where not beaten. Defeat was not an option for them. Each looked to-wards there foe with fierce determination. The small group had suffered setbacks but the battle had just begun for them. For you knew as they went forward. They where marching to victory.