'Yes it would, more terrible than you can know. The stench and dross of the cities is purged and cleansed by the forest. The trees absorb the foul air of man's pollution, his burning and smelting, and give it back to the world again clean, fresh and ready to breathe. The forest of the lifeblood of the world; without it the world with choke, gag and die. The sin of man, his waste, his poisons, are made good again by the life force of nature. You feel something of this, don't you?' The woman looks at you approvingly.
Sensing that you can trust her, you ask about the Tree of Knowledge.
'If you come to my bower in the forest I can take you to the Great Tree. But I must warn you that if you harm so much as a leaf on your way there you will never leave the forest. When you enter the forest, follow the Burgstream to the great Sirion river and then walk down the eastern bank. My followers will bring me word of your progress.'
She takes up her staff and taps it once on the table. Her gnarled old staff turns into a little flute, which she hands to you with the words, 'Blow this at need in the forest and my friends will help you.'
You murmur your thanks and fall to wonder how she can make the animals of the forest do her bidding. As the fire burns down, the woman goes to sleep in her chair. Not wishing to disturb her, you take a room at the inn for the night.
Note the maple flute on your Adventure Sheet.
The young girl, who says that her father is away on a journey to buy provisions, charges you a piece of gold for your food and for a night's lodging.
You sleep well and awake early but refreshed. Washing in cold water is invigorating and you enjoy the feel of the rough inn towel. There will be no such comforts in the forest.
Downstairs the inn is deserted. The woman in grey, the only other guest, has left already. The young girl is mopping the floor and she looks troubled. Asking what ails her brings the reply, 'My father did not return last night. I tried not to worry but I knew in my heart he wouldn't come. He went into the forest to buy provisions before the Western men block the spice road. I know he has gone the way of the others. And that strange woman in grey never so much as touched her bed last night, though she didn't leave her room till after dawn. I begged father to take Renard to guide him but he wouldn't spend the money. Now I'll never see him again.' With this, she breaks into tears.
As you comfort her, you ask the innkeeper's daughter to describe her father and say you will try to find either him or news of him. As you turn to leave she says, 'Fare you well, traveler, you are my only hope.'
After leaving Burg by the waterside gate you walk north along a path next to the bank of the Burgstream. The river valley has quite steep sides and you can see little of the land that surrounds you. Ahead you can see the vast leafy canopy that stretches to the far horizon like a green sea fading to blue in the distance. The air is good here, fresh and clean, laden only with the perfume of wild flowers.
A lone figure in grey walks ahead. You increase your pace to catch up. After half an hour's hard walking you seem to be no nearer the figure. You break into a jog but even this seems to bring you no closer to the slender woman dressed in grey. You ponder the strange fact that even though she seems only to be walking you cannot seem to come any closer to her. At last you reach the crest of a rise to find she has vanished, but now you can see the trunks of the trees at the edge of the Forest of Arden.
As you enter the forest you are surprised to see how much colour there is. Blossoming trees, fungus mounds in bright hues, flowering creepers and giant butterflies are lit up by the dappled sunshine that trickles through gaps in the leafy canopy. It is noisy, too—the forest is alive with insects, birds and small mammals.
The path stays close to the river, almost doubling back on itself where the Burgstream bends tortuously until at last you hear the roar of the great Sirion river as it washes through the forest ahead. Pressing on, you come to a ford over the Burgstream.
Cross the ford and follow the bank of the Sirion river to the west?
Remain on this side of the Burgstream and turn east when you meet the Sirion?
Adventure Sheet:
Name: ??
Skills: CUNNING, FOLKLORE, SPELLS and WILDERNESS LORE
Life Points: 10
Possessions:
1) Magic Wand
2) Maple Flute
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Money: 9 gold pieces