Rimwood buildingsite

"Thane," Lhanir responded gently, "I do not think you comprehend the travesty of your words. Trees take years to grow. These roots have grown deep... especially if they stand as high as your golems. It is easy to cut down life, but it is not so easy to regrow." For a time, she permitted him to speak with the dragon, occasionally catching the words hear and there. Once he was finished, she continued.

"This was not a need of yours. This is a want. And while I thoroughly appreciate your desire to move them first... you only consider the trees. There is more here than just them. Animals live here.. some that have escaped much of the pain and plight within the Cormanthor, as well as near Shadowdale. You would be destroying their homes for your want. Do you honestly believe the drow would lay siege to your already heavily fortified stonework? Do you believe there is no hope against the undead, that you will tear up the land around your home because you perhaps do not think it is enough? Do you intend to fight them directly at your doorstep, rather than face them in the field?" The questions fell from her lips in near rapid succession, barely skipping a beat as the desperation was clear not only in her words, but in her steady gaze.

"This land has suffered more than your people. You may not realize it or even feel it, but it has occurred all around you. Is there not an alternative plan that you would take, to avoid my interjection? I am not here with the desire to firstly threaten you. I am here to protect the land."

He listens to her and smirked ever so slightly. "Ye may not remember when tha Shadovar attacked me very home
How tha Hill that is sacred ta me people was laid in ruins. Much of tha forest here was burnt ta ash. Tha Lyon clan arrived and worked hard ta nurse it back and used their arts ta help tha trees grow. I ask ta move tha trees ta Honor tha work they did. In fact I am not sure I even remember yur circle helping restore ta forest." Shrugs and continues "when tha zhents attacked us and destroyed tha oak our sacred Hill was once more damaged. Wizards and others spayed flowing lava with ice thinkin they could stop it. All it did was upset some fire creatures who did more damage ta tha land. Then ye druids showed up say 'ye don't understand tha pain tha land is in!' Hogwash! I know what happened. I am not a fool. I live here lass. So ye circle did yur thin and closed tha portal. Then used some daft clay spell ta reform tha hill as ye saw fit. But never once did ye think ta talk ta us who lived under it. Us who hold tha Hill sacred fur a vision from our Gods ta one of our Clan founders. Ye did as ye damn well pleased. Now tha hill has been attacked twice already. Myth Drannor sent two hunerd elves ta secure tha woods. I was there as ye well remember when Free Haven fell cause I saved yur arse with many others. I knew tha strength of tha undead and had a plan ta save folk. Now I know tha drow are on tha move. Tha undead have eyes on other prizes. I will do what I have ta so me halls are not once more controlled by undead, orcs or a dragon. So if ye canna help or will NA help then thank ye fur yur time."

The Dragon chuckles

I do believe the dwarf is right.

As do I.

Mylanis finally speaks, as she walk over nearer to the group, first turning her attention to Lhanir, speaking in an unusually hard tone

Lhanir, if you really wanted to help protect the forest, you should go put your efforts elsewhere but this, you're wasting your time here, and frankly, you're to new in these lands to understand what's happened here in the past. Go bother someone else.

She glances around the area before looking back to Valtore, this time speaking in a more annoyed tone.

Maple, Oak, Pine. Should be fine, mark out the trees you are thinking of removing, and then come find me in the Lyons forest, I'll come and see as to what needs to be done. And please dont send anyone that the guardians doesn't know, they'll likely put an arrow through their skulls, and I really dont feel like cleaning up that mess right now.

She glances around at those gathered

Anything else?

Resting nearby, Snorri listens to the conversations but takes no part.

"T'Thane's roight, o'course." he thinks. "Still, them events were before moi toime, so Oi'd best not comment."

With that, he moves to some of the workers and offers a hand until he resumes his travels.

Walking up to Lhanir, the lithe frame stands at her side, his head apparently locked in the direction of Mylanis and her dragon. He turns his head to the masked druiddess and speaks in a normal tone.

"I believe the druiddess over there is a fine example of the fact time does not equal wisdom." He then quiets, folding his hands behind his back. Those that might recognize the voice coming out of the hooded creature might recall him as being the one elf named Mahalion; otherwise he is apparently a stranger here.

It would seem we live in different realities then. although that is not to surprising for a man like you shaman. Nor does it seem you've had much experience with this area, nor for that matter the dales as a whole. Stranger things happens here each and every day. A dwarf digging a hole is rather normal. A farmer that finds a sapling amist his corn tears it up roots and all, he wont ask a druid first if it's a wise decision. That the thane does it is out of rrespect for us. Removing a few trees isnt going to bring the whole forest down, yet you act like it's one of the worst things imaginable. You have rampant spirits and undead roaming the woods, yet you stand here bickering about a dwarf cutting down a handful of trees. Need i remind you that trees is something that you can grow more of. I am sure that the thane woyld be happy in paying a few coin to get the seeds needed, or just wait and find them next time they sprout forth.

With alle due respect Shaman, look at the bigger picture and go find someplace else to throw your pity insults.

Mylanis nods

Think of me as you will Mahalion. Yet may i pose yoh a question? when did I insult Lhanir?
I may have statet my feelings, and tried to convince her that there might be other things that needs then attion of the arch-druid and her circle. other than that, I also explained an observarion that she actually was not to my knowledge around when shadorvar attacked and caused much destruction in the area.

Bryanna, in the process of making her rounds with food and drink to the various groups of workers, looks over at the brewing confrontation and begins making her way over. Its obviously going to take a moment for her to arrive.

At the arrival of Mahalion, the Arch Druidess gives him a nod of greeting, gaze flickering towards Mylanis after Valtore had finished speaking.

"And what exactly have you done for the land, Mylanis, besides the rumors on the wind spread of a dragon prancing about and giving warnings to passers-by since the reformation of the Circle? And you, Thane... I thought dwarves dug lower, not built higher, above the land no less."

Her attention passed from the elves to the dwarf. "I am aware that Rimwood has faced its own turmoil. And now you wish to put it through more with the inevitable assumption that you wish to dig up the land and push away whatever life was just beginning to settle. I have already ignored much of what has been happening here. And if I continue to ignore it, you will ruin the entirety of Rimwood. If the Lyons think this is acceptable, that is none of my concern, as they are not Keepers of Nature. The elves of Myth Drannor are on the edge of a knife, neither tipping in the land's favor, or veering towards civilization with what they permit you to do around this healing scape."

She shook her head. "You did not save me in Free Haven. I would have left by other means regardless of whether or not the party with which we walked stumbled upon your little group. You underestimate my abilities, friend. I have dealt with enough of the Dales being dug up, chopped down, burned, plagued, assimilated, eaten, poisoned. You say this land is still healing. Yes, it is. But what you do now, and in the future, is not going to help, it will merely exacerbate. And I cannot tolerate it. The act upon your hill was not made on a moot where my opinion was in favor, either. It posed no threat to the land. If you believe you cannot hope to defeat the undead on the field, then what makes you believe your Halls alone will be enough to withstand their brunt? Even with what you do to continue affecting the land, it will not be sufficient. I strongly suggest you seek something more worth your efforts."

Mylanis merely sighs in annoyance

I'd make you a list, but it'd take to long, so I'll boil it down a bit.

Battling the undead threats inside the Cormathor.
Battling the undead threats in the Dales.
Maintaining a decent coverage of area where I keep status of wildlife and it's health.
Restore the parts of the Cormanthor and surroundings that have been touched by poison, necromancy or other types of decay or destruction.
Dealing with drow threats within the Cormathor.
Kept adventurers away from areas where their interventions would otherwise be a threat to the balance.
Currently keeping an eye on 4 litters of wolves, 15 badgers, 10 deer, 2 stags, several nests of birds, a handful of bears, and one family of boars.
Maintain a healthy family, and keeping them safe from above mentioned threats.

So dont go assuming that I'm not doing anyhing... Not to say I haven't heard you've been busy with your battles as well. However, dont you think there're more important things to worry about that a few trees and some wildlife in Rimwood, not to say that it's not an issue, but much less so, compared to the amount of necromancy going on within the Dales and the Cormanthor, that's by far the biggest threat to this area, compared to the dwarves digging. And did it at some point occur to you that this is not only to just face the current threat of undead, this area, and the Dwarves within it, have also been faced with invading hordes of Orc, Zhentarim, Giants and Demons, this wall is just as much a defense for them against the undead now, as it will be for any future threats.

Perhaps it's time for you to leave now, and I will personally assure you that I will oversee this being done right. No trees that arn't in need of being cut down, wont be, any wildlife disturbed will be given a new and safe home, and every tree cut down will have a replacement planted. Or do you have another thing in mind, perhaps a compromise, rather than a flat denial of the possibility?

"A threat to the balance indeed..." Lhanir mused aloud.

"The 'few trees' and 'wildlife' in Rimwood that you seem to care so little about are not just objects to be picked up and moved around for the benefit of civilization. I am not picking this place out of the hundreds that I have been watching and attempting to safeguard. I am here because I have the hope that, as a neutral affiliation to the Ironhouse, they might be willing to see reason in my intentions. This permanent alteration is a -permanent- change to the land if it is overlooked by the less balance oriented. Land that was once free of manmade objects, of the constant tread of feet and tearing up of soil and plant. Where do you expect to take these creatures? We both know there is only so much space to protect the rest in currently, the Lyons Forest, the Grove... assorted glades and areas."

"Would you prefer to see this land no longer wild, free and untouched? For it to be contaminated by walls and holes that Nature did not create on its own? I am not here to flatly deny their want for protection. But to uproot life, and by conclusion, permanently for what they build, you believe that is good for the healing process? There were many here before me, but if I do not speak up even about the little things... these lands will fall out of Nature. They will be ruined until the mortals collapse in their last breath. My patience has run thin."

"IF there is an alternative, I would gladly see it. That is why I am here. I cannot change many things, though I will defend Nature to my final days. It is unfair to push away this life, as it is still fragile. Every life is still a life, and you do not pay it enough respect to think this land deserves more fortifications than it does time to heal."

In an ideal world, we'd need no fortification, for there would be no wars. We'd live in harmony with nature and never have to interfere with it's natural circle of life and death. However, we do not live in an ideal world. As much as I wish we did, we dont, and I've come to accept this fact, and know that we then have a responsibility to nature to do what'd be best for it in the long run, even if that means removing something which might not be problem at that time. It's not a decision I love making, far from it, but it has to be done.

Would you rather see this area overrun with undead, see the trees decay and rot into blighted images of their former selves. Or wait, perhaps you'd rather see them burned down by one of them many other invaders that're likely to come, considering the past and present events.

You did not sound like you were here to seek a alternative, from your words, it was a flat denial of the possibility of relocating everything. Every life is sacred, I can agree with you on that, and yes, this land could use more time to heal, however, we're at a crossroad here, either we prolong the healing, and let the dwarves put up their wall, or we deny them the wall, at which point we merely makes more enemies, and they'll likely chop down the trees anyway, and it's unlikely to solve any sort of problem, not to mention I can think up far worse scenarios unfolding, were the dwarves actually not here to defend the wood from invaders.

Do I like having to do this? No... Do I like arguing with you about it, hells no... I find it extremely annoying to have to argue with you, for this plan, but I also realize that should the worst occur, then it might be for the best that the dwarves to have this wall, if not only to defend themselves, but also others, even allies of nature, from harm.

I've seen these lands be invaded with many spawns of evil, things that'd rather destroy this area than nurture it... Do you think you could stop them alone with your circle? They way I see it, we let the dwarves build their wall around their hall, which would also lead to them defending the area from invaders.

The Wall is only that big, a fraction of Rimwoods actual size, Fraction of the Halls own size even. Again, would I like to see it? No, Will I take it down if the dwarves one day left the area, yes. But right now, considering the advantages and disadvantages of the wall being raised. In the long term, I see more advantages, if you'd like to change my mind, and raise more concerns then feel free to speak now.

"Regardless of what invades, and regardless of how well the Ironhouse is protected... they will come. The land will suffer. Again. As always. As per this usual... it is second-place to the priorities of others less inclined to wonder why exactly the food supply is low. Here, the land has never come first, and the druids that exist or have existed here have done little to change that, save for our repetitive attempts to clean up the mess left by others." Her words hung in the air for a time, followed by a few seconds of silence.

"A wall does not defend what stretches beyond it. It protects what lies behind it. Wisely, I should think, as skilled diggers and miners, they would choose to go lower and expand from there. It would take longer to invade. If the wall falls, with one successful blow, it will be all for naught. Certainly, the advantage of a second line of defense is ideal, but the reality is that for all the work put into it, it will break with ease under the right touch. As small as it may seem in comparison to the grand scheme of problems we face, it is still a problem. I'd like to think somewhere, somehow, I am able to convince individuals of true reason through Nature's eyes."

Her attention finally moved back to the blonde dwarf. "I would beseech that you reconsider digging in your halls, where life has not been so readily harmed on a periodical basis. I have no desire to combat with you over your wants. But as of right now, that wall will not make a sliver of difference if the land and people beyond fail to protect you."

Bryanna arrives with a big smile.

"Hello Lhanir! Its so nice of you to wander out and visit us. Can I get you anything? Or are you here to use the library again? Oh and who is your friend?" She says the last with a smile and wave to Mahalion.

"We didn't at all expect so many druids to come to help us. Is moving trees particularly hard? It'd be particularly wonderful if we could group them over around the little park area where the Oak use to be. So that one could lose themselves in nature even right next to the Keep. Might be a great way to help expand that park a bit..." Bryanna trails off as she finally becomes aware of the situation. Offering Lhanir a hug.

"Is something wrong? Why is everyone so tense?"

Valtore simply states, "We are enclosin tha front door behind defensive walls. It goes from tha wall there ta tha path. If ye will not help save tha few trees that be in tha way so be it. Their death is on yur head. As fur yur statement about tha elves been standin in better balance...tha Keeper wants walls all along tha river and has no mind ta remove every tree in tha way. What we be buildin is much smaller then that. Tha elven watch towers be made of felled trees. The elven camp has wooden walls. Yet cause I had the decency ta ask ye ta help us save five trees I get this long speach of our destruction of nature. I am not sure if ye are daft or clueless."

(If the trees are only a year or even two years old they don't need to be chopped down, fyi. As per your previous statements, they have not been growing for very long.)

At Valtore's words, Lhanir extended a hand towards the handful trees at a distance and gives a command quietly in a wispy language. The trees uprooted at a slow pace, squirming and wriggling to be free of the soil. Even a few shrubs and even smaller plants followed suit, engulfed in an animation abnormal for their swaying bodies. (Command Plants PnP)

"I do not know whether you are foolish or ignorant, Valtore. But if you feel the need to insult me when I come to you instead of me simply tearing down your work, then I do not mind handing back what you give to me. Mark my words, I asked you out of courtesy to our neutrality together. If there becomes more than a wall up here, then I will not be so considerate next time. Nature's Blessings to those who still care."

With that, she turned, moving around the small group, not even paying Bryanna with her commonly polite nod of greeting. The plants shifted and followed, heading deeper into Rimwood.

Serebane wrote:

(If the trees are only a year or even two years old they don't need to be chopped down, fyi. As per your previous statements, they have not been growing for very long.)

(( The trees have been grown using magic, so while they might have been planted 2 year ago, they appear and are the size of something far older.

"Funny I didna think folk neutral ta each other resorted ta threats." He turns and jumps back down the hole to continue to work.

Maskedshini wrote:

Serebane wrote:

(If the trees are only a year or even two years old they don't need to be chopped down, fyi. As per your previous statements, they have not been growing for very long.)

(( The trees have been grown using magic, so while they might have been planted 2 year ago, they appear and are the size of something far older.

(Just out of curiosity, what spell?)

Bryanna looks over to Valtore.

"Thane, wasn't talking to folks about this sort of thing suppose to be my job so we could avoid it ending up in threats?"