Defenders of the Forest - Liber Fanatica

Chapter XII: Revolutions
in Progress
Searching the area yields a torn, bloody robe identical to the
illusory Elven maiden’s. Search and Follow Trail Tests also
reveal up to three sets of tracks around the stone, depending on
the number of successful tests (see mini-map oposite):
25 50
1 Success Gamekeeper (1 adult humanoid) running from
Camp, past Sentinel into Wild Heath
2 Successes Marianne and Jean-Michel (2 humanoids) running
from Sentinel into Loren
3 Successes Lilids running into Loren (3 tree creatures) and
to Gamekeeper Camp (1 tree creature)
Na v i g a t i o n & Tr i a l s o f t h e Fo r e s t
Na v i g a t i o n
PCs needn’t roll Navigation Tests if they are following an NPC
guide (e.g. Loba, Cerulan) or using the Shadow Walk (e.g.
pursuing Lilids). Unguided travellers must use the normal Athel
Loren Navigation rules (pg. 53).
become lost – Elf or Human – Zephyr is believed to keep them
safe. He loves riddles and considers all of Loren’s child-sanctuaries
to be his domain.
Tr i a l s o f t h e Fo r e s t
Unguided travellers roll normally on Table 7.1: Trials of the
Forest (pg. 57). Following Loba or tracking the twins can trigger
a special trial, the Riddle of Zephyr:
Ri d d l e o f Ze p h y r
Characters might be intercepted by a Brúidd spirit called
Zephyr who appears as a golden-skinned boy. Cherubic laughter
echoes through the gloom. Zephyr appears quite suddenly,
perched on a branch above the PCs’ heads. He chides them
playfully and inquires about their business, before posing a
riddle:
“It eats without chewing, and speaks without words. When it
walks, it becomes something else.”
Answer: a baby or infant
If answered correctly, Zephyr informs PCs they may travel
through his realm; then he dances off across the treetops. If
answered incorrectly, Zephyr frowns and tells PCs to go home;
they become Lost in the Forest (see sidebar, pg. 130).
Zephyr, Protector of Loren’s Children
The golden-skinned Brúidd spirit Zephyr is revered by many
Wood Elves as a Herald of Loec. He knows the forest well
and holds influence on the Council of Beasts. When children
In addition to his role as a protector, Zephyr also ensures that
the sylvan pact with the Elves is honoured. These duties sometimes
conflict. Currently, Zephyr is trying to prevent Jean-Michel
from leaving Athel Loren and instead return him to Bhati,
meanwhile ensuring that the boy doesn’t fall prey to Bhati’s
Lilids (who Zephyr himself is rather afraid of).
Sp e c i a l Ability: El u d e Ca p t u r e
Zephyr is very difficult to catch because his route always leads
through Loren’s most perilous areas. With M 6 and an array of
Talents including Treewalker and Flee!, he can escape through
wooded terrain at Movement 9 (-1 M if carrying a small child).
Grapple attempts against Zephyr are penalised by -20% due to
his slippery skin.
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