With the bandits dispersed, that is one less problem for us to deal with. Though I confess that now I worry that any bandits who survived may turn next to the cult for protection, further bolstering their increasingly alarming numbers. Still though, we'll take the victories where we can get them.

There's not enough stormapples in skywall to repay you for this.

Well done, hero. The Rangers of the Grove are in your debt.

The ursera have grown far more aggressive of late. I wonder what has changed to cause this shift in behavior?

Greetings child, my name is Sania Silverstream and I am a junior priestess in the Order of the Al'Aketh. Do you wish to learn more of our sovereign, the Windlord Al'Akir? There is always room at the Windlord's table for the righteous and the repentant.

Thanks hero. This should help us get by for now. If we can't get the supply routes squared away soon though, a few stolen windstones will be the least of our worries.

Rorian has told me much of you. I am likely unknown to you, but I am a member of the Council of Elders here on Zephras Isle. I've come to read the flow of the winds here in Thendal Grove. I'm also here to assess young shen'dorei such as yourself that are coming of age. So tell me, are you ready to take your next step? Are you ready to serve Zephras Isle?

So now that we've learned the basics, why don't you go and learn a tradeskill from the trainers in the village nearby. They will also teach you how to create a camp fixture suitable to your new profession.

Well met!

This is most troubling, but unfortunately unsurprising. We've been aware of the cult's movements for some time, but we've been content to watch from afar. Their agitation of the wind spirits near the standing stones is a clear escalation on their part. You've performed a difficult but necessary service for Thendal Grove, adventurer. Thank you.

...that's about all I have to say about it. I was--um--somewhere else before I was here. Now I'm here and I have my friends, and my things. T-things I built, I mean. That's about all I need. I think that's all I need, anyway. I have to say though, it is nice to talk to someone who will talk back. The forest spirits try, but they just end up singing at me. That's nice in its own way, but not exactly s-stimulating conversation.

Aetheen sent you, then? I'll confess, you don't look like much to me, but Shen'dar Village won't turn down willing aid, much less aid sent from Elder Aetheen herself.

Mmm, I think you are going to like what I can cook up with these acorns!

Excellent work, adventurer. You'd make a fine ranger if this whole "adventurer" thing doesn't work out for you.

It pains me to shed shen'dorei blood here in the grove, but we do what we must.

Hello there, hero.

What I ask of you is not easy, but you must be prepared for much greater challenges if you are to survive long enough to be of service to Zephras Isle.

Very well done. You've felled beasts and laid low cultist interlopers. You have shown great promise but your path must soon take you beyond the relative safety of Thendal Village.

Thank you, stranger! You'll find that these are delicious once roasted! Please excuse me, it won't take me long to whip this up.

It was all I could do to stop myself from going over and joining you from my position here. I can only hope that these louts got the message and clear out of here soon. Thank you, hero. You have the gratitude of the Rangers of Thendal Grove.

Thank you very much for these. As elves we all have a deep connection to magic and these windstones are becoming more and more precious as the magic imbued into this island by the great anchor pylons continues to fade. Windstones aren't the only beneficial thing you can harvest from the land. Please, take one of these manuals.

With this, you'll be able to set up a camp anywhere out in the wilderness. What you've learned is just the basics, so you won't be able to place too many furnishings around it. Raise your cooking skill and you might just be able to learn to make even bigger fires. You can also learn the basics of furnishing your campsites from other tradeskill trainers if you're savvy in their skills.

These sneakthieves have likely been breaking into our supplies for months. I tried to convince Aonda to put a raid together to clear out that bandit cave for good, but she didn't want to pull the few peacekeepers we have away from the village. With the cultists at Falaath Village to the south growing in numbers, I suppose I can't fault her for that.

Thank you, stranger.

The Windshapers do not forget, and blood is always paid with blood. It pleases me that you were able to deliver this final, painful reminder of our creed to this traitor. This heart will not be all that feeds the flames today, however. There is one other task that needs to be done.

You have done well to come this far. You do the Windshapers honor, adventurer.

The heart of a betrayer is a powerful reagent. The flames will eagerly accept such an offering and burn more intensely as it is consumed.

It is done. The Eternal Flame burns once again. Your trial is now complete. I am pleased to present you with your Fire Totem. Use this icon of power well in your travels, adventurer. Just remember, the power of the elemental plane serves those that respect it, and consumes those who do not. This is our way.

We now have what we need. We will light the eternal flame and commune with the spirits of fire.

The spirit of Kuramaa is eternal, and it will manifest again when it is needed. Its mask is a source of great power, and will prove invaluable to the ritual we must complete.

This is an old, beaten, bloody table.

You grab one of the candles and place it in your pack.

These eggs aren't easy to get but wind save me, they are DELICIOUS fried up in a bit of ursera tallow. If you've got a bit of time to spare and you enjoy cooking, I can teach you a few tips and tricks I've picked up. Say the word and I'd be happy to train you.

I didn't say it wouldn't be a dirty job, did I?

No matter how much things change here on Zephras and how uncertain things get, I always say that a pipe full of dried peacebloom and nice full belly is a comfort that can't be beat!

If we didn't have enough on our plates between the cult and the highlands bandits, we don't need a giant vuldren terrorizing our citizens as well. You've done a great thing here today. As promised, here is your reward.

I'll need the creature's head as proof of the deed.

Well done, and quickly too. Not too bad at all.

What beautiful things did you bring me?

More interruptions! Wait, it's you. Were you able to recover the tomb weed?

You place the Candle of Beckoning upon the table and light it...

Good, I see Ageron managed to find you, adventurer. Let us waste little time with small talk and pleasantries and focus on your training. There is still much you have to learn.

It might seem a bit of a vain triviality, gathering feathers for our hair. However, even in times like these, one needs to embrace the small joys as much as possible. If one thing I create brings someone joy, then I will consider that to be a good day. Thank you for bringing me these and helping me bring some joy to Zephras.

There are precious few delights afforded to us in death. Thankfully, pain is chief among them. You please me this day, and therefore you please the Dark Lady. Perhaps you can be of further use.

Extra firewood? That is always welcome. It will keep these old bones warm through the cold nights of the Glades. I have a sling for collecting wood myself, so you might as well hang onto that basket.

If you ask me, I think Prideclaws are actually kind of cute. From a safe distance... and while standing behind someone holding a sword, of course.

Welcome to my fire, traveler.

Give 'em blood and thunder!

Did you find her?