Disclaimer: I in no way own Harry Potter, although I wouldn't mind one bit if I did.
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7: meeting a ranger
As Ginny, Luna, and I catch our breath after fighting the final wolf den I take stalk of our items. Examining our wolf pelts I see we only need 7 more to complete the request Madeline at the General store asked of us. Deciding we would collect these pelts before doing anything else I next looked over each of us.
Noticing I leveled up I check my attributes. Realizing I need more health I raise my Constitution to 9. In looking over my skills I decided to add a third element to my arsenal, and so I purchased "Lightning Bolt". Neither of the other girls had leveled up so I ignored the rest of those screens.
Noticing I am still slightly injured from our last battle I ask Luna to heal me up. She does so before focusing to regain her mana. Neither Ginny nor I need to recover anything else so we set out looking for more wolves.
While exploring the eastern paths We find a deer path. Unfortunately, it seems to lead nowhere and so we head back toward the north-south road.
At 1 point we find a lumber yard. Inside the lumber mill, we find a desk that holds a potion of greater healing. After adding the potion to my bag we step out of the lumber mill, and right into a fight with 2 wolves. After defeating the wolves Ginny levels up to 8, but more importantly, we find our 14th wolf pelt.
Before we leave the lumber mill Ginny adds 1 attribute point to her strength. As for her skill point she Purchases "Ice Spike". I asked her why she purchased that skill.
"You are focused on fire-based attacks and so I thought it would be a good idea to have the opposite element available just in case."
I smile at Ginny and nod in agreement.
We continue to explore the forest. At the western edge of the forest, we find a group of vines that block our way through. Trying to cut them with a blade does nothing. I try to burn them with a "Fire Bolt". Again nothing. I've never encountered vines this tough before. I was about to grab the vines in frustration when Luna got my attention and pointed above my head.
How did I miss that? New words had appeared above my head. "The quest, The Sweet Smell of Success, has been added. The way deeper into the forest is blocked by Stranglehold vines. I need to find some way of clearing them if I want to proceed." Deciding to think about it later We head back east.
While searching for more landmarks that we could use at a later time we are attacked by a pair of wolves. After defeating them we receive our 15th wolf pelt. Only 5 left.
While exploring a meadow we found near the lumber mill we are attacked by a single wolf. Unfortunately, we received no wolf pelts. Nor did any of us level up.
Getting discouraged I decide to look over the paths Jonathan told me about. One of these paths leads us straight to an ancient-looking temple. Curiusz we approach the altar. To my surprise, Luna gets excited when she sees the altar.
"I can't believe it. I'm actually here. Praised be the Divine..."
I give Luna a look. "I must be missing something. Where are we?"
Luna turns toward me with the most brilliant smile I've ever seen. "This temple was once the center of all spiritual activity in the area. Long before Farhaven was built. Ever since receiving Priestess Alexia's memories, I've always dreamed of making a pilgrimage to all the ancient holy sites. Forgive me for asking... I know there are more important matters... But it would mean a great deal to me to complete her pilgrimage. I may never have another chance."
I blink in surprise before smiling at Luna. "Of course. Where are the other holy sites?"
Luna thinks for a minute. "There are two shrines; one is deep below the earth, in the caverns west of Farhaven. The other is somewhere north of the graveyard."
I nod in response. "I'd be glad to help you undertake her pilgrimage. Let's be on our way."
Luna appears to glow at my response before turning serious. "I'll need to pray at the shrines first. Then I can return here to complete my pilgrimage."
I nod again. "Alright. Let's be on our way."
Just then I notice more words appear over my head. "The quest, Pilgrim's Progress, has been added. Alexia has started a holy pilgrimage. She needs to pray at two ancient shrines, one near the graveyard and one in the mines, before returning to the temple in Deepwood Forest." I blink at the name in the quest before I realize the system is using the name of the character Luna has the memories of.
After exiting the temple we explore around the area looking for anything of interest. While looking around we are attacked by 3 wolves. Even though we didn't receive any wolf pelts Luna leveled up to 8. Apparently, we forgot to distribute her attribute points when she reached level 7 because she has 2 attribute points to place. She places both points into Intelligence raising her maximum mana. As for her skills, she raises her "Hands of Healing" skill to rank 4.
After getting lost in a maze of brambles, ruined walls, and thorns I followed my map until we found the trails that circled the forest. Along the way, we are attacked by 3 wolves that gave us nothing but experience when defeated.
While exploring a trail near the gate leading back into Farhaven it happened again.
As we made our way back along 1 of the trails that led to a deadent we fought 2 wolves that gave us our 16th wolf pelt when defeated.
As we approach the northern edge of the forest A hooded figure steps silently from the trees, blocking your path. "You don't want to go that way—trust me."
I frown. The voice sounds familiar somehow.
Ginny looks the stranger over. "Well hello, tall, dark, and mysterious. You're not a bandit, are you? If you were, I'd have to take that back... and also get violent."
Inwardly I smile at Ginny's speech. "Who are you?"
The figure pulls their hood back. I gasp in shock. I've only seen her in pictures in my photo album. "Aunt Alice?"
Alice blinks. "Only 1 person called me Aunt". She studies me. "Are you Ivy?"
Without hesitation, I throw myself into her waiting arms. "How are you here" I ask into her shoulder. "Last I heard you and Uncle Frank were still in St. Mungos."
Alice raises an eyebrow. I've been here now for years. For some reason, I got the memories of a ranger named Matthias who watched over this forest just a few days ago. ."
Finally, I pull back. "I and my friends are trying to discover what's causing the attacks on Farhaven. However, I also came out here to hunt for 20 wolf pelts for the owner of the General store."
Alice hugs me again. "I know. It didn't take long for me to realize that you weren't here to make things worse. Clearly, you and I are searching for the same thing - the source of this... this shadow. I've been tracing it for some time, and I think I know where to look."
I give Alice my full attention. "I'm listening, go on."
Alice takes a deep breath. "An ancient road cuts through the forest. It leads to a series of ruins in the west. All the signs point that way."
I frown. "I know the road you speak of. It's blocked by some sort of vines."
Alice sighs. "Stranglehold vines. I should have known. We won't be able to break through them... though we might die trying. Clearly, Deepwood doesn't want us to learn her secrets."
I look at Alice. "You know these woods better than any of us. Is there no way around the vines?"
Alice taps her lip in thought. "I know of a flower that repels the vines. Its scent is fearful to them. It's rare, but if we can find three blossoms, we should be able to pass."
I give Alice a look. "We could use your knowledge of the forest; would you help us search for these flowers?"
Alice straightens to her full height. " Deepwood has become my home. I would give my life to see it restored."
I offer my hand to her. "Then we will restore it - together."
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An: and that is where I am going to leave it this time. Once again I didn't complete the quest I wanted to. Hunting for these wolf pelts is quite a chore.
Next chapter we will finish collecting the wolf pelts, and head into Silver Shade Mine.
As always if you have a comment or questions you can leave me a review, or send me a PM. I hope you are enjoying this story, and I will see you all next time.