Kol Noth, The Deep Forest of Zuid, part two

A "The Deep Forest" Actual-Play, part two

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Let’s continue with part two of The Deep Forest playthrough! You can check out part one here.

Kol Noth, The Deep Forest of Zuid

Here is our current map, as we move into Autumn. Let’s get into it!

Turn 18 → Jack of Clubs

The Treant is found, fallen to the forest floor, unresponsive. The Orii say to leave them there as they are, for they will become part of the forest as they decompose, providing shelter and nutrients. Nobody takes responsibility for the death.

Projects Advance. Tear down the village completes

The last of the village structures is torn down, the area now littered with piles of debris but the only human-made structure still standing is the Temple.

Start a Project: Drag the debris away (6)

The community begins dealing with the debris from the destruction, dragging it to the edge of the forest.

Turn 19 → 4 of Clubs

A small sapling grows from The Treant’s corpse, able to move about, a baby Treant. The community welcomes and supports the baby Treant, seeing hope in it’s new existence.

Projects Advance.

Agree on Something

“It is sad the Treant fell but it is hopeful we have a new one growing. Natural life is returning, the deep forest is healing,” Alinah says.

“Yes, yes, life returns and spreads and grows,” the Orii say in reply.

“We must continue to protect it,” Iyurk says.

The Treant sapling makes small noises of agreement, unable to fully speak yet.

Turn 20 → Queen of Clubs

A human in white robes appears wandering through the forest. Alinah greets him first, in human form, questioning him. He says he has come searching for an old temple of Light and some artifact within, left behind when the village was abandoned. Alinah tells him no such place exists and there are dangerous monsters here. She transforms into a werewolf and chases him away.

Projects Advance. Exploring the Tunnels completes

Alinah completes her exploration of the deep tunnels under the village. She finds all kinds of bones, skulls, and strange shrines. She learns there was a secret, dark society of magic-users within the Lederan village, making blood sacrifices for power. There is a fell, evil presence about the place.

Uncover Something Old

In the tunnels, Alinah finds a black, polished stone, about the size of her palm. Just touching it causes dark thoughts and feelings.

Turn 21 → 5 of Clubs

A giant deer with enormous antlers arrives in the forest and speaks with the community, telepathically. “I am a Forest Guardian. This Forest called me here. You may call me Dius.” The community welcomes them, although Iyurk seems a bit unnerved around him.

Projects Advance. Moon Circle completes.

The stones are set and the trees grown. The Moon Circle looks and feels close to what it was before. The community hopes that soon, the mushrooms will grow again.

Start a Project: Cleanse the Dark Presence (6)

The community agrees something must be done to cleanse the area of the dark presence left behind. They begin a period of intense cleansing rituals.

Turn 22 → 8 of Clubs

A large wolf enters the forest, coming by the community, sniffing and tracking Alinah. He shape shifts into a human and professes to her that his name is Fridolf and he’s looking for a mate. She is unsure of her response. They hunt as wolves through the trees under a full moon.

Projects Advance.

Uncover Something Old

While dragging debris away from the destroyed village, the community stumbles upon a cellar filled with barrels of wine.

Turn 23 → 6 of Clubs

The baby Treant is found, lifeless. The Orii are upset and nobody is sure who to blame. Some claim the dark presence must be the cause.

Projects Advance. Train the Dogs completes.

Through the community’s hard work, the dogs become more than just companions. They hunt, protect and scout the forests.

Agree On Something

“One human came looking, more will come after,” Alinah says. “When they come, we must be ready to fight.”

“Agreed,” Fridolf says. “If they were here before, they will return and they will not come in peace.”

“When they do, we will be ready,” Iyurk says.

The Orii do not speak, looking scared.

Dius speaks. “We must Guard the Forest as best we can. This is a special place.”

Turn 24 → 9 of Clubs

A clutch of tiny wood nymphs are found nearby. It becomes known they’ve always lived in the area but always out of sight. The community Agrees On Something.

“These are yet more members of the forest, we welcome them into the community,” the Orii say.

Dius nods. “They feel as the forest does, showing themselves now shows the forest is beginning to truly heal.

“More mouths to feed but agreed, they are welcome,” Iyurk says.

“The more the merrier,” Alinah and Fridolf say.

Projects Advance. Drag debris completes.

The last of the village debris is dragged away, leaving the area barren but ready for new growth, with the Temple standing the lone man-made structure for miles.

Start a project: Plant new trees (3)

The community begins planting new trees where the village once stood. With the magic of the nymphs, the Orii and the Forest Guardian, the trees will grow fast and strong.

Turn 25 → 10 of Clubs

The Orii attempt an ancient ritual for power, sacrificing themselves and their corporeal forms to become one powerful being.

Projects Advance.

Agree On Something

“Winter is coming soon, we should store food and prepare,” Iyurk says.

Alinah and Fridolf nod their agreement.

The wood nymphs chitter, “yes, yes, we need somewhere warm for the winter.”

The Orri, now one being of twigs, branches, moss, shrubbery and other forest debris, shrugs in response.

The Forest Guardian does not speak.

Turn 26 → 7 of Clubs

A band of humans aggressively forces their way into the forest, killing the dogs attempting to protect it, before leaving once more. The community responds with violence. They chase the humans, attacking and killing as many as they can before they are too far to follow.

Afterwards, the community buries those that they lost. Alinah and Fridolf howl at the moon.

The community mourns.

Projects Advance.

Start a new project: Study the Golden Orb (6)

After the devastating incident, Iyurk takes it upon himself to infiltrate the Temple and study the Golden Orb in order to understand it’s secrets, so he may be able to use it against humans when they come again.

The air turns bitter and cold, snowflakes drifting down.

Autumn is over. Winter has arrived.

Turn 27 → 6 of Spades

Winter here can be brutal, with the southern ice cap not too far away. Windy, snowy and bitterly cold. Most monsters keep to their shelters more and are generally less active.

Projects Advance. Cleanse the dark presence and plant new trees complete

The last ritual is completed and the dark presence, a spiritual weight upon all in the area, is lifted. The dark stone cracks and crumbles into dust.

The new trees have grown into strong examples of their species and it’s impossible to tell where the human village once stood, the Temple the only remaining marker.

Agree On Something

“We should be allowed to use fire to stay warm,” Iyurk says.

“Agree, in the caves or in our homes, having a fire should be allowed. It wouldn’t hurt anyone,” The werewolves speak up.

The Orii does not speak.

“Use dead wood and do not let the forest catch fire and we agree,” The Wood Nymphs say.

“Fire can be used to aid a forest’s growth, it need not be an enemy of the trees,” Dius speaks.

Turn 28 → King of Diamonds

The Heroes arrive. The game is over.

---

Adventurers come, seeking a treasure within a Temple hidden in the deep forest.

The Forest Guardian appears to them, leaving them in awe. It leads them to the Temple. They can tell they are being watched, by a large creature made of twigs, branches, and fungus, by a pair of wolves, and by tiny wood nymphs. At the Temple, an Ibrida stands wielding a metal axe, menacingly, but allows them to pass.

Inside, they find the Golden Orb. Outside, the gnoll addresses them. “This is our home,” he says. “You have what you want. Do not return.”

The Heroes leave. The monsters look at each other, wondering.

Will more come?

I wanted to end on a positive note, especially after being devastated by losing the dogs. That hurt! It was the only Adoption though, so I didn’t have a choice. Brutal.

I enjoyed creating and playing with this community of monsters. It’s a different experience than The Quiet Year, being more focused with fewer, but more realized, characters. The prompts are just as thought-provoking and interesting as The Quiet Year. I would recommend this game just as highly.

I’d be curious to hear anyone else’ thoughts, let me know in the comments.

What’s Next?

I begin the other game that tied with The Deep Forest in the paid-subscriber poll, The Lonesome Cartographer. This is a hack of Alone On A Map that uses Tarot Cards instead of playing cards, so it will allow me to finally use my Lord of the Rings Tarot Deck:

I’m going to use it to map out the land to the far west, where the Lederans once came from. It will be a new land giving me some creative freedom to play with, which I’m calling Feor Llen. Look forward to that next week.

As always, thanks for reading!