Chess Mage of Faerûn

Chapter 191 Visitors in the Mist
Completely bewitched by the enchantress, and further misled by Zhang Yuan and Nancy, two cunning individuals, Bransana easily believed the mage's fabricated story:
"That's how it is. After some wonderful coincidences, Aisha became my natural companion. This time, when I passed through the Misty Forest, I also had the idea of ​​taking her to visit her clan. I just don't know if it will cause you any trouble?" Zhang Yuan asked hesitantly.

Upon hearing this, Bransana was both surprised and somewhat anxious: "How could that be? The Misty Forest always welcomes kind visitors, especially since Aisha is one of our own kind."

Zhang Yuan subtly glanced down at Nancy, their eyes meeting for a fleeting moment: "Then I'll trouble you, sir."

After packing their belongings and setting off in their carriages, the small Canaan caravan resumed its journey in an orderly fashion.

However, the road was not easy to travel this time. The forest path was winding and secluded, and the three carriages were in a sorry state, having to maneuver around. If these carriages were not small or medium-sized, and if the residents of the forest had not maintained some contact with the outside world and left such a passage, they would probably have been stuck in the woods and unable to pass.

Moreover, the name "Misty Forest" is well-deserved. Especially in the early morning, wisps of mist linger in the forest, making the place resemble Lyra's dream world. It's not so dark that you can't see your hand in front of your face, and the visibility is less than ten meters.

Fortunately, with a local (deer) named Branzana leading the way, there was no fear of getting lost.

Naturally, his teammates didn't quite understand his decision, and while they weren't exactly throwing tantrums, some confusion was inevitable.

Taking advantage of the fact that the half-antelopes didn't understand the common language, Zhang Yuan quietly explained his reasons for doing so to his teammates.

The motivation is actually very simple, it can be summed up in two words: Mara!

Of course, this name cannot be spoken aloud; it can only be referred to as the Black Claw Beast King. Everyone knows that just a few days ago, he wiped out a troll tribe that worshipped Mara, even destroying their blood sacrifice ritual.

Although there have been no consequences so far, it is not something to be taken lightly, especially with the Mara Totem being such a hot potato in our hands, something we can neither use nor discard.

The inhabitants of the Misty Forest are mainly elves, half-antelopes, and spirit creatures, who worship the pantheons of elves, dwarves, and halflings. For example, the guy Bransana worships Beven Wildwalker.

But almost every deity has a close relationship with nature, wilderness, animals, or the realm of goodness.

Mara, the killer and executioner of the wilderness, has always been seen as a destroyer and troublemaker by them, so the relationship and attitude between the two sides can be imagined.

This gave the mage a possible opportunity. He couldn't deal with Mara Totem himself, but the gods behind it wouldn't care. By passing this hot potato to the other party, he not only solved a potential problem but also gained some benefits.

Once they enter Uncle Zhang's territory, even a mosquito will be taken; there's no reason for it to be left untouched.

"Boss, do we really have to come to this forest? We don't know anyone here, and who knows what their attitude is? Going to Waterdeep and asking those priests of the Good Gods for help would be the same thing," Bard said, somewhat puzzled.

“That was my plan before, but there’s still a long way to go to Deepwater City. It’s better to resolve this kind of trouble as soon as possible. This is a good opportunity.” Zhang Yuan turned his head and explained softly, “Besides, keeping that item in our hands is a disaster. It’s better to trade it away sooner rather than later.”

"What difference does it make who you trade with?"

“It’s different. The Blackblood Beast King is mostly associated with divine power in the fields of animals, wildness, and hunting. This kind of power isn’t very valuable to those gods who are in charge of justice, protection, and order.” The mage’s eyes seemed to shine through the thin mist.

“But for the gods of nature, animals, and the hunting realm, this is a great gift.” His tone carried certainty and a hint of hope. In truth, Zhang Yuan did this partly to divert attention and hatred, but such calculations were self-evident.

After following Bransana for more than half an hour, and listening to him explain some rules and regulations along the way, just as the horses pulling the carriage began to get a little restless, the trees along the roadside suddenly began to thin out.

In the misty, hazy forest, a clearing appeared before the Canaan team in a way that was truly eye-catching.

So beautiful!
As they parted the layers of mist and saw the lush greenery before them, they couldn't help but exclaim in admiration, either aloud or in their hearts.

This woodland, adorned with green grass and wildflowers, and teeming with wild bees and butterflies, is like a paradise untouched by the changing seasons. A gentle breeze clears the air, dispelling the fog and revealing a breathtaking vista.

Although it is a clearing in the forest, there are some towering ancient trees scattered around, with houses arranged in circles around the trunks. Even on the branches of some of the thickest ancient trees, there are small houses and wooden sheds.

These houses are all built from logs and planks, some of which even have green leaves, branches, and vines on them, giving them a primitive yet lush feel.

Furthermore, clear springs gush forth, and streams meander around. In the early morning, residents come in twos and threes to fetch water and wash up, squatting on both sides of the stream, waving towels and branches to clean themselves.

Upon closer inspection, it was clear that most of the newcomers were indeed half-antelopes like Bransana, or small half-humans or dwarfs. They seemed to know each other quite well and there was no sense of distance between them.

However, the wood elves were nowhere to be seen, suggesting they had settled elsewhere and had their own communities and societies.

While the Canaanites were observing others, others were also observing them.

The villagers, though curious about the sudden arrival of a group of strangers, were not particularly surprised, suggesting that it was not a closed society isolated from the world.

Every now and then, some half-antelopes or half-humans would greet Bransana in a language he couldn't quite understand. The latter would also occasionally point to the group of visitors, presumably introducing them to his companions.

As expected, the enchanting witch accompanying them attracted the attention of almost all the half-antelopes. To be fair, these natives' thoughts were not complicated. Most of their gazes were either admiring or envious, with little jealousy or so-called naked possessiveness.

While enjoying the beautiful scenery and observing the local customs along the way, Branzana, who was leading the way, stopped in front of what was almost the largest wooden house in the area.

"This is our village's council hall. Outsiders must inform the elders before entering our village."

Bransana pointed to the large wooden house nestled under the tallest spruce tree, his eyes fixed on the deer beside him.

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P.S.: Just a little rumor, a certain lazy author who's run out of chapters is going to resume daily single updates next month, with occasional extra chapters. I'm really sorry about that ≡(▔﹏▔)≡

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(End of this chapter)