Unmotivated Deity

It was midday when the platoon of guards saw the forest ahead of them. They were on a road through a wide plain, but in the distance, one could see towering evergreen trees reaching for the heavens themselves. As they continued to approach from just being shadows on the horizon, one could start to see the various shades of green covering their branches and their massive trunks started to look like an ever-expanding wall on either side of the dirt road that they were traversing.

It was only another hour before they arrived at the edge of the forest, the towering trees casting their shade upon the platoon. The group stopped just outside of the forest by one of the trees, its brown bark seeming as thick as a steel tower shield and its height so great that when peering up one could only see what was maybe a quarter of its full size. After stopping Lord Losler and Jien left their steeds to discuss the next course of action with the platoon of guards.

The forest itself was too massive to search fully with such a small group and even if this group would be able to the danger zones within the forest were not a place that anyone should step unless they were truly desperate. Even then, it would be nothing more than a death sentence since maybe one in a thousand had left those zones and the tales that they brought were so harrowing that it had left to insanity at the least. This was why the group did not wish to venture forward without further plans.

Once they had left the horses Lord Losler brought out a map from his saddle while one of the pure mages of the group cast a small spell. The ground swelled into a small hill before compacting and solidifying into a firm earthen slab made of brown stone. The slab reached the height of a standing table so that they would be able to lay out the map their lord had retrieved. Earl nodded lightly to the mage and unfurled the map showing the depiction of the forest they were just outside of.

The shape of the forest was overall roughly oval with some sharper edges. The map depicted what was mapped of its insides during many explorations in the past. There were a series of rivers, ponds and lakes that spread throughout the depths depicted in the map. Some had been named while many were left without titles. Besides these sources of water, the forest had been sectioned in the map as if to describe different cities in a continent. Some sections had red lines running through them to show that they represented the danger zones. One of these areas showed a waterfall, the words 'Fey Falls' written above it, while another appeared to show a vast pit consuming more than three quarters of the section. This location was simply named 'The Pit'.

As Lord Losler looked over the map he was thinking of his own ideas of where to search, however this was his chance to see what Jien would do in this scenario, as such he turned to his son and with a smile asked what his thoughts were. Jien continued to inspect the map carefully without raising his head. He saw several locations that he himself may choose if he was to be a bandit, but there were many of them and they were a small group. Jien pointed to a small lake next to a slight clearing before what looked to be depicted as a cave on the map. "This is a potential location." he stated calmly. "It is deep enough to make it a pain to reach with large forces, close to a water source, protected by cave if they cleared any fauna living it." He thought for a moment before pointing to a location not far from the edge of the area called 'Fey Falls'. There was what appeared to be a grove surrounded with rivers with only a single entrance. "This is also another decent spot; the rivers make it difficult to approach from the sides, leaving only one area to enter and exit. The trouble with it is that it is so close to 'Fey Falls' but that could also be a source of protection since not many would want to approach that area."

Earl nodded at this. These were indeed two of the few locations he had spotted. Another was at the far side of the forest, right next to the Eternal Battlefield. There was risk with that location of being found by the human army, but being so far from the main cities and towns of the Elitrix Empire would lead to a good chance of not being caught at all.

Lord Losler turned to the gathered guards. "Jien will be in charge of this expedition from this point forward. His words are as my words and his decisions carry the same weight as mine." After these words the guards all saluted first to Lord Losler, then to Jien to signify their acceptance of this decision. They then gave Jien their full attention as the new leader of the group.

Jien looked at the map again for a short while before stating that they would take a break to rest before entering the forest. They would follow the established road until they reached the area roughly perpendicular to the cave. Jien felt that the cave was likely the spot with the highest chance of being the bandit's hideout, given that most would want to avoid Fey Falls given the potential danger involved with being there.

The idea of staying on the road until that point was twofold. The forest itself could be disorienting if you left the main road. There were hardly any good markers within the forest itself and there were no marked trails through the forest other than the main road itself. Secondly, Jien wanted to test if the bandits would attack them while they were on the main road. If they attacked them on the main road and they were able to capture even just one, they may be able to dig out the location of the stolen goods without having to venture blindly. He explained this logic to the group of guards before looking to his father with a serious expression to make sure that his decision was sound. He didn't want to lean very heavily on his father's knowledge for this mission, but he also understood that Lord Losler was there to help him, and he would be foolish not to accept that help if it could improve their chances.

Earl smiled and made his approval known after Jien had described his plan. With the initial planning taken care of they took a rest from the travel to stretch and refresh themselves in preparation for what may be tough expedition depending upon what was waiting for them ahead. Jien spent that time with his father, picking his brain about ideas on how best to lead the guards. He had never taken control as a commanding officer. He was still young, and though Lord Losler had taught him quite a bit about territory management their home of Afrem City had been peaceful from before Jien's birth. With no major conflicts occurring Lord Losler hadn't found it crucial to try and drive that skillset home any earlier than this point in time.

Eventually the group gathered up once more and started on their path into the Forest of Songs. As soon as the horses crossed the first line of trees it was as if they had crossed a barrier. There was no change in physical sensation but as soon as they had left the plains behind them an indistinct, melodic voice murmured throughout the space. Jien looked around him trying to understand where it may be coming from. He had already expected this, given that this melodic murmuring was the reason the forest was named as it was, but he still was curious about what or who could be causing such a phenomenon. It was so indistinct that one could almost say that it was the running of streams or perhaps the wind running through the trees, but it was also omnidirectional, and yet seemed aimed directly at them, as if someone were whispering gently in their ears, but just light enough that you would not be able to understand what was said.