'The River of Whispers,' Xander begins, his voice carrying a hint of reverence, 'is no ordinary waterway. It winds its way through the heart of Felderia, a lifeline that nurtures the lands it touches.'
He paints a picture with his words, describing the river as it snakes through lush lands and forests.
'You can find many different fish in the river,’ Xander continues, ‘such as the Silverscorch eel,' he says, and zooms in on the map's river showing us a sleek, silver-coloured eel glimmering under the river's surface. Its fiery-red fins undulate gracefully, resembling dancing flames. 'When cooked,’ Xander adds, ‘its flesh is reminiscent of the finest roast chicken. There's also the Polka-Gem Fish in the river, adorned with scales resembling various coloured gems, creating a shimmering tapestry of many tones. But, despite its pretty appearance, consuming the Polka-Gem Fish is highly dangerous,’ Xander warns, ‘as it carries potent toxins within its flesh. Oh, and watch out for Zapperflies,’ he laughs. ‘They flutter near the flowers that grace the river's banks. At first glance, you might think they are standard blue butterflies found in your world. However, they have a magical ability that sets them apart. With a swift motion of their wings, they can generate a small electric current capable of delivering a mild shock to those who cross their path. While the shock won't cause harm, it certainly provides a surprising jolt, often leading to comical scenes of people leaping and dashing away from the Zapperflies. You will also probably hear talk of the river holding a secret,' Xander adds, his voice filled with intrigue. 'Felderians speak of its waters carrying whispered messages, secrets only those with a keen ear can decipher. It is said that those who listen closely may catch fragments of forgotten tales and cryptic prophecies as if the river itself yearns to share its wisdom.'
Xander pauses for a moment, allowing the mystique of the river to settle upon us, before turning his attention to the Sunfire Plains that lay to the south.
'Now for the Sunfire Plains. They are renowned for their bountiful harvests, a testament to the fertile soil that nurtures various grains. Fields of wheat, barley, oats, and rye that stretch as far as the eye can see, swaying in the warm breeze. The Sunfire Plains,' Xander continues, as he shows us the fields on the map, 'is a land of abundance and vitality, where the warm sun nourishes the land and the grains grow tall, ready to provide sustenance for the people of Felderia.'
‘Are there any Blossom foxes in the Sunfire Plain?’ I ask Xander.
‘No, the only places I know of where they’ve been sighted are in Moonshade Forest, over here,’ he says and taps to the right of the map. ‘The sylvan woods,’ he continues and points to the left of Diamond Lake. ‘And the Witching Woods, over here,’ he says, pointing west of the river.
‘So, which of these places will we be searching first?’ I ask him.
‘When we enter Felderia, Gravehaven is the first township we will come across. It’s also where I keep the wraiths from haunting and claiming the villagers at night. Moonshade Forest is the closest location from there, with apparent sightings of the Blossom fox. It will take us a couple of days to get there riding the Glowhorn stags.’
'What if we can't locate one there?' I ask a tinge of concern in my voice.
Xander pauses for a moment, contemplating my question. 'If we can't find one in Moonshade Forest,' he replies, his brow furrowing slightly, 'our next options would be the sylvan woods or the witching woods. However, the sylvan woods are located too close to Starlight Citadel.'
As he mentions Starlight Citadel, Xander brings it up on the map, and my eyes widen in awe. The grand fortress stands atop a towering cliff, its majestic presence commanding attention. From its lofty perch, many hills attempt to rise to its magnificence, each adorned with thousands of stone houses, creating a breathtaking sight.
'That's the Starlight Citadel,' Xander explains, his voice full of reverence and caution. 'It is the esteemed home of the Mystic Council, the powerful enchantists of Felderia. They cannot know of your presence here, so it's best to keep our distance. The closer we are to the citadel, the greater the risk of drawing unwanted attention.'
He then points to the witching woods on the map. 'On the other hand, the witching woods harbours Warrick, the monstrous werewolf. I was hoping that the day he was magically bound there, a few years ago, it would be the last day I ever see him,' Xander continues, a hint of apprehension in his tone. 'Encountering him is something I'd rather avoid, and I’m sure the feeling from him would be mutual to mine. So, let us hope that we find the Blossom foxes in Moonshade Forest and can steer clear of these other two places altogether,’ Xander clasps his hands with a sigh, ‘but I think that’s enough about Felderia for today. I can go over more of it all with you on Saturday if need be. I must take my leave and go anyway to deal with the wraiths before sundown in Gravehaven,' Xander states, a hint of annoyance in his voice. The topic of the wraiths has evoked a sense of frustration within him. 'It's unfortunate we haven't found a permanent solution to keep the wraiths bound to the graveyard at night.'
Confused as to why he can't bind them with a magic spell he's used in the past, I can't help but ask, 'But you were able to bind the rogue alpha to the witching woods, so why can't you do the same with the wraiths?' I ask.
Xander lets out a sigh, his expression full of resignation. 'Wraiths are ethereal, ghostly forms,' he explains. 'They are like shadows, visible but intangible. In the sunlight, they fade away, only to return at dusk. If you were to try and touch one, your hand would simply pass through it, much like Janie's hand did with the holographic map. The spell used to bind the rogue alpha works on physical forms, but wraiths are different. They are elemental beings of shadow, and only those who wield shadow magic, like warlocks, have any sway over them. As of yet, we have found no way to truly destroy them, for they are technically already dead. However, we can harness our shadow magic to keep them confined to the graveyards until sunrise.'