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Bjor's Notes - Mossbeard, The Root Druid


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Bjor’s Notes - Mossbeard, The Root Druid

 

By Beorn Cottonwood

 

Written in the year 1783 (26/08/2020)

 

Historical Remembrancer Record of Hefrumm


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"T'ere's an ol' wind in teh forust, a breeze rulls up teh sky

T'ere's a new rain in teh forust, comin' down so hig'.

Ah see teh c'ange, but everyt'ings teh same,

and ah dunnae w'y.

 

T'ere's an ol' cent in teh forust, et tenders mah moind,

t'eres a new sound in teh forust, it com's frum be'ind.

Ah feel teh c'ange, ah'll stae teh same,

mahself ah'll foind."

 

A song, by Mossbeard.  

 

Mossbeard was a historical character from during the times of Hefrumm’s creation. To most forgotten, to others remembered as the maker of Hefrumm’s root-woven crown. This document, formed from the old notes of the paragon Bjor Cottonwood, will delve into this intriguing character and what role he played in the history of the forest folk. 


 

Founding

We know very little of the mysterious figure and his younger year, what we do know starts with the young Cottonwood Chief, Bjor Cottonwood. Bjor had wandered to the lands of Ulrah in search of other forest dwarven kin. As he had reached the entrance of Kal’Tarak he passed a mysterious figure. He was blinded by his goal and ambitions, causing him to have no eye for this dwarf as he wandered into the Ulrahian capital. An hour later the defeated young chief returned from Ulrah’s hall for there were no signs of any of his kin within the dwarven hold. 

 

“Ya ‘ave t’eh oyes ef ah ‘awk, yet ya c’ose to bhe as bloind as ah mole.” Mossbeard mumbled with amused laughter as Bjor passed the druid. 

 

There the old forest dwarf, of the kin he was looking for, sat at the front steps of Kal’Tarak’s entrance, feasting upon the vibrant red berries, which had grown in between the green plucks of beard moss. Gray spiky eyebrows stuck up from above his eyes almost as if they had hardened through time. He wore clothes so torn and dirty that it almost looked like he had risen from between the roots of an old oak tree. Mad he might have seemed to Bjor’s naked eyes at first, though he carried wisdom for the young chief to soon discover.

 

With laughter, the little dirty figure gestured the bulky chief to join his side.

 

Bjor joined the Root Druid on the stairway, ashamed of his blindness. There the two sat for hours listening to the drops of water running down the dampy Ulrahian gate, woodpeckers hollowing out their homes and beavers letting their teeth sink into trunks of smaller birch trees. Giving the young chief time to reflect upon the current rather than that ahead. It was there that Mossbeard opened Bjor’s eyes for the young Cottonwood was constantly looking to the destination of his travels and the ambitious goals that drove him, that he had forgotten to give an eye to the very path he was walking on and the beauty of Anbella’s creations around it. Years later Bjor brought this wisdom of the blinding danger of ambition to the forest dwarven kin like it was brought to him by Mossbeard. 


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Residence

After the old druid had met the young chief and was informed of his quest, the Root Druid followed Bjor to the old Cottonwood village in the valley of Azgaryum. There Mossbeard would reside, during the youngest years of Hefrumm, in a makeshift grove inhabited by a giant mushroom. Thick clouds of mushroom spores filled this tunnel causing those who’d enter the grove to often hallucinate, adding to Mossbeard’s mystic appearance and tales. That’d be the oldest record of the usage of heavy psychedelics in Hefrumm history, which would later be reutilized by Karl Blackroot during Arcas in spiritual ceremonies. Being one of the first to stay with Bjor’s cause, Bjor often approached Mossbeard for his wisdom and lessons though they were always hidden in his madness and tales.


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Crown

Perhaps the doing he is most famed for among the younger forest dwarven kin is the making of Hefrumm’s crown. That’d be the crown once worn by Bjor and ever since passed down from High Chief to High Chief being recognized as an official relic. The crown itself appears to be made out of a single piece of thick tangled dark oak root, being bend by the druidic magic from Mossbeard’s hands. It has two distinctive sides, one looks fresh and green, the other seems to be a bit decayed and covered in moss. On the front side, there appears to be a story carved into it - A dwarf coming from the forests, who will then work the land, eating the fruits he grew. More other dwarves will begin to gather around him. Eventually, he is handed a wooden Crown and made King of the Forest Dwarves, under this image with the name 'Bjor' would be carved. Some might notice the bright green leaf-like feather stuck into the heart of the wood. This was the feather of a nature elemental Phoenix which can be seen to almost emit a faint green light and gave the crown rumors of having minor yet strange properties. mvzNg14kzsuRxYotofmNiPZZx39J9TPbb37MeGCsNP4xcJTazzts9FGqLpBCg8drhf8c9DjeLDDFwV1_JLk_g37yu4yOlxyK_AwxLfVAeE67xAPd6N6Wm2myTugsx9zTt4z0rjmp

 

Nature Elemental

Mossbeard’s most notable companion was the bright green little bird that lived in the mossy beard of the druid. This was a phoenix of the Ligno kind, also known as a nature elemental. With plumage of leaves and a tailfeather of veins, the phoenix was rather small in size when Bjor encountered Mossbeard. The druid informed Bjor that he mustn’t be fooled, that the phoenix once was and one day will be again of great and majestic stature. Mossbeard told the tale of how the mystic bird had carried him across realms and seas many years prior. 

 

Disappearance

Mossbeard stayed many years with the young chief, bringing his son Muradin Deeproot and younger brother Nurin Deeproot to Hefrumm, revealing him to be of the Deeproot line.  During the years of Bjor’s first proper success in his quest, he came to the conclusion that Mossbeard had departed. All was untouched and nothing was packed, which led to rumors and tales about his departure.

 

Folklore legends

There are multiple beliefs and legends surrounding Mossbeard and his mysterious departure. Most famous of which that Mossbeard was sent by Anbella herself, to be a guidance for the young chief with his quest just like the Great Boar of Atlas had been years prior. Others say that a Phoenix of leaves and vines will come down from the sky during times most dire for the children of Gloin, carrying the bearded druid.

 

Mossbeard played a big role in the formation of Hefrumm, being among the first to settle with Bjor and bing the wisdom to guide the young chief. The root druid taught the kin of Gloin the dangers of ambition and how, if blinded by it, it can counteract the very goals you ambitiously strive for.

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[!] High chief Karl Blackroot feels proud to be of the same race as this great swed. 

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[!] Deep in the halls of the library,  a robed Remembrancer smiles as he watches a new generation of learned scribes write and publish their works. 

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"I haven' seen this lad ever since we departed from Axios." Harold would state as they read through the paper a warm smile forming on their features "Glad ter know they're still about somewhere." 

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Somewhere, in a fog filled shroom infested forest, a deep snoring, mixed with mumbling, would be heard from inside a rotting tree stump ”...mmmmmmmberries...” As the days grew older and the moss around the stump longer, the snoring one day stopped. A vigorous munching noises would soon follow, accompanied by ”mmmmmmmmberries” mumbling.

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