Blessed of Lanatria

Adventuring through a mountainous area known for rather anomalous weather and seemingly random seismic events, you find yourself in a shrine worn by time in the heart of the mountain. The walls seem stable, but cracks run through the ancient bricks, while the floor seems half-scorched, half-frozen. The top of the shrine holds an old fan, spinning with the wind and creating a symbol of the elements. the altar at the center holds the same glyph.

As you get closer, the wind surges as a glow emanates from the altar, making the walls start to break apart and coalesce into a humanoid figure made of stone. A pair of holes where the head would be give a sudden yellow glow, making eyes that shine over you. "A mortal has found my first shrine... They must hold some power to have made it here." A voice emanates from the shrine itself as the construct towers over you, stepping closer as it watches you intently. After a moment, it holds out its hand, emanating a yellow glow. "... with such power, they may prove useful... they deserve a gift."

Exploring a jungle between the lands of the Beastlings and the forests of the Wood Elves, known for being incredibly overgrown and having animals that seem to be more mystical and aware than normal, you push through some dense vines and ferns to see what seems to be a shrine built into the base of a great, ancient tree. the building itself is a bit ruined, but the walls are seemingly being held together by the ivy that practically encases them, rather than breaking the walls down. The altar itself appears to be a large stump, with the rings of the wood making the symbol of nature, while the greater tree's roots arch against the sides of the altar, seemingly cradling the stump.

Before you can look through the area, the bark of the tree shifts as a hand made of wood sprouts out from it, pushing itself out as the wood smooths over until the full figure steps out of the tree, looking at you curiously as the walking wood shifts its form into the appearance of a female Dryad. "A visitor? Why, how lovely! a mortal has found their way to my original shrine! I do so love the company." The Dryad says, the ivy around her swaying across the walls. "I am Kinu... and you have caught my eye, mortal. It would be a shame for you to leave my shrine empty handed." She says, holding out a hand as she watches you curiously.

Wandering through a dark forest, with only moonlight to guide you through the fog-laden grounds, you find yourself growing weary from your journey, out of rations and your waterskin empty. It doesn't take long to find yourself on the ground, eyes growing blurry from exhaustion, but not before you see that you're in the ruins of some ancient village. The moonlight around you seems to intensify as you slip into unconsciousness.

"... Mortal... wandering so far from home..." A voice rings out suddenly around you, rippling softly through the dark of your dreams as a soft bright light appears. "I am sorry for what has come of your wandering... but you followed my moonlight... you are safe... and I shall give you a gift... a gift I hope will aid you, and perhaps my dear scared Hetrya."

Suddenly, you're awake, the moonlight now tempered alongside a softly-glowing lantern. Your hunger and thirst were renewed, and you felt s you open your eyes, you hear a soft gasp and some movement as a woman with long, braided black hair and horns that seem to write and shift moves away from you for a moment, clearly surprised to see that you'd woken up. After a moment, she speaks, her voice hesitant and quiet despite her horns. "T-Thank Triatton you're okay! I-I saw you fall in the village from here, a-and was worried you'd died right on the pathway! T-There's not much village left anymore... B-But the shrine is still here, a-and you're safe." Looking at you, she pauses before continuing cautiously yet curiously. "You... Y-You feel different now though..."