Vernadis Besieged Part One

"I entrust you- Zavi Natu- with the charge of our newest Vernadi and the duties and responsibilities thereof," Trostani's voice boomed across the Palisade of Vitu-Ghazi, the mighty city-tree that serves as the home of all Selesnya. The planning had begun months ago, the forms processed through New Prahv in triplicate as the Azorians required. Zavi had been hand-picked by Trostani herself. "You will be granted a force of 100 guards and fifteen guildmages for the protection and building of your settlement. May you be successful in your endeavors and remember: always keep the Worldsoul in your heart," the guildmistress continued, ending a celebration speech before the guild.

Zavi would be off the next morning with his followers to populate a small area near a Golgari gate to the Undercity, a risky place for a purity guild to be. But Zavi wasn't worried, he had some of his best men and friends going on this pilgrimage with him. Yet, he couldn't seem to sleep that night, he kept telling himself go to sleep, it's a tough walk is a hard hike as it is... almost unbearable without sleep. But he couldn't do it, the nerves and excitement combined to keep him awake the entire night, but they kept him going the entire day until they reached their checkpoint for the first night, a rather large Vernadi close to the Firemind's Aerie, Nivix. This night went better for Zavi so he was well rested on the last leg of the hike where he reached the settlement site.

The young guildtree was planted and enchanted without a hitch. The tree itself grew tenfold, the lower boughs branching into many huts, identical to the ones lower down at the base of the beautiful oak. The crown was woven and stacked into a beautiful treetop statehouse for Zavi and the commanders of magic and guards. A ring of barracks were made around the base out of roots that had surfaced and hidden back under the ground. A similar structure was used to form an inner wall while the outer wall was composed of large thorn bushes: Trostani is taking no risks this close to the Undercity.

A beautiful day full of progress, what could go wrong?