After venturing deep enough into the forest, we encountered fairies who told us that "The blooms are coming." We had no idea what this meant, so Gregor attempted to commune with his sword to determine what it is. He learned that a bloom is an area where the border between our world and the "First World" is eggshell thin, or less. We waited in the forest for a bloom to appear, as a bloom is the only way to acquire trophies, which are required to perform a ritual that will take us to the "First World." While we waited, Linkles went to the "First World" with Glade and gained the ability to travel between the worlds when the barrier is thin. However, he almost always seems to come back drunk beyond belief. After some waiting, we learned of a bloom within Solvania. We ventured back, but Glade and Linkles arrived first, and nearly died attempting to destroy the bloom. Eventually, Gregor, Rigby, and I arrived at Solvania, and together we were able to eliminate the bloom, which appeared as a black whirlpool with black swans. The water made people all over Solvania blind, but we destroyed the bloom and attained our first trophy.

After we finished our business in Pitax, we returned to Solvania. During the time there, we finished up some political events and fitted ourselves out with new equipment. Shortly after our down time, we received word from Glade that we must venture out into the wilderness to fight a strange fey woman, part of whom was also located in Briar, which Gregor now holds. We ventured to the forest and traveled through, when eventually we encountered a dryad in the forest, who attacked us. We killed her and the trees, which were apparently living. I am sensing that Glade does not like me very much after that fight, as I tended to burn the trees. We then continued to venture into the forest in search of the being we were sent to fight.