Over the past four weeks, fifty brave builders joined us for our inaugural role-play competition: Heroes of Fur and Feather. In three challenges, each player created LEGO scenes and lore that advanced the story of their animal hero. There were so many inspiring builds and epic plot twists, but at the end of the journey, one builder consistently won us over with his amazing character, beautifully staged scenes, chilling creature designs, and cozy storytelling. And that builder is Ben Grayson! For completing the quest of winning over our panel of judges, Ben wins a copy of  Blathers’ Museum Collection. Thanks to everyone else who participated. Now, we’re proud to present Ben’s series of builds in full.

Priscilla Bramblewhisk, a squirrelling ranger, has always enjoyed an adventure since she was a wee-squirrelling. Whether it was climbing trees, hopping over rocks, or exploring burrows of other creatures within her realm. As she grew older, her adventures grew grander, though her parents may disagree for danger always loomed, and took her to further new places.

Upon one such adventure, a tribe of mandrake blights tried to capture her. Darting and dodging away from their lunges, one grabbed Priscilla by the ankle and tackled her. Lucky for her, kicking the blight twice in the head knocked the rooty face clear off! She quickly decided to stuff the wooden head into her backpack before darting out of the burrow.

When she finally returned back to her family burrow, bruised and battered, she was weary to try such an adventure again. Once she remembered the head of the mandrake blight stuffed into her pack, she decided that should not stop her adventures. Better yet, her first unfriendly encounter should be a reminder to herself to always seek passage, and maybe even a warning sign to other beings she may stumble across in future expeditions.

Priscilla now always brings her trusty quarterstaff with her. Serving as a walking stick, weapon, and reminder to foes that she is not to be trifled with!

Chapter 1: Delving Day

Finally feeling refreshed, Priscilla Bramblewhisk decides to enjoy another outdoor saunter, and hopes it is a quiet journey. She follows one of her favorite, tried and true paths, until it no longer seems the same as it was….

“A mushroom?… but red?
You’re a new friend in my forest,” Priscilla mutters to herself continuing onward.

“Friend!? I’d love to be a friend!”

“EEP!” Priscilla springs up into the air, using her quarterstaff to propel her even higher!

Landing startled, the tiny, high-pitched voice says “Oh I’m sorry, I didn’t mean to scare you! Just wanted to say I’d love to be your friend!”

“What are you?!” Still very taken aback, Priscilla stands and dusts her cloak.

“Well, see, I was just a mushroom. But then I, well, I think became more alive? I always alive before, but now I’m just..” (The tiny mushroom babbles on for sometime, while Priscilla has tuned out the little thing).

“But why?” She finally interrupts.

“Oh! Well. I don’t know. I don’t know much as you see I am but a wee mushroom…” (more babbling).

Ignoring the tiny thing, Priscilla decides it is bet to take the odd mineral, and continue on her quiet walk. Pocketing the rock, she can’t help but ponder wherever that noisy, little mushroom have come from? Priscilla knows these woods and especially this path all too well for it to not be something odd.

Still unsure of what it does, Priscilla will be offering her new-found rock to the questing beast.

Chapter 2: Strange Encounters

“Gah!” Priscilla gasped and jumped back as this slow moving creature turned around.
“Why are yo following me? Hmmm??”

“I didn’t know I was! My name is Priscilla Bramblewhisk and I live around these woods. Who are you?” She inquired.

“I am Yarrow, a wanderer,” the sloth backpacker responded in his slow drawl. “Why all over the place you see. I pack many things with me. I never move fast enough to need and stop anywhere,” Yarrow responded.

The pair continued on through the mushroom-filled woods, seeing as they appeared to be heading the same direction. Of course, Yarrow’s slow pace took Priscilla some getting used to.
“So what’s with the magnifier?” She finally asked.

“Well I cannot see very far in front of me. So I must go slow to be careful,” Yarrow calmly responded.

All of a sudden something large moved through the brush at surprising speed for it’s size. Blocking their path, and standing double their height, a large mushroom-shaped figure prevented them from moving forwards.

“Whomst hath entered my wood?” Bellowed the low voice.

Priscilla answered for the pair, “Priscilla Bramblewhisk of the Squirrelling Rangers, and, uh, Yarrow… of the wanderers?” She didn’t sound convinced in this answer herself. Priscilla drew up her quarterstaff ready to defend herself, while Yarrow slowly lifted his magnifying staff to see who was talking ahead of him.

And at the point, the Mushroom Ent stepped closer.

“Why are you here? These woods are mine! I have been here before you were born!” Priscilla quickly darted underneath the large swinging arms, swinging her quarterstaff as she went with all her might. The figure tumbled to the ground, mushrooms going in every direction.

“Time to pick up the pace Yarrow!” She called as she darted down the path. Priscilla heard the clattering of trinkets become more rapid in their clattering, knowing Yarrow had also escaped that close call!

Chapter 3: Wandering Hearts

Feeling grateful to have escaped the Mushroom Ent, Priscilla hurried down the path to check on Yarrow.

“Yarrow! Are you okay? I heard your clattering—I’m so glad you made it away!”
“Yes, yes, my dear, quite alright,” replied the now older, slower sloth. “I never introduced myself properly. I am Yarrow, a wanderer of the woods… but more than that. Many know me as the ‘Questing Beast,’ though I rarely say so aloud.”

“You’re the Questing Beast?!” Priscilla was stunned. She’d been trying to return a found stone to such a creature when she first encountered Yarrow.
“Yes, one of my many names. Do I not look the warrior part?”
“I—no, that’s not what I meant,” stammered Priscilla. She hated these kinds of awkward moments.

Yarrow chuckled. “It’s alright, dear. I didn’t wish you to know until now. You have something for me, yes?”

“Oh! Yes! I made sure not to lose it.” She handed him the stone.

“Ah, I thought it might be this. You seem the type. This stone holds a magic I haven’t yet discerned… but I sense you hold one too.” His slow eyes brightened.
“Me?! I’m just a ranger. I don’t have magic.”
“It’s not about spells or wands. Yours is of the heart. You’ve cared for these woods through hardship. That’s magic too. And I believe you’ll continue to care for the Delve.”

Wide-eyed, Priscilla whispered, “Well… now what?”
“Take the stone. Meditate. All will be revealed.”
She did so, calm washing over her. She imagined this “heart magic” and, though doubtful, found herself believing.

A sudden clatter broke her focus.
“Yarrow?” she called out. He was gone—only his pack remained.
Inside was a stitched label: *The Good. Items for all who require them.*
“The good indeed,” she murmured, shouldering the pack with the stone now fixed to her quarterstaff.

No longer just Priscilla Bramblewhisk, Squirrelling Ranger—she had become Priscilla Bramblewhisk, Wanderer of Heart.