Zir`ta calls for a briefing of the mission for which our intrepid adventurers are about to partake. Zir`ta's health is obviously failing, no longer able to hide the fact from his students or those around him, even a potion, which he drinks more regularly doesn't seem to have the same effect that it obviously once did. The old man, after being asked of magic items to aid them in their quest, takes Candrize away to find some, which he claims to have gathered over the years. During their absence, Serena fills the party in on their proposed destination and their mission: To bring home Daerel, the Drow to her people, but also to alert the Elves of the forest of their mission in hopes of gaining aid and support for their mission.
Zir`ta returns,
handing Serena and amulet, and then presenting it's mate to Eric,
stating that it will bring to it's mate, when activated, the possessor
of the other, to aid them when they are in dire need. Caution is given
not to abuse this device, as it has limited uses.
That night, the party gathers, collects their things, and heads to the Druid Grove to meet with Caer, who is waiting on his charger. After they leave the grove and head out, they meet with their first obstacle, the gates of the city are closes, word of an impending attack from the Kingdom's enemy, Nott, has arrived. The guards refuse to open the gates for the party, but are finally persuaded with coin. While trying to leave Brilog, Eric's horse decides it doesn't wish a rider, and attempts to throw Eric from it's back, but Caer, being well versed in the ways of animals, calms the beast and they are on their way.
After travelling across the dells to the plains west of Brilog, the adventurers find an easy ride, while Eric still struggles with a stubborn mount. Nothing unusual happens, and they arrive at a hut village where, although sleeping arrangements can be made, Caer decides he prefers to sleep in the outdoors of a copse of trees, and the others decide to stay together, so they make camp within the protection of the grove.
29 Aug 2003While resting the day, a stranger enters the copse of trees in which our intrepid band of adventurers sleeps. It turns out to be Salar, elder of the nearby village, with a plea for the help of a cleric to heal a deathly sick child. The party goes with Salar, leaving Daerel alone, in order to help the village child. It's found, after some doing, that Ket, the ill child, has eaten something that is most probably poisonous. Caer casts neutralize poison on the girl, who quickly comes to. Caer questions the girl as to what she'd eaten, and where she'd gotten it, she said in the field, and Dash, a troublesome older child of the village, dared her to eat it, so she did, only to become ill and lapse into unconsciousness not long after.
Meanwhile, Rube entertains the village children outside the hut of the ill girl, receiving applauds and cheers from the children, and loving it.
Caer had Dash brought to him, and asked to see where the berries came from, after a bit of bravado, the boy was put in his place by his father, and showed Caer where to find the berries. Dash, still feeling put upon and brave, refused to answer Caer's query as to whether or not he knew that the berries were poisonous, but Caer, thinking quickly, taught the boy a lesson, with the help of his pet wolf, Solomariah, and scared the boy. Salar, grateful to Caer and Eric for saving the life of Ket, offered to aid the party "Anything in the village is yours", Caer asked for provisions for their journey, which the village gladly gave them, enough for each party member for several days.
After leaving the village, they traveled further west, almost being trampled by a herd of hunting Centaurs. After a short encounter with one of the Centaurs, they continued west. As Dawn approached, the Centaurs returned, when asked where a good place to camp was, the Centaurs invited them to join them at their camp not far away. They were treated to ale and mead, very strong by any humanoid's standards, which left most of the party incapacitated. Ceren, a female Centaur, and apparent leader of this herd, took an interest in Jal`ron, whom she believes to be the leader of the party, perhaps due to the fact that he's the only one that addressed her on their earlier encounters. The following day, while still suffering the effects of strong drink, a commotion was heard, and the party ran to find the Centaurs in a battle with a band of orcs. Caer immediately takes to action, followed quickly by Jal`ron and Candrize, to aid the Centaurs in their fight.
After the fight, Eric heals the injured Centaurs, after which, Ceren goes to Jal`ron, very grateful of the aid to the herd, and pronounces that the names of the party members will, from here on, be included with the others of the herd.
Upon hearing of what the party's quest was, Ceren volunteered, due in part to gratitude, and in part that she is the only one of the herd that speaks common or Elvish, to join them, for the success of their mission, would aid the Centaurs, and allow them to return to their ancient home in the forest, where the war had driven them out.
The party, after another 2 nights travel, arrive at the edge of the forest, Jal`ron volunteered, almost insisting, to speak with the Elves, fearing for the safety of their charge, Daerel, and not wishing to bring her into the camp of her people's enemy. Only yards into the forest, Jal`ron is intercepted by Elven guards, one of whom, Captain of the guard, Var`den, Jal`ron knows from his childhood as one of those who'd picked on and taunted him because he was 1/2-elven, and not of pure Elven lineage. It was insisted that the entire party be brought to the Elven city at the center of the forest, and the others, Daerel and Ceren included, were rounded up and escorted to the city in the trees.
The Queen was sent for, and while an argument arose due to the identity of Daerel, the Queen arrived and put a stop to Var`den's heavy handed actions. Daerel then identified Var`den as possibly being responsible for her kidnapping and the war, that she recognized his voice, even 50 years later as the one who, not only kidnapped, but was leading others to do so. The Queen had Var`den arrested, and later a hearing was convened where spells were used to bring out the truth of the matter. Var`den was pronounced guilty and given a choice, execution, which is quite unusual for any crime to the Elves, or banishment for all time. Jal`ron attempted to object, but was quieted quickly. Var`den chose banishment, and made mention that he would return, he was then escorted by the guards, from the forest, with orders that if he returned, his life was forfeit.
The Queen granted diplomatic status and protection to Daerel, since it was not her, or any evil which she had been party to, but rather, she was the victim of an unscrupulous person, which had brought them to this point.
5 Sept 2003Rube decided, while in the Elven city, to visit the Bazaar, which he found on the highest tier of the tree city. While there, he found an Elven armorer who he convinced to measure him for an Elven Chain shirt, but after discovering that he didn't have enough gold to even afford a down payment, he cancelled the order. Although he couldn't find the armor he was after, he did make a shrewd purchase of an elven crafted short Rapier, which fit him perfectly.
Meanwhile, Jal`ron visited his mother, whom he hadn't seen in quite some time, accompanied by Ceren, who his mother seemed to think was a female interest of Jal`ron's. While visiting his mother, he found out that his full Elven half brother had enlisted in the Elven Guard and, while out on a mission, failed to return. This troubled Jal`ron greatly, but with nothing to go on, he had no way to seek him out.
At this point, the Queen had the brave party sent for, a messenger from the Queen found each, except for Rube, and escorted them to the Queen's palace at the center of the Tree city, grown right into the very trunk of the tree at the city's heart. A Steward greeted them, and, discovering the Rube had not arrived, had some guards go search for him, finding him in the Bazaar, escorted him to the Palace. The Queen then gave them an audience, bestowing the hopes of the Elven people upon them in their task, and offered any assistance, as well as a reward upon completion of their quest. It was made known of the urgency of their quest, that they be off and going as soon as possible, that night in fact, and provisions would be supplied, as well as an armed escort to the western edge of the forest.
That night, they collected their belongings, and their charge, said their farewells, and were off, escorted by two of the Elven Guard, to the western outskirts of the forest. As they travelled west, the discovery of what the war had wrought on the forest, burned and dying trees and other growth, this hit Caer hard, seeing and feeling the damage to the forest. The Guard bid them good luck and fortune and sent them on their way west across the last plains before the Desert. Part way through their journey, they came across what Daerel later referred to as a 'Victory Tower', more of a large mound of burned dirt and rock and the remains of the fallen enemies of the Drow, the final resting place of those slain by the Drow in a recent battle at that site. The smell and horror of this sight almost overwhelmed those of our band of adventurers, though Daerel seemed cold and unfeeling towards it.
The party traveled further west from the scene of the horrors of battle, they were attacked by an unseen foe in the darkness near the edge of the desert. A battle ensued, but when Caer cast a lightning bolt at the attackers, Daerel proceeded to intercede on the battle, throwing herself into harms way to end what had begun. The Drow attackers recognizing who Daerel was, ceased their hostilities, and dained to escort the party, first to their camp for a day's sleep, then to the Drow city beneath the Desert.
The party entered the cave entrance, hidden within a large sand dune, first having to navigate a labyrinth and avoid patrols, lest their mission come to an untimely end before they can complete it. Directed by Daerel, they finally found their way to the city main gate, where two guards, recognizing Daerel, had the gates opened, only to have more soldiers, and their Commander, accost Daerel's escorts, and whisk Daerel within the city, then accused the adventurers of Daerel's abductions, indicated that they would be held for trial and execution. Jal`ron, then Caer, attempted to explain and dissuade the commander from his course, and while the confrontations almost turned into a fight for their lives, Sabeth, High Priestess of Lilith and Ruler of the Drow, stopped it, and questioned the party. At first she did not believe what she heard, believing instead that it was some ruse to lower the guard of the Drow for a pending attack by the Forest Elves. Jal`ron was, though, able to diplomatically convince her otherwise, and, in a moment, the war was declared ended and Sabeth, along with the soldiers, reentered the city, declaring that the Adventurers leave this place and never return on pain of death.
The party returned to the Elven city where they were greeted with cheers and celebration at the success of their mission. A month of holiday was declared in their names, and they were rewarded for their heroism and bravery, and service to the Elves. They were each asked if their was something that their hearts wished, Caer responded that he wished seeds and other new growth to aid in the rebuilding of the western forest. Jal`ron declined any special reward, as did Rube, saying that their only wish was for the greater good of the Elves and their world. Ceren, with a tear in her eye, stated that what she wished for she could not have, and that she had to return to her people, returning them to their home in the forest, then left without another word.
Later that month Zir`ta returned to the Elven city, escorted by Serena, to the home of his youth. It was found out at this time that, The Tree city, was his creation, at least in part, since he was one of the founders of the city in the trees, and one of it's greatest citizens. Unfortunately, due to old age and failing health, Zir`ta finally succumbed to the ravages of time, as all living beings do, and passed into the annals of history. His funeral was more a party, as is Elven custom, a celebration of his life and deeds.
The party remained in the city for the celebrations, but Caer, with the aid of the Elves and other Druids, began the replanting of the west forest, helping to restore nature and that which was destroyed by the war.
Jal`ron was informed by the Queen, that she'd had a vision of his future, and that she believed his destiny lie west, in Sa`Veigh, and that the amulet which she had given him when he first left the Elven city, was indeed a gift of great importance, and that it would be useful at sometime in the future, perhaps in Sa`Veigh.
The other members, having not yet decided what they will do, along with Jal`ron, remain in the Elven city, awaiting their next foray into the world, perhaps with Jal`ron, west to Sa`Veigh. What the future and fortune brings for this band of brave Adventurers, only time will tell.