Characters: Julian, Balin, Grim, Anthony.
NPCs: Animated Trees, Selthens Silverbark: Paragon Treant of Silvanus, 2 Greenbound Direbears, 6 colossal Plant Hordes, Father Bailer, Mother Bailer, Brother Bailer, Count Samrite: Human Aristocrat, Cruroar Trannyth: Half-elven Mayor, Knights of the Tempered Sheild (Torm), Knights of the Cleansing Flame (Tyr).
30 Tarsakh 1374 - 1 Mirtul 1374
2300 XP
With Grim's help, the party had safely arrived back on Ferun in Julian Bailer's hometown of Porta Elvasious. They stood in complete shock within the southwestern city as a colossal Horde of Plants smashed into the southern wall. It seemed as if sometime recently the Wealdath Woods had grown northward at an incredible pace directly through the well-established human and elven logging camps. Porta Elvasious guards were shouting from the battlments to retreat over stentorian blasts of wood on stone, and the roars and cries of frenzied beasts of nature. A number of the city's southern most trees had become Awakened by the calls of the war-marching Treants and were smashing buildings from the streets. Balin stood in shock as all around him it seemed the Maul of Silvanus was upon Porta Elvasious. He called out to halt the warring trees and plants as the colossal Horde broke down more of the walls. Just seconds later, a great rumble came as the southwestern gate of the large town was splintered to pieces. Stepping forth and smashing down the central wall was a great Silver Treant whose shining bark was adorned in green and golden holy runes of the Forest Father. At his side were two Huge Greenbound Direbears, their bodies prodruding with vines and thorns.
Balin addressed the ancient tree to stop and state why was it that Silvanus willed Porta Elvasious to be destroyed. The Selthens Silverbark spoke saying that they had tried the new ways of teaching and living with the humanoids, yet they still were being overharvested and exploited. The new ways of Silvanus had failed and the old way of Nature's Power must return for the forest to be saved. Balin strongly disagreed with the Old Treant Selthens and challenged him to a Silvan Duel where the victor would decide whether the Old or New way would be followed. The Selthens Silverbark agreed and immediately with a great groan the colossal Plant Hordes receeded forming a great Circle of Challenge outside Porta Elvasious' wrecked southern wall. Balin stepped in to face the massive Treant, and battle was joined. Silverbark moved expeditiously and smashed into Balin with an unbelievable strength. Balin attempted to return the blows in melee but could not penetrate Selthens' magical hide. Balin Shapechanged into a Red Dragon and flew above Selthens blasting him with fire. Selthens' then Dispelled Balin's new form as he crashed to the ground. Balin took flight again and brought a mighty fall of boulders down upon the Great Tree. However, Selthen's used the boulders to knock Balin out of the air and was again upon him in melee. Balin's Flamestrike attempts could not keep pace with the Treant's regenerative healing, and after a long minute of equally matched combat, Selthens outlasted Balin and struck him into uncounciousness. Victorious, Selthens declared that Silvanus willed the Old Ways to be followed with a uproar of plants and beasts.Anthony spared no time after Balin fell, for he used his new Boots of Tactics to Dimension Door the helpless Druid to the safety of Porta Elvasious. Grim threw down a mighty Meteor Storm upon Selthens and his marching Plant Hordes killing the two great Greenbound Direbears. Selthens charged forward at an unmatchable speed trampling all but Julian whose Blinking Ring saved him. Slashing furously at Grim, Silverbark nearly killed him if it was not for Grim's fateful Word of Recall. Now Anthony and Julian were the only heroes whom remained. They entered a bloody melee with the heavily wounded Silverbark and were able to detroy him before he could heal his grevious injuries. Upon the death of Selthens Silverbark, the colossal Plant Hordes pulled away and headed back to the Wealdath Woods, carrying with them large pieces of the stone walls and buildings they had smashed down. Porta Elvasious Guardsman and Knights of the Tempered Sheild lay scattared on their swaying branches, and smashed under their heavy roots.
In the wake of the battle, Julian immediately Flew to the Bailer Ranch in the eastern farming community of Porta Elvasious. The fields looked as though they had been abandoned and overgrown for years. Julian's keen eye for magic however, led him to believe this had also been the recent work of a Druid of the Old Way. The Bailer farmhouse was empty and there were sings of a very recent departure. Julian then headed back to Porta Elvasious and arrived at his brother Hennith Bailer's armorsmith shop. There, he took down the powerful magical spells which continually had cloaked him for so long, and knocked at the door. His father Leon Bailer answered and there was a great greeting as Julian saw for the first time in nearly three years, the faces of his family. Julian could not resist any longer and expelled the glorious titles and treatures he had recieved in his adventures. Though his father a stern man and his mother greatly concerned for the future, both were extreamly overjoyed. Then they spoke to Julian of his missing brother, a Knight of the Tempered Shield, his brother's new fiance Anna Leymansen. Julian was both heartbroken at the news that his brother was lost and that Anna had been carried away by the army of plants, and also upon hearing that Anna had chosen his brother rather than him. Julian hastlily promised that all would be well and left immediately to find the former master of the land, Count Samrite, and Mayor Cruroar Trannyth.
Meanwhile, Anthony revived Balin, and Grim was able to find his way back to Ferun and Porta Elvasious with come creative spellcasting. He also made a direct Sending to his Captains in the Cleansing Flame telling them to report with all their men from Zaz immediately to Porta Elvasious. Grim used one of his magical wands to reconstruct some of the remaining stone rubble into a lower wall again. Anthony moved with haste toward the Mayer's estate to determine the truth of the claims made against Porta Elvasious, and also to annouce Julian Bailer as the new landlord of Porta Elvasious and the Middle King's Road. Anthony found the disgruntled Count Samrite's testimony truthful in that the people of Porta Elvasious had not been over harvesting any more than they had been for the past hundred years or so. Additionally, there was no evidence of ackowledgement of a verbal warning by the Silvan defenders. Upon learning that Julian Bailer was the mysterious new local Lord, the Count became quite unhelpful. Julian arrived shortly after along with Grim and entered the discussion of Porta Evlasious' current state. Count Samrite refused to be held accountable for what he claimed was both two months of negligence on Julian's behalf and unprovoked attacks by the Silvan Defenders. Julian argued that these affairs were still in Samrite's duty to have managed and assured the Mayor Trannyth that the individuals behind this would be brough down harshly. With that the angry and disempowered Count Samrite vowed to exact a brutal Tax War upon the Middle King's Road and Porta Elvasious and left on horseback under the protection of a number of Royal Knights of Tethyr.
Balin did not attend the meeting with Count Samrite and Mayor Trannyth; there were sacred matters to attend to. He gathered the charred ashes of Selthens Silverbark and moved into the Wealdath Woods. The outlying trees looked undamaged and deeply rooted. Upon dicussion, Balin found the young outlying trees to be quite friendly and supportive. Having much contact with humanoids they had grown accustomed to the teachings of the New Way. They spoke of rumors that deep within the Wealdath Woods the ancient elven mythal Myth Drevanna had awakened, concious of its own existance. They spoke of a great druid of Silvanus that was sent by the New Way followers of Mosstone to investigate the awakened Mythal whom had not returned. Balin dug a deep trench in the woodland soil, buried half of Selthens' remains, and said a short prayer of remembrance for the Old Treant. Deeper into the woods Balin continued to search for answers, but found the plants to be much less agreeable. These old grown, hearty plants followed the teachings of the Old Way and refused to speak to Balin concerning why Porta Elvasious was under attack. Concerned, and tired, Balin headed back north toward Porta Elvasious to inform his fellow adventurers of the rumors.Drawing from his experience with the formerly endangered citizens of Zazesspur, Julian called a town meeting in the central Joust grounds. On the main stand sat Julian, the Bailer family, the Mayor and clerks of Porta Elvasious, and the rest of the adventuring party. Julian accounced himself as the new Lord of Porta Elvasious and the surrounding Middle King's Road. Then, he asssured the people that he and his adventurers would bring a quick stop to the recent attacks to the southern city and surrounding farmland. It had been mere hours since Anthony called for the Cleansing Flame, however suddenly, Windwalking down from the clouds came his dedicated Cormyrian Knights. Armed in shining platemail and brandishing great purple flags the Cleansing Flame Knights surrounded the Jousting Arena. Anthony stated that their presence would be to safeguard the city from further attacks and told his men to adjust their spells and arsenals to fight Plants as appropriate. Balin then instructed the populus of the rumors concerning the deep Wealdath Woods and the awakened Myth Drevanna. The party had decided to wait until morning to venture on to Mosstone, and figure out where this whole mess may had started.
