Cormyr Torn

Session 120

Characters: Julian, Balin, Randal, Grim, Cael, Anthony, Davvin.

NPCs: 4 Court Lawyers of Tethyr: Abd-Creon (Treasury), Abd-Gyes (Land Titles), Abd-Doran (Roads), Abd-Oneus (Environment), 2 Court Architects of Tethyr: Valandil Culnamo (Elf), Dram Hargranar (Dwarf), Lionar Dakalbel: War Wizard of the Cleansing Flame, Lord Giorgi Wyvernspur: Purple Dragon Oversword (Wheloon).

5 Mirtul 1374 - 6 Mirtul 1374

3250 XP

The party had finished their Spring Festival celebrations and said their goodbyes to Porta Elvasious. Through Grim's magic, the party Teleported to Tethyr's new capital city, Darromar. In Darromar they announced their intentions to speak with the court lawyers and architects. Seeing as it was necessary to appear in Darromar's court wearing formal aristrocrtic attire, the party was fitted as they waited. Dressed in their new regal clothing, the party met with the court lawyers of Tethyr as well as architects Valandil Culnamo and Dram Hargranar. Culnamo and Hargranar showed Randal, Julian, Anthony, and Davvin the initial layouts for their new strongholds. Meanwhile, Balin enacted his land rights and paid the court treasury a sum of 150,000 crowns for additional land within the Wealdath Woods. After hours of discussion and planning, the party had made the final arrangements for the new constructions to begin and left the court as landed Knights of Tethyr.

The party would then set out on their next great journey to find adventure, fortune, and glory in the Forest Kingdom of Cormyr. With Anthony's help Grim successfully Teleported the party to Calantar Keep, the official home of the Knights of the Cleansing Flame. Standing in front of Calantar Keep for the first time the party noted that it was a tall, squared fortress built around a large bridge that joined the northern and southern shores of the Starwater River. Calantar Keep's gates were shut as if in preparation for an assault, and a number of soldiers could be seen from their points on the battlements above. The party announced themselves as the adventurers of Pinehill and then flew up to the top of the tower to join the busy Purple Dragon Knights. Then as the party looked out from the tower's top they saw the reason for the hasty battle preparations. A human force numbering in the thousands waited on the northern hills beyond Calantar Keep. To the party's surprise this was no foreign army. Instead it was comprised of many of Cormyr's own Purple Dragon Knights, War Wizards, Hippogriff Calvary, and local militias. The entire force wore red over their usual purple and was being led by one of Cormyr's finest Purple Dragon Marshals, Oversword Giorgi Wyvernspur, Lord of Wheloon. The party also took note that accompanying the standard military forces waiting outside Calantar Keep's northern border was the large professional mercenary company known as the Red Ravens, led by Rhinanna Rosehelm.

Clearly, much had changed since Anthony had left Cormyr to adventure in the lands far west and south. The party spoke with the local Knights of the Cleansing Flame who told them of their explicit orders from the Royal Court of Suzail not to allow any military force to pass over Calantar Bridge. Constal Anthony Manton would take his first action as a Cormyrian commander as the party went out into the northern force to speak with the rebel leader Giorgi Wyvernspur. After a thorough examination by a number of rebel War Wizards, the party was allowed to enter into Oversword Wyvernspur's purple command tent, which already had been altered by having red stripes sewn into it. Wyvernspur knew of the Pinehill's adventurers and was not surprised by Anthony Manton's new presence. During their discussion the party learned that Wyvernspur was more than a simple rebel. He was acting in consort with a number of other powerful lords of Cormyr's Court to enact an official Parliament and force the Obarskyr royal line to step down as rulers of Cormyr. Wyvernspur described Cormyr's desperate situation, the rising attacks by orcish and barbarian tribes, infiltration, pirating, its weakening economy, and the failing relations with its rich neighbor Sembia. At least in Wyvernspur's mind, there was only one possibility to save Cormyr, and that would be to replace the incompetent Obarskyrs with a Parliament fit to rule the territory more consistently and intelligently.

The party left the command tent in confusion, for certainly many of Cormyr's recent troubles were threatening to bring a complete collapse of the country. On the other hand, even though Giorgi Wyvernspur seemed genuine and truthful in their talk was it possible more was at stake for the Parliamentarian lords? Furthermore, was a Parliament the true solution to this matter? The party discussed these matters more intensely in Calantar Keep's mess hall over a bland meal of blackbread and farmer's cheese. During their meal, the party was approached by Lionar Dakalbel, a War Wizard of the Cleansing Flame stationed at Calantar Keep. He had been Teleporting regularly to the Court of Suzail to relay messages and detailed information. Lionar Dakalbel described to the party that Wyvernspur had been correct about some of the royals not attending recent important councils in Suzail. However, he said that in recent times a number of the lords have not followed the orders of the Steel Regent and as such none of her plans have been successful. Unlike her father Azoun IV, Regent Alusair Obarskyr lacked the favor of the court lords and in the desperate time was receiving little help. As civil war threatens to break out all over Cormyr the scattered orc and barbarian tribes continue to rise in number.

New and Old Friends

Session 119

Characters: Julian, Balin, Anthony, Grim, Cael, Randal.

NPCs: Orten: Mosstone Druid (Bear), Milisandria Mosstone Druid (Hawk), Connyal: Mosstone Druid (Fox), Valandis: Wood Elf Druid, Matwau: Slyth earth node guardian, Cruroar Trannyth: Half-elven Mayor, Knights of the Cleansing Flame (Tyr).

2 Mirtul 1374 - 5 Mirtul 1374

3425 XP

Balin had decided to investigate the collapsed series of caverns more thoroughly. Shifting into a huge Earth Elemental, Balin began to carefully excavate the collapse while his Mosstone allies shaped the remaining stone with their druidic magic. After hours of painstaking work, they had cleared away the blockage and fortified the remaining stone. The first trickles of water from the river valley now flowed down the smooth stone cavern floor after centuries of being blocked. To the druid's surprise however, they found the caverns further down to be humid, with plentiful Ripplebark growing against the dewy stone walls. The druids traveled further still down into the Upperdark and estimated themselves to be almost below the grove of Myth Drevanna nearly 500 feet above. Finally, they reached a landing looking out into a significantly large underground lake. They determined that the purity of this aquifer could only be explained if it was the result of water from the flooded river valley above filtering down through the limestone. Numerous submerged and dry tunnels fed away from this aquifer, and the druids followed each of them down further. Along one they began to see signs that a medium sized creature had recently traveled through. Cave Moss grew from the foot print as if it had been planted intentionally.

Later, the party of druids heard scraping sounds coming from the caves ahead. They softly moved forward and spotted a hunched figure before it leapt and melded into the adjacent stone wall. Confused, and worried about the potential for still more creatures to inhabit this place the druids continued to search. The mysterious figure however, had found them instead. The druids were suddenly surrounded by 3 grey cloaked figures wielding strange yellowish curved blades. Their bodies shifted between a stone and liquid consistency, and their black eyes glared with the intent of battle. Balin called out that they were here not to fight and had recently killed Halberdisfinna the terrible dragon. Surprised by this news, the Slyth guardian party put down their yellow blades and greeted the druids as friends. Matwau, the Slyth guardian chieftain told the party that their people were the guardians of a sacred earth node that was intimately connected with Myth Drevanna. Since its corruption the Slyths could no longer protect the node and instead guarded the wider area surrounding it. Upon hearing that Balin had been responsible for destroying the dragon and freeing the earth node, they pledged their fervent allegiance to his cause. The party stayed with the other Slyths for a late meal to feast upon the good news.

Balin and the Mosstone druids were then led through a series of secret earthy passages directly beneath the grove of Myth Drevanna. There, the guardians and the druids set eyes on one of natures greatest sights. Millions of years prior a massive meteor had collided with Toril forming the sunken Wealdath Valley. The heart of the meteor composed of tons of Star Metal, impacted deep into the crust and sent waves of powerful magic into the earth. When the ancient fey creatures discovered the earth mound they created fey pathways that infused the developing forest with their magic. Still later in the grove's history the ancient elven houses had discovered it and transformed it into Myth Drevanna. The druids left the underground tunnels and rejoined with the other adventurers. With the grove of Myth Drevanna in safe hands, it was decided that the party would Teleport back to Porta Elvasious.

Through Grim's powerful spellcasting, the party arrived within Porta Elvasious' torn down southern wall. Anthony Manton met with his Cleansing Flame captains whom informed him that the town's citizenry had settled down since the attacks days prior had come to an end. Many of the knightly orders were becoming stir crazy with anticipation of the tournament beginning and had constructed a makeshift jousting arena at the eastern edge of town. Julian immediately called for Mayor Cruroar Trannyth. In their brief meeting Julian informed Cruroar of the Halberdisfinna's vile presence and how they were able to slay her. The mayor thanked Julian for his heroism and informed him of new architectural plans to re-build Porta Elvasious better than it had ever been. Julian agreed to finance the construction and went out to tell the citizens.

Julian and the rest of the party addressed the populous and were met with many cheers of joy. Then, Lord Bailer ordered that the Porta Elvasious Tournament begin after a day’s preparation. The people of Porta Elvasious bustled with excitement as they made preparations throughout the night and next day. Then on the 4th of Mirtul, 4 days late of the Greengrass festivities around Faerun the games began. Axeman events including the fore-chop, cross-cutting, underhand chopping, block chops, log throwing, yolk dragging, the stone press, and axe throwing drew skilled woodsman from far beyond Tethyr. Knightly events held included jousting "au Plaisance", breakwood jousting, the grand melee, and a traditional elven bow circle. Large crowds gathered to watch racers in the great chase event track down and catch a Tressym with nothing other than their hands. The day long festivities ended with the final Joust where Anthony Manton's own Knights of the Cleansing Flame Champion was awarded first place to the chagrin of many Tethyrian knightly orders. After the competition Grim put on a wondrous display of magic as he reenacted the slaying of Halberdisfinna with Major Images, Fireballs, Pyrotecnics, and a variety of other flashy spells. The party stayed in Porta Elvasious for one more day recovering from the long celebrations and festivities and is ready again to set out for adventure.

Echos of the Flooded Forest

Session 118

Characters: Julian, Balin, Cael, Grim, Randal, Terus, Davvin.

NPCs: Hallberdisfinna, Orten: Mosstone Druid (Bear), Milisandria Mosstone Druid (Hawk), Connyal: Mosstone Druid (Fox), Fhina: Pixie path watcher, Valandis: Wood Elf Druid.

L 1 Mirtul 1374 - 2 Mirtul 1374

11,500 XP

Within moments of Grim's Sending for help, the rest of the party swam forward through the dark waters and met back with him. Just before Julian and Terus would rush in to hastily attack the healing Dragon inside, they took note of the Antimagic field and stopped just in time. Randal began to pray to Illmater for help and bled perfusely into the surrounding swamp water. He then touched his fellow adventurers with his Stigmata and they healed despite being in the presence of the Corrupted Myth Drevanna. Seeing the party suddenly starting to heal within her evil domain, Hallberdisfinna lept from the Antimagic zone and engulfed the party with a terrible corrosive gas. Cael pushed his way through the cloud of acidic gas and struck the dragon with Calinus Brumalis. With a final icy blast of arcane energy from his Mageblade, Cael had slain Hallberdisfinna. A fog of plant-matter filled the water as the former terrible dragon dissolved into nothingness. Balin charged at the party from the dragon's inner sanctum and questioned them on why they would kill such a creature of nature. But after a few minutes time, Balin had regained his senses. The evil mistress of Myth Drevanna was dead.

Searching the dragon's lair, the party found but a meager amount of antiquated treasure, suitable for a much smaller creature. It seemed as if at some point long ago Hallberdisfinna had halted the one compulsion all true dragons share, collecting treasure. Perhaps her mysterious transformation as a Greenbound creature had something to do with this unusual mindset. With Terus' help, Balin and Julian Teleported back to where Valandis' uncounsious body still lay. Then they Teleported to Mosstone, where they called for the High Druids Orten, Milisandria, and Connyal. Despite the lateness of the hour, the three Green Ones quickly responded and were present in Treemeet. During the meeting Balin explained to the High Druids of the flooded river valley, Valandis' and his own Compulsion to follow the evil Hallberdisfinna, and the Corrupted Myth Drevanna. Julian implored the druids to return with them to Myth Drevanna and help return the forest to its natural state so that the people of the King's Road could continue to live in peace. The New Way druids saw great importance in assisting the tired adventurers. They also acknowledged the official Silvan Duel which Balin had won and anounced him the Druid of the northwestern Wealdath Wood. After more than an hour the party returned with the three High Druids and Valandis and joined up with their party members.

Meanwhile, the others including Cael, Grim, Davvin, and Randal were carefully searching through the great moss covered Standing Stones on top of the crescent mound. They noticed that the forest canopy was still furious with the party and would actively attack them if they left the safe confines of the mound. Grim found the Weave to be quite unusual and powerful and tracked its presence to a central point, the crescent-shaped altar in the center of the mound. The standing stones radiated little magic despite the massive potential Grim found in the Weave. It seemed that much if not all of this grove was slumbering, and yet there were still Corrupted magical essences they had fought against just hours prior.

When the part reunited, the Mosstone druids Shapeshifted the remaining party members into native fish of the Wealdath Woods. In their new forms the party easily swam amongst the deepest ruins on the forest floor studying the time-frozen remnants of this ancient elven society. During their exploration the party discovered numerous magical runes of great size carved into trees and stones by draconic claws. Grim noted that while these had the potential to Corrupt the Mythal and forest, the runes were too unique and complex to have been created by the dragon. Dragons are indeed arcanely inspired creatures, however even Grim could not perceive the meanings of these carvings. Clearly, there must have had some other source of inspiration. Eventually, the party came upon the incline of the river valley's edge and found a massive pile of stone rubble. Julian immediately recognized these as pieces of Porta Elvasious' southern wall and structures. After the Druids Shifted into Elder Water Elementals and began to disperse the rubble carefully along the forest floor. During the search the party found the near perfectly preserved remains of Anna: Julian’s former love, and his brother. Davvin examined the bodies and concluded that Julian's brother had died of a series of blunt traumas and that Anna's legs had been crushed under two large stones and then drown. Julian was greatly saddened by this news and took their bodies with him to the safe crescent shore.

Though Julian's search for his loved ones had ended, Balin and the Druids of Mosstone continued to search for the cause of this river basin's flooding. Through their keen sense of nature, they followed the river down into the valley, around the crescent mound, and into a collapsed series of sunken caves. Deep beneath the water line, these sunken caves were at one time the exit for the river valley's water supply. Through some great event the caverns had been collapsed and now all that remained was a large lake. Balin and the Druids agreed that disturbing the stones to the underdark in these caverns would cause a massive blast of water which could severely damage both whatever was beyond the stones, and the river valley itself. Instead this would take a gradual, delicate process to dry the valley, return the river's flow, and hopefully destroy the Corruptive markings adorning many of the large trees and ruins. As they moved through the old woods of Myth Drevanna, Valandis began to respond to the occasional question. Perhaps he was still curious himself of this Mythal's former nature, or perhaps he was slipping out of his former mindset as well.