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.
