Elfquest #10

[GM Mad]

Elfquest #10


The final preparations for splitting up to find the twelve elfin medallions are being made.

An idea occurs to her. "Robin, when we flew in, I noticed that the southern river had a small island with a hill or something on it. Can you tell us anything about that island?" Also, is there anything that might be worth knowing about that big lake on the edge of the swamp? A dragon is a kind of lizard, if I remember correctly. Are there any tales of dragons having lived in the area or anything else dragon-related that you can think of?"

Robin thinks for a moment and then answers, “Ah yes! The island holds the tree palace of the elfin king! Magnificent place it is, but be wary. Armored sentries still guard the place and attack anyone who comes near. I’ve heard rumors that an old elf still lives there, but he wants to be left alone.”

“There are many lizards and even a few dragons that we’ve seen here over the years. It’s like the nymph, there’s just too many of them to signal out one of them. I’m told that fishing is good up at the lake, but nothing about any big monsters living there. A friendly sea spirit keeps the area safe.”

“Is it merely the stone in which your people are afraid of?” he asks curiously.

“I am told that those we get too close to the stone suffer horrible fates. I do not know any more than that.”

“Justice could be a temple,” he adds thoughtfully. “A house? Where is the main elfin village, perhaps it is there.”

“There are eight main elfin towns,” Robin explains. “Pinit is the one near the elfin palace. We’re in Feadiel right now. The others are Mealiel to the south, Cesnae where the river meets the sea, Einsun to the southeast, Leromyr to the west, and Walltree to the southwest. There are many smaller villages.”

[GM Mad]

GM Notes:

Giving it some thought Laucian tries to recall if he has any teaching on nymphs. (If I recall correctly I think he knows their language, would he know what type of dwellings/areas they would favor over others?

Lau can speak Brownie, Centaur, Dryad, and Pixie. What exactly defines a nymph is very much open to interpretation. In short they are a beautiful nature sprit. The Monstrous Manual defines a Nymph as the woodland variety, some might call Dryads, Nerieds and others like them Nymph’s too. I’m trying to be vague here and at the same time not be misleading. I will say that the Nymph in this instance may not be the standard woodland variety.

As some of you noted the Starmap does not properly line up with the locations Robin gave. In this case, it was the source material that was in error. To correct this, I swapped the Centaur Village with the Chimera stone. This puts the centaurs into to the Air district with the Manticores and the Eagle. The chimera is now in the Fire area with the Griffons and the Warrior.

Following this logic through, the Nymph should be in the Water area along with the Narwhal and the Hydra. That just leaves the Earth area for the last three, the Lizard, Justice, and the House.

The map has been updated with the new information.


Ready to depart?

[Kylie]

Kylie:

“Justice could be a temple,” he adds thoughtfully.

Kylie looks at Laucian. "You were just at a temple, so that is a possibility. It could bear further investigation."

She turns to Robin. "Are there any other temples in the Realm? If so, is there any one that might be considered the main temple? Or perhaps a temple dedicated to a god or goddess that is associated with Justice, such as Heironeous?"

Robin thinks for a moment and then answers, “Ah yes! The island holds the tree palace of the elfin king! Magnificent place it is, but be wary. Armored sentries still guard the place and attack anyone who comes near. I’ve heard rumors that an old elf still lives there, but he wants to be left alone.”

"Elfin palace. Sounds like a good candidate to the the House location referred to by the Starmap."

“There are many lizards and even a few dragons that we’ve seen here over the years. It’s like the nymph, there’s just too many of them to signal out one of them. I’m told that fishing is good up at the lake, but nothing about any big monsters living there. A friendly sea spirit keeps the area safe.”

Kylie smiles, as pieces seem to be falling into place. "This friendly sea spirit could very well be the Nymph."

Kylie looks at Sherwood. "Perhaps it would make sense for your group to swing by the lake after you finish with the hydra and see if you can contact this sea spirit. Similarly, our group could make our way down to the elven palace. If there is indeed an ancient elf there, he may be able to provide us with further information."

[Lilia]

Lilia:

The Elf Maiden mostly listens as the Brownie names locations in the Sylvan Realm as compared to the constellations on the star map. There is a minor error as the Centaurs and the Chimera were misplaced, but this is easily corrected.

Kylie smiles, as pieces seem to be falling into place. "This friendly sea spirit could very well be the Nymph."

“Yes, it could be,” Lilia agrees. “It even fits given the information on the star map. Also, we must consider that the medallion that we are looking for may not be held by the creature associated with it. What I am saying is that we do not know, for instance, that if the Eagle refers to the medallion or the creature entrusted with the medallion.”

"Elfin palace. Sounds like a good candidate to the House location referred to by the Starmap."

Kylie looks at Sherwood. "Perhaps it would make sense for your group to swing by the lake after you finish with the hydra and see if you can contact this sea spirit. Similarly, our group could make our way down to the elven palace. If there is indeed an ancient elf there, he may be able to provide us with further information."

“No,” Lilia answers decisively. “That would be incredibly dangerous! Do not forgot what both the unicorn and the treant said. Moorkroft now looks like an ancient elf and not to be fooled by him. It sounds to me that Moorkroft has taken up residence in the palace of the Elfin King! If we go there, then we would face our enemy. The palace should be avoided at all costs.”

“Based on the star map and the information gleamed from the Crystal Platform, all three of the medallions we have no information on are in the Earth District. This region is defined as the northeast section of the realms, and the Elfin Palace is nowhere near that area. That is where we must search for those medallions.”

[Sherwood]

Sherwood:

Kylie smiles, as pieces seem to be falling into place. "This friendly sea spirit could very well be the Nymph."

Kylie looks at Sherwood. "Perhaps it would make sense for your group to swing by the lake after you finish with the hydra and see if you can contact this sea spirit. Similarly, our group could make our way down to the elven palace. If there is indeed an ancient elf there, he may be able to provide us with further information."

“I was thinking the same thing. And as Lilia said, it does fit with the information on the star map.”


But before he can comment on the Elfin Palace, Lilia speaks up.

“No,” Lilia answers decisively. “That would be incredibly dangerous! Do not forgot what both the unicorn and the treant said. Moorkroft now looks like an ancient elf and not to be fooled by him. It sounds to me that Moorkroft has taken up residence in the palace of the Elfin King! If we go there, then we would face our enemy. The palace should be avoided at all costs.”

Sherwood considers Lilia’s words for a few moments. It’s clear to him that the Star Crown she wears has greatly increased her intelligence. She’s able to make leaps of logic based on just a few facts very quickly.

“I cannot find fault with your deductions, Lilia. It would explain things a bit clearer. If Moorkroft has taken the appearance of an ancient elf due to his actions, then he wouldn’t want his orc followers to see him. That could be the reason why there are armored sentries there. It also suggests that the alliance between Moorkroft and the orcs isn’t as strong as we suspected. If the orcs knew that they were being directed by an elf like being, they would turn on him in a heartbeat.”

“Another factor to consider is that Moorkroft isn’t stupid and he’s been here for centuries. He must know about the medallions or at least have some idea about them. It wouldn’t surprise me if the damage done to the Crystal Platform was his doing. He lacks the star map to guide him, which is in our favor. We must face the possibility that he might have found some of the medallions already. We might not have a choice but to go to the Elfin Palace sooner than we want.”

“Based on the star map and the information gleamed from the Crystal Platform, all three of the medallions we have no information on are in the Earth District. This region is defined as the northeast section of the realms, and the Elfin Palace is nowhere near that area. That is where we must search for those medallions.”

“Again, I cannot disagree with that. Perhaps by the time we’ve regrouped, we’ll have learned more about these other medallions from the other inhabitants in the Sylvan Realm.”

“We can however give Laucian’s group a lift towards their destination. There’s a small hill to the southeast of the Centaur village. We can fly you there on the barge and then go back for the manticores. It’ll save you a bit of time and shouldn’t take too long.”

“Let’s get ready to move out.”

[Talen]

Talen:

Talen is content to listen as the others discuss where to search for the medallions. Much of this goes over his head and he decides not to appear foolish by saying much.

When the time does come to separate, Talen will wish each of the others good fortune on their search.

“Good hunting to you all and your safe return!”

[Valena Feador]

Valena:

"No, at least not right now. I would be happy to think about it and let you know if I come up with any ideas, though," Kylie says. "I'm sorry I didn't catch it before, but what part of her was it that you healed?"

“Her wing was damaged. Calling her Winger crossed my mind, but it’s not a really good name. Perhaps Aerie?”


Slipping away from the others and the ever-present brownies, Valena slips off her clothes and removes her elfin chain, replacing it with the Ehlonna armor. Returning to the others, she wonders just who to give her old armor too. Looking around, Valena decides that Kylie is the only one where that she has any serious ties too since they are of the same clan.

“Clanswoman, would you like to have my old Elfin Chain? It is as light as cloth and I am told that mages can still wield spells with it on. It can easily be worn underneath your clothing. I would guess that it would afford you better protection than you have now.”


Robin reveals that the town around the Crystal Platform is Feadiel, home of Clan Feador.

“Then this is our ancestral Clan Home”, Valena realizes. “In truth, it does not look all that much different from my home in the Elfholds.”

She turns to Robin. "Are there any other temples in the Realm? If so, is there any one that might be considered the main temple? Or perhaps a temple dedicated to a god or goddess that is associated with Justice, such as Heironeous?"

“I would doubt that there is a temple to Heironeous here in the Sylvan Realm. No disrespect to that worthy deity, but he is not followed by many elves. Only Ehlonna and Hanali have both numerous human and elfin followers. We really don’t have an elfin deity of justice. I suppose Corellon would cover such things as the all-father of elves. Perhaps what we seek is something related to justice as opposed to something that stands for it?”

[Kylie]

Kylie:

“Her wing was damaged. Calling her Winger crossed my mind, but it’s not a really good name. Perhaps Aerie?”

"Aerie isn't bad," Kylie says with a pensive look. "I haven't thought of any names I like better so far."

“Clanswoman, would you like to have my old Elfin Chain? It is as light as cloth and I am told that mages can still wield spells with it on. It can easily be worn underneath your clothing. I would guess that it would afford you better protection than you have now.”

Kylie looks at the beautiful elven armor with just a glint of desire in her eye. "Thank you for the wonderful and incredibly generous offer, clan-sister. The armor is beautiful and I am honored that you would be willing to give it to me. However, I believe that there are others who would benefit more from it than I." She glances over at Nariya, thinking that this fine armor might be of great use to the woodswoman.

“Then this is our ancestral Clan Home”, Valena realizes. “In truth, it does not look all that much different from my home in the Elfholds.”

Kylie looks over at Valena. "I hadn't thought of it that way. It is fascinating to think that my ancestors must have lived here at one time."

“I would doubt that there is a temple to Heironeous here in the Sylvan Realm. No disrespect to that worthy deity, but he is not followed by many elves. Only Ehlonna and Hanali have both numerous human and elfin followers. We really don’t have an elfin deity of justice. I suppose Corellon would cover such things as the all-father of elves. Perhaps what we seek is something related to justice as opposed to something that stands for it?”

"That leaves two questions: Are there any temples to Corellon? Also, since scales are often symbolically associated with justice, is there anything that may look like or represent scales?"

“Yes, it could be,” Lilia agrees. “It even fits given the information on the star map. Also, we must consider that the medallion that we are looking for may not be held by the creature associated with it. What I am saying is that we do not know, for instance, that if the Eagle refers to the medallion or the creature entrusted with the medallion.”

"That is certainly true, but it at least gives us a place to start looking. If we speak with the creature, they may be able to help us locate it. Thus, spells like Comprehend Languages and Speak With Animals could prove very useful for this purpose."

“No,” Lilia answers decisively. “That would be incredibly dangerous! Do not forgot what both the unicorn and the treant said. Moorkroft now looks like an ancient elf and not to be fooled by him. It sounds to me that Moorkroft has taken up residence in the palace of the Elfin King! If we go there, then we would face our enemy. The palace should be avoided at all costs.”

“I cannot find fault with your deductions, Lilia. It would explain things a bit clearer. If Moorkroft has taken the appearance of an ancient elf due to his actions, then he wouldn’t want his orc followers to see him. That could be the reason why there are armored sentries there. It also suggests that the alliance between Moorkroft and the orcs isn’t as strong as we suspected. If the orcs knew that they were being directed by an elf like being, they would turn on him in a heartbeat.”

"In my haste, I didn't think of that," Kylie admits, embarrassed. "But this could play to our benefit. We now know where he is, so we can plan our attack on him accordingly - when we are ready. Also, being isolated from the orcs means that we can deal with them separately."

“Another factor to consider is that Moorkroft isn’t stupid and he’s been here for centuries. He must know about the medallions or at least have some idea about them. It wouldn’t surprise me if the damage done to the Crystal Platform was his doing. He lacks the star map to guide him, which is in our favor. We must face the possibility that he might have found some of the medallions already. We might not have a choice but to go to the Elfin Palace sooner than we want.”

"Certainly a possibility. We should gather as many as we can, along with as many allies as possible, before we attack him. As Laucian mentioned, once we remove him, the orcs may quickly lose their discipline - especially if they realize that Moorkroft has been killed. Thus, if we can remove Moorkroft subtly, it might give us more time to prepare for the orcs. However, in case that isn't possible, we should have as many allies as possible in position to deal with them before we go after the mage. The biggest difficulty that we may encounter with respect to the orcs is that they are spread out in so many locations all around the edge of the Realm."

“Based on the star map and the information gleamed from the Crystal Platform, all three of the medallions we have no information on are in the Earth District. This region is defined as the northeast section of the realms, and the Elfin Palace is nowhere near that area. That is where we must search for those medallions.”

"I see what you mean. What had been throwing me is that the directions on the Starmap all are backwards. It's as though someone rotated the map around so that South was North and East was West. The Earth District is marked as southwest on the Starmap, though as you say, it seems to be the northeast part of the Realms, corresponding roughly with the area marked Asiah on the map. Thus, it would seem the place to start there would be that big hill in the middle of that section."

Kylie looks at the map for another moment. "Perhaps our group should go ahead and investigate the warrior statue. Then we could all meet up at that big hill. Of course, it would be a quicker trip for us by barge, so perhaps a lift from the volcano would be appropriate.

"That still leaves the warrior statue. Should we go ahead and investigate it, or wait for Sherwood's group to arrive? Personally, I'd say it depends on whether they beat us there or not. If not, I don't think we should waste time waiting around."

“We can however give Laucian’s group a lift towards their destination. There’s a small hill to the southeast of the Centaur village. We can fly you there on the barge and then go back for the manticores. It’ll save you a bit of time and shouldn’t take too long.”

"Nothing wrong with saving a little time."

[Nariya]

Nariya:

“No,” Lilia answers decisively. “That would be incredibly dangerous! Do not forgot what both the unicorn and the treant said. Moorkroft now looks like an ancient elf and not to be fooled by him. It sounds to me that Moorkroft has taken up residence in the palace of the Elfin King! If we go there, then we would face our enemy. The palace should be avoided at all costs.”

Nariya agrees completely, "That sounds like just the kind of thing this Moorkroft would do. A good way to lure in unsuspecting elves who might arrive, especially if he can control those orcs from afar somehow."

Everyone is fidgeting over the map, which Nariya looked over too and learned the general direction and estimated distances of where they need to be going. Several places have defining landmarks. That's all she really needs and is ready to go. Still she lets the others study it further, trying to remain patient.

“We can however give Laucian’s group a lift towards their destination. There’s a small hill to the southeast of the Centaur village. We can fly you there on the barge and then go back for the manticores. It’ll save you a bit of time and shouldn’t take too long.”

"Nothing wrong with saving a little time."

Nariya nods after Kylie's comment to Sherwood saying they will give them a lift with the barge to save a little time. While she would love to blaze trails through the whole realm they don't really have the luxury of time right now.

[Laucian]

Laucian

As the discussion continues of the 3 unknown constellations Laucian has a thought, “Perhaps it is time to ask the forest what they know and if they have seen any in which we speak.” he says stoically.

Laucian listens to Lilia’s warning of the Palace containing one ancient Elf. As Sherwood interjects

“I cannot find fault with your deductions, Lilia. It would explain things a bit clearer. If Moorkroft has taken the appearance of an ancient elf due to his actions, then he wouldn’t want his orc followers to see him. That could be the reason why there are armored sentries there. It also suggests that the alliance between Moorkroft and the orcs isn’t as strong as we suspected. If the orcs knew that they were being directed by an elf like being, they would turn on him in a heartbeat.”

"Certainly a possibility. We should gather as many as we can, along with as many allies as possible, before we attack him. As Laucian mentioned, once we remove him, the orcs may quickly lose their discipline - especially if they realize that Moorkroft has been killed. Thus, if we can remove Moorkroft subtly, it might give us more time to prepare for the orcs. However, in case that isn't possible, we should have as many allies as possible in position to deal with them before we go after the mage. The biggest difficulty that we may encounter with respect to the orcs is that they are spread out in so many locations all around the edge of the Realm."

A smile began to creep across his features, “ An interesting statement, Perhaps one we could use to our advantage. If this Moorkroft is indeed this lone elf within the Palace, Could the orcs be turned against him, softening his defenses in the process. “ he states evenly and curiously. Though he doubts such a thing.

"To an extent I agree with you Sherwood. They are spread out within the realm, but that also may aid us as well. If the Wrvyen riders are effectively taking out word would not spread as fast, Our forces when assembled could wash over the remnants before they knew what had transpired."

Laucian will be ready to move out in a moments notice.

[Lia]

Lia

Having not much to add Lia remains quiet during the meeting. She is eager to get a move on as time is shrinking down before them.

As the time draws near to part company Lia will wish the others good Luck and safe return.

[GM Mad]

Post Continued:

She turns to Robin. "Are there any other temples in the Realm? If so, is there any one that might be considered the main temple? Or perhaps a temple dedicated to a god or goddess that is associated with Justice, such as Heironeous?"

“There are many places of worship dedicated to the Elfin gods. We brownies follow other gods, so I am unsure which of them are more important to you or where their main place of worship is located. I would assume that temples to all your faiths can be found around the various towns.”


The course of action has been decided and the elves begin their quest to find the twelve medallions, the keys that will lead them to the Mother Tree. Everyone takes their place on the barge. With its invisibility screen up, the Sherwood takes the barge up into the air. He maneuvers the barge up through the dense network of trees and soon you’re in the open sky once more. The dense forest of the Sylvan Lands lie below you.

Sherwood directs the barge towards the south and west, towards the small hill near the Centaur village. The trip takes only about an hour and saves nearly a day’s walk. As you circle overhead, Nariya makes out what she considers to be a safe path down the hillside. Landing near the top of the hill, Laucian, Nariya, Lilia and Kylie disembark. The barge rises up once more and flies off.


Less than an hour after that, the barge arrives at the area Robin designated as the manticore hunting grounds. Sure enough one of the monsters is spotted flying through the air in search of prey. As you get closer another manticore is spotted, although you can’t be sure if it’s the same one or not. This one just emerged from a cave opening on the hillside.

GM Notes:

Laucian’s group is on the small hill to the south east of the Centaur Village, area D on the map. What order are you going to move out in?

Sherwood’s group is over the hill and has spotted a manticore coming out of cave at location B.

Now what?

[Kylie]

Kylie:

Nariya agrees completely, "That sounds like just the kind of thing this Moorkroft would do. A good way to lure in unsuspecting elves who might arrive, especially if he can control those orcs from afar somehow."

Nariya follows Lilia with a good point of her own. It would seem that Moorkroft has set a bit of a trap for the unwary - and she would have walked right in!

A smile began to creep across his features, “ An interesting statement, Perhaps one we could use to our advantage. If this Moorkroft is indeed this lone elf within the Palace, Could the orcs be turned against him, softening his defenses in the process. “ he states evenly and curiously. Though he doubts such a thing.

Kylie ponders this for a moment. "I cannot envision any way to do so that wouldn't give him plenty of time to prepare. Stealth still seems like our best weapon against him."

"To an extent I agree with you Sherwood. They are spread out within the realm, but that also may aid us as well. If the Wrvyen riders are effectively taking out word would not spread as fast, Our forces when assembled could wash over the remnants before they knew what had transpired."

"It makes sense that the wyverns would be the primary means of communication between the camps. That is, unless Moorkroft has provided some magical means to do so. Still, the wyverns will certainly be a priority when we go after the orcs."

Unfortunately, Robin isn't able to provide much information on the temples in the Realm. They will have to try to obtain more information from the other creatures they meet.

A little while later, they all depart on the barge, with Sherwood piloting the strange craft. As they fly past, Kylie tries to get a look at the centaur village that they will soon be visiting. A few minutes more, and they are landing on the hill not far from the village. This trip has saved them many hours of hiking through the forest.

Disembarking, Kylie gathers her things and says good-bye to the other group and their diminutive guide. Once they have left, she turns to her three companions.

"Okay, now we just need to work our way back to the village. Laucian and Nariya, I think one of you should lead the way, and the other follow behind. Lilia and I can stay in the middle and watch to the sides. If we're forced to go one at a time through a narrow area, I should probably go in front of Lilia, as I am more skilled in stealth. Does that seem reasonable to everyone?

"How far do you estimate the hike to the village is, Laucian?"

[Nariya]

Nariya:

Sherwood directs the barge towards the south and west, towards the small hill near the Centaur village. The trip takes only about an hour and saves nearly a day’s walk. As you circle overhead, Nariya makes out what she considers to be a safe path down the hillside. Landing near the top of the hill, Laucian, Nariya, Lilia and Kylie disembark. The barge rises up once more and flies off.

Disembarking, Kylie gathers her things and says good-bye to the other group and their diminutive guide. Once they have left, she turns to her three companions.

"Okay, now we just need to work our way back to the village. Laucian and Nariya, I think one of you should lead the way, and the other follow behind. Lilia and I can stay in the middle and watch to the sides. If we're forced to go one at a time through a narrow area, I should probably go in front of Lilia, as I am more skilled in stealth. Does that seem reasonable to everyone?

"How far do you estimate the hike to the village is, Laucian?"

"Actually I saw a way down as we passed overhead, so I'll take the lead," Nariya replies in a matter-of-fact tone. "The rest of it sounds fine, although everyone should be prepared to move single file for most of it," she adds before moving out to locate the starting point she had spotted.

Nariya lingers a moment though, wanting to hear Laucian's answer since Kylie asked him. Nariya can bet he kept a watchful eye, but wants to see if she can tease Laucian later for not knowing the answer.

[Laucian]

Laucian
As the barge descends to the hilltop Laucian gathers his gear and makes ready for their excursion. He steps out of the barge Onyx in toe, feeling the solid earth beneath him. He is about to set off when Kylie turns and says,

"Okay, now we just need to work our way back to the village. Laucian and Nariya, I think one of you should lead the way, and the other follow behind. Lilia and I can stay in the middle and watch to the sides. If we're forced to go one at a time through a narrow area, I should probably go in front of Lilia, as I am more skilled in stealth. Does that seem reasonable to everyone?

"Actually I saw a way down as we passed overhead, so I'll take the lead," Nariya replies in a matter-of-fact tone. "The rest of it sounds fine, although everyone should be prepared to move single file for most of it," she adds before moving out to locate the starting point she had spotted.

“Never was one to argue with a lady.”

"How far do you estimate the hike to the village is, Laucian?"

Judging by the map Robin gave us and the view from above.., He recalls the map for a moment as he sees Nariya’s gaze, A few miles, at most 8. (map is blurry there.)

“One thing, Please remember that centaurs are Proud and Honorable creatures, Do not insult them or suggest to use them as transport.”

[Lia]

Lia


Lia wishes the others good luck as they depart the barge. With a final wave the barge begins to take off and makes its way through the skies.

Following Robin’s direction, they soon encounter the manticores One circled the area for a time looking for food then was lost sight of. Another was seen exiting a cave within the Hillside a thought came to her,

Turning to the others, “Would they be able to smell us?” she asked curiously as she didn’t care for dealing with these creatures the last time. Taking her crossbow and loading it Lia, stands ready for their course of action.

[Sherwood]

Sherwood:

"Certainly a possibility. We should gather as many as we can, along with as many allies as possible, before we attack him. As Laucian mentioned, once we remove him, the orcs may quickly lose their discipline - especially if they realize that Moorkroft has been killed. Thus, if we can remove Moorkroft subtly, it might give us more time to prepare for the orcs. However, in case that isn't possible, we should have as many allies as possible in position to deal with them before we go after the mage. The biggest difficulty that we may encounter with respect to the orcs is that they are spread out in so many locations all around the edge of the Realm."

“Our plans will undoubtedly change as we learn more information about the situation. However, some strategies are coming to mind. If Moorkroft is alone, then an attack from a position of surprise is the logical course of action. Having an army march on him will just alert him to our presence. This might very well turn out to be a task for just our group to handle. Fortunately, if it comes to that I have an ace in the hole.”

Sherwood gives a loving tap to the hilt of Lifeshield as he speaks of having a surprise in reserve.

"That still leaves the warrior statue. Should we go ahead and investigate it, or wait for Sherwood's group to arrive? Personally, I'd say it depends on whether they beat us there or not. If not, I don't think we should waste time waiting around."

“Whoever reaches the base of the volcano first can leave a signal behind for the other group”, Sherwood suggests. He’ll speak with Laucian and Nariya for coming up with a signal that only another ranger would notice. “The other group can continue on to the warrior. But keep an eye out for the Wyvern Patrols. Once above the tree line you’ll be easy to spot.”

A smile began to creep across his features, “ An interesting statement, Perhaps one we could use to our advantage. If this Moorkroft is indeed this lone elf within the Palace, Could the orcs be turned against him, softening his defenses in the process? “ He states evenly and curiously. Though he doubts such a thing.

Kylie ponders this for a moment. "I cannot envision any way to do so that wouldn't give him plenty of time to prepare. Stealth still seems like our best weapon against him."

“I’m in agreement about using stealth as I stated earlier”, Sherwood adds. “Besides, I’d assume that we’d just want to keep the orcs out of the forest instead of having an army of them come in.”

"It makes sense that the wyverns would be the primary means of communication between the camps. That is, unless Moorkroft has provided some magical means to do so. Still, the wyverns will certainly be a priority when we go after the orcs."

“That is a logical course of action. Hit and run tactics might work best on them. Fireball their stables while the beasts are still inside, for instance. Hopefully by that point we'll have found the Mother Tree and gained numerous allies."


The trip to the hill near the centaur village passes quickly. Sherwood will wish the other group luck for their mission. The barge changes course once more and is soon near the manticore hunting grounds. One of the monsters is spotted and another is seen coming out of cave on the hill.

“That must be their lair,” Sherwood notes. “Any valuables they have should be inside.”

Turning to the others, “Would they be able to smell us?” she asked curiously as she didn’t care for dealing with these creatures the last time. Taking her crossbow and loading it Lia, stands ready for their course of action.

“I would assume so. Most creatures have a finer sense of smell than we do. If they are all out hunting, we might be able to sneak into the cave and locate the medallion without having to fight them. Let’s wait a little bit longer and see if another comes out. Then we’ll land and explore the cave.”

[Lilia]

Lilia:

"That leaves two questions: Are there any temples to Corellon? Also, since scales are often symbolically associated with justice, is there anything that may look like or represent scales?"

“I am sure that the All-Father has more temples here in the Realm then all of the other elfin gods combined. Each town undoubted has at least one. Although, now that I think of it, only one town lies within the area of search: Einsun, the ancestral home of the Grunalf Clan. Perhaps it is there we should search?”

"I see what you mean. What had been throwing me is that the directions on the Starmap all are backwards. It's as though someone rotated the map around so that South was North and East was West. The Earth District is marked as southwest on the Starmap, though as you say, it seems to be the northeast part of the Realms, corresponding roughly with the area marked Asiah on the map. Thus, it would seem the place to start there would be that big hill in the middle of that section."

”Undoubtedly a bit of further misdirection should the map fall into the wrong hands”, Lilia surmises. “The map has all the clues that we need on it, but they just didn’t want to make it too easy.”

Nariya agrees completely, "That sounds like just the kind of thing this Moorkroft would do. A good way to lure in unsuspecting elves who might arrive, especially if he can control those orcs from afar somehow."

“A very good observation,” Lilia compliments. “Such a thing only underscores just how evil our enemy is.”

"Okay, now we just need to work our way back to the village. Laucian and Nariya, I think one of you should lead the way, and the other follow behind. Lilia and I can stay in the middle and watch to the sides. If we're forced to go one at a time through a narrow area, I should probably go in front of Lilia, as I am more skilled in stealth. Does that seem reasonable to everyone?

“I have no preferences”, Lilia simply states. “As long as whomever is before me remains in sight at all times, I’ll be fine.”

[Valena Feador]

Valena:

"Aerie isn't bad," Kylie says with a pensive look. "I haven't thought of any names I like better so far."

"Aerie is then", Valena says as she scratches the falcon's head. “It sounds close to Aerdrie Faeyna, as well; the elfin Goddess of the weather, sky, and all its creatures.”

Kylie looks at the beautiful elven armor with just a glint of desire in her eye. "Thank you for the wonderful and incredibly generous offer, clan-sister. The armor is beautiful and I am honored that you would be willing to give it to me. However, I believe that there are others who would benefit more from it than I." She glances over at Nariya, thinking that this fine armor might be of great use to the woodswoman.

“As you wish,” Valena responds with a bow. Speaking up to the others present, she’ll add, “Does anyone here wish to make use of my old armor? It is enchanted elfin chainmail.”

Kylie looks over at Valena. "I hadn't thought of it that way. It is fascinating to think that my ancestors must have lived here at one time."

“Yes it is. It’s also possible that we still have ancestors here slumbering away in the trees.”

"That is certainly true, but it at least gives us a place to start looking. If we speak with the creatures, they may be able to help us locate it. Thus, spells like Comprehend Languages and Speak With Animals could prove very useful for this purpose."

“I can handle speaking with animals,” Valena speaks up.


The journey to find the keys begins. The barge is used once more and we drop off Laucian’s group near the Centaur village. Then its back north to the manticores lair. All during the trip, Valena will have her bow at the ready in case of trouble. A few of the beasts are spotted in the air and then another leaving a cave near the top of the hill.

“That must be their lair,” Sherwood notes. “Any valuables they have should be inside.”

“I agree. Why not move the barge closer to the cave opening. Lia and myself can tie off lines and go inside to explore. If the wyverns come back, you can pulls us back and move off to a safe distance. I assume you wish to avoid combat with them as it might just alert the wyvern riders to our presence.”

[GM Mad]

Post Continued:

The elves have split into two groups to search for the twelve medallions. In the southern part of the Sylvan Realm, Nariya leads Kylie, Lilia, and Laucian down the hill and back into the forest. As the group begins to move under cover the dense forest, a squad of wyvern riders is spotted off in the distance. They are flying past and don't show any signs of having spotted the elves.

Travel continues underneath the trees. This area of the forest doesn't seem much different than what you've seen so far. The brush has grown wild and many fruit bearing trees and shrubs are seen. Food is easy to come by and wildlife is plentiful. Horse hoof prints are common.

Nariya unerringly leads the group towards the area Robin indicated. Suddenly, Nariya holds up her hand to stop the advance. The pathfinder then ducks and silently creeps forward to get a better view of what she heard.

Creeping through the brush, Nariya finds a large clearing before her. Angry voices are heard, but they are in a language that Nariya does not understand. Daring a look, she spots two groups of centaurs on opposite sides of the clearing. Each side is armed with spears and bows. It is clear from the tone of their voices and their body language that they are preparing to fight each other.

Nariya will be able to stalk off and report her findings to her companions.


Further to the north, the other group is on the barge high above a hill with a cave that seems to be the manticores lair. One of the beasts has been seen in the air and another departing the cave. It is decided to wait for a while to see if any other manticores depart. Manticores are known to be daytime hunters, so it is most likely that they are away.

All remains quiet at the cave and it is decided to investigate. The barge is moved closer while lines are prepared to lower Lia and Valena down to the cave. Once a few feet away from the barge, Lia and Valena both turn visible once more. But nothing seems to be around to notice them.

The cave opening is over thirty feet wide and leads into and slightly downward. The cave floor is littered with numerous bones and other trash. Many damaged suits of black leather armor are strewn about the floor, with numerous items mixed in. No creatures larger than rats feasting on unfinished remains seem to be around.

Moving deeper into the cave more items and bones are found. A few things seem salvageable should you so desire. These include a few suits of armor of various types and a shield. There are many containers here-- bags, backpacks, and the like-- that might hold items of interest. It would take many hours to thoroughly explore the contents of the cave.

Several passages branch off from the main cave as the girls go in deeper. In the first side passage, something of interest is noted. A skeleton wearing tattered elfin robes is found. Close to the body is a rolled up scroll covered in dust.

No sign of anything like the medallion you’re looking for.


Now what?

[Kylie]

Kylie:

"Aerie is then", Valena says as she scratches the falcon's head. “It sounds close to Aerdrie Faeyna, as well; the elfin Goddess of the weather, sky, and all its creatures.”

"All the more appropriate, then," Kylie says with a smile. She will reach out and stroke the bird softly for just a moment, if it will allow her to do so.

“I am sure that the All-Father has more temples here in the Realm then all of the other elfin gods combined. Each town undoubted has at least one. Although, now that I think of it, only one town lies within the area of search: Einsun, the ancestral home of the Grunalf Clan. Perhaps it is there we should search?”

Kylie brightens. "An excellent idea, Lilia! If Corellon has a temple there, then that is a very good place to start our search for that medallion." Kylie just nods as Lilia makes another observation about the map. She hadn't considered that twisting the map might have been done intentionally to make it harder for enemies to put the pieces together.

“Yes it is. It’s also possible that we still have ancestors here slumbering away in the trees.”

Kylie just stands there for a moment, stunned by the idea. She doesn't know what to say to that, so doesn't say anything. Still, meeting ancient ancestors would be an incredible experience.

“I can handle speaking with animals,” Valena speaks up.

"That is very good to know, Valena. Since we're splitting up, it would be useful to have that ability in both groups, but we'll just have to make do as best we can."

Sherwood seems to agree with Kylie's ideas for the most part, though she is intrigued when he indicates something about having some kind of reserve power available and indicates his sword. Her guess is that he would use it to go and fetch reinforcements, but who that would be she has no idea.

“Whoever reaches the base of the volcano first can leave a signal behind for the other group”, Sherwood suggests. He’ll speak with Laucian and Nariya for coming up with a signal that only another ranger would notice. “The other group can continue on to the warrior. But keep an eye out for the Wyvern Patrols. Once above the tree line you’ll be easy to spot.”

"That makes sense," Kylie says with a nod.

“That is a logical course of action. Hit and run tactics might work best on them. Fireball their stables while the beasts are still inside, for instance. Hopefully by that point we'll have found the Mother Tree and gained numerous allies."

"I agree. I think the barge would be of great use in this, as I mentioned earlier. Being able to do that from the air while invisible is likely to create great confusion."

"Actually I saw a way down as we passed overhead, so I'll take the lead," Nariya replies in a matter-of-fact tone. "The rest of it sounds fine, although everyone should be prepared to move single file for most of it," she adds before moving out to locate the starting point she had spotted.

"Ah, well that should make things easier. Lead the way, then. We can adapt for the width of the trail as we go, I guess."

Judging by the map Robin gave us and the view from above.., He recalls the map for a moment as he sees Nariya’s gaze, A few miles, at most 8. (map is blurry there.)

“One thing, Please remember that centaurs are Proud and Honorable creatures, Do not insult them or suggest to use them as transport.”

Kylie nods as Laucian provides more information. "Thank you. That is good to know."

They follow Nariya through the woods toward the centaur village. For no reason that Kylie can detect, Nariya stops the group and proceeds forward on her own. She must have noticed something...

[Lia]

Lia

After tying the rope about her(assuming this was the plan) Lia begins to make her way to the cave mouth. Within a few moments she becomes visible looking about nothing seems to be about. She looks to Valena and says, “ Seems safe enough, let’s try and see if we can get this done quickly.”


Walking through the cavern Lia watches where her feet fall as many bones lay about the cavern floor. Many suits of shredded leather suit also lay about. She silently wonders just how many have succumbed to this fate.

Spotting several bags and back packs about Lia looks to Valena in Disbelief. “It could be anywhere… Perhaps we should keep looking and grab some of the bags as we depart?” She asks curiously. Soon she spots the shield which catches her eye but decides to leave it not knowing just how smart manticores are if they would notice things moved within their cave…

Moving deep into the cave they come across a skeleton wearing robes of an elf nearby a dusty scroll lays near. Reaching down she picks up the scroll and blows off the dust, “What do we have here….”

[Nariya]

Nariya:

The tree cover is such a welcome change to all that time on the barge. Nariya doesn't even concern herself with worrying about the wyvern riders that passed over some time ago. She's confident there is no possible way they could have been detected.

The rest of the time is very enjoyable, moving through the underbrush and keeping on the trail so easily seen to her trained eye. She makes sure Laucian is behind, giving him a quick smile or nod, letting him know just how happy she really is. Then something carries to her ear, faint but definitely not a typical forest noise. She holds up her hand to tell Laucian to stop everyone and then she moves off into the brush silently and alone.

Creeping through the brush, Nariya finds a large clearing before her. Angry voices are heard, but they are in a language that Nariya does not understand. Daring a look, she spots two groups of centaurs on opposite sides of the clearing. Each side is armed with spears and bows. It is clear from the tone of their voices and their body language that they are preparing to fight each other.

Nariya will be able to stalk off and report her findings to her companions.

Nariya will try to see if she can spot whether or not the two groups are centaurs are from different tribes. She'll look for tattoos or other markings, clothing, weapons, jewelry, anything that might show them as seperate groups as opposed to an internal conflict. Regardless of what she sees, she still can't understand them.

Slipping back to Laucian, Nariya will motion to have everyone group up so she can talk at a whisper. "I found the centaurs, but they seem to be having a arguement that looks like it might turn to bloodshed. I can't understand them unfortunately, but I think our arrival is to be just in time."

If she can tell anything about them being from different or the same tribe, Nariya will tell that to the group as well.

"I suggest we make ourselves known, approaching with caution but not fear," Nariya offers. "I'm hoping that maybe some of them want to take the fight to the invaders and the others are concerned over numbers and losses, but I'm just guessing right now," she admits. "If anyone can speak their language, they should probably lead us out from this trail and into their audience."

[Laucian]

Laucian

Laucian moved through the forest behind Nariya, occasionally nodding her read and smiling back at him, which he returns with a grin. He couldn’t help but notice just how Happy she was to be back within the wood. He also noticed just how good she was at her path finding as she brought us along the path.

He catches her signal to stop, turning he reaches out with his hand and motions to slow then stop, he then slowly moves back to Lilia and Kylie…

Slipping back to Laucian, Nariya will motion to have everyone group up so she can talk at a whisper. "I found the centaurs, but they seem to be having a arguement that looks like it might turn to bloodshed. I can't understand them unfortunately, but I think our arrival is to be just in time."

If she can tell anything about them being from different or the same tribe, Nariya will tell that to the group as well.

"I suggest we make ourselves known, approaching with caution but not fear," Nariya offers. "I'm hoping that maybe some of them want to take the fight to the invaders and the others are concerned over numbers and losses, but I'm just guessing right now," she admits. "If anyone can speak their language, they should probably lead us out from this trail and into their audience."

"Were there any centaurs, that were louder then the others? As if issuing orders… "he asks curiously. He just only hopes it isn’t a fight over the tribe itself.

[GM Mad]

Post Continued:


The elves search for the medallions on two separate fronts…


Nariya has led one group towards the centaur village. Along the way, she came across two groups of the creatures in a clearing. While she is unable to understand their speech, the meaning of their words is clear. The two groups are arguing and it seems that they will begin fighting at any moment.

From observation, Nariya determines that the centaurs seem to be all from the same tribe. No radical differences in appearance. No one particular centaur dominated the part of the conversation that Nariya heard, but it is clear that tempers are flaring.

It is decided to show yourselves with Laucian in the lead, as he understands the centaur tongue. As you reach the clearing, the sounds of combat can be heard. Arrows are being exchanged between the two groups of centaurs. Laucian steps out and draws attention to himself.

The battle amongst the centaurs comes to a sudden halt. Words are exchanged between the two groups and weapons are aimed and pointed at the elves. A few braver centaurs trot closer cautiously, but do not attack. Words are exchanged between them and Laucian. (Lau, check your E-mail for what is being said.)


Further to the north Lia and Valena have gone off to explore the Manticore’s cave. Inside they’ve found the bones of many men wearing black leather armor. Off in a side spur, the bones of an elderly elf in robes are found. A scroll lies on the floor close to the body.

Lia picks up the scroll, dusts it off, and begins to read.

“After I realized my activities in the forest were about to be discovered, I ran to my hideout on this hill. I knew that if I stayed any longer, my secret would have been discovered. I am ill, my wounds are not healing and my last hope for our clan remains in the Forest Palace. The spirit of our king still controls the upper levels and protects the forest. But, as I am weakening, he will need more help. If by any chance you are pure of heart, go to the Forest Palace and call the king in the thrown room. Confide in him and he will guide you.”


Now what?

[Laucian]

Laucian

Having heard enough from Nariya and the others, Laucian gets up and heads towards the clearing, Pushing several large leaves a side he steps out into the opening. Within a few short seconds many bows and spears are pointed to him as he makes no sudden moves, keeping his hands away from his weapons. With his heart beating fast Laucian steps closer to the centaurs.

When you first appear in the clearing, the centaurs stop fighting. Things such as, “Invaders!” and “Strangers!” are heard.
As the braver centaurs move closer one asks, “What matter of beings are you?”.
Another says to no one in particular, “They do not look like members of the Black Hordes.”
“We must kill them before they alert the Moorkroft to our intentions!”
A different centaur ventures the closest bearing a spear. “What matter of beings are you?”

With his heart beating fast Laucian steps closer to the centaurs as a large midnight colored centaur stepped forward his spear at the ready but does not strike. Laucian considers the Dark haired centaur for a moment and then speaks.

“We are neither invaders nor members of Moorkroft forces. We are Elves from The Elfholds. Our people once in habited these woods among you and many other creatures. A unicorn and treant sent us to speak with you.

One will say, "Elves are just a legend!", but is quickly shouted down.

Turning his gaze to a moderately sized centaur with sandy blond hair and white and brown coloring.

"A legend? Perhaps in the Slyvian realm. Though it is not the case within the Elfholds, Where centaurs and elves live amongst each other in Harmony.”

“Why are you fighting amongst yourselves?”

Laucian nods as the Centaurs are vague and wish only the clan master to speak for the clan. The offer to see the clans master is issued, Bowing in respect he humbly takes them up on the offer.

Turning back to the others, “All is well, They will not fight while we are among them. They will take us to the Clanmaster.” he says evenly.

[Lilia]

Lilia:

The Elf Maiden greatly enjoys the trek through the forest. Her eyes can’t help but wander off to take in the scenery. What she wouldn’t give to just wander this magnificent forest for a few years.

The procession comes to a halt and Lilia can’t help but wonder what is going on. Nariya returns and reports that centaurs have been found, but they seem on the verge of battle. Laucian can speak the centaur tongue, so he leads the way forward. Stepping into the clearing, he gets the centaur’s attention. Works are exchanged and violence seems close to occurring, but it does not.

Turning back to the others, "All is well, they will not fight while we are among them. They will take us to the Clanmaster." he says evenly.

Lilia simply shrugs and says, “Okay. Perhaps he’ll have information useful to us.”

Lilia walks along without carrying a weapon, but does have a Magic Missile ready to be cast just in case.

[Valena Feador]

Valena:

"All the more appropriate, then," Kylie says with a smile. She will reach out and stroke the bird softly for just a moment, if it will allow her to do so.

Valena will coo softly to Aerie, letting her know that Kylie is a friend.


Later at the manticore lair, lines are attached to Lia and myself. We then climb down to the manticore cave to explore.

After tying the rope about her(assuming this was the plan) Lia begins to make her way to the cave mouth. Within a few moments she becomes visible looking about nothing seems to be about. She looks to Valena and says, “ Seems safe enough, let’s try and see if we can get this done quickly.”

“Agreed. They might return at any time!”

Walking through the cavern Lia watches where her feet fall as many bones lay about the cavern floor. Many suits of shredded leather suit also lay about. She silently wonders just how many have succumbed to this fate.

Spotting several bags and backpacks about Lia looks to Valena in Disbelief. “It could be anywhere… Perhaps we should keep looking and grab some of the bags as we depart?” She asks curiously. Soon she spots the shield which catches her eye but decides to leave it not knowing just how smart manticores are if they would notice things moved within their cave…

“Yes, it could be anywhere, but I doubt it will be in any of these packs. After all, it was the elves that hid the medallion we seek. They would not have placed it in a pack belonging to the enemy. I also doubt that it would just be lying around in the lair of these monsters. Our ancestors must have sneaked into the lair and hid it. Perhaps hidden amongst the rocks themselves?”

Moving deep into the cave they come across a skeleton wearing robes of an elf nearby a dusty scroll lies near. Reaching down she picks up the scroll and blows off the dust, “What do we have here….”

Lia motions to finding the body and reads the scroll beside it. Valena remains skeptical.

“This does not make any sense. Something is wrong here…”

Valena looks about trying to put her suspicions into words.

“Observe. The robes on the elf body are mostly intact, while the armor of those men was ripped to shreds. Their bones are strewn about this lair, while the elves remain whole. It’s almost like this was staged for some reason to fool us. The contents of the scroll just further indicate this.”

After a moment’s thought, Valena adds, “Lia, can you Speak with Dead? If we can question the spirit of this unfortunate, we might have some real answers. The Lady of the Forests does not grant such magic to her followers.”

[Nariya]

Nariya:

Nariya follows Laucian but not too closely as he steps forward to speak with the centaurs. Things don't look good as they turn on him and act menacingly. Still, Nariya keeps her hands away from her swords.

Turning back to the others, “All is well, They will not fight while we are among them. They will take us to the Clanmaster.” he says evenly.

Nariya sighs a bit in relief and nods in response. She walks with the others since the centaurs will be showing them the way now.

[Kylie]

Kylie:

Returning to the group after scouting ahead, Nariya tells them that there appears to be an altercation brewing between some centaurs ahead. She cannot understand what they're saying, and recommends approaching them cautiously.

Laucian leads them forward, as he is the only one who speaks the centaurs' language. When they enter the clearing, the centaurs suddenly turn on them, brandishing their weapons. Apparently, their discord is less important to them than the possible threat of strangers, which is encouraging. Still, having all that weaponry pointed in their direction leaves Kylie feeling a bit anxious. She's careful not to do anything threatening, though her bow is still in her hand and a spell ready on her lips.

Laucian and the centaurs confer, and seem to work something out. Laucian tells them that the centaurs will take them to the clan's leader or some such. At least the centaurs are no longer acting so openly hostile, even if still wary. Kylie follows along amiably, though she keeps alert to both the centaurs and the forest around them.

[Laucian]

Laucian

Lilia simply shrugs and says, “Okay. Perhaps he’ll have information useful to us.”

An impassive look comes over the ranger’s features as he considers this. “They spoke of us,” meaning his party, “Alerting Moorkroft’s Black Horde of the centaurs intentions… Make no mistake we must tread carefully here.” he said evenly as looked at the others before leaving for the clans leader.

“If there is anyway that we may all Communicate, then I would suggest we use it…." After a moments thought, Perhaps that wouldn’t be necessary…. “Kylie, Do you still carry the Ring of Truth?” He asks curiously.

[Lia]

Lia

“Yes, it could be anywhere, but I doubt it will be in any of these packs. After all, it was the elves that hid the medallion we seek. They would not have placed it in a pack belonging to the enemy. I also doubt that it would just be lying around in the lair of these monsters. Our ancestors must have sneaked into the lair and hid it. Perhaps hidden amongst the rocks themselves?”

"Nor I, though they may contain items of use." She says evenly though her eyes remain on the task at hand. "Or Perhaps it is made to resemble a rock."

“Observe. The robes on the elf body are mostly intact, while the armor of those men was ripped to shreds. Their bones are strewn about this lair, while the elves remain whole. It’s almost like this was staged for some reason to fool us. The contents of the scroll just further indicate this.”

"Perhaps it is not an elf skeleton at all." She says evenly as she reads the letter allowed,

After I realized my activities in the forest were about to be discovered, I ran to my hideout on this hill. I knew that if I stayed any longer, my secret would have been discovered.

"I have not heard of many elves that make their homes within caves….unless they are of a dark nature. It does not mention a clan name nor an individual who wrote it,” which she finds odd.

After a moment’s thought, Valena adds, “Lia, can you Speak with Dead? If we can question the spirit of this unfortunate, we might have some real answers. The Lady of the Forests does not grant such magic to her followers.”

‘The Dark Maiden does grant such powers, though I currently do not have that particular blessing.” she said thoughtfully. “We Will have to take part of the Skeleton with us.” drawing out her dagger she slowly removes the skull of the Skeleton, then places it within a nearby backpack, along with the scroll, and slings it over her shoulder.

"Let us Check the cavern walls, Perhaps they invoked some magic to hide it." she says curiously.

[GM Mad]

Post Closed