Sherwood Biography:
Sherwood Sculley is the latest in a long line of mages from this famous family. The family founder was one James 'The Skull” Sculley who as an associate of Victor Vaughn who helped found the Kingdom of Cynalon. The Sculley Estate in the new capital of Alexandria was among the first to be built there. It is a grand structure that is still impressive hundreds of years later. James was the first Archmage of Cynalon.
James married a warrior named Stephanie and they had two children. Their first child was very special. She was named Renee and through mysterious means was aged from a baby to twenty years old. Renee was something of a prodigy when it came to magic. She became the second Archmage of Cynalon and she built the tower that Sherwood currently uses for privacy. She designed several unique spells of her own.
The couples other child was a son named Justin. Later on Justin would marry Veronica Vaughn, the Princess of Cynalon. Thus these two families blood lines were crossed. Everyone related to this family is a descendant of Justin and Veronica, as Renee never had children before she vanished without a trace.
The next great Sculley of note was Regina Sculley. She was the Archmage of Cynalon during the reign of King Tellon the Fourth. It was Regina who helped draft a peace settlement with Darokin during the Kingdom War so that the two nations would stop fighting each other and deal with an invading horde of orcs.
After the war was over and the orcs defeated, the Darokin King foolishly tried to kill the Cynalon King. He was defeated and so the Kingdom of Darokin was absorbed into Cynalon to become the Outer Kingdom. Regina married her Darokin counterpart, one Jezak Sallavarian and thus did these two great magical families bloodlines become joined. It was Jezak and Regina who built the Sallavarian Estate just north of Elcadan.
The next great ancestor of note was James 'The Red' Sculley who is Sherwood's grandfather. James was the Archmage during the war against Keln and vanished with so many others at the Battle of Shadowkeep. Before that, James was a member of the Swords of Cynalon, an adventuring band headed by Sir Validar Van Arkus who was the Master of the Order of Griffons at that time. This band did many great deeds, but the biggest was their rescuing the infant Crown Prince Victor Vaughn the Sixth from Cultists of the Black Flame.
James the Red had at least three children that are known, all by different women. James never did marry. His first child was a son he named Jordan and he is Sherwood's father. Jordan's mother was a woman named Sabia.
Fifteen years later, James and a woman named Ferawyn had a son they named Sharadin, who is Sherwood's Uncle. Less than two years later, James and the drow Nightmist had a daughter that she named Jylsin. This half-drow daughter was born after James had vanished at Shadowkeep and this relationship was unknown until Sherwood visited Nightmist in the lost valley many years later.
In the wake of James the Red's disappearance, his son Jordan became obsessed in finding his father. Jordan was 17 when his father vanished, while his younger brother Sharadin was just 2. Jylsin hadn't been born yet. Jordan threw himself into learning magic and didn't forge the same friendships with the Van Arkus family as his father had. Jordan knew the Sallavarians as that family helped him learn magic.
By the time he was 25, Jordan Sculley had taken his father's place as the Archmage of Cynalon. He married a woman named Taryn and in the summer of the year 538 they had a son they named Sherwood. While still actively searching to find is father, Jordan was leading a happy life with his wife and new son.
There happiness was shattered just four short years later. Jordan and Taryn were attacked by unknown assailants and Sherwood's mother was killed. Jordan later identified the attackers as belonging to a cult called the 'Children of the True Faith'. Grief stricken and swearing vengeance, Jordan left his son in the care of Jidaran and Jenae Sallavarian. Jordan then left on his mission of vengeance and has yet to returned.
Sherwood Biography
Sherwood Biography
I do what is necessary.
Page 2
Sherwood was just four years old at the time. Jidaran and Jenae had just married the year before and had just welcomed the arrival of their daughter Jallarzi. Also living at the estate was Jenae's younger sister Lysandra Golovkin who was seventeen years old at the time.
Sherwood's Uncle Sharadin was just 19 years old and was out finding his place in the world when all this happened. Unlike the other members of his family, Sharadin had drifted towards being a warrior instead of being a mage and was out adventuring. He learned of his sister-in-law's death much later on.
Young Sherwood was understandably traumatized by the death of his mother and the seeming abandonment by his father. He was treated kindly by the Sallavarian's and in time he came to regard Jallarzi as his sister. Jidaran Sallavarian and Relon Van Arkus, Lysandra's love interest, both figured prominently in young Sherwood recovering and growing up as both men had lost their fathers at the Battle of Shadowkeep.
The years passed and Lysandra moved away when she married Relon to become the Baroness of Pyris. Uncle Sharadin also married a woman named Yvonette. During one of his adventures, Sharadin fought a dragon in a system of ancient caves. During the battle the floor collapsed and both man and dragon fell into a glowing Pool of Power. Both were granted high intelligence and the ability to rapidly learn magic. That dragon was Ember.
Now devoting himself to the study of magic, Lord Sharadin and Lady Yvonette moved back to the Sculley Estate. Not long after that, they had twin daughters they named Sherry and Terry. The twins are unique in that they seem to function was one person while together, even alternating their speaking habits. A few years after that, Jylsin gives birth to twins of her own. A boy she named Talen and a girl called Lia. They grow up in the Lost Valley and are unaware of the outside world.
It was around this time that the silver dragon Silvarn made herself known to Lord Sharadin and that they work towards similar goals. As the years pass both Sherwood and Jallarzi would come to know Silvarn as well. The trio refer to the silver dragon as 'little grandmother'.
Upon reaching sixteen years old, Sherwood leaves the care of the Sallavarian's and strikes out on his own. In time he takes up the training to become a ranger. He seems to prefer being on his own and has little contact with his family.
In Sherwood's alone time out in the world, several tragic event took place. In the year 557 CR, Ember emerges and attacks Lord Sharadin. Yvonette is killed in the battle, leaving Sharadin alone to raise his five year old daughters.
Two years later, Jidaran and Jenae Sallavarian are killed. The circumstances of their deaths were a mystery for many years, but it is now suspected that the Demoness Josetta Deville was behind those deaths so that her impersonation of the Duchess of Elcadan would not be revealed. Jallarzi was eighteen years old when the task of running her estate fell on her shoulders. Sharadin trains Jallarzi in magic while her Aunt Lysandra helps her run the estate.
Sherwood was twenty-two years old when he reappeared. He seemed to have found a peace that he never had before. Sherwood began to learn mage craft like so many of his family had done so before under the tutelage of his Uncle Sharadin. Around the same time Sherwood became involved with a warrior named Darya.
The two are later married for one of the rare times, Sherwood knows happiness. But this happiness was not to last. Only two years later, Darya is bitten by a vampire and Sherwood is forced to destroy her by exposure to sunlight. Sherwood moves into his ancestor Regina's tower to get away from the world.
Sherwood's Uncle Sharadin was just 19 years old and was out finding his place in the world when all this happened. Unlike the other members of his family, Sharadin had drifted towards being a warrior instead of being a mage and was out adventuring. He learned of his sister-in-law's death much later on.
Young Sherwood was understandably traumatized by the death of his mother and the seeming abandonment by his father. He was treated kindly by the Sallavarian's and in time he came to regard Jallarzi as his sister. Jidaran Sallavarian and Relon Van Arkus, Lysandra's love interest, both figured prominently in young Sherwood recovering and growing up as both men had lost their fathers at the Battle of Shadowkeep.
The years passed and Lysandra moved away when she married Relon to become the Baroness of Pyris. Uncle Sharadin also married a woman named Yvonette. During one of his adventures, Sharadin fought a dragon in a system of ancient caves. During the battle the floor collapsed and both man and dragon fell into a glowing Pool of Power. Both were granted high intelligence and the ability to rapidly learn magic. That dragon was Ember.
Now devoting himself to the study of magic, Lord Sharadin and Lady Yvonette moved back to the Sculley Estate. Not long after that, they had twin daughters they named Sherry and Terry. The twins are unique in that they seem to function was one person while together, even alternating their speaking habits. A few years after that, Jylsin gives birth to twins of her own. A boy she named Talen and a girl called Lia. They grow up in the Lost Valley and are unaware of the outside world.
It was around this time that the silver dragon Silvarn made herself known to Lord Sharadin and that they work towards similar goals. As the years pass both Sherwood and Jallarzi would come to know Silvarn as well. The trio refer to the silver dragon as 'little grandmother'.
Upon reaching sixteen years old, Sherwood leaves the care of the Sallavarian's and strikes out on his own. In time he takes up the training to become a ranger. He seems to prefer being on his own and has little contact with his family.
In Sherwood's alone time out in the world, several tragic event took place. In the year 557 CR, Ember emerges and attacks Lord Sharadin. Yvonette is killed in the battle, leaving Sharadin alone to raise his five year old daughters.
Two years later, Jidaran and Jenae Sallavarian are killed. The circumstances of their deaths were a mystery for many years, but it is now suspected that the Demoness Josetta Deville was behind those deaths so that her impersonation of the Duchess of Elcadan would not be revealed. Jallarzi was eighteen years old when the task of running her estate fell on her shoulders. Sharadin trains Jallarzi in magic while her Aunt Lysandra helps her run the estate.
Sherwood was twenty-two years old when he reappeared. He seemed to have found a peace that he never had before. Sherwood began to learn mage craft like so many of his family had done so before under the tutelage of his Uncle Sharadin. Around the same time Sherwood became involved with a warrior named Darya.
The two are later married for one of the rare times, Sherwood knows happiness. But this happiness was not to last. Only two years later, Darya is bitten by a vampire and Sherwood is forced to destroy her by exposure to sunlight. Sherwood moves into his ancestor Regina's tower to get away from the world.
I do what is necessary.
Page 3
This latest period of isolation doesn't last long as his Uncle Sharadin and Jallarzi Sallavarian help coax Sherwood back out into the world. The three begin to work together in forming a pool of adventurers that can be used to deal with the kingdoms problems. Sherwood does much of the initial leg work with Jallarzi doing a more in depth inspection of the candidates, typically using her Hat of Disguise to appear as Lyra Stinson, her own made up apprentice. Potential mages are identified so that they can be trained. The boys by Sharadin and the girls by Jallarzi. The transmuter Shaunil is the first of the Jallarzi's students, quickly followed by Sherry and Terry. Lord Sharadin's first two students in this endeavor are Burant and Chareos.
In the summer of 569, Lord Sharadin assists a task force led by General Logan Rowen and Sir Alon Teramar in re-capturing the City of Gateway on the edge of the Keln lands. With Gateway reclaimed, Lord Sharadin takes one of the abandoned mansions to use as his base of operations. He moves his daughters and his apprentices to Gateway. The apprentices make several trips back to Alexandria to transport the archmage's belongings. By now, Jallarzi has finished training Shaunil, Sherry and Terry. Her new apprentices are first Kharyna and then later Argent.
Early in the year of 570 CR Sherwood embarks on a great quest with a group of adventurers that earns him the sword Lifeshield and the status of Elf Friend among those in the Elfholds. Shaunil, Jallarzi's first apprentice, is among this group and she is killed during the mission. Distraught over Shaunil's death Sherwood retreats back to his private tower once more.
Not long after that, he is surprised to find that a half-elven thief was able to break into the tower, bypassing the magical defenses. He realizes that this girl, Kylie Lanthorn, has magical potential. Rather that turning her in, he takes the girl to Jallarzi to be trained in magic.
Aided by the teleporting ability of Lifeshield, Sherwood is able to cover more ground and recruit more adventurers. In the spring of 571 Sherwood suggest that Stephanie Plowman head towards the City of Crossroads to find adventure in the Keln Lands. He finds that the young woman reminds him of his late wife Darya.
In fall of that year, Sherwood learns that Baron Relon Van Arkus had been laid low by a poisoned bottle of wine sent by his good friend Lord Cavius of Rennydale. Elspeth of Azrella had a vision, which she gets from time to time, that something was going to happen to the Baron and alerted Jallarzi. Lady Sallavarian teleported the pair to Castle Pyris and Elspeth was able to keep the Baron from succumbing to the poison. While Elspeth worked to save the Baron, Sherwood traveled to Gateway in attempt to find Lord Validar, the baron's son. Finding Validar and is companions away, Sherwood leaves him a note to return home as soon as possible.
Sherwood then works to assemble a band of adventurers to investigate who did this to Baron Relon and why. While these adventurers were gathering in Pyris, Lord Validar returned on his own. Joined by his friend Lord Corley Rowen, Lord Validar joined Sherwood and his band of adventurers.
The group made their way to the village of Twin Forks. There they encountered those behind the poisoning and learned that the Cult of the Blackflame was somehow involved. Sherwood recalled reading about this Cult in the texts of his grandfather James the Red. Those traveling with Sherwood decided to band together and call themselves the Guardians of Light under the leadership of Lord Validar Van Arkus.
From Twin Forks, the group made their way to Sherwood's tower so that he could research information about the Cult of the Blackflame. He discovered that the Cult was encountered by the Swords of Cynalon, the adventuring band that is grandfather was part of. Lord Validar's grandfather along with Jallarzi's grandfather were also part of this group.
Continuing on, the group rode to Elcadan and the Sallavarian Estate. There Jallarzi had been researching her own tomes about the Cult of the Blackflame. An exotic silver haired elf maiden named Nightmist is mentioned in both texts. Both wonder if this Nightmist is actually the silver dragon Silvarn.
The adventurers then make their way north towards Rennydale in search of the source of this conspiracy. Sherwood departs the group for a time to tend to other matters while they travel.
Sherwood rejoined the adventurers in Rennydale after they had liberated Lord Cavius from what had been controlling him. It was a strange black water, undoubtedly, the same substance had been in the wine sent to Baron Relon. Sherwood returned accompanied by Jallarzi, Elspeth and Argent.
Elspeth had been granted another vision from Azrella that seemed to deal with the black water. It showed where the water appeared to have come from and that Elspeth would be the one to destroy it with the help of her companions. The source of the water was in the Beleme Swamp and its very presence seemed to warp the land around it. After defeating those men being controlled by the black water, Elspeth began the task of purifying the water. Many others present joined hands with Elspeth and found themselves engaged in a battle of wills against the Dark One himself.
The Dark One tempted Sherwood with the image of getting Darya back and that the wound of losing her could finally be healed. Sherwood is indeed tempted but only for a moment. He hears Mystra speak to him. The Goddess of Magic tell Sherwood that he is not to blame for what happened to Darya and that he shouldn't spend is life mourning her. Sherwood's spirit is indeed lightened from this revelation.
In the summer of 569, Lord Sharadin assists a task force led by General Logan Rowen and Sir Alon Teramar in re-capturing the City of Gateway on the edge of the Keln lands. With Gateway reclaimed, Lord Sharadin takes one of the abandoned mansions to use as his base of operations. He moves his daughters and his apprentices to Gateway. The apprentices make several trips back to Alexandria to transport the archmage's belongings. By now, Jallarzi has finished training Shaunil, Sherry and Terry. Her new apprentices are first Kharyna and then later Argent.
Early in the year of 570 CR Sherwood embarks on a great quest with a group of adventurers that earns him the sword Lifeshield and the status of Elf Friend among those in the Elfholds. Shaunil, Jallarzi's first apprentice, is among this group and she is killed during the mission. Distraught over Shaunil's death Sherwood retreats back to his private tower once more.
Not long after that, he is surprised to find that a half-elven thief was able to break into the tower, bypassing the magical defenses. He realizes that this girl, Kylie Lanthorn, has magical potential. Rather that turning her in, he takes the girl to Jallarzi to be trained in magic.
Aided by the teleporting ability of Lifeshield, Sherwood is able to cover more ground and recruit more adventurers. In the spring of 571 Sherwood suggest that Stephanie Plowman head towards the City of Crossroads to find adventure in the Keln Lands. He finds that the young woman reminds him of his late wife Darya.
In fall of that year, Sherwood learns that Baron Relon Van Arkus had been laid low by a poisoned bottle of wine sent by his good friend Lord Cavius of Rennydale. Elspeth of Azrella had a vision, which she gets from time to time, that something was going to happen to the Baron and alerted Jallarzi. Lady Sallavarian teleported the pair to Castle Pyris and Elspeth was able to keep the Baron from succumbing to the poison. While Elspeth worked to save the Baron, Sherwood traveled to Gateway in attempt to find Lord Validar, the baron's son. Finding Validar and is companions away, Sherwood leaves him a note to return home as soon as possible.
Sherwood then works to assemble a band of adventurers to investigate who did this to Baron Relon and why. While these adventurers were gathering in Pyris, Lord Validar returned on his own. Joined by his friend Lord Corley Rowen, Lord Validar joined Sherwood and his band of adventurers.
The group made their way to the village of Twin Forks. There they encountered those behind the poisoning and learned that the Cult of the Blackflame was somehow involved. Sherwood recalled reading about this Cult in the texts of his grandfather James the Red. Those traveling with Sherwood decided to band together and call themselves the Guardians of Light under the leadership of Lord Validar Van Arkus.
From Twin Forks, the group made their way to Sherwood's tower so that he could research information about the Cult of the Blackflame. He discovered that the Cult was encountered by the Swords of Cynalon, the adventuring band that is grandfather was part of. Lord Validar's grandfather along with Jallarzi's grandfather were also part of this group.
Continuing on, the group rode to Elcadan and the Sallavarian Estate. There Jallarzi had been researching her own tomes about the Cult of the Blackflame. An exotic silver haired elf maiden named Nightmist is mentioned in both texts. Both wonder if this Nightmist is actually the silver dragon Silvarn.
The adventurers then make their way north towards Rennydale in search of the source of this conspiracy. Sherwood departs the group for a time to tend to other matters while they travel.
Sherwood rejoined the adventurers in Rennydale after they had liberated Lord Cavius from what had been controlling him. It was a strange black water, undoubtedly, the same substance had been in the wine sent to Baron Relon. Sherwood returned accompanied by Jallarzi, Elspeth and Argent.
Elspeth had been granted another vision from Azrella that seemed to deal with the black water. It showed where the water appeared to have come from and that Elspeth would be the one to destroy it with the help of her companions. The source of the water was in the Beleme Swamp and its very presence seemed to warp the land around it. After defeating those men being controlled by the black water, Elspeth began the task of purifying the water. Many others present joined hands with Elspeth and found themselves engaged in a battle of wills against the Dark One himself.
The Dark One tempted Sherwood with the image of getting Darya back and that the wound of losing her could finally be healed. Sherwood is indeed tempted but only for a moment. He hears Mystra speak to him. The Goddess of Magic tell Sherwood that he is not to blame for what happened to Darya and that he shouldn't spend is life mourning her. Sherwood's spirit is indeed lightened from this revelation.
I do what is necessary.
Page 4
After dealing the the situation with the black water, Sherwood turns his attention to learning more about Nightmist. He believes that Nightmist's location was revealed in one of the old texts that he and Jallarzi researched. A map with an X on it was found showing an area of the mountains between the Inner Kingdom and the Outer Kingdom. Joined by Kylie and Lilia, Sherwood departs the Guardians of Light in order to investigate this mystery.
Joined by the scout Nariya, the groups expedition begins at Rifflian in the Inner Kingdom. Along the way to the Lost Valley, they were joined by Yusef of Celestian and Master Finder Rat who was also Kylie's tutor in the art of 'finding' things.
The group reached the Black Peak Mountains only seemingly to find a dead end. Instead a permanent illusion had been put into place to cover the entry way into the mountains. A road high in the mountains led towards the Lost Valley. The final stretch to reach the Lost Valley was across a gorge where the road had collapsed. Sherwood polymorphed into a griffon to ferry his companions across.
An abandoned town was the first thing the explorers came across in the Lost Valley. While ferrying the group across the gorge, Sherwood scouted ahead and saw two individuals approaching. The two turned out to be Lia and Talen. After an uneasy start, Lia and Talen agreed to take the group to meet Nightmist who they call their grandmother.
Sherwood is surprised to learn that not only is Nightmist a drow elf, but she had a daughter with Sherwood's grandfather, James the Red! Lia and Talen were Sherwood's cousins! Nightmist was a Priestess of Eillstraee, the goddess of those rare good drow. Further more, the Lost Valley was used a sanctuary for those races must would consider to be evil. There were goblins, female orcs, half-orcs seemingly living here in harmony.
While taking all of this in, Kylie asked Nightmist if she had any information about her missing mother. Nightmist agreed to help as one of her priestly abilities was the power to cast a Commune spell once per day. Nightmist cast her spell, but it had unexpected consequences.
Kylie, Lilia, Nariya, Lia and Talen were all drawn into a dreamscape where they met Corellon Larethian, the Father of All Elves. Corellon explained that the Mother Tree was dying and that these five had been chosen to save her. A new method was needed to reach the Mother Tree in the Sylvan Realm as other expeditions had been sent, but none of them had succeeded. Corellon reveals that Kylie's mother had been sent on this very mission ten years ago and that the Sylvan Realm is to the far northwest, past the dangerous land of Vassa.
With this new urgent mission in full effect, Sherwood started to teleport the group away in small groups. He originally went to the Sallavarian Estate, but once there learned that other important events were taking place in the City of Corunglain. The city had been over run by orcs led by the dragon Ember and had been driven back chiefly by the Guardians of Light. The incident had caused King Victor the 6th to retire and give his crown to his son, Victor the 7th. A new day was finally dawning on Cynalon!
Sherwood teleported everyone to the Duke's fortress in Corunglain. There the new king and his new Council of Lords were dealing with the aftermath of the invasion and preparing for new threats. Lady Gabriella Allonica had negotiated with the elves for their assistance in this matter. In return, the elves had requested that Sherwood accompany the elves and half-elves on the quest to save the Mother Tree. Sherwood agreed to the quest, but as per the elves instructions did not speak of what the trouble was in any great detail.
While in Corunglain, Sherwood introduced Lia and Talen to Sharadin, Sherry, Terry and Jallarzi. The non-elves traveling with Sherwood joined other adventuring bands, while Laucian and Valena were added. The stay in Corunglain was only a day and the next day, the group teleported to Alfheim, the lone place in the Elfholds where non-elves are allowed to go. The group is taken to see the Elf King. There he provides additional gear and information for the elves and gives Sherwood an amulet that will polymorph him into an elf when worn.
Next the group moves to Karn's Keep where Sharadin says that he has an idea that will get the Sylvan Realm faster than traveling overland to the far side of the continent. To accomplish this, the group is given a Crown of the Stars. It's a magical circlet that when worn by a mage allows the wearer to use their magical potential fly ships across the sky! A barge has been prepared for the long journey ahead. A few days are spent at Karn's Keep as the mages become accustomed to using the Crown of the Stars.
Once ready the group sets off for the Sylvan Realm to the far northwest. Sherwood pilots the barge due west from Karn's Keep to the eastern side of the Elfholds. From their Lilia takes over the flies the barge to reach Ainsun, the home of the Grunalf Clan. There the elves spend the afternoon after flying all day and night.
After their stay in Ainsun, the elves continue on towards the west. Seeing storms over the Silver Sierra's Sherwood pilots the barge to skirt the southern edge of those mountains. While passing closely, Nariya spots something on the mountain side. Once closer the group discovers the wreck of a ship! Give how high up it is, the ship must have been a flying ship that crashed here!
Hovering the barge overhead, the wreck is explored. A strange furnace is found in the shape of a man-sized black dragon. The furnace is rescued before the ship breaks apart and falls down the mountain side. It is learned that the strange furnace is actually a Spell Engine, a more advanced item that can make ships fly. This model, while being powered by magical energy, does not drain spells like the Crown of the Stars does.
The barge continues on and lands in the grassy plains to the north of the ruins of Old Elcadan. It is decided to use the Spell Engine to fly the barge instead of the Crown of the Stars. By using this method, the barge can fly higher and faster and not have to land to change users like they had by using the crown. The trip takes a week, but the group arrives safely at the Sylvan Realm.
They find the Sylvan Realm seemingly deserted. Numerous forts are spotted ringing the Sylvan Realm holding many orcs and humans who ride wyverns. In center of the Sylvan Realm, a strange crystal platform is found. By studying the platform, the group deduces that a total of 12 medallions can be inserted into the platform. Using the materials provided by the Elf King, the group realizes that the Sylvan Realm can be divided into four quadrants based on the ancient elements: Fire, Earth, Water, and Air. Three of the medallions can be found in each quadrant.
Over the next several weeks, the group splits up and then regroups as they work to find the medallions. Once they are all found, the group is faced by the villain seeking to destroy the Mother Tree, an ancient elfin-looking mage by the name of Moorkroft. He sought immortality and gained a measure of it by absorbing the life essences of elves. This caused him to look more and more like an elf and made him insane in the process. The five who were chosen overpower Moorkroft and destroy him.
Next the Mother Tree is healed she is restored to her gigantic size. The crystal platform is repaired and lifted high into the sky. There, a rainbow strikes the crystal platform and all those elves sent to save the Mother Tree emerge, including Kylie's mother. Great gifts are granted all those involved in this quest. Lilia and Lia are changed the most of all. Lilia realizes her true calling and becomes a Priestess of Corellon. Lia sheds her human half and becomes a full blooded drow.
With the Elf Quest completed, Sherwood takes his leave of his companions. All decide to remain in the Sylvan Realm for now. Lilia reveals to Sherwood the true nature of the Spell Engine and how it can get him home even faster. Before leaving, Sherwood pauses to inspect the Heart of the Mother Tree. There he asks for his boon for this mission and is given the elfin gift of night sight. Using the Spell Engine, Sherwood flies the barge high into the sky and out of sight and begins his journey back to Cynalon.
Joined by the scout Nariya, the groups expedition begins at Rifflian in the Inner Kingdom. Along the way to the Lost Valley, they were joined by Yusef of Celestian and Master Finder Rat who was also Kylie's tutor in the art of 'finding' things.
The group reached the Black Peak Mountains only seemingly to find a dead end. Instead a permanent illusion had been put into place to cover the entry way into the mountains. A road high in the mountains led towards the Lost Valley. The final stretch to reach the Lost Valley was across a gorge where the road had collapsed. Sherwood polymorphed into a griffon to ferry his companions across.
An abandoned town was the first thing the explorers came across in the Lost Valley. While ferrying the group across the gorge, Sherwood scouted ahead and saw two individuals approaching. The two turned out to be Lia and Talen. After an uneasy start, Lia and Talen agreed to take the group to meet Nightmist who they call their grandmother.
Sherwood is surprised to learn that not only is Nightmist a drow elf, but she had a daughter with Sherwood's grandfather, James the Red! Lia and Talen were Sherwood's cousins! Nightmist was a Priestess of Eillstraee, the goddess of those rare good drow. Further more, the Lost Valley was used a sanctuary for those races must would consider to be evil. There were goblins, female orcs, half-orcs seemingly living here in harmony.
While taking all of this in, Kylie asked Nightmist if she had any information about her missing mother. Nightmist agreed to help as one of her priestly abilities was the power to cast a Commune spell once per day. Nightmist cast her spell, but it had unexpected consequences.
Kylie, Lilia, Nariya, Lia and Talen were all drawn into a dreamscape where they met Corellon Larethian, the Father of All Elves. Corellon explained that the Mother Tree was dying and that these five had been chosen to save her. A new method was needed to reach the Mother Tree in the Sylvan Realm as other expeditions had been sent, but none of them had succeeded. Corellon reveals that Kylie's mother had been sent on this very mission ten years ago and that the Sylvan Realm is to the far northwest, past the dangerous land of Vassa.
With this new urgent mission in full effect, Sherwood started to teleport the group away in small groups. He originally went to the Sallavarian Estate, but once there learned that other important events were taking place in the City of Corunglain. The city had been over run by orcs led by the dragon Ember and had been driven back chiefly by the Guardians of Light. The incident had caused King Victor the 6th to retire and give his crown to his son, Victor the 7th. A new day was finally dawning on Cynalon!
Sherwood teleported everyone to the Duke's fortress in Corunglain. There the new king and his new Council of Lords were dealing with the aftermath of the invasion and preparing for new threats. Lady Gabriella Allonica had negotiated with the elves for their assistance in this matter. In return, the elves had requested that Sherwood accompany the elves and half-elves on the quest to save the Mother Tree. Sherwood agreed to the quest, but as per the elves instructions did not speak of what the trouble was in any great detail.
While in Corunglain, Sherwood introduced Lia and Talen to Sharadin, Sherry, Terry and Jallarzi. The non-elves traveling with Sherwood joined other adventuring bands, while Laucian and Valena were added. The stay in Corunglain was only a day and the next day, the group teleported to Alfheim, the lone place in the Elfholds where non-elves are allowed to go. The group is taken to see the Elf King. There he provides additional gear and information for the elves and gives Sherwood an amulet that will polymorph him into an elf when worn.
Next the group moves to Karn's Keep where Sharadin says that he has an idea that will get the Sylvan Realm faster than traveling overland to the far side of the continent. To accomplish this, the group is given a Crown of the Stars. It's a magical circlet that when worn by a mage allows the wearer to use their magical potential fly ships across the sky! A barge has been prepared for the long journey ahead. A few days are spent at Karn's Keep as the mages become accustomed to using the Crown of the Stars.
Once ready the group sets off for the Sylvan Realm to the far northwest. Sherwood pilots the barge due west from Karn's Keep to the eastern side of the Elfholds. From their Lilia takes over the flies the barge to reach Ainsun, the home of the Grunalf Clan. There the elves spend the afternoon after flying all day and night.
After their stay in Ainsun, the elves continue on towards the west. Seeing storms over the Silver Sierra's Sherwood pilots the barge to skirt the southern edge of those mountains. While passing closely, Nariya spots something on the mountain side. Once closer the group discovers the wreck of a ship! Give how high up it is, the ship must have been a flying ship that crashed here!
Hovering the barge overhead, the wreck is explored. A strange furnace is found in the shape of a man-sized black dragon. The furnace is rescued before the ship breaks apart and falls down the mountain side. It is learned that the strange furnace is actually a Spell Engine, a more advanced item that can make ships fly. This model, while being powered by magical energy, does not drain spells like the Crown of the Stars does.
The barge continues on and lands in the grassy plains to the north of the ruins of Old Elcadan. It is decided to use the Spell Engine to fly the barge instead of the Crown of the Stars. By using this method, the barge can fly higher and faster and not have to land to change users like they had by using the crown. The trip takes a week, but the group arrives safely at the Sylvan Realm.
They find the Sylvan Realm seemingly deserted. Numerous forts are spotted ringing the Sylvan Realm holding many orcs and humans who ride wyverns. In center of the Sylvan Realm, a strange crystal platform is found. By studying the platform, the group deduces that a total of 12 medallions can be inserted into the platform. Using the materials provided by the Elf King, the group realizes that the Sylvan Realm can be divided into four quadrants based on the ancient elements: Fire, Earth, Water, and Air. Three of the medallions can be found in each quadrant.
Over the next several weeks, the group splits up and then regroups as they work to find the medallions. Once they are all found, the group is faced by the villain seeking to destroy the Mother Tree, an ancient elfin-looking mage by the name of Moorkroft. He sought immortality and gained a measure of it by absorbing the life essences of elves. This caused him to look more and more like an elf and made him insane in the process. The five who were chosen overpower Moorkroft and destroy him.
Next the Mother Tree is healed she is restored to her gigantic size. The crystal platform is repaired and lifted high into the sky. There, a rainbow strikes the crystal platform and all those elves sent to save the Mother Tree emerge, including Kylie's mother. Great gifts are granted all those involved in this quest. Lilia and Lia are changed the most of all. Lilia realizes her true calling and becomes a Priestess of Corellon. Lia sheds her human half and becomes a full blooded drow.
With the Elf Quest completed, Sherwood takes his leave of his companions. All decide to remain in the Sylvan Realm for now. Lilia reveals to Sherwood the true nature of the Spell Engine and how it can get him home even faster. Before leaving, Sherwood pauses to inspect the Heart of the Mother Tree. There he asks for his boon for this mission and is given the elfin gift of night sight. Using the Spell Engine, Sherwood flies the barge high into the sky and out of sight and begins his journey back to Cynalon.
I do what is necessary.