Session24


 * 7-14-2013** **The Welcoming in Myth Coramanth and The Drow Plot **

We travel in the //Destiny// with Azarius coaxing a little extra speed as we fly over the land on our way to Myth Coramanth. It's rather like traveling on a sailing ship with a good, strong wind... only it's in the air, over the land. Farmers gawk and point at us as we go by.

The interior of the country is sparsely populated with smaller villages. Multiple days into our travel, we pass Ilmwatch, the northern most city of Impiltur... then head into Rawlinswood. Massive towering pine trees stretch high into the sky, giving a very rich smell of pine.

Another 1/2 day in, we can start to see the deciduous trees starting, like oaks and maples... some strangely mixed and growing together with the pines. In the distance, we can see the tall white tower of the mages in the city.

We leave the //Destiny// and head in on foot at the edge of The Mythal. A great ancient magic of the elves. Designed to protect the city and keep out dragons and some races. The mages are able to fine tune it to certain things... even to just one person, though it requires a great deal of effort and it's usually easiest to go and capture that one person. Though it can be used against say a group of people in the event of an attack or war.

Kale tells us that it's very unpleasant to those who are discluded, fireballs rain down from the sky. Never having seen this happen herself, Wren looks at him and asks if he's ever seen such a thing happen. He says no.

As we make our way through the woods, tiny fairies fly around us, interested in the new people... one takes a liking to Yuki and settles in on top of her head. Eyes in the leaves of wardens and rangers checking in on the line of people approaching the city. Trieste walks holding the banner of the Chaat crest beside Azarius proudly.

The city is multi-layered within vastly tall trees, There are buildings on the ground, but there are large wicker baskets that lower and rise to the various wood-plank bridges above. The bridges have roped railings, intertwined with wisps of light. Buildings above are both wound around and within the trees themselves. Wisps and fairies float about lighting the area. Ahead is the White Tower of Attalicus and then as we travel in, the magnificent palace... white marble, sapphires, stained glass windows... it seems almost out of place within the trees, only because of it's enormous size.

Horns sound. White horses trot out quickly to line either side of the road, escorting us in with long, bright banners. Elven guards are lined at the entrance with swords crossed overhead, the swords seem to light up with magic as we pass beneath them. Trumpets play and bursts of colorful fireworks come from the White Tower. Mali helps too by placing her cherry blossom petals on the ground before him.

Erevin is looking very embarrassed at the onslaught of displays for his welcome home, but Yuki looks starstruck, oooing and ahhing, and excited to be a princess for a little while.

One of Horitsu's paladin guards, a young female elf named Kirialei Sunglave is there to greet us at the entrance, and announces loudly that Prince Erevin Lionspaw has returned and Queen Horitsu bids her son welcome.

Lady Horitsu, accompanied by Lord Eltrue, captain of the guard and personal protector of the queen, arrive together at the front. Graceful bows from the party in greeting, and Erevin takes to a knee. Horitsu bids us welcome and greets everyone by their name. "I apologize for the shabby welcome... you sent such a brief message and arrived sooner than we expected. I thought I would have to drag you back here... What brings you back in haste, my son?"

Erevin bows again, "I was concerned."

Horitsu peers at him questioningly, "In what way, my son? Myth Coramanth flourishes... trading is good... other than a few strange reports from the rangers, nothing is amiss."

"It is the problems of the rangers that beckoned me..."

She nods, "Well then, perhaps you should speak with Minastes Starseeker, a ranger trained by Alaria, and chosen by your father to lead the rangers... and tomorrow we will hold a grand ball in my son's honor."

Erevin shakes his head, "That's not necessary..."

Horitsu smiles, "You come back to the city so infrequently... I hardly get to see you. Of course it's necessary."

Queelest, priestess of Eilistraee and Shri's older sister, arrives running into the room, "Forgive my tardiness, my queen, I only heard of Erevin's arrival moments ago." Shri and her quickly embrace.

Shimmering motes of light coalesce into Attalicus and Aspen. Attalicus nods in greeting, "The White Tower also wants to welcome Erevin and his companions." Aspen shoots daggers from her eyes at Wren, who seems to ignore her and look through her to listen to Attalicus... but Wren didn't miss the fact that the young woman appeared to have gained herself a right hand assistant position to the high mage himself.

Horitsu smiles, "Until the ball tomorrow, you may all enjoy our city and you're welcome to stay here in the palace as honored guests."

Erevin approaches her closely to discuss things more privately. He brings her the package he received with the letter, ranger badge, and elven ears. He tells her that he fears they may be trying to move on the city. They associate with a god called Ghaunadaur and his cults are heavy in Lyrabar already. Horitsu doesn't fear that the city is in danger, but is regretful for the loss of one of the rangers and tells Erevin to look into it.

A very handsome elf with violet hair, dressed in fine robes approaches Yuki, "Lady Ashdown?" She turns staring at him and taking him in... he's very pretty with 8 pack abs and broad shoulders. "I'm Tamaraith, priest of Hanalil, the elven goddess of beauty... and yours takes my breath away..." He kisses her hand as she blushes. "I thought being a priestess of Sune, that you might enjoy seeing our temple." Yuki nods, a little mesmerized by the handsome elf before her, and then smiles prettily as she nods, "I would love to see your temple." Axton stands a little closer to her, and noticing him, Yuki introduces them. They seem to size each other up for a moment before Axton nods, "I, too, would like to see this temple."

Thorn wants to go sight seeing and Kirialei volunteers to take him personally. Posy decides he should be kept out of trouble and she goes along to tour the city as well.

Attalicus approaches Azarius and Trieste, offering for him to come and see the White Tower. He introduces his assistant, Aspen, who nods to Azarius recalling him from Lyrabar, "Yes, he dances most divinely." Azarius agrees and the four of them disappear into coalesced magic.

Crowe, Wren, and Kale head to into the woods to Raven's Nest, while Shri and her sister spend some time together, and Erevin goes to fine the ranger captain.

Tamaraith escorts Yuki and Axton on a small tour, pausing at the temple of Correllion, a grand temple of marble and sapphires. He tells them the story of Correllion fighting the orc god, Grummish, who struck Corellion and his blood drops formed the race of the elves... he goes on to say that Grummish fled the battle after Corellion took his eye.

Tree archways and mossy rocks lead up to multiple, beautiful waterfall pools where young, attractive elves are bathing naked and laughing. He shows them the pool of young love where lovers admit their love for the first time. Yuki asks him about elves and love and marriage, and tells him about her friend Wren and how she thinks that all elves must be like her... Tamaraith tells her that elves often love many because elves live very long lives... they do marry, and once married they have a monogamous relationship... but they want to be very sure they want to spend centuries together. Yuki nods, very interested... and begins discussing elven traditions in wedding ceremonies because she's sure that she may be able to perform one.

They continue on to the pools, "It is said that when you bathe in the waters of Hanalil that you become irresistible to the opposite sex..." Tamaraith flirts with her and she enjoys it until Axton kind of pushes her into the water, both of the priests blushing when Yuki stands up, both soaked and beautiful.

Thorn and Posy travel with Kira who shows them the White Tower. Thorn glances at Posy, "Don't you have magic too?" Kirialei seems interested in this, "We don't have much of an opportunity to see gnomish magic... you should come teach a class." Posy growls at Thorn and slugs him to make him be quiet.

They continue on to an elven blacksmith shop. A very muscular elven woman with elbow-length forging gloves. Instead of the traditional blacksmith mask, she's wearing a magic circlet that seems to have an invisible shield that protects her. She is hammering away at a fiery hot blade and she quenches it in orc tears. Sweat rolling off of her, she introduces herself to them as Jara Brightsong... she makes the best sharp weapons in the area. Shaking their hands in greeting, she tells them that she'd be happy to do any forging they might need or introduce elven enchantments into something they already have... She checks out Posy's axe with it's very keen edge, and then pulls a twin set of daggers off the wall, offering one to each of them as a sample of her work. Thorn asks about armor working, and Jara nods, agreeing that she also works on armor. Thorn nods and smiles, "Posy knows about armor working too." "Oh! I would be pleased to see your gnomish work!" Posy glares at Thorn and he leaves with yet another bruise.

Azarius goes to the top of the tower with Attalicus, looking out over the city. It's protected by magic and they feel only a gentle breeze. Aspen and Trieste chat amongst themselves while the two mages drink fine elven wine as night falls. Fireflies sparkle out across the city. Attalicus asks about our magic ship, and Azarius talks to him in excruciating details about the ship and it's controls, while Attalicus asks him interesting questions throughout the conversation. He talks about others having flying ships, but traveling to other worlds... that's very unique. The elven wine is quite delicious and the two carry on in drunken conversations about theory and artifacts. Attalicus tells him that Cirdan, Wren's raven, is an artifact.

Wren, Crowe, and Kale head through the deep woods and Wren helps to lead Kale through the secret path of bramble to get to the meadow inside. Memories of Loch haunt her every step as she passes the place where Loch would often await her return and the door in the tree that marked Loch's home... now quiet and abandoned for months. Oriole, the young human witch runs out to greet them, overtaken with surprise. "Wren! You're back! We just got word you'd be coming. With Mother Dreamspinner gone, I'm in charge! Oh! and there's that!" She points over along the meadow where a wagon has been set up.

Wren looks at the wagon curiously, and then back at Oriole, "Umm planning a carnival, sweetie?"Oriole laughs and shakes her head, "No. You have a visitor. He said his name was Luminaas? He made camp several days ago.. He insisted that location was best given a talk he'd had previously with Mother about staying inside the coven?" Wren nodded knowingly. Oriole continued, "He 'was' looking for Raven but I had to tell him she was gone on an adventure or mission or something." "Is Ibis still here?" Wren asked, concerned, and wondering why Oriole seemed to be running things on her own.

 Oriole nodded, "But you know...she doesn't come out of her house much nowadays. So..." And the young human witch gave Kale the 'What is this guy doing here?' look. "Ah. Maybe you can take 'your friend' over to the wagon and he can stay with your father?" Wren just smiles. Crowe excuses herself saying she wants to air out her house... "to make sure Mother hasn't stolen any of my good stuff." And Wren and Kale head toward the merchant wagon for his first meeting with her father. By the wagon, there are chairs and a large pavilion-styled tent set up and illuminated by a couple of elven glowstones. But...the site appears to be deserted, with the campfire not having been lit for about a day. The two lovers look around, Kale heading into the tent and Wren to the wagon. She finds a letter .. "We have your father. If you want to see him alive again. Come alone and tell no one. 5 miles west. We are watching you." It was signed in drow form with god symbols.

The elven warrior emerges from the tent, shaking his head, "He's been gone for at least a day." Wren's eyes are scanning the tree-line and she sees rustling about 100 yards away. Obviously they are being 'watched'. Kale frowns, "Is everything alright?"

"No...I need to take...a walk." Wren answers vaguely, and shakes her head, "You should... wait here," still shaking her head.

 Kale peers at her confused, "Is this...some kind of...coven thing?" Wren nods unconvincingly, "I'm going to...walk to the West. You...stay here." "And what do I tell your father if he comes back?" "Tell him...'It's good to see him alive.'" She nods slowly. "Alright." Kale says doubtfully, "I'll see you soon." Erevin sees a sea of familiar faces... the rangers. Minastes, Mina (Mee nuh) for short, "Welcome back, Ranger Moonsong and Ranger Shri. I was hoping you would come. We've already suffered the loss of a ranger... it's only a matter of time before the strike. We thought we had a few more years... but apparently Llolth's followers have gotten... uppity of late."

She shows them a box with a tentacle mask that they found on an owl-bear that was raging and maddened and destroying everything in its path. They had to kill it, but believe the mask was the cause. There've been other tales of blighted animals as well... and drow. Erevin tells her that there are cultists in Lyrabar who wear the masks voluntarily. She tells him that the owl-bear passed through the Mythal, likely because it was something new. Erevin assures her that he will take this information to Attalicus personally.

Jara jokes with Shri, "Still keeping him in line?" Shri nods, "Always." The two have always gotten along well. She takes the two of them to the spot where the owl-bear was killed, but there is still little info. The drow seem to be covering their tracks. They all sit down to drink and hear tales of Erevin's travels that are heroic and grand indeed.

Yuki, Axton, and Tamaraith have been bathing in each of the beautiful pools at the temple, but the hour has grown late and the moon is rising. The priests exit the pool to get towels, and a crossbow bolt lands with a splash next to Yuki. She looks around, thinking surely it must belong to someone... but she was the only one around. After one more look around, she opens the scroll, "We have Wren Dreamspinner. If you ever want to see her alive again... come alone. Five miles in the woods. Tell no one! We are watching you."

"What?!" She quickly sinks lower into the water and looks around, "Perverts!"

"Pst!" she tries to show the letter to the fairy on her head, but the fairy just seems content to hang out there, not interested in the letter. She looks around again, angsting over people watching her... but Wren needed her! Finally she gets out of the pool and wraps in a towel, hurrying over to Axton.

"Uhhh... I'm going to go for a walk... in the dark... scary... woods," she crinkled and rattled the letter in her hands as she spoke. Axton stared at her like she had lost it, "But... you don't like the woods... and you shouldn't go alone... I'll go with you." "Uh no... No... you should uh... not follow me...while I walk in the woods... dark...scary woods," she continued to wrinkle and rattle the letter as she tried to make it obvious that she was in trouble. "Well I would be glad to escort you..." Tamaraith offered his arm. Oh how she wanted to take it... both of them at once to protect her from the dark and scary woods... but.. but 'they' were watching! "Ummm..." she rattled the letter more, "I should uh... go alone... yes...in the woods... you know how I love to walk alone in the woods... because they're so dark... and scary! And ... and you shouldn't follow me... into the dark and scary woods... where I'll be walking... alone." The two priests looked at each other, but Axton nodded to her, "Um... alright."

Erevin returns to the palace, gathering with a rather rosy-cheeked Azarius, Posy, and a little bruised up Thorn. Axton and Kale arrive at the same time, both speaking at once... Axton - "Something has happened to Yuki." Kale - "Something has happened to Wren." Erevin looks at both of them and frowns, "What happened?" Kale answers first, "Well we got to the coven... Wren's father had come to visit, but he was missing. After we looked around, Wren started acting strangely... saying she had to go for a walk, west in the woods... alone. When I tried to push for answers, she just pushed me away with obvious lies, and she's normally a much smoother liar than that."

Axton nodded, "Yuki went into the woods too... She was also acting very strange. Rubbing this piece of paper all over her chest and crinkling it up... saying she had to go walk alone in the dark scary woods... and while I could understand her denying the elf priest who isn't quite as handsome as me when he offered to escort her... she also refused my offer, saying she had to go alone and not to follow her."

Erevin put his pack on his back, "Let's go." Thorn looked at Erevin, "Which one should we try to follow?" Erevin thought while glancing at Kale and Axton, "Well... Wren usually has a little more grace in the woods, but Yuki... she should be easy to track." Axton nodded and led them to the temple baths.

The forest floor was covered in pine needles and Yuki's steps were easy to track. They followed her 5-6 miles into the woods when they came to a hill with a cave opening in the hill. Azarius casts on Thorn and Posy and himself so they could see in the dark a little easier. Erevin leaves Shri to help guide Axton with instructions for everyone to follow them a few minutes behind. Erevin and Thorn go in first, ghosting into the shadowed cave in complete silence.

A guard is posted inside in the darkness. Erevin looses an arrow from the shadowed edges into the guard. Thunk! A word Erevin recognizes as a drow curse is quickly spat out of the guard.

The drow speaks in elven, "We have your companions... Kill me and they die!" Thorn moves around with deadly silence to flank him. The guard shouts out again, "Show yourself!"

Erevin grins and taunts him, "What's the matter? Afraid of the dark? ...lay down your arms, and I might let you live." "Lay down yours. We have your pretties..." "If they're not in perfect condition when I get to them... I'll make killing you a career. You won't die for months..." "You've learned well from Shri... You would've made a fine drow." Erevin puts an arrow into his hand, "Curse me again!" The drow guard screams out in pain, the arrow pierced through his hand. Erevin continues to taunt him, "Woman. Truly a pet of Llolth." The guard runs, heading deeper into the cave, but Erevin shoots an arrow into the back of his head, dropping him to the ground. He and Thorn head in further. The others head in the entrance, following at a distance.

Bodies of elves along the walls. Appears to be a graveyard... but there is no guardian. The cavern starts to branch off into other paths with more corpses of elves. They continue down the main path, watching for any possible ambush. Thorn finds an explosive rune in the floor, and sprays a special disarming powder over it, making it safe for everyone to travel.

They come to a large chamber with little mausoleums. A dozen dark clad drow in the room, including the three, marked by god symbols who attacked us once before on the way back from the library. A root entangled cage dangles from the ceiling holding 3 figures, bound and gagged. Two of which are obviously Wren and Yuki. The third they assume to be Wren's missing father.

"Welcome, Lord Erevin... we were just speaking about you... wont you come in and join us? We see you got your message." "Thanks for the invitation." "We are civilized." "I see that by your current address... at home with the dead of my kind." "Those are long dead... We prefer to add more." Hearing Erevin's voice, Yuki struggles and tries to scream out, but they are tightly bound and gagged.

"Allow me to welcome you to the surface..." Erevin sends 2 arrows into one of the drow in the room. "I see your negotiations are subtle... Kill the prince! We have a message for Horitsu... that whore." A drow assassin disappears into the shadows. The tentacle-masked drow necromancer conjures a fire ball that rolls beneath the cage, and 6 crossbow bolts come sailing in at Erevin, 2 piercing his flesh. "I see the legendary accuracy of the drow holds true." "Hardly! You're still alive!" Thorn stays in cover and moves quickly toward the forefront of the drow.

Fire hot! While Wren is minorly protected by her ring, Yuki starts to feel the burn on her skin, whimpering in the cage above. The others begin to arrive through the doorway, as Wren uses her frost breath, blowing through the gag to the fire below, able to put it out, but her teeth chatter and the corners of her mouth are blue with frostbite.

Mali steps in and casts diminish plants to destroy the entangling roots, dropping Wren, Yuki, and Thalmyr to the ground with a thump. Too grouped up and fearing the black tentacles that caused so much trouble before, Erevin quickly heads around to the other side of the room to send a barrage of 3 arrows into a drow on a riding lizard with a lance about to charge. Arrows sticking out of him, he rushes Erevin. Thorn slips in and out of the shadows, backstabbing another of the drow.

Posy goes up the center of the room, slicing a drow completely in half and not missing a step as she passes between the two falling halves. Mali shapeshifts and sends in Melloran beside Posy, the two of them leaving a bloody wake behind them. Wren struggles with her ropes, and mentally calls out for Inali who wakes in her pack, coming out to stretch and help her get untied, while Cirdan fires himself at Wren's commands to keep the drow beside her busy. Yuki is able to grasp her ribbon in her fingers, "Heart, Power, Makeup! Unbound, fully armored, beautiful priestess of Sune!"

Azarius and Trieste move out to the side of the cavern opposite of Erevin trying to follow his lead on spreading out. Trieste starts cutting down drow, while Azarius summons in fire beetles that cover the approaching drow. Nom, nom nom!

The necromancer steals half of Wren's life force. Kale moves quickly up the center of the cavern toward Wren and Yuki with Axton following right behind him. Wren sends Inali to help untie Thalmyr, commands Cirdan to continue firing at the drow beside her and she turns angrily to the necromancer, sending in an empowered lightning bolt to rip through her body.

Battles are spread out around the room, chaos and blood everywhere. Yuki does her best to keep everyone around her standing, as Kale arrives cutting down the drow that Cirdan had been keeping at bay. Axton heals them all again while Posy and Melloran continue to bulldoze their way through bodies up the center.

Finishing off the drow and lizard, Erevin and Shri go back to back, searching for the assassin. Shri calls out, "To your left!" Erevin turns just in time to parry the attack that leaps from the shadows. Thorn dashed across the room with a sudden burst of speed from his magic boots, and buried his daggers into the assassin's back, lending his aid to Erevin and Shri.

Mali called in two rolling balls of flashing lightning and sent them on either side of the necromancer and her drow caster companion.

Shri lays her hands on Erevin, healing him again before stepping behind the drow assassin, taunting him, "Where is your healer? We have three..."

Yuki stepped closer and used her ribbon to pull the necromancer's companion off of her feet to land on her back to the floor. Kale moves past Yuki, stepping into the lightning and burying his sword into the drow on the ground's chest, lightning running up the metal of the blade and sparking across him as he finished her off.

Erevin and Shri together make the final killing strikes on the assassin as he gasps out, "One day Lolth will return..." Erevin leans in whispering darkly, "And I'll be waiting..." Looking like Erevin and Shri might need some alone time... Thorn quickly makes his escape back toward the others.

Kale stabbed his sword deeply into the necromancer, and Mali moved the second lightning ball closer to help him finish her off. The necromancer fell off of Kale's blade, blue sparks still dancing over her burnt flesh. The lightning crashed around Kale, electrocuting him violently.

Kale, with crispy, flared out hair, and large zig-zagged marks of blackened skin over his body... glanced back over to Mali, "Did you really have to put both of them so close to her?" Mali nodded emphatically, and before they could continue farther, Wren interrupted as she embraced Kale warmly, "I knew you would come... I knew you would understand what I said." Soft healing flowed from her hands as she held him, and Yuki stepped closer just for a moment and laid just a finger on his arm, blessing him warmly with rich healing, quickly replenishing his burnt skin and hair. She stepped back away and cheered at them, "Way to go Wren, the power of love!"

Axton approached Yuki, "Are you alright?" She shook her head at him, a little teary eyed, "No. I'm supposed to be in a princess room... with lots of pretty things... and I had to walk alone... in the dark, scary woods... and we're... in a graveyard... there are corpses everywhere... and they tied me up..." She starts to sniff, "I was supposed to be like a princess..." He consoled her gently, "Let's get you back to the palace, hmm? To your nice princess room... where you can get some rest." She nodded and let him escort her.

"Wren... my daughter!" "Thalmyr Luminaas... Father." Wren bowed slightly in greeting. "You've grown up so much!" He looked her over, almost surprised, "What happened to my little girl?" Wren laughed softly, "It's been many years..." "Many years... yes... I was supposed to meet with your mother a few days ago... to reminisce about old times..." He smiled. Wren smiled knowingly and nodded, "and she missed a meeting with YOU?" she frowned, "That does not speak well of her questing then..." "Is that where she is? Some... witchy mission?" "...something like that." "Such an interesting group of friends... and you have so many." Wren nodded, escorting him, and introducing everyone. "Perhaps we could talk somewhere ... other than a graveyard?" Wren smiled and nodded, "I would like that."

Everyone walked through the woods back into the city, returning gratefully to the luxury of the palace. Terraced rooms with large soft beds, draped in sheer curtains. Elven silk sheets and multiple fluffy pillows. Everything was beautiful, lush, and magical. Ornate silver carved trees branch up the walls. Wisps of glowing light. Couples stood together on their balconies over looking the beautiful city in the trees.