Company+of+the+Phoenix+Session+18

** The Black Castle in the Chasm **
 * 2-3-2017 **

At the bottom of the deep and dark chasm was an enormous black castle of Netherease architecture illuminated by various glowing lichen and mushrooms. It looked like it had likely fallen from the city ruins above probably during the crash... but it had more recently been restored. A single female drider stood guard at it's entrance.

"By Suzail's justice," Alaric shook his head, staring in awe at the enormous castle in the distance, "I thought we may be able to somehow get our key back... but I don't think it wise to storm that castle with our few numbers. We could explore the cavern more for any other possible entrance..." Nearby they heard a crew of 4 sand people taking goods from another elevator and packing them onto a wagon. "Sure, we could ask that nice looking spider lady for directions," sarcasm dripped from Charlemagne as he nodded to his cousin, gesturing toward the drider guarded castle. "So you think we should just take this information back to Nilyniel ? ...form a larger group?" Tiri tilted her head at the golden haired sorcerer.

"Is it just your cowardice talking, Cousin? I thought we had worked through that," Charlemagne nudged Alaric. "Now, now," Nalen interrupted him, "He is a brave man. He has seen us through more than one hardship already." Charlemagne turned toward the paladin with an exasperated sigh, "I'm just trying to motivate him." "By insulting him?" Nalen questioned him, looking confused by the idea. "It's the best motivator," the muscular warrior assured him, "Wait until we talk about his little willy." "Really?" Anuul's ears lifted as she looked back and forth from Charlemagne to Alaric.  Rhain leaned on the cavern wall, "I have to hear how YOU found out..."

Ignoring the insults and urging of his warrior cousin, Alaric turned to the group, "Certainly I am open to suggestions... Do you want to storm the castle? Do you think we could sneak in and out?" "Well no," Charlemagne shook his head, looking around at their not very stealthy companions. <span style="background-color: #ffffff; color: #222222; display: block; font-family: arial,sans-serif; font-size: 12.8px;">"Certainly we can scout out more... Perhaps we could send our more stealthy people closer to the castle to find out more?" Alaric nodded, "I mean... the Cormyrian in me would love to burn it to the ground as most of the people in it are likely evil to the core... I'm not saying everyone... that woman who helped our slayer probably isn't all that evil... but again, that group of 30 soldiers was difficult for us, and we have no idea how many more are in that castle... so it's my suggestion that we try and find out more about it, maybe get a better guess as to how many are inside it and possibly what they're up to... maybe even find a weak spot unguarded... then we'll take the information back to Princess Nilyniel." <span style="background-color: #ffffff; color: #222222; display: block; font-family: arial,sans-serif; font-size: 12.8px;">Charlemagne nodded his agreement, "Let's scout it out then." <span style="background-color: #ffffff; color: #222222; display: block; font-family: arial,sans-serif; font-size: 12.8px;">Nalen and Karlissa turned to Alaric, "What do you want us to do? We're not exactly quiet." <span style="background-color: #ffffff; color: #222222; display: block; font-family: arial,sans-serif; font-size: 12.8px;">Alaric shook his head, "I think most of us should remain hidden while we send the more stealthy of us on ahead."

<span style="background-color: #ffffff; color: #222222; display: block; font-family: arial,sans-serif; font-size: 12.8px;">Keeping an eye on the wagon loaders, the group moved up, trying to remain quiet. Narrowly avoiding Tiri, Nalen managed to step on Rhain's foot with his heavy plated boots! The young swashbuckler started to scream out before quickly clasping her hands over her face in silent agony as the paladin lifted his foot off of her. <span style="background-color: #ffffff; color: #222222; display: block; font-family: arial,sans-serif; font-size: 12.8px;">Hearing the noise, the lead wagoner turned toward them, holding a lantern high as he inspected the area, "What's going on over there?" <span style="background-color: #ffffff; color: #222222; display: block; font-family: arial,sans-serif; font-size: 12.8px;"> Alaric quickly projected a spiritual hand to topple some smaller boxes off of the wagon.

<span style="background-color: #ffffff; color: #222222; display: block; font-family: arial,sans-serif; font-size: 12.8px;">The man with the lantern turned back around, snapping at the others about stacking the boxes... All of the companions froze perfectly still and silent as he moved back to the wagon. <span style="background-color: #ffffff; color: #222222; display: block; font-family: arial,sans-serif; font-size: 12.8px;"> Two of the sand people got on the wagon, one of them nudging a large lizard with a stick, "Get along, Emu." The lizard began pulling the wagon down the road. The other two sand people climbed onto some remaining boxes on the elevator to take a nap.

<span style="background-color: #ffffff; color: #222222; display: block; font-family: arial,sans-serif; font-size: 12.8px;"> Alix moved up with stealth, Anuul following behind him. A soft whisper reached the young slayer's ears, "It's so cold in here..." followed by a breathy shiver. Wide-eyed, Alix looked around to see wisps of smoke coming up from the ground where a torch must have fallen from the wagon. Anuul came up behind him, looking around, "Who are you talking to?" "Let's just keep moving," Alix shook his head, completely creeped out by the whispering torch. He dove quickly to slide under the wagon and latched on for a ride, glancing back to see that Anuul had not followed him... instead she was in the road, picking up the torch. He grimaced with frustration, grumbling her name, but remained on the wagon.

Anuul grasped the torch and picked it up, talking back to the whispered voice, "What? ...I don't know him. ...Okay." She nodded, tucking the torch into her pack. The wagon continued down the road at a ridiculously slow pace... Thirty minutes into the trek they made a turn to take another path toward the backside where a double set of large barn-like doors were open. The young kitsune had quickly stealthed her way down the road, and sat down on a rock, watching Alix under the slow moving wagon. Four more sand people came out of the doors as the wagon stopped, and began to unload the boxes and take them inside.

Tiri leaned against one of the stalagmites, "Alix and Anuul get to have all of the fun. I'm bored." "Be patient. I have complete faith in them," Alaric nodded to her.

Alix slipped off of the wagon and went inside to see several stacks of goods. On one wall was armor and weapons like the sand knights had been wearing in the desert. He looked around and didn't see Anuul anywhere. Shackles and chains were hung on another wall. He glanced back to see the six sand people milling about in the light by the doorway as they continued to bring in boxes. He made his way up to a set of stairs and walked up the steps with stealthy caution.

Tiri sighed, looking down the road. It felt like it had been a long time since they left, "Maybe we should follow them down there... in case they get into trouble." Charlemagne pulled out a deck of cards with numbers and pictures on them, "Let's play cards. Go fish." Doing his best to distract her and entertain his own boredom, he sat down next to her and dealt her a hand. "If we follow after him now, it would be like saying that we don't have any faith in the young man," Alaric tried to dissuade her, "It could badly effect his self esteem." "No... It would show more faith that he already scouted out the way ahead of us making sure it was safe," Tiri disagreed, glancing down the road again with a sigh as she picked up her handful of cards.

Alix made his way up the stairs, avoiding two sand knights that didn't seem to notice him at all. Talking came from down the hall in the direction the guards went... perhaps from the doorway that likely lead to another room.

"Do you have any eights?" Charlemagne nudged Tiri who was still glancing down the path. "Yes, one," she nodded, passing him the card, "Do you have any sevens?" "Go fish," the muscular warrior grinned at her. She smiled, taking a card from the pile on the ground as Anuul came walking back to join them. "What are you doing here?" Charlemagne sat up, looking over the kitsune returning alone. "He left me. He got on the wagon and left me behind... You're not going to believe what I found though!" she exclaimed excitedly, pulling a torch from her pack, "A magic light!"

"No, don't," Charlemagne managed to get out, trying to stop her from creating any light that was going to make them a target. Too late... she was already in motion, "Light!" Wisps of smoke seeped off of the still dark torch, as Anuul grinned with glee, her voice louder, "It's a little loud! But it's amazing!" "What does that have to do with scouting the castle that we sent you to do?" Alaric looked at her with disappointment as she stood there with her wispy dark torch. "What?" Anuul shouted back. "Turn it off," Tiri suggested, gesturing with her hands as though she was dousing a torch. "That's enough," Anuul turned to the torch, seeming satisfied that she could hear again. "Can I see it?" Tiri tilted her head at her, "I didn't see do anything..." "Sure," Anuul handed it over to the blue-haired elven woman.

Tiri could hear the shivering whisper, "It's so cold..." before it changed to be more accusing, "You're not my master." Tiri blinked at the torch, "Who is your master?" "It was Morgan Windawn... but now it is Miss Anuul," the whispered voice came from the torch. "Well Anuul is my friend," Tiri nodded. "Well aren't we lucky then?" the torch replied. "Yes," Tiri nodded, further inquiring, "Who are you?" "I am the torch," it answered. The young cleric looked up to see her friends looking at her like she was crazy as they watched her have a one-sided conversation with the smoky torch in her hand, "Can't you hear the whispered voice from this thing?" Alaric and Charlemagne both shook their heads, answering in unison, "No..." "Weird..." Tiri shook her head.

"Make it light up," Anuul nudged her. Nothing had happened before... what harm could come from it, the young priestess thought as she nodded, turning to the torch, "Light." Suddenly it was like daylight all around her and the torch was screaming at the top of its lungs, its face contorted in agony as its head was wreathed in fire!! Tiri's eyes went wide as her jaw dropped open, "Okay, stop! Stop! Turn back off!" All immediately went dark and quiet again as Tiri looked around in a panic to see what must be coming for them. But all seemed well... only her companions were still staring at her like she was crazy. "Anuul this thing is terrible," she quickly passed the torch back to her kitsune companion. "It's great!" Anuul insisted, "Nobody else can see all of the lights on!" "I see that now, but... it... it screams the whole time!" Tiri shuddered. "That is a little bothersome," the young furred woman replied in agreement as she accepted the torch, putting it back into her pack.

"I stopped to get the torch, but he left me..." Anuul explained again. "Alix left you?" the elven cleric tilted her head. "Well where is he now?" Charlemagne asked. "Inside the castle, I think," the young kitsune shrugged. "Well maybe you should go in after him," the muscular warrior suggested. "I don't think you should go alone," Tiri shook her head. Charlemagne attempted to goad her into it, "You probably can't sneak in there anyway." "Oh I can get in," Anuul assured him, and shook her head, "It's the getting out part I'm not so sure about."

"Alix is skilled. He knows what he needs to leave," Alaric tried to calm them all, "We'll stay put and watch the castle for any sign that he needs us." "Like a fire or soldiers marching down?" Charlemagne replied. "There's a good half mile between the castle and here. Plenty of time for us to get on that elevator if we have to," Alaric answered. "He's in there alone," Tiri piped up. "You're saying you want to go in and rescue him?" Alaric asked. "I'm saying that I'm concerned," she answered. "And you're aware of the reasons that we didn't go in in the first place?" Alaric looked at her directly, an eyebrow raised, and continued as though explaining calmly one more time to a child, "Because you and Rhain and Nalen were tripping over each other's feet before..." The elven woman sighed and sat back down, scooping up her handful of cards, "Fine. We'll wait here."

Alix made his way down the hall, slipping into the doorway of the next room. Ancient beautiful paintings were on the wall, lit by candles, and long silken draperies blew in the breeze. A sand knight was at the end of the room talking a man in black robes. The click of the booted heels of the robed man rang out on the marbled floor. A set of ornate double doors was on the wall to the right. The young slayer took a deep breath and slid behind the draperies in the unnatural darkness of the room, moving closer. Afraid of being caught, he doubled back toward the door he came in... but it seemed it was lost in the darkness of the shadows. . The two men pivoted, walking toward his side of the room. Alix quickly slid back behind the drapes. "That's two of the three, at least that's a good start," the robed man was nodding to the other. The sand knight shook his head, "I apologize about Cormyr..." "It doesn't matter," the robed figure assured him, "The country is in chaos and that's all we needed." The two of them opened the ornate double doors into an enormous room with candles and braziers lighting up an aisle between what must've been a hundred people... a mix of sand people and drow.

The sand knight bowed before the robed figure, letting him lead the way down the aisle. The doors closed behind them, and light returned to the room they had left behind. Alix let out his breath as he tried to calm his heartbeat. Once again able to find the doorway out, he made his way back through the hall to go back down the stairs. The large barn doors were closed.

"Do you have any twos?" Tiri asked, looking through the cards in her hands. "Go fish," Charlemagne grinned. Tapping a finger to her lips in thought, Tiri giggled, "Every time you say go fish, I think you should have to drink a glass of wine... let's make this more interesting." Charlemagne laughed, "Well I think we should play a new game ... I'll say something about you. If it's true, then you have to drink. If it isn't then I have to drink... then you get to say something about me and we'll go back and forth." "That sounds like a fun game !" Tiri nodded excitedly, and turned to Alaric, "Do you want to play?" The charismatic sorcerer shook his head, "I think I'll keep a clear head until we get out of here."

Alix opened the door to the storage room, but two of the sand people spotted him as the door opened. The two rushed him, striking him with a sword! He could hear the footsteps of the other two running toward them. Alix stepped back, pulling his bow to launch two arrows into one of the guards, leaving him horribly wounded.

The injured one still managed to nick Alix's cheek with his sword as the other pierced deeply into Alix's back! Stepping back again, the young slayer put two arrows in the other guard... leaving now both horribly wounded. The steps of the other two were thundering closer as the first two slashed him again!

Spattered with blood, and badly wounded, Alix bolted through the door into the darkness taking another gash to his back as he ran! He broke through the barn doors to see the two sand people on the wagon, one of them pointing at him, "Who is that?!" Alix ran full out down the road, until falling into the shadows to vanish, sneaking back to his companions. Two guards moved very slowly, stabbing into the weeds as they went, "I know he went this way..."

The young slayer returned to the stalagmites, panting and bloody! "Look what I got!" Anuul greeted him by holding up her torch. "You stopped to pick up the torch?!" Alix accused her, pointing his finger at her. "It's magic! You left me! You got on the wagon and left me!" she accused him back. "Prove to me it's magic then," he argued with her. "No!" she folded her arms in a huff. "What did you find?" Alaric looked back down the road to see if anyone was coming after Alix, interrupting the two of them, "What happened? Why are you so bloody?"

"There was a supply room with food, goods, armor, and weapons," Alix began, "I found a dark robed person talking to one of our desert friends... they were talking about having two of three of something... and Cormyr, it seemed they wanted our kingdom in chaos... and then they went into a big room of about 100 desert sand warriors and dark elves..." Alix went on to explain everything he had seen.

Tiri moved closer and offered a prayer to Corellion to mend some of the slayer's wounds. The group moved back up the elevator to the moonlight above, carefully filtering back out of the city surrounded in the silence that Tiri wove around them. The group marked the city on a map, and returned to Tilverton.

Arranging a meeting with Quarrelle, Alaric and Charlemagne explained the city in the desert with the black castle at the bottom of a crevasse that ran through the city... they went on to explain how Alix found more sand knights inside with drow at around 100 in number... and there was a pair talking about 2 of 3 which at this time we can only assume to mean the three keys to the dwarven door, but it could mean anything... they told her the pair seemed pleased that Cormyr was now in chaos. The drow woman was in disbelief at first, but once she was assured they were serious, she wrote down everything as they spoke, "What is their threat? Do they plan to invade?" "I don't think we're sure of their plan," Tiri shook her head. "At least not yet," Alix shook his head. "Are you going back?" Quarrelle asked. "Not without a larger force," Charlemagne casually suggested, "If you get me 10,000 men we'll go back," "10,000?" the young drow woman asked as though it was possible, but wasn't sure that was enough. "Okay, 12,000," Charlemagne nodded to her. "20,000," Alix quickly countered. "I don't know if the smiths can get you that many..." Quarrelle answered thoughtfully.

"We'll go back if that's what Nilyniel wants, but we wanted to bring back the news as soon as we could... and they are not likely to reveal much more without force," Alaric nodded, "We were lucky that Alix was able to get that much and escape with his life." "It wouldn't do to have the famed slayer of the Company of the Phoenix come to such an unfortunate and way too early end," the lovely drow nodded. "We agree," Tiri nodded. "I'll take that as a compliment... thank you very much," Alix nodded to her. "Buy your own coffee," Quarrelle winked at him. "Wow, that story got around!" Charlemagne chuckled.

"There seem to be around 200, possibly 300 in the city there... not all of them are combatants. Some are civilians," Alaric went on to tell her. "How many drow?" the dark skinned thief asked. "There were none in the city, but in the palace below perhaps half of the 100 to 200 people there," the charismatic sorcerer replied. "Okay, perhaps we only need around 5000 men... with horses... and maybe some siege equipment," Charlemagne nodded. "How are you going to get them below?" Quarrelle asked. "They have elevators there..." Charlemagne shrugged.

"Can you take this information back to Nilyniel ?" Alaric asked her, "We need to know if she wants us to go back... if she wants us to try and find more information... if she simply wants us to kill them... it does seem that the assassin likely traveled back to this place." "What specifically did they say about Cormyr?" the drow thief inquired. "One of them was apologizing about Cormyr, and the other said it was okay. Cormyr was in chaos and that's what they needed," Alix answered. "Perhaps they were hoping for Sebathian's death?" Tiri offered a suggestion. "Or perhaps they were hoping that their lich lore would have had more time," Quarrelle countered. Tiri nodded her agreement.

"They've been chasing the orcs out of the area," Alaric went on. "So the orcs weren't part of the plan? Just some lucky happenstance?" Quarrelle asked. "Well unlucky for Cormyr," the young sorcerer replied, "but I think they just pushed them from their area. We found no evidence that there was a plot to use the orcs." She nodded, "Drow are still elves... and the hatred for orcs runs deep." Alaric nodded, "What do you think Nilyniel will want us to do?" Quarrelle shook her head, "It is hard to know the mind of the leader of the battlemages... I will report to my mistress and deliver what I can."

The group agreed to head to Myth Drannor and deliver the letter about More'nue from the king to the elves. "From Tilverton, we could go two different ways... We can go along the Thunder Peak mountains to Highmoon where we can possibly get the aid of the gryphon riders to go up to Myth Drannor... or we can get horses and take Moonsea Ride up into the forest and then take the forest paths up to the city," Tiri explained, pointing on a map. "I think the road sounds best," Alaric answered quickly, "I'm sure the gryphon riders are busy patrolling and keeping the woods safe... and the mountains would be difficult, the road will be easier." Tiri nodded her agreement.

Alaric turned back to Quarrelle, "It sounds like we're going to deliver a letter to Myth Drannor while you return to the palace. We'll meet you back here in Tilverton." "Truth be told, I am jealous... I have longed to see the crescent city," the drow woman nodded. "Come with us then!" Charlemagne invited her without a second thought. "My mistress's business keeps me away unfortunately," she shook her head, "but I do wish to see it... especially in the company of a party where the elves wouldn't kill me on sight." "Well that is true," Charlemagne looked over her drow skin. "We can have Tiri talk to her friends there and arrange a visit for you in a safe fashion," Alaric offered. "I would appreciate that," she nodded, "I will look for you here in a month's time... if I do not hear from you by then, I will send word to the crescent city that I have word from the palace... or not."

Tiri nodded, writing up a letter for the drow just in case and sealing it with the Embermoon symbol. "You have an official stamp?" Alaric looked over the embossed symbol on the sealing wax of the envelope. "Of course I do... I have a noble family," the young elven woman nodded. "Oh... I guess they do have nobility among the elves," Alaric nodded as though the thought just occurred to him, "That's precious." The elven priestess glowered, grumbling to herself. "Are you ready for that drinking game ?" Charlemagne laid a soft hand on the elven woman's shoulder. She nodded, breathing out a sigh, "I am so ready for that drinking game ... Wait until you try the Windsong wine in Myth Drannor... It's a shame Iowyn wont be with us... Oh! And you're going to love the bar!"

The group bought horses and headed down Moonsea Ride... It would take two and a half weeks of riding. A lot of time to bond and socialize. Charlemagne and Alaric rode well. Alix managed to stay on his horse, though he didn't look good doing it... but Tiri slipped out of the saddle and managed to fall on the ground. Charlemagne helped her up, "My lady... look at that hole in the road! It's no wonder you couldn't stay in your saddle." Grateful for his chivalry, Tiri laughed as she stood up, "I think it's more me than the horse or the road... but you are quite sweet to say so." She padded up blankets around her saddle like Alaric had done before to help hold her in place. "Perhaps your horse has one leg shorter than the rest... or it threw a shoe," Charlemagne offered as he picked her up and helped her back into her saddle. She hugged him gratefully and adjusted into her blankets with a laugh, "Perhaps."

The weeks passed as they shared stories about their past, where they grew up, and about their family and friends. They camped by the side of the road, played cards, and had drinking games. "Look at these saddle sores!" Charlemagne winced. A brush of the priestess's hand had him fully healed, removing the pain and any trace of sores. He signed with relief, "Ooo touch me like that again!" She laughed with delight.

Charlemagne laughed about childhood memories, "I remember when this giant spider fell down on me!" "I put that on him," Karlissa grinned. "I remember Alix falling into that whole pit of spiders!" Alaric laughed. "Yes, the good ol' days when he almost died! Blood was shooting out of him like a fountain! Such a good day," Charlemagne laughed.

As they came up to Cormanthor forest... the trees towered up into the sky! Massive trees nothing like that in Cormyr. "Imagine the houses we could build if we cut these trees down," Charlemagne marveled. "Imagine the sea of fire!" Alaric nodded beside him. "Shh! We don't speak of such things in this forest," Tiri tried to dissuade them as she reached over to caress the bark of one of the trunks, "It's alright... he didn't mean it. Humans simply don't know any better." There almost seemed to be a groan in the creak of the trees as they blew in the wind.

The young priestess took the lead as they entered the forest, and everyone felt the uneasy feeling of being watched.... be it by a hidden elven guard, a ranger, or something else... "Stay on the path. Follow me," Tiri addressed the group and looked directly at Anuul, "And don't listen to any of the voices." Anuul nodded, holding up her smoldering torch, "It's really cool. It makes his dagger shiny, and his sword looks shiny..." "Oh, it shows you magic items," Tiri nodded to her, "Be careful who you show that too."

About a day from the main city, they could begin to see homes built high in the trees and wooden pathways that wound between them. "I had a house in a tree once," Charlemagne nodded, glancing up at the start of the elven city, "Mommy and Daddy had it built for me when I was a child. These are like my tree fort... just... not as nice. I guess we can go up there and slum it." The young blue-haired elven woman raised an eyebrow, her tone snide, "Well by all means... lets go visit the slums of the elves." "He fell out of it several times which explains a lot," Alaric nudged the priestess, feeling her tension.

They camped for the night, and Tiri woke them early. As they cleaned up their campsite, early morning mist still hovered on the ground, and three cloaked figures stepped out of it. The cloaks seemed made of leaves, but wasn't... blending them into the forest. Masks were drawn over the lower half of their faces and they carried very fancy bows with intricate designs. "Creosa eska, seler'," one of them greeted the priestess in elven with a feminine voice. (Welcome home, sister) "Ta naa quel a'be eska. Uma lye tal vanya eithel?" Tiri nodded to her with a smile, her elvish words flowing with a calm tone that didn't even sound like the priestess they knew... (It is good to be home. Does our city fare well?) "As it ever does," the cloaked elf replied as they continued in elven, raising an eyebrow at her companions, "You bring... friends?" Tiri nodded, "Comrades. We have been traveling together." "This is the Company of the Phoenix?" she asked, speaking in common. "Yes," Tiri answered, sounding surprised that the name had made it so far. "We've heard good things," she nodded to her. "Thank goodness," the young priestess sighed with relief, adding in elven, "Please forgive their manners here... their culture is very different from ours." The elven ranger nodded, "I am Avanor Whisperwind. A pleasure to meet you all." Charlemagne gestured to the bow that Avanor carried, "Do you have shops that make those here?" She nodded, "We have both bowyers and fletchers here." "I may have to do some shopping later," he nodded to her. Tiri smiled. She couldn't imagine not having choices for a bow or fletching shop... he had obviously never been to an elven city. "I could buy a house out here... live out my days," Charlemagne looked around as the three rangers led them in. "Are you sure? You've never been that big on roughing it," Alaric shook his head. "Well what do the elves do out here all day? Just drink wine and talk to the trees all day?" Charlemagne asked. "You'll see," Tiri laughed and winked at him, "but they do shoot a lot of arrows." As they walked further through the forest of towering oaks and maples, Tiri pointed far into the distance where they could make out white spires, "That's the temple of Corellian ." "How long have you people been here?" Charlemagne asked. "Thousands of years," Tiri answered, "Well... we had it for thousands of years... lost part of it... the demons took over what remained for a time... but we got it back." "Have a problem with demons, do you?" Charlemagne raised an eyebrow, "We have that with squirrels..." Tiri laughed. The three rangers walked with silent steps through the woods. As they came up over a hill, they could see the expanse of a beautiful white city built into the trees forming a crescent moon shape on the edge of a perfectly circular lake. "The rest of our city used to be there," Tiri gestured to the lake, "But it vanished far to the northeast in Rawlinswood during a magical mishap about 85 years ago ... that part has since become a new city when Lady Lionspaw and her companions found it, reclaiming it for the elves. They call it Myth Coramanth in honor of the Cormanthor forest from which it came." Avanor turned to one of the other two rangers, "Unless you're heading out with your friends, would you mind taking these people somewhere where they can stay?" "Of course," the ranger nodded, lowering her hood and mask to reveal the familiar face of Urd. "It is good to see you again, my lady," Tiri nodded to the third daughter of the king of Cormyr. "Better circumstances this time," the princess nodded to her, "Your brother shows no improvement?" Tiri shook her head, "No. We have brought the letter from your father. Do my parents know? Has anyone told them?" Urd shook her head, "No." "Then they will hear it from me," she nodded, "I will take everyone to my home. They will be welcome to stay there." "As you wish," Urd nodded to her, "I will let your parents know that you are home." "Thank you," Tiri bowed her head respectfully. "You might want to tell them to set a few extra dinner plates," Charlemagne added. Tiri led them along the curve of the enormous circular lake up to the towering trees. The wide wooden pathways that wound around the trunks of the trees and draped between the buildings had been intricately carved with various elven runes and symbols. Tall piqued archways lit the path with a bluish white glow. Even the railings were carefully carved like an open looped braid. The wood felt smooth and warm beneath their hands. High piqued archways lit the way with a soft blue glow. The city was immaculate. There were no alleys... no trash... not even dirt on the walkways. No one seemed to be in a hurry... it was like time didn't seem to matter to them. "Remember... we are here as representatives of the nobles of Cormyr," Alaric laid a hand on Charlemagne's shoulder, "And we will be here to support Tiri as she brings the news of tragedy to her family." "I will try to be on my best behavior," the muscled warrior sighed heavily under the burden his cousin dropped on his shoulders. Anuul held up her smoldering torch, "The whole city is shiny!" Tiri laughed, "There is a lot of magic here..." Tiri continued to lead them through the magnificent elven city where spires soared into the sky and ornate buildings were built around the trees with high piqued arches and intricate designs. Charlemagne looked around, sketching a charcoal drawing on a piece of napkin from his pocket. The Embermoon estate was enormous, set with multiple tiers along one of the larger trees around the lake. Each tier flowed around the trunk with high piqued curved arches. Everything was intricate ... ornate... and elaborately crafted from centuries of knowledge. Far different than the architecture of Cormyr, the doorways and everything inside the home seemed 2 to 3 times taller than it needed to be...making it feel vast and open. Were they expecting very tall guests? The furniture, the windows, and even the archways were curved and woven like elegant pieces of art.

They were welcomed into an eccentric garden lush with plants and flowers, some of which they had never seen before from distant lands. Water rained down on the plants from floating stones that moved around the room. What first appeared to be glowing white butterflies fluttering around the flowers turned out to be white-winged fairies. Along the outer wall, interspersed with various small trees, beautiful ornate fountains sparkled in the sunlight coming through the five stained glass windows. Each of the windows depicted a different symbol... An elongated eight pointed silver star, a triangle containing three intersecting circles, a setting sun , a great oak tree , and a single silver arrow with green fletching. Tending to some of the foreign growing fruit while speaking with one of the fairies was a slender druidess with long moss-green hair. Araukaduin Embermoon, more commonly called Kaduin was Tiri's mother.

Kaduin embraced Tiri warmly, "You're home!" "Mother, it is so good to see you," Tiri reciprocated her embrace. "Things went well?" the lithe druidess asked. Tiri paused for a moment, "Stopping the orc attacks and rebuilding the Cormyrian cities is going well..." "Excellent! And these folks are from Cormyr?" Kaduin looked past her daughter at the 7 companions trailing behind her. "Yes, these are my friends," Tiri nodded, gesturing to each and introducing their names, "Everyone this is Araukaduin Embermoon, my mother." "Now I see where she gets her loveliness from," Charlemagne offered charmingly. "Ahh Cormyrian nobility... I have heard of you, I think," Kaduin smiled. "We thank you for inviting us into your home," Alaric bowed slightly with respect, speaking eloquently in elven, "Your daughter has been instrumental in discovering a great evil that lurks in Cormyr." "She has said no such thing to me," the beautiful druidess raised an eyebrow. "Well then she has a story to tell," Alaric nodded. "We have much to discuss," Tiri agreed, "Including my brother... who is not doing as well." "What has happened to him?" Kaduin asked. "You should sit," Tiri gestured, going on to tell her mother the full story of how More'nue had leapt in front of Sebathian to protect him from the assassin and how the veins of black have seeped over his body, leaving him in an ever unconscious state despite the great effort of all of the priests and priestesses of Cormyr. She handed her the letter from King Azoun asking for aid. "Okay..." Kaduin held herself well, but was obviously not happy to get such news. She accepted the letter from her daughter's hand and took in a deep breath, "I am sure that you are all hungry. I will have a meal prepared." Kaduin turned to Tiri, speaking quietly in elven, "Do they eat meat?" Tiri smiled and nodded, "Probably more than we do."

"Perhaps I could get a tour of your lovely city?" Charlemagne turned to Tiri, "It looks amazing." "Of course," she nodded, "I would be happy to." "Yes, you should show us around," Alaric chimed in. "I will personally escort you all the way around the city," Tiri nodded. "All of us?" Charlemagne looked a little disappointed. "Yes, of course," Tiri nodded, missing the disappointment, "But our first stop can be the baths . I know how much you like baths. Then we can go see some of the city before dinner." She led them down the curved hall to an enormous room partially outside, but obscured by the trees for privacy. Steam hung in the room from the heat of the water. There was a large circle divided into four individual tubs and a large open pool tub. "You boys can take the individual baths. The girls and I will share the pool," Tiri opened a panel in the ceiling that cascaded water between the two, and continually filled all of the tubs with steamy water. The water also obscured the view into blurred colors from either side. Thick fresh towels hung on the wall next to an array of herbal and scented soaps.