CR 571 November 9th - 12th
November 9th –
(The Frontier) The Endeavor and the Intrepid sail south and then southwest from Minothad City into the Great Southern Sea. (TF#144)
(Cynalon Knights) Lady Sallavarian teleports the Guardians of Light and the New Seekers to Castle Pyris. (CK#11)
GM Notes: That wraps up Cynalon Knights. At one time it was planned for the Guardian of Light to split into two groups to deal with two different matters. This split did not happen, at least as of yet, but if it had one group would have continued on in Cynalon Knights and the other in New Frontiers.
(New Frontiers) The Guardians return to Pyris by way of teleportation using the Stone House. A feast is planed for this evening. Lady Gwendolyn Vanarkus steals the show with her tales of the heroics of her husband the original Validar Vanarkus and his brother Valerian. Sir Rowan attends the feast in the company of Lady Ardel. Duke Vanarkus states that, with the blessing of the King, he is renaming his new realm the Duchy of Streel. (NF#89)
(Elfquest) Using the Spell Engine, Sherwood and the elves reach the Sylvan Realm. The barge's speed is slowed and it is rendered invisible so that the area below can be scouted. Much of the Sylvan Realm is covered in forest too thick to be seen through. There are several clear areas and one huge clearing. Something shiny is seen near the center of the Sylvan Realm in an area where the trees are not as dense. As the travelers watch, a squad of wyverns bearing riders are seen in the skies below. These riders are traced back to a small fort that houses men, wyverns and orcs. Ten other forts are noted ringing the Sylvan Realm on three sides. (The forth side being ocean.)
The barge is lowered down and lands near the shiny object. That object turns out to be a circular platform made of crystal. Four steps lead up to the platform and on it are the remains of four crystal pillars that supported an equally crystal dome. Sherwood lands the barge and everyone gets off and is happy to be on the ground once more. The rangers split up to explore the four roads the lead away from the crystal platform. Normal wildlife is seen, but not much else. Lilia studies the platform, her intelligence amplified by the Star Crown. The half-elves explore the town around the crystal platform.
As the elves look at the crystal platform occasionally a ray of light will make it to the ground and when it hits the light is split into the colors of the rainbow. Lilia notes several metal slabs on the crystal platform. Each plate bears a single word in an older, more formal version of elfish. They translate into earth, air, fire and water. Three depressions are noted one each stair leading up to the platform. There are twelve depressions in all and each seems to hold an item about the size of a medallion. After studying the platform for a time and looking at the star map the Elfin King provided, Lilia believes that she has figured out what this structure was made for.
The buildings in the town appear to be deserted. They were not left in a rush, but rather the inhabitants departure was planned. Nothing was left out and there is no spoiled food to be found. A few half-eaten nuts are seen on the floor suggesting the presence of squirrels. The half-elves get the feeling that something is watching them, but when they turn and look nothing is there. Not long after that, a ghostly apparition appears hovering outside the building the elves are exploring. The apparition demands 'why are you here' in elvish. Lia challenges the ghostly vision back and Kylie tries to smooth over the situation. After some discussion, the apparition fades and the half-elves discover that it was created by a brownie named Robin Goodfellow. Robin is somewhat familiar with the Sylvan Realm and offers to be a guide.
Traveling the north road, Valena hears a noise in the bush and finds a wounded falcon hopping on the ground. Moving closer and after calming the bird, Valena heals the falcon's wound. After trying out is repaired wing, the bird flies off only to return a few minute later. It lands on Valena's arm and becomes her companion. The falcon is named Aerie.
CR 571 November 9th - 12th
CR 571 November 9th - 12th
Try it and find out!
Re: CR 571 November 9th - 12th
Laucian takes the road to the east that follows the river. He can tell by the numerous animal tracks along the shore of the river that the water is healthy and drinkable. A flash of white is seen off in the bush along with the sound of horse hoofs. Laucian follows what he saw by its tracks. A few minutes later the brush opens up into a clearing and at the far side a majestic unicorn is seen! The unicorn looks at Laucian and then runs off into the underbrush once more. Following the unicorn once more, Laucian starts to see markings on the trees that he learned as part of his ranger training. The markings say that this part of the forest is under the protection of unicorns and that a Shrine to Ehlonna is near. Reaching the shrine, the unicorn speaks to Laucian. The unicorn reveals what it knows about the Sylvan Realm. The current keeper of the tree was slain by the orcs and none has replaced her, so the Mother Tree goes unattended. The unicorn tells Laucian about magic items left behind here in the shrine. Armor of Ehlonna and Rings of Ehlonna.
Sherwood explores to the west but finds nothing out of the ordinary.
Nariya explores to the south. She finds native wild life including squirrels and even a skunk. A deer is spotted and as Nariya watches it, she gets the feeling that something is watch her. After a time, the eyes of one of the trees open! Nariya realizes that she is in the presence of a treant. It asks her why she is here. In response to Nariya's reply that she is here to help the Mother Tree, the treant says that “The tree’s weep,” the treant answers in its slow and halting voice. “The Mother Tree is in pain and all can feel her suffering. Long ago, men and orcs came and they drove the elves away. Some stayed behind to tend to the Mother Tree. Keepers they were called and their bodies merged with trees so that they may slumber until they were needed. But the Keeper was killed before she could release her replacement. The Mother Tree goes untended and withers. She is hidden away, but her roots run deep and all in the forest feel her suffering. One man commands the invaders, but he seeks something in the forest. He seeks to make the Mother Tree’s power his and become immortal. He has cut down trees that held the elves to extend his already unnatural life span. He is evil and must be uprooted. If you need aid, seek out the centaurs and the griffons. They will help the elves.”
After dusk, everyone returns to the Crystal Platform to compare notes. Lilia explains her deductions. She believes the Crystal Platform to be the receiving end of the Rainbow Bridge from the Elfholds. With it damage, those who came that way never arrived. There are also twelve depressions, three for each of the four set of steps to the top of the platform. Lilia believes that each depression holds a medallion in it and once all twelve are in place, access to the Mother Tree will be given. Words on the platform split the Sylvan Realm into four areas, each corresponding to the four ancient elements of the world: air, earth, fire and water. Three medallions will be found in these areas. The twelve medallions are the Eagle, the Centaur, the Manticore, the Griffon, the Warrior, the Chimera, Justice, the House, the Lizard, the Nymph, the Narwhale, and the Hydra. Some of the medallions names suggest places to Robin and they are noted on a rough map of the Sylvan Realm. The group planes to split into two groups to hunt the medallions. One group will be led by Laucian, and going with him is Nariya, Kylie and Lilia. Everyone else will go with Sherwood on the barge. Camp is made for the night. (EQ#7-10)
GM Notes: The reason Sherwood didn't find anything was that the creatures of the forest could sense that he was not a true elf. The Sylvan Realm setting is from the basic game adventure CM7 The Tree of Live. While much of this adventure was used in some form, a lot of it was not. For instance there was a series of adventures in the Elfholds at the start. That group then used the Rainbow Bridge to reach the Sylvan Realm and had more adventures while inside the rainbow. They had a different version of the elfin palace and the end game was radically different. So, in short, I used the lay of the land, the medallion quests, and Moorkroft for my version of this adventure. Everything else was original.
Sherwood explores to the west but finds nothing out of the ordinary.
Nariya explores to the south. She finds native wild life including squirrels and even a skunk. A deer is spotted and as Nariya watches it, she gets the feeling that something is watch her. After a time, the eyes of one of the trees open! Nariya realizes that she is in the presence of a treant. It asks her why she is here. In response to Nariya's reply that she is here to help the Mother Tree, the treant says that “The tree’s weep,” the treant answers in its slow and halting voice. “The Mother Tree is in pain and all can feel her suffering. Long ago, men and orcs came and they drove the elves away. Some stayed behind to tend to the Mother Tree. Keepers they were called and their bodies merged with trees so that they may slumber until they were needed. But the Keeper was killed before she could release her replacement. The Mother Tree goes untended and withers. She is hidden away, but her roots run deep and all in the forest feel her suffering. One man commands the invaders, but he seeks something in the forest. He seeks to make the Mother Tree’s power his and become immortal. He has cut down trees that held the elves to extend his already unnatural life span. He is evil and must be uprooted. If you need aid, seek out the centaurs and the griffons. They will help the elves.”
After dusk, everyone returns to the Crystal Platform to compare notes. Lilia explains her deductions. She believes the Crystal Platform to be the receiving end of the Rainbow Bridge from the Elfholds. With it damage, those who came that way never arrived. There are also twelve depressions, three for each of the four set of steps to the top of the platform. Lilia believes that each depression holds a medallion in it and once all twelve are in place, access to the Mother Tree will be given. Words on the platform split the Sylvan Realm into four areas, each corresponding to the four ancient elements of the world: air, earth, fire and water. Three medallions will be found in these areas. The twelve medallions are the Eagle, the Centaur, the Manticore, the Griffon, the Warrior, the Chimera, Justice, the House, the Lizard, the Nymph, the Narwhale, and the Hydra. Some of the medallions names suggest places to Robin and they are noted on a rough map of the Sylvan Realm. The group planes to split into two groups to hunt the medallions. One group will be led by Laucian, and going with him is Nariya, Kylie and Lilia. Everyone else will go with Sherwood on the barge. Camp is made for the night. (EQ#7-10)
GM Notes: The reason Sherwood didn't find anything was that the creatures of the forest could sense that he was not a true elf. The Sylvan Realm setting is from the basic game adventure CM7 The Tree of Live. While much of this adventure was used in some form, a lot of it was not. For instance there was a series of adventures in the Elfholds at the start. That group then used the Rainbow Bridge to reach the Sylvan Realm and had more adventures while inside the rainbow. They had a different version of the elfin palace and the end game was radically different. So, in short, I used the lay of the land, the medallion quests, and Moorkroft for my version of this adventure. Everything else was original.
Try it and find out!
Re: CR 571 November 9th - 12th
November 10th –
(The Frontier) Har scries the Seekers once more, but this time Warp Missile does not stop the watching. A Dispel Magic is required. (TF#144)
(New Frontiers) Baron Vanarkus and Lady Allonica hold a special luncheon with Sir Kalindor, Lady Ivy of Azrella, Lady Ardel and Sir Rowan to discuss the Ardelphia situation. Ivy shows up in her priestess robe with the Kiss of Azrella tucked into her belt. Plans are made and vows upheld.
The knights accept squires. Sir Rowan takes Pravus Bascar and a half-elf Verlin Moonshadow. Sir Kalindor selects Jocasta Demendria and Baron Vanarkus Sara Ebonov and Flynn Jordana the son of Sir Belfor, a local knight in Pyris.
In a ceremony, Validar Vanarkus becomes the Baron of Pyris. A grand gala follows with dancing, a feast and other performances. The party lasts long into the night. (NF#90-92)
(Elfquest) The elves split into two groups in order to find the medallions they need to restore the Mother Tree. Sherwood controls the barge and flies Laucian's group to a hill top near the centaur village. The barge then flies to an area that Robin Goodfellow knows as a manticore hunting area. High up on a hillside a cave is seen and a manticore flies away from it. After making sure no other manticores are in the area, Lia and Valena go forth to explore the cave. Ropes area attached to them and they are lowered from the invisible barge. In the back of the cave, a skeleton wearing tattered elfin robes is found with a scroll beside it. Lia reads the scroll and it seems to have been written by the last Tree Keeper. I suggests that any who find the scroll visit the Elfin Palace and the kindly old elf who lives there. Valena is skeptical of all of this because of the warnings they had about the Elfin Palace and examines the skeleton. She finds that its fingers and legs were broken. It is impossible for the skeleton to have written the scroll. It was all a trap set by Moorkroft to catch the unwary. Near the back of the cave, a silver chest is found on a high shelf. At that moment, there is a tug on their ropes signaling that they return to the barge. Instead, Lia cuts her rope and places the skeleton on a shield found in the cave and drags it out. Then she races back and retrieves the silver chest. At the front of a cave, a manticore has returned. Sherwood and Talen hit it with Magic Missiles, while Valena adds her arrows. The manticore falls near the cave entrance. The skeleton is placed on the barge and then Lia rushes back to get the Silver Chest. Once she has it, the barge moves away from the manticore cave. The chest is opened and inside is the Manticore Medallion! The first of the twelve medallions has been found!
Nariya leads Laucian's group down the hill and towards the centaur village. As they near the campy the elves hear harsh words being spoken in a clearing before them. Daring a look, Nariya sees that it is two groups of centaurs are on the verge of fighting. Laucian decides to reveal himself to the centaurs, as he is able to speak their language. Once spotted, several of the centaurs come closer to Laucian. After a short discussion, the centaurs decide to take the elves to their clan leader. The centaurs maintain a brisk pace that is exhausting to Lilia. The clan master is unsure of the elves intentions here. Long ago, the elves seemingly abandoned the Sylvan Realm and he no longer trusts them. The clan master relates that the ancient master who dwells in the Elfin Palace kidnapped his son, and that's what the centaurs were fighting over. One group wants to rescue the missing centaur, while the other fears the ancient master's response. The clan leader decides that he will turn his medallion over if the elves rescue his son. If they do this task, then the centaur's faith in the elves will be restored.
After retrieving the Manticore Medallion, Sherwood pilots the barge towards the believed location of the Eagle Medallion. A nest is spotted on a high hill top with an eagle inside it. However, as the invisible barge gets closer Sherwood realizes that its not an eagle, but rather a roc! The nest is a home for a house sized bird! It is decided to use Valena's falcon Aerie to speak to the roc first, bird to bird. Aerie does so and relates to Valena that the roc is intelligent and can understand elvish! Since Valena can understand animals, they can speak to each other. The roc is ancient and was here before the elves left. It was entrusted with the Eagle Medallion, but will only give it to the one who possess the Chimera Medallion. After that, Sherwood lands the barge and camp is set up for the night.
The elves depart the centaur village and begin to walk towards the area where griffons are regularly scene. However, night falls before they can reach that area and camp is set up for the evening. As the elves eat noises are heard in the woods around them. Laucian and Nariya are preparing to go into the brush to find out what is making the noise when the noise maker comes out! It is a cooshee, or elfin dog. The dog is huge, four feet high at the shoulder and has mostly greenish fur with brown and black spots. It seems very friendly as it regards the elves. Water and food is offered to the elfin dog and more of its kind emerge from the woods. There are nine of them in all. They seem to want to stay with the elves and everyone settles in for the night. (EQ#10-12)
(The Frontier) Har scries the Seekers once more, but this time Warp Missile does not stop the watching. A Dispel Magic is required. (TF#144)
(New Frontiers) Baron Vanarkus and Lady Allonica hold a special luncheon with Sir Kalindor, Lady Ivy of Azrella, Lady Ardel and Sir Rowan to discuss the Ardelphia situation. Ivy shows up in her priestess robe with the Kiss of Azrella tucked into her belt. Plans are made and vows upheld.
The knights accept squires. Sir Rowan takes Pravus Bascar and a half-elf Verlin Moonshadow. Sir Kalindor selects Jocasta Demendria and Baron Vanarkus Sara Ebonov and Flynn Jordana the son of Sir Belfor, a local knight in Pyris.
In a ceremony, Validar Vanarkus becomes the Baron of Pyris. A grand gala follows with dancing, a feast and other performances. The party lasts long into the night. (NF#90-92)
(Elfquest) The elves split into two groups in order to find the medallions they need to restore the Mother Tree. Sherwood controls the barge and flies Laucian's group to a hill top near the centaur village. The barge then flies to an area that Robin Goodfellow knows as a manticore hunting area. High up on a hillside a cave is seen and a manticore flies away from it. After making sure no other manticores are in the area, Lia and Valena go forth to explore the cave. Ropes area attached to them and they are lowered from the invisible barge. In the back of the cave, a skeleton wearing tattered elfin robes is found with a scroll beside it. Lia reads the scroll and it seems to have been written by the last Tree Keeper. I suggests that any who find the scroll visit the Elfin Palace and the kindly old elf who lives there. Valena is skeptical of all of this because of the warnings they had about the Elfin Palace and examines the skeleton. She finds that its fingers and legs were broken. It is impossible for the skeleton to have written the scroll. It was all a trap set by Moorkroft to catch the unwary. Near the back of the cave, a silver chest is found on a high shelf. At that moment, there is a tug on their ropes signaling that they return to the barge. Instead, Lia cuts her rope and places the skeleton on a shield found in the cave and drags it out. Then she races back and retrieves the silver chest. At the front of a cave, a manticore has returned. Sherwood and Talen hit it with Magic Missiles, while Valena adds her arrows. The manticore falls near the cave entrance. The skeleton is placed on the barge and then Lia rushes back to get the Silver Chest. Once she has it, the barge moves away from the manticore cave. The chest is opened and inside is the Manticore Medallion! The first of the twelve medallions has been found!
Nariya leads Laucian's group down the hill and towards the centaur village. As they near the campy the elves hear harsh words being spoken in a clearing before them. Daring a look, Nariya sees that it is two groups of centaurs are on the verge of fighting. Laucian decides to reveal himself to the centaurs, as he is able to speak their language. Once spotted, several of the centaurs come closer to Laucian. After a short discussion, the centaurs decide to take the elves to their clan leader. The centaurs maintain a brisk pace that is exhausting to Lilia. The clan master is unsure of the elves intentions here. Long ago, the elves seemingly abandoned the Sylvan Realm and he no longer trusts them. The clan master relates that the ancient master who dwells in the Elfin Palace kidnapped his son, and that's what the centaurs were fighting over. One group wants to rescue the missing centaur, while the other fears the ancient master's response. The clan leader decides that he will turn his medallion over if the elves rescue his son. If they do this task, then the centaur's faith in the elves will be restored.
After retrieving the Manticore Medallion, Sherwood pilots the barge towards the believed location of the Eagle Medallion. A nest is spotted on a high hill top with an eagle inside it. However, as the invisible barge gets closer Sherwood realizes that its not an eagle, but rather a roc! The nest is a home for a house sized bird! It is decided to use Valena's falcon Aerie to speak to the roc first, bird to bird. Aerie does so and relates to Valena that the roc is intelligent and can understand elvish! Since Valena can understand animals, they can speak to each other. The roc is ancient and was here before the elves left. It was entrusted with the Eagle Medallion, but will only give it to the one who possess the Chimera Medallion. After that, Sherwood lands the barge and camp is set up for the night.
The elves depart the centaur village and begin to walk towards the area where griffons are regularly scene. However, night falls before they can reach that area and camp is set up for the evening. As the elves eat noises are heard in the woods around them. Laucian and Nariya are preparing to go into the brush to find out what is making the noise when the noise maker comes out! It is a cooshee, or elfin dog. The dog is huge, four feet high at the shoulder and has mostly greenish fur with brown and black spots. It seems very friendly as it regards the elves. Water and food is offered to the elfin dog and more of its kind emerge from the woods. There are nine of them in all. They seem to want to stay with the elves and everyone settles in for the night. (EQ#10-12)
Try it and find out!
Re: CR 571 November 9th - 12th
November 11th –
(The Frontier) An unknown assassin tries to kill Claudius in his sleep by slitting his throat, but his Stoneskin saves him. A search of the ship follows, but the attacker is not found. (TF#144)
(Elfquest) Laucian's group and the cooshee's get to know each other better. There are three mated couples among the elfin dogs and two single males and one single female. Two of the mated pairs take a liking to Nariya and Laucian. The lone female befriends Lilia and she names her companion Lady. Kylie is befriended by one of the single males and she calls him Dapple. After breakfast, the group is off once more with the cooshee's among them. By afternoon they reach the large clearing that Robin Goodfellow said was an area where griffons were regularly seen. There doesn't seem to be any danger, but the cooshee's won't go into the clearing. After some discussion, it is decided that Kylie go into the clearing and mimic the sounds of a griffon. Kylie was familiar with the noise that Farthon made during her training at the Sallavarian Estate. The reason why the cooshee's wouldn't go into the clearing soon becomes clear as a geyser erupts underneath Kylie tossing her into the air. Lilia helps Kylie down from the geyser. Dapple barks loudly and the group sees a flock of griffons is approaching! There are sixteen of the animals. Laucian bravely walks out into the clear to greet them. The griffon's land and offer themselves as mounts. Its is clear that the griffons favor elves and can understand their language. The griffons want to take them to some place to the north of the clearing. It is decided that Lilia and Nariya ride the griffons to where they want to take you and Kylie and Laucian follow on foot with the cooshee's.
After praying for Speak with Dead, Lia casts it on the skeleton found in the manticore cave. There is no response. Sherwood pilots the barge to the believed location of the Narwhale Medallion on the coast of the Sylvan Realm. After searching for a time, a row boat is spotted on the otherwise deserted shoreline. A small island is seen a few miles out in the ocean. Changing course, the barge moves towards the island and see that is essentially a rock emerging from the water. Moving closer to the island, two figures in black armor are seen. Both are still and once close enough it is determined that they are both dead. One has a large wound in his chest, as if impaled on a lance. The other seems to have starved to death. As the island is searched, the narwhale is spotted out in the water. The great fish is thirty feet long and has a eight foot long horn emerging from its head much like a unicorn. The narwhale is keeping watch on the explorers. Valena attempts to speak to the narwhale. It is intelligent and understands elvish while Valena can understand it thanks to her Speak with Animals ability. After conversing with the fish, Valena says that the narwhale did have a medallion, but it was stolen! The narwhale believes that the water spirit that lives in the lake near the swamp took it, but doesn't understand why as they had been friends. Sherwood moves the barge further along towards the next closest medallion location, the hydra that lives in the swamp.
After a short flight, Nariya and Lilia are flown into a concealed griffon stable hidden up in the trees. There is a main landing area with griffon nests around it. On the level below there are quarters for griffon riders. Lilia searches the immediate area and finds riding gear for the griffons, while Nariya discovers that there are four other landing areas that all come off a central hub. At the central hub concealed stairs lead down to the forest floor. Laucian and Kylie follow on foot with the cooshee's. Laucian finds the hidden stairs and everyone is reunited once more. From questioning the griffons, the group figures out that they brought them here for the riding gear and that the Griffon Medallion is elsewhere. The group settles in for the night since there are beds here and plenty of room for everyone including the cooshee's.
The swamp is reached by mid-afternoon and the group searches it from the barge. Eventually, they find the skeleton of a giant hydra! The main part of its body has been stripped down to the bones. Lia goes down to look around, while Valena examines the body itself. The hydra's heads fell into the muck and have buried themselves. They are dug up and there is an impression in one of the skulls where a medallion would fit. Some footprints are found around the hydra, including a man using a walking stick. With the Hydra Medallion missing, the group continues on towards the the lake where they believe the Nymph Medallion is at. They reach the lake by night fall and camp for the night. Valena says she's heard stories of water spirits that drag victims into the water drowning them and she rather have Water Breathing spells available hand. (EQ#12-14)
(The Frontier) An unknown assassin tries to kill Claudius in his sleep by slitting his throat, but his Stoneskin saves him. A search of the ship follows, but the attacker is not found. (TF#144)
(Elfquest) Laucian's group and the cooshee's get to know each other better. There are three mated couples among the elfin dogs and two single males and one single female. Two of the mated pairs take a liking to Nariya and Laucian. The lone female befriends Lilia and she names her companion Lady. Kylie is befriended by one of the single males and she calls him Dapple. After breakfast, the group is off once more with the cooshee's among them. By afternoon they reach the large clearing that Robin Goodfellow said was an area where griffons were regularly seen. There doesn't seem to be any danger, but the cooshee's won't go into the clearing. After some discussion, it is decided that Kylie go into the clearing and mimic the sounds of a griffon. Kylie was familiar with the noise that Farthon made during her training at the Sallavarian Estate. The reason why the cooshee's wouldn't go into the clearing soon becomes clear as a geyser erupts underneath Kylie tossing her into the air. Lilia helps Kylie down from the geyser. Dapple barks loudly and the group sees a flock of griffons is approaching! There are sixteen of the animals. Laucian bravely walks out into the clear to greet them. The griffon's land and offer themselves as mounts. Its is clear that the griffons favor elves and can understand their language. The griffons want to take them to some place to the north of the clearing. It is decided that Lilia and Nariya ride the griffons to where they want to take you and Kylie and Laucian follow on foot with the cooshee's.
After praying for Speak with Dead, Lia casts it on the skeleton found in the manticore cave. There is no response. Sherwood pilots the barge to the believed location of the Narwhale Medallion on the coast of the Sylvan Realm. After searching for a time, a row boat is spotted on the otherwise deserted shoreline. A small island is seen a few miles out in the ocean. Changing course, the barge moves towards the island and see that is essentially a rock emerging from the water. Moving closer to the island, two figures in black armor are seen. Both are still and once close enough it is determined that they are both dead. One has a large wound in his chest, as if impaled on a lance. The other seems to have starved to death. As the island is searched, the narwhale is spotted out in the water. The great fish is thirty feet long and has a eight foot long horn emerging from its head much like a unicorn. The narwhale is keeping watch on the explorers. Valena attempts to speak to the narwhale. It is intelligent and understands elvish while Valena can understand it thanks to her Speak with Animals ability. After conversing with the fish, Valena says that the narwhale did have a medallion, but it was stolen! The narwhale believes that the water spirit that lives in the lake near the swamp took it, but doesn't understand why as they had been friends. Sherwood moves the barge further along towards the next closest medallion location, the hydra that lives in the swamp.
After a short flight, Nariya and Lilia are flown into a concealed griffon stable hidden up in the trees. There is a main landing area with griffon nests around it. On the level below there are quarters for griffon riders. Lilia searches the immediate area and finds riding gear for the griffons, while Nariya discovers that there are four other landing areas that all come off a central hub. At the central hub concealed stairs lead down to the forest floor. Laucian and Kylie follow on foot with the cooshee's. Laucian finds the hidden stairs and everyone is reunited once more. From questioning the griffons, the group figures out that they brought them here for the riding gear and that the Griffon Medallion is elsewhere. The group settles in for the night since there are beds here and plenty of room for everyone including the cooshee's.
The swamp is reached by mid-afternoon and the group searches it from the barge. Eventually, they find the skeleton of a giant hydra! The main part of its body has been stripped down to the bones. Lia goes down to look around, while Valena examines the body itself. The hydra's heads fell into the muck and have buried themselves. They are dug up and there is an impression in one of the skulls where a medallion would fit. Some footprints are found around the hydra, including a man using a walking stick. With the Hydra Medallion missing, the group continues on towards the the lake where they believe the Nymph Medallion is at. They reach the lake by night fall and camp for the night. Valena says she's heard stories of water spirits that drag victims into the water drowning them and she rather have Water Breathing spells available hand. (EQ#12-14)
Try it and find out!
Re: CR 571 November 9th - 12th
November 12th –
(The Frontier) The ships spot a knarr off in the distance listing badly as if it was damaged. The two ships sail closer and discover that the vessel is named “Farley's Folly” a merchant vessel out of Kingsport. The knarr is boarded, but no bodies are found and the cargo is gone. The ship appears to have been ransacked. With the ship sinking and not wanting to tow it to port, Captain Bartran lets Padraig perform an experiment on it. The mage casts Passwall on the vessel in a section not yet flooded to see if it will sink faster. It does. Another ship is spotted just on the edge of visual range and seems to be on the same course as the Crown ships. (TF#144-147)
(New Frontiers) Lady Sallavarian teleports the New Seekers to Elcadan and then returns to Pyris. The Guardians escort Duke Relon Vanarkus from Pyris to Timberline. Lady Sallavarian and Lady Allonica ride in the carriage along with Duchess Vanarkus. Lunch is had at Woodcrest, while a small dinner for the upper nobility is had in Timberline with the local lord. Lord Miral describes the situation at Wrassledown, the next closet town on the way to Ansimont. (NF#90-91)
(Elfquest) It is decided to send Lia and Valena to make contact with the water spirit who possesses the Nymph Medallion since nymph's are well known for charming males. The pair walk along the lake shore for almost an hour before they were someone crying out for help in the distance. There they see a man in the black armor of Moorkroft being dragged into the water by watery tendrils. The girls keep there distance, unsure if helping an enemy would anger the water spirit. The man is pulled into the lake and then drowns. Afterwards, the water spirit emerges from the lake in the guise of a handsome male. Lia and Valena explain why they have come and that they seek the Nymph Medallion. The water spirit says that it did have the medallions they seek, but the narwhale stole it from it. The water spirit does not understand why the narwhale did this as they had been friends. Valena says that is the same thing that the narwhale had told him. The water spirit considers this and mutters something about the hydra. Then the water spirit asks that they tell the narwhale to meet him out in the ocean and that he'll know the location. Once back at the barge, Sherwood pilots it back to where they met the narwhale and wait.
At the hidden griffon stable, four of the griffons are fitted with riding gear for the trip to come. The cooshee's are instructed to wait here for the elves to return. The griffons fly off once more and this time it is much easier to hold on with the riding gear. The griffons fly to the south and east. Along the way they pass a dormant volcano that Robin Goodfellow said had a large statue that looked like the warrior said to possess a medallion. The griffons pass a thirty foot tall statue that they believe to be the warrior. From their the griffons fly directly towards one of the enemy camps surrounding the Sylvan Realm! Shocked by this the elves have the griffons change course and land in a nesting area that had on one side of the volcano. There, Lilia asks yes/no questions with the griffons to find out why they wanted to go to the enemy camp while everyone else watches the enemy camp. The griffons relate that when they were given the Griffon Medallion they buried it among these nests. When Moorkroft and his army arrived, the griffons and the wyvern riders clashed regularly. One time they returned to the nest and found many griffons slain and the medallion missing. They suspect that the wyvern riders in the nearby camp took it. From their watching the elves see that there are many orcs in the camp and some humans who ride the wyverns. They are all led by a fire giant who has a pack of hell hounds with him. A plan of attack is made and the elves wait for night to fall.
After night falls, Laucian's group rides the griffons close to the enemy camp. Lilia uses Polymorph Self to take the form of an owl to get closer. She spies a orc on guard in one of the towers. He is not paying attention she flies and slits his throat. Lilia then changes form into that of an orc and lowers a rope for Laucian and Nariya to climb up. The elfin rangers then go forth and take out more orcs in other towers. After that, Lilia casts a Fireball into the wyvern pen, setting it ablaze. Kylie uses the distraction to slip into the fire giants tent. The fire giant has a giant-sized sack of goods hanging from a hook inside his tent. The diversion seems to work and the fire giant and his hell hounds leave the tent to investigate. Kylie flies in from a vent in the roof and examines the giant sack. She slices a hole in its side and looks inside. Within the sack is a normal sized chest, but its turned so a to be difficult to open. Kylie picks the lock on the chest, but struggles to get it open. Laucian and Nariya depart the camp before they get caught and the polymorphed Lilia checks on Kylie. Once Kylie has explained the situation, Lilia changes into a snake and slithers into the sack. With Lilia lifting the chest up from below, Kylie is able to move it into position so that it can be easily opened. Inside is found many silver coins, along with gold and platinum ones. Some gems are found as well. Deeper in the chest the girls fine the Griffon Medallion. With the medallion in their possession, the elves flee from the camp and escape on their griffon mounts. (EQ#14-17)
(The Frontier) The ships spot a knarr off in the distance listing badly as if it was damaged. The two ships sail closer and discover that the vessel is named “Farley's Folly” a merchant vessel out of Kingsport. The knarr is boarded, but no bodies are found and the cargo is gone. The ship appears to have been ransacked. With the ship sinking and not wanting to tow it to port, Captain Bartran lets Padraig perform an experiment on it. The mage casts Passwall on the vessel in a section not yet flooded to see if it will sink faster. It does. Another ship is spotted just on the edge of visual range and seems to be on the same course as the Crown ships. (TF#144-147)
(New Frontiers) Lady Sallavarian teleports the New Seekers to Elcadan and then returns to Pyris. The Guardians escort Duke Relon Vanarkus from Pyris to Timberline. Lady Sallavarian and Lady Allonica ride in the carriage along with Duchess Vanarkus. Lunch is had at Woodcrest, while a small dinner for the upper nobility is had in Timberline with the local lord. Lord Miral describes the situation at Wrassledown, the next closet town on the way to Ansimont. (NF#90-91)
(Elfquest) It is decided to send Lia and Valena to make contact with the water spirit who possesses the Nymph Medallion since nymph's are well known for charming males. The pair walk along the lake shore for almost an hour before they were someone crying out for help in the distance. There they see a man in the black armor of Moorkroft being dragged into the water by watery tendrils. The girls keep there distance, unsure if helping an enemy would anger the water spirit. The man is pulled into the lake and then drowns. Afterwards, the water spirit emerges from the lake in the guise of a handsome male. Lia and Valena explain why they have come and that they seek the Nymph Medallion. The water spirit says that it did have the medallions they seek, but the narwhale stole it from it. The water spirit does not understand why the narwhale did this as they had been friends. Valena says that is the same thing that the narwhale had told him. The water spirit considers this and mutters something about the hydra. Then the water spirit asks that they tell the narwhale to meet him out in the ocean and that he'll know the location. Once back at the barge, Sherwood pilots it back to where they met the narwhale and wait.
At the hidden griffon stable, four of the griffons are fitted with riding gear for the trip to come. The cooshee's are instructed to wait here for the elves to return. The griffons fly off once more and this time it is much easier to hold on with the riding gear. The griffons fly to the south and east. Along the way they pass a dormant volcano that Robin Goodfellow said had a large statue that looked like the warrior said to possess a medallion. The griffons pass a thirty foot tall statue that they believe to be the warrior. From their the griffons fly directly towards one of the enemy camps surrounding the Sylvan Realm! Shocked by this the elves have the griffons change course and land in a nesting area that had on one side of the volcano. There, Lilia asks yes/no questions with the griffons to find out why they wanted to go to the enemy camp while everyone else watches the enemy camp. The griffons relate that when they were given the Griffon Medallion they buried it among these nests. When Moorkroft and his army arrived, the griffons and the wyvern riders clashed regularly. One time they returned to the nest and found many griffons slain and the medallion missing. They suspect that the wyvern riders in the nearby camp took it. From their watching the elves see that there are many orcs in the camp and some humans who ride the wyverns. They are all led by a fire giant who has a pack of hell hounds with him. A plan of attack is made and the elves wait for night to fall.
After night falls, Laucian's group rides the griffons close to the enemy camp. Lilia uses Polymorph Self to take the form of an owl to get closer. She spies a orc on guard in one of the towers. He is not paying attention she flies and slits his throat. Lilia then changes form into that of an orc and lowers a rope for Laucian and Nariya to climb up. The elfin rangers then go forth and take out more orcs in other towers. After that, Lilia casts a Fireball into the wyvern pen, setting it ablaze. Kylie uses the distraction to slip into the fire giants tent. The fire giant has a giant-sized sack of goods hanging from a hook inside his tent. The diversion seems to work and the fire giant and his hell hounds leave the tent to investigate. Kylie flies in from a vent in the roof and examines the giant sack. She slices a hole in its side and looks inside. Within the sack is a normal sized chest, but its turned so a to be difficult to open. Kylie picks the lock on the chest, but struggles to get it open. Laucian and Nariya depart the camp before they get caught and the polymorphed Lilia checks on Kylie. Once Kylie has explained the situation, Lilia changes into a snake and slithers into the sack. With Lilia lifting the chest up from below, Kylie is able to move it into position so that it can be easily opened. Inside is found many silver coins, along with gold and platinum ones. Some gems are found as well. Deeper in the chest the girls fine the Griffon Medallion. With the medallion in their possession, the elves flee from the camp and escape on their griffon mounts. (EQ#14-17)
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