Chapter 5 - The Ruins of Rhest

With a princess, Chaotic Gold found their way to Calling Horns, a small town already full of refugees from Noanar's Hold, and among them Iormel Cowell,

"Well, if it isn’t the Destroyers of the Dawns way. What mischief have you been up to lately? Arson, assassination, the destruction of dwarven monuments to commerce, wealth and prosperity?" said Iormel, intent besmirching their names.

And the party proceeded to the Calling Horns Inn. 

Sadly, there was a disturbance in progress. It was Tosker Nightsword who pulled the bard aside, explaining his zero-tolerance for broken crockery and furniture. After all the Inn is a proper establishment. He asked they the help end the squabble between the short, stout figure of Rolf Axehaft and the cruel Gregor McGillicudy and it was Thorne who got them to take it outside, mentioning that they'd not be welcome back if they ruined the place.

Sounds of mayhem and destruction were heard outside, but Pimzin Teabottle was the only witness to one of the dirtier fight the Inn has witnessed. Inside beer was pulled into crocks and served to the heroes who saved the furniture, before Rolf walked back in a slightly startled halfling in tow. Pimzin healed what wounds she could and in exchange Rolf took the commission of transporting Loreal Neverember back to Triboar and assure her safe passage to Neverwinter.

Rolf was happy to do this service, but he mentioned a blockade of the road to the north. It seems to be the same blockade that Teyani Sura attempted and failed to break. Chaotic Gold promised to see what had happened, but not before urging, Tamalin Zoar, the Protector of Calling Horns to evacuate. She would, but not before harvesting the fruits in the various farms. She decided to "cut it close" for financial gain. There was nothing the party could do but move on.

They travelled the road north and in little more than a day found the blockade, a palisade of rough hewn timbers, a small fort and two towers, all of wood. Nameroc, in the form of an eagle attacked from above with surprise, but his luck failed him and the defenders sent him flying away from the scene as the rest of the party dashed forward. 

Zaila Fanter seeing an opportunity threw a fireball into the fort and devastated the hobgoblin underlings as Thorne followed up with well timed arrows to nearly finish off all resistance in the two towers, just as two ogres emerged to flank the palisades. Dumb beasts, filled with more anger than fear they encountered Bryllin Stoneheart and her Axe of Dumathoin hacked and cracked into bone and flesh. Nameroc with newfound hit points returned to assault the other.........

There was mayhem and the blockade was soundly busted.

Another half up the road, the Evenmoors assailed the senses. Trees once straight, and Knobel now stood upon mossy hillocks, twisted and distorted. Turgid waters filled in the gaps between the hills and passage looked impossible for horses, but not yet passable by boat.... miserable on foot. It was here that they found the remnants of an enormous owl once saddled and dissolving from some unspeakable chemical assault.

The razor fiend struck, leaping forward with surprise and slicing with concertina wings, snapping with piercing teeth, a creature out of hell. Nameroc was shocked by the damage as the others began to assail the creature. And as Thorne and Zaila brought arrows to bear, Pimzin yelled to Moira Shadowbanks to retreat with the horses and hold tight as she duplicated herself, sending one part to guard the young halfling and another to assist Nameroc.... sorely in need of healing.

Chaotic Gold prevailed, but only after learning that razorfiends breathe is acrid and nearly deadly with a failed saving throw. The creature faltered crying out in pain, or perhaps with a rage at having left business unfinished. 

Looking around they found the dark-skinned rider of the giant owl bearing an undrawn +1 rapier.

Moments after razor fiend is silenced a strange rush of wind arrives and soaring overhead five giant owls like the one that lies dead in the clearing. Each bearing a rider; a dark-haired elf wearing leather armor dyed green and brown to match the colors of the marsh. The flying elves circle the area twice, and then alight next to the slain owl. They study you with narrowed eves. Then one speaks. "Who are you?" he demands.

"What are you doing in the marsh?"

"Well, we certainly didn't kill the owl and the elf," says Zaila Fanter.

They are the Tiri Kitor, and ancient branch of elves, many of whom fled Westdeep to inhabit the Evenmoors in peace, but they have been set upon of late by the "Harrowblades" coming out of the marsh. 

"it is so," says Killiar Arrowswift, "ever since the small contingent of hobgoblins lead by Wyrmlord Saarvith entered the the old city of Rhest. There is some infernal plan they hatch they hatch" 

Killiar's eyes alight on the tattoos on Nameroc's arms and hands momentarily and he continues. "It is perhaps fortuitous that you arrive now, but also, very suspect," he says shaking his head, "Would you ride with us back to Starsong Hill?"

It is Pimzin that answers in the affirmative and they all consider how to assure @Moira and the fine horses sired by Elsifax are sent to safety. they are sent back to Calling Horns and from there to follow family and refugees retreating toward Triboar with hopes that will be seen again.

Each member of Chaotic Gold mounts up behind an elvish rider as they take flight. The giant owls are silent as they wing through the gloom, apparently able to navigate effortlessly through the darkness. The elven escorts are also silent, aside from softly pointing out some dimly glimpsed landmark far below from time to time.

Before long, you reach your destination. Rising from the marsh is a low hill of solid ground, encircled by a thick ring of trees. Dozens of pinpoints of light dot the hill-small lanterns filled with fireflies, each hanging from a tree-platform or the upper reaches of a conical tent. Many elves silently emerge to watch as you fly overhead. Killiar produces a sleek, silver horn of some sort from a saddlebag and blows one wailing note similar to a loon's cry.

Near the hill's peak stand three large trees, and built into their boughs are wooden structures. One glows softly with luminescence of its own and seems to be a temple. Another looks to be some sort of public building or town hall. The third, and your destination, is the smallest of the three--a cozy-looking tree house set above a large pool.

Killiar disappears briefly departs, asking them to wait and when he returns he ushers the party in. Sellyria Starsinger is ancient, but shows fews signs of aging other than her countenance which is regal, to say the least. She wears flowing golden and green robes, and her hair is braided around a complex headdress made of wicker and wood. She stands next to a much younger female elf in plain brown and green robes who looks to have been crying recently. The younger elf (Trellara Nightshadow) is seated in a large wicker chair, and the standing elf indicates nearby chairs for you. Behind you, Killiar the hunter takes a silent stance near the door.

Eventually, the dragon lands in an impressive building that once must have stood proudly over the city, for with the exception of the Bell Tower where Chaotic Gold found themselves few even emerge from the gentle murky waves of the lake that is now Rhest . 

And our party, now emboldened to take action use scrolls and potions of flight, Nameroc using an additional potion of invisibility for the plan was his to lead in the attack with a creature summoned from the feywild. And so, they flew to the town hall, once decorated by proud lions in heroic stances, but now covered in moss and other slimes, the only new construction being a boardwalk used to dock boats and apparently move between two buildings joined by these rough timbers.

And here , wise Nameroc summoned a Unknown  dropping it into the whole where the Dragon was last seen, leaving the two to struggle beneath the murky, dark waters. And the rest to the party set about them, attacking Orges on the boardwalk and looking desperately for the Wyrmlord Saarvith and other threats.

Pimzin Teabottle cast Beacon of Hope and thereby ensured advantage on all wisdom saving throws and this was good, for a Talon of Tiamat mind bender priest was present attempting to foul the minds of the would be attackers. Zaila Fanter too foiled him, with a well placed silence spell.

Down one floor, Bryllin Stoneheart flew into the heart of battle engaging an Unknown and handful of Ogres quickening finding her blood rage overtaking her. Her lips moving, but not uttering the verbal components of spells, but instead curses and arguments with the fell weapon she swung as she dropped enemy after enemy.  There was rage and then there was frenzy and frightful anger as the Axe of Dumathoin sliced and crushed and maimed.

Thorne Never outdone spotted Saarvith and and Zaila Fanter hit him with a thunder wave as arrows pierced hit studded leather armor and it was quickly apparent that the goblin ranger was outmatched without the help of Regiarax.

It was at this moment that the Black Dragon emerged from the roiling waters below and Saarvith mounted and they shot forth to flee breathing acidic breath on the party Thorne and Zaila Fanter fell but Nameroc persisted and dropped the goblin ranger before they were completely free. Saarvith fell face first into the waters of Rhest and Regairax slipped beneath the surface safely swimming away.

As Pimzin stabilized and healed the worst wounds of Chaotic Gold Bry was still in the struggle with some internal dialog playing across her lips and face. When she came out of it she noticed that from all around the lake rafts carrying teams of 6 lizardfolk each were heading toward the Town Hall leaving 10 minutes to complete the mission of discovering the reason Saarvith was in this swampy place at all.

Two session without a long rest and Chaotic Gold barely has 80 HP between them, but with nothing remaining to do but search for clues add recover treasure they quickly set about exploring the place. Their pace was quick as the Lizardfolk of the lake of Rhest were eager to please their god, Regiarax and were rowing their rafts at a furious pace.

After recovering Oathkeeper, the dangerously accurate weapon of the now gone Wyrmlord Saarvith  Thorne investigated his quarters and came across an iron chest but it was locked. Pimzin Teabottledeftly opened it with her lock picking tools and once inside a letter and the Ghostlord's Phylactery were found:

Saarvith,

Take great care with the enclosed phylactery. I need not explain to you what the Ghostlord would do if he knew where I had sent his little bauble for safekeeping. Keep it contained in iron and hidden. Could be entrusted to your dragon friend's keeping? Keep it hidden until Triboar is taken.

-Ulwai Stormcaller

This is unexpected and with Pimzin's counsel, Thorne wisely closed the lid of the iron box for safe keeping. Until bards like Trellara Nightshadow and Zaila have a moment to share the lore around such objects.

Meanwhile, other things are found as Nameroc looted the dragon's layer including a mysterious grail and some spectacles.

And then they found the first of the eggs in a fetid pool of water connected to the town hall with a simple boardwalk. They were translucent, their surface adorned with an array of pulsating veins that seem to carry an otherworldly life force. Submerged in the cold, dark waters, it was not at once apparent that these beautiful things were such a threat to humanity, but as Nameroc dove and brought one to the surface, he could make out the faint shadowy silhouette shifting beneath the surface hinting at some embryonic horror beyond the scope of mortal comprehension.

As the party began to destroy eggs with sacred flame, arrow and other such tools, Nameroc retrieved two turning them over to Pimzin. It was not long before the mother returned, angry and malicious. She unleashed her fury on Zaila and Nameroc and as they fled the waters, Nameroc hit her with lighting as she exited the waters, and Trellara, seeing the eggs of the creature that had plagued her people wasted not time and fired arrows into the back the Harrowblade . Thorne, with a whispered oath began placing well aimed blows into the vital organs of the Harrowblade and then it was her turn.

Acidic and foul, the breath of the harrow blade shot forth with a curse. Trellara and Zaila too the brunt of it and with Trellara's owl gravely wounded she dismounted and sent it back to the safety of Starsong Hill, And then at last, Bry and Thorne ended it with mighty blows. Pimzin out of healing spells shared a healing potion with Zaila who was distraught over her health and the state of her fine clothing.

Quiet again, with the lizardfolk rapidly approaching, the party explored the underwater hatchery, with time with Pinzin casting light spells to illuminate a shocking number of unborn monstrosities that they might have missed otherwise. The party continues their destruction, but it is Trellara who dives in and destroys the final two.

And some began the desperate retreat, flying back to the elven boats, they quickly removed the branches, moss and mud that camoflagued the quick moving crafts and began pulling them with magical strength away from the slower moving pursuers. They were free.

On the evening of the 21st day they returned to Starsong Hill to be greeted differently, now proven heroes and well respected they were summoned to counsel where they shared their story with Killiar Arrowswift and Sellyria Starsinger who were both impressed. And then Zaila addressed the counsel as they all sat beneath the ancient boughs of trees transported by these people who once lived in a different land were forced to move.

Starsinger, long have we dwelt in isolation, sheltered from the tumult of the outside world. Yet, the shadows that now stretch across the horizon threaten even the sacred boundaries of your haven. You have reveled in the ethereal beauty of Starsong Hill, believing seclusion would shield you from the woes of the Vale. But, my kin, I beseech you to heed the winds of change. Isolation, once your strength, may become our undoing.

The tides of fate spare none, and the darkness that brews beyond your borders cares not for your desire to remain apart. To isolate yourselves now is to surrender your very essence to the encroaching shadows of the Red Hand of Doom.

 In unity, there is strength!! And the time has come for Starsong Hill to decide whether we shall stand as guardians of Vale or retreat into a fading dream.

The air hung heavy with contemplation as the elves of Starsong Hill grappled with the weight of Zaila's words, but not 5 heartbeats later they responded. Killiar and Trellara were to be dispatched to Triboar and meet with Lord Jarmaath. The strength of the elves would unite to protect the Vale and  Chaotic Gold where to be flown back to their horses where Moira Shadowbanks awaits.