Session 23: Into the Woods Report

General Summary

Morning found the Scales dining casually in the Starborn estate. Lady Elvea would descend well into everyone's breakfast wearing a very immodest nightgown considering guests were present but most did not seem to take note or mind. The morning conversation would be casual though it becoming quite evident that A'lar had spent the evening with Lady Elvea. While Ismaril would seem to be giving A'lar some hard looks at this fact, Ellomin did not seem to take much mind. The Scales would discuss their plans for departure, while Ellomin expanded upon some of the political nature in the area, giving advice to what the Scales should be looking for in their gathering of information. Ismaril would bring up on a more personal level if her parents had seen lady Taeral in the last decade or so, the mother of Ambassador Sildanaer. "No...she had gone into seclusion...her psionic powers seemed to take a darker turn when her husband fell into slumber with his dragon, tradgedy really" Elvea would lament as she sipped at her coffee. A'lar would tilt his head, "And what are her talents?" Ellomin would answer, "She can see thru reality, touch the very essence that binds the universe together, this also some times allows her to see between realities and touch the future." A'lar would look to Ismaril, "Can we visit the Ambassador before we leave?" Ismaril would seem confused but agree. While the rest made final preparations for their trip, A'lar and Ismaril would venture to the Taeral estate.  

The Taeral estate was double the size of the Starborn villa, perched over a great waterfall that cascaded down the mountain the interiors were well adorned with fine statues and pieces of artwork. Ismaril would take A'lar to a sitting room where Sildenaer was reviewing reports before the trip. A'lar would cut to the chase and ask if it would be alright if he could write to Sildenaers mother, Lady Eithrien. Being a bit off-guard but seeing no harm, Sildaenar would agree. A'lar would smile and produce a letter "you may read it if you wish." Sildanaer would decline, and instruct his butler, the dwarf Bronok to show A'lar to her room. Arriving A'lar would slip the letter under the door, waiting to hear if anyone came for it he would frown. He would look to Bronok if he was to do anything else, however the stoic and somewhat dour dwarf would have little to offer. A'lar would smile having an idea, he would begin to lightly knock, matching perfect a tune he often heard Sildenaer hum. The world around A'lar would suddenly blur and begin to go dark, feeling as tho his very being was violently shaking apart, he would collapse and gasp. "Master A'lar are you alright?" Bronok would ask peering down to him. Getting no immediate answer, the dwarf would heave A'lar over shoulder and hustle him back to the Ambassador. A'lar by this point would regain his composure but feeling quite ill from the experience would explain, Sildenaer frowning. "Ah, father wrote that song....I suspect she did not take kindly to your rendition." Ismaril would fume a bit, to which A'lar would exclaim "How was I to know!? In any case I meant no harm, just wanted to ensure she knew a letter had arrived."  

With that business complete the Scales would rest and leave on the morning to Dark Grove. Clan Starlight Drakes made good time, landing later in the day deep in Dark Grove territory, setting up camp Ayrien would get an uneasy feeling. "Its almost like the trees are listening..." she would explain to Adalon, who would look about and say rather loudly, "Well we come in peace, just wish to talk!" The next day would greet them with a warm spring rain. The Drakes flying above the clouds would keep them mostly dry till midday when they arrived at the Dark Grove city. The forest itself seemed to grow up into buildings, towers, walls, a natural wonder carved by the will and power of its dragoon lords. As they dismounted they noted other drakes present in this landing area, showing heraldry of Clan Sea Spray and Clan Viridian. The Scales and Sildenaer would move forward but as they did, the plants underfoot would begin to shift and alter. While a few took note, in a flash the plant life grew to the skies above, separating the scales from Sildenaer and his guards, and they disappeared. The Scales now found themselves in a heavy downpour, surrounded in a dark forest with no light save the occasional crash of lightning above.  

Setting off they soon found the trees where wove into an intricate maze. A'lar and Bliss would push ahead while Adalon and Longwei would find some rare flowers off the main path. Investing closer, Longwei would look to Adalon, seeing no longer the male half dragon but a tall and beautiful woman, "Well hello my dear" Longwei would swoon. Adalon would turn and see Ayrien instead of Longwei but feel a bit confused in this. Ayrien would draw the two away and frown, "Those flowers are hallucinogenic, best stay clear." A'lar had moved ahead, waiting just inside an intersection so the rest could follow, however most the group would not see him in the low light and continue in the opposite direction. Longwei taking a moment to collect himself would stagger behind, losing site of the others but seeing A'lar he would move north. As both groups began to wind thru the forest maze, brambles and brush would tremble and shake as they grew and came to life. These vine like plant creatures with many thorns and spikes would press into the Scales. Indalell and Adalons blades would cut into the creatures, Ismarils thin blade darting to end one. Another would send a cone of thorns flying into them, Adalon's new armor, the reward from Clan Aureate would shrug off the natural thorns, tho Ismaril was not so lucky. Ayrien and Veara would push into the next, Veara finding she could not bite and claw without the thorns bite back. As quickly as these had arrived they Scales had dispatched them, tho Ismaril looked bloody for the effort. Indalell would offer some healing with his magical gloves and they would continue to look for A'lar, who had also found some Thorn creatures. While investigating a curious force field, two such creatures emerged behind him and beset Bliss and Longwei. Bliss infused her blades with psionic power cutting into the creatures, as they drove large thorns into her in return. Longweis fists were a flurry dispatching a creature but not with out several cuts to himself. A'lar would finish the final one as the great axe on his back was propelled by telekentic magical power cutting the plant in two. "Look at this" A'lar would call to Longwei as they looked beyond, two pillars of bone seemed to generate the barrier. Within was a calm meadow, a great Gazeebo resting on an island in a small pond that seemed to have a dragon skull upon a pedestal. Studying the barrier A'lar and Longwei would determine some sort of Runic key existed to open it, and they set off to see what they could find.  

The others had found a second barrier, much the same as what unknown to them A'lar had found. They pressed on North then east while A'lar came across a third barrier, all leading to the same area. Adalon taking point for the first group would notice as he stepped an eerie fog began to emerge from this path in the forest maze. The fog however gave off an eerie ethereal light. As he moved cautiously thru the mist it would begin to materialize taking two ghostly shapes. They would reach out their ghostly talon like fingers would cut thru his armor as if it weren't there, the strikes cutting his flesh but also drawing his very life essence from him. Backing out of the fog, the Wraiths seemed unable to leave the mist. Adalon and the rest got some distance from the fog and doubled back, Ayrien trying to restore Adalons diminished life force. Ismaril with a huff sat down in the rain, "We should stop moving, A'lar will find us easier this way." Sure enough in the next 10 minutes A'lar and Longwei passing a path with an eerie mist would come upon their tired and soggy companions.