God Bless the NPC's

Osha, Alleraia, Meerda, Redoth, and Bean make their way past Umbrage Hill heading towards Gnomenguard where they hope to reunite with the rest of the Mostly Mordoors. Bean asks about the origin of the Mostly Mordoors name, and Osha explains about how we killed some bad guys using doors. Bean declines the opportunity to tell us about his back story. He says he's spent a lot of time in Neverwinter wood but never seen a GULTHIAS tree. He tells us about some scary ANTS that are larger than a dwarf.
 
About 4 hours into the journey, Meerda in weasel form suddenly stops and starts sniffing the air. She orders Bean to turn the lantern down. Then she says something is amiss here, and then darts off into the brush. The group follows here and comes out in a rocky clearing. Suddenly a smell hits us, and on the far side of the clearing the dim outline of several corpses can be seen, mostly orcs. Standing over one of the bodies is a large wolf, who's muzzle is drenched in blood. Pus seems to be leaking out of it's eyes and it's teeth are all mishapen and a mess. It runs off after it spotted us.
 

A thorough investigation of the bodies doesn't turn up anything of interest. Alleraia asks Bean to identify which clan the Orc's are from. There is a dark tattoo on the back of the orcs neck in the shape of what looks like 2 large tusks crossing , signifying the GHOUL TUSK clan, a very old orc clan. He says their clan is based over in Coniberry, which is where we were given a quest. Meerda inspects the bite marks on the neck of one orc and determines it was not from a wolf, and likely from Caldae in one of her animal shapes.
 
Finally the waterfall is in sight, indicating the borders of Gnomenguard. As we press in closer, putrid gastric smells punch us in the face as the sun begins to glow faintly on the horizon. A terrifying scene unfolds, with bodies and body parts strewn all around. Osha and Alleraia panic at the thought of what may have happened to their friends. Suddently a voice calls out, "Who goes there?" It is Marcus. Alleraia calls out to Marcus and asks if the rest of our party is here. He says yes, introduces himself, and says he will lead us to our very exhausted party members.
 
Alleraia and Osha enter the room where the party is resting. Caldae is juggling rocks, Marcus returns to doing his Calesthenics, and Siegrane is singing drinking songs in his sleep. Alleraia introduces Caldae to Meerda and they hit it off immediately. They finish the introductions and then begin filling each other in on what they've been doing. They begin discussing the effects of Glasstaff's poison. Pip says he's been having strange nightmares, likely induced by the poison. Osha explains that they need to find the Gulthias tree, which is also the same tree that Meerda and Redoth asked us to help remove from their forest, as it corrupting all the life there.
 
Howdore wakes up and sees the small weasel in the room. Meerda speaks to him in his mind and they quickly make friends. Siegrane finally wakes up, so Osha reiterates everything she had just told the rest of the group. When the Black Spider is brought up, Bean perks up and shows a lot of interest. He says Glasstaff reminds him of some one, the missing Lords Alliance mage. He apparently was a prominent and honorable member, so why is he evil now?
 
We ask Meerda and Redoth about how to prepare for the Gulthias tree quest. We need a lot of magical resistance so as not to be corrupted by the trees evil. Caldae shows off her mushroom stash to Osha, who is very impressed. Osha requests to be seen by the Kings in order to ask for compensation for the orc removal and for funding for the upcoming Gulthias adventure that will help cure their sick king. Her and Caldae come upon a cafeteria room filled with gnomes chattering. Caldae asks for the location of Fibblestop and Dabbledop. A random gnome says to look in the workshop, so they head that direction. Passing through the throne room, they find that the throne room which was a pile of mismatched furniture earlier, has now been meticulously cleaned and organized and looks much like a proper throne room again. The center of the room has been set with a large table and chairs with a full breakfast of eggs and bacon laid out, and at the head of the room is the one king who is conscious.
 
Osha approaches the king, introducing herself as "Dolly Parton". She begins demanding payment from the king, when Marcus steps in front of her and bids the king a good morning. The king invites everyone to sit down to breakfast. He and Marcus begin discussing the matter of relocating the kingdom of Gnomenguard to Marcus's sisters kingdom of Water Deep. The king says he'd rather not live in a big city, so the group brings up Axeholm Fortress as an option, which he finds a much better idea.
 
alleraia goes on to tell the king about his lovers affliction and how we get the cure. she asks him for any help the gnomes can provide. He offers up the amplifying glass. Alleraia asks for a demonstration, so he has us put all our magical items out on the table. As he activates the amplifier the items begin to rattle and glow. The healing staff heals everyone around the table, as the amplifier hits the Orb of the Undying it bursts into a bright light, and suddenly SIGGY appears !! Everyone begins wondering aloud how this is possible.
 
Osha divides up the 1200 gold between 7 people = 170 each
 
Bean makes a proposition from the Lord''s Alliance, asking for information from the gnome king. He asks him about the FANDELVERS PACT, in regards to Gundren Rock seeker the dwarf that has gone missing from the Lord's Alliance. The king goes on to talk about the history of Gnomenguard. He says his father and grandfather met with human and dwarven mages disucssing plans for a forge, which fell prey to the orcs centuries ago. There was supposed to be a cave where magical weapons were forged WAVE ECHO CAVES. Some of that same magic was brought to the current location of Gnomenguard in the form of the RAINBOW TREE BEACON. The old Gnomenguard fortress was to the south in the mountains. It is currently riddled with many monsters so the gnomes are not able to relocate there. Apparently some kind of demonic possession afflicts those who venture to this place that is east of Phandolin. He has no idea when the last time was anyone dared go near these ruins.
 
Siegrane says he needs to meet with PALOBAR. In another room they find 5 lumps on the floor covered in blankets. Alleraia asks Bean if he thinks they might be deceases gnomes, and he gets super offended. So Osha just goes in the room to inspect the lumps herself, but as she enters, she sees a little gnome woman crying over what must obviously be bodies. Caldae has pushed Alleraia down the hallway away from Bean and the bodies. Then since nobody knows where they are going, siegrane and Osha takes off towards the mess hall. The rest of the party decides to head down the cliff towards the waterfall where the Beacon tree is. Caldae slips while climbing down the cliff and Alleraia uses her Radiant Soul ability to grow wings and fly up and catch Caldae in mid air, and then carrying her to where the Beacon tree is. There they commune with the tree.
 
Back in the mess hall, Siegrane and Howdore sit down, while Osha waits out in the hallway. Siegrane finds PALOBAR in the mess hall and Palobar says to wait there while he goes to his bedroom to get something. A little gnome kid comes up to Siegrane and pulls out a corded necklace with a pendant on it that has an odd symbol on it and hands it to Siegrane saying it will protect him. He smiles and puts it on thanking the little gnome. Palobar returns to the table with a small pouch and hands it to Siegrane, who says he will take good care of the trinket. Siegrane then goes back in the hallway and grabs Osha and they head to meet alleraia, caldae and marcus.
 
Osha gives the team a speech and warns about how dangerous the next leg of their journey will be, and if they don't want to go, it is totally understandable. Marcus indicates he is in. Everyone else says they are staying on too. Suddenly Redoth and Meerda come stubbling down the hallway, having gotten lost in the tunnels. Osha asks if they will stay on to help with the next part of the mission. They say they of course will help with the matter of getting rid of the Gulthias tree.
 
Meanwhile Caldae and Alleraia are sitting under the Rainbow Tree enjoying the amazing energy coming from it. Caldae notices how the roots are grown woven into the stone, and senses how old the tree is. She then begins to hear a low humming noise of one note, that slowly morphs into the sound of a harmony of voices. Behind her Alleraia asks if she is ready to go, because she couldn't hear what Caldae was listening to. Caldae says she is going to climb into the tree to pull off three leaves. She takes a red, orange, and green leaf. As she plucks the leaves, she feels the tree senses some sort of loss. Once she is finished, it is time to climb down and meet the others. Alleraia easily maneuvers the cliff face easily, but Caldae falls 30 feet and Marcus and Siegrane attempts to catch her, which they do.
 
Now the party is back together they start the trek back to Phandolin to talk to Sildar and also Sister Garaele.