Seeking aid

On the next morning our band of adventurers seeks out the scholar Thomaid to possibly shed some light on the cryptic text of the journal. He has regained much of his spirit after being rescued from the Goblins and is happy to help the adventurers. He supposes that the heroes should seek out the old folk which is named in the text in their home in the Gloomwood Forest: the elves calling themselves the Lyari Yathaenae. Thomaid does not know who Keeper Nedenirth nor Sister Lierin are and the heroes deduct that they might need to analyze the individual lines of the text for their meaning. Thomaid promises to inquire with his scholarly colleagues of The Silver Quill about the mysterious sigil with which the document is signed and asks that the heroes seek him out after their return from the forest.

The party prepares for a trek into the wilds as the Gloomwood Forest is one of the continent’s largest woods, sprawling and deep. Cithrel, the ranger, has advised the adventurers to behave respectfully towards the forest and its inhabitants, for the Lyari Yathaenae are sure to take unkindly to a band of marauding adventurers and thus will not bestow their help on those who seek it. And possibly not show themselves at all… The band sets out, well equipped for the trek and with a capable woodswoman in their midst, the ranger Enna, and reaches the border of the forest shortly before nightfall.

After two full days traversing the forest there is still no sight of the woodland elves. Shortly before going to sleep the party is ambushed by dark fey: Children of the Briar. These thorny, twisted creatures harass the party with entangling spells and shooting thorns but in the end the heroes are victorious. Exhausted, they fall asleep.