The Secrets of The Rainforest
Can the Party fix the Vale?
Redfall 25, 2020KC
Heyton's Thorpe, Outding Refuge
More reading. Meet Calliope Galanodel & Vikar. Learn about how Calliope's School is attacked and how Calliope leaves for Outding Refuge which led to Calliope gets to Outding Refuge then receive Calliope's Letter from Reginald to Party, 2020 10 25.
Viggie Storr asked the party if they thought Lars Heyton might have been acting strange. Unbeknownst to the rest of the party, Barlo had a visitor who seemed to have found the most opportune moment to pop in and have a discussion with him…
Redfall 27, 2020KC
The Menagerie Leaves Outding Refuge The party goes to the harbor, Lars says they will make a teleportation circle in their basement. They board The Lady's Avarice On the way out of the harbor, they noticed the crystals had since been upgraded to larger structures. They discussed Calliope Galanodel's School/Village that was attacked out of the blue.
t Group Levels up to Level 5 t
At sea, leaving Outding Refuge heading to Wide Berth via Lost Sailor Pass
The party got to know the crew. Then an ambush downstairs, and it is The Fall of Jacoby
Learn a bit about the Arcane Order's involvement. They get Journal of Jacoby CODED and his notes.
At sea, leaving Outding Refuge heading to Wide Berth following Lost Sailor Pass
The party deals with a storm at sea.
Leafall 4, 2020KC
Raining but back on track, morale is still declining, but the speed is good, and repairs are starting to make progress.Leafall 5, 2020KC
A ship is spotted and it follows them.Leafall 11, 2020KC
Captain Lazarius is Spotted
Leafall 14, 2020KC
The Menagerie Enter Wide Berth The party made it to port after 17 days at sea. Captain Vikar said the Ship's First Mate, Abby Hamilton remarked Reginald would have his people meet the party at The Silken Line, a tavern/inn in the Wide Berth Dock Ward. It would be a few more days, though. Shadow had Ship's Captain Vikar report the ship they saw chase them and Vernon Lazarius to the Merchant Guild of Wide Berth. Met the Salesman of Wide Berth. As the sun was setting, they went to The Silken Line, where an older Elf (Cune) was tending the bar, and there was a variety of patrons in the tavern area. Saw an elf wearing the symbol of Kelemvor with some pilgrims.Leafall 15, 2020KC
Session 19: The Party Goes Troll Hunting Report
Wide Berth Dock Ward, Wide Berth on Kampos staying at The Silken Line.
They have a few days to wait as Reginald Ivoryclaw had his mages tell Abby Hamilton, according to Vikar -- they would be here in The Silken Line in a few days.
The Menagerie Explore Trolldeth Forest
Tracking through the Trolldeth Forest and came across Displacer Beasts
Session 20: An Errand for a Tree Report
Trolldeth Forest North of Wide Berth on Kampos
Got some parts off the Displacer Beasts.
Discover a dead dwarf messenger and a package for Durnan at The Yawning Portal. they then find Eldertwig. He needed some Rot Grubs for his tubewilt. There are some trolls nearby with some.
The Fall of Vedergrime
Session 21: The Yawning Portal Report
Trolldeth Forest, North of Wide Berth on Kampos
Return to Eldertwig. Meet Caireall Donoghuei. Return to Wide Berth. Get a reward for dead trolls. Also learned a bit more about Xanathar's Thieves' Guild and teh Zhentarim. Then head to The Yawning Portal and learn about Undermountain. Talked with Vikar Saw Drusen d'Jorasco.
Session 22: The Elder of the Vale Report
The Yawning Portal, Wide Berth Castle Ward, Wide Berth, Kampos.
Picked up on some rumors, talked to Durnan. Then got some messages from The Silken Line Including the Enderbox and Scroll of Telescription.
Met Obaya Uday and learned about Waukeen. Saw a barfight break out. First saw scrying orbs.
Leafall 16, 2020KC
In the morning they write a Letter: and put it in the box.
1 Displacer Beast Tentacle
Jacoby's Head (gentle repose)
3 Displacer Beast hides
1 Troll Heart Amulet
Bastion asks the Basalt's Magic Ball about the "friend"
They got their 10k gp and sent back the Journal of Jacoby Drexelhand and Notes
The party is having breakfast and Barlo notices a young guy at the mouth of the portal. He talks about a girl he likes and is thinking of going in to impress her.
The Elder of the Dawngreets shows up.
Elder of the Dawngreets: "There are always ways. The problem here is the 'why.' There was a large Goblinoid mercenary group paid to attack our homes. Not sure why. Did they know it would do this, or are they looking for something? Reginald's intel suggests they are looking for something that is on the Material Plane in that area."
Bastion & Sas gets their Darkvision Tattoo and purchased potions from Holli Skiprock from Wild Mother's Grace.
Session 23: Red Dragon Ambush Report
The Yawning Portal, Wide Berth Castle Ward, Wide Berth, Kampos.
Prepared for journey. Delivered Mysterious Red Liquid package to Durnan.
Barlo ONLY
Barlo has a "message" come in from the contact he hired telling him has a lead on the target at Port Menagerie
Leafall 23, 2020KC
They get to Forlione, much was discussed including:
Shadow in the Snow thinks of the Dragon and how it flew North. She thinks of her survival in these lands -- she and Bastion Bladesinger speak of where the Dragon may have gone. Bastion Bladesinger speaks of how Red dragons tend to live near volcanoes or where Magma may be deep in the earth. Shadow in the Snow knows there are some volcanoes in the waterfall's mountain range.
Elder hears them and she tells them the blood told her the name of the Dragon is Almandine. He is a cocky Dragon who craves power & wealth. He was promised knowledge about an Orb of Dragonkind from the warlock if he did this.
An Orb of Dragonkind is believed to be myth, an artifact Bastion Bladesinger had learned of while in his studies. If it is true, it is buried in history. They can summon evil dragons -- unlike the Crystal at outding which was an impromptu item to control that Dragon. These orbs are sentient, if they are real -- according to the myths. Each of these spheres are believed to be individuals.
The Archfey admits she doesn't know if they are real -- but she knows it isn't where the warlock believes it is. A mining community on Eushia.
There were some options here:
- An outpost of orcs which are related to those who attacked the vale.
- Actually investigate the Vale, his people haven't gotten too close yet.
- Also in Wide Berth there is Skullport where a gentleman keeps his ear to the ground and seems to know all that goes on in Kampos.
t Group Levels up to Level 6 t
Session 24: Dead Archfey Relic Report
Forlione, The Dark Rain Forest, The Majestic Empire of Enond, Kampos
Leafall 24, 2020KC
Learned, don't put the Scroll in any extraplanar place. And that Reginald's great table grants the benefits of a Heroes' Feast.
Note from Ursa contained:
The whip +1 we already more or less had, and so it is a 4 week project and 1500 gp for the materials. We can get the commission pro bono if you cover the cost.
The Cloak of Displacement was an expensive recipe, costing 10,000 gp -- but we were hoping to find this one for our own purposes anyways. So don't worry about that cost. It is looking like 50,000 gp worth of materials and commissions it looks like, due to its rarity. If you can cover it -- we can get it done in 8 weeks, 2 if we want to risk it possibly not working.
By the way, we have noticed an occasional bonus in some items we've crafted, we think it is due to the Far Realm's connection to our Mystical Forge. So that has been interesting.
We are good on reagents currently, but if you do come across anything interesting -- let us know. We may be willing to purchase some of the beastly reagents you come across.
Reginald Ivoryclaw found a recipe for the Troll Heart Amulet. This is when Jacoby's Ring of Mind Shielding was put in the Bag of Holding.
Barlo asks how large is the Skola Vale, and the Archfey says: "It is quite large. What I know of the Vale is that sometime before I was, I guess, born. The Vale was in the Feywild and sometime before I came along it had taken its place as a conduit between the Feywild and the Material Plane.
Shadow in the Snow: "You say your powers are waning because it is gone."
Elder: "Yes, I feel that my powers are not totally working since it left."
Shadow in the Snow: "So, before when the vale was centered in the Feywild -- would it also cause someone from there to lose their power if they come here."
Elder: "The way it used to work was there were random portals all through the Village of Skola Vale where you could go back and forth between the two planes. Skola Vale was originally a Domain of Delight -- a domain in the Feywild, like a pocket universe. Similar to how the Domain of Dread work in the Shadowfell. And both mirror the world of the Material Plane, but with many deviations and pocket universes. Skola Vale was created by a powerful Archfey before I was created. He was somehow corrupted and so banished from the Feywild, as far as I know. Then I was born in a way to protect the Skola Vale and that has been my whole life to protect the Skola Vale."
The Menagerie go to the Vale
A battle takes place with the mercenaries, who we learn later are connected to the Blood Hand Orcs. They learn the mercs are holding slaves, includign tabaxis and tortles. They are working for a warlock and paid to attack the vale. He's in the temple below. They are why the Vale retreated to the Feywild. They let the Bugbear go.
Session 25: Tharizdun Report
Dead Archfey of Skola Vale, Skola Vale, The Dark Rain Forest, Kampos
They find the Adventurer Class Airship, a Black Obelisk, and the Ziggurat of Tharizdun, below Skola Vale. They trick the mercs to leave, then explore the ship.
in the conversation:
GB: "Before we got on this mission, we had a Tabaxi and a Tortle at the base as a prisoner for some reason. I need to get out of this hole. That temple is spooky, and this was too long to be too close to it."
Another note:
No one has ever seen a Flying Ship. Sure, rumors exist. The stories say the sky was full of such flying ships and castles and such, but something happened and they all lost that ability. But at Bastion Bladesinger's "college,"The Hermetic Symposium, a loose collection of wizards he trained under, there was one who kept going on about how he would build such a ship. Bastion Bladesinger had a professor who was studying Mythallars and flying ships. Many seek to solve that problem, but he always spoke of mythallars (an orb of great magic ) and often as big as a room, and they could kill a person who touches it. The wizards and sages spoke of how ancient cultures had floating cities and castles, and they were powered by such Mythallars. These things also would power other magic items in their vicinity. It is also said they had flying ships, some using trapped elementals or other methods.
and then the team investigates the Orb and discuss a bit about it and Tharizdun. They also realize that the Bast's Brass Orb is Orb of Toril which is one of 333 Gems of Tharizdun. There was a lot of lore discussed here.
Thanks the Elder's Glove of Lore they also learned how the ship was the property of a band of adventurers that had come here to clear out the temple and kill the Archfey of the Vale. Also learns that this may or may not be where the Shard of Pure Evil was passed into this realm from another dying universe.
They then are visited by the Two Obelisk Strangers and Arktos has a strange encounter with the obelisk.
The goateed gentleman continues in his salutations: "I'm sorry, time is short" and the two look at each other with an odd smile "So, because you didn't… no. um… so here's the deal. When you get out of here - you need to find "Jinx" she is pretty well-known bard at this time and you can just ask around the more prominent taverns and venues. Tell her Jeriah sent you and you are to tell her of your tales and travels. This is important. As a sign of good trust I need to give this back to… sorry, I need.. I want to give you this." And he hands Bastion Bladesinger a Ring. "Don't forget this time, Jink and Jeriah sent you…." as the last words came out of his mouth they both fade out of existence it seems and then with a near audible "POP" they are gone.
Session 26: The Ziggurat of Tharizdun Report
Ziggurat of Tharizdun, below Skola Vale, Skola Vale, Upperdark, The Underdark, The Dark Rain Forest, Kampos
Sas has an encounter with Bast on another realm as she stands near the Black Obelisk. She warns about the dangers of the orb, and the importance of getting it to the City in the Mist in the desert of Al'Quar and give it to the pharoah there. They will need the The Coin of Bast.
Barlo discusses his memories of Grognard.
The Discovery of a Lost Tharizdun Temple
In the Ziggurat of Tharizdun, below Skola Vale they had an Arcane Challenge which revealed a stairwell to a temple underground. There was also messages on the wall.
A fight with some wraiths.
As they get to the bottom, it gets colder. It is a small room with a hallway that bends at the end. They hear noises and rustling sounds.
Then voices. Down the hall that bounces off the walls.
Conversation (overheard) "Bargle, so, what now? We have searched this area, and that orb is not to be found." "I realize that. I don't know how it could have been removed. That orb should have been in the ship or somewhere around here, but with the other deific artifacts stored in this temple, I would have assumed it would be in here. "Why not just the orb you have to get back? "If I just wanted to go back to Mystara, I could have done that at any time since I got this orb that holds my Realm's power -- I'd leave that behind. All that was and will be, but that would mean I'd have to sacrifice the orb. I have yet to find a way to return with the orb. That's why it's so important to find another one. I was sure this one would be the easiest to get. "Hey, now that the winter issue at that island is handled, maybe we can try to find that kid. Didn't you say his hat might have an orb to Vader's Realm? "Venger's Realm. " he corrects him., "And it is possible it is in that magic hat of his. I suppose that is one trail we can go down. All I know is that hiring this merc outfit has drained a majority of my financial resources. I suppose we can take the ship as a "prize" -- we can take that to Arcane Order and see if they will fund the excursion to Outding. besides -- the rumor is that they have built a bit of a magic research facility there now. Maybe the rumors of a Mystical Forge on that island are true. "I know my contact from Philander said they had a Forge out there, but it is in control by the local village. She said to leave that one alone for now, but then again, I haven't heard from Vyerith in some time. She was supposed to leave via Neyer, but she never made it there, and it seems her contact from the Road never made it either. He was lost at sea. Fine… I'm done with this place. Let's go see if we can find this Pradam kid; even if he doesn't have the orb, I know he has some very interesting items anyways. "
Session 27: The Infamous Bargle Report
Ziggurat of Tharizdun, below Skola Vale, Skola Vale, Upperdark, The Underdark, The Dark Rain Forest, Kampos
Fight, Bargle gets away. They talk with Satyr Warlock of Tharizdun who ends up jumping. No body was ever recovered.
"I see I've been left here all by myself. I could have you fight each other… but now I'm more pissed at Bargle than you. I could end my hostilities if you can. Not a surrender, a ceasefire." "So, that was fun." The Satyr takes a step back. "Not trying anything, just want you to know that right now we are equals. I suppose I can answer some questions for you, but after that, we are done." Bastion Bladesinger reminds him they can still fight, and the Satyr reminds him that he at least stood down out of respect for his friend (Barlo). Shadow in the Snow comes up to him, "What are you doing down here?" Satyr: "Sigh. So, pretty much what it comes down to is I am a warlock of Tharizdun. I was to help out that little Warlock, ex-wizard find the orbs." Shadow in the Snow: "what orb?" Satyr: "Each world is an orb, eventually when the end of a world, they become an orb. At that moment, all the magic in that world is now there. Every time you cast a spell or use magic -- you pull from the weave, but by using that magic, you actually add to the weave as well. Imagine you have a bowl, and you fill it with sand. It is finite; only so much would pour out -- but with magic, you can make that sand continue to pour out indefinitely. Same with magic -- the more you use it, the more you create. At the end of any Universe, and there is always an end -- there is a weave. That weave is power. My patron needs 333 such worlds to exist and to end to ultimately be freed." Shadow in the Snow: "how many are there now?" Satyr: "hard to say. With such a thing, it is always fluid. It's timeless almost; all I can say is that it's always just about getting the next one. And I realized when you showed up -- I was already about to get betrayed by Bargle as he was just about getting power for himself from them." Shadow in the Snow: "why are you being so chatty?" Satyr: "Well, because your friend there asked me to stop, and at that moment, I was done fighting. To be honest, I'm not too worried about myself. I helped him to get down here as I was tasked to do. He got what he wanted out of this place. Well, his patron will be able to come back at least." Shadow in the Snow: "Tharizdun?" Satyr: "His patron is the corpse you came down here through." Calliope Galanodel: "Who is that, though?" Satyr: "That's the Archfey corpse up there. It seemed when your goddess came down here to get the orb; she was able to let some of his essence get out. The cat goddess came here to get that orb. My understanding was she wants that power to help out someone or something. So that was able to help him out, so Bargle's patron got what he needed - he'll be able to accumulate power and come back." Someone asked: "Where did Bargle go?" Satyr: "Oh, I don't know. He said he had some prisoners of interest. And after how many of those hired hands are now dead down here, I am sure they won't just give him those prisoners back. I know he wants to go after that Pradam kid who came here the same time he did." Someone asked if they came from the same place. Satyr: "No, Bargle comes from the Realm "Mystara," it seems he was some powerful wizard there. He came here, and the Archfey started to use him for his own purposes. Now, in the end, you ask why am I being this calm and unconcerned -- because my patron is about destruction. Whether you go after him or he wins --, there will be destruction." Shadow in the Snow: "Right, but if we kill you now -- you won't see it." Satyr: "You think you can kill me? All you'll do is destroy the body I'm in." Shadow in the Snow says they can destroy the body. Satyr: "I thought we were talking." Bastion Bladesinger: "are you a vessel? If we throw you in the Bag of Holding, will you die and not be able to go anywhere?" Satyr: "You can talk to me as long as you want, but right now, you got him going after some poor little kid or some of your loved ones he knows about…." Shadow in the Snow: "You think we don't have them protected?" Bastion Bladesinger: "Who does he know about?" Satyr: "You don't know, do you?" and a bit of small smile and laugh "One of you has been missing their daddy for a long time now. He knows where the Dad's at." and he looks at Sas W.T. Rayce. Sas W.T. Rayce, Deer in the headlights look. Looks at Barlo: "I think one of your siblings is missing to that you haven't talked to in a while." Barlo asks for the name. Satyr: "The one who has mellowed out over time… so at this point, I think you have a better understanding of what's at stake here." Shadow in the Snow: "what do you expect us to do? Go after Bargle? What was the point of this conversation?" Satyr: "For the most part, I've done what I need to do. I see you have things to do, he has things he will do, and I'm the only one stopping the return of her homelands... And at this point, I'm done with this."He then steps off the edge. As the earth shakes they run to the ship and fly it out. Skola Vale Returns
The Secrets of The Rainforest Plotline
Table of Contents
Calliope Galanodel has been driven from her home and Reginald Ivoryclaw has sent her to find the The Mighty Menagerie in an effort to investigate. As ofLeafall 24, 2020KC
Long ago an Archfey dedicated himself to Tharizdun, and had some machinations to have his personal Domain of Delights in the Feywild to straddle the Material Plane and the Darkfell. These plans were disrupted by a band of adventurers working with other Archfeys to kill him and then made the Domain, aka the Skola Vale, now straddle the Material Plane and the Feywild. It also locked up the temple (and airship) below in a pocket dimension. Not too long ago the Goddess Bast had a purpose, it seems to possibly help a dying pharoah in some nameless City in the Mist. To do so she found a way into this hidden pocket dimension and took the Gem of Tharizdun -- a glowing orb which holds the world of Torill (and its powers). She put it in a magical brass orb to hide and protect it. This she gave to Sas, a Tortle on a hermitage. It seems that Bast entering this dimensional pocket allowed some essence or power of the dead Archfey to escape, and this triggered a few seemingly random events. It brought the wizard adventurer Pradam to Dierde from what has been called "Venger's Realm". It brought an evil wizard turned warlock dedicated to the dead Archfey named Bargle from a world called Mystara. He seems to have the orb for his world and seeks another so he can have power. He was working for another warlock, a Satyr dedicated to Tharizdun and they were seeking this other orb. They had used their resources and those of the Arcane Order to hire mercenaries to attack the Vale which triggered its relocation to the Feywild and it allowed them to search for the orb. Now the party has cleared out all the threats allowing the Vale to return (in a way). They fought a glorious battle with the last of the mercenaries in the temple which it seems Bargle used to 'test' and play with the party. He bailed on the Satyr Warlock of Tharizdun which the party outnumbered and convinced to "talk". They had a conversation which filled in some holes to this narrative. He then seemed to jump into the dark void below and then the Vale began to return. It seems that the Vale is still in the Feywild, and the Village of Skola Vale is back on the Material Plane witht the border of the village going back to the Feywild. The Dead Archfey of Skola Vale is now exposed at the village under the Elder's Keep of Skola Vale. So many questions still remain, but the biggest is how to get the Village and the Vale back to what it was, at least to make it easier for the party to return home. But also:- Who is Bargle?
- What are his plans? Who else is he holding prisoner and where?
- What happened to the Satyr Warlock of Tharizdun?
- What about these 333 Gems of Tharizdun?
- Does Pradam have one and will Bargle go after him?
- What about the references to the Arcane Order and Vyerith (The prisoner they freed)?
- Plus questions from other plots still remain...
Subplots
Related Session Reports
- Session 00: Backstories Report - Calliope Galanodel
- Session 00: Backstories Report - Reginald Ivoryclaw
- Session 16: A New Member, A New Quest Report
- Session 17: The End of Jacoby… Report
- Session 18: Ship Battles with An Old Foe Report
- Session 19: The Party Goes Troll Hunting Report
- Session 20: An Errand for a Tree Report
- Session 21: The Yawning Portal Report
- Session 22: The Elder of the Vale Report
- Session 23: Red Dragon Ambush Report
- Session 24: Dead Archfey Relic Report
- Session 25: Tharizdun Report
- Session 26: The Ziggurat of Tharizdun Report
- Session 27: The Infamous Bargle Report
- Session 28: Skola Vale Fair Report
- Session 29: The Feywild and Meenlocks Report
- Session 30: The Siblings Affair Report
- Session 31: Stop Hitting Yourself Report
- Session 32: Curses! Bunnies! Ugly Giants! Report
- Session 33: Spider Forest of the Feywild Report
- Session 34: Planting a Seed Report
- Session 35: Lost Time Report
- Session 36: Journey to a Keep Report
- Session 37: Jacoby & Jeets at the Keep Report
- Session 38: Under the Abandoned Keep Report
- Session 39: A Father & Daughter Reunited, Briefly Report
- Session 40: Beneath River's Keep Report
- Session 42: A Deal with a Devil Report
- Session 43: The Power of Books Report
- Session 44: Purple Worm and Falling Baseboards Report
- Session 45: Back to the Keep Report
- Session 46: Off to fight a Beholder Report
- Session 47: The Beholder's Minions and Interlopers Report
- Session 48: Unexpected Side Mission in Toril Report
- Session 49: Back to the Beholder Report
- Session 50: Leaving the Beholder Caves Report
- Session 51: Skola Vale Errands Report
- Session 52: Downtime in Skola Vale Surprises Report
- Session 53: Lord & Lady Ceremony Report
- Session 54: The Party Takes to the Sky Report
- Session 55: The Siren's Call Report
- Session Notes Summary
The Mighty Menagerie The Menagerie Timeline (Timeline Simplified) Characters of The Mighty Menagerie Locations for the Mighty Menagerie