Neverwinter Stories: Campaign 1 — Session 42
Book One: The Trees of Life and Death — Chapter Forty-Two: Against the Lost
General Summary
Markus returned to the group with the armillary, only to find a frustrated Alessandra bickering with Lilith Blackheart before storming off. The group, more exhausted than ever, collected what they could and returned to the surface. There, they found the Zhentilar mercenaries and Forkbeards finishing off the gnoll warband. Seeing how dangerous the inverted barrier was, The Judge sacrificed his life to create a second made from his own body. As he was dying, Penelope desperately attempted to save him. Markus took pity on the pixie and severed one of The Judge's still living limbs. He planted it, knowing well that someday another will grow in its place.
Now trapped inside the Sylvan Circles, the Furtîlorn expedition could only rest, recover, and formulate a new plan.
Over the next twenty days, the Redwings did some much-needed training—pushing their abilities further. Lilith gathered gnoll corpses and used them for her necromantic practices. Erazek kept her company, and the two spoke at length about the nature of wizardry. Giving in to her frustrations, Alessandra finally embraced the mark of Asmodeus, giving her devil's sight and more powerful magics. Askra practiced her craft by making many complex trinkets, all in tribute to her god. One (a pommel) was given to Sheldanna as a gift. After having her injuries treated, Ilyra needed to learn a new way to play to her strengths. She recruited Redgy, who taught her how to stealth. Markus spent much of his time meditating or practicing his techniques. Then, one night, he was shown a vision by Grevrim the Arytexar. Markus wrote his dragon name on the Pillar of Brothers and became an official dragon knight.
Once training was complete and enough information was gathered, the expedition held a meeting under The Judge's husk. Evanolhis explained that the double barrier was difficult and dangerous to try and breach. The tunnel made by Belak in the underroot was also a perilous route, even though he was assumed to be dead. In addition, many were still recovering from their injuries from the battle against the gnolls. Lilith proposed that The Judge's last words were a message from Benjalem. They deduced that he was referencing the River of the Lost and that their next destination was likely upstream. Since taking large amounts of people would require too many resources, and since people were needed to protect the wounded, a new task force was created. The team consisted of the Redwings, Sheldanna, Worvil "the Weevil," "Frog Face" Frank, Trogo "Good Shot," Swordhar Evercrown, Ilyra, and three Zhentilar veterans.
Dusk fell, and the final task force ventured up the eerie stream. Haunted mists swirled around them as they tread forward. The ghastly forms of slain enemies and lost loved ones hidden in the fog called out, attempting to spirit them away. Through combined efforts, our heroes stayed the course—bolstering morale, dodging vengeful specters, and scattering what came too close. However, the chaos of the shifting mists caught Askra by surprise, forcing Sheldanna to sacrifice herself instead. While the half-dragon was stunned by grief, Ilyra's instincts took over. She gave chase through the fog. Within it, she found the elvish knight being consumed by the spirits of the dead. Rending her from their clutches, Ilyra miraculously pulled the knight and herself back to the material plane, although not in one piece. Ghost from her past—fellow prisoners, betrayed years ago—followed her into the world of the living. They blamed Ilyra for their execution, saying that she was nothing more than a Zhentarim lapdog. She dismissed them and continued moving forward.
Arriving at the end of the ethereal gauntlet, the Redwings and company scaled a haphazard slope of scree. Once they overcame the steep, they watched as rainbow-tinted mist parted, revealing an enormous tree. Golden sunlight beamed through its emerald leaves, and its trunk was a wavy pillar as wide as a town. A lake as still as glass separated them from a verdant island from which it grew. At last, our heroes had found Furtîlorn.
Using boats left for them by Benjalem, They crossed the lake and landed at the island. Once there, they decided to split up and explore to get their bearings. The Zhetilar, excluding Ilyra, went up to the lowest boughs via Markus' familiars, while the rest made their way toward a wide hollow. While climbing large stones up to it, they encountered a giant awakened caterpillar, begging and pleading with the party to rescue his children. Not convinced that they were able to do anything about the situation, the party politely declined.
Now trapped inside the Sylvan Circles, the Furtîlorn expedition could only rest, recover, and formulate a new plan.
Over the next twenty days, the Redwings did some much-needed training—pushing their abilities further. Lilith gathered gnoll corpses and used them for her necromantic practices. Erazek kept her company, and the two spoke at length about the nature of wizardry. Giving in to her frustrations, Alessandra finally embraced the mark of Asmodeus, giving her devil's sight and more powerful magics. Askra practiced her craft by making many complex trinkets, all in tribute to her god. One (a pommel) was given to Sheldanna as a gift. After having her injuries treated, Ilyra needed to learn a new way to play to her strengths. She recruited Redgy, who taught her how to stealth. Markus spent much of his time meditating or practicing his techniques. Then, one night, he was shown a vision by Grevrim the Arytexar. Markus wrote his dragon name on the Pillar of Brothers and became an official dragon knight.
Once training was complete and enough information was gathered, the expedition held a meeting under The Judge's husk. Evanolhis explained that the double barrier was difficult and dangerous to try and breach. The tunnel made by Belak in the underroot was also a perilous route, even though he was assumed to be dead. In addition, many were still recovering from their injuries from the battle against the gnolls. Lilith proposed that The Judge's last words were a message from Benjalem. They deduced that he was referencing the River of the Lost and that their next destination was likely upstream. Since taking large amounts of people would require too many resources, and since people were needed to protect the wounded, a new task force was created. The team consisted of the Redwings, Sheldanna, Worvil "the Weevil," "Frog Face" Frank, Trogo "Good Shot," Swordhar Evercrown, Ilyra, and three Zhentilar veterans.
Dusk fell, and the final task force ventured up the eerie stream. Haunted mists swirled around them as they tread forward. The ghastly forms of slain enemies and lost loved ones hidden in the fog called out, attempting to spirit them away. Through combined efforts, our heroes stayed the course—bolstering morale, dodging vengeful specters, and scattering what came too close. However, the chaos of the shifting mists caught Askra by surprise, forcing Sheldanna to sacrifice herself instead. While the half-dragon was stunned by grief, Ilyra's instincts took over. She gave chase through the fog. Within it, she found the elvish knight being consumed by the spirits of the dead. Rending her from their clutches, Ilyra miraculously pulled the knight and herself back to the material plane, although not in one piece. Ghost from her past—fellow prisoners, betrayed years ago—followed her into the world of the living. They blamed Ilyra for their execution, saying that she was nothing more than a Zhentarim lapdog. She dismissed them and continued moving forward.
Arriving at the end of the ethereal gauntlet, the Redwings and company scaled a haphazard slope of scree. Once they overcame the steep, they watched as rainbow-tinted mist parted, revealing an enormous tree. Golden sunlight beamed through its emerald leaves, and its trunk was a wavy pillar as wide as a town. A lake as still as glass separated them from a verdant island from which it grew. At last, our heroes had found Furtîlorn.
Using boats left for them by Benjalem, They crossed the lake and landed at the island. Once there, they decided to split up and explore to get their bearings. The Zhetilar, excluding Ilyra, went up to the lowest boughs via Markus' familiars, while the rest made their way toward a wide hollow. While climbing large stones up to it, they encountered a giant awakened caterpillar, begging and pleading with the party to rescue his children. Not convinced that they were able to do anything about the situation, the party politely declined.
Rewards Granted
Alessandra and Markus were both inspired, but for different reasons. Alessandra by her frustration and drive to never be humiliated again. Markus' by his act of benevolence toward Penelope, which gave her and the other feyfolk hope.
Having pushed themselves past their limits, again and again, the Redwings applied that experience, gaining 6th level.
Having pushed themselves past their limits, again and again, the Redwings applied that experience, gaining 6th level.
Missions/Quests Completed
After overcoming the perils of the River of the Lost, our heroes finally found the site of the legendary hidden healing tree, Furtîlorn.
Character(s) interacted with
In the aftermath of the battle, the party spoke with The Judge, who gave them their last words. The grieving Penelope was consled by Markus.
The expedition team's leaders gathered together and drafted a new plan for their next step. The meeting was held between the Redwings, Evanolhis, Sheldanna, Worvil "the Weevil" Forkbeard, Erazek, and Swordhar Jhessail Evercrown.
Characters who had had trained or assisted the party during their training Erazek, Jekyll, and Redgy.
"Frog Face" Frank and Chef were also briefly interacted with.
The expedition team's leaders gathered together and drafted a new plan for their next step. The meeting was held between the Redwings, Evanolhis, Sheldanna, Worvil "the Weevil" Forkbeard, Erazek, and Swordhar Jhessail Evercrown.
Characters who had had trained or assisted the party during their training Erazek, Jekyll, and Redgy.
"Frog Face" Frank and Chef were also briefly interacted with.
Notes
- Ilyra's severed arm was placed inside one of the Zhentilar's falconer cages.
- Alessandra's acceptance of the mark of Asmodeus resulted in her eyes transforming into pure scarlet spheres, granting her devil's sight.
- Lilith's previous undead who were left behind were slain by the expedition. Her new zombies and skeletons were created from the decease gnolls.
- Ilyra spent time with Half-Moon's previously own griffon, Scratchy. They bonded over each other's disabilities.
- Although she wasn't aware of it, Ilyra briefly caught sight of the transformed Half-Moon, who had a rendezvous with Redgy.
- Markus' dragon name is Jedarkhoch, which roughly translates to "force of lightning."
- The pommel Askra gave Sheldanna was ornate and shaped to look like a gold dragon's head.
- Sheldanna's close encounter with the ghosts of her past siphoned hundreds of years from her life expectancy.
- During their flight around Furtîlorn, Markus spotted a nest as large as a house among its branches. This aligned with Penelope's story of having seen a bird big enough to snatch a bear off the ground.
- Furtîlorn's wild magic affected Alessandra, increasing her age by two years (26 years old).
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The Trees of Life and Death Saga
- Sunless Expedition Arc
- Map Hunters Arc
- Shadow Giant Arc
- Armillary Road Arc
- Furtîlorn Expedition Arc
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