Vulūne 17-23, 652 DR; Travel through the Nar Drūden finds hungry Kengrūlar, a waterfall, and freedom conscious Shūl Cered. Crossing the Telàbra Plain, the company is shown the way to Eldarkar. Finding the small village, Kaithah’s body is finally laid to rest in an ancient manner.

Continued from A New Companion.

Malídor, 17 Vulūne 652

After traveling west along a road through the Nar Drūden the group made camp. Mishara returned with some rabbits for the night’s dinner and everyone ate well. That night Mishara was alerted to the sounds of slow flapping, circling above. Soon, large winged shapes could be seen against the night’s green glow. Waking the others, Alcèrra blessed the group, Tressta hid, Jak readied himself for combat, and Dammon, uncharacteristically lucid after his waking, wove a spell that summoned winds from all around him and then with a howl sent a column of wind, twigs, and spinning leaves skyward, buffeting one of the circling creatures out of sight. Something large crashed into the westerly forest as Mishara’s arrows shot upward, skewering another of the beasts. With horrible shrieks the remaining two monsters dove toward the camp. One of the Owlers fell upon the Eylfāe smashing him to the ground. Another crashed into the planted weapons of Alcèrra and Jak and died screeching upon their points. Wrenching his spear from the dead Owler, Jak turned and stabbed at the creature atop Mishara. Soon, it too was dead. Prying the creatures body off Mishara the two gathered themselves before chasing after another that had crashed into the distant woods passing Dammon’s exhausted form on their way. They returned shortly with news that the last was dead.

Amdor, 18 Vulūne 652

On the next day the group traveled along the road until it forked, where they chose to dismount and lead their horses down a branching shoreline trail. Descending the treacherous path, they continued along the seldom used route until they reached a stone bridge at the base of an impressive waterfall which erupted over the southern cliff-face. Superstitious to the last, they cautiously crossed the bridge and continued as far as they could before stopping for the night.

Wōdìndor, 19 Vulūne 652

After a restful night’s sleep, the group continued along the trail until the forked paths rejoined, and the forest and cliffs dwindled, giving way to a wide rolling plain. Here the path became little more that wagon ruts, leading westward through the high grasses. A watch or so into the plains, both Mishara and Jak heard hoof-beats from the south. Soon three figures appeared on a nearby hilltop. They appeared to be horse-riders from a distance but as they grew closer they could be seen to be hybrid creatures with large deer bodies, human torsos, arms, and antlered deer heads. Each of creatures held staves with sickle-like blades at each end. Reaching the group they greeted in a strange non-Yrūn tongue that the Eylfāe was able to understand. After some conversation with Mishara, the Shūl Cered bleated some words which seemed to command the group’s steeds to turn south as they were led into the heart of the prairie. After a few hours ride the riders and Shūl Cered arrived at a large camp of creatures and free horses. They were told to wait here for the elders who may be able to help them in their search for the Argentale. While waiting, they were instructed that no horses or steeds may be enslaved in this place, and that they must unpack and unsaddle their steeds. When it would come time to leave, the horses would be given choice whether they would accompany the group from the Telàbra Plain. That night, when the various Shūl Cered scouting parties returned an elder addressed Mishara at length. Word returned from camp that others had met an Yrūn ranger on the northwest edge of the plain some years ago, and offered to escort the party to that area come morning. The group agreed.

Iyldor, 20 Vulūne 652

The next morning, a group of three Shūl Cered led the group, who had lost all but two horses in the morning’s decisions, to the edge of the Telàbra Plain, where the southern edges of the Grim Drùden met the rolling grassy hills. Here Mishara led the group into the southern reaches of the ancient forest, looking for the stream Argentale, in a place called the Silverwood. The night spent in the forest was uneventful.

Irídor, 21 Vulūne 652

On the following day the group found a stream-side path that wandered back to a village where a woman told them how to find the cottage of the Argentales. The group rode and walked through town and finally arrived at a small stream-side house west of the village. Outside the house they were met by Iahn Argentale, an older man who seemed strong, with more than a passing resemblance to the dead Kaithah. The man seemed eager to hear news from the friends of his daughter but his face became long and pale when he heard their story and saw his daughter’s form, wrapped in a blanket upon a horse’s back. Gaelyn Frithgenst, an Eylfāe woman came outside to greet the strangers, but she too lost all composure at the site of her Mortal husband lifting the parcel from the horse. Alcèrra accompanied the two inside to speak with them. Soon Iahn left the house and ran to the village to make preparations. When Iahn returned, he was accompanied by a small entourage of somber villagers. Jak produced Kaithah’s flute and gave it to Iahn who expressed his thanks and passed it to another. When everyone had gathered, the group wound through the woods along an odd trail. Despite the coming night, the air grew lighter as they approached a bald hill. The group emerged from the forest at a grassy hill surrounded by a flowing stream which circled it without beginning or end. On the nearest hillside two figures already stood with shovels, having dug a small grave. Once the stream was crossed, all could hear the whispers and voices of ghosts and spirits that dwelt upon that hill. As Kaithah’s body was lowered into the hole a flutist began playing a beautiful tune from the hilltop. No words were said at the service, but Alcèrra, who noticed her contact with Drāūn suddenly severed upon crossing the stream, knew the place to be hallowed to Wōd. All watched in silence as the shovelers filled the grave and the procession returned across the stream and into the Silverwood. No one looked back to the enchanted sight as they wound back through the trees, but Alcèrra guessed they wouldn’t have seen anything, even if they had.

A wake was held that night in the town. Kaithah’s mother, Gaelyn, entertained the crowds with illusions of butterflies and singing birds, while Dammon sat to the side juggling small orbs with his magics. There was much eating and drinking, and Jak took the opportunity to relate many of his remembrances of Kaithah.

Roydor, 22 Vulūne 652

In the early morning hours the villagers slowly filtered back into their homes, and into the woods. The group was welcomed to the small village inn, where they would spend the remainder of their stay.

In the morning, the group ate with a traveled man named Cyrdanis, who claimed to be a member of a brotherhood of rangers that hailed from a fortress called Deephold. Cyrdanis related what little he could regarding the movement of troops throughout the Nar Drūden but did not know the reasons for the soldiers’ presence. When told about the Urdar invasions, he told Jak that he should speak with the Urdar Queen, and that she could be found near the Two Brothers. After breakfast the group returned to the Argentale home where Mishara asked a favor of Gaelyn. Gaelyn produced a small pouch from an oaken chest in the house’s main room and asked the Eylfāe to bring forward that which he wished identified. Mishara pulled out the Ring of Thorns and Alcèrra brought forward her Saránði armor. The ritual took most of the day, leaving Gaelyn exhausted. The group returned to the village inn for one more night before traveling north and west toward Avahrlyn.

Sūdìdor, 23 Vulūne 652

Preparations are made for travel to the Town of Avahrlyn.

Continued in From Avahrlyn to Kry Moradem.

Characters

• Alcèrra Nàdrelan
• Dammon Shroudson
• Jak of Cænden
• Kaithah Argentale: dead
• Mishara Mythdaras
• Tressta Drynsval
• Anooph
• Ard’uph
• Cooruph
• Cyrdanis
• Familiar
• Gaelyn Frithgenst
• Iahn Argentale
• Joon’uph
• Karalph
• Na Roon
• Nolda Rott
• Oronulph
• Shar’oph
• Shru’uph

Played: 11 Jul 1998