Session 5: Aftermath of Spring Report

General Summary

The month of High Spring would come to the ruins of Lunathariel, to which Aria had chosen to rename Hithfaer, the expedition would set about to clearing rubble as well as the remaining dead within the ruins of the old city. Grikz and Selestiel would set out into the hinterlands exploring the regions around the city. Several points of interest were uncovered include 2 magical conflagrations one of necromantic power and one a primal well spring. They would also uncover a hoard of dead and an ancient defense system within the water ways that was dangerously still active. Lastly and perhaps most curiously they would find traces of the living, one region on land and another along the river shore where some river boats had been smashed not that long ago.  

At the Equinox, Celandor, with Arias blessing would organize a great festival to Aranye, the new year, and the coming of Spring. The festival was a debaucherous affair that would draw the attention of the Spring court, and a visitation of many Spring Fae. After 3 days of celebration and Faery Wine, the settlement would emerge from the fog of the celebration to find the purified lands of their city were awash in new life. This would also have an impact upon the Winter Temple ruins on the cities high mount. A hidden pathway would reveal itself, to which the expedition was most curious about, especially Bahzel.  

Descending into the depths of the Temple, they would find the resting place of Lyriath Sindreil, a Snow Elf Heroine from the First Age. However it proved to not be her resting place but the place of her eternal servitude as she and her champions spirits rose from the grave to defend the temple. Much of the expedition was near Lyriaths tomb when the spirits rose and were caught in a blast of dark energies as she wailed her despair. Daereth, Aria, and Nymeria were sent reeling from the blast as ghostly warriors descended upon the others. Bahzels hammer would swing into the ghostly figures with only little effect as Zaelith would cut thru another his sword infused with magic. Aelorna would inspire those around her with her chant of calling them forth to bust the ghosts. Talindra would call forth her divine power to heal her allies and banish the spirits, many of the ghosts bursting as the sacred light washed over them. This would draw Lyriaths Ire who would focus now upon Talindra, her ghostly blade cutting deep into the Oracle. Aria would blast a remaining ghost with her storm magic moving to get clear of Lyriaths breath attack while Daereth would step up to cover the hurting Talindra. Nymerias bolts would sing out dispensing a ghost as Isenara would move in an attempt to distract and flank the ghostly champion. Zaelith would step up and Deliver a devastating blow to Lyriath, his blade charged with lightning, but this would not banish her as easily as the others had. Bahzel would clear the remaining ghosts and move up to defend his comrades. Lyriath would send another blast of dark energy in her scream, leaving Talindra and Daereth barely clinging to consciousness, she would then turn and plunger her blade into Zaelith. A winters rose would flare around him as Bahzel's grace protected him, keeping him alive by a thread. Staggering on his feet Zaelith would extend his hand and send 3 blasts of force that would shatter the spirit image of Lyriath. Aria breathing heavy would take stock of her party, over half were barely hanging on, she breathed a sigh of relief, "That was close," she would mutter to her self picking up her once again wounded familiar and perching him again on her shoulder.  

Taking some time to recover, they would determine these ghosts would re constitute in a few days if a solution was not found. Exploring the remainder of the temple they would find a summoning room that was still active and they were forced to battle the defenses and the ice mephitis it would summon. Finding this temple was riddled with hidden doors they would set about to more careful explore. This would bear fruit as Aelorna discovered the high priests private quarters and within an Ancient manuscript which called into question traditional history of the Elven Civil war, including a strange Summer elf cult, the Sol Variar to which Isenara would take special interest in. Tempest would direct Aria to another hidden door which opened up to an ancient library where knowledge of the cities previous occupants were saved. Isenara would find the supply room filled with ritual and magical components. Bahzel would find the temples Reliquary and several items of the old faith. Lastly Nymeria would find the priests study and their notes within discussing the binding of a spirit that was not turned to shadow and opposed Leowyn.  

Finding this they decided to release the figure within the ice. As Aria finished her part of the deactivation, the ice in the center of the field began to crack, pieces falling away as the entire casing broke apart. An elvish looking form stumbled forward, staggering slightly before gaining his balance. Straightening his ice blue eyes would come up to take her in, flashing with power as he turned his head slightly to assess the others around him. Daereth would take a half step forward sword still down but shield arm tucked against his body and at the ready to provide cover for whatever this creatures intent may be, remaining expressionless as he awaited orders or violence. Isenara was standing at the portion of the circle where the elf had his back to her, and she would dip the arrowhead of her wrist bow in one of her many vials, keeping the weapon at the ready while Lady Aria spoke. The figure was holding his right hand out to his side where some sort of runes would briefly flash into existence along the skin of his arm and hand before disappearing. A series of emotions flashed across his face: confusion, concern, then anger. His hand would close into a fist as his form crouched every slightly, ready to spring as he returned his attention back to her. His voice coming out in a low growl. "What...did you do to me?"  

A slender hand would raise to rest upon the curve of Arias hip as her head tilted slightly at the accusation. Her eyes narrowing, lashes shadowing her stormy gaze. A small tug upon one corner of her lips would pull her mouth into a half amused smirk. " I freed you...You're welcome." His head would tilt some in turn, taking in the smirk of the woman. "Freed me...why? You..." He'd pause, his eyes flashing power again as they moved down and back up her form. "...you are unblighted unlike those before." His eyes flicking briefly back to Daereth and then to Nymeria before settling back on Aria. "But, I can smell the taint of shadow on some of these others." "Much has changed I imagine since the priestess of old entrapped you. Leowyn no longer rules the Winter Court...the blight has been lifted. Some who were blighted chose to join the unblighted in hopes of restoring all the damage that has been done to winter, in our lands and yours..." Aria seemed to be rather willing and casual about trying to catch this spirit being up to speed. "Your time is long passed..." She'd study his eyes carefully to gauge how he'd take the news. The trapped elfen spirits eyes stayed on hers as she spoke, intense and focused, they would flash again as his voice came out quieter. "How long?" Arias narrow gaze would soften just slightly as she took in the complexity of emotions she saw flash through him. Her hand falling from her hip now. "Presently you now stand in the ruins of a once great temple, in the year 1853 of the Second Age. After the great sundering." The man would do his best to hide his reaction but his words were empty and distant, "Two millennia..."  

As they left the temple bringing Malakar as he was to be named with them the group would do their best to catch him up on the last 2000 or so years. As Aria held the rod of control and knowing little more of this time Malakar would pledge himself to the expedition and would set about as his first task accompanying those sent to deal with the undead hoard Selestiel and Grikz had found. As the month turned and fading spring was upon them, the settlment began to establish permenant housing for the expedition members and plans were being drawn up to deal with the various problems their scouts had found.