Session 52: Tombs of Imeara Report

General Summary

With the festival concluded the Nytraven Expedition said their farewell and took the river ship network north to the Tombs of Imeara. Winding thru the forested paths of the Velthanor, as they neared the trees shifted from spruces and pines to White Barked Birches, Aspens and Poplars, their leaves having a silver sheen. Entering the glade a massive burial mound dominated the skyline, dotted with standing stones alive with magical elven runes. At the peak of the mound a massive birch tree reached for the skies above, its silvery leaves shedding motes of gentle blue light. As they neared a hooded figure descended from the mound to greet them. Seeking their permissions to enter, Aria would produce the write from the Speaker of Summer. Finding it in order the Druid would smile, "It has been a long time since our winter kin have visited the honored spirits here in....may those beyond the veil offer you the wisdom you seek." The hooded figure would then move over to press against a circular stone door. Emblazoned with symbols for each season, the crystalline snowflake of winter would shimmer to life and the door would roll open.  

The Tombs of Imeara are one of the few ancient holy sites to survive the Sundering of Velthanor. Ancient heroes of the 4 elven peoples have been interred there in over the many millennia. In visiting these sacred tombs it is possible to commune with the elven spirits that have not yet been reincarnated. While many tombs my lay silent for a millennia as they live their next mortal life, others are available to impart the wisdom of their many lifetimes to worthy seekers. Having been provided a list of prominent houses to seek out within the expedition would enter quietly and reverently passing countless places of rest for the heroes of their peoples. They would come to the main chamber where an alter to each season was set, Zaelith and Bahzel would offer prayers to winter while Isenara would make offerings to each season in order to which it was. Malakar would move first from these chambers finding their first objective, the Tombs of House Elarith, A Winter Elf House. Achieving the honor of place within Imeara thru a valiant military stand in the Age of Wonder which kept the Giants from invading the Elven lands of Velthanor. As Malakar moved into the room he would note an inscription, "We are not tested by battle but what we refuse to Abandon" Isenara would point a place to stand in honor before two Sarcophagi within the room, with a nod the two would step onto the dias, their feet immediately being incased in ice. The others would start but Malakar would motion that they were fine. Moment by moment the ice would creep up their forms. The biting cold reaching their bones, as it began to close about their chest, Isenara would take a deep breath before in a flash they became frozen entirely. Aria would blink summoning fire to try and thaw them with little effect. The others began to devise a way to free them growing frantic as they worried if nothing else they might suffocate. As the air became desperate and drastic measures were about to be taken the ice would shed away and the two would gasp for air. A spectral woman in archaic armor and flowing raven hair would float out from a Columbarium, "I was once Caerdra of House Elarith, you have proven that you do not flee in the face of danger, what wisdom do you seek?" Inquiring of Luthias, she would show anger and annoyance at the name, explaining how he had come to gloat at his victories over the centuries, particularly to Leowyns fall, and how winter will be left unprepared for the devoiring void that would come but that he would not allow it to devour all, that he would lead the elves of a new generation to defeat the devouring nothingness. With little else to offer to his purposes the Lady of House Elarith would bid the reclaimers of Hrivenor to stand firm and to not abandon what they hold dear.  

Next they would seek House Letharion the most honored of Spring. Thalanor Letharion was honored for his sacraficing of land and title to help unite the quarrelsome elves of the First Age. He created the rooving cities many Spring Elves still live in today and established many Druidic orders that are still followed today. Here they would find 6 skulls of honored companions of House Letharion each which would ask for something of one wishing to speak with Thalanor. A Cervine skull was the first on display its small plaque requesting a gift of Kin, Daereth would step forward and place the repair kit gifted by his father, the offering found acceptable the skulls eyes would alight with green fire. Next was a badgers skull requesting an offering of lands traveled, Isenara would mix a potion learned from her time among the Bri Inis and offer it forth, the eyes lighting with green flame. Next Ravens skull, to which Torrent would caw in dislike, would ask for Debts long unpaid to be released. Many would seem to ponder this one before Talindra would step forth clearing her throat slightly, "My power is stolen from the Court of Spring and thus is the source of my curse. I offer my apology to a this great house of Spring," a green fire lighting in the ravens eyes. Aria would blink looking to her, "Your power...stolen? Spring? How...How do I not know this?" Talindra would flush slightly, "It is something I have carried in quiet solitude, I did not wish to risk others with its knowledge." Aria would seem to frown that her old friend had kept this for so long but this was not the place. Next was a Nightingales skull asking for a song of Truth. Aelorna would sing a prominent song of Forna Vasars founding but the eyes would not light. As others went to ponder other skulls she would sit and think, her mind roiling with a truth she did not want to sing. Bahzel would come to a wolfs skull next asking for the fearless to shed blood, and with ease he would slice his palm and offer his blood tot he wolf, its eyes would flare. As he did this Aelorna would start to sing very softly a song from her youth, the others would soon listen having never heard it before, the Nightingales lights would flare to life. "What song was that?" Malakar would ask. Aelorna would shake her head, "Just a song of a friend from long ago, it is of no consequence." Lastly an Owls Skull would ask for a Name that was no longer their own. Malakar would look around to see if others would step forth but with that not seeming to happen he would sigh and step forth and speak, "Bael'thyr fo the First Winds." As the Owls eyes came alight Malakar would jolt slightly, few would notice the subtle movement. A figure covered in tattoos and dressed in wild animal skins would appear, "How may Thalanor be of assistance?" the spirit would ask. As they asked him of Luthias, unlike Caerdra, his visage would be filled with sorrow, "Luthias is a troubled soul, his breaking of the barrier between spirit and mortal to keep his past knowledge is damaging to his very essence. He seeks to try and protect but he is misguided. He wishes to avoid the fate of elves, that our souls eventually become embodied spirits to fill the realms beyond the Viel, but in so doing we stop being elves. This troubles him, along with a doom he has foreseen and so he was swayed and corrupted by dark powers. If you confront him, please, find mercy if you can" with this information granted he would vanish.  

The third room would be the tomb of the first speaker of Summer, Seridel Calenor. The writings about the tomb would warn of claiming Glory unearned. As the expedition would investigate, each members eyes would see a bright flash and a scene would spill out before them. Aria would see a restored Hrivenor gleaming beneath auroral skies. Jet black banners emblazoned with the sigil of House Nytraven ripple from crystalline towers that pierce the heavens. She would stand upon a great spire of a crystalline palace, a crown of ice adorning her head. In the grounds below rows of soldiers and behind them the adoring crowds, throngs of winter elves. They chant her name as High Matron and Restorer of the Hrivenor. Cavatina watches from below, pride softening her normally sharp gaze; and love for Aria achieving what she could not pours forth. Frosted winds sweep through a moonless courtyard of the Winter Court as Malakar kneels, waiting. Leowyn descends the alabaster dais of her thrown to return his lost mantle, pressing a shard of sovereign Winter Ice into his chest. The chains of his mortal imprisonment melt away; every scar of humiliation is erased. He stands to retake his place among her court as a champion of Winter. Bahzel stands at the head of Thousands of Winter Elves clad in the soft purple of Shaylache, winter roses emblazoned upon their shields. They are chanting the name of his fallen brother Xandor. The dwarven armies across the fields begin to crumble beneath the wave of elves lead by Bahzels spear, his strikes pierce the strongest shields as Winters justice finds those who drove them from their homes. As the battle settles and the dwarven bodies lay broken around him, Xandors death is finally avenged. The blighted ruins of Hrivenor dissolve into a boundless garden of exotic plants and ancient trees, each leaf shimmering with fae-borne magic as Talindra walks thru the restored lands. Her figure moves through the grove, spiritual energy pouring from behind her causing flowers to blossom and mottes of energy to swirl in her wake. Named the Lady of renewal her legacy is ensured, unblemished by fear or hesitation a world where her magic heals everything broken. Isenara would see great halls of the reclaimed Snow Elf citadel blaze with icy radiance as a great gathering of nobles and aristocrats fills the air with the hum of conversation. Entering the room, draped in the trappings of her position and office, those around her grow quiet as she passes. The hushed reverence not for her position but for her reputation, the power held only in whispers and among the shadows of society. She was finally seen for herself and beside her Aranesi, steps close, seen for her own completed self as well. Zaelith would step into a great amphitheater were thousands of arcane practitioners await with bated breath . The runes upon his arms glow with arcane might as he expands upon the discipline and methodologies of his own arcane tradition. These teaching evolve to become a tradition of magic taught among the winter elves for generations beyond him as his name becomes legend. The world would tilt into a grand court for Aelorna. A thousand nobles from every elven line hang upon every note that escapes her as she plays. Philosophers come to seek her counsel and the adoration and admiration that always should have been hers flows freely toward her. Daereth would see a hall of snow-white marble stretching before him, lined with Winter Elf banners. At its center stands Aria, radiant, proud, safe and before her a statue of himself, clad in his shining adamant armor. This was his funeral, having been the shield necessary to allow Aria to claim her glory. The years he spent in devotion, training, vigilance and now sacrifice, recognized openly, publicly, eternally. As each snapped back to reality, 3 spectral elven warriors would appear and attack Aria, Daereth, and Aelorna, who seemed to succumb to the glory of their visions. The battle was short but fierce as the expedition overcame the spectral figures. Bahzels spear having been blessed by Shaylache with Ghost Touch rune at the beginning of the day proved most useful. With the spirits defeated Seridel would appear to offer what wisdom he could. He would tell the tale of Luthias stealing of the ancient Crown of Calenor for the current speaker of summer. The speakers claim to ancient glory thru it. Isenara would determine that this event happened around when Luthias was gifted the Lothithil estate, and that it was likely the price. However since he wanted it back, he must have some need for the ancient relic, Lord Calenor could not exactly offer any reason why.  

House Vaerithyl would be next, an Autumn elf house of powerful Psionics. Upon entering the tomb a great psionic resonance would pierce the mind. The loud tone threatened to drive the expedition mad, Aelorna finally succumbed losing all sense of friend or foe she would lash out at Malakar her spear darting harmlessly towards him as he shifted and avoided her attacks. With a confused look he would reach out take hold of her and restrain her. As he got a good grip to try and subdue her, he would hear a voice in his head, "OOOH YEA BROTHER ITS TIME...YOU CAN DO IT NOW, JUST SUPLEX HER INTO THE STONES OOOH YEA!" Malakar would glance around confused but just assume it was the psionic effect of the room. Isenara and Zaelith would find the source of the Psionic resonance, while Isenara tried to more practically disable it, Malakar would focus thru the psionic echo he had found and attempt to stop the resonance. Aria would spin next to blast Daereth with lighting before attempting to club him with her staff. He would respond by dropping his sword to take hold of her, but she would slip his grip and soon take his back trying to choke him out as her arms wraped about his armored figure. Bahzel would step over slapping some sense into Aelorna who would regain it with a groaning "OOOWwww....let go of me!" Before Aria and Daereths fight would get to far out of hand Zaelith would shut off the Psionic resonance, and the 4th figure would appear to speak with them.