Clearing the Abandoned Sacred Grove

 

Objective

Given our strained relationship with those at the northern Moonwell, we would like to try to take first step in mending that relationship by clearing out the abandoned sacred grove, high in the mist, at the base of Mount Callidyrr. According to Durella something has moved in there, and it could be cleared out, and then given to someone to take care of it. Once we clear it out, we would then proceed to the Northern Moonwell to offer it to them for Chauntea, either on the same day (using teleportation bands) if we are efficient or the next day if not.    

Observations

As you approach the capital, heading north, you will see a swath of trees hiding a western path. That path will continue west for a short period, before another very dry inclined path will be present to the north. It has a similar trajectory of this path, but goes higher, and is a much easier path (without ruts and dangerous mud).

This path will go up a steep embankment, snakes north, then a little east. The capital will be on your south-east at this point.

The fog/mist will become thicker, along with the vegetation until you find yourself seeing what looks like an unnatural tree. It's a hill that has been surrounded by a spiraling old wooden path that leads up to the top of this hill. It's then overgrown with natural vegetation and vines. At the top is a sacred pool -- a small depression of sacred water.

Flying around the top was two flying green feathered creatures that had long tails, fought from a distance, and like to throw people off the edge. Their faces where mutated beneath the feathers.

After defeating the creatures, we each took a sip of the water, and our "spirits" were transported to a temple at the top of Mount Callidyrr.

At the top we found a parent of the two other creatures we fought, that also looked mutated in a way. In the end we were able to kill the creature, burn it's body and a significant amount of nesting materials mixed with bird excrement, and left the temple much cleaner.

We made our way back to the capital, dropped off a prepared letter for the king, and made our way back to camp.

We did come across a deceased tall half-elf that was holding a black cauldron full of gold and gems. He had a belt with an icon of two hands clasping each other -- forming a heart.

Follow up

In the future, we should ensure that the the abandoned grove has been reclaimed.

We should try to find out who that half-elf is or was.

Preparation Details

-------------  

head west to the King's Road

north to the capital

head towards the south-western area near the city to find the initial trail

- head to the base of Mount Callidyrr       From the last mission:   Aceso would lead the group out on horseback to follow the same path they took before to get to the base of mountain near Mount Callidyrr. This path avoided both the city of Lehigh (enemy controlled), and the capital of Caer Callidyrr by going west before heading north, and the avoiding the cities by skirting around them.       Once at the base you will notice three different openings while looking toward the base of the mountain.       1. At the far left is an opening that leads up to the thick fog. (ABANDONDED MOONWELL)   2. In the center is an opening that leads to the sacred pool that glows at Dawn.   3. At the far right is third opening that leads to the small caldera with the island in the middle       Talking with Durella:   -------------       - Mielikki (sister of Eldath she is tricky   - apparently that she even took it from Chauntea in the past       - Durella is not able to fully see this grove       - set off just away from the mountain   - about 100 feet away, a hill that rise up; wooden path spirals up around the sides   - seems that this will be quite the hike up to the top of this thing   - a pilgrimage for most folks who end up there...       - something is there that is dangerous and strong   - seems to be unrelated to the enemy   - could be present on the hill itself at the pool, or "on the other side"...       - Drinking the water from sacred pool:   - your spirit travels to this “temple”… seems like on top of Mount Callidyrr   - your body stays behind on this hill at the sacred pool on the hill   -   - the grove should obscure you; make you MUCH stronger while in that state.           The plan:   -------------   1. Ride horses to the capital (west, then north). Take a wide birth of the city, and head toward the west.   2. To the west (maybe a little south) of the capital, we should approach the base of Mount Callidyrr (Aceso's been before)   3. Take the left path (straight: dawn pool; right: Caldera pool), which should lead to a hill that leads into the mists   4. Will eventually lead to a hill that rises up... wooden path/stairs surround it   5. At the top will be a sacred pool   6. Drink the water (collect some first for Durella)   7. Our spirits will be teleported to a temple on the top of the mountain   8. Either on the hill, or at the sacred temple... will be the dangerous creature   9. We will need to slay it; to purge the temple   10. Return back, and make our way back to the capital   11. Give the guards the letter   12. Make our way back to the fort.  

Operation Details

frost breath... from the Major Rem... it's cold out

- decently strong wind  

looks a little pensive... looking worried to the south

- just make it back as soon as you can.      

large abstract shapes in the clouds

- pink / purple rib the entire sky   - very low lit      

Rem approaches to the gate... calls for it to open...

- few specks of light      

to the left and the right of you... there is darkness.

- north... quite a bit of torches...   - a few more to the south as well       Heading straight west to the King’s Road...   - bend and winding road   - trees thicken...       Continue through... joins another path - a confidence that you'll be on a familiar trajectory toward this road   - a bit of light peers through   - some of the forging animals are looking at us from greater distance   - wind picking up   - familiar bit of trail to all of us; familiar burnt structures       Falyer noticed a bit of limestone in the foods   - further examinations... there is a path on the other side of the clearing   - a shot west       Continue for a while before we get to the king's road   - hear a cart... heading away from us to the south...   - avoid the cart, and make our way north toward the capital   - sun is now up in the air       occasional dead bodies and arrows in trees   - but this typical       see through some patch fog... see another cart -double wide; side by side coming towards us.  

one person riding in the middle

we move into a side area to let them pass

few 100 feet away

start seeing the armaments of those approaching

- see a red color on them / adorned detailed robe on his armor, red cape   - symbol... yellow circle   - chatter between the carts   - lined up with you... casing us       - something about orders... calling out to each other between the wagons and the riders   - furry wreath - lion with wings as they get close   - House Kendrick       they keep going down the road... without any conversation with us.      

continue on the king's trail

    see a prominent white castle in the distance... the capital   - rolling hills in front of it   - pass a painter who is painting the city   - warmest it’s been, and first time we noticed the sun      

small winding roads are present all over as we get close the city, with the main one leading to the gate

   

we cut into a west path near a swath of trees as we approach the capital... see the mountains in the distance

- Aceso chooses a good path, a little windy, but good.   - on a good bearing.      

which Falyer points out a very dry incline path; has the same trajectory of this path, but higher up

- looks much less rutty, and much easier on the horses      

up the steep embankment, snakes north, then a little east... the path we're on is now widened

- we look back to see the original path we were on (now that we're on a hill above) was mired in water and black muck.   - continue for awhile   - the capital is to our south-east at this point       push into the thick woods   - vegetation is lush... air is clear   - warmer - air is still   - getting into the mists       - watching for the hill with wooden stairs/paths circling up it.       the fog that encompasses us... but Falyer sees an awfully wide tree coming up   - seems to be unnatural... vegetation seems to be wreathed around this large hill/structure   - unnatural wood around this structure.       As you approach this thing... there is woodwork around this thing. heavy beams wrapped in vines (waxy leaves -- natural overgrowth)   - scrap or two between you and this thing.       clumps of trees... planted around this natural structure. gang plank are wrapped around this hill, and spirals up around it to the top   - surmise this to be about 70 feet up: 5 or 6 loops as it spirals up   - wood has been here for a very long time.           look for some thicker brush that would easily hide the horses.   - a patch of younger trees... that will hide them from anyone who passes by.   - stash our horses.       Aceso will lead.   - cast mending on any boards that look bad.   - eventually Aceso broke through with his foot, but Tavvok helped him out   - casted mending on the hold       Tavvok took the lead, and almost immediately broke through   - Aceso fixed the hole       Xion took the lead next... pointing out the bad boards   - Aceso fixed the boards as we went       hear a large flapping... far too bright to see them   - a brief silhouette... flies by, and then another…     - we had to walk along the frame for gaps where the boards have broken through...   - we use pitons and rope in these areas... to help       - there is a white goo... that covers these boards   - flying creature poo?   - a whole lot of it at the time...   - a BIG bird or two...      

very foggy... shapes flying around

- see long tails, but cannot make out anything      

see a bumbling sacred pool

- two heaps of scaly humanoids / bodies      

both are coming toward us.

make our way to the top

both bodies - Kobolds

- eyes glassed over...   - tinder boxes... boxes of sticks   - two cups at their sides...   - no wounds on their bodies      

these things swoop in and cry out

- tail like a dagger   - whips Falyer down the side. - down 20 feet... breaks through then down another 10 feet       seemed to have a mutated head of some sort under the feathers....   - We were able to beat these two flying creatures           Could those two bodies... have been the two birds?   - no idea   - confirm the bodies -- no signs of life   - bruising on their backs   - blood pool on the bottom of them   - at least a day or two   - small leather necklaces...      

have a ring on every finger. except on one finger.

   

Aceso takes some of the water for the druid in a vial

we all use our hand to scoop out some water... and all take a sip

feel our vision blurs as we are pulled away

   

we end up on a place high in the mountain... a temple of sorts with various Chauntea symbols and icons

- overlooking a misty forest over the ledges   - just above our head... is a massive green sprawling creature... seems that it's the parent of the flying creatures we fought before…   - massive wing-span   - more advanced   - looks like the parent      

a complete mess of nesting everywhere

bird shit everywhere.

        we are all opaque in a sense.  

Tavvok attacks, but get grappled by the bird

Aceso and Tavvok gets hit hard by it

Lethamyr/Falyer hits him hard

Tavvok escapes

    In the end we were able to kill it.       Aceso... finds husky woody vines... from some of them are very vibrant violet flowers in tight circular... yellow center.  

Aceso picks a few of these flowers for Durella, leaving the healthiest ones...

        On the ruins: depiction of the sky at night... seems to an outline of the greater area... high level outline of the island - basic map.       Tavvok finds some eggs of this creature - destroyed them...   Lethamyr takes an egg      

Xion lights the body of it on fire.... Aceso struggles to control it from spreading with Druidcraft and control water...

- currents of air is now cleaning the place.   - we collect all the nesting material... and bird shit; throw it in   - until the temple it's finally clean.       See a rolling... gorgeous landscape   - see rivers   - beautiful land   - tappers to the sea   - almost seems to be infinite   - almost seeing more than should be possible   - see the capital in the distance       Tilson forces himself to throw up the water... and returns.   Aceso uses shape water to pull the water out of everyone else.   - then we all return.           return to the hill, surrounded by spiraling wood planks, with the sacred pool on top.   - now it seems to be a golden fog that surrounds us.   - Tavvok mentioned he though he heard a bird, but I didn't seem to hear it.       take our time making our way own down   - a bit slippery now   - a lot of wetness.       find our horses – safe and sound       head towards the capital   - come up to a good bend, road snakes... tighter bends - decent, and get to a clearing   - dramatic sunset over the land and the capital   - can see a troop is entering the gate       Aceso / Xion rides up to the gates of the capital   - Xion and Aceso talk to the guard   - Aceso pulls out an official letter   - Xion convinces them to bring it directly to the king; immediately   - Aceso provides him 25G as a thank you   - calls a guard, and said he will deliver it directly, and immediately      

Aceso/Xion see a light through the trees as they ride back... not the right color for a torch

- goes out before we get back to the trees where the other soldiers are   - Aceso asks what's the light, but Tavvok says it was nothing.       See a pair of boots sticking out from a bush   - someone is inside the bush   - no response from the person in the bush       - see a large black caldron held by him   - very scared look on his face   - brilliant green vest, shorts, and hat   - dark shiny boots   - very tall; might be a half-elf?       - he's dead   - seems to be clutching this caldron       - the black caldron has a darkened leather covering it   - they open it, and little flecks of metal blows out... until revealing   - tons of gold coins... and gems.   - Tavvok and Falyer ride out   - Aceso tries to identify the dead person   - on his belt is a buckle with icon has beautiful knotwork   - two hands clasping each other -- forming a heart.   - no idea what it is   - Aceso rides to catch up       - Lethamyr and Xion take all the gold and gems