OOC: Fast forwarding this to move things along...
The seven of you leave New Dorinth and head north on your riding horses. All of you bring enough food and water for the trip, although Barok's saddlebags practically bulge with supplies while Nikolos carries along several books on elves and a couple of blank journals where he can record his findings.
You are only two days out when you meet your first elven patrol. They do not take the intrusion into their lands kindly, even when Dartis claims that your group has come to help. Tensions are high until Kel is mentioned, and the elves begrudgingly allow you to continue, though under guard.
As you spend the next days travelling through the elven lands, you can see why the anger towards outsiders. Most of the outer elven settlements have been almost completely destroyed, and ravens are a common sight among burnt out wooded homes. It seems that the elven dead were put to rest, although bloated orc bodies still bake in the sun. As you get closer to Saleentra the damage seems to be lighter, indicating that the orcs found stronger resistance as they grew closer to the capitol.
Your elven escorts run into some of Saleentra's guards, and there is a lengthy discussion on whether or not to allow you to see the elven capitol or to make you wait outside. Orders come from Councilman Kel to let you through... it looks like your old friend has gone far in a short amount of time.
And that's when you see it...Saleentra, the center of the Silver Forest. Despite scorch marks on some of the structures and armed elves constantly on the move, the city is still splendid. Towers made of white marble and boasting intricate designs inlaid with silver-painted metal rise up through the canopy of trees. In the center of the town lie several great oaks that dwarf all others that you have seen, and it is in these that many elves have built small cottages and bridges made of rope and wood.
You are made guests of the elves, although from the sharp looks that you receive you are unwelcome guests. Kel appears with a large smile, but a face lined with stress and strain. He allows you to stay at his councilman's quarters, an elegant cottage but one that is cramped with yourselves and gear. Still, it is likely safer with him, given the mood of the city.
Kel tells you that the orcs attacked on all fronts at about the same time that New Dorinth was assaulted. The elves suffered badly, completely losing most of the settlements on their western borders and taking extensive damage elsewhere. There are four factions in the council right now: the religious party that is pro-Dorinthian or at least willing to help the Dorinthians during their plight, a neutrality party that Kel was once a part, a pro-Imperial party that sides with the Empire's demands for surrendering the Dorinthian refugees, and the militants that are led by influential wizards and sorcerers and demand that the elven nation's power be used to enforce their will on their neighbors before their nation is destroyed by external forces. Currently, Kel has joined the pro-Dorinthian party called the Sol Party in Common, despite the fact that he worships a different god. He was made a council member due to his past experience working with humans and his recent reputation for heroism. Silas Generwine has also left the neutrality party and has joined The Warhawks. He is far from alone. The Sol and neutrality parties have lost much of their influence and the elven council is now made up of mostly pro-Imperials under House Dran and The Warhawks.
You are invited to be witnesses under the next Elven Council meeting, and are provided elven clothing to make yourselves fit in. The council is set up inside a white, marble building at the top of the Great Tree of Life. The chairs form a circle around a purple crystal that pulses as if alive. Seated underneath the crystal, is an elf who delegates whose turn it is to talk, and this moderator is known as the Voice.
You're unsure of why you were asked to attend, however. Kel translates much of the proceedings for you, and Caramip does the same when Kel goes up to speak. There is a lot of finger-pointing in your direction, and the council discusses whether or not to seek an alliance with the Imperials by turning over the Dorinthians or instead to ready the elven nation for war on all fronts. Curiously, though the Warhawks have no love for the Dorinthians, their stance is that New Dorinth should be left alone, as well as the dwarven and gnomish kingdoms, since they don't pose the threat that the Imperials and orcs do. You wonder what your fate would be if the Warhawks are able to eliminate the others and have more time to concentrate on New Dorinth. Kel gives a well-spoken speech on the importance of allies and the aid that other nations, such as the remnants of Dorinthia can give to the Silver Forest during this time of crisis. His speech is met with unsurprising shouts of hostility, but you do note a smattering of applause around you. Kel has his supporters, and it was perhaps wise of the Sol Party to make him a councilman.
No questions are asked of you, and you feel even more isolated as the debate wears out the day. Finally, it is over and Kel sends an assistant to bring you back to his quarters while he goes to a private meeting. After an hour, he returns, this time with one of the heads of the Warhawks! This is the very mage who spoke while seated at the central crystal.
"Gentlemen and lady, this is Councilman Varel, the new Council Voice," Kel says as a way of introduction.
"Evening. You have journeyed long I have heard, so I will not waste your time," the councilman states. He lacks the natural haughtiness of many other elves you have met. In fact, the elf seems positively indifferent. There is a coldness in his voice that speaks of a man who trusts only in knowledge and logic. In a way, it is more unsettling. "Kel has convinced me that it would be better to have allies at this juncture, in order to put the fight out of the orc nation. They are currently led by a new orc chieftain named Zugash in their capitol by Ice Mountain. We lack the forces to invade their land, so I propose making two strikes. A group of elves led by Silas Generwine will sail along the coast, then come in through the few still unfrozen rivers leading into the orcish lands. There, they will conduct raids upon their food stores and leadership. Their operation may last a few months. Your mission would be quicker. We need to cripple the orcish ability to respond to the threats on their interior, so I am looking for a group to strike at either the orc chieftain or his capitol. If you decide to go after the chieftain, I am sure you know the risks you are taking since you would be entering a hostile land, and then try to enter a hostile orcish city, get through the guards, and eliminate the target. On the other hand, I have what may be a simpler solution. I have in my possession a certain book that talks about the Mountain Lord, a being of great destruction that sleeps inside Ice Mountain. His sleep is guarded by a lost temple and several guardians that reside there. Finally, there is a great seal that must be opened at the final portion of this ancient temple. And I have found that key. Take it, if you will, and awaken this Lord of the Mountain. Should you do so, the orc tribes will have to deal with chaos inside their own land and my strike force should have a greater chance of success. If we succeed, both your new home and the Silver Forest will be able to crush the orcish threat for another human generation."
