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Explorer
- Previously, (from chapter 37):
Vindicated at last, Indy holds a finally tearful meeting with his cell of bardic revolutionaries, and formally disbands the revolution. He explains that he has moved on, and they should do the same.
“Now,” he thinks to himself, “there is nothing standing in between Evaliegh and I, or our hopes of marriage. Save of course, for the whole completely without a conscious mind thing”. Indy paces in the night, half-heartedly threatening female passersby with his jewel-studded cane. “But her healthy return is beyond me. Thelbar would know what to do, and if not, he could find someone who might. It’s time to go back through that portal."
43—Reunion.
Indy and Kyreel pass through the gate with little trouble, and after several days of fruitless wandering, run across a traveling minstrel who recognizes the description of Taran and Thelbar as belonging to the new Lord Protector of Mistledale and his brother. By that evening, Indy and Kyreel are in Mistledale.
The adventurers spend a cheerful evening reuniting themselves, and renewing their bonds of friendship over the best hospitality the Dalelands can provide. Indy and Kyreel inform the group of their recent accomplishments in Ratik, and the Lady Evaliegh’s heartrending plight. For their part, Taran and Thelbar relate their journey through Undermountain and the Crystal Mountains, and the raising of Palatin Eremath’s star. Taran takes particular delight mimicking the various giants forced into the fold or feebleminded by Thelbar’s enchantments.
After several days of lazy debauchery, the group discusses their current plans. Thelbar wants to settle in Mistledale, believing, as does Kyreel, that the work for which they have been called is not accomplished yet. Indy argues that the group must fly to the aid of Lady Evaliegh, but as Taran professes total ambivalence beyond his next meal, Indy is outvoted. Thelbar explains his plan to build a wizard’s academy in Mistledale, and his hope to establish a mages-fair to rival that of any in the more civilized South.
The next morning, the group travels to the dwelling of the Revered Sage, Elminster of Shadowdale, with the intent of seeking his blessing for Thelbar’s ambition. None of them are fully sure what to expect, but they are certainly surprised when they are attacked outright by a frail-seeming scholarly type, who strikes at the group with his bare hands! As the party protests their innocence of whatever crime this scribe would have them accused of, the wizened elder calms down and apologizes for any understanding. He introduces himself as Lhaeo, assistant to the Sage of Shadowdale.
Lhaeo explains that Elminster has uncharacteristically gone missing, and his location is hidden from any and all divinations. In his distress, the scribe assumed that the party was somehow involved (as coincidences rarely occur around the life of such an August personage as Elminster), and mistook their intent.
He further explains that his lord had recently conferred with Khelbin Blackstaff, lord of Waterdeep about a matter that puzzled and perplexed both wizards—the new star in the night sky. The two wizards had gone to seek the council of the revered elven elder Ahl-Ithevia, in a temple to Corellon Larethian near Scardale. They were to return within the day, but it is now three days since, and Lhaeo is deeply concerned.
Taran cheerfully says, “Well, hell Lhaeo, we’ll go find him for you,” apparently the only member of the party who missed the obvious connection between Elminster’s disappearance and the faith of Palatin Eremath.
Lhaeo gives them the description of Ahl-Ithevia, and describes her as a great elven mystic—a woman who holds the cherished title of High Speaker to the faithful of Corellon Larethian. In all of the Father-God’s church, there are seven High Speakers, the clerics who possess the final word on all matters of dogma and faith. There is no position more highly regarded within the church hierarchy, for the High Speakers are said to hear to the voice of Corellon Larethian himself in their prayers.
The group travels to Scardale, an altogether wretched place. Nearly destroyed by recent warfare and its accompanying plague, the parts of the town that remain unburned are populated by the worst sort of ruffians and buccaneers. Bandits openly roam the streets of the city, and one enterprising group of adventurers decides that they will save themselves some time traveling all the way to the nearest dungeon, and simply rob the Champions of the Risen Goddess, acquiring a full career’s worth of magical treasure in one fell swoop.
“You have to admire their initiative,” Indy says as he shoots the enemy group’s wizard with a poisoned arrow.
“It’s a good plan, I’ll give them that,” Taran says, catching the enemy monk with a well-timed blow to the neck, that sends the barehanded fellow crashing to the ground. “Poor choice of targets, though,” he finishes as he severs the monk’s head from his shoulders.
One of the would-be murderers manages to drink a potion of gaseous form, and floats away on the tepid breeze. Taran will have none of it, however, and stalks the greenish mist across the city until it comes to rest among the litter of a shantytown squat. Taran waits patiently until the mist re-forms into the wounded and shaken fighter, and without warning he leaps on the man, ramming Black Lisa through his back.
“I got ‘im,” Taran says triumphantly as he returns to his group with the fighter’s gear. He notices Kyreel and her disapproving stare. “Hey,” Taran begins, “The scriptures say ‘If you’re going to do it, do it. So I did.” He grins.
Thelbar quotes, “half measures are sloth masquerading as progress.”
That evening, the heroes gain the trust of a trio of wandering elves, and are told where they can find the sacred grove of Corellon Larethian. The elves have heard the name Ahl-Ithevia, and murmur with awe to learn that the group goes to speak with her, but cannot say if she is at the grove or no.
The Great Scar for which Scardale was given its name is a rift canyon several miles in length, bounded by deep forests on both sides, and a half mile wide at its largest point. Elven tradition holds that it was at the Great Scar that Corellon Larethian defeated Grummush, the orcish god, and put out his eye. The Great Scar itself is the mark where Corellon Larethian placed his spear on the ground, as he gallantly allowed the blinded orc to escape with his life. Thus, for the elves, the Great Scar represents both martial prowess and charity in the face of duress, the highest elven virtues.
The shrine of Corellon Larethian at the Great Scar is an appropriately sublime place, the border where the forest ends and the temple begins completely blurred to non-elven eyes. Kyreel wisely refrains from attending the meeting, knowing that these elves will likely see through her hat of disguise, and despite their teachings to the contrary, might not be able to overcome their own prejudices toward her. She determines that success is more important than a moral victory over a dubious foe, and awaits the group in a secure hiding-place.
Thelbar takes on the role of spokesperson, and after attending to the elves’ seemingly endless welcoming ritual, manages to wrest from the High Priest that Ahl-Ithevia has herself gone into the Scar. The priest is not concerned, even though it is unlike her to disappear for this long. He knows that she is in the hands of her God, and “whom Corellon Larethian sets his hand upon, what being can harm her”? The priest also confirms that Elminster Elf-Friend and “a companion” were also here looking for Ahl-Ithevia just three days ago. They received the same answer then that Thelbar is getting now. She is gone, and no one knows where. If the High Speaker seemed troubled before her unannounced journey, what mortal could truly say?
“The thoughts of a High Speaker,” the party is told, “are not for us to know.”
