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Message: <blockquote data-quote="(contact)" data-source="post: 267133" data-attributes="member: 41">Chapter 3838-Forest treasures, friends and foes.Previously:  Having made contact with a High Priest of Labelas Enorath, Elven God of the Hunt, Taran and Thelbar learn about Labelas Enorath's disobedience.  The Elven Hunter God kept Palatin Eremath's stars hidden when they were to be destroyed, and has also kept her last temple from the eyes of mortal and God alike, in the Star Mountains, rising from the depths of the High Forest.  The duo have the Star of Palatin Eremath in their possession, won from the clutches of Undermountain, and travel to Her temple, to set her stars back into the night sky, and serve notice to the world that the Risen Goddess has returned to the affairs of mortal men.Equipped with Elven trail-food and information, Taran, Thelbar, Juron and Glim take their leave of Labelas Enorath's high priest and journey north, resting for a time in Loudwater, before undertaking a wilderness trek to search for Palatin Eremath's sole remaining temple.While in Loudwater, a frontier-town on the verge of the High Forest's untracked wilderness, they share dinner with an unlikely trio of dinner companions-elves dedicated to Corellon Larethian, wanderers like themselves, drawn to the region at the summons of their God.  Taran's sword-hand sweats and twitches as the dinner progresses, but the elves don't seem to realize that the humans they are chatting with are in fact the agents they have been sent to neutralize. The elves claim that the High Forest was once the center of a great elven empire, and at the direction of Corellon Larethian Himself is to be made into one again.  They share rumors about an ancient green dragon by the name of Eelacrimalicros, the primary (in their assessment) obstacle to an elven colony in the region.The following morning, the group obtains the services of a local guide, said to know as much of the High Forest as anyone in town.  The man gives his name as Andruthar, but is quickly dubbed "Stinky" for his repugnant odor.Stinky tells the party that many threats lie between them and their goal, hunting wyverns and manticores the least of them.  A band of giants calling themselves a kingdom prowls the forest, organized under the rulership of King Kovas, the Fire Tyrant.  Thelbar assures Stinky that should they encounter giants, of course the group will act with all necessary caution.  Taran laughs under his breath and makes the Ishlokian gesture for Tsun-- ritual murder.  Stinky understands the gist of the sign, if not its meaning, and frowns darkly.The next morning, the band sets off, and Taran and Stinky engage in a bickering rivalry about woodscraft and trackers-lore.  Juron makes an attempt at levity, asking how many rangers does it take to track a bear, but the scowl he receives for his trouble makes him drop the punch-line.After half a day's journey, the way becomes so rough, that not even the most hardy among them have the energy for joking.  It is hard going, and even with an experienced guide, the group is forced to backtrack on numerous occasions.Two days into their slow ascent to the Star Mounts, the group encounters a centaur, who knows Stinky well, and uses his proper name (which by this time Taran has forgotten).   The centaur takes the measure of the group with a few pointed questions, and liking what he hears, invites them to join him in his community.But to the surprise of everyone, his "community" proves not to be a centaur clan, but a well-camouflaged village of dark elves, nestled within a massive old-growth grove!  The party's experience with good-aligned drow in Undermountain, along with the doctrines of Palatin Eremath have prepared them well for such a strange sight, and without any sign of hostility or fear, the Champions of the Risen Goddess approach the shy elves.The village elders receive the outsiders with open arms, feasting them in the elvish fashion, and proving that they cling more closely to ancient tradition than do even some groups of surface elves.  They identify themselves as House Drelar Daergeth, and call themselves "moon elves".  It is no coincidence that these elves live in this most ancient of Faerunian forests, and they claim to keep the true old ways.In ancient times, they tell the group, there were moon elves and sun elves-night and day but not evil and good.  Lolth was a goddess of the moon elves, and when she lost the war, her followers were banished along with her.  But this clan did not venerate Lolth, and remained here in their ancestral home, unwelcome amongst their kin, and unseen by other races.The elders are intrigued by Thelbar's explanation of Palatin Eremath, and tell the group that they are aware of a structure that fits the description of the Risen Goddess' former temple.  They also say that terrible things live there, flying sorcerers and fiends.  Worse yet (or best yet, if you're Taran), the most direct route to the valley that shelters the temple is through the home of the fire giant king Kovas.Stinky appears terrified at this news, then simply panicked at the look in Taran's eyes.  Thelbar speaks calmly, soothing the scout.  "Don't worry, Andruthar," Thelbar coos.  "We don't expect you to beard Kovas in his lair.  Lead us to him, and we will pay you twice what was agreed.  Then you will be free to go about your way."Stinky squints at Thelbar.  "And what are you going to do?  March through the halls of the fire giant king?  He will never grant you passage.  As long as there are giants alive in there, they'll resist you.""Yeah," Taran says, pulling his chair close to Stinky, and grinning ear to ear.  "That's the plan."</blockquote>

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