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Message: <blockquote data-quote="(contact)" data-source="post: 6493" data-attributes="member: 41">33—Settling the Affairs of Dead Men. The duo awake invigorated and filled with purpose as the Champions of the Risen Goddess.  Thelbar explains that he requires some time to study spells and prepare himself.  Thelbar teleports his brother and their two companions to their new home in the Dalelands.Thelbar settles down to his spellbooks, and disappears into his room for days at a time.  Juron and Glim occupy themselves with the Riders of Mistledale, and Taran prepares an overland trek to find the widow of a corpse he never knew.In Undermountain, the party discovered the remains of a less fortunate group of adventurers, and one of the bodies contained a journal.  <ul> <li data-xf-list-type="ul">The man is Cormyrian, and he names his hometown as Arabel.  A former knight of the realm, his family fell on hard times during the recent struggles there, and he had decided (against his wife’s argumentative disapproval) to try and win back his fortune raiding the halls of Halaster.  By the time of the last pitiful entry, the band had grown completely lost, their numbers dwindling through violent attrition, and food supplies were dangerously low.  The last entry reads simply, “Someone tell my wife she was right.”</li> </ul>Arabel is a large community in Cormyr, a state to the South and West of Mistledale.  Cormyr has recently fallen on hard times, exemplified in the death of their much beloved King Azoun.  The roads are said to be thick with bandits and monstrous raiders, but Taran’s journey is uneventful.  Maybe Cormyrian bandits can recognize a Worst Case Scenario when they see one riding alone along the road.As he nears Arabel, Taran is able to enlist the assistance of helpful locals, and after a day of searching, locates the home of the fallen knight.His widow, perhaps appropriate for the times, greets Taran at the border of her property with a loaded crossbow and a stern warning not to trespass.  Her mood softens when her husband’s name is mentioned, and after hearing the burly fighter’s explanation, she introduces herself as Lilline, and invites Taran in.Taran tells her that he is an adventurer who found himself lost in the unforgiving dungeons of Undermountain, and was rescued by her husband.  He paints a picture of the fallen knight as a selflessly heroic warrior who gave his life that others might be spared.  He offers the lady a substantial sum, totaling three thousand gold pieces—a veritable fortune!  Taran tells her that the gold and gems represent her dead husband’s share of treasure duly won, and begs her to accept the gift for her children’s sake.The widow Lilline is obviously not taken in by Taran’s amateurish lies, but does not confront him directly, either from fear of what he might do, or out of gratitude for his extravagant gift.Lilline offers Taran her hospitality for the evening, but indicates that he should leave first thing in the morning.  After a sparse meal of stew and pan-bread, Taran sits at the table and tells stories to Lilline’s three children.He tells them their father was a great hero, and should always be honored in their memory.  He tells them stories of his adventures, substituting their father’s name for his own.  In his tales, it is their father exploring Khundrukar, or fighting Ishlokians in Ratik’s forest.  He tells them about sailing the infinite void of Elemental Air with Ragna the orcish pirate and her crew of ogres and gith.  He tells them about fighting Yuan-Ti in a ziggurat built into a slowly draining lake, and assaulting bugbears in their mountain fortress.  Finally, as the youngest is drifting off to sleep, he tells them about the dragons of the Great Delve, and their fearsome frost breath.The children are completely enraptured.  Lilline doesn’t believe a word.The next morning she awakens to find Taran next to his saddled mount, practicing a compilation of his sword fighting techniques.  She presents him with some trail-food, and whispers, “I know what you are trying to do.  You are a miserable liar, Taran Tar-Ilou, but a good man.  May the gods go with you.”Surprisingly, the journey back to Mistledale seems twice as long.-----When Taran rides into town, he finds his brother packed and ready for a journey.“I scryed you along the road,” Thelbar says in response to Taran’s befuddled expression.  “The Irilun Empire was an ancient elven kingdom to the north of here.  Our luck holds, brother—there is a temple to Labelas Enorath two days ride to the Northwest.  I have briefed Juron and Glim as to what we are about.  We are ready to leave, once you have rested and eaten.  The Blessings of the Mother are upon us.”There is a change in Thelbar’s demeanor, a new confidence.  Taran notes several more pouches for spell components than Thelbar was accustomed to carry, as well as a pair of new wands. “You’ve been busy,” Taran says.“As have you, I’m sure.  How was your trip to Cormyr?”“Quiet.  Any drow trouble?”“None.  Taran?”“Yeah?”“Did you give that woman your entire treasure share?”“Yeah.”After a pause, Thelbar nods and says, “Ishlok has blessed us, brother.  And She has set us apart from her other children.  It is good that we can give back some of what we have gained, but we can no longer be like them.  Do you understand?”“Yeah.”-----The four riders are welcomed into the temple to Labelas Enorath.  The elven priests seem nonplussed by the group’s martial clothing, and without much fanfare take them into the presence of the high priest.The old elf smiles a wizened smile at the name Palatin Eremath, and tells the group a creation story no longer remembered by elves or man:Palatin Eremath and Corellon Larethian were lovers and consorts.  Palatin was his war champion, and the most militant member of the Elven Pantheon.  Together, they made the elves, and together they remained until the great schism that drove the night-elves underground, and made Palatin Eremath’s sister Arunshee into Lolth the Spider Queen.When Arunshee was cast out of Arvandor, Palatin Eremath lay dying, and she took into Herself all her sister’s Goodness, as a punishment for Arunshee’s betrayal, and it was this act that turned the goddess of the night-elves away from all mercy and kindness.  In addition, it was this infusion of divine Love and Beneficence that caused Palatin Eremath to realize the horrible tragedy of their feud, and Corellon Larethian’s fault in the affair.Palatin’s accusations wounded the elven father-god deeply, and he ordered her stars pulled from the sky, her name banished from all history, and her sacred places destroyed.But Labelas Enorath was close to Palatin Eremath, and did not completely obey his the wishes of his liege.  Labelas kept Palatin Eremath’s stars, as a token of his love for her, and hid them away in the mortal realms.  In addition, he sheltered one of her temples from destruction, and knowledge of its existence was passed down through his high priests, a divine secret kept from all ears until this day.This hidden temple, the high priest says, is in the High Forest, secluded from prying eyes in the central Crystalmist Mountains.   And the star of Palatin Eremath is in the hands of her champions, Taran and Thelbar.The goddess wants her stars back.  Palatin Eremath is returning to the sight of her children.</blockquote>

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