Editing Game-Summaries:7/14/2018 Recollections (section)

==Recollections by Dereth==
===Through the Feywild===

On 6/6/346 [[Tallulah]] and I prepared for the journey by taking the advice of several magisters and purchasing [[Goggles of the Night]]. I can see in the dark, now! Artificers are pretty handy! [[Zanna]] made me a longsword, too! She’s the nicest gnome (read: only gnome) I know. [[Ford]] said he was happy to leave the city for a bit after playing "some innocent card games" around town. [[Kaylorr]] and I should open a shop or clinic to help those in need more directly because his healing ability is quite remarkable. [[Kaylorr]] crafted several of his [[Kaylorr's Kwik-Aid|Kwik-Aids]] while I scribed several Scrolls of Revivify, just in case...

[[Tallulah]], [[Ford]], [[Kaylorr]], [[Zanna]], [[Rezik]] and [[Dereth|I]] were escorting "[[Karnifax]]" who kept control of [[Kaanyr]]. [[Reshi]] lead a party of 6 adepts and 6 disciples comprised of Greens, Greys, Reds, Blues, and a Brown and a Yellow. We're not sure why no Whites accompanied this delegation, but the time for questions was over when Fortia of the Blue teleported us all (Wizards, right!?) to the northern edge of [[The Golden Forest]]. Reshi prepared us to enter the forest by carrying a rock to anchor us to our plane. Apparently, [[The Golden Forest]] crosses with the [[Feywild]]!

As we prepared to enter, the Magisters’ rings all glowed red and our diplomatic delegation was suddenly deprioritized as the rest of the delegation left us to complete our mission with [[Karnifax]] and [[Kaanyr]]. Pressing on, we nearly lost our path ([[Kaylorr]] and I both forgot about Guiding Hand!) as the forest felt as if it pressed upon us. I don’t mind the forest or natural environments, but this did not feel like the forests I know. 

Suddenly we beset upon by a stampede of [[Centaurs]]. As we began to gain a handle on the Centaur assault, a monstrous giant ([[Fomorians|Fomorian]]) crashed out of the [[Feywild]] and proved to be FAR more than I could handle alone. Luckily my allies came to my aid, especially [[Tallulah]]’s canine companion.

Licking our wounds and healing up, we continued toward where [[Reshi]] directed us, now utilizing the divine [[Guiding Hand]]. Eventually, [[Tallulah]] noticed we were being spied upon and a company of Wood Elves had us surrounded. The leader of the [[Moon Guard]], [[Celebor]], asked us to prove our intentions. Casting a Sending to [[Reshi]] cleared up any confusion and made clear the sibling relation. We were escorted to [[The Golden City of Elves]] where I replaced my simple longbow and dagger with more expertly crafted versions. [[Kaylorr]] learned to craft Antitoxins.

We learned of the [[Elven-Sundering]] where [[Corellon]] banished [[Lolth|Araushnee]] (Lolth) and her followers to the [[Underdark]]. Those banished who rejected [[Lolth]] were not welcomed by [[Corellon]] and became forsaken by both, known as the [[Shadar-Kai]]. The ruler of [[The Nightshade Kingdom]] on the [[Plane of Shadow]] was the Goddess of Death herself, [[The Raven Queen]]. During a moment of weakness, she killed [[Nerull]] and inherited his [[Campaign_Notes#Divine_Spark|Divine Spark]] and absorbed some of his divine portfolio. 

The [[Shadar-Kai]] prevent the Underdark’s denizens from escaping, and the Golden City’s Wood Elves prevent the Shadar-Kai and the Plane of Shadow from entering our realm. Keeping invading outsiders from our realm is important, but a peaceful party may be acceptable.

===The Plane of Shadow and the Underdark===
[[Celebor]] informed us, as we left the city, that we were named Friends of [[The Golden City of Elves]], though a more accurate translation is the Ancient line of Noble Healers (note: always explore and ask around). [[Celebor]] parts with us and we come to [[The Nightshade Kingdom]]. At the entrance, we pay a fee: memories. First, we experience a young woman putting away a large tome in the Family Lineage section of a library. She sees something and she is killed by some godly-looking being because of what she found. Next, we see a giant working furiously around us on crafting a stone disk. Suddenly, it cracks and he winks out of existence. 

[[The Nightshade Kingdom]] is an expansive city-state filled with artificially lit obelisks and pyramids. [[Karnifax]] leads us through the city as we see Grey Elves ([[Shadar-Kai]]) and people-looking-things roam the streets, seemingly going about their own business. Why are these people segregated and hated by their own kind so fiercely? Atop the largest pyramid we see a shadow roaming back and forth, and we learn this is [[The Raven Queen]] herself. Inside her [[The Nightshade Kingdom#Fortress of Memories|Fortress of Memories]], we are assaulted by voices in our minds but only Ford and I are shaken to our core. Our companions are hardier. The "portal" is a hole in the temple floor that we must fall through! Taking the plunge together, we crash into the floor of an expansive cavern. The [[Underdark]] at last.

[[Karnifax]], still restraining a bound [[Kaanyr]], leads us deeper into the [[Underdark]] toward [[Menzoberranzan]], through the Silken Paths. We pass the [[Faerzress]], which is how [[Gromph]] is attempting to control his plane-shattering mistake of allowing the [[Demon Lords]] into the [[Underdark]]. We avoid the [[Faerzress]] as best as we can. The Silken Paths is not a metaphor, unfortunately. It is an obscured pathway made entirely of spider’s silk. Unsurprisingly, we are ambushed by two [[The Chosen|Driders]].

Daylight burned the abominations away, while [[Rezik]] burned down the Silken Paths. We prevailed and finally stood overlooking [[Menzoberranzan]]. After a brief overview by [[Karnifax]], we disguised ourselves as best as we could, but only [[Tallulah]] could speak [[Undercommon]] naturally (Rangers are so versatile!). The rest of us decided not to speak unless totally necessary.

===Menzoberranzan and Rescue===
Karnifax got us wondering who is lighting the [[Menzoberranzan#Narbondel|Narbondel]] if [[Gromph]] has fled the city. Had we been able to decipher more [[Undercommon]], or be more critical of our allies, we would have realized that "[[Karnifax]]" was leading us away from [[Drow Houses#House Melarn|House Melarn]] and onto the grounds of [[Drow Houses#House Yauntyrr|House Yauntyrr]]. Passing a guard post, "[[Karnifax]]" identified himself with another name, but we had no choice but to follow his lead. We were led into a holding room adorned with statues and edifices depicting scenes of Elven culture before [[Corellon]]’s betrayals. A blend of Abyssal and [[Undercommon]] labeled a plaque that was less than 1 year old. With these clues glaring in our faces, we tried a sending to "[[Karnifax]]", but I was rebuffed and my mind felt like it split in two. We were told to wait for our attendees by a voice beyond one of the sealed doors, and after several hours, the Draegloth [[Jeggred]] (formerly Draegy) and "[[Karnifax]]" approached us, assuring us that we have "nothing to fear". Then, [[Kaanyr]]’s sword appeared through [[Tallulah]]. Drow betrayal! 

Cornering "[[Karnifax]]", I eventually succumbed to the assault of "[[Karnifax]]" and [[Jeggred]] even with [[Kaylorr]]’s best efforts. The pain was too much. The darkness overwhelmed me. 

I heard the flowing of streams and the termination of their destination. The all-giving lake and flows of water through the world bequeath life to us all. Arriving at the Lady’s Lake I knew my faith was justified. The beauty of this harmony was something I’ve only read about in the few books written about experiencing [[Vivienne]]’s realm. This was [[Avalon]]. I began to weep with joy, knowing I had kept to my faith and the [[Vivienne|Lady of the Lake]] has allowed me into Avalon. I knelt to drink a mouthful of water, when the smell of sulfur suffused my nostrils. Alarmed, I looked around and noticed the surrounding forest deteriorating and falling to darkness as the sunlight became eclipsed. A presence was invading my heaven and I went to draw my sword and shield, but realized I was without anything. As I screamed for the corrupting outsider to leave this sacred place, I blinked tears out of my eyes only to see the looming shape of a figure reaching toward me. It grabbed me like I was a firefly and brought me close to it’s face when I realized this figure was no longer the corrupting invader, but [[Kaylorr]].

It’s a good thing I crafted those Revivify scrolls, but the cost of my return is...strange.

Apparently the Matron of [[Drow Houses#House Melarn|House Melarn]] and her consort saved us after [[Kaanyr]] was defeated. [[Halisstra]] and [[Cosmopolitan|Tel]] escorted us back to her house and we held palaver in a secret safe-room. She confided in us that she and her house worship [[Eilistraee]] and oppose [[Lolth]] as vehemently as possible. The [[Dyrr|Lichdrow]] has also been coordinating with her in opposing [[Lolth]] and [[Drow Houses#House Yauntyrr|House Yauntyrr]], but she does not control his actions nor understand his every machinations. [[Halisstra]] told us we had but hours before [[Danifae]] married the Demon Lord [[Demon Lords#Zuggtmoy|Zuggtmoy]]. [[Halisstra]] and I suspected the [[Underdark]] would become just another layer of the [[Abyss]]. Resuming our diplomatic duties, we offered Magistery protection to [[Halisstra]]’s people as long as they kept the peace. After she agreed, I rested to report via Sending to [[Reshi]] and another magister I had met briefly concerning the [[Underdark]]’s peril and the refugee crisis. The others went exploring during my rest, but [[Reshi]] and Melvin beckoned us to return. 

[[Halisstra]]’s plan relied on all 99 of her house meeting at a designated location to teleport outside of [[The Nightshade Kingdom]]. We arrived hours early for [[Tallulah]]’s rousing speech, but as [[Halisstra]]’s consort opened a portal out of the [[Underdark]] two members of [[Drow Houses#House Melarn|House Melarn]] were unaccounted for. [[Halisstra]] and [[Cosmopolitan|Tel]] said they would wait for them, so [[Rezik]] and I followed several of the refugee [[Drow]] through the portal. We prepared to manage the [[Drow]], but the orderly Melarn members waited for their mistress as the rest of our [[the Eternal Order|Eternal Order]] fell out of the portal, except [[Kaylorr]]. [[Ford]] and [[Zanna]] said he would wait with [[Halisstra]] and [[Cosmopolitan|Tel]] for as long as possible. After some time, we saw [[Halisstra]] fall out of the portal followed by [[Kaylorr]] who said [[Cosmopolitan|Tel]] turned into a large purple dragon and went after the two remaining members as a fissure began to race toward the teleportation circle on the floor of the cavern. We saw the portal’s edge break and wink out of existence. 

We traveled by night to accommodate the [[Drow]] and arrived in Solace on 346/7/27! Our plane travelling had amounted to a time difference of about seven times faster than Terran time measurement. With magisters on the wall keeping watch, the escort into the Magistery was without incident and [[Warden]] and [[Kord]] debriefed us before taking [[Halisstra]] into private consultation with ALL the heads of the Magistery and a previously unseen woman wearing a gold dress. She looks like she fits the profile and silhouette of [[The Seal]], according to [[Rezik]]. We attended to any injured and exhausted [[Drow]] during the time of [[Halisstra]]’s orientation to the Magistery. When she came out of the meeting, more exhausted, she informed us of her new title, [[Halisstra|The Black]]. If anyone should be in charge of wandering the planes and investigating the unknown, [[Halisstra]]’s House of Black will be most disciplined and will know who should join our ranks and who our plane should be defended against. I hope the [[The Magistery#Blacks,House of Time|House of Black]] can keep [[Avalon]] safe.

Returning to my quarters, I noticed several invitations to Magistery houses. In line with the [[Vivienne|Lady of the Lake]]’s teachings, I will join the [[The Magistery#Yellows, House of Lightning|House of Yellow]]. I hope my new friends chose wisely.