The party then rode out of Hannsport, reaching Gorum's Vale the following day. They arrived at the walled compound and were quickly shown into the keep, where they met with Sir Ulysses Marigan, and his daughter, Kendra. During the audience, Brother Yorik attended to the wounded, providing much needed healing to each of the refugee elves.
The party agrees to investigate the orc attacks, to survey the scene and provide whatever relief they can. Kendra Marigan also accompanied them as an emissary and guide-- in the last few years since the re-emergence of the elves she had been accepted before at the edge of the elven lands, where news and goods had been exchanged.
The party set out and after another day's travel, they had reached the outskirts of Valinost in the heart of the elven realm. After dispatching a handful of orcish scouts, they pressed on and came upon a stunning scene. Several heavily armed and armored orcs milled about the scene, executing captives for sport. A colossal creature stood regarding the shattered and burning gates of the underground grotto that served as the elves' stronghold.
the Rift Colossus
The party quickly moved to engage, attacking both the creature, which Professor Malort had identified as the Rift Colossus, a creature of legend, and the accompanying orcs. The party soon realized that the orcs had been expecting them, and as the battle raged on, Professor Malort's planar pact with the planes of weal reached its conclusion, and a new ally entered the field-- a movanic deva known to myth as Zarachiel, the Sword of Dawn.
Zarachiel, the Sword of Dawn
As great heroes and creatures of myth and legend did battle, heavy casualties were inflicted on both sides-- the Colossus was slain, as was Black Kazok and his retinue of orcish fighters and rangers.
Black Kazok
The party suffered heavy casualties in return, as Brother Yorik and Sir Donaghast were brought low during the fighting. In the mayhem, Naaruz the Witherer had escaped yet again.
Among the dead, the party discovered the body of Lothlaeril the Runner, who was the lifemate of the chief of the Valinesti, Ghaelvwynne Swift Hands. It appeared that the chief of the elves had been taken elsewhere as a prisoner. Among the items taken from Black Kazok was the ancestral bow of the Valinesti, Sadekeha, which had been bourne by the chief until her capture.
Given the dwarven made arms and armaments carried by the orcs (in addition to their recently won elven spoils), Kendra concluded that the folk tales saying that the orcs of the mountains had overrun the last dwarf stronghold in the Seawalls were true. She knew where the location of the stronghold lay from her study of old maps, and also knew that the orcs would not have been able to take a direct path to and from Valinesti-- between the two lay the realm of an ancient spirit people knew only as the Lady of the Woode. The spirit would never allow such foul and wicked things as the orcs to pass.
Having nothing to lose, and much time to gain, the party elected to request passage through the spirit's lands and make quick passage to the orcish lair.
At the edge of the Woode, they were magically shuttled to the heart of the enchanted lands and into the presence of the spirit herself.
The Lady of the Woode
She greeted each of them by name, waiting until the last to address Moghash the half-orc. Addressing him by his secret name, Arvae'Nath, she recognized him as the true, if tragic, heir of the Valinesti. In other times, she explained, his existence would not have been possible, but the world was shifting in this age, and he was living proof. With this knowledge came full realization of the weapon's power when in the hands of the true heir of the Valinesti.
She then told him the full significance of the weapon. It belonged to his mother, the chief of the Valinesti. The party sees in the spirit's reflecting pond a vision of two fleeing elf warriors- Amarylle of the Arrow, and her sister, Gahelvwynne. Ghaelvwynne is injured and Amarylle gives the bow to her. Amarylle would hold off the orcs to cover their escape. At that, the vision fades.
"This happened at the edge of my sight, many summers long past. I know no more."
Moghash's destiny had been fully revealed!
As further relief and assistance, the Lady resurrected Sir Donaghast and Brother Yorik, and further refreshed the adventurers so that they were fully healed and rested, regaining the use of any spells or finite abilities they had used in the fight with the Rift Colossus.
For all of her aid, the Lady of the Woode took an oath from Moghash, made upon Sadekeha, that he would perform a service for her, of any kind and at any time or place of her choosing, reminding him: "This One was ancient when your people carved yon bow from this grove's branches. Do not forget your word to me, Valinesti..."
With that, the entire group was transported to the very edge of the Lady of the Woode's realm, the dwarven ruin being a mere few hours march into the foothills of the Seawalls.
the Main Gate
They set out and in time came upon the massive stone gates carved into the side of a mountain. Professor Malort found the postern gate through scouting with his familiar, and the party quickly made their way to the side entrance, slaying the guards there and beginning their assault on the orcs of the Splintered Skull. As they made their way into the dwarven ruins, the postern gate portcullis dropped behind them. It was all or nothing at this point!
Following the main passages of the underground stronghold, the party at lst came upon the Great Hall of the Dwarf Kings, where their final foes waited for them-- Uraak the Reaper, chief of the Splintered Skull and a powerful antipaladin,
Uraak the Reaper
the massive, unarmored warrior called Brog, their old nemesis, the sorceress Naaruz the Witherer, the Witherer's pet cave troll, and the full retinue of the chief's elite guard.
Once again, the Witherer had set an ambush for them, and once again a mighty battle was joined.
The fighting ranged all across the massive throne room, as powerful and fell magics were unleashed amongst great feats of swordsmanship and archery. An invisible Naaruz began assaulting the party with offensive magics- freezing Brother Yorik in place with a holding enchantment and taking Zarachiel out of the mix with a confusion spell. Brog and Belleros the hound archon fought until the massive half-orc brought the celestial low, banishing him back to the seven heavens from whence he had come. Even as they lost the upper hand, the party rallied and brought down the troll, the guards, then Uraak, and then Brog. Near the end, Uraak had smited a n already badly wounded Sir Donaghast with his unholy blade, killing the paladin with the fell energies of the lower planes. It was then the archery of Moghash and the vengeful fury of Sadekeha that brought the antipaldin down for good.
As the tide of battle turned decisively, Naaruz the Witherer made the calculated decision to exit the field, abandoning the others to their fate. The consummate survivor had concluded that the introduction of the Valinesti's heirloom weapon was too great an obstacle to victory, and she would rather live to fight another day than to day foolishly with the Splintered Skull.
Naaruz the Witherer
The group then turned their attention to Brog and the remaining elite guards, slowly whittling the massive hulk down until they had ended his wickedness for good.
Brog
With that, the riches of the dwarven ruins lay open before them, and yet, they found no sign of Ghaelvwynne Swift Hands...
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