Lighting the Way (day 1)

The heroes wanted to learn a few things about the disappearance of the five children. They find out the following about the missing kids:

Kimi Eavewalker: Daughter of the famed elven ranger Idris and a beautiful seamstress named Kitani, Kimi has not seen her father in two years. The ranger is constantly away adventuring and tracking down relics for a mysterious patron. Kimi has grown into a fearless tomboy. Kimi is the protector of this band of friends, often scrapping with boys twice her age who try to bully the others. She usually wins these bouts, and many of the town's children are afraid of her.

Hollin Hebbradan: Hollin is a freckly-faced ten-year-old boy missing his two front teeth (from a bad spill off the waterwheel at the old mill). Hollin's mother died in childbirth and his father was savaged by an owlbear two years ago. Now Hollin's older sister, a beautiful young red-haired woman named Ralla, looks after him. The two have struggled to make ends meet and rumor has it Ralla works on one of the pleasure dens on Mud Street to keep food on the table. Hollin is a skilled woodcarver and he manages to earn a few copper pieces hawking his statuettes.

Mikra Jabbs: The thirteeen-year-old of the town butcher, Colbrin Jabbs, Mikra's difficult birth resulted in several mental deficiencies. He cannot read and believes almost everything he is told. Mikra is well-liked by everyone. His bright smile wins the hearts of almost anyone who meets him. Though the oldest of the bunch, Mikra is looked after by the others.

Jurin Kreed: Son of the wealthiest, most powerful, and evilest man in Falcon's Hollow, Jurin Kreed is a boy of eleven. Jurin behaves insufferably, snarling at the other children and threatening to have his dad's bodyguards beat them if they don't do everything he says. People wonder why the other children don't simply avoid the spoiled bully. Jurin spends many hours at the Jabbs' house.

Savram Vade: Son of the mysterious wizard Sharvaros, Savram is a quiet, withdrawn nine-year-old boy, whose bright eyes betray intelligence far beyond his years.

The heroes convince a few neighborhood kids with loose lips to reveal "the secret dare" taken by the five missing kids: to spend the night at the burned-out ruin of Elara's halfway house up on a mournful hill next to Darkmoon Wood.

The heroes asked around about the burnt orphanage, and they learned that a middle-aged silver-haired human woman named Elara opened the orphanage ten years ago, hard on the heels of the Gobliblood War. The atrocities committed by marauding bands of goblins left dozens of children without parents, and Elara took in droves of them.

Elara was a selfless woman who spent the greater part of her life caring for those no on else wanted. The fire was a horrible tragedy.

The fire started out of nowhere and spread so fast, by the time the town's volunteer brigade arrived all that was left was a smoking ruin, every child dead, and Elara burnt to cinders. Hard to believe a blaze that fierce could start as an accident. The locals were always afraid for the safety of that place. Elara built her halfway house far away from town and much too close to that haunted wood.

The last few months or so before the fire people claimed to hear all manner of clatter from the orphanage at night. Screams they say. Terrible screams. Some even claimed Elara lost her mind, took to torturing the children in the dead of night. That's why she built the place outside of town.

Darkmoon Wood (days 5-14)

After retrieving all the ingredients needed, the heroes rushed back to Falcon's Hollow without further delay. Three inexpert and slightly drunk human hunters traveled the forest, trapping rabbits and tracking larger game, specifically dunlied. The heroes got lost, so these woodsmen pointed them back to their path with somewhat questionable expertise. The heroes crossed the water on the return trip with the construction of a crude raft.

On the next day, the heroes got lost again, and two wolves viciously attacked them on sight, but both wolves fled when one was severely wounded.

When they finally made it back to Falcon's Hollow on the third day of travel, Laurel was glad to see them and immediately set out to brew the remedy. Laurel payed the characters their due and offered them a discount on any future services.

Hrol offered his services to the Church of Iomedae for the next 2.5 years, in return for atoning for breaking his code of conduct.

After a week of quiet, Lady Cirthana of the Church of Iomedae informs Hrol that the whole town is talking about some missing children, and she tasks him with finding them.

Ruined Monastery (day 5, part 2)

Among the other relics in the kobold's room, the heroes found a ruby. When they placed it in one of the depressions in the desecrated shrine's anvil, a wave of positive energy washed out form the altar, hitting everyone in the room and causing an unearthly dwarven choir to spring up from the darkness before fading away. All creatures in the room had their wounds healed and their morale heightened. A pair of creatures had taken up residence in this chamber and roosted on the ceiling above. The creatures waited until the entire group was inside the chamber before dropping down to strike. Just before the creatures dropped down to attack, the illumination in the room dropped one step. Each creature targeted a different foe, attempting to grapple as quickly as possible. The creatures were in their lair and fought to the death.

North of the desecrated shrine is a long hallway which ends with a ruined dwarven statue. The statue is smashed and barely recognizable as a dwarven monk. His stone hammer rests on the ground next to the shattered remains of his head.

The first door from the hallway leads to a small study that looks like it has been lived in recently. Gnawed bones litter the floor and tufts of gray fur can be seen here and there. An old stone desk sits in the center of the chamber, scratched and cracked in many places. The stench of wet fur hung heavy in the air. It was the den of a pair of wolves, the consorts of the large wolf in the adjoining chamber. The pair attacked as soon as they spotted intruders. They howled loudly so as to alert the large wolf in the adjoining chamber of intruders. The wolves singled out one opponent but were swiftly killed by the heroes. The desk is completely empty except for a few scraps of ancient parchment and an old quill. One of the drawers has a secret compartment, though, that the heroes found. Inside was a masterwork handaxe, a small pouch containing 100 pp, and a prayer book. The book is written in Dwarven and describes the worship of Droskar. A small note on the inside cover reads "Torag is no longer worthy of our devotion. Only Droskar can deliver us from the failings of King Garbold".

The adjoining ruined chamber has gaping holes in the roof that allow faint light to enter. One of the stone columns that once supported the ceiling is toppled, its broken pieces littering the floor. A thick patch of black mushrooms hides in the nearby corner, giving the room an earthy scent that was barely noticeable above the stench of wet fur. This chamber was the home of a large wolf who saw himself as the ruler of the ruins. He was a cunning foe that recognized the heroes as a serious threat the moment they entered. With his consorts wounded or dead, he was cautious in dealing with the intruders, His first act was to spring from hiding atop the ruined column, baring his teeth in an attempt to demoralize them. The heroes were unimpressed so he spoke, demanding to know why they had disturbed his rest. After a sorry attempt at diplomacy by Wrackomelor, Hrol lost his patience and attacked first. The large wolf singled out Wrackomelor in combat, targeting him. This was the large wolf's home and he fought to the death to protect it. Tucked behind the pillar were a few things of value hidden by him, including a bag with 354 gp, a masterwork light crossbow, a ceramic vial and a crystal wand. In the dark corner of the wood grew a small patch of ironbloom mushrooms, six in all.

The second door from the hallway leads to a small chamber dominated by old cobweb-covered racks and armor stands. What must have once been a well-tended armory is now devoid of arms and armor. A secret door is located on the northeaster corner of this room. Four masterwork bolts were underneath one of the racks.

The secret door swung open to reveal a short corridor with a wall of bars running down one side. Four rusted doors open in this wall into four cramped cells. The locks on the cell doors have rusted away, making them easy to open. While all of the cells contain the bones of long-dead dwarves, three of them were actually skeletons that rose up to attack the heroes as soon as they opened the last cell door. The skeletons moved to attack the nearest living creature. They used their claws and they were wearing leather aprons. They fought to the death. The only skeleton here that does not animate lies in a peaceful posture on its simple straw cot. On one of his hands was a simple golden ring with a large red gemstone in it that sparkles with an inner fire. Growing inside the skeleton's ribcage was a pair of ironbloom mushrooms.

Ruined Monastery (day 5)

The door to the room north of the entry hall was stuck. With a loud crack, the door finally gave way and opened, shattering an ancient wooden chair propped against it on the other side. The room beyond is dark and smells deeply of dust and decay. The mummified remains of a dwarf rest in the middle of the chamber. Wearing the garb of a blacksmith, the dwarf has the shattered shards of a glass vial in one hand and a scrap of ancient parchment in the other. Written in dwarven, the parchment reads, "Forgive me, dark father of the forge, my toils shall never be enough". Tucked into the belt of the long-dead dwarf is a silver light hammer with an unknown religious symbol carved into the head.

The small room south of the entry hall has a few moth-eaten rags hanging on pegs and a single soiled hat resting on a table.

The double doors leading into a chamber southwest of the entry hall are shattered and broken, one of them lying on the floor. The room beyond is in an equal state of disrepair. What was once a library is now a shattered mess with one corner being completely collapsed and dominated by a wide pool of stagnant water. Thick fungus grows on most of the books that still remain on the shelves lining the walls. The fungus that lines the shelves in this room is hazardous if disturbed. When Tok moved the books the fungus let off a puff of spores that damaged his constitution. In addition, he has strange shadows and flittering movement appear in the corners of his vision. Atop one of the bookshelves is a single tome that has managed to avoid the destructive fungus. This book is written in Dwarven and contains hymns to Torag. The book is beautifully illustrated. Folded into the last page of the book is a scroll.

The door leading into the chamber across the library from the hallway was locked. The device was quite ancient and Hrol broke down the door. This small chamber appears to be some sort of sitting room, complete with a single table and a pair of chairs, both in relatively good condition. Resting atop the table is a half-eaten crow next to a crude knife and a cracked mug. A net sprung up near the ceiling held a number of stones and a small metal anvil, which fell on the room when the heroes kicked in the door. The heroes, thinking this trap was made to warn a creature further in the ruins, bluffed cries of alarm and pain, without much success.

The small cramped chamber past the guest quarters holds two beds (one of which is covered in bird bones), a small sack, and an array of old tools. The other bed looks recently slept in. A kobold hid under the bed, gaining total cover. The kobold used the cramped space to his advantage whenever possible, preventing others from entering the room. He focused his attacks on Mrunk, but was eventually bested by the heroes, who nevertheless stemmed his bleeding. On the spare bed is a complete set of masterwork artisan's tools useful for Craft (stonemasonry). In addition, these is a small sack containing 62 gp in assorted coins and a single ruby gemstone.

Ruined Monastery (day 4-5)

The heroes continued their trip through Darkmoon Vale, when a giant mosquito crossed their path and soundlessly attached itself to Tok. The heroes killed the disgusting insect before it could do him any serious damage.

After exploring Darkmoon Vale, only one ingredient remains to be found: ironbloom mushrooms. These small toadstools are known to be a dwarven delicacy, but there are no dwarves living in the area. As such, the heroes' only hope of retrieving these mushrooms is to search the ruins on the other side of Darkmoon Vale.

Unfortunately, predators have taken up residence in the ruined building. Unless otherwise noted, none of the chambers inside the monastery are lit. All of the rooms have 10-foot-tall ceilings at the minimum, but since most open up to the sloped roof above, many reach a height of up to 20 feet. The walls are all stone, with the interior walls being 1 foot thick and the exterior walls measuring at least 3 feet thick. All of the doors are strong wooden doors, and many are swollen stuck.

Sitting squat at the foot of an imposing mountain, a ruined monastery came into view between ancient gnarled trees. Made of simple stone blocks, worn smooth with the passage of time, the stout building is falling apart. Sections of the slanted shale roof have collapsed and portions of the outer wall have crumbled. Weeds and wild thorn plants run rampant across the field leading up to the place, leaving only the slightest indication of a path that ends at the ruined front doors. Beyond, an overgrown yard sits in shadow.

The old path that leads up to the ruins ends about 50 feet from the monastery. Before entering the yard, the path passes between a pair of old stone statues. While one of them is little more than rubble, the other is relatively intact. The 5-foot-tall statue is incredibly worn but it can still be made out as a dwarf holding aloft a great stone hammer. Moss and creeper vines cover most of its surface.

Tall grasses and chunks of stone debris have all but overtaken the small yard. Off to one side, a wooden stable has collapsed into a mound of rotting timbers and moldy straw. The outer wall on the east side has also collapsed, leaving a ragged hole. Three doors exit into this yard – a pair of double doors to the east, a single door to the north, and a lone door leading into the squat tower in the southeast corner. A few lone razrocrows roost at the tower and caw at anyone who enter their domain.

This yard lies in ruins. Searching the tall grasses revealed a few interesting clues. A well hides in the northwest corner of the yard, with 10 feet of rope dangling into it. The water is more than 30 feet down and is brackish. Lying next to the well is a body. Valeros revealed that this body was devoured by a rather large animal.

The ruined stable hides a few ancient bones, but little else of value. The heroes revealed that these are the bones of a pony.

Although the tall grasses obscure most trails, Tok revealed faint signs that some creatures do enter the main building through the double doors. Some of these tracks looked reptilian while others are clearly made by four-legged mammals. The reptilian trail always leads to the entrance and then out into the wild while the mammal tracks leave by either the main entrance or through the hole in the eastern wall.

Hiding inside a rotting backpack at the base of the well were the remains of a week's worth of trail rations, a set of thieves' tools, 50 feet of silk rope, a small coinpurse with 42 gp in assorted coins, and a small blue vial containing a potion of cure light wounds.

The door leading into the tower was stuck. A rather aggressive monstrous spider dwelt in this room, hiding in its webs. The moment the door opened, the spider dropped down to attack. Its webs allowed it to move throughout the tower, but did not hinder the heroes' movement. The spider fought to the death

Atop the 30-foot-tall tower is an open trapdoor that leads into the interior. Thick webs covered much of the ancient crates and barrels stored inside the base of the tower. A rickety wooden staircase ascended along one wall to reach an open trapdoor above.

The wooden staircase leading to the roof of the tower was not safe. When Hrol attempted to climb the stairs the staircase collapsed.

While the supplies in most of the crates and barrels in this room have long since rotted away, one small crate contained a masterwork short sword wrapped in oilcloth.

Beyond the double doors off the yard is a small dark hall. Littered with mounds of debris and a year’s worth of dead leaves, it is clear that a narrow path winds inside. There is nothing of interest in the piles of dirt and leaves.

Pews of darkwood lie tipped over and covered in dust on either side of this ancient shrine off the entry hall. At the far end sits a large ceremonial anvil, but its surface is defaced and ruined.

The anvil was identified as an item devoted to Torag. Of particular note is a space upon the altar containing five small depressions. 

Darkmoon Vale (day 2-4)

The hobgoblin attempted to flee while his hawks fought to the death. During that fight, the heroes were assisted by a mysterious and slightly intoxicated gnome priest of Cayden Cailean, Wrackomelor, who joined their quest. Mrunk managed to incapacitate the hobgoblin and the heroes left his fortune to the fates afterwards.

Hrol removed the fox from the trap. The pitiful animal put up no resistance.

The fox was badly injured, it's hindquarters slashed by the hobgoblin's trap. Hrol and Wrackomelor saved and treated the fox, nursing it back to health.

Later on that same day, a giant mosquito crossed the path of the heroes and soundlessly attached itself to Wrackomelor. The heroes killed the disgusting insect before it could do him any serious damage.

The next day, the heroes found a rare, glowing mold covering the undersides of several large rocks deep in the forest. Valeros and Mrunk managed to harvest enough of the mold without destroying it to serve as two separate light sources. Once removed from the rock, the mold continued to glow with the brightness of a torch.

Later that day, the dense trees and thick brush of the forest give way, parting seemingly in respect for the titanic darkwood tree that dominates a clearing. Several times taller than a temple minaret, in one direction the obviously ancient tree reaches into the sky with branches like a giant’s arms, while in the other it plumbs the earth with roots thicker than a man’s waist. Its limbs broad and strong, its bark thick and so richly colored as to almost be black, and its leaves the size of bucklers, the giant thing is less a tree and more a cathedral of boughs and branches.

Despite its serene nature, the glade was not without danger. A rare serpentine creature made its lair in the branches of the massive darkwood tree.

When the heroes entered the glade, the creature was hiding among the tree's limbs and branches near its trunk. When the heroes approached, it charged from the tree, pouncing on Mrunk and almost killing him. After a harrowing encounter, the heroes managed to slay it while it attempted to flee.

Focusing on the elder darkwood's trunk, the heroes revealed a small patch of elderwood moss Laurel described. The growth was easily collected by even the most unskilled hand.

This elder darkwood tree is the most ancient of its kind in Darkmoon Vale according to Milon. The clearing is roughly ovular, The elder darkwood has low, easy to climb branches that extend from the trunk in every direction. Valeros and Mrunk eventually scaled the tree's height, gaining a commanding view of the entire forest. During their climb they noticed three bodies hanging in the high limbs.

The heroes investigated the bodies in the elder darkwood to find the corpses of three medium-sized humanoids. Although the bodies had been stripped of nearly all their flesh, their equipment still dangled from their half-devoured carcasses. The heroes searched the bodies and found the following items which remained in useful condition: two light crossbows, two short swords, a suit of hide armor, a masterwork shortbow, a signet ring with the image of a flaming hawk, 9 gp, 12 sp and eight days' worth of rations.

On the next day, the sounds of the forest become suddenly distant as the trees part, opening into a small, almost perfectly circular glade. The nearest stands of pine, eyln, and darkwood – all typically sturdy woods – twist away from the clearing, as if bent by some impossibly strong wind or seemingly in an attempt to flee despite their paralyzed roots. At the glade’s center squats an ugly cottage, little more than a pile of twigs, shoots, and ivy stacked upon mud walls. From the thatched roof hung bundles of gnarled roots, old dried beast carcasses, and knucklebone bangles, all clattering together like gruesome wind chimes. A dozen small thatched fetishes – each shaped like a tiny man, imp, or rearing serpent – stand propped in the yard, keeping guard before a rickety plank door.

This cottage was home to the witch Ulizmila according to Milon. Although her works still spoil in this glen, Ulizmila was long since gone.

When the heroes approached the cottage they could see that its moldering door had rotted off its hinges but still blocked the way within. Hrol easily hefted aside the barrier.

Inside, the cottage is dank, reeking, and filled with shadows. Haphazardly hung shelves line the walls, covered in all manner of clay jugs, clouded bottles, strangely cut rocks, rotted bunches of herbs, and a museum of other crude curios and remnants of a bone grinder's artifice. A rusted iron cauldron dominated the hut's single room, its ash-covered surface shaped with a relief of capering fiends and leering devils. Across form the door, against the far walls, stands a high-backed chair made of wicker, the gigantic curved tusks of some monstrous beast, and thousands of human teeth. In the chair sits what looks like a corpse wrapped in filthy burial linens, its form padded with pungent herbs and sprouting patches of think white mold. This ominous shape is actually only a bundle of branches, mud, and linen.

The cauldron in the cottage was a unique animated creature. It attacked Wrackomelor when he disturbed Ulizmila's possessions. The heroes managed to destroy it.

Due to the volume and disorganization of the cottage's contents, it took 20 minutes to locate the rat's tail. Besides the rat's tail, there were several other items of hidden value in the hut. After a minute searching Hrol and Valeros uncovered statuettes and rare stones. Detect magic revealed the only magic item that remained here, a disgusting shrunken head.

Darkmoon Vale (day 1-2)

The heroes were compelled to plot their own journey to and through Darkmoon Vale. Since none of them were familiar with the area, they needed to make a stop at the Lumber's Consortium Camp.

The Lumber Consortium Camp cuts an ugly scar of stumps into a dense stand of proud darkwood trees. Five sturdy-looking buildings - seemingly a bunkhouse, meal hall, office, barn, and smithy - stand with numerous wide carts and sleds amid the sawdust-covered clearing.

The camp appears callous and unrelenting. Hrok inquired the first band of surly loggers they encountered after woodsman Milon Rhoddam.

Milon Rhoddam is a blunt and quiet man. His nephew has taken ill with blackscour taint and, when the heroes explain they 're trying to find reagents to brew a cure, he gladly sketched them a rough map of the forest, marking the location of where he believes Ulizmila's hut, the oldest tree in the forest, and the dwarven ruins stand.

The entire journey, from Falcon's Hollow to the Lumber Camp, to various forest locations and to the old dwarven ruins, is just over 37 miles in length. The entire journey will take five days, plus any time spent exploring or days spent resting. (C) on the map denotes the eldest tree in the forest, while (D) is Ulizmila's hut.

On their first day in the forest, the heroes happened upon a dead tree streaked with multicolored dye. Three humanoid-shaped small figures made of gnarled wood were pinned there.

The first time the characters drew near the lake, Tok heard an animal's whimpering a short distance away.

Not far from the edge of the forest-shrouded lake, a fox with large ears and bright orange fur lay bleeding, its hindquarters caught fully in the jaws of a crude iron trap.

Although the fox here has obviously been snared by a hunter's cruel trap, the beast's cries are part of a ploy meant to lure greater prey. A hobgoblin with a prodigious cleft palate lurks in the nearby treeline, watching over his catch with his bow and waiting for greater prey.

All but Tok are surprised when the hobgoblin attacks, He is accompanied by two trained hawks, one of which Valeros killed. Tok approached the tree the hobgoblin was on, and afterwards he leapt from its perch.