The Wilder Wood

Pregame

The party has secured the respect of both the Dwarves of Kale and of the Northern Teeth. High King Kolgar, leader of the Kale Dwarfs, and Dorgrim Ironhide, leader of the Dwarfs of the Teeth, have worked out a treaty that benefits of both parties. The Dwarfs of the Teeth are allowed to enter the Kale Mountains and prepare for their campaign to retake their homeland, and in the meantime the Dwarfs of the Teeth will provide cheap labour to help expand the kingdom so that it can deal with the sudden population explosion.

The party have been given temporary quarters in the king's tunnels, where they have been given free reign to pursue tasks with the full backing of the king. The party is safe from physical threats, but the prophecy constantly interrupts them during the quiet hours of the night. Endlessly they are reminded of the refrain:

Message from the new master, hidden five-fold!

Chosen are you travelers, virile and bold!

The first is concealed power, in plainest sight!

Second is the lost heiress, devoid of might!

Find third among mind seekers, not of this world!

Bargain secrets with the fourth, their wings unfurled!

The final piece we reveal, but bide our time!

Then final peace for all kind, yourself and mine!

The party knows that to complete the prophecy they must find the five pieces that are cryptically referred to. What is this power that is concealed in plain sight? Who this heiress, and how is she lost? The otherworldly mind seekers are much less cryptic, but probably the most dangerous, and how to reach them since the Herald collapsed the tunnels? And most of all, what are these pieces that they should be looking for?

In addition to the troublesome nature of these mysteries, the party are further troubled by the news from around the Empire. The elves seem to have trouble dealing with the changes occurring to their forests, and in many places are split into competing factions. Some elves wholeheartedly embrace the changes, seeing it as a way for the long-lived to also evolve for the better. Others are repulsed, and seek to reverse these changes for good and stubbornly cling to the ancient traditions that have kept them together for centuries. Others still look for help among outsiders, desperately seeking a power strong enough to protect them.

The dwarves in the other mountain kingdoms are turned increasingly isolationist, seeking to separate themselves from the turbulent surface and the Rip In The Sky. The vast trade routes from the dwarven mines are now just a mere trickle, and the price of precious metals slowly increases as the supply dries up. The Kingdom of Farland, far to the east, have also closed their borders as they try to stop the effective missionaries of the White Star from infecting the populace.

The War of the Faithful has reignited between the Templars and the Empire, and the Templars have suffered shocking losses alongside the walls that surround their territory. It seems that the Empire have been secretly amassing an invasion force for decades, waiting for the opportune time to unleash on the fragile Templars. But rumours say that something has stopped their advance alongside the Green Copse, something that the Empire is desperately trying to cover up.

• Arkaxus has worked hard in negotiations with the dwarves on behalf of the Resistance. It has been difficult to secure a concrete alliance since the dwarves are not sure that the Resistance can withstand conventional warfare, but they have definitely accepted to aide the Resistance with token measures. 

1. The Dwarfs say that the real aide will not happen until they can see that the Resistance has a real connection with the people in the Empire.
2. The dwarfs will immediately dispatch a loyal unit of Teeth Dwarfs to the village to build the tunnels underneath Villageham. The escape tunnels will be completed within in a month.
3. Amos has been "gathering" trinkets from the rich people in the area, and has offered this for trade purposes. The Dwarfs have reluctantly agreed to trade in these stolen goods as a favor to the resistance. All the houses are rebuilt from these funds.
4. Dorgrim likes the idea, but Kolgar does not. Will wait for other nations.

• Jinn has a crystal ball that supposedly kept the old dwarf traitor in contact with some high level figure in the White Star hierarchy. But how to use it? 

1. The crystal ball seems to be arcanely connected to another object for the sending of messages, just like a sending stone. The benefit of using the crystal ball is the transmission of visual information as well as audio. The device is a magical transmission device.
2. Find out the passphrase is "Mockery". Using the crystal ball with the passphrase will allow the ball to conjure up an image of an empty, stuffy old library and magical laboratory. The books are full of information about the dwarfs, and contains historical and magical information specific to the dwarfs.
3. Jinn is unable to shake the mysterious shadowy figures, and they seem to have figured out that Jinn is doing research on the Crystal Ball.
4. Bolgar joins the resistance, and is willing to follow Jinn wherever he goes.

• Aramil has a contact in the human magic world, Taliadora, but it wouldn't hurt to get to know a few dwarfs. He also decided to do some research on what has happened to his home forest while he was gone for 40 years.

1. The research reveals that Arranis was sent on fact-finding mission to the Green Copse before it became the most dangerous forest in the land. Arranis has not returned from his mission.
2. Aramil has ingratiated himself among the learned dwarven scholars, and especially the eccentric Dwarven mage Holmigar Sparkmetal. Aramil allowed (under Grimbolds watchful eye) Holmigar to observe the amulet and the power within. Holmigar has promised to write up a treatise and send the results onward to the village of Villageham, and asked that Aramil keep him abreast of the half-elfs adventures.
3. Old dwarf reveals magic might concealed power. Lost Hieress sounds like Sefora but she is dead. Mind flayers. Dragons or Devils. No idea who sent the prophecy.

• Grimbold is dedicated to reigniting belief in the old gods, especially the dwarven patron Moradin who now exists in the amulet. The current belief among the dwarfs of Kale is a mix of White Star, Ancestor worship and a new form of Stone worship, where adherents revere stone above all.

1. Missionary work has made some believers among the populace, but not strong enough to completely overpower the belief in the White Star and other religions. Nevertheless, there are now allies among the tunnels of the Kale Mountains.
2. Despite days of searching, no mention of the Watchers could be found in any of the old texts.
3. Some of the personalities in the Amulet have decided to merge and grow their power. This time it was Melora and Korellon, to become Korellora the Goddess of Nature, Freedom and Art.

• Ceasus is concerned; all his research leads to the undeniable conclusion that nature is suffering due to the portals and the Rip In The Sky. The abhorrent magic could potentially cause irreparable long term harm. Ceasus is researching methods to repair and even reverse the adverse weather events, until the portals and the rip can be permanently fixed.

1. You discover an alternate form of counter-spell that can temporarily negate the subtle effects of the new form of magic. By consistently applying this new counter-spell onto an area hourly, you could avoid the most adverse affect of the magic.
2. You are not the only one concerned about the Rip In The Sky. Dwarven mage Holmigar Sparkmetal has also dedicated extensive research into the field, and has allowed you access to his notes. This has drastically enhanced your counter-spell to be much more effective, needing only a day between applications.
3. In accounts of the soulmancer, it seems that not only can the Soulmancer control the souls of other (and allow souls to inhabit other bodies), but that it is actual souls that power his magical abilities.

• Ra been healing the forest around the village. He is distraught about the significant damage done, and the climate change has meant that he doesn't have the knowledge required to adjust for those changes. He tries to fix the damage, but unfortunately doesn't do much for forest itself. He concern for the forsest has gained the attention of the local animals, and they have warmed to the little gnome. They have endeavored to aide Ra, including sharing information about the area surrounding the village.

The Wilder Wood

The party has decided to make contact with the Elves in the Wilder Wood, the ancestral home to Aramil. During the days of travel, Aramil tells the party that the Elves of the Wilder Wood are extreme pacifists who broke off from the ancient Elvish Kingdom of Vallade because of an internal war. They are extremely protective of their forests, and wary of all outsiders and will view them with prejudice until they can prove their benevolence. The whole forest is ruled by the Queen Galanodel, who is ably assisted by a Council of Spellweavers and a Council of Guilds.

After days of travel, Aramil guides the party through the desperately sick forest to the main habitat for the Elves of the Wilder Wood. The rain is intermittent but heavy, drowning out the usual vibrant colours and makes the forest seem gloomy and uninviting. Ceasus and Aramil are both heartbroken to see the sick trees drooping because of low sunlight, and note that the flowers are no longer able to find purchase on the slippery wet mud. 

Upon entering the main habitat, the party notices a large wooden statue in the center of a clearing. The artwork depicts a nefarious Tiefling with a devious smirk clutching a bag of gold, with his other hand behind his back holding a dagger out of view. The Tiefling is reasonably well dressed in an outfit usually reserved for the nobility. An inscription on the artwork reads:

"The Infernal Deceiver: That which looks noble and good is always anything but" 

There are also constant chatter about town: Duskinicin the Green Dragon has called upon all the elders of the town to a meeting in his abode. The elves are all terribly frightened that the Dragon will make more demands on the Woods in return for his protection and continued benevolence.

• Duskinicin (Cunning mind) is an Ancient Green Dragon
• Arcanissdi (magic one) is a young Copper Dragon that has been convinced by Duskinicin that her hoard will be increased ten-fold if she aides Duskinicin in his plans for the realm. Duskinicin will use his knowledge that the party was involved in the deaths of Aussiraesthyr and the Black Dragon Pefulir to convince Arcanissdi that they stole those dragon's treasure.
• Duskinicin will want the party to use their amulet to help summon an avatar of the White Star so that he can confront his new nemesis
• Duskinicin will interpret that the fourth line will require the party to bargain with a Dragon, and will make an offer: if the party retrieves an orb from the White Star Magical University in Dragonspur, the party will be allowed to gain one item from his horde (and he will leave the Wilder Wood in peace, to face the dangers of the world alone)

Summoning the White Star will require a troop of White Star prisoners to pray to their god while Grimbold uses the amulet. Duskinicin will do everything he can to force the amulet's use.

D: Ahhhhh, so the great White Star, killer of Gods, has finally visited me. Am I right in my assumption that you are a Mockery of all that we hold dear?

A: [smirks]

D: Hehehehehe, well then, hear me true. I denounced and reject that there is any power greater than my own. I am not beholden to any law other than my own. Tremble in your castle of broken power, and await my coming! Begone!

A: [Points to Grimbold] Mine

D: In my domain, no one shall be harmed without my consent. I do not consent. Begone!

A: [Waits, then draws club and attacks Grimbold]