Irmiel moved closer to the fallen. "Was that the last of them?" She looked at the wolf-Llwyd and shook her head. "It was way too risky to run like this - alone and into the tunnels. Who knows how many drow are hiding close to the exit?" She leaned over to look at the body. "That was the toughest one. And had more magic than others. We might want to drag all the bodies outside, just in case, there are some more drow. A missing raid is one thing, but dead bodies would make the next raiding party at minimum much more careful and dangerous." 

Whether the bodies were dragged out or not, but Irmiel checked that one drow. There was something in that whole looting thing... Something Christmassy.

Irmiel bends down and checks the dead drow wizard's body, quickly searching through his pockets. He has a belt on full of small bits and bobs that are clearly spell components. He also has 47 gold and 13 silver on him.  Unlike the other drow, he has a very fine looking rapier at his side. He'd never drawn it during the battle, but the hilt is gently wrought silver bound about in an intricate guard, over a blade that has been stained black.  The handle tingles with magical energy when touched. The drow also wears a ring of black iron on his finger. It also tingles with magic. Lastly, in his pack, Irmiel finds something most valuable. A black leather tome wrapped in cloth. Inside, the arcane writings of the drow wizard....his spellbook.

Not pressed for time, the group is able to identify the two magical items.  The ring is an interesting item that will protect your mind from influence and magical reading:  Ring of Mind Shielding.   The rapier though fills her with a cold chill when she touches it.....and her magic unravels the secrets of the things potent powers... which she instinctively feels has a name....Soul Drinker.  (0 charges currently, 21 souls contained within).  

Everyone can level up to level 5. 

Irmiel, the spellbook contains: 

"Ooohhh..." Irmiel did not lose her head completely and did her duty identifying the magical objects, but then she was lost to any kind of outside influences, reading the book. "Gods, those drow are crafty!" Exclaimed she when returned to reality. I do know some of those spells but not all. Will copy when have a chance." She lovingly wrapped the book again and put in  her backpack.

"Now, do you think these tunnels can be our "great tree home"? Looks more like an entrance to the Undedark to me. Not exactly what we are looking for."

“He was and I did.” Llwyd said using his index finger to touch the point of his nose and his left ear. “I checked before going deeper into the caves. If there were more I would have retreated and hiding the bodies won’t make difference. Our best bet of disguising what happened is to erase our tracks and have them torn apart, as if for some beast. I can take of that although the idea doesn’t exactly put a smile on my face, and they will probably notice missing items.” He looked at the others waiting for their opinions before speaking again. “Either way, we need to decide fast. It will do us no good staying here, specially if what I’m thinking is true.”

The druid didn’t believe the enemies were just a raiding part. There was nothing to raid around there, no slaves to take. What there was, probably, was the ruin of a Netherese city. First the attack in Suzail, then in Candlekeep and now the drow there? Too much coincidence. Maybe, he pondered somber, whatever moved the Shandovar and the lich to action reached the dark elfs and they are looking for the Mythalars too. He could only hope it was ambition, but then the dwarvish poem about a blood good came to his mind. Amok, the name started to look and more like a sign of ill omen. What if what moved all those dark forces was a danger birthed by the entity? What if it was the awakening of the creature itself?

"It sure doesn't seem like the "great tree home."  Perhaps Stallock has some thoughts?" Sistri says. She gives Irmiel a smile as she watches her taking such great care with her newly found spellbook. "Looks like that was a good find then Irmiel.  And that is certainly a fine rapier there Kris. You should definitely use that, despite any chill it might give. It seems a fitting companion to my sword.  Now the ring..."  She pauses a moment, looking at Llwyd. "It is something you could make use of?  Here we have all found items of great use to us and you haven't been rewarded with anything." 

Having tried to help sort the items, Sistri nods as Llwyd's thoughts of haste. "If you think we can make this look like an animal attack, then let's try it.  It's probably of little help, but if it puts any opponents off balance even a bit, then I'll take it.  And if we aren't going to explore this place we should definitely hurry to put it behind us." 

Stallock grins a sickly grin and shakes his head.  He still looks pale and unhealthy.  "Um..ha...no...this is not the tree home. Though I agree the Drow activity here, and the timing is rather suspect.  I can help try to make their deaths look like an animal attack....not sure if they'd buy it but lets try. Do your think Llwyd." 

The group, agreeing to the plot let Llwyd do his job. He tries to make the dead drow in the cave look like animal kills as best he can. In the end, it's rather convincing, though a thoroughly gruesome job.  Leaving the mutilated bodies behind the group hurries up and out of the underdark.  They take the time to go back and find the other drow and search their bodies as well.  They find 5 suits of chain mail, 7 short swords, 5 daggers, 8 hand crossbows, 47 bolts and 8 sets of poison. Enough poison in each vial to cover 6 bolts each. The poison is held in small, specially designed belt pouches that allow a quick dip of the bolt before firing.  In addition the group finds a combined 134 gold, 97 silver, and 110 copper.

The group leaves behind the scene of the fight as quickly as possible.  Stallock drinks water and eventually his condition improves as he leads you on a continued search through the forest. Eventually though the light begins to fade, bodies get tired, and it's time to set camp.  Llwyd's fears of more drow, or some other enemies either appearing or pursuing seem to be unfounded....at least for the time being.  Though that night, time on watch is extra nerve wracking, each crack or groan of a tree enough to startle. But, the night passes uneventfully and the group finds the morning peacefully and feeling well rested.  (Long Rest achieved.) 

Sistri, Charisma check DC 15 please!.

(Sistri Charisma Check: 21 - note this is a Check not Save) 

"Any claims on this scrap metal?" Irmiel nodded toward the pile of weapons. She, personally, was not interested in it. Not even in poison. But maybe someone would make some use of it.

Later, when everything was sorted out, identified and the magic book was safely packed away, she noted one more thing. "About our findings..." Irmiel took the amulet off of her neck and placed it by the unclaimed ring. "First, ring. It seems to be fitting for anyone who will be holding all the communications. I mean, if we do come across the lich or will encounter someone as important and dangerous. However... As you see, it does come with a price - your soul can be trapped inside in the future. Some see these objects as a fail-safe hoping to be restored to life later. But some view them as an obstacle on the way to the happier afterlife. Just saying. Well can be, there is already some soul caught inside this ring, which is... an inconvinience of its own."

Irmiel looked at each of her companions, checking if they truly understand what they are getting into if they decide to use the ring.

"Now, this amulet. It allows you to breathe under the water. So does the spell the drow kept in his book. Spell has its limits and I did not learn it yet, but we do have now two means to do something underwater. It will be only fair if someone else carries the amulet." It felt a bit unfair to leave Stallock out on loot-splitting, but after all, he will get his payment. And who knows, the group could come across something else useful later. Irmiel glanced at the guide thoughtfully but did not add anything.

"Well, let's hope tomorrow's search will be at least safer if not fruitful."

Stallock catches Irmiel's glance. The scout listened to her explain about the terrifying abilities of the sword with a distant unreadable look. Then their escort moved to go lean against a tree, outside of the immediate circle of the four adventurers.  The rapier sits, unclaimed by Kris, as the noble girl absorbs everything Irmiel tells her. The ring, and the amulet sit on the ground in the middle of their camp as well.  Irmiel seemingly wanting to trade in the amulet of water breathing for the ring. Kris and Llwyd look at the items and a brief silence and moment of thought visits the group. 

“Back to wolf form it is.” He said with almost as much life as the drow wizard. He was sure to bite and tear around the wounds of each corpse had from weapon and spells alike, and inflict other wounds gruesome and deep enough to make it seem like they had caused the death of the raiding party. He also made sure to walk around the bodies, erasing and overstepping each and every trace of his companions his keen senses allowed him to find. Anyone looking at the fields of battle should be able to find naught but lupine footprints. It would be easier to assume a pack of direwolves or such similar beast feasted on the dark elves than to imagine them falling victim of combat.

After playing his part Llwyd was sensibly quieter. It was rather clear that he didn’t enjoy the whole ordeal. The druid could not help but to be thankful for how fast the sleep came that night. The next morning the group started discussing the distribution of loot and he was genuinely surprised by Sistri’s words.

“The way I see it, every item that makes one of us stronger is a reward to all of us, since it reduces our risks in battle so I am fine with you guys having the items. Specially if is something that align with your specialties.” The satyr said with sincerity. He understood magic items were precious, but survival was what really mattered.  “The rapier will be better on Kris’ hands and my training already make me a hard target for mental attacks. My blood literally makes me resistant to magic. I think we could afford to have someone other than me carry the ring, get extra mental protection and Irmiel’s idea of putting in on the finger of someone handling communications is the best thing we could do.” That was, if said person didn’t mind the soul trapping ordeal. “The amulet I also don’t feel like I need because not only I can become a water creature, but I know the spell to make everyone breath underwater. I don’t have it ready right now, but I can use it after a night of sleep. I would like for you to buy me some diamonds. Three hundred gold pieces each. I need it for a spell I can do now. One that allows me to bring a creature back to life, provided the soul wants to return and the body was been dead for no longer than a minute. By the way, I am ready to cure poison if we need it.”

"I may take a couple hand crossbows if nobody objects? And the bolts of course," Sistri says. "I'm running low on javelins - just two left."  She then glances through the pile of other stuff. "Probably not worth weighing ourselves down with the rest."  She again looks to Kris, "You really should take the rapier. As Llwyd said any items that you get a benefit from helps us all. Though I understand if you're reluctant to use that.  If you want to take the amulet that's fine with me too. I think it's between you and I as far as who it would help most."  Then to Irmiel she says, "I think the ring is yours if you wish to have it. I'm... not sure if I want something that would trap my soul.  And... did you say there's a soul in there?  Is there a way to get it out?"  After a pause she adds, "I mean, not now.  But maybe in the future we could try?" 

Irmiel nodded slowly. "I can take it. It seems Kris will have enough trouble with trapped souls in the future. But whether or not there is a soul in the ring already - we will see. I do not know about the ways to restore such a soul to life but maybe the soul does?"

It's not like Irmiel wanted to trade the amulet for the ring - she counted both items as a general property of the group - but she potentially had other means to breathe underwater and did not like the idea of a wasted item. As for the ring... She was simply curious. And attunement to the item was the only way to satisfy that curiosity.

"Wow that is a spectacular weapon!  I'm not afraid of scary magic.  Why, I once found a genie trapped in a lamp.  He granted me magical aptitude in exchange for freedom!" Kris smiles approvingly, admiring the black blade and intricate handle.  She gives it a few swings, getting a feel for the slightly heavier weight, as Irmiel explains its dark properties.  Her joy seems to melt with each passing word.  "Trapped... souls?" She says hesitantly, examining the blade in a new light.  "I don't think I ought to play jailor for trapped souls, dangling the keys to freedom as it were.  It just doesn't seem... polite!"

She considers for a moment.  "But what I mean to say... Llwyd is right that it would be helpful to us in the present moment.  And there's nothing we can do to release the souls trapped inside at this moment, is there?  I suppose it would be alright if I used it until we can find someone who is capable of releasing the souls?" 

She looks to Sistri for approval.

The evening passes quietly for the group within the dark woods of Cormanthyr. Kris sits with the creepy new sword and does what she must to get the use of it....which is let herself and the thing bond.  She feels a uncomfortably warmth crawl up her spine as she sits with the weapon...and then, as she completes the bonding, she begins to hear the faint whisper of voices...just beyond her ability to understand their words. She senses a subtle pleading, and feels both despair and anger from the voices....but another stronger feeling of control and ..pride perhaps..seems to emanate from the blade as well.  That evening, her dreams are chaotic, confused, and seem somehow not her own. 

Irmiel meanwhile sits with the ring on her finger, slowly letting the thing take hold.  She seems to fade into a bit of a half-sleep as she does so, and is awaken abruptly by a voice that feels like its right beside her...so loud is it in her mind.  "Pathetic mortal!  I can't believe I was slain by such as you!  I will enjoy watching when my brethren hunt you down and pull this ring from your dead hand."   She only heard the drow elf casting spells when they fought, but it was enough for her to recognize the sound of the Drow mages 'voice' in her head.  "My once mighty master departed the ring to allow my soul within...a glorious history of arcane masters guiding their apprentices beyond death....all ruined by you. How could mighty Lloth allow this to happen to me?"

(we can continue the conversation as we proceed)

The next day the group follows Stallocks lead. Their scout looking much more healthy as he leads them in a zig zag pattern through the woods.  At some point during the day he emerges from his scouting ahead and shushes everyone.  Then, creeping forward, he leads the group over a deep creek and to a partial clearing.  Here the ground is dotted with boulder sized chunks of ancient Netheril buildings that fell from the sky a few years ago.  They sit amidst an open area that is spread out before a large tree.  The tree seems to actually be several trees growing together, but having done so clearly in a way that was intentional and guided. It forms a multi-tree mesh shaped like an even large tree, with a large open space in their center. Within a wooden structure has been build that is carved beautifully and merged so closely with the trees that it appears as if its grown from them.  The massive tree home stretches up at least sixty feet.  The main doorway, a double door ten feet across, is propped open. Within you see what appears to be a grand entrance hall with a complex tiled mosaic floor and stairways that curve up to the higher levels.  The place looks looted.  

The courtyard is not empty though.  A group of Drow are here. They seem to have setup a camp just outside the tree home, amidst the boulders. A black cat with tentacles reaching out of its shoulders sits, sleeping on its side amidst the camp. You figure there are roughly 8 drow here....roughly the same size as the last group you encountered. They are unaware of you for the moment. It seems they're here, mostly waiting, though a couple of them seem to be examining the tree home thoroughly inside.

Irmiel hears the soul in the ring speak to her, "Ahhh, the moment my brethren slay you and return me to the most deserving arcane student is nigh. My stay with you can not be brief enough." 

Irmiel half expected the ring to be empty (more than half, actually) and presence of the murderous drow, that the group managed to slain, was quite a surprise. After the initial shock of disappointment, she began to think about the whole situation, though, as hard as it was under the barrage of desperate insults. "Shut up?" Usually Irmiel was polite but she needed to make the wizard quiet for a moment to get a chance to say something. "Never thought drow are such sore losers. Pfff! Mighty race! Ambushed peaceful travelers while outnumbering them, got beaten up and now throwing tantrum because of this. Pathetic!" She hoped the wizard would lose words for a while if only because of shock. "Now as I see it, you have two choices. One - you learn to behave. I am as much happy to have you here as you to be in the ring. But it is what it is. Either we learn to work together or I will go for the option two - burying the ring, or throwing it into the deepest well I can find, where you will spend an eternity entertaining worms. I like the ring but its qualities are not worth your constant presence as a side effect." Irmiel was very serious about her threat and hoped the wizard could see it as such. To make her point even more clear, she took the ring off her finger until morning so the drow could really think about it.

(If nobody claimed the amulet, Irmiel scooped it too for safekeeping)

------------------

"We found it!" It was said before the group saw the drow but by now Irmiel learned not to yell in excitement the moment she saw something surprising. "And you - remember what we talked about yesterday." That part she added in her mind for the drow wizard, regretting putting ring on prematurely. Clearly, the wizard needed more time to access the situation. "I do not like that beast... " Irmiel whispered these words an sighed. It seemed her passion for time-affecting magic was misguided after all and she promised to herself to pay more attention to the pure war-spells in the future.

"Shall we attack?"

“I think we should consult a specialist on this kind of magic items.” He said after Kris. “It would be pretty bad if we end releasing dangerous souls. And speaking of pretty bad…” The druid hesitated for a moment, pondering if he was not overthinking things. “Let’s assume the drow were here to search for the Mytahalar. I mean, it’s not likely there would be anything else of value for them, or mostly anyone, here. What reasons do you think they would have?” His voice turned somber as he once again remembered the poetry. “What if the thing that made the Shandovar and then Larloch into action became a known fact to them? What if it was the blood good of the poem?” He was not sure if that was a sound question. “You know what, I think I need to sleep after all the dire wolf on fallen enemies action.”

Maybe that was the reason behind the thoughts of blood. At least the satyr wanted to believe it was. The night rest was safe, the track of most of the next day too. During both Llwyd remained silent, lost in thoughts. Surprisingly enough, his doubts did not rob him of his attention and he was fast to notice the dark elves.

“I don’t think we really have other option.” He said to Irmiel while taking out his totem and pressing it over the chest with the right hand. Arcane words where whispered in the old tongue of the druids and his eyes turned emerald as he casted Barkskin on himself. “We will need to be stealth if we approach any further and I can cast a spell to help with that. You will need to be no further than thirty feet from me, though.”

Sistri nods to Irmiel's question. "It would help if I could get in close first," she whispers.  "And we try to stick together." 

Stallock looks to the group as they hold their discussion.  He is quiet, but you see him loosening his sword belt a bit and pulling his bow off of his shoulder, getting ready for a fight. 

"Do it. I can also make one of you faster once the battle begins." While the conversation was going, Irmiel used the time to summon her magic armor (really, she had to make it a habit to cast it every morning).

You can position and approach from any direction.  Please everyone roll stealth (I'll add the +10 for Pass without Trace).

Stallock: 18