Trolkarl steps forward to recount your tale to Ullar Barder in the main hall.  There are people there as well listening to what he describes and the heroics of all involved.  As he continues his telling the crowd grows and becomes more rapt with the story telling.  Trays of sweetened breads and more ale is brought out.  Each of you are handed a flagon and grab one of the treats from the tray on the way out.  Ullar raises his mug to each of you when individual efforts are highlighted.  The crowd roars and slaps their thighs when Olar's name is mentioned.  He seems a bit shy about this.  His father seems to sit up straighter and you can see a smile in his eyes.

At the conclusion of your tale you are swamped by the people clapping your backs and hugging you.  A group of giggling girls come to curtsy before Chadwick before scuttling away.  One turns for a last look before joining her friends.  Lord Ullar seems pleased by your telling.  Like your previous visit you are asked to join Ullar and Olar in a more private setting.  Unlike last time, Lord Ullar walks with you there himself.  A pitcher of wine and goblets are resting on the table when you enter and the cups are passed around.

"I must say, it sounds like you have found great success in your endeavor," Ullar begins.  "It was most unexpected for another raid to occur.  Very fortunate indeed that you and Olar were in a place to help the Bright Water people.  That service to them under our banner will be remembered for a long time."

Olar nods at his father's words.  "The boys were in very bad shape when I led them away from that dreadful place.  I did not want them around the area any longer than necessary.  The glade in the canyon seemed far enough away.  With the rising sun it seemed like a good place to stop.  We rested there for the day.  I was able to help them with fresh food and water from the glade area.  This seemed to buoy their spirits.  I kept watch that night while they slept.  It was an eerie place at night compared to how welcoming it seemed during the day," he pauses.  "I told my father of the appearance of Herne the Hunter to assist us in that glade.  I trusted he would watch over us there as well."  He takes a long drink from his glass of wine.  "I stayed at Bright Water for a few days to assist as I could.  The boys seem to be doing better."

Hoid, “Ullar, let me be blunt. We encountered some things that have left us perplexed. We hope that you or your people, having lived here for some time will have knowledge we lack. We tracked Craddick the Coward to  a ruined tower that may have once been an elven stronghold. It was about two day’s journey from there to here. In that stronghold we found a cohort of the Coward, which we only know as the Spider, a dark elf. The Spider was doing research at this stronghold but of what type, we know not. Do you know any history of this stronghold or who might know about it?”

”We also found this encoded diary. Erbert believes it to be written in code using elvish letters. But the final page appears to have a riddle written plainly. Can you make any sense of it?”

Hoid will offer the diary to Ullar. 

Ullar listens to Hoid with a small grin on his face.  "I have not know a dwarf to be anything other than blunt, Hoid," he chuckles a bit.  He then considers what you have told him.  A look to his son, "You are certain it was The Hunter who guided you to the boys?"

Olar returns his father's look and nods, "It was The Hunter, father.  I know it.  I could still feel his presence in the glade on my return trip."

Ullar nods.  "We have knowledge we can share with you.  The Hunter has deemed you to be worthy, I follow Him."  He looks to the book case behind you, "Erbert?"  He looks to the gnome wizard, "Please hand me the open book on that case behind you."  Erbert turns and hands the book to Ullar who then flips through several pages, nods in approval with a grunt, and turns the book to face all of you on the table.  "This is a history of the Tree Father's people and places.  This chapter deals with the sword crafted for his champion here on Faerûn.  The sword is called Wayfinder.  It has been lost for several generations now."

Olar agrees with his father, "Yes, we were not far from that place when we recovered the boys."

Ullar continues, "Wayfinder was believed to be carried by Annatha, an elven ranger of great prowess.  She was a great force maintaining the Balance in these mountains.  Her husband was the half-elf Abjurer, Rastagna.   Rastagna's tower, or the remains of it, sound like what you describe.  Your quarry and this dark elf 'Spider' were cornered at his ruined tower it sounds like."  He then describes the shattered tower with a dead maple tree in the courtyard on a flagstone paved promontory. 

Ullar then looks at the old book you found.  He carefully turns the pages looking at the elven script spelling nonsense.  He continues through the pages to the final entry and catches his breath.  "Old Oak's sword....," he whispers.  "Tell me what you found in those ruins."

“We found the diary in front of you and a magic circle in front of a vault door. The circle remained long after it should have dissipated. The vault had four dials with elven script. The door was made of metal that neither Kragen nor I could identify. Erbert claims the vault was not magical in any way. All else we found seems to have been the ruins themselves or personal effects of the Spider.”

"A vault door, you say," he then looks down at the book with the nonsense written page after page.  "With elvish script on multiple dials?," he looks puzzled.  "This book is the only thing you found from Rastagna's time?"

“We also found a key on the Coward’s corpse that appears to be magic, but it was not with the other items from Rastagna’s time.”

Hoid will produce the key. And take it into his inventory for the future. 

Ullar looks at the key, "This was on the half-orc you pursued?  The one who is responsible for the raids?"  He seems to be not very interested in the key.  He closes the book, "This book is rightfully yours.  I am very interested in what it may say.  If the concluding poem is a clue, this may lead to uncovering Wayfinder.  This sword is a most important relic to our Faith.  I hope you understand that." 

“We understand it’s importance now.”

Ullar then stands, "You have travelled long and far these several days.  I am sure that a bed and a roof will be welcome tonight.  I will have the steward show you to your chambers."  He moves about the room to thank each of you individually.  Olar follows behind him thanking you as well.  "Sleep in peace this night, friends."

All of you get settled into your rooms and into what feel like the most comfortable beds you have slept in for a very long time.  Sleep comes quickly. 

BANG!  BANG!  BANG!  "My Lord requests your presence in the main hall!  Awake!   Awake!  My Lord requests your presence in the main hall!...."  bang!  bang!  bang!....

You are jolted awake seemingly after just getting to sleep by a loud banging on the door and call for you to be in the main hall to meet with Ullar.  You hear each of your doors pounded on and the message repeated down the hall.

Making your way to the main hall, you clear your eyes and heads.  Ullar and Olar are there with one of the guard sergeants and a young man.  The young man seems nervous, but is standing up straight and facing Ullar.  "Go ahead," Ullar says to the young man once you all arrive.  "Tell them what you told me."

The young man turns to you a bit and says, "There is fire to the south.  From Shalecliff.  The horizon glows with its light."

Ullar nods, "Thank you.  You may find some rest."  With this the sergeant escorts the young man out of the hall.  "Fire.  From Shalecliff.  You have friends there, yes?"

“Yes, we do.  We should go there with great haste. It is as if some supernatural being is dictating so.”

Ullar gives Hoid a look of surprise, "How do you mean?  Do you have something to do with this?"

“No, I do not. I merely have a feeling that our actions are guided, as if our destiny was written in a book. Or a ship riding along a giant wave where all we can do is hang on and see where the wave takes us.

Comrades, let us make haste for Shalecliff! Ullar, thank you for your hospitality. We hope to return the favor in the future.”

With that, Hoid will head for Shalecliff with all due haste, unsure whether he fears more the danger ahead or a philosophical discussion with Ullar.

“You surprise me at every turn, Hoid.  The Tree Father teaches us our lives are a series of choices.  Our paths wind through the world one result the cause of the next choice.  When it seems you are offered no choice, guided a certain way, it only is your convictions telling you the lack of option is that only one is acceptable,” Ullar responds.

He then addresses you all, “I presumed you would want to make haste.  My grooms have prepared horses for you.  Yours are too tired to run through the night.  Gather your things and go.  May Herne’s favor follow you.”

Erbert stops all of you on the way to the horses.  He has none of his things with him.  "This book we found seems to be attached to something important beyond the group of us.  I wonder if it should be kept here, safe.   Who knows what you are riding to face right now.  Losing this clue may be something we all come to regret later," he looks around at the group to see your reactions.  "I will spend my time studying the cypher and learning what I can to decode it.  Perhaps others here will have insights to help with that."

Hoid hands the diary to Erbert. 

Erbert accepts the book, "I will keep this safe until your return."  He then looks to Chadwick and pulls the Driftglobe from his robes, "Take this with you.  You may need it in the darkness."  He reviews the command words with Chadwick as well.  

The ride to Shalecliff is aided by Selûne being bright and the sky cloudless.   You are able to give the horses their rein and run.  The fire on the horizon seems to abate a bit before the rays of dawn obscure the glow.  The walls of Shalecliff come into view as the sky becomes lit.  You can see three distinct columns of smoke rising from the town.  Your guess is the south and east of town had the fires.  The western wall and gate appear to be intact.  You are challenged at the closed gate on your arrival and see a familiar face on the wall.  It is Sannak, one of the guard officers.  No guards are on the ground.  

Sannak looks down from the walls, "We could have used you here last night!"  He turns and yells down to someone behind the wall, "Open the gates!  Let these folks in.  They are friends."  He turns back to you and waves for you to come into town.  The gates slowly open to admit you within the walls.  Sannak meets you on the ground as you pass through the gates.  You see that the Temple of Tyr has smoke rising from what was a corner rampart.  It is now shattered wood and a gaping hole.  Across town you can see that the eastern gate house and two towers are smoking piles of rubble.  A few buildings on that side of town have also been burnt to the ground.  There is extensive damage to the south gatehouse as well.  Smoke can be seen rising from the buildings south of town.  "We were attacked last night.  Orcs, war bears and a dragon.  Breathing lightning all over town.  Meeting at Jotrun's with Galban soon.  Bessia and Hanny will be there.  Arnak is not here."

Shalecliff - Damaged

Hoid: BOOM!