The central clearing of En Dharahsa Everae had seen more gatherings in the past few weeks than in the entirety of the preceding season. Night after night, beneath the gloom of the Misty Forest, council fires were stoked anew. With the political fallout lingering and external threats looming, idle debate had given way to urgent necessity; choices had to be finalized, and actions taken.
Amidst the grim atmosphere, one resounding victory cheered the hearts of the enclave. The Order of the Silver Rose had once again answered the call, standing shoulder-to-shoulder with the elves. Knights and wardens of the Silver Rose had arrived to reinforce the village's defenses. Yet, as the elves gathered around the crackling hearth to review the maps, a pragmatic truth emerged: fortified borders bring new burdens. Soldiers required food, clean water, medical supplies, and constant logistical support.
To meet these heavy demands, the council’s focus shifted to Deleniel. Recognizing that smooth logistics would dictate the village's survival, the council passed an absolute decree: for the time being, Deleniel’s role was paramount. Every requisition, task, and logistical command issued by Deleniel was to be treated not as a mere suggestion, but as a binding order to be fulfilled immediately by all able-bodied kin.
Anarion — The Roots Beneath En Dharahsa Everae (second week of actions)
The Second Week of Defences — Protection from Below
Having begun establishing the living defences of En Dharahsa Everae, Anarion turns his attention to a danger that the awakened trees and thick vegetation above ground cannot prevent: enemies approaching from beneath the earth.
The drow are well acquainted with the hidden passages of the world below, while orcs, burrowing creatures, and powerful spellcasters may find ways to bypass even the strongest surface defences. Anarion is determined that the remaining inhabitants shall not be left vulnerable to such threats.
He therefore dedicates another week to investigating and strengthening the ground beneath the settlement.
Assuming the form of a Huge Earth Elemental, Anarion begins exploring the earth and stone beneath En Dharahsa Everae. Using Earth Glide, he moves through the surrounding terrain, investigating natural caverns, underground waterways, and possible approaches that enemies might exploit.
Through Commune with Nature, where the natural environment permits, he seeks a greater understanding of the underground terrain, while Stone Tell allows him to question ancient stones about what lies behind or beneath them, whether passages have been disturbed, and whether creatures have recently passed nearby.
His investigations concentrate particularly upon the ground beneath the Moonshea Tavern, Haven Place, and the Battle Center, as well as the approaches leading toward the settlement from the surrounding wilderness.
Where he discovers abandoned tunnels, dangerous openings, or passages that could offer intruders access to the settlement, Anarion employs Stone Shape and Wall of Stone to seal or reinforce them, taking care not to damage the foundations of buildings, disrupt natural waterways, or endanger creatures peacefully inhabiting the depths.
Where unstable mud or soft ground presents a genuine vulnerability, he may employ Transmute Mud to Rock to establish more permanent foundations.
Yet Anarion understands that stone alone cannot stop every enemy. Just as he can travel through the earth in elemental form, so might others. He therefore seeks contact with peaceful subterranean creatures, particularly those capable of sensing movement through the ground.
Should he encounter suitable inhabitants of the depths, he approaches them peacefully, seeking to learn whether they would be willing to establish a lasting friendship with En Dharahsa Everae. In return for their vigilance against hostile intruders, he offers his assistance in protecting their own underground homes and preserving their natural environment.
Anarion also examines the possibility of enemies entering through magical means, including teleportation, ethereal travel, and other supernatural abilities. Recognizing that such threats cannot be defeated by stone barriers alone, he records the locations most vulnerable to magical intrusion and considers what additional wards may be required.
By the end of the week, Anarion intends to have a clearer understanding of the underground approaches, to have reinforced the most vulnerable locations he discovers, and to have begun establishing the foundations of an underground warning network.
He plans to share his findings with Cor'van'thar, Nai, and the remaining defenders, seeking their counsel and cooperation in the next stage of protecting the settlement.
As he emerges once more beneath the trees of En Dharahsa Everae, Anarion reflects upon the task before him.
"The forest does not end where its roots disappear beneath the earth. Its life reaches deep into the darkness, and there too must our vigilance extend."
For En Dharahsa Everae to endure, its guardians must watch not only the paths beneath the branches, but also the unseen depths below.
(OCC note: For one more time as in all the posts of that nature the results are always a deciscion of the DM team, but if any of the team wishes to contact me about details of the spells Anarion used, the xp and gold needed and the results he supposed to achieve i am here and happy to replay! Thanks in advance)
The shadows stretched long across the Friendly Arms Inn as Mendel recounted the heavy burden of the past few weeks. He spoke quietly of the Lolthlite drow, the hunt for the elusive Arachne, and the difficult choices that had fractured his ties with his own people in the Misty Forest. He shared how standing by his word and protecting those in need had cost him the favor of the elders, leaving his home vulnerable and most of his kin gone. The weight of those sacrifices hung heavily in the air, a reminder of the steep price of doing what was right when every path was fraught with peril.
Listening intently to his tale, Djamila offered a warm smile and steady words of encouragement, expressing her faith that good would ultimately come from his difficult choices. Despite having only just met, the devoted follower of the Morninglord freely offered her support and the backing of the Order of the Silver Rose to help him and his people rebuild. Hearing such unwavering conviction from someone who barely knew him felt like a sudden, unexpected light cutting through the gloom.
As Djamila bid him farewell and turned back toward the path to the keep, a renewed sense of strength settled deep within Mendel's chest. The road ahead remained uncertain, and the trials facing the village were far from over, but he was no longer walking it alone. With courage kindled anew by unexpected allies, such as Djamila, he prepared to face whatever darkness tomorrow might bring, ready to sail into the storm.
