Book of Eleint - The Woes of Deacon
The days following the Highharvestide, when the leafs of the forest turned red and golden, Deacon would awaken to the sounds of wood breaking and the ground shaking. Leaving his hollowed out mushroom dwelling; Deacon would dart through the forest’s undergrowth. Over gnarled roots and dodging anthills, passing streams and clearings. Finally, he’d come upon a sight that would trouble him deeply.
The men that had always lived on the forest’s edge, taking only what they needed from nature’s bounty, were now hacking down trees and trampling in their wake anything that would grow. While they cut a path through the woods, trees were felled and saplings were crushed. And the creatures that would normally dwell there fled. It would only be a matter of time before the barbarian’s destructive onslaught would reach Deacon’s little dwelling; which sat not far from where the Misty Forest bordered the High Moor.
Back in his secluded home Deacon would contemplate what to do. Soon though, another terrible sound would shatter his thoughts. Storming out of his tiny doorway, Deacon came face to face with a huge boar, gnawing on the roof of his abode. The boar, however, was not alone. There was someone walking up behind her. Someone with a face that looked as troubled as Deacon's.
The Finding of Friends
The face that Deacon caught a glimpse of was that of one of the fair folk. But the Elf walked off, consumed by his own thoughts, never paying any attention to the tiny Deacon. The boar quickly followed in his wake. Deacon followed them for some time, his trusty badger, rabbit and wolf companions in tow. They reached the High Moor. Then they each went their separate ways.
Later they would meet again at the Wyrm’s Crossing over the river Chionthar. The Elf identified himself as Ebreth and his companion boar as Ura. Pleasantly surprised to find that both hailed from the Misty Forest; they each told their tale. Deacon discovered that the Elf had been exiled, driven out by his Wild Elf kinsmen. It seemed that the Elf’s tribe had turned to blood rituals under their shaman. No longer would they tend to the forest. They would not care if it was razed by the barbarians of the High Moor. It would be in others that they had to place their hopes.
Ebreth spoke of a tribe of Elves dwelling on the coastlands near Baldur’s Gate. He mentioned their leader, Laisren, and how he would aid them in reclaiming their home in the Misty Forest. It seemed that these Elves were looking for a new homestead. Deacon mentioned that he too had met with these Elves, and that he would gladly aid them in founding said home. The spriteful Deacon had smiled and presented Ebreth with a map. The map, according to Deacon, would lead them to a pot of gold buried deep beneath the earth. A pot containing a hoard of a million gold pieces.
The Journey Home
On the final day of Marpenoth, when the leafs ceased to fall and started to rot, Deacon met up with the tribe of the Elf Laisren Ua Tiernan. They called themselves En Dharasha Everae. The Destiny of the People. The Elves showed their gratitude to Deacon; for aiding them with both his wards and his gold. In turn they revealed their desire to aid Ebreth and Deacon in restoring the Misty Forest to its former glory. Deacon promised to guide them to his mushroom dwelling which sat by a clearing. Perhaps there, within the clearing, the Elves of En Dharasha Everae could find a new home. Deacon also became friends with the Elves’ Dwarven companion; Durin, whom in turn would befriend Ura.
Their journey took them through Thundar’s Ride and to the Boareskyr Bridge; Between the Misty Forest and Baldur’s Gate. There, by a lonely tower, the Elves decided to set up camp. A ruin from the wondrous days before the Crown Wars. The tower’s ruins and moat made for an excellent basecamp. That very night many decided to scout out the High Moor to the north, while leaving their less able kinsmen at the tower.
Soon though, they would come to regret that decision. For when the Elves and Deacon returned, the camp had been raided and those left behind slaughtered. Orcs proved to be the culprit. A cry for vengeance was brief, for all realized all too well that nothing would be achieved by bloodshed. Wisely they decided to push north again. Through the moor and towards Deacon’s home.
The High Moor would prove surprisingly tranquil. The exodus ran afoul of some eerie and twisted Treants by the marshes. Night Twists. But strengthened by the will of their resolve; even the Treant’s luring songs proved ineffective at swaying the Elves and their tiny compatriot. Deacon swiftly lead the Elves through the treacherous marshes and up a hill that would reveal…
...The Misty Forest.
The Forest of Tears
While a welcome sight, the Misty Forest was anything but welcoming to the group of travel-weary Elves. Wood Elves descended from the trees; inquiring as to En Dharasha’s reasons for entering the woods. Their bows kept ready and arrows notched as Deacon tried to explain their plight. The Wood Elves reluctantly accepted Deacon’s reasoning and disappeared, leaving the exodus in a small clearing at the very edge of the forest.
Soon after the departure of the Wood Elves the En Dharasha Everae would set up a makeshift camp. But rest was not theirs, as the sound of a hundred steps could be heard from beyond the mist enshrouded trees. Spiders. Dozens of gigantic spiders rushed forth from the dark shadows of the forest. Among them was one humongous arachnid creature. Its legs, easily ten feet long, carried its grey and gluttonous frame low above the ground. Its powerful mandibles would snap and tear at the Elves. But the Elves would not let up.
The beast and its spawn were vanquished after a long and arduous battle. But not before taking its toll. The exodus’ leader, Laisren Ua Tiernan, had been poisoned. Struggling for survival, the body of Tiernan was carried off by the Misty Forest’s Wood Elves, who had finally appeared to take some pity on the exodus of Elves; taken to their village. Through the insights of the group it was revealed that this spider was the result of the Crown Wars. The very event that blighted the forest of the Miyeritar; turning it into the High Moor. Old fireside stories would have it that these spiders were spawned as the tears of a Miyeritar prominent hit the soil of the woodland. After most of the forest had been ruined, the remaining spiders retreated into what was left of the Miyeritar forest; the Misty Forest.
The Last Journey
The poison ran its course through the body of the exodus’ leader. But he was kept well and safe. Allowing for his brethren in exile to undertake a grand journey into the Underdark. The goal of this journey was to locate flora of special significance. Its properties and name kept secret by the author of this tale. According to the combined knowledge of their priests and druids, the exiles knew what to retrieve from the deep and dark bowels of Faerûn in order to heal their leader.
The initial attempt was disastrous. Many fell when the exodus travelled through a realm of fire and brimstone; followed by a place of shadow and haunting visions. A second group was soon formed to save those that were lost in the deep reaches of the earth. Among them was Deacon, who knew the way surprisingly well.
When the first and second group met below the earth and healing magic was exchanged, they all continued their journey full of vim. And that plant or fungus of significance was finally found and harvested. Leading to the healing of Laisren Ua Tiernan; and the founding of a new home amongst the trees of the Misty Forest.
