Chapter 2
The capital
Following information gained from Vellastroas the group sets out towards Noridarth, the capital of Ardesh. While resting in a druid grove they are attacked by beasts corrupted by a stone that has ties to an ancient dwarf city. The attack may have been related to the dark spell caster Cade, though the group has little proof. The group takes the stones to a temple to have them disposed of.
After the night encounter, the group diverts to search for traces of Ath'shana. The only clue they find in a long deformity in the terrian, which they would later learn is the remains of a crevice which swallowed the city. In addition they find out that the city was not entirely destroyed, but instead held underground inside a demi-god. Entrance to the city is nigh impossible except with human magic. The only clue they have is an Embergate, a relic of the poeple of Yuffdar. The magic of that artifact is beyond the bounds of mortal magic.
Upon reaching the capital of Ardesh the group makes their way to The Hunting Shepard, where they find the shrine to Idia, god of travllers, missing. Gerda notes that this is very unusual. Upon hearing a phrase passed to the group by the gold dragon, the innkeep Eles'teel Sil'thyra directs them to the home of Sage Ghenisa.
The Tinkermage
The sage is a gnome and the last practicer of tinkermagic. She is as old as gnomes age and was born around the time of the the event which destroyed Ath'shana. It seems that the gnome is somehow able to sustain her life herself using magic.
The sage tells the PCs a little about Ath'shana and Weaver Nixith, the most talented tinkermage. She notes that he would likely have information about the time, were he still alive, but failing that his library may have information. His name would come up again later in relation to something called a tinkercore. The group also later learns that Nixith's home was in Ath'shana and may be related to why the city remains protected beneath the earth.
Before the PCs depart Ghenisa gives the PCs her lifelong companion, a foldable knight named Tuck as well as a small strip of gold trimmed red cloth. The cloth is meant to be a gift the the eladrin (aka the 'Feral Elves'). She also gives a tome to Sechilde detailing the basics of tinkermagic. As the group leaves it becomes clear that the sage may be near the end of her life.
The blighted tower
The group heads south towards a town named Duskmeet. Along the way the strange paper Sechilde carries directs them to a massive tower surrounded by a magical blight. The blight is an attempt by Narh'rithi to corrupt the material plane and spread eternal suffering. The demon tried to use it hundreds of years ago but ultimately failed. The party then returns to the capital to report on the situation but finds that the city is being effected by some sort of charm spell. After seeing posters for an upcoming election the group suspects it may be related.
The group then travels to Duskmeet where a group of Eladrin elves live. They elves they meet are the few Eladrin to have left the Scarlet Woods before something corrupted the forest. The leader of the town tells the PCs that the corruption makes it "impossible" to leave the forest, though it's unclear exactly what that means. The elves remain near the woods, rarely interacting with others, so they can be as close to the border to the Feywild as possible.
Eventide
Upon entering the Scarlet Woods the group finds there way to the elven city where it seems their arrival is part of a prophecy. The group then meets the 'King' Quell'thar of the Eladrin, who tells them several things:
- The history of Ath'shana. How it was swallowed and that the Cerelian Empire and Sil'thyra elves tried to stop the people of Yuffdar.
- His story of how he came to power, and the offer the page made to him to have 600 years of rule.
- He also has a page which he gives to the group.