A Friend's Return and A Score Settled

Fancy Meeting You Here

As the Special Tasks Unit returned to Phandalin from the dragon hatchery, they encountered another party heading the opposite direction on the Triboar Road.  This turned out to be none other than their old companion Tsara Reedlocke, who was traveling to Triboar with her hired bodyguard, a half-orc named Grunk.  After the roadside reunion and the sharing of the news of Melori's death, they agreed to travel together to Phandalin, where the party hoped to find some way of contacting someone who could help them find someone who may have magic powerful enough to return Melori to the living.

Helpful Hints

The party paid a visit to Sildar Hallwinter at his manor house.  He informed them that, before he had departed, the monk Leosin Erlanthar had arranged for horses for the party, to aid the journey to Triboar. Sildar had no clues to bringing back Melori, however.  

The party sought out Sister Garaele, who was overseeing repairs to the town's new temple after the cult's rampage.  After Micah passed on some information, Garaele noted that Quelline Alderleaf - the Halfling farmer who the party knew from previous stays in the town - might have some connection to druids.  Calling on Quelline, she let them know that her old druid acquaintance Reidoth had made his home in the Neverwinter Wood, and that their may be other druids there.  She passed on old rumors and traveler's tales of an enchanted stream that, if followed to its source, led to some sort of magical place, though there were no confirmations of such a place other than what may be just tall tales told by passing travelers.

Battle by the Campfire

As night approached and the STU was looking for a place to camp, they noticed campfire light and smoke coming from the edge of the forest, about 15 minutes or so to the east of the road.  Investigating stealthily, Flippy saw that the campsite had been made by a group of people including a priestess, a Guardian, two elite guards, and a woman in simple robes, who appeared to be studying something in a wooded box and taking notes.  Recognizing the priestess and Guardian as participants in the procession that had brought Reidoth to his execution in Neverwinter several months back, the STU launched a surprise attack after the priestess noticed Micah in the woods where the party was hiding and observing.  After a pitched battle, the STU defeated the group, except for the woman in the robes, who had not participated in the battle, but rather turned invisible and hid.  

The party spent some time negotiating with the woman, who turned out to be a wizard of the School of Excision (which had set up shop in the old Cloak Tower in Neverwinter), named Corinne.  After charming Grunk and having him protect her, she explained that she was capturing and studying Pixies, in that hope that their pixie dust could be studied for use in magical spells.  She said that the group she was with was a hunting party in search of druids in the Neverwinter Wood, but that she had nothing to do with that and had only traveled with them for convenience as she did her own separate investigation in the Wood.  She had, in fact, a captured Pixie in her box, which the STU "persuaded" her to open against her fervent wishes.  The Pixie was delighted to be freed.  The STU struck a bargain with the wizard Corinne: she would tell no one of the death of the Guardian and the rest of the hunting party, and the STU would send her notes on whatever Fey creatures they encountered in the Wood.

The Pixie, who was named Glowbeam, promised to aid the party in finding the druids as thanks for freeing her.


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