Date: 6/16/05

XP Awarded: 1,880 (to 8th level characters), 1,585 (to 9th level characters)

Start: The Evermoors, late Eleasis

After a day of travel, Iax seems surprised that the adventurers haven’t reached the vale labeled Trollhaeme on Zosker’s map. After some time, he discovers that he’s led the party too far to the north, towards an area marked on the map as the Arches of Malar. Correcting his course, the party is soon comes to a long ridge and descends into a wide, mist-cloaked valley.

Making their way cautiously through the light fog, the group becomes aware of splashing sounds and deep voices speaking in Giant. Vladek flies ahead invisibly to investigate and finds a small group of white-skinned giants bathing and playing in a lake, their weapons and armor lying in a pile on the shore. Returning to the rest of the party to report, it is decided to approach the giants.

The giants seem cautious at first, but then become more friendly. They reveal that the area was once the location of a very large settlement of trolls led by an unusually large, intelligent troll that disappeared about 40 years ago. After his disappearance, the trolls fell upon one another and soon reverted into the savagery they are known for, but that many large bands of trolls still roam the area to this day. As they speak, the giants inquire whether the adventurers have seen any dragons, and upon Theodar’s prompting, Fei mentions that they did speak to a copper dragon several days ago to the south. The giants immediately become more interested and even a little threatening, and force Fei to give them the details of their encounter. It turns out that the dragon stole something from the giants’ tribe, a silver throne of some type, and the giants want it back. After the giants equip themselves and set off towards the west, the party continues on until it becomes too dark to travel. Iax directs the party to set up camp on a dry patch of land surrounded by swampy bogs.

That night while on watch, Vladek and Fei notice lights moving about in the swamp, like a hooded lantern being carried by a humanoid. As Fei wakes the others, Vladek flies out invisibly to inspect. As he approaches, Vladek finds the light retreating deeper into the bog, and he follows. When the light vanishes, Vladek suddenly becomes aware that he has no idea how to return to the encampment. Exploring the nearby area, he hears something very large moving through the swamp quietly below him, and flies quickly off to avoid it, only to find that the light he saw earlier seems to be trailing him. Meanwhile, back at the camp, the party becomes anxious when Vladek does not reappear quickly. Firing glowing arrows into the air, Celowin hopes to attract his attention. Eventually Vladek notices the streaks of light from Celowin’s bow, and makes his way back to the camp.

Having had enough of the swamp for one night, the adventurers decide it would be a good idea to move away from the bog, and Iax leads the party back down its tracks away from the swamp before setting up camp again.

The next morning Iax leads the party towards the green line on the horizon, and by mid-morning the adventurers have come to the gnarly edges of the Silverwood. The scrubby groundpine and winterberry quickly become thick enough that Iax has to hack his way to make progress. As a crashing sound is heard in front of the party, Celowin hears trollspeak, and the party readies themselves for a large hunting band of trolls coming right for them. Fei’s fireballs damage them, but when he creates a huge, tangled mass of spiderweb to block their progress, the battle turns into a slaughter. Iax is able to track the trolls into the forest to a large, smelly sinkhole that has a cavern at the bottom, and the group goes inside to explore. A few other trolls are found and overcome, and the lair is thoroughly looted.

At this point Theodar questions whether the party should take the more direct route straight through the Silverwood, or the longer but perhaps faster ride around the edges of the sinister forest. After some debate, it is decided to take the direct route, and the ground cover soon thins into silverbarks and birches. As the land descends into the Rauvin vale, the trees become larger and covered in creeping vines, some strangled to death by the mass of greenery overcoming them. Groundwater and mushroom patches are plentiful in the gloomy forest, and many snakes and exceptionally large beetles are seen.

Ahead Iax sees a huge shape moving through the trees that he recognizes as a dire bear. Instead of charging forward to confront the intruders, through, the great beast growls threateningly and moves away from the party. Deciding that the failing light means that it is time to stop for the night, the adventurers set up camp in a protected area near the top of a shallow ravine.