Ratlings have taken over the city of Sumberton. Plague spreads outward from the city threatening the people of the valley with sickness and death. Slaughtergarde is no more yet a demonic lord appears to have arisen in the abandoned halls of Castle Grievous to the west, in the guise of a red dragon. This diabolical new lord seeks to collect all the souls of the valley, to become no less than a god. Has the lord of Slaughtergarde himself returned?
Also, the wolvens of Turlek are reportedly joining with him. The Shining Citadel has been razed and the Luminous Order is shattered and no more. Worst of all the fellowship has learned that the Valley of Obelisks intersects Oerth. It does not belong to this world but exists as a mere extraplane. The obelisks, erected long ago by Urmanz the Composer, somehow hold it in place.
Who will fight these evils? The elves of Shul Shennek have decided to leave the valley to its doom and flee to the Oerth. They have suggested that destroying the main obelisk in Sumberton would destroy the valley and keep the demon lord from harvesting souls or wrecking havoc on Oerth when he is done with the valley. Destroying the prime obelisk would also be a mercy killing for those who now suffer at the hands of plague and the valley's numerous enemies. Kingless, leaderless none in the valley can alone decide.
No one knows, of those remaining, who will fight, who will lend aid, who will cower in fear and who will flee. The elves of Shul Vaath have not been heard from while the dwarves of Kaurak Kholzil have vowed to help where once they sequestered themselves in their mountain craft halls. Of the dwarves of Krokarr, whose blood has thinned of honor, it is uncertain. The Ebon Cabal has split into two factions, one in allying themselves with Castle Grievous and the other opposing it. A draconic warrior cult seems to be serving the demon lord as well though little is known of this new faction. Chaos seems to be the only certainty.
Members of the fellowship themselves stand unsure. They have nonetheless decided to seek the long forgotten halls of Silvermote. Whether or not they decide to destroy the prime obelisk at the center of Sumberton they are certain they must battle the ratling host and perhaps the wolvens of Turlek. They have determined that their first step lies in exploring the ruined halls of Silvermote. Legend holds that it contains unknown aid against the tide of were-forces threatening the valley. Perhaps once they have that aid at hand will they be better equipped to decide the valley's fate.
The fellowship set out from Shul Shenek with the goal of reaching the Laughing Wood, the distant forest hiding Silvermote. They were shadowed by a pair of dark elven snipers late one night as they camped on the trail. Saille alighted their sniping spot with a flaming arrow. They quickly swooped in killing the first sniper as the other fled into the darkness. Saille knew that they were near Surrinak lands so she was not surprised to find dark elves skulking about in the darkness. It wasn't long after, that six hungry ogres came down from the Jurorakk looking for an easy meal. They found none. They were no match for the fellowship and were defeated too. Lanius, having joined the fellowship since Ivellios's death, displayed his skill with magic during the battle. He threw several fireballs, earning a bit of respect.
Once the fellowship reached the Laughing Wood they found themselves surrounded by faeries with flower petal wings. The wee faeries had no interest in questions about Silvermote, however. They seemed only interested in how tired and unrested the humans, dwarves and elves looked. The faeries wanted to unburden them of their unrest and would not answer questions until they acceded to faerie sleep. The fellowship saw no choice but to acquiesce and submitted to sleep, even the resistant elves, hoping perhaps that when they awoke the faeries would answer their questions.
They awoke to the sight of two grinning forest trolls standing over them. Unfortunately the faeries, in their zeal for seeing that the fellowship received a good rest, had left them disarmed, unarmored, undressed and buried in fragrant flowers and leaves. Having little time for embarrassment, the fellowship rose and battle ensued. Much more fortunately their equipment had not been stolen by the faeries. They found their weapons laying amongst the sweet leaves and flower petals. The trolls were routed back into the forest by a stern show of force, having been outnumbered by naked humans, dwarves and elves. Sheepishly they clothed and armored themselves in time for the tiny fey to return.
Since the faeries really were only interested in providing them with the best rest of their lives, the fellowship couldn't bring themselves to be angry. They felt wonderfully rested and the faeries too seemed satisfied that the dark circles under their eyes had departed. The faeries now didn't seem to mind answering a few questions. Unfortunately they didn't know the answers. Still, they agreed to take them to their masters, who they said would know. So the petal faeries took them to a clearing to meet their masters. The fellowship stood amongst the trees, for a while, feeling the butt of some kind of woodland joke, for they saw no one. Then the treants revealed themselves. They too could not or would not reveal the location of Silvermote. They agreed to provide them with the means for approaching the guardians of Silvermote instead. The leader of the treants gave Duira a crown with which to approach and appease the guardians.
The guardians of Silvermote were green-skinned elves with almond eyes, pointed ears clothed in green leaves, true people of the vine and wood. They bore swords made of hard thorny wood and were dead serious about defending the Laughing Wood from intruders. The crown somehow made the fellowship welcome guests. The thorns, as they called themselves, agreed that they would reveal the location of Silvermote if the fellowship would aid them in defeating a large tribe of trolls eating and killing their way through the forest. They made it clear however, the fellowship would not be able to use fire in the forest, for fear of burning the trees. This was problematic for Lanius, as his most powerful spell was a fireball. Nevertheless he vowed not to use fire against the forest. The fellowship agreed to help and it was not long before the thorns and the fellowship found and attacked the nasty trolls.
The battle ranged all over the forest. Lanius was forced during the battle to use fire but kept careful check on the fallout and defeated several trolls. The dwarves, Draupnir and Hilda, held the line against the trolls too as Jalis provided healing to all. Duira made good use of darkness, dodging in and out and killing with unexpected attacks. All made good account of themselves in the battle and by the time they were done had a large pile of trolls for burning. Surprisingly, the thorns were not angry at the use of fire since the trees had not been harmed and the trolls were defeated. They too survived the fight and were glad to see the trolls burning. The guardians agreed that the fellowship had fulfilled their bargain. They revealed Silvermote. It stood above, on the very ridge above the ravine where the battle had taken place.
Now, the fellowship stood upon the threshold, ready to enter Silvermote.