The High Forest Home Stretch

…with Leo‘s Wind Walk spell cast, the party transformed into a mist once more, and escorted Elister southeast to his home in Loudwater. Transforming back to their corporeal form just outside the city, Elister was taken back to his clockwork shop and the party secured rooms at the Enchanter’s Ecstasy. Concerned about Elister’s news that many small merchants were struggling to compete with Zhentarim traders due to an increase in local taxes, Pix led a contingent to the High Lord’s Hall in the middle of town…

As Pix does, he cheerily bounced up to the gate, stuck out his hand, and greeted the guards, “Hi! I’m Pix Wembee!” The guards were less than thrilled with Pix’s insistence to speak with High Lord Telbor Zazrek, telling him that the High Lord was not available. Refusing to take “no” for an answer, Pix used his arcane toolbox to invisibly bypass the gate altogether and make his way to the Hall’s entrance. Finally, Zazrek came to his door and sternly confronted Pix. When tensions between the two wizards grew to the inevitable point that spells began to fly, Pix was amazed to see a colored sphere surrounding the former adventurer blocked all his casting. Pix and company left the High Lord’s Hall and returned to Elister’s shop. Upon hearing of the exchange, Elister expressed his fear that he would be the target of retaliation once the party left Loudwater. Thaminor reiterated his prior offer for Elister to move his business to Westhill, and the gnome decided to take him up on that. The party helped Elister pack his shop in their Stagecoach, and T’Sai departed with him for Westhill.

Leo’s Wind Walk allowed the party to return to Mhiilamniir with haste. Upon their arrival, however, they discovered that the Great Library was under attack from the Netherese! The ghosts of the Library battled Shadovar both inside the library and out, while Aelar himself battled the Shade that led them. As their numbers fell, the final Netherese fled. Aware that their time was likely limited before the Shade returned with reinforcements, the party acted quickly to claim a few helpful books from the Library while Thaminor used the Oakenshield to break the protection spell on the Rod segment. Once the spell was broken, it was if time was playing catch-up: the walls and contents of the Library began to rapidly decay and the ghosts faded away. Aelar said goodbye to Thaminor as he too faded away, his promise to the Seldarine fulfilled.

The party Wind Walked to Westhill, but did not tarry, since they did not know how the Netherese had found the Great Library.  They delivered the books picked up in Mhiilamniir, and recruited Shady, a tabaxi monk, from the Tresendar Talons to take over some of T’Sai’s duties while he was absent. Pix used the Rod to divine the location of the next piece, they requisitioned horses from the stables, and began to trek south, along the High Road.  Just outside the Mere of Dead Men, they were momentarily delayed by an ambush of sahuagin.  Eventually, however, the Rod led them to Waterdeep, the City of Splendors…