The Legacy of Dalganaf: Part 1

Dear Champions of Vildanel,

I hope this writing finds you well, as you have gone to a place where my network's delivery capabilities are somewhat limited.  Please note that the article herein is at present time not for public release.  After speaking with both Ghisale and Morris I have come to understand the importance of your work's clandestine nature, and therefor for the time being these works shall serve only as a private chronicle of your accomplishments until such a time as it is appropriate for disclosure.

Khelek

In recent days speculation had begun to mount that our saviors from the gnolls had departed the region eastbound as quickly as they had arrived.  However, it is now known through reports from The Wandering Wyvern in Iriaebor that the adventurers have instead departed north toward the lost dwarven city of Dalganaf along with a guide by the name of Nettles who descends from that same city.  Scant few details of Dalganaf are known to the public - largely due to the secretive nature of the city's descendants - though it is known that Dalganaf was abandoned and sealed shut nearly two-hundred years ago.  It is also known that Dalganaf was not a major dwarven power and did not purvey conventional dwarven mining facilities.  Instead, Dalganaf's chief export of record was magical armaments furnished by its elaborate foundry. This facility allegedly hosted an ancient apparatus known as a "green-flame forge" or "spellforge".

Our heroes likely proceeded northbound toward the arc of the Southern Sunset Mountains where Dalganaf was known to have resided.  Along the way it is believed that they slew another small band of orcs and then slid cautiously through orc territory in the foothills where they may have caused some alarm and were forced to progress hastily.  At this time there is no evidence to suggest they were caught or otherwise harmed by the orcs.  Editorial suspicion suggest that Nettles is well versed of paths into Dalganaf that would be otherwise difficult to traverse, such as waste or water-ways.

In full honesty, our reporting network is not well-suited for subterranean activity, so efforts are being made to widen our capabilities and continue to provide this essential service of chronicling what could well be an adventure of paramount importance for the region.

Kelehk of the Quill

Leaffall 14, 1491

Venture Eastward

Today comes news from Iriaebor, City of a Thousand Spires, the Heartland's Gateway to the East.  Reports confirm that the Champions of Vildanel were involved in thwarting an assault by marauding orcs against a wagon transporting young nobleman Grenville Lesterac, Baron of Lesterac.  Lesterac is a small, private municipality in the Heartlands and is Vildanel's nearest neighbor.  At this time it is not believed that Lesterac was assaulted during the gnoll attack despite its proximity and relative value as a target.  The young baron was escorted by his servant Venaire and two armed guards that seemed ill-equipped to stand against a full band of orcs.

Although the timely intervention of the heroes was fortuitous, it is also believed to be coincidental: our information reports that the heroes were not sent to aid the baron, but rather to take on a new mission in the vicinity of Iriaebor, and at the time of this writing it is believed that the heroes are currently residing there seeking a contact of unknown origin.

With information about the nature of this new mission being sparse, this has lead our organization to speculate: we believe that the heroes were sent to Iriaebor at the behest of Ghisale to recover items pertinent to her important work on the plateau.

Concerning the plateau, we have received word that the first band of returning refugees - a well-furnished contingent of a dozen young men and women - have arrived back at the village bounds to begin their work of cleaning up and organizing the reconstruction effort.  In a statement to one of our correspondents, young Seb Morove offered the following statement upon looking at on his ruined homeland for the first time in near a month: "Never have I seen a place that looks so familiar, and yet so new."

Kelehk of the Quill

Leaffall 10, 1491

Wealthy Investor Seeking Opportunities to Rebuild Vildanel!

Amidst all the positive news emerging in the wake of Vildanel's fall, regional investor "The Sellance Company" has issued an offer of moderate loans - up to 800 gold worth of materials and labor - to individuals seeking to construct businesses in the Vildanel village center.  Furthermore, these loans will be offered without collateral for any refugees of the gnoll attacks who return to Vildanel to rebuild.  Sellance will be offering revenue-based repayment options, implying that they will be heavily incentivized to promote the success of these businesses.

A representative of Sellance by the name of Morris offered the following statement: "Sellance has always prided itself on using capital growth to heal and elevate communities, and the largest untapped source of capital in The Heartlands at this time is from adventuring.  Fortunately, we are now witnessing the leading edge of a new wave of adventurers in The Heartlands, and victimized municipalities such as Vildanel stand to benefit greatly from this surge."

Morris indicated that Sellance played a pivotal role in locating the source of the poisoned groundwater at Vildanel.  He also suggested that the gnolls likely employed a demonic entity for this nefarious task, or that such a demon might be feeding off of an unknown magic power source in the plateau's aquifer.  This entity has allegedly been dispatched by our local heroes.

In related news, reports indicate that mysterious stones - perhaps tied to this unknown magic - continue to be discovered in the region, and that Ghisale and Rin likely continue their archaeological work though the whereabouts of their worksite are still unknown.

Kelehk of the Quill

Leaffall 7, 1491

Intelligence Reports from the Heartlands

In the lull following the defeat of the gnoll warband at Vildanel we have conducted a series of investigative queries in to the state of the region:

On the Gnolls and Forces of Evil

Foremost, we have received confirmation from trusted sources that the "Maddick" at the heart of the gnoll warband is actually Christopher Maddick, a disgraced Zhentarim agent who is believed guilty of the murder of his own client.  In the early year of 1486, a young midland noble by the name of Jensen Pierce was found murdered in his own home whilst Maddick was serving as his bodyguard.  Evidence suggests  that Maddick's weapons were used in the massacre and it is known that he fled the scene following the incident, never to be known again by the public until now.  It is believed that Maddick is now in the custody of the Lords' Alliance.

We have also confirmed from our contacts in the Emerald Enclave that the council of gnoll tribes has converged at a secret location in the Reaching Woods known as the "Oath Grove".  At this meeting it is believed that appointed leader of the unified gnoll forces - Rabinack - was discussing with tribal elders and an unknown third party the price and conditions of releasing the warband prisoners to said third party.  As we do not have any sources at the Oath Grove itself we do not yet know what the gnoll reaction has been to the reports of the prisoners being freed.

Perhaps the most shocking new detail to emerge from our sources pertains to this mysterious third party.  Allegedly the chief representative for this group has been operating under the pseudonym "John Snell", which is of course a reference to the fabricated individual who serves as manipulator and "boogeyman" of regional nobility.  Though the name predates the Spellplague, the Font of Knowledge has no record of an actual individual with the born name John Snell in its records dating back to the dales of old.

On Vildanel and the Survivors

On a more positive note, scouts under my employ have reported to me that Narn and Bo Parsnuck have been tearfully reunited and that Elias Morove - found laying at Death's door - has been returned to us by the grace of Leo and Hazelmere.  Along with merchant Goff and rancher Levi Winston, this group has taken residence at Parsnuck Farm to await the return of the refugees.

On the topic of the refugees of Vildanel - currently recuperating near Berdusk - we have heard reports of a dozen of the young and able-bodied preparing to make the return trip to their fallen home with the aim of rebuilding.  The elderly and the orphaned children now make for the refugee camp at Scornubel under the watchful eye of Tabitha Rinear.  One such orphan - a most beautiful lass named Maelin - seems to have caught the attention of our heroes who were reported as spending some time speaking with her recently.

Scouts in the region of Vildanel have also been on the lookout for Ghisale and Rin who are believed to be operating in the area but have yet to spot their location.  We now know from our inquiries to Baldur's Gate that Ghisale is an archeologist under the employ of the Museum of the Sword Coast.  Baldurians may recall that this museum was founded in 1487 to house artifacts brought back from the east following the fall of the New Netherese empire.

Lastly, On Our Heroes

We close today's long periodical with the update that our band of five champions has returned to Vildanel to perform some additional investigation of the site.  As I conclude this very writing I am hovering above their location, but I dare not draw this article out any longer as it has already attained an impressive length and a strange new individual has just appeared at the village center, making himself known to our heroes.  So I close this article now, so that I may turn my attention to their conversation...

Kelehk of the Quill

Leaffall 6, 1491

Riposte of Justice

 "This 'Maddick' and his ilk should never have involved themselves in the affairs of gnolls!"  This statement came from a particularly gregarious gnoll spotted walking alone on a forest path later in the day.  Wishing to remain anonymous, the gnoll was willing to inform on what he knew of events that transpired today following the liberation of Vildanel while also disavowing the warband and asking the rest of the region to "let the gnolls be gnolls, but resist the foolishness of war".

By his account, our band of champions surveilled the town and took stock what meager possessions remained in Vildanel.  The houses remaining appear to belong to the family of the mayor, the Morove family, and an as of yet unidentified family with a single child.  Notably, it appears that at least one individual may have safely escaped the Morove family home on horseback.

The heroes then rode north to the regional camp of the gnoll warband.  Using covert tactics the heroes infiltrated the camp and made short work of Maddick's crew whilst friend Rin liberated two gnoll captives: a female gnome believed to be the missing Ghisale and a female halfling believed to be the missing Bo Parsnuck.  At no surprise to our informant, the gnolls were reluctant to rush to Maddick's aid once it appeared he had been outmatched and they allowed the heroes to take him in to custody, though they would not allow the release of their final captive: a local rancher named Herschel who allegedly had clandestine dealings with Maddick.  Two of Maddick's crew - a sly halfling rogue and a shadowy human warlock - fled the scene and remain at large.

In related news, news from the Uldoon Trail reports that the band of Vildanel refugees now nears Berdusk where they will be able to enjoy warm beds for the first time in half a tenday.

Kelehk of the Quill

Eleint 30, 1491

Victory in Vildanel

As the sun rises over the plains, my agents from across the countryside have confirmed to me what I had most hoped.  Our champions have succeeded, and the village of Vildanel has been liberated from the gnoll menace!  In a valiant surge taking place under the cover of darkness the heroes tactfully dismantled the occupying forces, pack by pack.  Even gnolls attempting to flee to alert their base camp were continuously thwarted.

Details are sparse but some other select information has also been collected;

The leader of the assault on Vildanel is a human man by the name of Maddick, and the newly appointed "great leader" of the united gnoll forces is named Rabinack.  At this time little is known about these individuals, but our research efforts continue.

The well water at Vildanel has been poisoned from an unknown non-natural source.  This will likely pose a significant hurdle to resettling the area.

Aside from the well, four structures at Vildanel remain intact: a large stone home on the north side of the village, an accompanying shed, a large home on the east side of the village which was upwind of the blaze, and a smaller home on a hill to the south.

As we open on a new day for this decimated community, something tells me that our Liberators of Vildanel are not yet ready to rest in their duty to bring justice to the Heartlands.

Kelehk of the Quill

Eleint 29, 1491

Return Fire! The Gnolls are Struck!

A Brief Forward

I, Kelehk, do offer my deepest personal apologies if you receive this article at a later date than you are accustomed.  My dearest readers, as you well know it is my truest nature to always act in the pursuit of truth and the enlightenment of the masses.  However, in time as these where the lives of the noble and the protectors of truth are themselves at risk we must take certain measures and offer certain protections.  Beginning with this article and for all articles following in this 'Peril of the Heartlands' series we will only provide direct delivery of the article to those individuals for whom the information contained therein is of a covert or sensitive nature.  To all other recipients, the delivery of said articles will be delayed anywhere from three to ten days.  This is a compromise given to mitigate the release of strategic details to the enemies of the land.  I hope that you understand the importance of this effort and continue to enjoy my astute reporting as I continue to enjoy your loyal patronage.

Onward to the article...

Today comes news from an emerging battlefront!  Cresting the plateau on top which Vildanel sits, I found myself soaring above the Persnuck family farm just as combat had erupted between our heroes and pair of savage gnoll watchmen.  Make no mistake that the foes were swiftly dispatched, but not before signaling to their brethren on patrol nearby with a series of shrill, echoing barks that cascaded across the plains.  To my relief, my assistants' surveillance of the area only found one such patrol band in the region, with the gnolls encircling the village proper being too distant to heed the call.

Though I struggled to pull my eyes from the inevitable crash between forces, I did take a moment to perch along a window ledge of the quaint Parsnuck family home and peek inside.  I beheld with awe the inspiring bedroom of young Narn and Bo Parsnuck, walls adorned with their own well-penned missives of adventures along the Sword Coast!  My heart leapt to think that these accomplished wanderers must yet still live, given their wealth of survival experience.  Though I wish greatly to share some of what I learned of their adventures I shall not infringe the privacy of the living without their permission.  Furthermore, I could not take much time to read lest I miss the unfolding bloodshed outside.

Though the gnoll patrol party hosted more skilled adversaries, what I personally witnessed in the fields today was similar in description to the hero's prior scuttle with the Zhentarim scavengers - beams of moonlights, blasts of flame, fists ringing true, and even some precision knife-throwing from young Rin.  The battle seemed to be over in but a blink, and before I could help myself I descended from the skies to offer my accolades and see - beyond hope! - if any of them would offer a statement.

On this day I am pleased to finally assign a proper name to each of these would-be champions:

Leo the half-elf, valiant of bow, blade, and spoken word!

Lucie the halfling, conjurer of triumphant flame!

Mexidankus Sundowner the halfling, whose fists deliver radiant justice!

Tymar my aarakocran brother-in-feather, who raises brambles of the land itself to aid them!

And diminutive but powerful Hazelmere of an exotic owl-like birdfolk lineage, whose moonlight magic shines like a beacon of valor!

Unfortunately we could not locate brave Rin following the melee though I am certain she emerged unscathed and will reunite with the heroes in due time.

Also to my dismay the heroes were occupied with collecting information and discussing their plans at the time of my arrival so our discussion was short-lived.  However, I can offer the following information regarding regional gnolls activity, collected from multiple sources in the last days time:

A scattering of gnoll forces remain at the ruins of Vildanel, though to what end it is not known.  Multiple sources report that the warband has largely departed the village following the accomplishment of their unknown objective.  However, it is suspected that they yet remain encamped not far to the northeast of the attack site.

Several survivors - including each of those noted in the previous article - remain unaccounted for, and it is now suspected that one or more may have been taken captive by the gnolls.

The refugees continue their cautious trek northward along the Uldoon Trail toward Berdusk.  A uncorroborated source claims that soldiers of Elturgard have been dispatched to the trail to offer them escort.

Please stay vigilant, dear readers.

Kelehk of the Quill

Eleint 28, 1491