To: mystara-l@io.com From: Fabrizio Paoli Subject: [Mystara] Alfheim Invasion (long) Spring 1004: Atzanteotl Contacts Rafiel Location: Pandius Description: Atzanteotl meets Rafiel in the Central Dome of Pandius to ask him to take part in the Brotherhood of the Shadow. Rafiel agrees. What this means: Atzanteotl believes Rafiel to be an entropic Immortal, so he asks him to join his side. On the other hand Rafiel learns that the Brotherhood of the Shadow's goal is to help the less powerful side (i.e. his side), so he doesn't refuse Atzanteotl offer. In the years to come Rafiel will play as a double agent for Rad. Summer 1005: Atzanteotl Urges Rafiel to Act Location: Pandius Description: In a new secret meeting in the Central Dome of Pandius Atzanteotl suggests Rafiel to prompt the Shadow Elves to invade Alfheim as his participation to the cause of Entropy. Rafiel agrees and Atzanteotl offers him to provide the Shadow Elves with a new spell able to corrupt the Trees of Life, thus weakening the Alfheim elves. What this means: With Sind seized by the Master and Alfheim controlled by Shadow Elves, Atzanteotl plans of crushing Darokin between the hammer and the anvil, thus giving the Brotherhood of the Shadow the chance of striking against Glantri, the Broken Lands, the Five Shires, Rockhome, the Emirates of Ylaruam, the Ethengarian Khanate, or Karameikos, to help wichever side the Brotherhood is supporting. Moreover the destruction of Alfheim is one of Atzanteotl's goals and Ilsundal one of his most hated enemies. Rafiel is not entropic but sees this as an opportunity to get rid of a dangerous neighbor for Glantri (Alfheim is led by the Ring of Fire) and to give his followers what he long promised them; however, he prefers not to involve his Shamans in this scheme, so he willingly accepts Atzanteotl's spell. 1005, Felmont: Xatapechtli Dreams Location: City of the Stars, Shadow Elves Territories Description: Xatapechtli, the head of the second Shadow, dreams of an ancient book about Trees of Life that is kept somewhere in Alfheim. In the dream an Azcan voice whispers him that he must find that book if he wants to take his revenge on the Alfheim elves. What this means: Actually that dream is induced in Xatapechtli's mind by Atzanteotl, that has found a way to corrupt the Canolbarth forest and the Trees of Life. In the following months Serpent Eyes will look all over Alfheim for that ancient and invaluable book. 1005, Fyrmont 12: Theft in Feador Location: Feador, Alfheim Description: A group of Shadow Elves spies (Serpents) steal from Jorodrin Feadiel (Treekeeper of Clan Feadiel) a book detailing what Ilsundal went through to create the Trees of Life. What this means: Serpents found evidence of the book's current location searching through the Mealidil Library Tree and quickly managed to steal it. Now Kanafasti can learn vital knowledge about Trees of Life. What the PCs can do: If the PCs are Shadow Elves they may take part in the robbery or be part of the plot in some other way (looking for information, putting up diversions...). If the PCs are from Alfheim they may try to prevent the theft and perhaps uncover the plot. 1005, Fyrmont 27: Atzanteotl visits Kanafasti Location: City of the Stars, Shadow Elves Territories Description: Atzanteotl visits Kanafasti in incorporeal form and provides him with the knowledge needed to research a new spell that will eventually kill the Trees of Life and weaken the Canolbarth forest, thus allowing Shadow Elves to easily drive Alfheim Elves out of it. What this means: Rafiel allowed Atzanteotl to provide Shadow Elves wizards with a spell that will help them invade Alfheim. Unfortunately, busy as he is in his studies with Rad, he didn't realize that Atzanteotl's magic will forever corrupt the forest, entropy being what it is. What the PCs can do: The team of Shadow Elves wizards that is going to research that spell will surely need many components and they could hire the PCs to find them. 1006, Flaurmont 12: Research of New Spell Completed Location: City of the Stars, Shadow Elves' Territories Description: The team of experienced Shadow Elves wizards led by Kanafasti successfully completes the research of a new spell that will allow Shadow Elves to kill the Trees of Life. What this means: Actually the spell is more powerful than what everybody (but Atzanteotl) think because it will corrupt not only the Trees of Life but the whole forest.. What the PCs can do: Experienced Shadow Elves wizards may take part in the research of the spell. 1006, Ambyrmont 17: King Telemon Prompt Kanafasti to Act Location: City of the Stars, Shadow Elves' Territories Description: In a secret meeting in the King's Palace between Telemon, Kanafasti, Xatapechtli and General Garafaele, the King urges the Royal Wizard to act now and orders the Radiant General to start gathering a wartime army. What this means: Taking advantage of the confusion created by the meteor that striked in northern Darokin this summer, Telemon urges Kanafasti to start casting the spell. What the PCs can do: Shadow Elves PCs may either help Kanafasti if they're experienced wizards or be drafted in the army according to their rank. 1006, Ambyrmont 24: Shadow Elves Wizards Start Working Location: Caves just beneath Alfheim Description: The most powerful mages among the Shadow Elves lead by Kanafasti gather in tunnels running under the Canolbarth Forest and start casting the spell that Atzanteotl gave them. What this means: Tunnel Shapers worked hard in the last few months to build a big network of tunnels running all under Alfheim. This is the first step of the invasion, it will take at least a month for the spell to have appreciable effects and much more to kill the Trees of Life. What the PCs can do: High level Shadow Elves wizards PCs can take part in the casting, lower level or non-wizard PCs may be needed to scout the tunnels and defend the mages from attacks by wandering monsters and Alfheim adventurers that might stumble upon those tunnels by chance. 1006, Sviftmont 4: Tree of Life Gives Ill Omen Location: Ainsun, Alfheim Description: As the forest begins to darken, the High Treekeper of Clan Grunalf contacts his Tree of Life by casting ESP and the Tree tells him that it senses a great catastrophe coming. Soon the bad news spreads across the clan and to the other clanholds. Grunalf sages, the most learned about forestry and woodlore among the elves, gather in Ainsun to study the matter. What this means: The darkening of the forest is the first effect of the Shadow Elves' magic, more mutations will follow in the next weeks. 1006, Sviftmont 28: The Sick Forest Location: Canolbarth Forest, Alfheim Description: Three weeks have passed since Clan Grunalf gave alarm and the forest is even darker and more twisted. Trees stop growing new leaves and plants stop making flowers, herbivores strive to find eating. The elves are at loss to explain this strange disease, other than to that something in the fallout from the ash raised by the meteor that slammed in northern Darokin last summer is causing it. Trees of Life continue to make leaves, but feel a deep pain coming from the very earth trough their roots, while anxious Treekeepers search ways to reverse the process. What this means: Actually the disease is caused not by the ash, but by the powerful Shadow Elves magic that is starting to take effect. 1006, Kaldmont 21: Death near Shieldtree Location: Shieldtree, Alfheim Description: Five elves are found dead and ten others seriously sick after drinking water from a nearby spring. Careful investigations reveals the water has been poisoned. What this means: This is another consequence of the spell. By now the trees have stopped growing and leaves started falling. Small plants and many herbivores have already died. Carnivores have trouble to find game and many springs become poisonous. What the PCs can do: If they're in Shieldtree they can be hired to investigate on this strange death. 1006, Kaldmont 28: Treekeepers meet in Feador Location: Feador, Alfheim Description: Increasingly alarmed by their Trees of Life that stopped growing leaves and unable to stop the process, Treekeepers from all the seven clans meet today in Feador trying to discuss on the matter. Treekepers from clan Feadiel and Grunalf agree on the need of relocating their communities somewhere else to prevent the Trees of Life from dying, those from clan Long Runner and Mealidil bitterly disagree on leaving Alfheim, though not even in the Annals of Mealiden is mentioned something similar to the current situation. What this means: Treekepers are strongly alarmed by the withering of their Trees of Life and completely unable to reverse the process, so they start thinking of leaving Alfheim for a land not hit by the fallout of the ash raised by the meteor. 1007, Nuwmont 13: Lynnwyll Chossum Falls Ill Location: Desnae, Alfheim Description: Clanmaster Lynnwyll Chossum suddenly faints while working; he feels very weak and his brought home by his friends. Even the High Treekeper is much worried about his health. What this means: This is not a natural illness, actually Carlisan, Counselor to Lynnwyll and Shadow Elf, poisoned his Clanmaster to take his place. 1007, Nuwmont 15: Lynnwyll Dies, Carlisan Appointed Clanmaster Location: Desnae, Alfheim Description: After a short death struggle Lynnwyll dies, but before he picks Carlisan to replace him. What this means: This is a major strike for Shadow Elves, now in full control of one of the leading clans. 1007, Thaumont 15: Council Meets in Elleromyr Location: Elleromyr, Alfheim Description: The Council of the Clans meets today in Elleromyr to discuss the proposal of clan Feadiel and clan Grunalf of leaving Alfheim. Only three clans (Long Runner, Mealidil and Red Arrow) vote against, so the measure passes. King Doriath charges his ambassadors in Glantri, Karameikos, Thyatis and Wendar to ask the local rulers and elvish clans for hospitality. What this means: The once mighty trees of Alfheim are now twisted and dying, other plants are already dead and the animal population has drastically decreased. More and more among elves and fairies think that leaving is the best solution, but some still refuse to leave. Why leave: clans Feadiel and Grunalf are concerned about the Trees of Life; clan Chossum is now controlled by Shadow Elves and eager to sell cart, horses and whatever is needed for such a journey; clan Erendyl thinks this is the best thing for Alfheim. Why stay: clan Mealidil doesn't want to leave the country founded by Mealiden and thinks that an answer for the problem can be found looking in the books, it's just a matter of time; clan Long Runner mistrusts all non-elves, blames humans for this strange disease, so it doesn't want to have any contact with the outside world; clan Red Arrow is mostly concerned about the danger of such a trip, because of what's going on in Glantri, Darokin and Ethengar. What the PC's can do: Well known PCs adventurers from Alfheim may be sent to Glantri, Karameikos, Thyatis or Wendar as couriers by King Doriath. Clan Red Arrow may also need experienced adventurers to scout possible flight ways across the Broken Lands, the Orcland and the Cruth Mountains. ************** Fabrizio Paoli brizio@lunet.it DM in City Of The Stars aka David Gnome, herald of Gond's temple in Tilverton aka Doriath, 1/2 Elf Ranger in Cormyr Home Page:http://www.ing.unipi.it/~s153349