Goldenfield Aflame?

An updated map of the Dessarin Valley revealing each notable location the party has become aware of so far. After clearing out the Eternal Flame Temple and destroying the genasi Bastian Thermander, they ascended from the depths at Scarlet Moon Hall, worked their way through the wild Sumber Hills to the Larch Path, then traveled unmolested southward to Red Larch.

As the party took a short rest a few miles outside of Red Larch, they were taken by surprise by a group of six scouts. After a tense moment, Alexander recognized the ambushers. "Kusha! It's good to see you! I had hoped you had arrived in Larch by now. How goes it in town?"

She informed them that order had been restored. She and her cousins have prevented trickling streams of monsters and cultists from reaching the town, dealing them swift, absolute justice, then burning and scattering the remains to the winds. After an exchange of more cheerful news, Kusha informed Alexander that Nephis Felone had taken up security of the town and would be better prepared to provide more details of the goings on there.

Despite a general uneasiness in Red Larch at the sight of the heat-radiating azers, the party members were welcomed as heroes and friends. The Swinging Sword and the Helm at High Sun still weren't open yet, but reconstruction was coming along more quickly than originally thought possible. The townsfolk were generally cheerful, not least of all because of the protection provided by Nephis and his brutesquad. They seemed to be working harmoniously with the town's constable Harburk Tethyrian who also appeared to appreciate their service.

Nephis filled them in on Phandalin gossip:

the mine was up-and-running; Gundren and the Rockseeker Brothers and Associates were making a killing; Alexander received a commission of 700 gp;
with all the added commerce and labor, the Stonehill Inn and family were also making a killing;
Halia Thornton (known Zhentarim agent) had purchased Alderleaf farm when Quelline moved away;
tragically, Daran Edermath had passed away peacefully of natural causes, depriving Phandalin of his council and his magical supply of heady cider;
Gundren attempted to restore Tresender Manor, but after a series of unexplained accidents, the project has been abandoned.

Red Larch goes Wild!

Everybody who attended this party got down.

That night Kahntun and Alexander visited with their Order of the Gauntlet contact Imdarr, learning that a party of Samularian Knights had recently passed through town, heading toward Goldenfields. They were accompanied by three members of the order. Kahntun prayed for Daran, then the sword-wielding duo made their way to Bethendur's Storage where an impromptu party was in full swing. LiKi and Leopold had paid separate visits to Haeleeya's bathhouse for distinctly separate reasons, then made their way back to their storage unit with a gaggle of town folk, Nephis, and some of his guard. Leopold played several spirited numbers on his lute and told tales, only slightly exaggerated, about their adventures of late. Everybody danced and drank and told stories. A great time was had by all . . . all except the three azers who sat stone-faced (or should I say bronze-faced) and quiet in the corner of an adjacent storage unit. After the ale, rum, and brandy began to flow, they were quickly forgotten. The night passed pleasantly without any embarrassing or dangerous incidents and the worse they paid for their moment of respite and revelry was a pretty stiff hangover; feeling charitable, Kahntun laid hands on all who had spent the night in debauch, instantly restoring them to cheerfulness and vigor.

To Goldenfields

Torrential rains continue to plague the Dessarin River.

After a short trip on horse back down the Cairn Road, they arrived in Womford, commissioned a keelboat, and started southward along the Dessarin toward Goldenfield. An intense rain haunted them the entire trip. The river was swollen and rough. They sat on the wet, cheerless deck brooding over the weather. LiKi tried to speak with Fuegron, but he refused to say more than a word or two. He and his two azer companions sat in one corner of the boat, a maddening percussion of rain drops tinging upon their metallic skin only to return to the sky in a hissing steam.

Then, at day break, the rain let up, and Sune awoke a deep purple, then red sky to the east. As she continued to rise, lady Firehair showered her golden light down upon equally golden fields of grain swaying gently in the breeze. Inspired by the intense beauty, Leopold dramatically recited an ancient Chauntean prayer in honor of the golden lady:

"She smiled. She kssed the earth. She breathed out upon the world warm winds. She wrung moist rain from her hair. And lo! The stones cracked and wheat sprang forth! And bread was borne for all her children." They had arrived.

The bucolic beauty of Goldenfield inspired religious verse, the Canticle of the Rose of Chantea, to spill from our less-than-devout bard.

Goldenfields: Overview and Geography

Goldenfields is located in the Dessarin Valley south of the Sumber Hills. It is a large walled farm north of Waterdeep covering over 20 square miles. Managed and maintained by farmers and priests in the name of the agriculture goddess Chantea, it is sometimes called the “Breadbasket of the North”. Some say it is one of the largest temples in Faerün.

Within the walls themselves are miles and miles of orchards, fields, gardens, animal herds, farms, and waterways. The sprawling facility actually contains several smaller communities under the auspices of a centralized hub, itself called Goldenfields, a municipality that shelters most of the area’s population and closely approximates the nature of a small town. The population numbers approximately 5,000 humanoids, supplying a huge amount of edible foodstuffs for the large population of Waterdeep several hundreds of miles to the south. A complicated system exists to manage the collective farming of the fields and orchards, with various residents participating based on their skill level, work history, and age. Farmer priests usually head up small cadres of workers, but to some extent every person is a farmer and an evangelist for Chauntea.

The large facility is partitioned into several smaller sections, each surrounded by a high wall of stone and wood with several gated entrances. The slow generational expansion of tillable farmland has enabled the temple to annex more land and grow more crops.

The walls are patrolled by hired adventurers and armed militiamen (called “Postulant Soldiers”) garrisoned in towers and gates at various points throughout the facility. These guardsmen provide security for the populace within and act as a rudimentary policing force

After entering the North Gate, then two short rests at the Crossing and Waypoint, the caravan and their Postulant Soldiers escort arrived at the central hub of Goldenfield.

The rolling low hills of the southern Dessarin Valley are well suited for farming. Goldenfields is located on a small hillock that descends both north and south for several miles. While land has been cleared of forestation in several areas, small groves and minor forests still grow throughout the farm, providing wood and shelter for a small population of wild animals. Trails have been worn into roads over the years, and bridges have been constructed over streams and brooks and the eventual aqueducts created in Chantea’s name. Different areas of the facility have been developed to nurture different types of crops including fruits, herbs, nuts, and grains. Other areas have been set aside to accommodate herd animals that have rendered sustaining meats for the populace as well as wools, draft animals and beasts of burden.

The river and aqueduct that descends down the northern and southern hill slopes from Goldenfields itself is fed by what many have called a divinely wrought spring, This source of water has been fundamental in the development of the surrounding farming lands and has been channeled throughout the low sloping fields in the newer southern portions of the community. Streams, brooks, and ponds have all been utilized to render water-based crops.

The fields themselves have been terraced in some places where necessary, maximizing crop yields along the slopes.

When they arrived, Abbot Allardin Darovik greeted them warmly and escorted LiKi, Leopold, Kahntun, and Alexander into a modestly appointed chamber deep within the Temple of Chauntea, serving tea and offering a simple but hearty selection of breads, cheeses, and fruit.

The central hub of the sprawling complex that shares its name, this village is by far the largest of all the population centers in the temple facility. It is the seat of the primary Temple of Chantea and administrative center for the farming collective. Most of the roads spread out like branches from this particular center, and it is the focus of most of the area’s activity.

The village normally houses around 3,000 inhabitants while the balance of the population occupies the rest of the hamlets. This town has what most other towns would require: sundries, stables, granaries, a school, mills, scribes, wainrights, clothiers, banks, merchants and pubs. Several inns provide services for those who travel through Goldenfields.

The dominant feature that can be seen for miles around is the original Temple of Chauntea. A large round building of several stories with several wings that extend outward like spokes, this building towers over the surrounding structures. The other significant feature is a large aqueduct that comes from a natural spring very close to the temple barn. Stone channels have been constructed to sluice water southward from the river of water, which seems to perpetually and rapidly fill an incredibly large circular cistern almost 150 yards in diameter. A secondary, naturally formed channel rushes northward, creating a river that continues to be deep and wide for many miles. Children are not permitted around the cistern as its waters are deep and dangerous, and its depths are not determined.

Besides the inordinate number of granaries and mills around the temple, there is also an extensive wagon convoy mechanism that continually sends goods outward along the roads to destinations beyond Goldenfields. Traders looking for the high quality foodstuffs produced here often have several wagon caravans of their own besides those established by the church itself for delivery to Waterdeep. An eclectic group of traders can sometimes be found in Goldenfields, but those who don’t understand local decorum are not encouraged to return, resulting in very few troublesome incidents. Traders often have long-standing relationships with the denizen farmer priests, sometimes even generational, and keeping the peace is mutually beneficial for everyone.

Abbot Allardin Darovik

After a brief moment, a pair of priests in simple frocks came, exchanged a few words in ignan with the bronze brooders, and escorted them away. LiKi offered her greetings and salutations, announcing that she had fulfilled her duties to the Emerald Enclave as assigned by Jarsali Ethanaseth who was also in attendance. Abbot Allardin Darovik commended the party and asked a series of pointed, yet seemingly disjointed, questions about the details of her mission and the doings of the elemental cults, subtly concealing his own knowledge and opinions on these affairs.

He was unwilling to discuss the Enclave's connection with the Azers, claiming only that they were engaged in a long campaign meant to bring balance and stability to other planes of existence and that burdening LiKi with the details would be both unnecessary and encumbering. However, he did again commend LiKi and her companions for there work in the Dessarin Valley, admitting that they were not the only collection of heroes from disparate factions who have aligned against the evil elemental eye. In fact, members of the Order of the Gauntlet and the Knights of Samular were visiting the city to confer and consult. Harpers too had recently come to Goldenfields to consult. He promised to connect Kahntun and Alexander with their associates that very evening.

"Tell us more of this Evil Elemental Eye," LiKi probed, but Allardin claimed this knowledge was beyond him, instead referring her to a sage in the library. Before she could set out in search of this scholar, the abbot gave her her next high-priority mission: She was to rescue a moon elf named Teresiel who had been a member of the ambushed caravan.

Teresiel, the seed bearer.

Once news of the ambush had reached Goldenfield, a scrying spell seemed to suggest that she was in the hands of the water cult; however, no further news of her has been uncovered. She is believed to be in possession of a coded Lords' Alliance document, but, more importantly, known to be transporting seeds that the Emerald Enclave wants to bring to Goldenfields. Once germinated in the temple, these seeds will sprout magical orchards the likes of which haven't been found outside the walls of Goldenfield in thousands of years. Allardin instructed LiKi that rescue of Teresiel and recovery of the seeds should be her prime directive. After a few more moments of discussion, the party was escorted to their well-appointed apartments in the market center of town.

Jarsali Ethanaseth

Liki's gnome friend and druid accompanied her to visit with the librarian sage. They learned about the Elder Elemental Eye and its evil. It had plagued Faerûn as well as other lands and planes since time immemorial. It seemed to want to consolidate all power to its will. Destruction was its means of accomplishing this. The individual elements vied for dominance, but in this struggle the stability and balance of the natural order was disrupted, creating an opportunity for the Evil Eye to extend its influence.

She learned that many cultists were just in it for power or advantage in petty desires or rivalry. The priests had their own more mystical motivations. "True believers in the power of their elemental gods, they. The prophets are harder to understand. From what you have said about Shaterkeel and Kalinoth, the elemental weapons they once wielded seem to be the key to their power and madness, and perhaps the key to something else. To what, I couldn't say. If you find out, please return and educate me."

After this conversation, LiKi and Jarsali were taken to their lodgings to settle in, then wandered over to a nearby tavern to reunite with Leo, Kahntun, and Alexander.

Gelree Frozera

A Knight of Samular

When they arrived at the mellow tavern, they joined a large party conversing around a blazing firepit situated in the center of the room, its smoke rising lazily toward a chimney directly above.

Alexander and Kahntun were engaged in a discussion with a fellow Gauntlet member named Gelree Frozera as Leopold distractedly warbled on his orc-harp. A Knight of Samular was also present, solemnly slurping upon a giant mug of dark black beer.

Here's what they learned:

The orders Gauntlet and Samular had retaken Rivergard Keep and were prioritizing patrol of the river; if they could cut off transport of illicit goods and reinforcements to the haunted keeps and their temples, they could turn the tide of this war -- or so they believed;
they were also monitoring any comings or goings from the dilapidated ruins of Rundereth Manor; apparently groups of cultists were seen both entering and leaving the "dark lady's" domain; if the cultists were able to ally themselves with this mysterious power, this could spell doom for all; Kahntun and Alexander vowed to investigate when they could spare a moment;
LiKi asked where she could get news of Teresiel, the moon elf supposedly held captive by the water cult;
Gelree suggested that the party return to Yartar and attempt to make contact with their Order of the Gauntlet agent currently engaged in undercover work infiltrating the Crushing Wave cultists active in that shady city of trade;
in fact, Gelree offered to provide the party a ride up there, they were dispatching for neighboring Triboar the very next day;
all agreed, the night wound down, and the assembled convened to their quarters.

A Rude Awakening

What evil could lurk in this holy place on this tranquil night?

The sun revealed a burning hatred near at hand.

The party members awoke to what seemed like a malicious chanting, then screams of horror. When they rushed outside, they saw a monstrous party of fire cultists standing beside three dead militia, encircling a floating, flaming orb. There were two warriors, a priest, and two minotaur, smoking pouring from their nostrils. The townsfolk scattered in panic and despair.

One Eternal Flame guardian hissed, "you will pay for your transgressions insolent scum!" Then added, "Vanifer's burning rage can never be extinguished. Now you will witness the earth-cleansing inferno of Imix!"

The orb began to shimmer, apocalyptic battle erupted. LiKi cast synaptic static, muddling and severely wounding the cultists nearest to her with mind-crushing psychic damage. Leopold unleashed a pocket full of change, the violent animated objects tearing at the minotaur's armor and flesh. Alexander set his weird pack down, but the water weird inside was unable grapple its prey. But our folk hero crossed swords with two of the warriors.

All the while, Kahntun crept toward the priest concentrating on the orb. Leopold disappeared, then shouted "stop that orb!" Suddenly, four hell hounds crept out of the shadows and into the battle delivering fire breath unexpectedly to our gnome sorcerer and our fighter Alexander! The tide was turning against our heroes.

A large Eternal Flame Cult contingent sought vengeance by attempting to unleash a devastation orb of fire on Goldenfields!

But then, just as Kahntun was about to cut the priest down, he noticed a strange box laying beneath the floating orb. It had what appeared to be runes of the water cult engraved upon it in deep magenta. An idea came to him. He snatched the orb from the air and crammed it into the box! He slammed the lid shut and latched it, then suddenly, as if a pressure valve had been released, all the fiery tension choking the air dissipated. The cultists looked on in despair, but as they turned to confront Kahntun, they were slashed by Alexander and blasted by LiKi's crackling bursts lightning. Those closest to the fight fell in agonizing death while the hell hounds on the outskirts fled, only to be tracked and destroyed by the hunters of Goldenfields.

The party had saved the agrarian region from fiery elemental destruction.

Wrapping it Up

The local authority at Goldenfield thanked our heroes for preventing the destruction that a devastation orb of fire would have wrought on Godlenfields, providing them with the finest wine and delectable food for their future travels.

They agreed to leave the orb with Abbot Allardin for study.

As they were waiting by the river for Gelree's ship to take them north, they were told to take a wagon ride to the nearby town of Spindle, known for its textile production. When they arrived, they realized their folly. They weren't to travel by river boat, but rather, by airship! Gelree stood on the deck grinning, two mastiffs at her side. "All aboard!" she squeaked in her melodic halfling voice, still grinning all the while!

Apparently the Order of the Gauntlet captain Gelree Frozera had an airship at her command! They would be heading north in style!

They traveled north and watched the Dessarin Valley roll by, following the line of the Long Road. After passing Red Larch, they peered into the depths of the Sumber Hills. They could see competing vortexes of elemental energy raging through the peaks and valleys. Smoke rose from a fierce forest fire on the eastern edge of Kryptgarden Forest. Lightning streaked sideways across the sky up ahead over the town of Westbridge. A deep abyss of rain clouds could be seen deluging the hills to the west.

Then suddenly, in the gloom of a moonless night, a dragon emerged from a foul looking cloud of green and yellow up above. It swooped once over the ship, unleashing a mind-splitting screech before drop heavily onto the bow of the airship, causing it to rock sickeningly forward before regaining its composure. Venomfang had found our adventurers!

Long story short: Venonfang said he had come for revenge after their encounter at Thundertree. The elemental chaos had caused much prey to seek refuge in Krytgarden Forest, and he had fattened upon them. He was ready this time. But, despite almost destroying the party with an incredibly toxic, 60 foot conal poisoned breath attack, our heroes managed to destroy the beast. Kahntun delivered the death blow, sending Talon up through the beasts throat and out the back of its head. It slumped upon the airship. LiKi and Leopold spent much of the early morning removing its teeth before Kahntun and Alexander pushed it overboard, watching it plummet lifelessly to the floor of the valley below. Before long, they arrived in Triboar, disembarked, said their farewells to Gelree, rested for a night, then left eastward on their way to Yartar.

"Owie. Why you hurt me?" We're not buying it worm! green dragons are known for their deception and cruelty. You'll get no sympathy from us!
To review the adventuring party's original encounter with Venomfang, click here!

TL;DR

The party traveled with the rescued azers to Red Larch, Womford, then Goldenfield;
LiKi was tasked with rescuing a moon elf named Teresiel, believed to be in custody of the water cult.
Kahntun prevented the Eternal Flame cult from using a devastation orb at Goldenfield.
Members of the Order of the Gauntlet suggested that they might be able to learn about Teresiel by travelling to Yartar and making contact with their secret agent infiltrating the water cultists there.
They boarded an airship headed to Triboar, then killed the attacking green dragon, Venomfang.
They arrived in Triboar.

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