When last we left our heroes, they had stepped into a portal created by Vineyard Mountainroot, the Elder (and Wander’s great aunt) of Wander’s clan. They step out into the middle of town and a greeted by the Elders of all the clans, who, upon confirming that the team found the feywild seed, led them around the tree to be greeted by E V E R Y O N E. A massive crowd of cheering Firbolgs applaud our heroes, who are a little overwhelmed with their reception.
The crowd is dismissed and Wander is enveloped by her family while everyone is is brought to her family home for a meal. Ryker and Havayla are introduced to the chaos that is Wander’s Mountainroot family. There are her parents, Tinker (the clan brewer and artificier) and Patience (healer and midwife), Uncles Wisdom and Root, brothers Stump with wife Ivy and children Constance and Noddy, Flint and wife Elethfa, and Query. Add in the Derailers and it is quite a crowd.
As Wander leaves with her mother and sister-in-laws, the rest join the men to see Tinker’s progress on his automaton. Nahtan had given him some Wyvern claws and they have been put to good use. While there, they reunite with Cindy and there is a lot of catching up and introducing of the new members. Seeing the enchantment on Cindy’s crossbow, Ryker commissions some work on his own longbow. Meanwhile, Wander struggles to sum up their adventures and is cautioned by Vinyard to maybe wait on all the details til she can talk with the elders.
The meal is followed by Wisdom and Root challenging Nahtan to arm wrestling. Ryker and Havayla escape for a quick chat that leaves her processing for the rest of the evening. Yevin entertains the children, but is quickly outshone by Zezu’s baby phoenix Spark.
(At this point, your humble scribe cannot remember if they went to bed or went to meet with the elders. Two nights were spent in Mountainroot, with the second night being a party. But so much happened at once, it was difficult to keep track of time. When we did sleep, Yevin dreamed in the Silvershields and friendly banter with a man wearing a golden bear tattoo who encouraged him to try out playing an instrument)
They are gathered again by Vineyard and brought before the elders. Wander, aided by the rest of the crew, gives the report and hands over the feywild seed and the potted tree. Discussion follows of the plan to open a portal to the Feywild so the Firbolgs can escape, back to their ancestral home. Ryker and Havayla are more properly introduced and it is discovered that rather than just jumping through time, they likely spent a significant amount of time in the Feywild, long enough to be branded by the Seeley Queen. But in leaving the Feywild, they also lost their memories. Yonder of Softfield offers to help with that.
One of the Elders mentions seeing a red dragon fly along the mountains, from west to east. The conversation turns to the Council of Draconum and their reluctance to become involved until Kane the Dragon Slayer is removed from the picture. Vinyard knows of Kane; he’s a revenant, but to what purpose, no one knows. They question Kane’s motives in being allied with the Orcs if the Orcs are trying to raise a dragon. But none-the-less, he is dangerous and will need to be dealt with. In the meantime, Vineyard will begin work on the portal, which will take at least a week to build. For now, there is going be a party! Everyone is preparing for a celebratory feast and raucous evening. Yevin is specifically asked to assist the musicians for the evening.
The crew is dismissed while Vineyard holds Wander back. “You are changing” she is told. Wander questions if leaving is the right choice, this plane has been home for many generations. Vineyard explains about the ancestry of the clans and how she wants to bring them back to their origins. But not all the clans are going; Softfield, Riverstrider, and Meadowood will instead travel west, closer to the Knaves. There is a tearful discussion of how the transition to the feywild will affect the clan. Wander is afraid of being forgotten by her nieces and losing her family. Vineyard assures her that she has a new family in the Derailers… but also her parents were one of the first families to say that they would stay and migrate instead. After having spent the whole journey dreading saying goodbye, Wander is quite relieved. Bolstered by the news that she is not losing her family, she seeks out and tackles her brother Flint.
While that happened, Ryker, Havayla, and Yevin took turns working with elder Yonder recover some of their forgotten memories. Both Ryker and Havayla remember waving purple grass, a castle, and a mountain. Ryker recalls a faun name Johu(!!) leading them to the castle. They realized that they traveled together, along with Aurora, during their time there. But they don’t recall anything beyond that flash. Yonder cautions that they should wait a week before trying again, lest they risk scrambling their brains.
Yevin, eager to learn more of his past and why he suddenly has more magical connection, works with Yonder and remembers being chased through an autumnal forest, newly severed fingers bleeding, an explosion destroying a nearby tree, while a person with a strange weapon pursued, yelling “You can’t hide from me, Victor!”
The rest of the crew takes turns buying out the wares of the local arms merchant, jeweler, and clothier. Ryker checks in with Donkey, who is still psychologically recovering from his untimely death and is a bit put out that Nahtan has not been as attentive a friend.
Wander spends way too many spell slots communicating with her best friend Daisy, who had traveled to Hearthollow with Wander’s brother Stump. They’ve been stuck in the town; Stump had to work off the cost of the livestock lost to the orcs. They were questioned by the guard about their interactions with the orcs and have not been allowed to leave. And someone called Kane is asking questions… Concerned for their safety, Wander tries to direct them to talk with the Silvershields, when Zezu weighs in and gives information on how to get them in contact with his mother, Tressa of the Kendo School of Swords.
Friends contacted, items purchased, strings tuned, let the party begin! Gifts are given to the Derailers from the clans: woven scarves from Riverstrider, necklaces with symbols of the clans bestowing honorary membership, a wagon full of rations and supplies, and a blessing of the elders, giving everyone a one-time boon of proficiency in one skill for 24 hrs, when they choose to use it.
With the formalities out of the way, the party begins. Yevin helps the musicians put on a good show and uses his magical gifts to light up the night. Nahtan has a talk with Donkey and encourages him to try his luck with Aurora. Wander succeeds in dragging everyone but Zezu out for a dance. Ryker and Havayla share a dance. And gradually the night comes to a close. Everyone returns to Tinker and Patience’s home to rest, with most everyone piling in one of the bunk-rooms, along with Cindy. Wander spends the night with her nieces, while Havayla and Aurora join Donkey outside, shadowed of course by Ryker.
What will the new day bring? Where will the Derailers go next? To Hearthollow to challenge Kane? Or to Riverband to seek out the Feeble Mind Stone before the enemy discovers it’s location (And find Arunak’s sister)? We’ll find out next week…