By the Shores of the Moonsea
Ches 6 - Tarsakh 11
After accepting Neldor's proposal for an expedition to the lost elven city of Eueurarlor, the group splits up and spends the day restocking supplies and gathering equipment that had spread out over their house over the course of the past two months. Talindra watches the activity, her face impassive, though she does give Kora a small smile as the Roustinghorn settles her pack on her back and lifts her massive sword to her shoulder.
Travel in the winter is never pleasant, but at least for most of the first tenday you're protected by the forest as you follow the road north. On the eleventh day you emerge from Cormanthyr's northern border, and promptly turn east to follow the edge of the forest. The Moonsea Ride continues north to Hillsfar, but that is not a city that a party full of demihumans wants to go near. You keep your eyes open, and twice over the next few days you duck into the forest to hide from patrols of Red Plumes. You could probably take them, but Hillsfar's soldiers are known to be tough customers, and they travel in bands of two dozen. Discretion is the wiser course.
Though the Moonsea itself is still too far north for you to see, it makes its presence felt in the bitingly cold winds that howl down from the north and seem to bite into you with each step. You're well into Ches, now, but spring still seems very far away as you trudge across the snow-covered plain that lies between the forest and the water.
After several days of walking you encounter a smaller trail, heading east. This is Elua's Ride, and it leads across the easiest folds of the land to Elventree. Mid day on the eighteenth day of travel you reach your first piece of civilization since leaving glen: the town of Elventree. The woodland community is a refreshing sight for many of you, its houses hidden amongst, within, and under the great trees at the edge of the forest. You're able to get hot food and warm baths, and sleep in a bed for the first time in almost two tendays.
There are no roads for the rest of your journey. You spend the next thirteen days in the forest, which at least protects you from the wind, even if it slows your passage. Eventually the Moonsea swings down from the north to lap at the edges of the forest. You walk on snow-covered ground, surrounded by the dark brown trunks of trees in winter slumber, with the desperately deep blue of the sea on your left hand.
On the thirteenth day you are forced to cross a sizable stream, which is burbling its way north out of the forest to empty into the Moonsea. On the other side, the trees have pulled back slightly from the water's edge. You make much better time, walking across ground that would probably be quite marshy if it wasn't frozen. In two days you've reached the village of Elmwood. It is a lovely, quiet place, which reminds you of the non-dwarf parts of Mistledale. Once again you're able to have a hot meal, restock your supplies, and sleep behind thick walls.
From Elmwood it's a two day's march to Eueurarlor. You strike out southeast, and by evening the ground has become noticeably softer. There is a lot of water here, very near the surface, and not all of it is frozen. You've heard a few stories in passing of the marshy River Lis, with its moving sand bars ready to disembowel ships and the great clouds of gnats. It's very different to be walking towards it, as plains starts to give way to marsh and cold mud begins grasping at your boots.
At least the insects are still all dead or hiding from the winter's chill.
In mid-afternoon, thirty five days after leaving Glen, you finally catch sight of Eueurarlor in the distance. As Neldor had said, it sits atop a small but broad rise, and the ground as you approach is firmer than it has been for bells. It is misty as well. Mist has been a frequent companion along the shores of the Moonsea and especially the past two days, but it is thicker about the ruined city than anywhere else. Through it, you can make out one great crystal tower still standing, the glass fiery orange in the weak winter light. Great mounds which are likely other towers are half-concealed in the fog.
You pause, still some distance from the city, to take stock and finalize your plans. You don't see anything in the ruins at the moment, though after tendays of exploring Myth Drannor you know that that means nothing.
((ooc: Welcome to Eueurarlor. You're also welcome to explore/interact with Elventree and Elmwood. If you're doing anything in those towns, make sure to put the town's name in a header of your post, so that we can keep track. You don't need a header for Eueurarlor posts, since that's the current part of the timeline.))