The Little Bird’s Nest?

(Whistling Wood — Outside Shard, Ilithi: 385 Nissa 355)

After a long swig of kelp water and a generous helping of sour rolls from a thankful farmer south of Riverhaven, I was off to Ilithi to follow where the wind takes me.

Traveling through the realm’s capital, I soon made my way through it and into Leth Deriel, which was the first thing that trully caught my eye. The city nearly appeared to be under military control. Soldiers patrolled the streets, some bearing the insignia of the apostles, and some simple mercenaries or city officials. Weapons had been prepared, as if they were expecting an attack. I saw no need for me there, so I moved on…

After a day, I finally reached Shard, and there is where my story may have stopped, yet it did not. A few days past – uneventfully. Near the end of the fifth day, however, I was caught up in a controversy between a thief and a merchant arguing about stolen goods. The thief explained to me that he had turned over a new leaf, and it was a crippled adan’f that swiped the merchandise. So, as I had nothing better to do, I decided to look about the Whistling Wood for the thieving creature while the two duked it out in front of the great tower.

After two or so hours, I came apon the adan’f, dead, blood soaking the ruined merchandise, which had been torn apart for anything edible. I figured as much, for he would have only slowed down his tribe with his disfigured foot.

Suddenly I realized that I was in the soon-to-be gathering place that the bards would come to some time from then. A great maw of a cave stood before me, sealed in a thick layer of ice. Of course you know what I, or any other self-respecting adventurer would do. I began to search for any clues on it’s origin.

As I was about to give up, I noticed a slight indentation in the steel-like glacier. It was a keyhole! But a crude one at that, for ice seemed to have filled up the slot slightly, making it unrecognizable to the naked eye. The deterioration made impossible to pick with my skill. Therefore, I resorted to magical means to get through the barrier. I tried to melt through using my power, as well as melting it with superheated flame, but strong magics entwined it’s being, making it impossible to penetrate.

Softly I whispered, "Damn… where art thou, little bird? Is this where ye rest?"

It was not a voice that answered me, but a musical note from somewhere in the distance. Suddenly, an obsidian scorpion amulet fell at my feet and shimmered darkly.

At first, I thought it was some kind of trick. Perhaps the thing was cursed, as had many of it’s make had been before? I called out to the voiceless thing, but it did not reply. I thought the answers might lie within the artifact, therefore I donned the wretched-looking thing.

Nothing!

I waited for hours and called out for Wren, but there was no answer. Was she still being held prisoner somehow? I had heard she had been freed. Mahap this – structure… is somehow connected to her? Bah! I do not know. But the gathering soon approaches, and we shall all find out soon enough.

I ask ye all to bring something that may be of help in penetrating the doorway. Try webkeys, fire rain spells, anything that might melt it. We may be getting close…