From Wizards of the Coast:
This summer, D&D Encounters takes place in the Dalelands. Well, actually it takes place at a gaming store near you, but the in-game events are set between the cold lands of the Moonsea to the north and the large empires of Sembia and Cormyr to the south.
Here, a dozen tiny realms of farmers and woodsfolk lie scattered in pastoral clearings within the vast forest, including Shadowdale, home to the famous mage Elminster; Mistledale, a pastoral land where the Dales Council meets; and Battledale, a lightly settled region where great battles were fought in years past, but which is peaceful in the present age. Encompassing the Dales is the great forest of Cormanthor, home to the elven realm of Myth Drannor. Cormanthor’s hidden depths hold the ruins of ancient elven kingdoms, many still harboring magical wonders and ancient terrors.
Sounds peaceful enough.
Your adventures in the Dalelands begin in the eastern reaches of Battledale, where the renowned sage Imani makes his home. Imani has spent his life studying the ruins of Cormanthor, searching for the legendary library-vaults of the vanished elven realm of Uvaeren.
Recently, Imani found out that a long-lost Uvaeranni artifact, the Diamond Staff of Chomylla, was hidden in the vaults of a dracolich, and that the Cult of the Dragon was close to obtaining the staff to claim the power for its own evil ends. Thus forewarned, Imani called on a number of groups of adventurers and organized an assault that successfully recovered the Diamond Staff. Now the sage is putting together an expedition to open an Uvaeranni library-vault using the artifact, and he is looking for reliable adventurers to accompany him.
As Imani himself states:
“Your task will be to escort me to the ruins, protect me from bandits and monsters, help me defeat or bypass any old traps that still remain, and guard me while I open the Vault of Song and study its secrets. As your employer, I claim half of any treasures we recover on our journey to the vault. The remaining half will be equally divided among you. As for what is found in the Vault of Song, I alone must be allowed to decide its disposition. Those are the conditions. Are you willing to sign on?”
Fairly straightforward, right? That said, although Imani possesses the diamond staff at the start, the season is probably called the Search for the Diamond Staff for a good reason!
Written by industry veteran and author, Richard Baker, Search for the Diamond Staff is designed for characters of level 4–6. The first session takes place June 12th, and we certainly hope to see you there.
