Gathering their strength, the party renewed their efforts in trying to open the back wall, which Farid discovered to be some sort of door. Despite their best efforts, though, the door remained closed to them. As their air began to run out, Xerix discovered that the floor was covered in cracks, suggesting that it was unstable; however, he was unable to break through. Finally, Farid attempted a spell that would attempt to melt through the ice wall...unfortunately, the spell went wildly out of control, blasting the small cave with fire. The fragile floor gave way, and the scorched party was dropped into a dark labyrinth of tunnels beneath the Garden.
Recovering from their fall and from the effects of Farid's spell, the party started to explore the tunnel system. They traversed the ice-locked tunnels, eventually crossing a shallow pool of freezing water. As they started down another path, though, they encountered company - a large group of the shadow beings that they had previously fought atop the sacred hill. Overwhelmed, the party made a fighting retreat, eventually coming to a dead end in the passage. However, Endeleban discovered an opening near the ceiling, and - aided by the wild currents of magic that filled the place - managed to blow off the heavy lid that blocked their exit. Quickly, the party climbed up out of the tunnel, and into a truly remarkable place. They were in the ruins of a stone pavilion, set amidst a fabulous garden of exotic plants and trees. The remains of a shattered crystal fountain occupied the center of the pavilion, its cracked basin still holding stagnant water. Most of the party, wounded and exhausted, made a quick survey before lying down to sleep, but Xerix and Thomasin explored a bit further. Xerix discovered a stream nearby that's water possessed healing properties, while Thomasin and Ash explored a short ways down a gravel path. The entire place was truly remarkable, and everything seemed to be part of a larger design - nothing, not even the placement of the trees and flowers, seemed left to chance. They had found their way inside the mythical Garden, and the mysteries that it posed were almost overwhelming.
After investigating another pavilion and a tall obelisk of stone - neither of which shed any light on the mysteries of the garden - the party entered a walled enclosure in the center of the vast garden. There, the wondrous plants and trees of the garden grew in a dizzying array of color and aroma. Amongst the alien flowers, beautiful marble statues stood in silent watchfulness. As the party wandered amongst the statues, Xerix discovered a raised paltform in th center of the garden, upon which a capped well was found underneath the heavy over-growth. The stone cover of the well was in three pieces and was slightly separated; an orange light could be seen wafting up from the small opening. Interested, the rest of the party joined the cat-man in the garden's center, and began to investigate the strange well...when it was discovered that Endeleban was missing.
Having grown bored with the garden, Endeleban had wandered off to one of the three tall towers that stood at the outside corner of the central pavilion. As the rest of the party followed, they found a small door that lead to a basically empty chamber. Opening a trap door, they descended into a sort of wine cellar beneath the entry level. There, after a quick search, they found Endeleban's sword and his magically glowing torch, along with a pool of dark blood. Shoving aside one of the large casks revelead a hole in the wall that apparently connected with the ice caves that the party had escaped earlier. As they prepared to enter, an undetected "trap" was sprung, resulting in Xerix being greatly reduced in height. As the humans sought to figure out the source of the magic involved, the diminuative cat-man ventured on ahead, exploring the darkened tunnels.
As Thomasin, Farid, and eventually Leif worked their way down a steep icy ramp to the tunnels below, Xerix continued to range ahead, eventually coming to a large cavern. Within, dozens of the black furred cat beasts were preparing an ambush for the approaching humans. Because of his small size, Xerix was able to penetrate into the room's center, where he identified a large leader-type who seemed to be the driving force behind the creatures. As Thomasin, Farid, and Leif walked into the ambush at the cavern's entrance, the spell on Xerix suddenly gave way, resulting in his discovery and subsequent wounding. The humans fought desparately while Xerix struggled to maintain consciousness, only to discover that one of his captors was his former companion, Swiftfang. Calling forth a spell of fire, Xerix managed to escape and work his way over to the rest of the group. Suddenly, a large black cat beast leapt from the shadows, driving back the assailants off of Leif and Thomasin. Surprised and more than a little confused, the humans and Xerix fought their way back to the ice ramp, where the large black cat beast re-appeared and was revealed to be Endeleban, magically disguised. The party scrambled up the ice ramp and exited back into the relative safety of the Garden.
Having again reached the safety of the surface, the party split up, seeking to discover clues as to the strange nature of the Garden. The three towers in the center were investigated further...atop two of them, a triangular ornament was discovered near a pedestal that overlooked the central enclosure. The party concluded that the ornaments were "keys", of a sort, but to what they did not know. In addition, it was obvious that the third "key" was missing, so a more intensive search for it was begun.
One of the towers contained what seemed to be prayer rooms, while the third looked to have once housed a long abandoned library. In a chamber above this library, however, was a chamber decorated with beautiful tapestries depicting a park within a grand, slightly alien looking city. The chamber also held a small stone bowl, which Farid proceeded to fill with water and use as a scrying device. Asking if there was indeed a portal of some type within the Garden, the desert bard was given a vision of a spiral design before something banished the vision. Once described, the spiral design seemed to signify something to Endeleban, who led the party back out from the central enclosure and along the main Garden path. After sketching a rough map, it was concluded that the several "pavilions" along the path corresponded in location and arrangement with the designs of the spiral. Endeleban went a step further, surmising that the pavilions themselves were gateways to physical locations on Toril - Elven cities, perhaps - and that the third "key" was crucial in opening these portals.
Further search of the Garden, the pavilions, and the towers failed to uncover the last key. Finally, Xerix contacted the spirits of his tribal ancestors, who revealed that the missing component lie with the Dark Ones in the tunnels below the Garden. As the party made plans for their third incursion into the tunnels, Endeleban suddenly unlocked some strange power contained within one of the statues in the central enclosure. When he recovered, he claimed to have been granted the knowledge of the Garden's secrets. With this knowledge, he said, he could remove the spell of sealing that had been placed upon a portal in the Garden, but that it would take time.
Arming themselves with makeshift torches and weapons, Thomasin, Leif, Xerix, and Farid descended into the icy caverns, while Ash stayed to safeguard Endeleban as he worked. At the bottom of the icy ramp, the party encountered a grisly totem, apparently erected by the Dark Ones to provide protection against "spirits". Further down the tunnel, after passing several side passages, the party found themselves at a barrier of boulders and ice. Driven in between the stones were the jagged points of spears and knives, extending outwards in a menacing display. Sudden realization dawned on the party, and they grabbed their weapons and spun around just in time to see the ambush. As the Dark Ones rushed in from the side passages, the party leapt to battle. Thomasin and Leif, brandishing their swords, charged forward and met the lead warriors head on. Farid, cloaked by invisibility, maneuvered into a better position while Xerix turned his attention to the barrier blocking their path. Swords and claws clashed, with wounds inflicted on both sides, while Farid let fly with several greatly altered spell effects. Suddenly, as the battle began to turn against the party, one of Farid's spells opened a gate of fire, through which emerged a large, red-skinned fire demon. The battle was halted as the infernal being sized up his accidental summoner; after a brief exchange and a few threats of delayed retribution, the demon turned to leave, but not before sending a blast of fire at the frozen barrier, exploding it back into the large cavern, where the Dark One's leader awaited...
Recovering from the appearance and subsequent disappearance of the fire demon, Xerix and Farid charged into the chamber to confront the leader, while Thomasin and Leif fought off the remaining warriors to bid them time. Xerix and Farid quickly discovered, however, that the leader had undergone a strange transformation - it was now a large, bulbous mass of scorched fur and writhing tentacles. Xerix attacked with his staff, piercing the abomination through the eye, while Farid used a long rope as a garrote and attempted to strangle the beast. Suddenly, tremors started to shake the cavern, but the party continued the fight. Eventually, the creature expired, and Xerix took the last "key" ornament from around its hideous neck. Holding this symbol before him, Xerix established a tenuous control over the Dark Ones, allowing the heavily wounded party to begin their escape. As they left the cavern behind them, though, another tremor struck, causing a large crack to appear at the back of the cave. Suddenly, icy water began to spray in through the crack, rapidly filling the subterranean tunnels. The party barely managed to regain the cellar of the tower before the icy water could claim them.
Out in the Garden, the tremors continued. Endeleban was nearly finished with his spell, and he ordered the others to hurry. Suddenly, something came crashing through the ice-dome overhead; as large chunks of ice fell to the ground, the shape opened its massive leathery wings. Hoarfrost had broken through. The dragon began to bombard the lush Garden with her icy breath, causing trees to explode and plants to shatter as they were flash frozen. Leif, Ash, and Farid each climbed one of the three towers and managed to align the three "keys" with, per Endeleban and Thomasin's instructions, the moon overhead. The portal in the center of the Garden slowly began to open, but not before the dragon attacked the group, blasting Thomasin with its breath weapon. Xerix reached out to the spirits to heal Thomasin, but the bard was too far gone. Finally, Xerix knelt and prayed before the statue of the elven creator-image Corellon Larethian, and the shaman found the power of life and death within him to command. Energy surged into Thomasin's body, re-igniting the spark of life. But it soon looked to be too late, for the dragon had landed near them, intent on finishing them off...but then, out of the frozen forest, emerged the black furred Dark Ones, spears raised in the defense of their sacred Garden. Ignoring the party for the bigger threat, the cat warriors fell onto the dragon with claw and blade, overwhelming it with sheer numbers and determination. As the party watched their former enemies become their saviors, the portal opened completely, sending a shaft of light up towards the heaven. One by one, each of the party leapt into the light, disappearing from view. Xerix hesitated, wanting to re-join his former brethren, but a spiritual vision changed his course, and he, too joined the party in the light, stepping out of the Garden and into whatever lay beyond...
