Shadowfen
| Shadowfen | |
|---|---|
| Region | Celestial Plains (border with Verdant Vale and Eldritch Wastes) |
| Notable for | Proximity to the Whispering Woods, alchemical trade |
| Conclave presence | Temple, local clergy |
| Notable native | Althorn Lightbearer |
Shadowfen is a town at the southeastern corner of the Celestial Plains, sitting at the convergence of three regions — the Celestial Plains, the Verdant Vale, and the Eldritch Wastes. It lies on a branch road that connects to the main trade route between the Plains and the Vale, placing it somewhat off the beaten path. It is not a major commercial hub, but its position near the border of the Whispering Woods gives it a character that most comparable towns lack — a certain awareness of what lies beyond the treeline, and a population accustomed to keeping their heads down.
The Luminous Conclave maintains a temple here with local clergy. A mission board at the temple serves as the town's informal hub for contracted work.
Shadowfen is the hometown of Sir Althorn Lightbearer.
Notable Residents and Figures
Thalindor
An alchemist and consultant to the Luminous Conclave, specialising in the creation of healing potions and other alchemical preparations. Thalindor is the reason the Lumina Cell was initially dispatched to Shadowfen — he required Dragon Root, a rare herb that grows only near dragon lairs in the Dragonspire Mountains, as a key ingredient in his work. He provided the cell with a teleportation scroll for direct transit into the mountains, a map, and a magical amulet for the return journey.
Grimwald the Sage
A scholar with a particular interest in ancient ruins and artefacts. During the cell's stay, Grimwald contracted them to retrieve the Orb of Eldritch Sight from a set of ruins in the Dragonspire Mountains. In exchange, he provided access to his private library.
The Lumina Cell's Operations in Shadowfen
The Lumina Cell visited Shadowfen in 587 LE in connection with missions into the Dragonspire Mountains and an investigation in the surrounding area.
The Dragonspire Mission
Dispatched to Shadowfen by Sir Althorn Lightbearer, the cell used Thalindor's teleportation scroll to travel directly into the Dragonspire Mountains. There they retrieved the Dragon Root from a cave guarded by young wyverns, and additionally located the ancient ruins sought by Grimwald. Navigating traps and draconic puzzles, they recovered the Orb of Eldritch Sight — which, upon being touched, granted the cell a shared vision whose contents were redacted from the official report forwarded to Elira Dawnstar by Althorn.
While in the mountains the cell also encountered Elandrial, a silver dragon and descendant of the ancient dragon Tel'Vorath, whose bones rested nearby. Elandrial gifted the cell the Heart of Tel'Vorath — a crystallised magical artefact formed from the dragon's remains over centuries — and offered his friendship. Upon returning to Shadowfen, the Dragon Root was delivered to Thalindor and the Orb to Grimwald. Tel'Vorath's heart was subsequently collected by Althorn on behalf of the Conclave.
It was also during this visit that Carver was introduced to the cell for the first time, joining temporarily before being formally assigned.
The Whispering Forest
During the same stay, the cell undertook a short contract for the local guard — investigating the Whispering Forest, a woodland near Shadowfen from which villagers had gone missing. Inside, they found themselves trapped in what appeared to be a nightmare: every attempt to leave the forest returned them to the same clearing. They fought a Wight commanding a group of revenants, and a nightmare plant that blocked the exits. Upon defeating both, they were able to leave — and returned with a gift of the forest.