In the Shadow of the Purple Tree

The party is aided by Manasa and Melcior against the approaching corrupted eladrins. After they fend off the enemies, they make their way to the road leading to Revilon. Weneon summons Vani, who conjures plant growth to entrap reinforcements coming from the woods. As the tribal eladrin warriors become ensnared, the Wood Walker reappears from its banishment and consumes the trapped enemies, growing stronger in the process. Melcior hands the Almenarch tablet to Manasa for safekeeping, advising him to deny any association with her if questioned in Revilon.

Reaching the road to Revilon, the party takes a short rest after the battle and uses the time to disguise themselves to avoid drawing attention. Melcior drinks a potion of invisibility, and they pass by a harengon toll booth along the road. An officer notices Manasa's instrument and suggests he might want to visit Mrkvica, a harengon tavern in Revilon. He makes a deal with Manasa to pretend to know him at the tavern after his set to impress his girlfriend. Manasa agrees, and the party heads toward Revilon.

Arriving in Revilon undetected, the party splits up at the docks to explore the city. Melcior tells them to meet back in an hour at the park near the observatory. Kilijan buys fish from Saven and Ribalda, two fishfolk vendors in Revilon. He learns that Saven's underwater town was raided by Baba Yaga's forces, though Saven seems either unable or unwilling to harbor resentment over it. Weneon searches for thieves' guild markings around the city. He spots a porcupine surveying the area and follows him into an alleyway, where the porcupine, named Skočko, tries to lift a manhole cover. Weneon helps him, and they descend into the sewers, where Skočko leads him to the Small Thieves' Guild of Revilon (STGR). After passing beneath a grotesque gargoyle statue, they enter the guild's main hall, which is populated by various tiny creatures. In a matter of minutes, Weneon is chosen as the new leader. Gwent, a tiny hippopotamus and the guild's acting general, asks Weneon for his first order. Weneon directs them to steal as many weapons as possible from the harengons. The guild members quickly gather about ten weapon sets, vowing to continue their efforts in the coming days. Meanwhile, Manasa tries to find information on Vitkun, the owner of Mrkvica tavern, but is unsuccessful. However, he learns the tavern’s location and decides to visit in the evening to perform and observe. Mycha visits a ten-armed blacksmith named Zuzu, who shows him an assortment of daggers. Realizing he lacks the time and funds, Mycha leaves.

Greg visits his brother Frul at his home, where Frul is making swings for his two children. Greg gives the kids some money, and he and Frul have a brief conversation. Frul mentions he’d hoped Greg might finally settle in Revilon, but Greg explains he’s now traveling with the party. The rest of the party arrives, and they enjoy tea with Frul. Frul mentions he has an important meeting but offers them his home as long as they need. After Frul leaves, the party heads to the park to meet Melcior. Kilijan notices many eladrin guards patrolling the city, along with a few harengon soldiers, who argue about their missing equipment. The eladrin wear a purple tree symbol of Revilon, while the harengon display a rotten tree symbolizing their alliance with Baba Yaga.

The party finds Melcior by the lake in the park near the observatory. She is approached by a young dragonborn named Tamil, who says something to her before Amidor arrives. When the party approaches, Melcior reveals she’s waiting for the Revilon resistance leader. She confesses she was once the leader herself. Tamil confirms this, mentioning his own eagerness to join the rebellion under Melcior before she vanished twenty years ago. Tamil tells the party the rebel leader is expected shortly, but Melcior, growing impatient, heads into the observatory. As they chat with Tamil, the rebellion leader arrives—it’s Frul, the firbolg they met earlier. He leads them into the observatory’s basement, where an illusory wall hides the rebel headquarters. South hither quests Melcior, having used her old key, is already inside. Frul warns her not to assume leadership, but she argues that she has sacrificed too much to leave things in others’ hands. She retrieves the tablet from Manasa and asks Tamil to translate it from Draconic to Common. Frul approves, and he briefs the party on various operations happening across Southern Hither. During the update, the party learns Frul once fought Vecna alongside Elminster. However, he doesn’t recognize the term the Leaves when Kilijan mentions them. Tamil translates the tablet, revealing Almenarch as a powerful weapon in the fight for the Feywild. Melcior is thrilled and suggests they set off for Almenarch immediately, but Weneon argues for a more manageable target. They agree to meet at the northern gate in the morning.

Kilijan stays up studying tactics in the rebellion HQ. Greg spends the evening upgrading his weapons, while Mycha and Weneon accompany Manasa to his gig at Mrkvica. Almenarch Tablet At the tavern, Manasa earns substantial coin and favor among the harengons. His earlier acquaintance advises against meeting the rebel leader openly. Vitkun, impressed with Manasa’s performance, invites him to perform at other outposts or even the main Southern Outpost. Weneon overhears harengons expressing concern about their missing equipment, suspecting the rebels or eladrins. When they return to Frul’s, Mycha sees Kilijan having a nightmare amid his study materials. Mycha tries to wake him gently, but Kilijan accidentally strikes him in panic. Frul's wife, Duana, wishes them good night as they head to bed.

After breakfast, Frul provides travel packs and wishes the party well on their mission. At the north gate, they meet Amidor, who is energized and ready. Amidor asks where Melcior is, assuming she’d be there. Frul arrives in a fury, demanding to know where Melcior is and why she left with Tamil. Amidor is clueless, so Frul uses his sending talisman to message Melcior, threatening her if any harm befalls Tamil. Amidor looks into the distance down the road leading to Almenarch where they conclude Melcior left for. Amidor's silhouette shapes the light of the rising sun in the distance, while the party stands wordless in the shadow of the purple tree near the city gates.