The Hearthstone
The Hearthstone (alternatively spelled Heartstone or referred to as Vyldara’s Heartstone) is an ancient elven relic of profound astrological and planar significance. Bound to the grace of the goddess Selune (the Moonweaver, also known as Sehanine Moonbow) and the tragic lineage of the High Mage Larellion, the Hearthstone serves as the literal and metaphorical key to piercing the Mythal of Moonshadow. It is the unique instrument required to phase the shifting, ethereal fortress of The Hand of Sehanine back into the Material Plane.
Origins and Association
The Hearthstone is intrinsically linked to Vyldara Sehahine, the tempestuous daughter of Archmage Larellion. Following the fall of the Pact of Phandelver and the subsequent curse that trapped the elves of the Hand in repeating temporal loops, the relic became a vessel of guidance. It preserves connection to the tragic history of the sisters Agatha and Vyldara, containing residual echoes that guide those worthy of redeeming the family’s ancient mistakes.
During the rebirth of the Pact of Phandelver by the modern adventurers known as the “Fantastic Five,” the half-elf rogue Erevyn Sehahine—a direct descendant of Larellion’s bloodline—received visions through Vyldara’s Heartstone. These visions guided the party across the Sword Coast to the ruins of Axeholm and eventually to the outskirts of Leilon.
The Phasing Ritual of the Hand of Sehanine
Because of the divine curse laid upon the elves of the Hand by Selune and Corellon, the elven tower remains phased out of the Material Plane, appearing only as a hollow Ethereal mist. To manifest the fortress physically, the Hearthstone must be utilized at a very specific nexus.
- Location: A barren, rocky mound situated on the outskirts of the ruined elven village of Leilon.
- Timing: The ritual can only be performed at nightfall, specifically beneath a cloudy or obscured full moon.
- Activation: Holding the Hearthstone aloft causes the obscuring clouds to part, summoning direct beams of pure moonlight to strike the rocky mound. This triggers a brilliant, shimmering cascade of planar magic, forcing the Hand of Sehanine to fully materialize.
The Trial of Selune
The Hearthstone is not merely a key, but a medium for divine judgment. Upon its activation, the goddess Selune directly spoke to Erevyn through the relic, testing his heart. She warned that to carry her grace, one must possess “Compassion” and “Empathy”—virtues his elven ancestors abandoned when they chose isolation and betrayal over their dwarven and human allies in the Pact.