Or are we? When last we left our heroes, the were recovering from the last conflict with Azuke’s orcs and watching Mountainroot and the other firbolg clans prepare for their escape into the Feywild. Goodbyes are said, gifts given, and supplies gathered. Among the events:
- Butchering of the dragon carcasses with a great haul of teeth, scales, claws, and skin.
- Loot is gathered and funds distributed
- Wander and Havayla prepared Word of Recall in front of the tree.
- Everyone takes turns washing up in the village bathhouse.
- The sending stone was given to Wander’s family. The Derailer’s will give the second one to Daisy and Stump to aid in getting everyone together.
- Legend Lore was cast on the Dragon helm. It appears that it was created by Kane and passed among orcs, then given to a dragon by us, then orcs again. It isn’t as old as we assumed.
- Cindy decides that she will return to her home. Everything has been a lot and if the end of the world is near, she’d like to see her people again.
- Wander casts commune to ask knowledge some questions about Skulldrinker and Kane. It is revealed that Skulldrinkers powers are not from him, but something deeper and darker. Kane is still in Hearthollow, he is not working with Skulldrinker out of brainwashing, but there is something else compelling him.
- Messaged Daisy, hey we’re coming to get you! Oh good, you’re safe! See you soon.
- Messaged Dorza, with no response. Scried and discovered her unconscious in an underground jail cell.
- Oh no, Dorza is in trouble in Riverband… guess we’ll go there first. Message Daisy again to explain the change of plans. Thankfully they’re safe with Zezu’s mom, who is cool. They haven’t seen Kane in a while.
- With the talk of the Crimson Eyes, Zezu reveals his former allegiances and the name of who took his eyes: Mavacus. Mavacus is the leader of the Crimson Eyes.
After a day spent resting and preparing, everyone spends one last night before beginning their journeys. In the morning, Wander’s parents, brothers Query and Flint, and sister-in-law Elethfa, along with the automaton, pack up and begin their trek west, planning to travel by the Softfield clan to see if anyone else remains.
The Derailers and Cindy are transformed into golden eagles by Moss and begin their flight, first to the south west, and then south to Riverband. Just before Riverband, Cindy gives a bird call of farewell and veers off to her home, while the Derailers take in the changes to Riverband since their last visit.
The city is surrounded by orc encampments and Onacs. Elemental guardians circle over mostly deserted city streets. The team flies to the city square, planning to drop in on Octavian’s Outrageous Oddities, but the shop is closed. Some comical attempts by bird-Nahtan and Yevin to open the front door are made, while Ryker, Havayla, Aurora, Arunak, and Wander scout out the castle. Near the castle gates there are crude barriers assembled in the roads and all is guarded by lazy and simply outfitted orcs. Ryker attempts to fly closer to the castle, but is dissuaded by the amount of elemental guardians. As they return to the group, they spot a large estate with the name “Noillif” across the top.
With plan A out the window, the crew follows Nahtan to his former home. Banking around the castle, they come face to face with a massive green dragon sprawled against the main tower. It sees them, but dismisses the odd collection of eagles as uninteresting. They all land on the balcony outside Nahtan’s old room and manage to get the door open. The convocation of eagles trot inside and, after a moment spent looking around, follow Nahtan down a hidden passageway, stairs, and hall to the family vault, which has been closed off. Returning to his room, the spell wears off and they begin to plan. A trunk is moved in front of his door, with Aurora laying down as well. Nahtan then leads the group back down the stairs and travel this time to the left, where his family holding cells are.
As Nahtan, Zezu, Ryker, Arunak, and Yevin all peek around the corner, scoobydoo style, they see a dark figure standing at the end of the hall that then vanishes. Yevin casts invisibility on Arunak, who moves forward to investigate the cells. Stalked by a ghastly figure that continually comes in and out of visibility, Arunak looks in at the last cell and sees his sister, in her human priestess guise. What fortuitous happenstance! As Arunak starts attempting to melt the lock with a vial of acid, the team chain whispers to Wander that they’re dealing with ghosts. Confident in her tried and true ability to scare the ever-un-living crap out of the undead, Wander works her way to the front of the group, activates the light on her spear and casts turn undead… it doesn’t work and combat begins.
A confused combat follows, with Havayla and Wander using their abilities to pinpoint (or generally point) out the invisible assailants. Combat completed, it is discovered that Dorza has been found out by Skulldrinker as well. Dispel curse is cast and the team agrees to escape to the sewers. They put Nahtan’s room back the way it was and retreat through the hidden passage to an outer door. A stealthy jaunt across the courtyard takes everyone back out into the city and to the closest sewer access, which leads to the next problem: how to get a full grown unicorn down into the sewers. Aurora has the ability to teleport, but only to places she’s seen. Various plans are discussed and rejected until Yevin comes up with a clever use of minor illusion to show Aurora the space she’ll be teleporting into.
Once safely tucked away in Dorza’s hideout, the lore drop begins:
- Skulldrinker is here in the city and has the ear of the king, but doesn’t seem to have mental hold over him.
- There is something affecting the king, but it isn’t from the orcs.
- The orcs are searching for something in the Tillmar Summit, using the Noillif mining operation as a front.
- Dorza was captured and questioned by Duke Noillif due to her association with us. He would have killed her, but Skulldrinker wanted her kept alive.
- The knaves are imprisoned in the king’s dungeon
There is discussion over how dangerous the Crimson Eyes are and how contacting them would result in a no-good-very-bad-time for pretty much everyone. Unsure of how to go on from here, the team settles in for the night as Havayla casts a dome of protection for everyone to sleep in, shielded from Skulldrinker’s influence. Unfortunately, Aurora cannot fit inside.
The Derailers all go through their nightly routines and Havayla takes a moment to reach out to Sehanine, as she has seen Wander do with Knowledge. Dorza notices, and as a Paladin of Sehanine herself, gives Havayla some extra time for commune. Nahtan peeks out from the bubble to cast Find Steed, bringing his massive grey wolf into existence and the rest of the group tucks in for the night.
As Ryker takes his watch, he sees Aurora stir from her rest, and start looking around with blackened eyes. Unseen in the disguised dome, he starts waking the crew as Aurora gets up to investigate Dorza’s tent and shrine to Sehanine. Havayla is unable to leave to dome lest it dispels, so Wander sneaks out behind Aurora and casts Dispel Curse. Violently, the invading consciousness is expelled from Aurora. Shaken and concerned over their potential discovery, the Derailers discuss weigh their options as they attempt to get back to sleep.
What’s next for our team? How will they escape Riverband? Will they ever make it to Hearthollow? How are they going to get both a wolf and a unicorn out of the sewers? We’ll find out next time…