Last we left our heroes, Arunak and Nathan had “Beanie” cornered in the kitchen while Wander magically locked her in place. As the rest of the group converges on the kitchen, Yevin dispels the illusory magic and reveals a red tiefling dressed in leather armor, looking like a dark mirror of Dorza. Arunak and Nathan waste no time removing her weapons and magic items.
The tiefling, her title revealed to be The Tempest, asks where Dorza is and does not know or care who the rest of the group is. Arunak bluffs that she was killed by the beholder, causing some momentary confusion in the Tempest’s mind. Hearing this, Havayla rushes back to the war room to tell Dorza to hide. Further questioning leads to dead ends, mostly due to her devotion to her singular goal.
With a burst of willpower, Tempest breaks the magical bonds, triggering a series of actions by Nathan, Arunak, and Ryker. Wounded and restrained again, discussion turns to how to deal with her. She can’t be allowed to leave, even keeping her alive for questioning gives too many opportunities for her to escape. The ship is well off the ground now, should they throw her off the ship? Ryker and Nathan carry her above deck to consider their options while Arunak seeks out Dorza.
On the deck the debate turns to method of execution. Arunak rejoins, having conferred with Dorza, and encourages a swift death for their prisoner. Rather than toss her overboard, wounded though she is, Havayla pulls down moonbeam from above and simply melts her. Horrifically effective, the tempest does not simply die, but melts into a puddle of oddly caustic goo.
The Derailers aid the crew in cleanup. Wander checks the remains and notices an odd similarity to the vat of mysterious mutilative goo they found in the wizard’s tower and in Randar’s sanctum. Disturbed by this, she lets the group know and files it away for future reference. Ryker orders Reg to return the ship to ground and the Derailers begin to file through what was removed from the Tempest’s body, handing all unknown items to Wander for identification, which will take her an hour or so. In the meantime, Havayla suggests that Nathan go find the real Beanie to make sure she’s ok and let her know that she still has a job. He returns soon after with the slightly disgruntled half elf who immediately starts her work in the kitchen. They still have a couple hours before observing the Duke’s hand-off to the Knaves, so the team gathers in the war room to discuss things.
Everyone takes some solace in the Tempest’s lack of knowledge on the Derailers and her disinterest in who Arunak is. Perhaps they haven’t caught the attention of the Crimson Eyes yet, and with her “disappearance”, potentially for a little while longer yet. As Wander brings in and explains the now identified items, attention turns again to her. How did she know someone was on the ship? Why has she been so withdrawn? What is she hiding? Gradually the crew, with questioning spearheaded by Havayla, Ryker, and Yevin, draw out some reluctant answers.
Wander admits that she’s been tasked with the responsibility of protecting something that is important for keeping the balance of magic in check. She’s very concerned about the Crimson Eye’s involvement with Orcus, since he’s one of the major enemies to the balance. She’s considered quietly leaving. If know one knows what she has, she could disappear to keep it safe. At this point Wander is inundated with encouragement and reasons to stay. She ruefully acknowledges her importance to the group and promises to stick around for now. But is still reluctant to share much more yet.
At this time, the sun is close to setting. Ryker orders Reg to take the ship up and into stealth mode. They fly over to the opposite gate to observe the negotiation with the Knaves. At a distance, they can’t hear any of the words, but they see the Knaves ride up and meet with the Council. The Duke is brought forth by two earth elementals and handed off to the Knaves, who tie him to their giant dire horses. After an exchange of farewells, they march into the forest. The Derailers follow, unseen on the Windwalker, for a time, but it becomes obvious that nothing is amiss and the Knaves are more than capable of defending themselves should anything happen. The crew leaves the Knaves and the Duke to his fate. They land back at the main gate and get settled in for the evening, everyone getting cozy in their respective resting places.
In the morning at breakfast the discussion turns to their next adventure. Shaken by the Crimson Eye attack, Dorza asks Ryker if she can remain on the ship. He agrees and asks her to take care of the spiritual needs of the crew. She writes a letter to the council explaining her absence and her plans for the citadel in the meantime. Resolving another loose end, Wander brews some of the restorative tea Yonder gave her and offers it to Havayla, casting greater restoration in hopes of returning her memories of the Feywild. “The FLIPPING GOATS” Havayla exclaims to Ryker. Obviously it was a success. Ryker and Havayla leave to discuss their travel plans with Reg while Dorza leaves to take her letter to the Council, escorted by Iris. Yevin offers to retrieve the horses and Nathan decides to take a moment in the field waiting for the horses, leaving Wander and Arunak alone at the table.
Wander asks Arunak if he trusts her, then asks for a dagger and his hand. Making a small cut, she examines his blood, comparing it to what was left of the Tempest; they share similar properties. Healing his hand, she tells him of what she learned from Knowledge the previous night, that there is a connection between the blood of his family and the pools they’ve found. Arunak then hands Wander a list of names that Dorza gave him, names that the Crimson Eyes are interested in. One name stands out to her: Tramble Filden. She explains that this was a woman, a Professor from Hearthollow, that spent a good amount of time with the clans. One of the first outsiders allowed in to Mountainroot, some 20 years ago. Wander recalls that she wrote a paper on the Clans, but that the Elders made her promise not to publish it, yet. They weren’t ready to be revealed. Why are the Crimson Eyes interested in her? Cautiously, Wander pulls out a book from a pouch at her side, showing it to Arunak, “this is what I’ve been protecting.” She uses it to scry on the professor, finds her safely researching at a campsite, and puts it away.
Outside the ship, the team begins to gather, waiting for Yevin to return. Wander plops down on the ground next to Nathan and everyone enjoys a moment in the morning sun. Yevin comes out of the city gate leading the horses with their tack. As the animals are handed off Nathan casts a spell to speak with them, and introductions are begun. Names are given and apples are exchanged. It becomes apparent that all the horses are excited about the possibility of some running. The Derailers mount up and begin their journey westward. What will they find as they visit old friends? How long before the Crimson Eyes realize that one of their own has fallen and by what hands? And who will win the race that the next session will obviously start with? We’ll find out next time…