They emerge from a tunnel and see Denzel suspended from a metal pole staked into the ground.
Valaari thinks this is a trap, and they get ready for that. Naze is like "or maybe it's just a person who needs help!"
They get Warren to climb to a nearby ledge to get a different vantage point. He doesn't see an ambush, but the ground around Denzel is stained a rusty brown colour.
Warren doesn't know of anything that might leave a lure like this, so he goes to the end of the ledge and calls down to the others about the blood stains, but he doesn't see anything.
They examine the scene and determine there was a fight here, and it seems like things were dragged away.
Denzel stirs but is weak, they don't hear what he says.
They debate how to get him down. Bhaltair has a ladder!
Valaari wants to use the spell scroll for the magic ladder.
Bhaltair gets out his folding ladder, and steadies it against the pole. Runmae gets ready to catch Denzel, and Bhaltair climbs up to cut him free.
Valaari and Warren are looking around, still expecting an ambush.
Naze does a very quick medicine check on Denzel. He's fucked.
Denzel has several festering wounds and symptoms consistent with the early stages of Tetanus. Tetanus has a 10-day incubation period though, so he shouldn't be showing symptoms yet.
Naze does a quick treat wounds to stabilize him so they can get him out of the sun, where Bhaltair can attempt to treat the disease.
With Denzel stabilized, they move him to a nearby cave to properly treat him. Bhaltair (with Runmae's help) takes the 10-foot metal pole so he can do an object reading on it.
They use the water in their waterskins to try and clean Denzel, and then Valaari uses a spell scroll to cast Create Water to replenish.
This reveals the full extent of Denzel's injuries. He's bruised, cut up, wounds are festering and he's sun burnt on his head, neck and hands.
Bhaltair uses object reading on the pole. He experiences Denzel getting tied to the pole after being beaten within an inch of his life and watching people die, he's afraid, upset, and humiliated.
Bhaltair hyperventilates a little bit but doesn't mention it yet. He needs to see to Denzel so the disease doesn't progress.
Bhaltair spends the next 8 hours using his crystal healing powers to try and fight the disease. Naze assists. Bhaltair critically succeeds, giving Denzel a +4 bonus to his next saving throw.
Bhaltair estimates that Denzel is 2 days or so into the early stages of Tetanus, which doesn't line up with when the patrol went out. He would've had to be infected before he entered the Demon Wastes.
About 4 hours into the process, Denzel awakens with a start at Bhaltair holding crystals over him. Runmae calms him whilst Naze holds him still.
Denzel describes what happened, they were ambushed by a Carrion Tribe. Kauth was brutalised, the others were taken prisoner.
Denzel describes an orc tiefling with big metal horns, with a khyber shard axe. Valaari identifies this as a Sakah of Rak Tulkhesh, so the tribe was likely the Razor Wind.
The warband was huge, 20 to 30 people according to Denzel, though it was chaotic and he didn't stop to count.
This is unusual behaviour for the Razor Wind, they don't usually take prisoners. They usually just eat people.
The pole is a message, ambushes are also unusual for the Razor Wind. The telltale signs of that tribe aren't matching what they're seeing.
Runmae wonders if it's a false flag attack? Valaari doesn't think so, they're already fighting the Razor Wind.
Bhaltair thinks the tribe might have acquired new leadership. An axe with a khyber shard as a head would be a status symbol, worth a lot.
Runmae asks if there's another tribe that uses disease? Valaari confirms the Plaguebearers weaponise disease.
Valaari asks if Denzel knows how long he was on the pole. He's not sure, as he was flitting in and out of consciousness, but at least a couple days.
They discuss what to do next. Denzel could die without more medical assistance, and if the warband is as big as Denzel says, they won't fare any better.
Valaari also thinks the others are probably dead, the Carrion Tribes don't really take prisoners. They could also be missing limbs if they're alive, as the tribes eat people.
This is all concerning, the tribe being so close to Maruk Dar, the unusual behaviour. They aren't sure how to proceed.
Bhaltair wants to scout a bit and see if they can find anything, maybe a general location.
Warren thinks they're probably dead, so they should save the one that they can (Denzel).
Runmae also wants to save Denzel, the one person they know is alive.
Bhaltair doesn't want to try a rescue, it's too risky, they just want a general idea where the warband went. They can't take Denzel with them for that anyway, he needs to stay here or the others need to start taking him back.
Denzel can kinda move, but he'll be clumsy and slow. Bhaltair suggests using his ladder as a gurney and carrying him.
Naze is gonna stay with Denzel to continue to monitor and treat him, whilst Warren and Bhaltair go to scout and try to find where the warband went.
Runmae is going to stay behind.
There is some debate about what Valaari should do. They decide to go with the scouting party.
Valaari instructs Runmae and Naze to return to Maruk Dar if they don't come back.
The scouting party try and track the warband for a day. Bhaltair mimics what they've seen Runmae do when tracking, assuming the rubbing of the beard is meant to help.
25th Therendor, 999 YK
They track the warband west until the tracks lead north. It seems that the warband was heading out of The Labyrinth.
They ponder what to do. If they lose the warband, they lose the patrol.
Valaari decides it is too much of a risk, and they head back to the others.
Warren comments that they're all probably dead anyway.
26th Therendor, 999 YK
The scouting party retrieve the others.
Denzel's wounds aren't healing and Naze lacks the supplies to fight the infection. They need the medical supplies at Maruk Dar.
Runmae asks if they had any luck, and Valaari informs her that they seem to be leaving the Labyrinth. They aren't going to catch them.
Runmae is ready to go. They've got Denzel on the ladder.
They begin the return journey.
Valaari sees an odd omen, a cloud that looks like a skull? Nobody else can see it.
They look around, and see a carving of a coiled snake in the Labyrinth wall. As they approach, wind kicks up dust into little tornados. Sus.
The others don't notice any of this, and question what Valaari is doing.
Valaari touches the carving, it's solid.
Valaari thinks there is a portal to Khyber, but nobody else is reacting. Bhaltair tries to use their portal-sensing powers, but doesn't locate a nearby portal.
Super sus.
Bhaltair suggests Valaari could wear a hood or something, maybe the sun is getting to them?
Valaari takes offense.
Valaari gets Warren to mark the location on the map, and writes "Valaari losing mind".
They proceed, mystery unsolved, as they have someone who is unwell.
"Someone who is unwell, uh huh"
Valaari is used to people doubting them, but they're always right in the end!
They proceed to the area where they fought the gnolls. Weird, the whole area is cleaned as if the fight never happened.
They recall knowledge, and Naze, Runmae and Valaari are all able to identify it as an Arcanaloth. A demon of magic, a child of Sul Khatesh.
The demon notices them and peers over the edge of the plateau, and calls to them.
"Excuse me! Hello!"
The demon floats down and speaks to them. The demon introduces themself as the Enigmatic Mr. Fox, he's a scribe and sells scrolls!
They flat out refuse to deal with the demon, even though Runmae was tempted.
Naze is naive and thinks the demon is very friendly!
Valaari states they want everyone to walk away alive from this encounter, and Mr. Fox agrees! So, they leave, and don't trade any scrolls.
Valaari is unbalanced by this encounter. Were the omens they saw a warning of this?
Valaari comments that the others were too quick to let their guard down around a demon, they need to be more vigilant.
Naze understands that you shouldn't accept any offers, but they don't need to be unpleasant! Mr. Fox was friendly!
They continue travelling, keeping an eye out to make sure that Mr. Fox isn't following them.
Naze mentions that the Arcanaloth might be invisible?
Valaari says it doesn't hurt to be vigilant anyway.
27th Therendor, 999 YK
They return to Maruk Dar by late afternoon.
They split up, sending Valaari to report in whilst Warren goes to his room and the others go to the Infirmary with Denzel.
Valaari approaches the war room and finds both Torgaan and Durrnak there. They wait for an opening.
Durrnak frowns, they're back so soon?
Valaari explains they've seen some very concerning things. They ran into two goristro just 2 days away. Valaari shows them Warren's map and they mark where the sighting was on the stone map.
Valaari reports the gnolls they encountered, and that they had killed a Razor Wind group.
Valaari then mentions they found Denzel, hanging from a metal pole, and that his patrol had been attacked by a very large Carrion Tribe warband. They were ambushed, unusual behaviour for Razor Wind (if it was them). They were lead by a Sakah. Kauth was killed and the others taken prisoner, they were alive when Denzel last saw them. That's why Valaari is reporting alone, the others are with Denzel at the infirmary.
Valaari reports that they scouted and tried to follow the warband, but gave up the trail when it seemed they were leaving the Labyrinth. It was a difficult choice, as following them was very dangerous, but they assume the rest of the patrol is dead.
Valaari then reports that they encountered an Arcanaloth just 2 days away, where they had encountered the gnolls. He was just...sitting there, menacingly. He wanted to know where the nearest settlement was. The party didn't tell him anything.
This is extremely concerning.
Valaari asks what they plan to do.
Durrnak explains that Torgaan will lead a band to deal with the Goristro and possibly the Arcanaloth. They'll send Talana'aashta to find the warband, as she can track them supernaturally, and they need to know what is happening. It sounds like this warband is composed of multiple Carrion Tribes, and they need to know for sure if that is the case. The implications!