Before heading 'up stream' of the dried Stonepool River, the party question some of the peasants of Fisherman's Folly. Mornington gets friendly with a woman he had spoken to previously when the dead fish washed down the river. He asks of any rumours about creatures north of the local area. She informs Mornington that the Twisted Thicket is host to many a Fey creature. It's known to be dangerous for travelers who are charmed off the road and lost in the maze of thick foliage, home to a wide variety of creatures, good and bad. Mornington gives the woman a silver piece for her troubles, she is delighted at the generosity.
The party set off, through the peaceful, breezy grasslands along the river. A couple of hours pass before the landscape breaks up into clusters of forest and rugged hills, and the journey begins to become more taxing as the four heroes have already travelled a great distance this day.
After ascending the apex of a hill the party spot a figure stood by the river bank in the distance. A tall, muscular figure wielding a large axe, who is observing the state of the river. After a short discussion of how to approach, Fenris gets impatient and steps out of their hiding spot and hails the figure. Weapons are drawn as the two parties figure out whether the other is friend or foe. As no hostilities are wanted the weapons are sheathed and the five characters start making introductions.
The individual is a barbarian who goes by the name Crom, He explains he is from The Unbound Tribe and is searching the land to test his mettle and connect to his totem animal. While the introductions are part way through a shadow flashes across the party. Something airborne flies in front of the bright sun, a deep roar accompanies the whistling of projectiles hurtling towards the party.
A large spike embeds itself into Crom's chest as blood spills down his torso. The party burst into action, trying to get sight of what is attacking and taking cover where they can. Moments later the beast is spotted. A Manticore erupts from the tree line, releasing a volley of tail spikes toward Artax, all of which find their target, inflicting terrible damage.
Ranged attacks are hurled towards the creature before it charges into Crom at ground level. Artax sinks several arrows into the Manticore, damaging the shoulder where one wing joins its body. Edward keeps low in the wooded areas of the battlefield, hurling an Agonizing Blast at the lion-like monstrosity. Mornington uses his healing words to keep Artax from being so vulnerable in the remainder of the battle as well as using Vicious Mockery to inflict psychic damage to the beast.
Crom finds himself locked in close combat with the creature, he flies into a rage as blows are exchanged. The manticore sinks its teeth into the barbarians thigh before the barbarian brings the full force of his axe down into the body of the Manticore as bones crunch and distort under the force.
Fenris, after missing with a throwing axe, draws his warhammer and charges into the Manticore. He intends to goad the creature away from Crom but manages to end the creature with a well placed blow to the jaw that sends teeth flying and crushes the skull of the creature before it falls limp to the floor with a heavy thud.
As calm returns to the rocky hills by the river the party finish their introductions. Crom shares some magic items with the party that are of no use to him, attained from his previous adventure. Making a good impression, Crom wishes to travel with the others to try and find his next challenge on the battlefield. They happily accept and inform him of their quest to find out why The River Runs Dry.
Artax spends some time extracting toxins from the Manticores scorpion-like tail before Fenris lops it off, attaching the trophy to his backpack.
With dark drawing in the party move away from the scene of the encounter and make camp in a sheltered cluster of trees. The night passes without any further issue and the party head off in the morning following the river. They travel all day, pushing into exhaustion as the journey is longer than they expected. The afternoon is darkening as the clouds are heavy and the sun low in the sky behind them. The party notices the river is widening, a sure sign that The Dancers Lake is close.
Then, before they can continue along the river, torch lights are spotted in the forest up ahead.
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