With a princess, Chaotic Gold found their way to Calling Horns, a small town already full of refugees from Noanar's Hold, and among them Iormel Cowell,
"Well, if it isn’t the Destroyers of the Dawns way. What mischief have you been up to lately? Arson, assassination, the destruction of dwarven monuments to commerce, wealth and prosperity?" said Iormel, intent besmirching their names.
And the party proceeded to the Calling Horns Inn.
Sadly, there was a disturbance in progress. It was Tosker Nightsword who pulled the bard aside, explaining his zero-tolerance for broken crockery and furniture. After all the Inn is a proper establishment. He asked they the help end the squabble between the short, stout figure of Rolf Axehaft and the cruel Gregor McGillicudy and it was Thorne who got them to take it outside, mentioning that they'd not be welcome back if they ruined the place.
Sounds of mayhem and destruction were heard outside, but Pimzin Teabottle was the only witness to one of the dirtier fight the Inn has witnessed. Inside beer was pulled into crocks and served to the heroes who saved the furniture, before Rolf walked back in a slightly startled halfling in tow. Pimzin healed what wounds she could and in exchange Rolf took the commission of transporting Loreal Neverember back to Triboar and assure her safe passage to Neverwinter.
Rolf was happy to do this service, but he mentioned a blockade of the road to the north. It seems to be the same blockade that Teyani Sura attempted and failed to break. Chaotic Gold promised to see what had happened, but not before urging, Tamalin Zoar, the Protector of Calling Horns to evacuate. She would, but not before harvesting the fruits in the various farms. She decided to "cut it close" for financial gain. There was nothing the party could do but move on.
They travelled the road north and in little more than a day found the blockade, a palisade of rough hewn timbers, a small fort and two towers, all of wood. Nameroc, in the form of an eagle attacked from above with surprise, but his luck failed him and the defenders sent him flying away from the scene as the rest of the party dashed forward.
Zaila Fanter seeing an opportunity threw a fireball into the fort and devastated the hobgoblin underlings as Thorne followed up with well timed arrows to nearly finish off all resistance in the two towers, just as two ogres emerged to flank the palisades. Dumb beasts, filled with more anger than fear they encountered Bryllin Stoneheart and her Axe of Dumathoin hacked and cracked into bone and flesh. Nameroc with newfound hit points returned to assault the other.........
There was mayhem and the blockade was soundly busted.
Another half up the road, the Evenmoors assailed the senses. Trees once straight, and Knobel now stood upon mossy hillocks, twisted and distorted. Turgid waters filled in the gaps between the hills and passage looked impossible for horses, but not yet passable by boat.... miserable on foot. It was here that they found the remnants of an enormous owl once saddled and dissolving from some unspeakable chemical assault.
The razor fiend struck, leaping forward with surprise and slicing with concertina wings, snapping with piercing teeth, a creature out of hell. Nameroc was shocked by the damage as the others began to assail the creature. And as Thorne and Zaila brought arrows to bear, Pimzin yelled to Moira Shadowbanks to retreat with the horses and hold tight as she duplicated herself, sending one part to guard the young halfling and another to assist Nameroc.... sorely in need of healing.
Chaotic Gold prevailed, but only after learning that razorfiends breathe is acrid and nearly deadly with a failed saving throw. The creature faltered crying out in pain, or perhaps with a rage at having left business unfinished.
Looking around they found the dark-skinned rider of the giant owl bearing an undrawn +1 rapier.