COS 068 - We Shine From The Light They Gave Us

When the Heralds reconvened at the Fortress of Silver Dawn, they drew up plans to build a monument to their fallen comrades. Three three stone pedestals would stand in the throne room, each plated with mithril and inlaid with silver and gold. Shakti's dire wolf pelt, Atlas’s Planar Compass, and Mormeros’s volcanic focus would be mounted atop them. The plaque would read: Here Lie Those We Have Lost Along The Way. We Shine From The Light They Gave Us.

Protected for a night after weeks of hurried travel, they decided to throw a final feast. Ezmerelda and Ghalwin filled the hall with music and wine, and between ocarina sessions, the paladin rekindled a spark with Karl. Tobias slipped off unnoticed as Ajuni spent time with Fiona, confirming the former burgomaster had settled in the fortress and was living for her children. Izek received a druidcraft flower from Lydia as a keepsake, then planned to spend the night training a few unlucky soldiers; however, he was chastised by Ghalwin for overworking the recruits, so downed a full bottle of Purple Grapemash and began throwing fireballs indoors. Ghalwin later found Tobias working on their monument and shared a bonding moment with the armorer. Both had become heroes against all odds, and neither was sure they could go home again.

Leaving early, they arrived in Vallaki to find the streets less guarded, and checked-in at many locations. As Ghalwin visited Jarmo at Saint Andral’s Church, Father Lucian wept when Ajuni summoned sunlight into the nave. The Father had commissioned a carved depiction of her in wood, resplendent in the Dawn of Vallaki, and shared that the townsfolk prayed using her image. They learned from Klavdiya Bolachko that the orphans now studied at the Fayan Academy, but when visiting the Blue Water Inn, found that Bray and Brom did not attend. This offended Ajuni and Tobias, who  taught them math models as Ghalwin informed Urwin about his father's change of heart. He also gifted them the Pipes of Haunting, intent on helping fishermen scare off the Gigant Tyatshkala.

Later, in the town square, Izek found that the monument to Strahd had been toppled. Ghalwin purified the statue's stagnant fountain, and used spellwork grow vines and flower around it. At Blinsky Toys, they discovered that many more wooden carvings of Ajuni were now for sale thanks to Lucian’s patronage, and Izek secretly purchased her merchandise. Ghalwin placed a commission for dolls of the entire group, as well as Shakti, Atlas, and Jarmo, which would take two months to complete; Blinsky also again requested that the party find the clockwork masterpiece of Fritz von Weerg.

They traveled for days to the Black Carriage Crossroads. Along the paved road to the castle, Ajuni found Otto Belview's body impaled on a fifteen-foot steel pike; further ahead, other mongrelfolk had been gored in a similar fashion. Not looking to find the extent of Strahd's sick trophies, they turned and pressed further to Tser Pool. Days later, they arrived at the encampment to find it untouched, and Jino welcomed them warmly; the Madam had been expecting them.

Eva seemed to know the party's names and feats, and she instantly admitted that she was The Seeker. She told tale of how she had avoided Strahd, and spoke of the prophecies Ajuni and Tobias had encountered at Szabina's Cabin. Unlike her sisters, Eva demanded no tribute for consecration, but required that the Heralds undergo a trial of visions. She would accompany them, and passed the leadership of the camp onto a mournful Jino. 

The Heralds left at dawn, with Tobias commandeering Eva’s wagon back north up the Old Svalich Road. During the full moon, scores of savage wolves descended on the party, but Ghalwin navigated them to a natural bulwark that allowed them to easily defend their caravan. They arrived at Old Bonegrinder by noon, and wasted no time, making straight for the forest fane. Eva requested that Izek and Ghalwin pitched her tent before the megaliths, while the seer lit a thick stick of incense and instructed them to breathe deeply. Strange smoke filled the air, and the Heralds collapsed into slumber.

When they awoke, Eva was gone, and the tent was surrounded by heavy mist and darkness. Tobias tossed a magically-lit sling bullet outside, revealing five shadowy figures among the standing stones. Shielding themselves with minor blessings and spells, the Heralds stepped from Eva's tent to meet the figures, and encountered futures that had never come. Zandros, Atlas, Shakti, Mormeros, and Jarmo stood opposite them in perfect silence. A wolf's howl broke the quiet, and suddenly, their fallen comrades charged!