The party found themselves in an unfamiliar location, uncertain of their whereabouts. After some exploration, they stumbled upon a more well-traveled road that provided some clues to their location. It turned out they were not too far from the town of Falktown, but they were situated between the city of Whitechapel and the hamlet of Hillburg.
The Loss Of A Friend
As they continued along the road, they came across a fortified farm and an old acquaintance, Thomas Von Belthazar, who was still actively engaged in trading and selling various goods. The party inquired if he had any items that could aid their "deceased" companion. Thomas, however, informed them that he didn't dabble in the market for the deceased. Their friend had been deceased for long enough for it to be near impossible for them to bring them back to the living.
Nonetheless, Thomas offered them a favorable deal on a pair of teleport scrolls, one for group use and another for a single individual. While they were engrossed in this transaction, he unveiled other items that might catch their interest. Varis decided to purchase a dwarven belt, while Kiera opted for a dark cape adorned with a bat sigil embroidery on the collar.
The group joined forces to purchase two uncut diamonds at a favorable price, fully aware that Mary might require them for emergencies, however they needed to find Mary again. In hushed tones, Thomas and Amelia engaged in a discreet conversation regarding her father. Thomas recounted rumors of a bounty on his head, but also mentioned his newfound status as an esteemed guest of Lady Steinheart.
When Amelia inquired about the elusive manor she sought, Thomas could only share vague accounts of a sprawling, overgrown estate near Bekvik that matched her description. With their discussion concluded, they bid each other farewell, and the party collectively resolved to embark on a journey to Hillburg in hopes of reuniting with Mary, recognizing her invaluable skills as a cleric were urgently needed.
Arrival At Hillburg
The party arrived in the small hamlet of Hillburg, and they were immediately met with cautious glances from the local residents. Varis and Amelia decided to inquire about the Church presence and were guided to a large wooden fort on the other side of the river that ran by the hamlet. They were also shown a local tavern where they gathered to discuss their next steps.
Each member had their own ideas about what would be the most effective approach. As they sat down, Amelia decided to take a more direct approach. She crossed the bridge and approached the guards, with one of them stopping her. She began asking about Mary and inquiring about the whereabouts of the Orc paladin who had taken her.
The guard passed on her questions and instructed her to wait, which she did. Meanwhile, Varis came across an old, weathered ballista on a wooden platform and began inspecting it. Bartimaeus walked down to the river to offer a prayer, while Amelia returned to the bridge to observe Varis's activities.
Locating Mary
Shortly thereafter, the party heard the thundering sound of approaching horse hooves emanating from the fort. A small group of mounted Knights emerged from the fort, raced across the bridge, and through Hillburg. Varis keenly noticed that Commander Ameena Summerwind was leading this group.
With the Commander away from the fort, Kiera began making her way across the river and searched for a way to breach the high walls. She found an opportune moment to disguise herself as the Commander, keeping to the shadows and guard's blind spots. Eventually, she reached the walls of one of the structures and began climbing towards an open window.
Inside the structure, Mary was confined to a small cell, engaging in a one-sided conversation with a nearby guard who remained reticent. Captain Katrina Gutter, who Mary had encountered on the road, had recently visited her, seeking answers to the Lord Commander's intentions. However, Mary was as clueless as ever. Gutter left, promising to find the answers before departing empty-handed.
Shortly after Gutter's departure, Kiera managed to enter through the window and landed in one of the cells. As she contemplated her next move, the imposing Orc Paladin, Daviok Beastbane, walked down the hallway toward Mary's cell. He was preoccupied and did not notice Kiera in the adjacent cell. He questioned Mary similarly to how Gutter had but received no more answers.
Beastbane declared his authority in Commander Summerwind's absence and examined Mary's belongings. He believed Mary's claim but couldn't determine the reason for her imprisonment. He mentioned that one of Mary's friends had inquired about her but that he was not permitted to release her. He assured Mary he would speak with them but instructed her to await the Commander's return before leaving the cells.
Subsequently, Kiera overheard Mary's voice and realized she was in the right location. After some quick thinking, she devised a plan to distract the guard watching the cells. She pretended to be sick, vomiting and spitting, and then feigned collapse, prompting the guard to come closer. Annoyed by the situation, he unlocked the cell and looked around for a solution. During this brief moment, Kiera quietly pilfered a key ring from him. As he left to seek assistance, Kiera seized the opportunity to approach Mary's cell and inform her that the party had come to rescue her. With time running out, Kiera returned to her cell and lay down.
The cell guard later returned with another off-duty guard to discuss their course of action. The off-duty guard suggested discarding the body into the river under the cover of night, away from prying eyes. The cell guard agreed, and they both returned to their duties.
Causing Chaos
Meanwhile in Hillburg, Varis had loaded the ancient ballista with a Molten Gemstone, all the while under Amelia's watchful gaze. As they focused on their task, the fort gates unexpectedly swung open, and Beastbane emerged onto the bridge. Amelia approached him and exchanged greetings, inquiring about Mary. Beastbane reassured her that Mary was within the fort and doing well but couldn't leave just yet. He requested her patience, and although Amelia refrained from pressing further, she expressed her gratitude for his willingness to talk.
Within the confines of their cells, Kiera seized an opportunity. She scribbled a note and managed to propel it out of the window, miraculously hitting the wooden platform where Varis and Amelia were stationed. Varis found the note and read it aloud, instructing everyone not to fire the ballista. However, Amelia misheard and inadvertently launched the ballista, embedding it in the roof of the central tower building, causing flames to break out in the vicinity.
Pandemonium ensued as the guards scrambled to assess the situation, inadvertently creating an opening for Kiera and Mary. Kiera cleverly escaped her cell and freed Mary. Together, they clambered out through the window Kiera had used for entry. Kiera disguised herself as a guard, keeping Mary close. Beastbane, who was overseeing the chaos, spotted Mary with the supposed guard and ordered her to remain put while the fire situation was addressed.
Seizing the moment, Kiera sneaked into a nearby building to locate Mary's belongings. She stumbled into the Commander's private quarters, rifling through the rooms. Eventually, she pilfered some documents and retrieved Mary's bag. Returning to Mary, they witnessed a strange, colorful dust cloud envelop some of the guards, leading them to scream and act erratically, seemingly under the influence of an illusion. Seizing the opportunity presented by the chaos, Kiera and Mary made their escape from the tumultuous fort.
Meanwhile, Amelia, who had unintentionally caused the ballista mishap, and Varis had retreated into the nearby woods. As they hid, Bartimaeus emerged from his riverside prayers and stealthily approached the fort, capitalizing on the ongoing chaos. He infiltrated the Commander's quarters, combing through every room in search of Mary, all the while remaining in the dark about the others' progress. Bartimaeus even broke into storage rooms and the Commander's personal bedroom in his determined quest to locate Mary.
Escape From Hillburg
In Hillburg, a group of deranged Dominion guards had unleashed chaos upon the innocent civilians after the attack on their fort. Bartimaeus and Kiera, having successfully crossed the river, bore witness to the horrifying massacre unfolding before their eyes. Kiera swiftly released a flurry of arrows at the rampaging guards, while Bartimaeus courageously confronted and subdued several of them. In due course, the scattered survivors regrouped on the road outside Hillburg, carrying the burden of their fallen comrade.
Despite the tragic loss of their friend, Mary solemnly admitted that there was nothing she could do to aid Aislinne in her current condition. Unexpectedly, a powerful gust of wind swept behind them, heralding the arrival of a peculiar, scaly elf. He made a simple offer to assist in reviving their fallen friend, sparking a division within the party. Moments later, a resolute voice from the opposite side of the road beckoned their attention, as three enigmatic druids emerged. These druids, their presence a mystery, warned the party not to trust the enigmatic elf.
With confusion and uncertainty hanging in the air, one of the druids approached and cast a revealing spell, unveiling the true form of the elf—a colossal elder wyvern named Nauzzagin. Disappointed, the wyvern took flight and departed, leaving the party to contemplate their next steps. The druids attentively observed the group, led by a heavily bearded goliath, who kindly offered to give Aislinne a proper burial.
Before parting with Aislinne's earthly possessions, the party noticed a book among her belongings. One of the druids expressed interest in the book and asked if she could examine it. The druids disclosed their own quest: they were on a journey toward Windelcrest to seek an audience with the ancient dragons in hopes of unraveling the mysteries behind the realm's current turmoil.
One of the druids, named Rayenne, expressed a desire to accompany the party on their adventure, a pilgrimage and mission from her druidic circle. The goliath, Tark, consented to her joining the party as they continued their journey. The group ventured into a serene glade, and Rayenne quickly set up her tents as everyone prepared for the approaching night.