After departing from Riverwoods, the party soon found themselves standing before a military encampment aligned with the Bellmond forces. The soldiers were in the midst of felling a small grove of trees to reinforce their camp's defenses, and the party had been instructed to report to the camp's leader. As they approached the camp's entrance, vigilant guards halted their progress. Swiftly, the party explained their purpose, citing their friendship with Lucas Kardean, the Baron of Bellmond and Lord Isaac Forester.
Initially, the guards hesitated, but a fellow soldier who recognized Daviok and Bartimaeus intervened. Without causing a commotion, he directed the party to follow him into the encampment.
Seeing Old Faces
Inside, they were guided to a spacious tent nestled within the camp's confines. There, they encountered familiar faces, including Isaac Forester, who stood at a table studying a map of Rivermond. By his side were Jeremy Castle and Rosemond Wilds, accompanied by a mysterious wolfman. Isaac warmly welcomed the party, recognizing them from previous encounters. However, his attention was drawn to Daviok's presence, prompting Varis to assert that Daviok was part of their group. Daviok remained silent but nodded in agreement.
Rayenne brought up concerns regarding the forest, but Isaac seemed nonchalant, assuring them that they wouldn't continue chopping down trees.
Isaac cautioned the party against traveling to the city of Bellmond, where members of the church and the Dominus Chain were congregated to oversee the legality and ceremony of Lucas Kardean's ascent to the position of Baron. Heeding his advice, the party decided to alter their course, heading toward Seacliff instead. They mentioned their ultimate destination was Greenfield, which drew a chuckle from Isaac, considering it a considerable distance. They asked Isaac to convey their meeting to Lucas and hoped for him to reach out to them.
Isaac expressed skepticism about Lucas making the journey, but he introduced Felisha Riverrun, who was present in the camp. She served as Lucas's bodyguard but had been assigned to assist Isaac in fortifying the encampment. She agreed to travel to Greenfield upon hearing from Lucas. It was revealed that the party had encountered her sister, Alexandra Riverrun, who was engaged to Nikolay Von Keiner of Falktown.
With the plan in place, Isaac had Jeremy gather provisions for the party's journey.
The Wolf And The Merchant
The party decided to take a break at their camp, finding a quiet spot where they dozed off until evening. When night fell, they quietly left their encampment and began their journey southward through the barony.
As they traveled down the road, Bartimaeus kept a vigilant watch for any signs of trouble, but his aging eyes failed to notice a pair of lurking eyes. Keira, however, spotted the hidden watcher and quickly signaled Bartimaeus to halt, drawing an arrow in readiness. From the underbrush, a hunched werewolf emerged and made its way toward Bartimaeus' trusty mount, Snow. Varis produced "Marcus' Head" and attempted to communicate with the beast. Rayenne leaped off the wagon and cautiously approached the creature, attempting to engage it in conversation. The party tossed rations to the creature, which it initially ignored but eventually consumed. The werewolf then slowly retreated, allowing the party to cautiously and swiftly continue down the road. However, they soon noticed a group of other werewolves hiding behind the bushes.
After evading this eerie encounter, they continued their journey and encountered a familiar face on the road. Thomas Von Belthazar was taking a break on his way to Bellmond. He warmly greeted the party and offered to showcase his merchandise, some of which the party was interested in trading for.
He displayed an array of bottles and potions, including the intriguing Booster Flask, which caught Varis's attention. Varis, curious and impulsive, took a sip from it, immediately feeling the effects of Haste, causing time to slow down for him as he became hyperactive. This upset Thomas, who demanded payment, which Varis eventually provided. Keira purchased an Amulet of Runic Healing and an Amulet of Manoeuvre from him. Rayenne traded her Amulet of Manoeuvre with Keira. Varis, on the other hand, inspected the Tonic of Resilience but decided not to purchase it. Instead, he took note of its ingredients and shared the details with Amelia.
Varis also sought to sell various gemstones that he and the party had been carrying. He managed to sell a handful of Onyx and Quartz, nearly emptying Thomas's purse in the process. Thomas believed he could turn a profit once he reached Bellmond. The party noticed a golden medal hanging from Thomas's dog, Ruthas's collar, and learned that he had won the Top Hound Championship in Honeyfair.
Visiting Seacliff
The group continued their journey throughout the night, foregoing rest until, a couple of hours later, they found themselves on the outskirts of Seacliff. Their path led them through vineyards, and they noticed an estate along the road, fortified with makeshift defenses. Two guards stood atop the entrance to the estate, their fatigue evident. Bartimaeus extended a greeting, and the guards inquired about his identity. Bartimaeus, revealing his real name, prompted the guards to exchange whispers. One of them asked, "Bartimaeus who?" to which he replied with a nonsensical surname. The guards shrugged and wished him a pleasant day before Bartimaeus proceeded on the road into Seacliff.
Upon entering Seacliff, the group decided to visit the Cliffside Bar, where they each ordered a meal. Daviok Beastbane made a stop at the local blacksmith, while the others found outdoor seating overlooking the coast. When their meals arrived, they were initially served alcohol-free cider, but upon request, the bartender provided them with the expensive White Rose wine, a local variety produced at a nearby vineyard. After finishing their meals, they split up to search for a captain who could transport them across the sea to Edgewater Port in the Barony of Greenfield.
Varis and Bartimaeus made their way to the blacksmith, Garrett Morduk, who allowed Varis to work in his forge, as it was a slow day with little work. Amelia explored the city's sights and discovered a tannery and a bow shop, where a man supervised his apprentice. Amelia purchased regular arrows and requested the creation of armor-piercing arrows, which would take a day to complete. She also arranged for some of her clothes to be repaired.
Keira headed directly to the Seacliff docks, where she observed several ships displaying flags from the Khein Dynasty and Vache Kingdom. One smaller ship had recently docked, but there were no people in sight. She located the dock master and asked for assistance in finding someone to take them to Edgewater Port. He informed her that most of the ships were preparing to set sail, but he pointed out a lone ship, suggesting that if she could pay the dock master's fee, the captain might be willing to help. Keira instructed him to inform the captain that she was looking for him.
Amelia continued her exploration of Seacliff and entered an inn, where she witnessed a dispute between two individuals. One of them left as she approached, while the other, a burly man with a mechanical cannon for an arm, remained. It was challenging to determine if he was a large man or an ogre. This imposing figure, named Renshaw, turned out to be a ship captain, albeit reluctant to share many details. Nevertheless, he agreed to sail to Edgewater Port and inquired about their financial capability. Amelia assured him that they had the necessary gold.
Rayenne and Daviok lingered at the tavern, savoring their meals. When the tavern keeper presented the bill, Daviok was taken aback by the cost but ultimately paid for everyone's meals. The group reconvened and decided to spend some time in Seacliff. Keira sat down to read one of her books, while Varis worked at the forge. Amelia visited a general store in Seacliff, purchasing a handful of health potions and a Molten Gemstone, which she later handed to Varis at the forge. Varis, fortunate with his craftsmanship, managed to create two bundles of Explosive Gem Arrow.
Family
Later at the party, they decided to take a trip to a vineyard just outside of Seacliff. Upon arriving, they introduced themselves to the guards who granted them entry. They were then ushered inside the vineyard and had the pleasure of meeting Varis' mother, Fabella Gemshard Brightheart, and her sister, Thessalia Gemshard. Thessalia examined Varis closely before warmly welcoming the group to her vineyard. She offered them food and instructed her house servant, Emily, to prepare a meal for them.
Fabella informed Varis that his father was resting upstairs, so Varis and Bartimaeus went to see him. Upon entering the room, they were surprised to find an unfamiliar man near the bed. Varis quickly interrupted the man, who introduced himself as Tywill Diamon, Thessalia's fiancé. Tywill was new to Rivermond and its customs but extended a warm welcome to the Brighthearts before leaving them to speak with Laurence Brightheart. Laurence was resting, but Varis woke him gently to find his father bedridden.
Laurence initially thought he had passed away, but he was relieved to see his son earlier than expected. He inquired about Varis' well-being and the potential for a wife, even suggesting some of Varis' companions. Laurence mentioned having a binder with information and informed Varis that Fabella had it. As Varis and Bartimaeus observed, they noticed a magical ward on the bed, which Varis recognized as a form of a Death Ward. They allowed Laurence to rest and made their way back downstairs to rejoin the others.
While waiting for their meals, some of the group explored the vineyard, with Varis and Amelia stumbling upon a large wooden barrel. Varis attempted to lift it, but it proved too heavy. They continued to explore the vineyard until they noticed inclement weather approaching, prompting their return to the main house.
As they all gathered for their meal, Emily emerged from the kitchen with fresh meat pies for everyone and a special pie for Keira. While they enjoyed their meal, a storm passed over the vineyard, with dark clouds and thunder. Unexpectedly, a series of knocks on the door caught everyone by surprise. Thessalia came out and inquired about the knocking, and the group confirmed hearing it. She wasn't expecting any visitors but went to open the door. To her astonishment, she found a young man in a black leather coat with a crooked smile, who greeted her. She asked who he was, and he simply asked for an invitation.
Suddenly, Bartimaeus sensed an undead presence outside the door and acted swiftly, he took Varis' gun, firing a shot at the man, who stumbled back, bleeding. The injured man revealed himself as Anton Herzberg. He had been there to deliver a message. Keira rushed forward and used a health potion to heal him. The wounded man recovered, and from his shadow emerged another man, slender and gaunt, who expressed annoyance and cursed at the party. When questioned about his identity, he introduced himself as Krasmir Kisling and delivered a message from Keira's father, Jonathan Everron.
Krasmir relayed that Jonathan had received Keira's letter but hadn't personally responded for unknown reasons. He informed Keira that her father was sending people to Rivermond, and he had been tasked with delivering this news. Krasmir then asked if he could pursue Bartimaeus, but Keira advised against it, and he obediently left with his human companion, Anton.
The party gathered their belongings, and Keira secured a room at the Seacliff Inn. Varis received the binder from his mother, promising to review its contents, though it proved thicker than expected. They all made their way to the inn, with Daviok Beastbane again left to settle the bill.
Captain For Hire
The morning began with the party awakening in the cozy confines of Seacliff Inn, well-rested from a peaceful night's sleep. Eager to start the day, they gathered in the nearby tavern for a hearty breakfast. However, there was one notable absence—Keira was nowhere to be found.
Shortly after the others had begun their meal, Daviok arrived and quietly informed Varis that a soldier awaited him outside the inn, next to a barrel. Varis, sensing the urgency, rushed over to speak with the soldier. He arranged for the soldier to watch over the barrel for a little while longer, allowing the party to finish their breakfast without any major disruptions.
The absence of Keira did raise some eyebrows among the group, but they continued to enjoy their breakfast. Rayenne, concerned about her missing friend, decided to investigate. She made her way to Keira's room, knocked on the door, and found it unlocked. Upon entering, she was met with a gruesome scene—several lifeless bodies lying in a corner, and blood staining the room's floors and walls. Rayenne retreated from the room in shock and hurriedly rejoined the party in the tavern. Her shocking discovery left the party with little appetite, and they devoured their meals in a hurry.
Determined to uncover the truth, the group returned to Keira's room. They attempted to communicate with the deceased but struggled to obtain useful information due to their inexperience in such matters. Meanwhile, Amelia descended the inn's stairs to inquire with the innkeeper, who had noticed Keira leaving the night before but hadn't seen her return. The innkeeper mentioned that Keira had headed in the direction of the docks.
Once the party regrouped, they encountered the captain they intended to hire. After a friendly greeting, he requested 250 gold to secure his ship's services. Amelia promptly paid the fee, and the party, accompanied by Beastbane carrying the wine barrel, set off for the docks.