The party arrived at Shoremond as dusk draped the city in a quiet embrace, the setting sun casting a warm glow over the tranquil harbor. Yet, an unsettling quietness prevailed. Homes shuttered, the streets devoid of activity, an ominous air of curfew hanging in the stillness. Venturing closer to the harbor, a peculiar soundscape unfolded — the unsettling noice of squeaking and hushed conversations. Their eyes caught sight of a familiar view: a regiment of Ratmen standing rigidly at attention, flanked by armored dark elves and warforged in disciplined formation. Puzzled, Varis turned to Keira, questioning if they hailed from her homeland, the Vache Kingdom. A nod from Keira preceded her confident advance towards the enigmatic gathering.
Assistance from Afar
In the midst of the assembly stood Elliot Vongore, recognizable and welcoming. He expressed surprise at their early arrival, prompting Keira to recount the tumultuous events on the road, including the capture of Ameena Summerwind. As the party engaged in this exchange, the scene revealed more familiar faces — Krasmir and his servant Anton. Their greetings were less warm, but nonetheless, they acknowledged the party's presence. Inquisitive, Keira sought Krasmir's knowledge on creating a ghoul.
Uninterested in such mundane matters, Krasmir redirected his attention to Ameena, examining her with a predatory curiosity. Ameena's presence seemed to defy conventional categorization, her state of existence eluding the boundaries of mortality and undeath which intrigued Krasmir. Varis, protective of their captive, issued a warning to Krasmir against causing harm. Unfazed, Krasmir took a more direct approach, delivering a sharp but non-lethal jab with his scepter, showcasing Ameena's peculiar nature in that she did not bleed from her wound.
With a smirk, Krasmir reminded Varis of their previous encounter involving Anton. He then proposed a deal, offering to purchase Ameena. Varis, resolute, declined immediately, sparking discussions among the party but ultimately no agreement. Krasmir, ever enigmatic, gracefully withdrew, leaving the offer on the table should the party reconsider. As the night settled over Shoremond, the enigmatic figures dispersed, leaving the party to grapple with the complex threads of alliances and enmities woven within the city's shadows.
Amidst the gathering dusk, a new figure emerged, his presence commanding attention as he introduced himself as Michael Vorne, envoy of Lord Jonathan Everron, Governor of the Iron Isles, and Kiera Everron's father. With measured grace, Vorne acknowledged Keira, recognizing her as Lady Everron, though he dispelled any formalities with a respectful nod before presenting her with a sealed scroll bearing her father's seal. Encouraging her to peruse its contents, Vorne awaited her response before delving into further discourse.
While Keira absorbed the contents of her father's missive, Varis found himself drawn to the enigmatic warforged machines, their metallic forms standing sentinel amidst the gathering. Among them, a diminutive figure, a woman whose form bore the marks of mechanical augmentation, her prosthetic arm and faceplate hinting at a history of both ingenuity and adversity. Varis, driven by curiosity, attempted to engage her in conversation, but her responses were limited to nods, gestures, and expressive eyes which hinted at a past shrouded in mystery.
Undeterred, Varis beckoned forth his own warforged companion, Sabre. However Keira intervened, cautioning Varis not to interfere with the Artificer's endeavors, identifying her as Vivian. Michael Vorne, questioned who the man was to which Varis began to introduce himself as he always do but Vorne was indifferent to his multitude of titles and accomplishments, shifted the conversation's focus. Inquiring about Keira's well-being on her father's behalf, as he assumed the absence of such details in the letter. He sought insights into her experiences in the unfamiliar lands of Rivermond.
Keira started expressing the challenges of adjusting to Rivermond's ways, then she voiced her concerns regarding the strange black roots and demonic incursions plaguing the areas of Rivermond, prompting a chorus of speculation from the gathered company. Anton, the silent servant, spoke up, sharing reports from travellers arriving at Whitechapel about encounters with something akin to black roots near the Stormwoods. Keira, corroborating these accounts based on her own experiences, sought insights into the nature of these phenomena. However, the party remained unable to provide the answers she sought. Krasmir, told them he would inform the lady of Whitechapel upon his return, clarified that he answered to a friend of Lady Steinheart's, not directly to her. As Varis began to question his ties.
As the discussion unfolded, Vorne expressed gratitude for the meeting, revealing his intent to linger in the area before departing for the Iron Isles. A tentative invitation for future engagement lingered in the air, with Keira extending the hospitality of a proper dinner, an offer that Vorne graciously accepted before departing into the night, trailed by Krasmir and Anton, their enigmatic presence shrouded in the obscurity of the evening shadows.
As Michael Vorne departed, the party found themselves approached by a man of authority tinged with concern. While Kiera engaged in conversation with the Captain of the dark elves, Varis assumed the mantle of dialogue with the man addressing them – the bailiff of Shoremond, overseeing affairs in the absence of the city's rulers. Expressing apprehension over the presence of the dark elves, ratmen, and warforged within the city walls, the bailiff voiced his desire to see them relocated before dawn to avoid unsettling the citizenry. Varis, empathizing with the bailiff's concerns, assured him that they would address the matter. Overhearing the conversation, Kiera negotiated with Captain Dreadheart, who agreed to have their forces encamp outside the city limits, easing tensions within Shoremond's confines.
Meeting An Old Friend
With arrangements made for the departure of the unfamiliar forces, the party followed Varis to the abode of his old friend, Cas. Arriving at the forge, knocking on the door, they were met with silence. Realizing the lateness of the hour, they proceeded to Cas's residence, where Varis wasted no time in warmly greeting her with a tactical hug upon entry to let himself in. Cas, surprised by the unexpected visit, inquired about their purpose, to which Varis replied with a request for lodgings. Cas, unfazed by their abrupt appearance, swiftly ascended the stairs to prepare for their overnight stay.
While Cas attended to her preparations, Rayenne seized the opportunity to question Ameena about her motives for wanting to harm them. Ameena, unwavering in her resolve, cited duty to the church and the pursuit of honor. Rayenne, however, broached the subject of the ominous roots in the Stormwoods, a notion Ameena dismissed. Undeterred, Varis and Rayenne resolved to show her the reality of the situation through a future tour of the Stormwoods.
Cas descended the stairs, announcing the completion of their bedding for the night. Varis, sensing a chance for humor, facetiously inquired about additional services, prompting Cas to give him a deadpan stare before retreating to the kitchen. As dinner preparations began, Rayenne joined Cas in crafting a hearty soup. As Rayenne deftly sliced through the fresh ingredients for the soup, Varis's attention was drawn to Cas's dormant warforged, standing sentinel against the wall. A thin layer of dust hinted at its prolonged inactivity since Varis last laid eyes upon it.
With a gentle touch, he could sense the elemental fire still flickering within its metallic frame, prompting him to offer assistance in reactivating it. Cas, however, explained that she had forged the warforged, named Scorn, during Shoremond's tumultuous past under the shadow of criminal control. Now, with the city liberated, its protective presence was no longer required, yet she maintained a tender care for it, refusing Varis's suggestion to reactivate it.
Meanwhile, upstairs, Keira and Ameena found themselves in the presence of Zoe, slumbering peacefully in her bed. Keira proceeded to untie Ameena. Though Ameena protested the risky decision, she remained passive. Seated on the bedding on the floor, Keira began to reveal her own identity and the vague nature of her existence, ultimately disclosing that she was a dhampir. Before Ameena could respond, Keira dropped the bombshell – they had brought her back using Varis's magic and Keira's blood. Ameena, stunned and furious, recoiled at the revelation, retreating into a corner to pray to her god. Undeterred, Keira offered a choice between a cup of water and a cup of blood, leaving Ameena to grapple with the implications of her newfound state.
Back downstairs, the aroma of the finished dinner wafted through the air. They called for Keria, who declined to join, stating she didn't need to eat. At Keira's suggestion, they decided to take some soup to Ameena. Varis, though questioning the decision to untie her, brought a bowl of soup to Ameena and placed it beside her. Despite the lingering tension, a silent agreement settled among the group – to keep a watchful eye on Ameena in the wake of her startling resurrection.
The Undying Gaze
Upon returning downstairs, Varis engaged in a discussion with Rayenne about their next course of action. Meanwhile, as Amelia concluded her meal, she ascended the stairs, seeking respite in rest. The focus of Varis and Rayenne's conversation shifted to the enigmatic Stormwoods, their desire to witness the changes and reveal the truth to Ameena. The mention of the sealed temple, where the malevolent black roots emanated most strongly, sparked their contemplation on the missing third stone key. With one complete key and another broken, the absence of the third proved a hindrance.
Varis proposed a novel solution, suggesting the use of the orb of mirrors to scry on the elusive third key. Initially hesitant, Rayenne reluctantly acquiesced, gripping the orb tightly as its mystical energies enveloped her. In an instant, her consciousness transcended, ensnared within a spectral vision. She beheld the third stone key suspended within a ribcage, obscured by tattered robes on a walking corpse. In a disconcerting twist, the undead addressed Rayenne directly, its hollow gaze piercing through the veil of scrying magic. Offering cryptic promises and veiled threats, it beckoned her to the Five Fingers, tantalizing her with the promise of a dark gift in exchange for its release from undeath. The vision abruptly ceased, and Rayenne returned to the kitchen, where Varis listened in shock.
Rayenne recounted the encounter, detailing the figure's appearance and the cryptic dialogue. The revelation that someone addressed her directly during the scrying left both Varis and Rayenne perplexed, especially considering the figure spoke as if he knew her. Varis, attempting to decipher the mention of the "Five Fingers," recalled his readings about the Five Fingers Chamber beneath the city of Vindrik, now known as the Highmarsh. Consulting an old map, Rayenne uncovered a marked location in the heart of the Highmarsh. With this discovery, their next destination became clear – the Five Fingers Chamber awaited exploration.
Leaving Shoremond
In the early hours of the morning, Varis and Amelia were the first to rise, their activities diverging as Cas got ready to open her forge for the day. Amelia ventured outside, meandering through the waking streets of the city in search of a general store. Eventually, she stumbled upon one and entered, procuring an assortment of potions, predominantly healing elixirs, depleting a significant portion of her coin reserves to ensure the party's preparedness. Meanwhile, Varis joined Cas at the forge, embarking on the meticulous task of repairing the Iron Dome Backpack. Its protective gemstone, essential to its arcane shielding, had sustained damage, necessitating restoration. Unfortunately, the rare material required for the repair, Veilglass, eluded their possession. Undeterred, Varis improvised, substituting the volatile Scarlet Gemstone for the lacking Veilglass. Despite the challenge, he persevered, completing makeshift repairs, creating the Scarlet-Domed Backpack, albeit temporary, until Veilglass could be secured.
Later, the party congregated at Cas's abode, where Amelia and Rayenne busied themselves preparing additional rations for the journey ahead. With provisions secured, they departed the confines of Shoremond, setting their sights northward toward the foreboding expanse of the Stormwoods and Northgate. Exiting the city gates, their path intersected with an encampment, where Keira's retinue lay in vigilant watch. A brief exchange ensued, with Keria instructing one of their scouts to shadow the party, facilitating communication between the retinue and the traveling patry. Amidst these arrangements, Amelia, in her playful manner, engaged with the ratfolk guards stationed at the encampment, sharing a piece of cheese in a lighthearted gesture. With the formalities concluded, the party embarked on their journey along the country road, the looming shadow of the Stormwoods beckoning them forth as they ventured northward into the unknown.