Journal 26: Death... so much death

General Summary

Escaping the last city

We discuss what to do; go back to the city or try to go back the same way we came in. We realize that this is a bad idea, because that means just wandering into the Underdark aimlessly. Emilio picks up Elavel, and we use the tree to teleport to the druids, and tell Leshenna of what happened. She is distraught but glad we brought Elavel. She starts a ritual, trying to bring Elavel back from the dead. Unfortunately, it doesn't work. We talk some more; Leshenna is confused about the timeline and the fact that we came from above. Then, we rest.   We take Xiaobo through a tree to his house, where he provides us with a lot of potions. Then, we help him back to Leshenna via a tree. We head to the library, where the sphynx gives us the riddle. We answer correctly, and the sphynx tells us it will grant us a wish. We ask for an escape. The sphynx tells us this is probably for the best, before the retribution... Then, we suddenly appear outside of Bree ! Hurray! We all split up and deal with personal issues.  

Returning from break, or are they?

After about a month, everyone returns to Bree (except Nate). They talk to Mardak Strongjaw . He suggests he could use some help with expanding Bree. Suddenly, a knight walks in, looking for adventurers. His name is Harvey Cecil, of the Order of the Raven Queen. He has had a vision of four adventurers (Rael, Shynt, Emilio and Nate). He wonders where Nate is. Mardak Strongjaw then hands over a letter Nate left them. In it, Nate explains that he isn't made for the adventurers life, and won't come back... Harvey tells ye merry band of adventurers of an adventure! There is a quarry, several days away, that is looking for heroes.  

Vacated roads and bodies

On the way there they find several abandoned inns. The Scoundrel and Cask is still open, however! The team rests. Emilio really wants to gamble some more, and meets a mysterious man who asks him to gamble more than money. Emilio accepts, and the stranger will let him draw cards from a fancy, mysterious deck. If he loses, he'll have to part with a piece of his luck, however. Emilio draws a good card, and is offered the opportunity to draw more, or get a reward right now. He draws more cards! The fates are not smiling kindly on Emilio, as he drew a bad card, and he falls over, comatose. The stranger disappears. The team tries to figure out what to do with Emilio, as nothing seems to wake him up.  

To the quarry

The next day they continue on to Respit's Quarry. On the road there, close to the quarry, they find a man trying to convince a group of men to turn back. He manages to convince 3 of them (with a bag of gold), but the last, Red Cravas, a wild barbarian, refuses. He joins the group towards the quarry.   The group meets Theobold, the mayor of the quarry town. He tells them of his problem; a mine tunnle has collapsed when they hit upon natural caves, and several men, including his son Manford, are trapped. It seems the caves are inhabited by Orcs, who are holding the men captive. A Firbolg, Wren, is accompanied by three Firbolg guards (one named Shim). He tells the party that he wishes to join them when they go down into the caves, as his patron, Ichtaca, the Rainbow Serpent, has insinuated that he could go there to learn more about his ancestors. The miners are already trapped in the mines for 3 days.