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General Summary

Magic portals in Nikea are temporarily closed while Chandrilla and Krom's paladins crack down on any remaining supporters of the Arch Magus or the Order of Flame and Sigil, so the Scions take a ship back to Monterra.  After an uneventful three month journey, you find yourselves in your adopted home.   Unfortunately, all is not well.  After receiving a hero's greeting on the docks, a trip to the market reveals the toll rampant kobold crack and unregulated booze have taken on Monterra's citizens.  Karl, Marl, and Jarl have converted their curios shop into a front that brazenly sells illegal "booze" - well, they think it's booze - from other dimensions.  After sampling some of the Dowhars' goods, the Scions are drawn outside by a knight on a brown horse chasing Salem and his retainers.   While away, Salem "accidentally" revived the cult of the old gods, and is treated as a living embodiment of the old gods by a small but extremely devoted group of initiates (Salem swears they aren't a cult).  His initiates declare the Scions to be his "apawsltes," something the Scions seem rather uncomfortable with.   The Scions learn the knight chasing Salem is Sir Harold Derbyshire, a member of the Krom Krushers, a group of adventurers/mercenaries led by Mork's childhood friend Luke Badook.  Other members including the halfling thief Bree Cailee and Elven pyromancer (or really, just pyromaniac) Miralee "Kaboom" Mossyrock, who Rayuuv recognizes from his time in the Arcanium.  Luke tells the Scions that the Krom Krushers have come to Monterra to help the Scions, and possibly make a tidy profit.  He also tells Mork that the chiefs of the Babadook are divided about aligning themselves with the Emperor, and his counsel is required to break the stalemate.   Before that can happen Claudius informs the Scions their enemies are on the move.  The Black Brigade seems to have returned to full strength, and Captain Gallus has been brazenly attacking trade caravans and laying siege to smaller settlements in the South.  He seems to be goading the Scions into attacking him.  Meanwhile, an elven messenger asks the Scions for their aid, the Brotherhood of Burnination has surrounded Abraxis's lair and are looking to starve him out.   After some debate, the Scions decide to head west to confront the Brotherhood, while sending the Krom Krushers south with a few companies of irregulars to harass the Black Brigade.  Rayuuv's cavalry scouts manage to locate the Brotherhood's army before they can form up, giving the Scions' army time to deploy on the high ground and take the initative.