Session 13: The Darkscale Syndicate Report

General Summary

Departure from Tinnervale

Our understanding of the Darkscale Syndicate deepened today. It seems they’ve been working in secret, excavating something of great value near the Vyndorak Spikes. With this information in hand, we bid farewell to Whisperwind and Twinhammer at Tinnervale. Whisperwind reminded us that we could collect our gold reward through any city’s magical mailbox system—an interesting piece of knowledge, but one I fear we won’t make use of until this ordeal is over.  

Time Distortion on the Road

The first day of our journey north was not without its complications. We encountered a strange distortion—time itself fractured around us. Warby and Goq moved at a different pace from the rest of us, their bodies shifting between past and future in unsettling ways. Thankfully, with the Chrono Compass, they managed to stabilize the time rift, allowing us to move forward. Still, I wonder what more we might face before reaching our destination.  

Encounter with the Arboreal Reaper

The next day, a grim sight awaited us—several bodies hanging from the dead branches of a long-decayed tree. However, it quickly became clear these poor souls had been twisted by something far darker. The tree itself rose from the ground, animated by some unnatural force—a true Arboreal Reaper. The battle was harsh, but after defeating the creature, we managed to harvest its precious bark. I don’t know if I’ll ever grow used to crafting materials coming from monsters, but the bark could be valuable in the future.  

Shelter from the Storm

Our journey into the Vyndorak Spikes was marked by another challenge—a vicious magical storm that forced us to take refuge in a small cave. It was during this time that we affixed the talismans and runes we had been saving to our weapons. As we sat and waited for the storm to pass, the howling winds reminded me of the dangers that lurk even in the natural world here. Everything feels... alive, in ways that are both beautiful and terrible.  

Confrontation with the Blackscales

The next morning, we continued on, but we didn’t get far before being intercepted by a squad of Blackscale Syndicate enforcers. They tried to turn us back, threatening violence if we continued toward the excavation site. It wasn’t a negotiation—more like an ultimatum. Naturally, we refused. Combat broke out swiftly, and though we tried to take one of them alive for questioning, they were too well trained—or too devoted to their cause—and we failed to capture any of them.  

Discovery at the Excavation Site

Finally, we arrived at the excavation site. It was an odd place—rocky, yet still tinged with green, almost as if the land itself was alive. At its center was an ancient pedestal. As we approached, Bloodtusk, the one leading the excavation, activated the pedestal, encasing himself in a sickly green energy field. We had only a moment to react before his lieutenant, Sylor Darksteel, and the other Blackscales moved in to stop us.   Sera