Alas, Poor Yorik

On the way to Hakeby, Weltread informs Darien and Smithy of Ciana's mission. She and Yorik had been sent to assist the town, as it had requested help in dealing with a group of bandits that had been extorting the citizens and causing trouble. These bandits were a particularly infamous group known as the Scream Hunters, led by a cruel dwarf named Kagan the Bloody. Darien recognizes the group as a notorious mercenary group employed by the forces of Cyrios Galdemar in the Sodmarene Civil War and were known for their cruelty.
Thanks to the Holy Diver's speed they arrive at Hakeby by dawn and find the town in ruins, with some of the Scream Hunters picking through the wreckage. Darien and Smithy spring into action and attack the bandits. They attempt to take one alive for questioning but he takes his own life rather than speak. In the aftermath, they investigate the town and find Yorik bleeding out. He says he tried to help fight off the bandits but was injured. Ciana and some other townspeople were taken prisoner; everyone else was slaughtered. Darien interrogates him about the archives and Yorik admits to the theft, claiming that he was forced to by Kagan who said he would burn Hakeby to the ground if he refused; Kagan then burned the town anyway.
Yorik knows where the Scream Hunters are holed up and begins leading them deeper into the island's jungle. As they come within distant sight of the Scream Hunter's camp, Weltread scouts ahead while the rest wait for him. After a few minutes, Smithy notices a small creature flying towards them as Ciana's pseudodragon familiar Skylon approaches and alights on Darien's shoulder. Skylon begins hissing angrily at Yorik, who reveals himself to be a shapeshifter called Face Peeler who works for Kagan, having long since killed and replaced the real Yorik.
Weltread returns, having scouted the area and seen where Ciana is being held. The camp is on a cliff with only a narrow path leading to it. Weltread will scale the mountain behind the camp while Darien and Smithy mount a frontal assault. After a short rest, the plan is put into effect. Kerrygold is put out of commission by a hidden pit trap, but Darien and Smithy push through the resistance and battle their way to Kagan who holds a knife to Ciana's throat. After a half-hearted attempt at diplomacy Kagan cuts her throat and attacks Darien and Smithy, who are able to defeat him with the timely arrival of Weltread. Smithy heals Ciana's wounds, and after clearing the bodies they bed down to recover from the battle.

Chapter Seven

"Alas, Poor Yorik"

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Previous Chapter: Meeting the Order

Next Chapter: Down Too Long in the Midnight Sea

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Ingame Date: 17^th of High Sun, 1855
Real-Life Date: May 8, 2022
Protagonists:

• Darien Lothar
• Smithy

Featured NPCs:

• Kristofer Weltread
• Yorik/Face Peeler†
• Ciana
• Skylon
• Kagan the Bloody†

Locations:

• Hakeby