The Face of the Enemy is Death

Miscellaneous

The party discovers the true mind behind the incursion, and Orpheus dies (if only briefly) while the party acquires a powerful magic tome.

A Firbolg Creche is attacked by the devils. The party runs to its aid, bringing a thousand of their newly hired soldiers. Everything seems to be going well, the party defeats several devils and a hydra, until Aurora notices something on the roof of one of the buildings. She throws a bolt of lightning at the invisible creature and reveals a giant skeleton watching the fight take place. The skeleton attacks, intent on destroying the party but Kithu uses his chit with The Seraph to have her teleport the party back to the castle. Without their protection at the Creche, the thousand soldiers are slaughtered, leaving one only to return home with the news.

Shaken by their loss, the party begins to take the incursion more seriously. They spread their forces out, sending a thousand men to Palesteel Castle, Kurleigh Castle, and Stonehill Keep; they keep a thousand for their own protection at Fort Basin of Mirefield.

While this is happening Maria Dengra discovers the location of a powerful item known as a codex. Wilphose, excited at this prospective new power, insists the party goes as it may help them with Dugin and this fiendish invasion. The party agrees. They travel south, out of Gravewood and into the wilderness to a stretch of mountains. There they delve into an old dwarven settlement, fighting monsters and eventually retrieving the codex, though Orpheus and Jirimi are killed in the process.

The Party returns home, reviving their two fallen comrades, and planning their next steps.