GR 39: Coldfire Revenge

The story picked up after the party had been sent by Baron Keldar Weston to obtain medicine for his sick child, who was at the point of death. The group had gone to Endaldel and was now returning on their way back to Moravan along the Breghia River. They were about halfway home, in the town of Pen Riva, when the weather turned and a sudden fierce snowstorm hit. That evening, the innkeeper Tara suggests sending out a search party to find a merchant family she had expected to arrive that night, the Wilmans. The party never found the family, but seeing starnge blue lights ahead, they encountered an elemental creature made of fiery blue light, which they later learned was called a Coldfire Spirit.
Taking sleighs to continue home to Moraven, the party encountered signs of a flash freeze across the countryside, affecting wildlife and trees. Sent to investigate the Mosshide Mill forest logging camp, the party discovered the loggers under attack by the same Coldfire Spirits. Investigating further, the party later encountered an Earth Lord (Tumpantani), concerned for the natural creatures of the woodland. Through him, they learned that the Coldfire Spirits were not "forces of nature" but rather, creatures summoned by ethereal means. After rescuing some Clayfolk from a frozen cave, the party brought the survivors to Moraven with them.
Upon arrival, they found the castle of Moraven beseiged by Orgim forces. These enemies were led by the Cryomancer Se’cuan. who was demanding that Baron Weston to surrender an heirloom of Moraven known as the Shield of Lanthan -- a spirit capture-and-binding device, originally used by the fae to capture the coldfire spirits centuries earlier. Assisting in the town's defense, the party fought off attackers beneath the castle. However, in the battle, the Cryomancer was able to steal the Shield.
Tracking Ogrim forces to the Capion Mountains, the party explored an old duergunhold, where they anticipated finding the fleeing Orgrim forces. However, except for encountering a few Orgrim deserters, there were no forces there. When departing through a back exit from the rocky hideout, they stumbled upon a snow-covered glyph-circle that ethereally transported them to another unknown location. This darkstone location was intensely hot, with exposed magma flows penetrating the walls and floor. In the place (called "the Bulwark"), they encountered some enemy personnel in academic robes. They also found some notes and records a cult/terrorist organization known as the Elvaen Reclamation.
Through interogation, the party realized they had been transported to chambers beneath the Pinnacle Mountain (a supposedly dormant volcano).  Centuries earlier, the fae of Vakoraja had sealed the volcano by trapping the Coldfire Spirits under the mountain, using the Shield of Lanthan. Now the Cryomancer Se'cuan and his cultists were seeking to break the seals and reignite the mountain, in order to (in his words): "Cleanse the land of the colonist intruders, and return Valoraja to its natural pristine state." (Apparently, he considered destoying the lands of the White Colonies with fire and ash was a reasonable means to accomplish this.)
Unfortunately, Se'cuan's had extensive forces in the Bulwark. Though the party fought several opponents (cultists, orgrim, and coldfire spirits), Se'cuan's forces prevented them from advancing any further. They were forced to retreat through the portal. Before they did, however, the party did find signs of ancient fae religious artifacts, including statues of the Ilmatar still present in the facility. By accident, the party apparently activated some unknown force or power they were unable to figure out.

CAMPAIGN INFORMATION
Gaming Data:
Dates Played: Winter 2023 -
Play Sessions: 7+
Session Venue: Mebane, NC
Rule Systen: SpiritQuest 9.3
SpiritQuest Setting:
Era: Age of Exile
Time Frame: 3235 S.R.
Region: Valkoraja (The White Colonies) Origin: On the Road to Moraven
Destination: The Pinnacle (dormant volcano)
Player Characters:
Aslan Kent LV 3 Duelist (Travis Washburn)
Penrith LV 3 Illusionist (Peter Smith)
Cadmon LV 3 Forester (Brian Goad)
Torbin Tordis LV 3 Barbarian (Ethan Quiram)
Important NPCs:
Baron Keldar Weston of Moraven
Sgt Rosteroy LV 4 Soldier (Lansian)
Elreth Moonfall LV 3 Archer (Fae)
Cryomancer Se'cuan (enemy)