To the Ruins of Knowledge!

Life, Death

Split by beauty and jealousy, spite and racism, the party is split for part of the day, cooler heads prevailing, they all continue their journey to a nearby ruin for differing reasons. Ambushed by a venomous dagger, the party had separated to keep overwatch and to listen in on a large force of bandits. Whiteclaw of Tanna is slain, and Malech The Scorned missing, the party assumes that Whiteclaw and Malech simply left, as they just had earlier that day from The Pearl Jam.

On the next day, the four members of the party had finally decided to go to the ruins, they sat in The Pearl Jam, planning their approach, finishing their celebration of April Airlez's certification, and enjoying a hearty meal when a stunning Moon Elf known as Ashera of The Moon(Mallory) walked in. She captured April's attention instantly and Malech's hidden jealousy of all those that catch April's attention came fourth in the worst of ways. Ashera antagonized Malech, but neither truly started this conflict, and Ashera was merely defending April's right to look at who she pleases. Malech and Whiteclaw of Tanna leave in a fit, and as they march with fervor, Malech's racism for elves, for his Drow ancestors, for those that abandoned him to this Infernal Legacy... to those enchanting folk that take April's gaze from him... his racism for elves truly was born, his self-hatred masking those feelings but only intensifying once realizing this,. Malech and Whiteclaw leave without the party, and Whiteclaw continues to help quell Malech's scorn. April races after them with Ashera and Winslow accompanying her. Ashera’s reasons are her own, but the journey to the Ruins of Knowledge provided the context into Malech's character for Ashera to see things eye to eye when they joined back up, and April was able to convince Malech to give her a second chance long enough to finish the journey to the ruins so that everyone would be safe.   Reaching an intersection, the party has two paths, one that goes up the cliffside and one that goes alongside the cliff face, the party goes just off the path to the right that goes alongside the cliff, hiding in some underbrush and looking out as much as possible. Whiteclaw scouts ahead, going up along the cliff and although his Tabaxi senses are keen they do not detect the sound or scent of an unknown figure behind him. Whiteclaw suffers a stab from a Wyvern Venom blade and the Eyes of the Eagle he wears are stolen, and the party witnesses it all though through a terrible angle. Whiteclaw is close enough to the cliff for them to see, but only shadows catch the assailant's face. Malech is able to run ahead - racing for his friend without hesitation before the party is distracted and pinned as two horses and a large force of well armed bandits is heard and begins to ride past - Magehounds lead by a loud but respectfully speaking woman and another man who rides off before she addresses the group again. Powerless, they remain, trying to at least gather as much intel as they can.   Malech arrives too late and Whiteclaw's body laid there, still, stiff, pointing to the Southwest. The party below began to pay attention and listened to the exchange between the two individuals on horses, addressing the large force of bandits - some having come from inside the ruin. And after the two of them left, there was some conversation heard from the lingering bandit and the only name was mentioned as “Jessica Hozrum” before April, Ashera, and Winslow were spotted, initiating combat with these ruffians. Still on the cliff and away from view, Malech gathered up Whiteclaws body and carried it for some time, before reaching the edge of the cliffside, a few miles away from where some construction had began. He spent some time burying Whiteclaw and in his remorse he dove into the sea, the crashing tides caressing the cliffs as they catch and swallow him into the drink. April and the others don't know what became of him, but he did not die from this fall, fate, if that is what you could call it, brought him into the throws of another's tale, for a time at least. April and Winslow thought them only to have gone back to Boardwalk.   After fending off those Magehounds that had scouted them out and some reinforcements that had emerged from the ruin itself, the remainder of the party, April, Winslow, and Ashera, rested until morning. Ashera had moved the bodies with April's help though, obscuring them and their camp from the entrance of the ruins. Luckily, there was no interruptions as a result and by the next morning, Ashera had left the party with a note telling them that she had gone home to Hanan Ce'Vesh to the Northwest and is interested in helping find out more about these Magehounds, but is not akin to the hunting and nature bits of adventuring.