Delving into The Ruins of Knowledge

Expedition

Separated and alone from all others, April and Winslow find solace in the company of a new friend by name of Rizzlenordext The Wild whose bravery and foolhardiness helped them to delve into the Ruins of Knowledge and discover that someone else had looted the ruins before the Magehounds were able to do so, but not who it could be. The Magehounds within taking any scraps that remained to enchant later... April and Winslow realize that Whiteclaw and Malech are dead.

Then, after reading the note Ashera of The Moon left, the party looks up and sees a dwarf starting to walk along the trail overhead the ruins where Whiteclaw had been slain, Malech already gone with his friend's corpse, the party still none the wiser. The dwarf is very friendly, and more than willing to help the party without anything in return. His name is unintelligible, but his heart is pure (Kyle), and this barbarian, with such sincerity that it seemed sarcastic, asked if the party was coming along or not and ran headlong into the ruins with the hoy that comes with having chicken. Winslow was able to halt this Rizzlenordext The Wild, with his detect magic spell up, long enough to witness and disarm an Alarm spell on the inner door to the ruins with a newly learned Dispel Magic. Rizzle ran forward yet again, while the party looted the room of the bookshelves and crates that both the acolytes of the ruins of old had left and the bandits had strewn about. Rizzle was able to spring all the traps within the ruins without anyone getting hurt, and the party sailed through before reaching a large double door made of steel studded wood. The party sat there before entering the room, resting in the armory the bandits had set up, and took a short rest – looting one weapon of any kind they might want, before discovering the Mage that led this band of troublemakers. A deadly battle ensued and the party found accolades in the forms of potions aplenty, lore, and some more seals of the guilds in the area to return - these ones on fresh bodies.   April and Winslow were the only two remaining from the journey, Rizzle did not walk with the party but instead wandered back into the woods – perhaps to help another group of adventurers, but it is for us to question and not to know. The journey back was down the same that Malech had walked while carrying Whiteclaw's bodies and guiding their panther companion... April and Winslow came across Whiteclaw's panther, and finally knew the truth, Malech's helm of dread resting atop his friends makeshift grave... They woke up in their room, lonely with just the two of them and Squeeks, but Winslow was happy to have a space for the night, as he was not always the best bard. They missed Malech and Whiteclaw dearly and that night was solemn, for April particularly so, but it was a way of life that Winslow had become accustomed to from their past.