The carnage the Gray Bear left behind at the keep was extensive. The beast had destroyed what minor restoration the serfs had finished.
The wise woman, Lucia, told her new lords that they got Gwyn to safety while the refugees held the bear at bay. Unfortunately, the bear killed one of their people during the melee. Many others were injured, but Lucia was confident she could heal them.
She implores the adventurers to go to a town and hire more workers so that the keep might be safe.
That night was full of fitful sleep for the adventurers. Jabari howled in his dreams, scaring many of the refugees who clung together amidst the embers of the dying camp light. Kristov saw visions of a village of crafters he could bring together. But strangest of all were the dreams of one Mick E. Faus.
Two apparitions came to Faus during his slumber. One was of a powerful wizard dripping in honey while being worshipped by throngs of followers. The wizard looked him in the dream and said, “I can give you the power of life over death…”
The other figure was a beautiful and learned woman amid a tower of books. After noticing Faus, the woman put down her book and floated toward him, saying, “I have much to teach you, dark one. Come to the Spire of Quetzel, and the answers you seek shall be found…”
After a full days rest, the party is able to get back to work. Even Gwyn healed her wounds, but she kept a wide berth from Faus.
While the rest continued work on the keep, Faus pondered the meaning of his dreams. The sorcerer was intrigued by the promise of power of knowledge from the woman, but honey-drenched mage gave off feelings similar to Walt Grisby. Delving deep into his grimoire, Faus determines that the Spire of Quetzel might lie to the west in a deep forest.
Meanwhile, Kristov has whipped the villagers into shape. He leads them in foraging for food and repairing the defenses. The seasoned trader also has the serfs set a beacon fire near the beach in hopes of flagging down a boat. He also has them start work on a garden for the keep, and repair the stables.
Faus spends his evening performing his dark life drain ritual as he drains the life of a turkey. The spell goes wrong, causing him to contract a magical disease. Not wanting to endanger his friends, he spends the night outside. The next morning, Faus is still sick and Kristov notices that something is wrong with Faus.
“Must have been something bad in that turkey, Not feeling so great,” Faus says.
They call for Lucia, she is gravely concerned at the site of Faus and his sickness. She says she could possibly heal him, but recommends that the pair travel to a town to get healing.
She tells them to go to The Hollows to get the healer there.
“As a healer, you must know that this poor man stands no choice for a journey to the hollows. Why would you suggest this?” Kristov demands.
The peddler turned lord is able to get the wise woman to admit that she is a Raven sister, and knows something of magic. Kristov agrees to keep her secret if she heals Faus.
Later, the decide to leave the keep in the hands of Lucia, and march east in search of adventure. After some miles, they hear the sounds of battle and a violent bellowing mixed with battle songs and cries. Further along the road, an orc is dueling with a tattooed elf. They lunge at each other and parry without hitting each other. Occasionally they stop in order to hurl insults at one another.
The elf Heldemin, a wandering sap carver, had long tried to approach the orc clan of Roka to study their customs and try to understand them. She then became acquainted with the orc smith Alachran. When she discovered his great singing voice, she got the idea of putting on a dramatic theatrical scene with him, performing both among the orcs and the elves. As their friendship is rather controversial, they practice far from their peoples.
The part spends the evening with the duo, who leave the men with a legend in return.
“A long time ago, in the age of the Blood Mist, there was a treacherous queen. They sought a treasure because of a bet, and traveled to a cave, located close by in some hills toward the Southwest. As the legend goes, it is said that they took their own life and that at the location there is a powerful artifact but also starved undead.”
The group talks with the pair after watching them for a time. They duo ask about the stronghold and if they need entertainment. The group shares how to get to the keep…
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