The Burning Man takes a bath!

Calistril 24, 4713

After two days of traveling through the Sumber Hills following their escape from the Scarlet Moon Hall, members of the party finally regroup at the Swinging Sword Inn in Red Larch. Naga and Thorne are the first to return to the inn, followed by Darelle, Daryle and Dhukhean a few hours later on the cloud. Missing from the group are Lawrence and Ruddy.

Thorne introduces the group to Earl Aberford, a monk. He tells them that Lawence, after being stabbed one too many times by Naga, had decided to leave this group after Naga dropped them off in Red Larch. Earl is a humble monk of the half-orc variety who has been sent by the Sacred Stone Monastery to investigate the happenings in this area. However, following conversations with Thorne, he realized the errors of his way and is now willing to help the Coopers with their plans to destroy the elemental cults. Thorne brings Earl up to speed on the happenings and their successful mission to Scarlet Moon Hall.

The Coopers then return to the situation at hand. At the rate at which the Burning Man was traveling, Darelle estimates he will arrive in three days. The party discusses various options on how to handle the Burning Man, including laying a trap and attempting to redirect him towards Rivergard Keep. Thorne suggests to use the town's laborers to build a stone tower. Daryle proposes that the tower could be packed with snow, linking the town to the Crushing Wave. Thorne counters that maybe Red Larch's frozen pond could be used. If the Burning Man could be lured onto the pond, it would melt the ice and force it into water.

After a discussion that involves Harbuck Thuthmarillar and other town notables, the Coopers finalize a plan to build a two stories snow tower and cover it with pine needles so that it looks like wood from a distance. Harbuck assures the party that he can muster enough workers to also construct five small buildings around the tower to make it look like it is part of the village. When the Burning Man arrives, the women and children will shelter in the Mellikho Stoneworks quarry. Dhukhean will contribute a shiny crystal imbued with magical powers that will attract the Burning Man. 


Thorne proposes that someone be sent to Rivergard Keep to get some support from the Crushing Wave. Naga volunteers to fly to Rivergard Keep, deliver a message, and return with help if the Crushing Wave will grant it. Thorne and Daryle agree that they need to promote the idea that the cult would be crushing the Eternal Flame's champion, and would earn influence and gratefulness from the citizens of Red Larch.


Calistril 27, 4713

The skies remain clear, but the temperature remains bitterly and unseasonably cold. It has now been seven days since the last snow storm. After three days of building, the villagers have constructed the tower and several blockhouses to create a leading path that will lead the Burning Man towards the tower. Daryle spinkles pine needles on the path she expects the Burning Man to take, to lead him towards the tower.

Red Larch Lake fortifications

Around mid-morning, a pillar of smoke appears in the distance. The Burning Man is on his way. With about three hours left before he arrives, Naga returns to Red Larch with a Crushing Wave cultist. The cultist informs the Coopers that Grimsaw sends his regards. He brings with him five scrolls of summon greater water elemental to help in this situation, but tells them that he himself will not join but rather observe the battle from afar, so that at least one survivor can report back to Rivergard Keep.

The Burning Man reaches the edge of the pond. He is heading towards the village, but several delaying actions by Earl change his trajectory. He subtly switches towards the snow tower. After several exchanges of fiery blows, Thorne summons his water elemental and orders it to wait. The others quickly summon theirs too, and they swim under the ice to emerge around the Burning Man. As the ice melts underneath the Burning Man, he continues to move forward towards the snow tower, but the water elementals eventually manage to stop the Burning Man and trip him into the pond.

Earl enters the Burning Man, and finds a person inside. The man's face is half melted. His glowing red eyes show the depth of a depraved soul. A metal horn sticks out of his forehead. On his left hand he wears a turtle shell and a tattoo that says "I remember," while on his right hand he wears elven wedding lace inscribed with the name Miévi. He maniacally looks at Earl, and, as he waves his hands casting a spell, he cackles. He vanishes in a puff of smoke, leaving the monk along in the steaming wreckage of the Burning Man. Earl reflects on the fact that he has seen a very similar man in the Sacred Stone Monastery, but this one has black hair parted at the horn, and seems saner than this version. When he tells the Coopers, a shiver runs up their spine. There are at least two Geralds in the Sumber Hills.

With the village saved from the Burning Man, the Coopers are hailed as heroes...

Not another dragon!

Erastus 4, 4712

When they returned to Fort Inevitable yesterday, the Cooper sisters agreed to investigate who would possibly want Zoarth dead. This morning, Darelle and Daryle gather at Darelle's house for a light breakfast.

Gerald returns to Fort Inevitable with his mother Gertrude and he wants installs her at his house. However, she currently lives with her cousin outside of the town walls but comes and visits. Gerald is currently trying to regularize her situation with the Hellknights.

Over two years ago, in an incredible plot twist that no one would ever have believed, the back of his hand had been branded with a rune signifying a vow of marriage with Miévi, a younger daughter of the Elven chief  from across the river where the family farm was located. Though old, for a human, she somehow had been smitten with the under fifteen years old, pimply faced and no-prospect Gerald and had, one suspects in a fit of utter insanity she was often plagued by, decided that he, a teenager without abilities, money, or even a reputation, would make the perfect husband. Something about his bloodline, she muttered to her confidants. Could she smell the demons that plague the Shadowborns, or was she simply crazy?

Be that as it may, Gerald also brought back Miévi Gertywindindlysin with him, and quickly realized that it may have been a mistake to do so as a wife can be very demanding of one's time. Gerald's wife was supposedly two days behind but should be arriving within the day, but then it turns out that she's already been here four days because she arrived with the quarterly caravan. Gerald has to pay the Hellknights a fee of 100 crowns to receive the proper permits for his wife to live in Fort Inevitable, since she is elvish.

Gerald takes his wife and his mother to visit Falandra, Abernard, and Dr. Mordel. He runs into several people along the way, including Roscoe, Nissa, and Cassandra, which almost leads to a catfight between the sorceress and Miévi. He then runs into his sisters, who have come into Fort Inevitable to resupply before heading out to track where the giants came from. Sensing an opportunity to abandon his new wife, Gerald jumps at the chance to go with his sisters, and they decide to report their departure until tomorrow so Gerald can settle his affairs and attempt to catch the double that has been going around town for the last month pretending to be him. His plan is simple. Since he is supposed to work with Falandra tomorrow, like he did today, he will be the first one at work and he hopes to catch the fake Gerald in the act of impersonation.


Erastus 5, 4712

Gerald arrives at work bright and early. It's almost a relief after the long fight he and Miévi had over his behavior with Cassandra while she was still in the woods around Xer. Who knew Elven wives could be so temperamental? By noon, the fake Gerald still hasn't arrived at work.

Darelle touches base with Dr. Mordel about her blue pegasus powder. Dr. Mordel's alchemist research shows that the magical ingredient missing is a pegasus' hoof. Mordel can order one, but it will take at least three months before it will arrive in Fort Inevitable. Or Darelle can take her chances and hope to find one in her adventuring. Darelle is concerned that finding the missing ingredient will be very difficult indeed.

Finally, in the afternoon, Daryle picks up her siblings and they head out. They plan on trekking back to the giants' fort and hope that the tracks continue from there.


Erastus 8, 4712 

After an uneventful trip through the wilderness, the Coopers reach the giants' fort in the morning. They discover a large path that has been traveled by a group of giants heading west towards Zoarth's house. The path also heads east, but both rangers are able to identify that the eastern path is not as recent as the western path. Clearly the giants stopped here for a few days before continuing on their mission.

The Coopers pursue the trail and continue eastward. The terrain changes from forests to a barren landscape, and soon the vegetation disappears all together. Darelle remembers the warning Zoarth gave them about a dragon living in these parts. Soon they see in the distance a large worm floating in the sky. The Coopers attempt to find shelter, but are unable to locate anything other than tall boulders. The worm is moving fast, and the distance is closing rapidly. Daryle recognizes the monster as a crag linnorm, a type of wingless dragon. It's pretty dumb, but very vicious.

The Coopers engage in combat with the creature. Gerald takes to the sky, while Darelle becomes invisible. Daryle fires arrows after arrows, but the dragon is too quick and Gerald suffers the effects of its breath weapon before crashing to the ground. Darelle strikes it with her sword, but she too is taken down. The dragon returns for another pass, but Daryle's true shot shatters internal organs and the dragon crashes to the ground, where it is quickly dispatched. Gerald is healed and revived.

The Coopers decide to look for its lair, and as dust comes over the barrens they find it. Along with a large quantity of coins, they discover a +2 frost longsword, a +1 heavy steel blinding shield, a wand of cure serious wounds (19 charges), and gauntlets of dexterity +2. The siblings share the items and decide to camp here for the night.