Varony, Verget the 11th, 838 ID
After arousing suspicion from several groups of Last Eidolorn soldiers for his strange armaments, the explorer Wendel Eumatic Tork III is led to the Fiery Rat Tavern in Floivin Keep, where he is treated to a meal by the curious Flake Falloway. Flake determines that the wandering rogue's unique skill set might be aligned with the needs of Captain Banghorn's men (the PCs), and offers to put Tork up for a night at the Seven Floods Inn if he's willing to speak with them. Afterwards, Wendel goes to reserve his room with the offered coin and then jaunt over to the Cathedral of Blades in search of curative elixirs should he end up with some dangerous employment.
While they wait for Badger to finish selling items, and to connect with this wandering rogue they've heard about, Gruulsh and Baro decide to discipline Privates Chara and Laisso in the Armory Square. Solveig cannot wait to get out of the city and move into the next chapter of her life, since the locals at Floivin Keep do not seem very comfortable around her pet bear Hrufgar. Lord Ballyhoo decides to head over to the Seven Flood Inn once he is informed through Flake that Wendel would be headed there. The rogue does arrive, after being unsuccessful at procuring potions, but had a nice chat with some of the acolytes of Eleste. Meanwhile, Badger goes to the Dirty Dagger Alehouse, making the barkeep and clientele nervous, after what happened the last time. He tells them his brother is dead and none of them seem to upset. He also notes Monch Gnarlbottom entering to meet up with his chosen bodyguard, Baxter the Mighty, who none of the current PCs have met but their predecessors once traveled with for a spell. Badger introduces himself and tells them they'd best gather up with the rest of the PCs shortly.
After having discovered that Swyft the Tailor is weaving a platinum outfit for the Yellow Hen (to surpass even his own gold outfit), and commissioning a truly expensive gem-studded outfit of his own, he decides to magically disguise himself as the other minstrel and mess around with the tailor. Swyft falls for the ruse, partly distracted by a new customer (Wendel, whom the Lord has brought along to freshen up), and manages to make Swyft brainstorm an outfit imbued with magic and or magical items, the one thing that might surpass Ballyhoo's projected jewel-clothing. After this, most of the PCs gather up to ride off towards Littlewolf and Ettenhead and get their mission to the Crowslode going. Captain Krennyk has stocked a wagon full of rations, torches, casks of water and a few of ale (a gift he hid in there).
Gruulsh and Baro had already teleported to Littlewolf earlier to talk some business with Silas about the missing relics and possibly acquiring them later. They confront a few of the snotty house guards and also meet Grail 'Whistleblade', a former citizen of Littlewolf who is back in the village briefly. Gruulsh does not convince him to come along for the Crowslode quest, and in fact the elfin duelist tries to discourage them from journeying anywhere near the Underdark, but he does agree to help patrol the Ettenhead for a stiff fee, since the Lt. and Sgt. fear that the 'talent level' of the present defenders might not be enough to turn away any retaliation from the giants in thrall to the Titan of the Glen. After this, they too head out to Ettenhead, and by late night, all the PCs have gathered once more. Monch is happy to see his cousin Scuff, and Wendel shows off his inventions to the dwarf engineers and laborers who are inevitably impressed. Mistlethroe shows up.
Verne, Verget the 12th, 838 ID
After organizing marching orders, gathering their last minute supplies and eating a delicious, massive breakfast courtesy of Odd Jon Stuckle, the expedition sets forth, westward along the Vernal Wall. En route, they get to know the new folks. Baxter speaks highly of the late Mudgol and all the other old PCs he knew, and eventually they arrive at the Pinewater, but are forced south to ford the river with some rowboats at the abandoned Cedarway. Evening has fallen so they decide to set up camp here, testing their watch rotation. In the middle of the night, a bunch of giant stag beetles enter the camp area, foraging for plants and smashing up whatever gets in their way, but they do not seem highly interested in the party, and there is no confrontation.
Essel, Verget the 13th, 838 ID
After a breakfast of rations and departing Cedarway, the expedition turns back northward and rejoins the Vernal Wall west. Gruulsh realizes this is Blood Eagle territory, his former kin, and that survivors have been known to ascend to the heights (reported by Doorjamb and Ginkwrench among others). The foothills become spotted with nooks and small caverns, so they must be near the old hazardous mine. Monch eventually leads them to a half-circle copse of trees which conceals the Crowslode entrance. There are signs of recent firepits, probably set up by daring prospectors or humanoids from the Skunk Ridge, and the mouth of the mine itself is barricaded by a wall of timbers, support posts, overturned mining carts and tree trunks over which a kudzu has begun to creep. There are other signs of damage, like evidence of an avalanche or two flanking the entrance. Baro detects magic and learns that the entire place beyond the barricade seems to radiate abjuration...
Wendel puts himself to work immediately, discovering that one of the old mine carts is actually a swinging door set up to allow access to the 'Lode proper, and he disarms an old wire/dynamite trap well enough to permit passage to the PCs. Unfortunately, Hrufgar won't fit, and Solveig decides that the bear would not enjoy the subterranean spaces beyond, so sets him to hunt in the area and stay out of trouble in her absence. The PCs enter to discover the opening area has been blasted out by some sort of explosive from within, perhaps an unsuccessful attempt to seal it off forever. Despite some rumbling in the walls and ceilings of the place, meaning it could be unstable, they press forward, finding an old netted off pit containing heaps of copper ore. They also come across a horrific site...a dwarf dowsed in melted and hardened copper, stuck to the top of an overturned mine cart. Badger shoots an arrow into the unfortunate's eye to make sure it's not alive, and then he overturns the cart...revealing a sack...
And in that sack, they find a familiar looking humanoid skull....that of an illithid, obviously stashed her as a warning, perhaps by the copper-dowsed victim himself...this does not bode well for the depths of the Crowslode.
PCs: Badger, Ballyhoo, Baro, Gruulsh, Solveig, Wendell
NPCs
Private Chara (human male): A nervous, pale, scrawny new recruit to the Last Eidolorn who has the misfortune of being paired up with Private 'Party' Laisso. Known to wet himself when the pressure of his position becomes too much.
Private Laisso (human male): Likes to par-tee. Par-tee. Where's the par-tee at? A fresh young recruit with wild hair and a one-track mind. Also enjoys dice games and not so subtly mocking anyone who doesn't like to party. According to Baro and Gruulsh, his name is now Pvt. 'Lacey' until he earns his own name back after a thoroughly brutal reprimand from the bugbear lieutenant.
