Season 2, EP 4: Gale

The group set their sights on Gale, the sprawling capital city. They traveled by caravan, joining a diverse group of merchants and travelers. They were also accompanied by fellow hired mercenaries: Janet, a skilled archer, and Simon, a seasoned soldier.

Upon their arrival at Gale, the group got briefly sidetracked by a criminal gang calling themselves the Jade Syndicate, a powerful thieves' guild gripping Gale's southern slums.

Despite their meticulous plan to infiltrate a secret meeting, the confrontation spiraled into chaos, revealing the Syndicate's overwhelming force.

The adventurers narrowly escaped, suffering a significant defeat that brewed tension and blame within the group. Though their audacious (albeit failed) actions earned them credibility among Gale's poor, the city's official security forces, viewed their intervention as adding to an already contentious issue.

The group continued their discovery of Gale's diverse populous. In particular, Wong, being the chef of the group, quickly found a kindred spirit in Jarrett Howarth, the owner of Haworth’s Textiles, also operated a hidden speakeasy, a vibrant hub of social gatherings.

Goen scouted many of Gale's districts for any clandestine information around the city, while Sam and Thane dedicated themselves to extensive research in the Golden Quill, run by Elenor Runeshire.

Crystal spent time with her grandmother, Elenor, discussing the now restored journal of Leyon Runeshire. All evidence extracted from the journal revealed that Leyon was last seen at the Overlook Harbor. The path there, however, presented three arduous options: a six-month trek across the southern deserts, a three-month sea voyage, or the high-risk, high-reward method of teleportation. Recognizing the urgency of the Blood Moon and the need for speed, the group decided to seek out a mage capable of such powerful magic. This led them to Dobahci, a High-Elf Conjuration Wizard known for his considerable arcane knowledge, who was indeed the only mage capable of navigating a teleportation spell to such a distant locale.

Dobahci, intrigued by the party’s proposition, agreed to cast the spell. In exchange for this invaluable service, he required a specific quest: the retrieval of a forbidden book from the haunted Tarry Estate. The party readily agreed to his terms, and set out for the Tarry Estate in Gale's Cemetary District.

As they ventured within, they discovered a tragic tale of grief and desperation. The spirit of Jackie, a woman driven mad by the loss of her beloved husband, Charles, had attempted to resurrect him through forbidden rituals, only to meet her own tragic end. Her tormented spirit now haunted the estate, trapped between worlds. The party confronted the haunting, battling not only the lingering spectral presence but also the dark magical energies that permeated the estate.

In the midst of their efforts, Crystal managed to retrieve the forbidden book Dobahci sought. However, in doing so, she became inadvertently cursed. Jackie’s tormented spirit latched onto her, and Crystal began experiencing disturbing flashes of Jackie’s memories, a chilling echo of the dead woman’s grief and desperation.

With the forbidden book secured, the party returned to Dobahci to claim their reward. As agreed, Dobahci prepared to teleport them to Overlook Harbor, their next intended destination as they followed clues related to Leyon Runeshire’s past. However, Dobahci’s teleportation bacame fizzled, possibly due to the Tempest Ring, and instead of arriving safely at the harbor, the adventurers found themselves abruptly plunged into the ocean with lurking Sahuagin on their tails.