Session 3/4: The True Monsters

Although the threat of fanatics has been dealt with, the town has already been burned. The corpses have been made into an unholy altar, and the few survivors are hard pressed to continue. The party worked fast to remedy the altar and search for anyone still trapped in the buildings aflame.   After meeting with a group of farmers that had taken up improvised arms, the party made their way to the large manor near the height of the town. Inside finding next to nothing of true note, Citrine stumbled upon a young noble boy who was unconscious upstairs in the master bedroom. After saving him and bringing him back to the wagon, the discussed course of action was to make way back towards Trader's Plunder to figure a plan of action for the days ahead.   After speaking with a few of the survivors, they met the now "leader" of the ragtag group of farmers, Cerwyn. Talks devolved to trading information about the state of the continent and plans to stay in Trader's Plunder for the foreseeable future. Another person of interest was the woman also saved by Citrine, a smith in training named Anna. She is a traveler who has trained not in forging, but in infusing Moongold into equipment.   The young boy had awoken inside the carriage and was quickly explained that he was in safe company. He asked what had happened to the "burned men" and was told that they were dealt with, but the town was far too gone to be saved entirely. He was saddened but still hopeful that there were at least a few who survived. He recalls magical flames flying through the window and then waking up aboard the carriage. He was the overseer to the remains of the city, left in charge after his father had left to help in Grinall. He has been gone for quite sometime and hasn't returned. The party also learned that his sister has left as well to adventure in the northern continent of Silvertree, but he hasn't been receiving messages since the black flame crept onto the sea.   The trek to Trader's Plunder was an uneventful journey. There was no resistance and they all made it back unharmed. The party spoke with Aline about the scout reports of the mountain range to the north and happened to meet the scoutmaster Bonnie, although she was rather angry after speaking to Aline and stormed out of the town hall. Learning of a flying bat creature in the now ruined farming village of Pinespell, and a cloaked, tall humanoid kidnapping people in the northern mountains of Riftwalk Peaks, the plan of action was to head to the Riftwalk Peaks to deal with the kidnapper, then to Pinespell to kill the bat creature.   After the party left to head north towards the Riftwalk Peaks, after only a day and a half of travel, they were ambushed by Cultists. Their disfigured bodies moved towards the carriage and a fight broke out. The large creatures wielding swords imbued with lightning and small cherub like ones that held censors and scrolls. The fight was quick, with blows being traded almost immediately. The party was able to fend off the eldritch threat, only at the cost of blood.