21 - 8/27

In the morning the party gathered to discuss things with their kobold companions, who were hard at work digging at their tunnels. The group examined the strange petrified roc egg, and determined it was in no danger of hatching. They told their little friends of their departure and tried to encourage them to attack the hobgoblins if they arrived. With that the group set off into the wilderness and prepared to return to their keep. Before departure an attempt was made to contact Xthisthrisis, who said he could meet the party in roughly… some amount of days. He failed to relay how long exactly a few times before finally revealed that it would be roughly a week.   After returning to the wilderness the group happened upon a few things along the way. The first was a group of hunters from the small remote village of Icemeet, one of the three that surround the mirrored reservoir. They seemed to not know of the hobgoblins, though they traded with the elves of the swamp, the orcs and even Aarakocra. After wishing them well they continued on, encountering both a crag cat and what appeared to be a large cat. The group unleashed a barrage of arrows on it, hitting it and scaring it off. Later the group happened upon a women, exhausted and freezing, that had escaped Camp White Hand with the help of the Krolish people. She was from Treeden, and relayed that the hobgoblins were preparing to move the prisoners east. Lastly the group happened upon Treya who was scouting the base of the hills. After catching up she led the group back to the keep where the rest had been making themselves at home.   Back at Vraath Keep, the inhabitants had a tearful reunion as family who hadn’t seen each other in a month finally reunited. A celebration was had throughout the night, with food and drink from the mysterious alchemy jug providing beer for the group. Recent kills were roasted, torches were lit and merriment was had by all. Theta began by giving an impassioned speech about their fallen, encouraging the survivors about the future and reminding everyone of what they had accomplished. Mithris took the time to also give a few words, praising her for her leadership and promoting Shane to a full fledged member of the Wardens in White.   Afterwards, Theta decided now as good a time as any to attempt to use his mysterious Book of Infinite Spells to contact other planes, and successfully petitioned a few questions. He discovered that his captive allies at camp white hand were in danger, that the White Hand did not plan to send the Behir to Whiteridge, the White Hand did not appear to have a means of scrying on them, and that they would be unwilling to trade prisoners for Scarvinious and lastly that their allies were not going to be turned into Razorspawn.   With time of the essence a plan was hatched. Deciding that appealing to the orcs was too slow to help their captives, numerous options were discussed before Valerie used her sending spell to contact her father Azus and the hobgoblin traitor that was sympathetic to the helgafelians cause. She found out that the camp was on lockdown and that Aripine was executed as a warning to the other prisoners! It was also discovered that the prisoner transfer had been canceled with the recent escapee, and likely the recent defeat at Whiteridge. The Hobgoblin Fergun also said that they were not in any immediate danger   With this new information and more time on their hands, the decision was made that part of the group would depart for the Stormcaller Orcs to appeal to them for aid, while Theta would stay behind and meet with the mysterious dragonborn trader. The others left him gold and entrusted him to do some shopping for them, and began to discuss their plans moving forward, as well as contemplate telling poor Nysany about her mother's passing.