Amos, Emauri, Dawa, Kuppo, Icarus, Min, Lestare, and Orsick are transferred to the same holding cell at hellish Camp Omega; A Raven Order labor camp. While working at the labor camp to help clear The Jungle Of Turu the captain of The Gilded Coffer, Alexandos approaches the group with a plan to escape. In exchange Alexandos asks that the group help him rescue the Orc girl he was caught smuggling.
Our adventurers manage to use a well timed prison fight to distract the guards and secure a metal spoon. During the daily jungle clearing Alexandos instructs the strongest member of the group to use his axe to split the spoon in two so he can craft a lock pick. Emauri splits the spoon successfully and Alexandos crafts the necessary tools, he instructs the group to wait until the moon is at its highest point that night and then distract the night guard so he can escape and free the others.
At 1AM when the full moon was at its highest the group goaded the prison guard into pointing his rifle at Icarus. During the stand off Alexandos picked his cell door open and neutralized the guard. Icarus then took the guards uniform and used his disguise to travel around the camp scouting for gear and exits while the group freed the remaining prisoners. After some recon the group retrieved their gear and the Orc girl. Electing to travel through the mess hall the group neutralized two more guards but not before one let out a scream alerting the whole base to the prison break. While fleeing multiple adventures took a bullet before the group escaped into The Jungle Of Turu. In a dark jungle clearing the group removed a necklace from the Orc girl waking her from her induced slumber. The Orc girl introduced her self as Shel and informed the group that the jungle was speaking to her, after telling this to the group a path lit by fireflies opened through the jungle to a large glowing tree with a spring at the base.
A disembodied voice spoke out from the tree, the voice identified itself as Turu, and that she needed the groups help to kill a malicious entity in the jungle that was sapping her power. After a soak in the spring and a nights rest the group set out in the morning to the Tomb of Turu. Inside the group fought a viscous Mind Flayer and his gorilla servants. Upon returning to the spring Turu revealed her true form, the ghostly spirit of a long deceased dragon. Turu introduced herself properly as a daughter of Niquis and thanked the group for their help informing them that with her full power returned she could keep the Raven Order troops at bay with ease now. She also revealed that she sensed a great destiny for the young Shel and that the group should head to the Orc holy land of Xoroku in Izdrag Or to recognize her full destiny. Alexandos added that he was originally contracted to take Shel to a inn on the western coast of The Merchant Republic known as The Owl Eyes Inn for his payment and heading their may provide more info about Shel. Deciding that the group would help get Shel to Xoroku Alexandos reminded them that they would need a ship to get off the continent. He recommended two paths to the group, travel north to Haven and charter a ship from the pirates who resided there; or head south and attempt to locate The Gilded Coffer, Alexandos' ship, and slip through The Raven Order Blockade. Deciding to take the more challenging option the group elected to head south and secure The Gilded Coffer.
After a night of recuperation Alexandos proposed the group head back to Camp Omega to try and find any indication of where he ship was being held. Lacking any better options the group doubled back only to find that the once fearsome military installment had been abandoned. Inside Ortis, head of the Elven rebellion against The Raven Order, and his men had secured the camp. The group found both soldiers and prisoners shot to death and their bodies burned in a mass grave, the camp had been stripped of anything worth taking. In the administrative office the group found the info they had came for. Alexandos' detainment records indicated that The Gilded Coffer was being kept at Camp Delta, a small naval base about 10 days south of Camp Omega. Before they left Ortis spoke with the Stake brothers who had worked with Ortis previously, then the group took off for Camp Delta.
After a trek the group arrived at Camp Delta on the southern shores of Ilyran Thalas. Some basic reconnaissance by Kuppo indicated that the base held a couple of buildings and some ships, most importantly The Gilded Coffer. Upon entering the base the group soon realized it had been ransacked much like Camp Omega. While approaching The Gilded Coffer the group found their path blocked by the monstrous Kriegsmeister who revealed he had personally killed everyone at Camp Omega as a warning to other Raven Order troops that failure was not an option. A brutal fight ensued and at the end the Kriegsmeister threatened to kill himself and take most of the group with him. At that moment a large image of Turu rose up from the jungle near the camp and froze the Kriegsmeister in place allowing the group to escape and then slip through The Raven Order blockade while she distracted them.
Sailing east the group make their first stop at Samakqara, a small fishing village on the western coast of Kumdan Tepe. Alexandos explained to the group that they did not have the supplies needed to sail the rest of the way to The Merchant Republic and would need to stock up in town. Guided by Orsick, who himself was a Paladin in service of the Sultan, the group inquired at the local general store about restocking their ship. Unfortunately the town was low on supplies as it was revealed that Yuan-Ti had been attacking supply runs from the capital and that the town had nothing to spare. However if the group would be willing to travel to Dilara's Tomb where the Yuan-Ti made their base of operations and slay the Yuan-Ti then the general store owner might be able to help them out.
After a full nights rest and their first proper meal in a long time the group departed for Dilara's Tomb first thing in the morning. After a brief encounter with some bandits who had slayed the last poor soul to travel to Dilara's Tomb the group made it to their destination in record time. After solving the puzzle designed to keep intruders out the group found the Yuan-Ti resting in Dilara's burial room. Eventually our group would find themselves victorious over their reptilian adversaries and returned back to Samakqara with the stolen supplies. As a thank you the general store owner gave the group enough supplies to head to their next destination, Endrizzi, a small village on the western coast of The Merchant Republic. Alexandos was originally tasked with bringing Shel to a small inn called the Owl Eyes Inn where he would trade Shel for a large sum of money in Endrizzi and the group believed heading there may provide some valuable info about Shel.
During the voyage from Kumdan Tepe to The Merchant Republic Shel asked Icarus The Seaman to train her in combat which proved to be a very fruitful experience. After 51 days of sailing the group made landfall in Endrizzi. To celebrate their landfall the group shared a night of drinking before retiring for the night at the Seagull Inn.
In the morning Alexandos shared with the group his plan, they would split into two groups. One would stay with Shel aboard The Gilded Coffer while the others would head to the Owl Eyes Inn to see if they could acquire more info. While at the Owl Eyes Inn the group learned that the client was Zerrus, a Tiefling who was currently recruiting and arming a rebellion known as the Owls Of Freedom to overthrown the The Raven Order. As a gesture of good faith to a fellow Tiefling, Emauri Stake, Zerrus would consider his contract with Alexandos null and void and would even share everything he knew about Shel if Emauri would agree to help the revolution when the time was right. After reluctantly agreeing Zerrus revealed that his group stole Shel from a Valentino Mercenary Group warehouse in Meraviglia. Afterward Zerrus offered to trade Shel back to Giovanni Valentino, head of the Valentino family, for a large ransom which he was willing to pay.
Meanwhile back on The Gilded Coffer the other team was forced to fight a fearsome male samurai and female ninja from Kori who were here to take Shel. After a brutal fight the Ninja manged to grab Shel and the duo was about to make their escape when the other half of the group arrived. Immediately Alexandos recognized the duo and put his dagger to his neck threatening to kill himself if the two did not let Shel go. They complied before addressing Alexandos as young master Valentino and leaving. The group quickly left Endrizzi to head north for Border Town. During the voyage Alexandos explained that he is the heir to the Valentino Family and son of Giovanni Valentino and that the Kori duo were his fathers retainers. Although they confirmed that Giovanni must desperately want Shel back they were still uncertain of her true role in all of this.
The group arrived at Border Town and Alexandos uses his family name to secure horses and supplies for the group, they ride for Xoroku, the holy land of the Orcs where Turu told them they would receive answered about Shel.
Riding through the brisk fall air to Xoroku the group meets The Groundskeeper, an elderly orc who is the officiant of The Battle of The Tribes. The group explains to him why they are here and after he converses with Shel he leads her to a large statue at the center of the Xoroku battle ground. When she touches it the statue begins to glow blue and blue lines trace upon the ground towards the edges of Xoroku. The Groundskeeper informs everybody that this confirms that Shel is the descendant of Dregu Agronak. Dregu was the sole Orc on Alexander Hawk's original crew, when Alexander Hawk stopped sailing to create his own country Dregu would return home to Izdrag Or and unite the hundreds of Orc tribes into one united country when he slayed the Dreadwyrm Zerux.
The Groundskeeper says that Shel very well could unite the three major tribes of Izdrag Or if she was to reclaim her birthright. But in order to prove her worth she would need to reclaim the three artifacts that were specifically forged for the Agronak line, the Dragonslayer Sword, Shield and Armor. Each piece is currently being held by a different tribe and that the Shel will need to visit all three tribes to claim the three items. Shel would decide that she wanted to unite the Orc tribes and lead her nation in to a new golden age, but to do so she would need help from group and asked if they would continue to travel with her for the last part of this journey. They agreed and decided to head south to Morn, the town of the smallest orc tribe where the Dragonslayer Shield is being held by Clan Milug.
While The Groundskeeper is happy to see Shel embrace her birthright he urges the group to hurry, they have exactly a year before The Battle Of The Tribes and if Shel is unable to prove her worth by then she will have to wait a decade before she can claim her throne.
As fall passes into winter the group arrives in the valley of Morn. A somber mood blankets the town as the group learns about the recent murder of Ugdac, the newly elected mayor who was supposedly slain by the the incumbent mayor Dulfar. Furthermore Dulfar had used the Dragonslayer Shield to murder him meaning that the relic was currently being kept as a evidence. While the town had agreed that Dulfar was the guilty party the group decided to investigate and attempt to clear his name and get the shield they sought.
Over time the group began to unravel a web of conspiracy and lies involving some of the most influential members of the village. Eventually they would learn of Ugdac's involvement in the distribution of Kosmo, a highly addictive pain killer and hallucinogenic produced in Telma. Upon further investigation they would learn that Ugdac was in fact poisoned by his secret lover Sheul who worried that if Ugdac was to take office he would ruin the town. The town accepted Sheul's confession and released Dulfar who in turn gave the group the Dragonslayer Shield.
Shortly after the new year began the group arrived in Karfun where they learned the leader of Clan Kegth was guarding the Dragonslayer Armor. As luck would have it Clan Kegth had dedicated themselves to awaiting the coming of the next descendant of Dregu Agnorak. The leader of Karfun happily turned over the armor to its rightful owner and the group set their course for the final piece of Dregu's armaments, the Dragonslayer Sword.
Traveling west from Karfun the group arrived Krazak, home of the largest Orc tribe. The group encountered Leone, a bard from the Alquimia Academy who was traveling searching for a adventure to write his graduating paper around. Upon hearing why the group was in town Leone opted to tag along with them. Seeking an audience with the Orc chief the group would find out the sword was kept north in a village called Azdrakh situated on the coast of Centuar's Run.
After traveling 10 days on foot the group arrived in Azdrakh. Here they would discover that the sword had been taken by the son of the village chief who had run off to the deadly Catacomb of Heroes nestled high in the mountains to slay a fearsome dragon by himself. After securing a guide by offering Kuppo to replace the guides lost labor the group made their way into the mountains.
Deep in the Izdrag Or mountains atop wind scarred peaks was the Catacomb of Heroes. Making their way past a number of deadly traps, goblin ambushes, and ghastly skulls the group faced off against a dragon who called the Catacombs home. After a brutal fight the group claimed victory over the scaled beast and more importantly laid claim to the final of Dregu's armaments, The Dragonslayer Sword.
Having secured all the pieces of Dregu's armaments the group returned back to Xoroku to await the day of the Battle Of The Tribes. On the fated day the three tribes converged on Xoroku and The Groundskeeper announced that Shel would by birthright ascend to the throne of Izdrag Or and the tribes would follow her. He then presented Shel with a box left to his ancestor by Dregu, who said that whoever became the next king of Izdrag Or should have it contents. However when Shel opened the box a flash of bright light would herald the arrival of The Dreadwurm Zerux. Zerux turned his attention to Shel swearing he would take revenge on the Agnorak line for Dregu's decision to seal him in the box. With the gaze of her people on her Shel took up her sword and with the help of the group she had been traveling with they would collectively plunge The Dragonslayer Sword into Zerux's skull, piercing his brain and doing what Shel's ancestor could not.
All the Orc's of Izdrag Or cheered for Shel accepting her as their king and agreeing to her claim to the throne. A party ensued for the next week as Orc's celebrated and word of the unification of Izdrag Or spread throughout the world.
As the celebrations began to wind down the Valentino family retainers confronted the group again but did not fight them. Instead they brought word of the apparent suicide of Giovanni Valentino. As per Merchant Republic law Alexandos would take his fathers position as head of the V.M.G and his seat at the Voyager's Table. Alexandos asked the group to join him at his family's estate when they got a chance as he would like to see them again when things calmed down. As a thank you for helping her and hopefully bringing a brighter future to Izdrag Or Shel would grant them the deed to Forte d'Oro, an abandoned fort on the southern cliffs of Izdrag Or. And so the group made for the southern coast to investigate their new home and to head into adventures unknown.
At the Valentino Estate the group met with Alexandos, who had taken up his fathers role as head of the V.M.G and member of The Voyagers Table. Alexandos revealed that he believed his fathers suicide was staged and additional he found numerous documents and a ring on his father that featured a symbol, a golden torch with a blue flame, that he hadn't seen before. Finding no additional record of the symbol he asked the group to enroll at the Alquimia Academy in order to access their library and archives to find any record of the mysterious symbol. Alexandos had the group meet with his former tutor Sofia, who was now head of the Alquimia Academy enrollment staff. After deciding upon their areas of study the group waited patiently for the start of their academic year.
Arriving at the school for the start of their semester the group joined in on the orientation tour. As they learned the Alexander Hawk Memorial Library was only available to students who passed their first year of schooling. Settling into their abode the group adhered to regular school life to varying degrees of success.
Toward the end of their first year the group, except Min, discovered that they would be tasked with aiding a fourth year student named Rydalh with his graduation project. Rydalh was a young eleven male who wished to investigate an old catacomb in the northern end of Alquimia which he believed to contain an ancient power source. The group accompanied him to the town of Ciudad del Norte where they found the catacombs they sought however it was locked tight by a magical spell. Seeking the village elder the group learned that he locked it out of fear of the dangerous creatures that lurked within. At first the elder refused to open the catacomb but instead was struck with an idea. Nearby was the home of Raul Val, a famous Alquimian wrestler who had recently renounced the sport after an accident where his heel was slain. If the group could get Raul to wrestle again then he would allow them access to the catacombs.
Arriving at Raul's house the group found it locked up tightly. After some choice words the group managed to coax a drunken Raul out of his home. Helping him to face his past the group invited him to a battle royal in the town square where he could make his debut once more.
Later that night the group entered into their own wrestling alter egos and faced off against the fearsome El Muro. Eventually the fight came down to El Muro and the crowd favorite Jitters The Cown. Jitters put up an honorable fight but lost to El Muro's signature move, The Fall Of The Wall.
A grateful Raul would realize that his wrestling had more impact than he thought and would begin his career again. Ciudad del Norte's village elder was also grateful and agreed to meet the group in the morning to undo the seal he placed on catacombs.
In the morning the group set out for the catacombs and made their way into its depths. Overcoming giant spiders, black puddings, and a Medusa the group found themselves at the bottom where it was revealed the catacombs were once a place of worship and work for a ancient civilization due to its location on top of a Fount of The Planets Lifeforce.
Thanking the group for their help with his graduation project Rydalh presented the group with signed papers indicating that they had passed and sent them on their way.
The final day of the group's first year arrived and the group received their grades and was free to spend their summer how they chose.
The start of the group's second year at the Academy. During their second year the group began to follow leads regarding the emblem they were seeking. Pouring themselves over tomes in the Alexander Hawk Memorial Library the group discovers references to an ancient order known as The Torchbearers. The Torchbearers had been founded by the DaVici family and operated from 679RH to 684RH. They served as the foremost experts on magical knowledge for The Voyagers Table. Records of The Torchbearers seemed to end there but upon examinations of old Merchant Republic Government financial records the group was able to find a direct link between The Torchbearers and a newer group known as Last Hope.
The final day of the group's second year at the Academy.
The start of the group's third year at the Academy. While attending a assembly held by Sofia De Luca the group spotted a familiar looking emblem on one of Sofia's rings, that of The Torchbearers. Over time the group crafted a plan to break into her office and search for further clues on her connection to Alexandos' Father.
The group put into action a cunning plan to infiltrate the Headmaster Office, while Sofia spent time at the Fencing Club one team would keep tabs on her while the other group would enter her office. The plan went semi smoothly and the group discover a secret portal to a meeting place of some kind. Said meeting place featured five seats at a large table thought to belong to The Torchbearers. Meeting back at their dorms the group ruminated over this new found information before being interrupted by campus guards who demanded the group come with them to see the headmaster at once. Deciding their best course of action would be to flee the group made a quick escape through their dorm window and through the Alexander Hawk Memorial towards the academy portals in a bid to return to the Valentino Estate. At the Valentino Estate the group quickly finds themselves surrounded by city guards who are looking to arrest them for the apparent murder of Sofia De Luca. Once again opting to flee the group finds safe passage by stealing a ship from the city's dock builders district.
Arriving back at their home for a brief stop before continuing onward to Xoroku to speak with Shel and form a plan the group finds unexpected visitors in their home. Zerrus Zimmer, head of The Owls Of Freedom has made himself at home in Newport and welcomes the group home. He reveals that he has more information about The Torchbearers and would be happy to share this info with them in the future. For now however Zerrus need an audience with Shel and would like the group to make the proper introductions to repay their debt to him. He also reveals that Shel has been missing for two years. Using the Dragonslayer Compass that Shel left with Icarus the group follows the compass to a secluded woods on the eastern coast of Izdrag Or where they find themselves lost in a heavy fog which transports them into the Feywilds.
Through the fog the group finds a dense forest with a large white tower to the east. Approached by a fairy, who was briefly named Amos Stake, who asks the group if they have arrived in Titania's Kingdom to participate in the jousting tournament. Lacking any other leads the group agrees and follows the fairy to the castle town surrounding Titania's Castle. Here the group learns that warriors from across the Feywild have gathered to test their might against Titania's strongest soldier, The Red Knight. Passing the qualifiers and securing a sturdy steed the group prepares to participate in the tournament. Unfortunately their bond with the newly purchased horse was short lived after an explosive accident left the horse as little more than a pile of dust. However due to Icarus' quick thinking they were able to form a new horse from his steel defender and with Lestare in the saddle our group found themselves victorious over The Red Knight. As it would turn out The Red Knight was in fact a much older Shel. Shel brings the group to Titania's Castle as her guests and explains to them that two years ago in their time Shel came to the Feywilds while investigating the disappearance of some Orc children. After helping a group called Titania's Justice to kill the witch that was kidnapping the children she was recruited in to help them in their mission to kill The Witches Of The Blackest Bog, a coven of witches who were attempting to bring about the end of the world by summoning the Prince of Misery Yawgmaw. After explaining to Shel why they needed her back in The Material Plane she explained that she could not return until she had killed the final three witches and put an end to their plot. Understanding the risk that the witches posed to both the Feywilds and The Material Plane the group agreed to help Shel hunt the remaining witches. It is at this time Shel also informs the group that time moves differently between their world and the Feywilds. One year in The Material Plane is equal to three in the Feywilds meaning that for Shel it has been six years since she last saw the group making her 21 now.
After resting for a day the group is introduced to Titania, Queen of The Feywild. Titania thanks the group for agreeing to help fight The Witches Of The Blackest Bog and makes them honorary members of Titania's Justice. Shel details the plan to travel east. First the group will need to pass The Great Divide, a mountain range splitting the Feywilds in half, by way of Ralakor's Reach. On the other side of the divide is Oberon's Kingdom. Oberon is king of the faeries and ex-husband of Titania. From there the group will march north to The Blackest Bog to meet up with the rest of Shel's personal unit who have been scouting the location of the final three witches.
After gearing up for their adventure the group moves out following course though Ralakor's Reach with little issue save a minor scuffle between party members over the fate of a Kobold. During this time Kuppo receives a strange rock housing seemingly magical warmth inside. Moving on the group arrives at Oberon's Kingdom. Oberons excitedly invites the group in for a feast in their honor but as it turns out the drinks had been spiked and the group awakens in the dungeon. Realizing that Shel is not among them the group breaks out of their cells and heads to the throne room where they overhear that Shel has been shipped away to Ithil's Haunt to the east. While most of the group is able to escape Amos is captured while attempting to flee by Oberon's court mage.
Regrouping on the outskirts of Oberon's kingdom the group decides to continue to head east to rescue Shel. After managing to buy passage past the Ancient Red Dragon Oddjaw the group arrives at Ithil's Haunt. As it turns out getting into the town is easy, leaving is the hard part. Ithil is revealed to be a Vampire lord who uses the town around his castle as his own personal cattle farm. While in the town the group meets Dagen, a half vampire who claims to be the son of Ithil. He explains that Ithil is obsessed with Shel and plans to force her to marry him and become his vampire bride under the next blood moon. Resolved to save Shel from Ithil's clutches the group prepares by turning the sewers under Ithil's castle into a maze of traps. On the night of the wedding the group explodes into the chapel and manages to snatch Shel away in the confusion. Driven by rage Ithil chases the group into sewer system with Oberon's court mage and a brainwashed Amos. The group fights valiantly and manages to kill Oberon's Court Mage lifting the brainwash spell on Amos. Reunited the group escapes from the sewer and makes a mad dash for the gates of Ithil's Haunt. In a dramatic final stand Dagen manages to fight his father to a standstill while the group flees. Taking one look back the group sees Dagen torn in half by his father before making their escape into a dust storm.
Traveling north through The Blackest Bog proper Shel stopped Icarus to ask him for some advice. She explained that she felt conflicted about returning to Izdrag Or once the coven of witches was slain. On one hand it was her birthright and maybe even her destiny to lead the Orc. On the other hand she had come to build a real home in the Feywilds and felt that she was woefully unprepared to lead a entire country. Icarus assured her that whatever choice she chose to make was the correct one and Shel would resolve to stay in the Feywild after the witches had been dealt with. Eventually the group would meet up with Shel's unit who would inform her of the location of the final three witches.
The group slayed the final witches with ease but unfortunately were too late to stop their machinations. A portal between The Realms Of Chaos and The Feywilds was opened and Yagmaw launched an attack on Titania's Castle. Taking to the sky on the back of her units Pegasuses the group arrived and helped to repel the Prince of Misery's forces. Shel however would throw her self through the portal with the group following her. She explained that when she arrived in The Feywild she served with a summer Eldarin named Fia who would become her mentor and somebody whom Shel had developed feelings for. Fia had been captured by The Witches Of The Blackest Bog and vanished about a year ago but Shel knew she was alive and near by. Shel asked the group for one last favor, hold down the entrance to The Feywilds while she flew to Fia's aid and rescued her from Yagmaw's clutches. The group agreed and Shel took off on her Pegasus to find her lover. Meanwhile the group found themselves ambushed by Yagmaw himself who sought to eradicate them and continue his attack on Titania who had imprisoned him before. A brutal fight ensued and during the chaos Amos Stake would perish after falling into a river of acid. Eventually the group would reign victorious over Yagmaw and Shel returned with Fia in tow. Leaving The Realms Of Chaos the group rested at Titania's castle and mourned the loss of their friend. Shel informed the group she was going to stay in the Feywilds to watch over the comatose Fia and help protect the realm. She asked the group to inform Balan, her right hand man, of her death and to have him offer Zerrus whatever he needed to liberate the Tiefling homeland.
After returning from the Feywilds, the party is met at their home in Newport by Zerrus. Zerrus meets with Balan who provides him ships and supplies. Brief preparations are made before the whole crew sets off on a sailing ship to begin their long journey to Ostinsel, the island which was formerly the home of Reactor Ein and the Tiefling people.The whole group consists mainly of various resistance members from around the world, all answering the call to do their part in liberating a land for the Tieflings to call their own.
Zerrus deems the original site of the famed Reactor Ein, now little more than a burnt-out husk of a reactor, to be their home base. It is here the resistance plans to make their regional base, a foothold in the land of their ancestors. Around this time the Freebirds are introduced to a tiefling resistance fighter who is to tag along with the group as an official contact on behalf of the tieflings. She goes by the callsign ‘Dragonfly' and is a mute, primarily communicating through sign language and notes. She is rumored, however, to be a noteworthy sharpshooter and carries with her a custom bolt action rifle. Zerrus issues his first official orders to The Freebirds. The resistance has received word from one of their established groups on the continent that there is a growing threat in the region that, if given time to grow unchecked, may become an even bigger threat than the current Raven Order. At once the group boards another ship and begins to sail south toward the southern edge of the main continent. After another brief period of travel the party makes landfall at a remote section of coast and begins their adventure behind enemy lines.
The region is rather close to the Antarctic circle but the arrival of spring has softened the weather considerably. All around towering conifers stretch skywards as lush mosses and ferns sprawl across the forest floor, making the most of the early thaw while they can. The party finds a road after not too long and begins heading in the direction of their rendezvous. After a couple days of travel, the party notices a dirt path branching off from the main road. A quick recon from Su reveals the presence of a campfire some distance along the path. As the day grows late and the path travels through a notably dense section of forest the party chooses the stealthy route and makes their way towards the site in question. As the group draws nearer a mysterious fog envelops the forest. Around the campfire is a clearing. Those who draw nearer see a gypsy wagon and an older woman clothed in intricate shawl with a purple head wrap and curls of silver hair lining her face. To those who draw near, she introduces herself as Madame Jezra. She explains that the region has fallen into a state of despair due primarily to the actions of the Red Queen the regional ruler seated in the nearby city of Ausdauernd. Looking around the group sees that they aren’t in just any forest clearing but a graveyard, with dozens of fresh graves stretching in all directions around them. Before they leave the woman gifts the party a special trinket. A unique top comprised of overlapping rings with a metal arrow at it’s center. The next day the party is back on the road. They investigate an abandoned farm just off the main road but find nothing except a royal summons of the occupants from the city of Ausdauernd. By nightfall the group reaches the outskirts of the city. Ausdauernd is a heavily industrialized city with cobbled streets, high building density and an ever-present layer of smog looming overhead. The party makes their way through the streets before eventually meeting an acquaintance of the local resistance group. They lead the party to a safehouse located in an abandoned print shop where they make contact with the local resistance leader who goes by Aegolius. They explain the situation and inform the party in more detail that their primary mission is to remove The Red Queen from power before she can stage a violent uprising against the current Raven Order and install herself as queen in a new monarchy. The party is also given a secondary objective of disposing of the captain of the city guard. Lastly, the party is shown to their living quarters in the basement and given a few tools to assist them around the city.
The next day the party awakes to find a note left for them by a resistance courier that informs them of a thief in the city slums who might make a useful contact and also that their little kobold friend should be left in the print shop to be picked up later for a special mission. As the evening draws near, the group, excluding Kuppo, dress up in disguise and make their way towards the slums. After making contact with the thief they are given a new mission to turn on the water to the slums in exchange for favor with the people and some useful information. The city sewer system is intricate and dilapidated, and it takes a while for the group to make their way through the musty labyrinth. However, in due time they are able to fight off a hoard of rats, several giant centipedes, and an ocher jelly. Both Dragonfly and Emari flaunt their fighting skills, cutting through their foes with ease. Icarus manages to start some local generators and open the primary intake valves to get water flowing again while Shoony is able to turn the valves directing the water towards the slums. The group makes their way back to the surface and return to the thief, who then gives them the personal address of the captain of the city guard and another address belonging to a noble who seems worth investigating. Their first day successful, the group returns to the print shop and gets some much-needed rest. Kuppo is not there when they return.
The adventure continues the next morning when the party receives word that a convoy of weapons for the war effort will be making it’s way out of the city and towards the capital some time that day. The group decides to set up an ambush to destroy the weapons. The spot they choose is a section of the main road just outside the city limits. They find a small hill overlooking the road and begin preparations. Min prepares explosive vigils along the road, Orsick creates a few punji pits along the side of the road opposite the hill and the rest of the group takes the time to cut down a tree and position it at the crest of the hill for cover. During this time Su is sent out to scout and warn the group when the convoy approaches. It is late into the evening when Su finally signals it’s arrival.
The convoy is heavily guarded, with six mounted cavalry troops positioned in front of the first wagon and six more behind the last. There are three wagons total. The first wagon is full of crates while the middle wagon has its contents hidden beneath a tarp. The last wagon looks to be a passenger carriage. As the lead wagon passes over the final vigil, all hell break loose as they detonate and wreak havoc upon the unsuspecting soldiers. The first wagon is completely obliterated. Throwing its drivers and strewing debris across the road. A few of the leading cavalry members are also caught in the blast and thrown from their horses. The middle wagon is flipped over onto its side, it’s drivers also ejected from their seats and the driving horses reduced to meaty chunks. The last sigil detonates just in front of the final wagon, killing its horses but leaving its drivers and occupants relatively unharmed.
A light skirmish ensues between the remaining members of the convoy and the Freebirds. Min releases a few magical clones across the road and into the forest beyond, further adding to the confusion daunting their foes. Intending the attack to be a hit and run, several members of the Freebirds take off into the woodlands behind them. However, there is some miscommunication and a handful of members continue the attack as the trained soldiers begin to rally and counter attack. In an effort to gain some time, the remaining members push their log off the top of the hill and into the road, pinning two unlucky foot soldiers. Unfortunately, Shoony slips during the push and tumbles down the hill after the log. Min valiantly risks their life to save Shoony, but the situation is stressed when Shoony spies the cavalry captain’s hat lying in the road and attempts to snatch it. They are successful and as they grab it Min evokes ‘Pass Without Trace’ upon the both of them and they are able to sneak away.
As the soldiers give chase to their attackers, Lestare is caught in a tight spot as the tree he had climbed for better vantage has two unsuspecting soldiers take cover directly below it. With finesse and dexterity fitting of a ranger, they manage to sneak down from their roost but are spotted fleeing the scene as two dismounted cavalry riders give chase. A desperate game of cat and mouse ensues through the woods with each side working around the trees to gain an edge over their opponents. Emari and Dragonfly head back when they hear the distant gunshots and are able to help finish off the pursuing soldiers. Afterwards the group heads back to their safehouse and gets some rest for the night.
The next day the party discovers a locked chest amongst the supplies in their printshop. It is secured by a combination lock but Dragonfly elects to just blow the lock with her revolver. Inside they find some health potions, spell scrolls, and a vile labeled “liquid fire”. Around this time Lestare reveals that a magic pot he has been carrying around has just grown a sentient shrub. Lestare teaches the shrub sign language and Emari fears that the shrub may be coming on to Dragonfly. As the interparty antics die down for the day, they decide to check out the locations given to them by the One Winged Angel. Dragonfly, Emari, and Shoony prepare to stake out the Captain of the Guard’s residence while Lestare and Orsick investigate the other important noble in question. While this is happening, Icarus and Min head to the primary rail line at edge of the city and prepare some explosive vigils, hoping to cut off the city from incoming supplies.
Near the residence of the Captain of the Guard, the splinter group decides to forcibly take over a nearby house in order to surveil the estate in question for a sustained period. Utilizing a Scroll of Silence they picked up from the chest in their hideout, the team blitz rushes a home directly across the street from their target and mercilessly dispatch a family of four. Over the next 48 hours Dragonfly observes the daily activities of the target household. To no small surprise the Captain of the City Guard, Otto Muller, is a tough and vile man who cares only to satisfy his own ambitions. After some time, the group decides to disguise themselves as Otto and his wife and sneak into the household while the couple is away. Dragonfly had previously concocted a potent poison while on observation duty and slips it into one of Otto’s whisky bottles before making a hasty get away. Satisfied with their work, the group of three make their way back to the print shop.
Meanwhile, at the address of the other noble, Orsick and Lestare take the advice of the One Winged Angel and wait for the cover of darkness before sneaking into the basement through a propped open window in the backyard. Their sneaking ability hindered by their armor, Orsick stays put in the basement while Lestare creeps up to the ground floor. Moving swiftly and silently, they manage to remain undetected while casing the ground floor before continuing up to the first floor. On the first floor they encounter a guard dog while attempting to enter the master bedroom. Just as it seems their cover might be blown, Lestare reacts with untold speed and precision to sink an arrow into the dog’s chest.
The value of this estate yet to be realized, Lestare attempts to interrogate the noble who is fast asleep in the same room. With a firm hand and steady blade Lestare awakens the elder man and begins to pry for information. Despite the severity of their situation, the noble is less than cooperative and betrays no intention of revealing their secrets. With unclear locations of the patrolling guards and more of the house to explore, Lestare deems it best to end the man’s life then and there rather than risk the consequences of being caught. A sweep of the house reveals little of interest, though before calling it quits, Lestare manages to secure a few items of seeming importance including a book on metallurgy, an elven scroll, a stone tablet, and a handful of letters. On their way to reunite with Orsick in the basement, they encounter the two night watchmen and are forced to engage. Luckily, Orsick had been waiting just out of sight in the stairwell nearby and assists in dispatching the guards quickly. Not wanting to overstay their welcome, the duo makes a hasty retreat and head back to the print shop to await the return of their other companions.
The exploits of Icarus and Min are uneventful, they successfully place several vigils along the rail line and are able to return to the print shop completely undetected. Early the next morning a rumbling boom can be heard echoing through the city.
Once the party regroups after their various endeavors, they wish to go out and observe the current state of the general public and get an idea for how close the city is to open revolt. Icarus and Min enter a small hole-in-the-wall bar called ‘The Misérables’. To their shock the sole drink offered in this establishment is a mixed concoction of rum and scotch. Doing their best to move past this abhorred discovery they “test the waters” for the public’s opinion on the cities current state. Doing their best to remain conspicuous, the bartender gives Icarus the address for a pub located in the slums that might be “more their speed”.
The whole group decides to pay the pub a visit later that evening. The establishment goes by the name ‘The Bleeding Heart’ and is a lively joint with a much more palatable menu. After talking to the lead bar maid for a bit the group is taken to the cellar. It is explained that for the past few months the Bleeding Heart has served as a base of operations for recruitment towards a public rebellion against The Red Queen. So far they haven’t done much beyond rallying the public and hiding stashes of arms and supplies throughout the city, but the times are growing tougher and the people are growing restless. An open offer to join is extended to the Freebirds, but they decide to decline. The group leaves and returns to the printshop for the night.
The next morning one of the couriers for the tiefling resistance shows up and congratulates the group on their current success. They also point out a couple points of interest the group has yet to investigate. After a brief discussion the group decides to split up and tackle multiple tasks for the day. One group consisting of Emari, Shoony, and Orsick head to the sewers to see if they can find an underground entrance to the palace. The other group is made up of Dragonfly, Icarus, and Min who head to the industrial zone. Lestare stays at the print shop and entertains his shrub. The first group finds a manhole near the print shop and begin making their way in the general direction of the palace. They encounter a few beasts but travel is relatively easy. After a while they come across a strange door surrounded by engraved plaques and featuring a notable indent at it’s center. Orsick attempts to translate the writing on the plaques but is unsuccessful. They are able to discern that the writing is quite old, however, like an old regional dialect. Orsick does recognize a pattern on one of the plaques that they identify as the crest of the nobles house they raided a couple nights ago. Unable to open the door, the group begins to make it’s way back to the print shop. By the time group two reaches the industrial zone it’s late in the evening and workers are entering the streets after another long, exhausting shift. The three Freebirds are able to remain undetected and head towards a building that still has smoke exiting it’s chimneys. The building is surrounded by a high wall but Dragonfly summons a magical rope that they use to stealthily climb over. The inside of the building is one large production floor full of complex machinery. It is fairly dark, save for a light coming from the far corner. Creeping closer, the group sees two engineers hovering about a strange machine in the process of being built. Dragonfly and Icarus prepare to take down the two engineers simultaneously. A slight stumble almost gives them away, but Icarus’s quick reflexes silence the engineers before then can raise and alarm. Min uses ‘Speak with the Dead’ to ask one of the engineers about the machine they were working on. They learn that the machine is a steam powered mech which is the result of a secret weapons program. The machine in front of them is a prototype. A few more have already been built and kept in storage for further testing and development. Icarus studies the machine and is able to pick up on how it’s assembled as well as how the control mechanisms work. Min is then tasked with setting explosive vigils around the facility as a surprise for the next morning’s shift. Feeling that their work is complete, the trio decide to head back to the print shop, but as they do a couple of guards enter the building. Moving quietly, the Freebirds make their way towards the opposite side of the building and are able to exit via a side door without being detected.
The whole group meets back up at the print shop and each side shares their experiences. In place of sleeping, a majority of the group elects to head back to the noble’s residence to see if they can’t find a clue that might help them open the door they found in the sewers. By the time the main group reaches the noble’s house, dawn is just starting to break over the sky, but there is still enough darkness to move through the streets undetected. They enter the noble’s residence from the rear door and comb the building for anything of importance. Luckily no one seems to have been left to keep guard over the estate. The initial search reveals little, until Emari remembers the strange top given to them by the old woman in the forest. Giving it a spin, it's arrow comes to point towards one corner of the building not accessible from the ground floor. That’s when Lestare remembers the door to the private library on the second floor. They make a bee line and are able to notice a false bookcase that they overlooked during their previous visit. When the rest of the team is still trying to tunnel through the walls on the ground floor, Lestare is able to puzzle through the intricate lock and get the bookcase open. Behind it is a dark passage that leads underground to a personal laboratory filled with various experiments and artifacts. To one side sits a glass bell encasing a small glowing creature. Upon closer inspection it is clear it is a white fairy dragon. Some notes next to the little dragon reveal that is was originally native to Ilyran Thalas and was shipped home for study. Attempts to communicate with the beast suggest that it understands common but it does not vocalize any responses. When asked about it’s name, it writes out ‘Faelae’ in glowing letters on the table using the tip of it’s tail. Returning their attention to the rest of the lab, the group finds a large red gem inserted into a house crest hanging on the wall. It looks to be just what they need to open the sewer door. Having retrieved what they came for, the group moves to depart. Dragonfly motions for the little dragon to follow and they fly to her shoulder, happy to be free from containment.
The group reunites at the print shop before continuing back into the sewers. The group is able to traverse back to the door they found earlier. They insert the red gem they found and a thunk can be heard behind the door. With a hefty push it swings open, revealing a dark passageway behind it. The party enters and makes their way through the musty corridors. After some time, they enter in to a torchlit dungeon. On one side of the room is a row of cells, inside of which are a couple of elf prisoners. Orsick steps forward to question them, and after a few ‘basic’ questions learns that they are prisoners of war taken from Ilyran Thalas. The party releases them and sends them back down the tunnels they came from. Moving forward, the group makes their way to what appears to be the ground floor of the palace. They enter a spacious atrium with a large and ornate staircase leading up to the multitude of floors above them, as well as several corridors branching off in all directions. It is late in the morning at this point and daylight is streaming in through a large stain glass window overlooking the grand staircase. However, it seems to be unusually quite for the current hour of the day. The group hears a clanking noise coming from one of the corridors and Dragonfly and Min move to investigate while the rest of the group begins to head up the staircase. Dragonfly and Min encounter a pair of patrolling soldiers and get into a loud round of combat. While, the soldiers are dealt with quickly, it is clear that an alarm has sounded throughout the palace and soldiers will soon be swarming it’s halls. The Free Birds hastily regroup and begin a mad dash through the palace to find the Red Queen’s chambers. Emari makes use of his gifted top again and ascertains the general direction they need to head. Sprinting down corridors, around corners and through rooms, the Free Birds fight through the palace halls until they eventually come to a large hall decorated on all sides in extravagant craftsmanship. At the far end sits a throne with large suits of armor flanking both its sides. As the group steps forward, a booming feminine voice calls out to them. A large red dragonborn steps out from behind the throne. After a brief monologue she call out for her personal guards. Several groups of rifle men enter from both sides of the room and the suits of armor come to life, drawing their long swords and kite shields.
Several well-placed shots bring Shoony to a critical point almost immediately. The reality of ranged combat sinks in as the group scrambles for cover. Ducking behind the pillars that line either side of the throne room, the group creeps forward towards their enemies. Emari casts darkness to provide some cover for their advance. Icarus and Lestare lay down fire to soften the soldiers pinning them down. As members of the Freebirds draw closer, the Red Queen unleashes a fireball spell from her personal rapier, softening several members encroaching on her left. Several ranged attacks are made against the queen but none are successful as the suits of armor stick close to absorb the damage. The battle is fierce as each side exchanges blows but in time the soldier are defeated and the party is able to advance. The suits of armor prove to be mighty foes in their own right as their well crafted armor absorbs strike after strike. However, they cannot keep up with the onslaught and their queen is forced to engage in combat. Just as victory nears for the Freebirds a Kreigsmeister bursts through the far end of the hall and unleashes a hail of bullets across the room. Unfortunately for the Red Queen, it is too little too late. She is surrounded and unable to properly defend herself. One last crossbow bolt from Icarus ends her life and ends her terrible reign. Their master dead, the suits of armor return to their places by the throne. Able to focus their attention on the solo Kreigsmeister, the Freebirds dispatch them easily. Exhausted, yet victorious the party begins to make their way out of the palace. Along the way they encounter Kuppo who reveals that their mission for the past few days was to sneak around the palace and funnel information back to the resistance. When they heard all the commotion going on they decided to come out and investigate. With their mission accomplished, the Free Birds are congratulated by the tiefling resistance and informed they are to head back towards the establishment at reactor Ein for their next assignment. That night the slums are filled with parties and celebrations. After having their fill of festivities, the group “borrows” a wagon and makes their way out of Ausdauernd. Thus ending their time in ‘The City of Smoke’.
Before returning to Reactor Ein the group is instructed to stop at a train yard to pick up supplies earmarked and set aside by a agent inside the Raven Order Government. While the Freebirds make quick work of the guards their plans are tested by the arrival of a large war train arriving under the cover of a blizzard. While most of the Freebirds fight the metal beast from the outside Kuppo attempts a daring gamble by entering the train and engaging the crew in hand to hand combat. Disabling two of the three train cars the group manages to use fire to kill the operators of the last train car. After the fight has ended the group retrieves the parts they've been assigned to gather as well as a Elven blade that identifies itself as Gowain's Blade and tasks Min to kill a dragon of each color to fulfill the blades mission. Opting to turn the train over to The Owls Of Freedom the group boards their boat and takes off for Reactor Ein.
Returning to Reactor Ein the group is welcomed by a large party celebrating their massive win in Ausdauernd. While partying in their own ways Zerrus informs them of the progress of the revolution. They've been freeing Tieflings all across the eastern part of the islands and bringing them back here. On the following day Zerrus asks the group to attack a Raven Order labor camp and free the Tieflings imprisoned there.
Making their way to the labor camp the group finds that all of the prisoners have been executed just like at Camp Omega. While most of the paperwork and records were already burnt on their arrival the group manages to find evidence indicating that the Raven Order government was currently plotting to send troops to Reactor Ein to squash the rebellion. Quickly returning to Reactor Ein the group informs Zerrus who instructs all soldiers to board the armored train the group had captured and non soldiers to evacuate the area. Zerrus decides that since the capital would have to be left unguarded to create a sizable enough force to contend with The Owls Of Freedom that the region would be easy to attack now.
Arriving in the capital the train lets several groups of rebel fighters off along the track to create noise. Meanwhile Zerrus, Dragonfly and the Freebirds are dropped at the Peoples Chambers where the Raven Order Government is headquartered. Zerrus dispatches the Freebirds to the basement to find and kill Michael Wise in his bunker while he and Dragonfly move to the upper floors to buy them time. En route to the bunker the group encounters the original Kriegmeister who they kill once and for all. Breaking into Michael Wise's bunker the group finds the man alone at his desk. He offers to answer any questions the group may have in exchange for his life. Shooney proceeds to cast Zone of Truth forcing Michael to tell only the truth. Prying as much information out of him as possible the group begins to learn a number of truths about the Torchbearers and their larger motives.
For starters Micheal Wise actually had very little control in his own government, he had given free reign to his generals to do as they wished in Illyran Thalas so long as he was allowed to maintain his position. While he was once part of The Torchbearers they had stripped him of his position when they realized he would be unable to take Illyran Thalas. He had joined The Torchbearers in 2941RH when they had given him the tools needed to secretly cause Reactor Ein to meltdown and begin his rise to power. Originally The Torchbearers had tasked him with invading Illyran Thalas and seizing the portal the elves use to reach Niquis' realm at the top of Halda Antaro. After it was clear his army was being stalled in The Jungle of Turu he was removed from the group. He shares that he knows of some other members of the Torchbearers such as; two members of The Voyager's Table, a high ranking official in the Telma government. Sofia DeLuca's younger brother and a high ranking member of the Kumdan Tepe government. Additionally he adds that Fire Beard was actually being set up by the Telma government for knowing too much and would eventually be used as an excuse by the Telma government, and by extension The Torchbearers, to increase military spending.
Believing they had exhausted all of the information they could from Michael Wise the group decided Emauri should be the one to kill Michael Wise and he was beat to death with Emauri's bare hands. Searching his desk the group found Raven Order intelligence indicating that the parts they had stolen at the train yard for Zerrus could be used to make a high yield bomb. Rushing to the roof to get answers the group finds Zerrus alone on the rooftop standing on a large wooden crate. Zerrus reveals that he is the great grandson of Klaus Zimmer and at a young age had witnessed the ethnic cleansing of the Tieflings first hand. Escaping with his great grandfather's research notes Zerrus swore an oath of revenge that day and dedicated his life to eradicating The Raven Order. He informs the group that they would have to go through him to disarm the bomb on his roof. Injecting himself with a mysterious syringe Zerrus launched himself at the group. While he did not expect the fight to be easy he found that Dragonfly, who he had positioned on an adjacent roof, found herself unable to fire upon her new friends and actively fought against Zerrus. While the group brought Zerrus down they found that the bomb was in fact inert, missing a detonation device. Zerrus explains that he couldn't bring himself to harm real heroes like The Freebirds but also couldn't relent in his mission either. While they were fighting the Owls Of Freedom were deploying more bombs around the city and that the group would be too late to stop them. Dying from the injection which condensed the life energy of the planet and giving him a boost in power, Zerrus handed the research notes of Reactor Ein over to the group and asked them to use it to do good as he was unable to. In that moment all of the bombs in the city detonated at the same time. Using the same mechanics as Reactor Ein the explosion was immense shaking the very foundations of the realm. In an instant the group found themselves and Zerrus teleported into a strange and unfamiliar land. A large being with metal integrated into its body sat on a stone throne. Outside his throne room was a landscape made of lava and rock stretching out from the base of the mountain where the group stood. Sensing their arrival an ancient red dragon landed sticking its head in the throne room. Asking them by what right they stood in the realm of Tiamat, Lestare stepped forward recognizing the imagery of the room being similar to that of those who worship Schmiede the god of fire and forge. Lestare declared they were they by right of Schmiede causing the dragon to laugh. Motioning to the dead being on the throne.
"If you are here by the rights of a dead god I can't say I'm worried," the dragon's voice boomed through the halls of Schmiede.
Looking to the distance the group saw a large five headed dragon approaching but before her arrival the group was transported back to the top of The Peoples Chambers. Zerrus was gone as was the entirety of the city. For miles there was nothing but destruction leaving only the government building. Climbing back down the group made their way back to Reactor Ein solemnly. Finding the tieflings gone, the group headed back to Newport to prepare for their next adventure. Confronting Fire Beard at the Naval Prison under The President's Office in Telma.
Arriving in the capital city of Telma the group takes a short time to get acquainted with the city before setting out for the Naval Prison. Encountering an old comrade of Icarus' the group finds it easy to bribe him with a bottle of fine wine before infiltrating the prison. While inside the group finds they are not the only ones here to confront Fire Beard. Recognizing the leader of the opposing group as Miranda Bellerose, a ward of Fire Beard. She recognizes Icarus as well and before they can speak to each other Miranda screams for the guards and her group sprints away from the Freebirds. Heading in the opposite direction the Freebirds make it to Fire Beard first who is in the middle of planning his own escape. He recognizes Icarus as well and launches a flare out the window of his cell. Taking cover with his cell mate they wait a moment before the wall is blown open. Fire Beard invites the group to follow before he throws himself out of the newly formed escape route. Down below the cliffs is a ship waiting for him with a large sail extended to cushion his dramatic fall.
Left with the options of following or being confronted by prison guards the group jumps, shortly after the rest of Fire Beard's crew joins them and the ship takes off for Lamperos Ilios, a small port town north of the Capital. Fire Beard changes into his regular clothing and converses with the group. Revealing that he allowed himself to be captured as being locked up in the capital was arguably safer than continuing to evade Torchbearer assassins. Furthermore Fire Beard lays out the events from his side in regards to the Torchbearers.
Seeing the increase in corruption in the country Fire Beard elected to desert and take documents with him implicating the President of Telma as part of the Torchbearers. At this point the Telma government would label Fire Beard as a pirate and attempt to capture him while he was attacking a Torchbearer ship. While the official story was that the ship was a gold transport, in reality it was carrying a sword known as the Divinity Slayer. In order to further their own goals of increased military spending and force the Telma President intentionally botched the operation to capture Fire Beard. It was in this attack the Emauri lost his leg and Icarus lost his leg and was captured by Fire Beard.
Noting that they have a common enemy Fire Beard suggests that the two groups team up for now. Fire Beard claims he will surrender the Divinity Slayer to the Freebirds along with the papers implicating the President so that the group can utilize them in the fight against the Torchbearers. Uneasily the group agrees and sets out for Forte Nero, an old military encampment where Fire Beard has stashed the items. Gathering their gear and preparing for their journey the group travels north guided by Fire Beard.
Along their route is Sailor's Rest, a town built around a natural hot springs designed as a resting place for sailors who are wounded in action. Upon approaching the town a single spear flies through the air and sinks into the mud in front of the group, slowly the muddy water turns red and a bullywog floats to the surface. A young man with a striking resemblance to Icarus emerges from the brush and tells the group they should be more carefully when traveling through the swamp before reclaiming his spear and wandering back into the treeline.
Inside the safety of the town's walls the group rents some rooms and relaxes in the hot springs. While reacquainting himself with the town Icarus runs into Sofia, a nurse who had treated him after the loss of his leg. She invites him back to her home and the two catch up. While his memories of his recovery are hazy from the painkillers he was on at the time he seems to remember their relationship being romantic in nature. Sofia reveals that after he was discharged and left Sailor's Rest she discovered she was pregnant with their son. She would name him Alexander and raised him by herself. Icarus offers to stay with them but Sofia turns him down.
"I've known sailors like you, ones who have the stars burned into their eyes from following them for so long. Men like you are happier traveling and I would not ask you to stay here just for me." she tells him
No animosity between the two of them Icarus spends the night at her house but declines to lay with her. During the next day the group jumps into action to help repel a bullywog attack with the aid of Fire Beard and Alexander. Despite the bullywogs summoning Frank, a Froghemoth, the group still managed to beat them back into the swamp land. After receiving thanks from the people of Sailor's Rest the group moved north making a detour at Drákon Koúrnia to slay a green dragon that had reportedly been harassing the people in the area. After slaying a number of creatures and fighting some intense battles the group arrived at the lair of Zaedruuk, a menacing green dragon. In a moment of pure bravery Kuppo called out to the dragon demanding that the beast fight him for its past transgressions towards him. A brutal battle ensued and although Zaedruuk would fall but not before taking Kuppo with him. Luckily the group managed to revive Kuppo just in time. Among Zaedruuk's treasure the group found a severed head. Speaking to them upon being freed from the chest the head introduced himself as Ricardo and told the group of how he was interviewing Zaedruuk for his Alquimia graduation project but the dragon decided that he was entertaining enough so he wished for him to be immortal and decapitated the rest of his body. Min took Ricardo along with him and the group resumed their journey onto Aramore, home town of Min.
Min's return was not a happy one however. On the church town outskirts the group found a man with a sword ran through him, pinning him to a tree. After healing him the group learned that the clergy men of Aramore were recently visited by a mysterious man known only as the King in White who convinced the church to abandon the teachings of Nepo and instead follow him as he claimed he would fight the gods and save humanity from its yoke. Using images and visions of the destruction caused by Zerus at The Republic Of The Raven Order capital to make them believe that it was divine punishment from the gods. Min and The Freebirds would eventually kill the clergymen and set fire to the monastery after discovering the week old corpse of Min's adoptive father.
Heading north the group would spend a stressful night in a haunted mansion before continuing onward to Forte Nero. Finally arriving at the fort the group descended into the forts basement discovering a old stone mosaic depicting three figures sealing a fourth figure away. Fire Beard uncovered the Divinity Slayer and the papers and handed them over to the Freebirds as promised. Opting not to publish the papers to keep the status quo in place the Freebirds headed back to Lamperos Ilios. Before parting ways Emauri challenged Fire Beard to a one on one duel. Fire Beard would fall by Emauri's hand but Min quietly revived the pirate. Heading back to Newport, The Freebirds regrouped before making way for Kumdan Tepe to chase down the Torchbearer who had infiltrated the Sultan's government.
Arriving in Kumdan Tepe the group made way for the capital city following Orsick's lead. Arriving in Iilhi Madina the Orsick sought information regarding his estranged brothers. Following a debrief by a fellow paladin it was revealed that Orsick's brothers died while investigating Yuan-Ti ruins north of the city, other Paladins had managed to recover Capsick's body but not Thannick's. Wanting to see the place of their death with his own eyes The Freebirds followed Orsick to the site they were sent to investigate. Deep in the sandy cave was a mural identical to the one found in Forte Nero depicting three gods sealing away a fourth god. While investigating the mural the group was ambushed by Thannick, Orsick's older brother who revealed that he had defected to the side of the Yuan-Ti.
Thannick explained to the group that here in the caves he had heard the voice of Ozan and was told that the Ozan being worshiped by the people of Kumdan Tepe was a false god who was only posing. Thannick attacked Capsick and dispatched him before meeting up with the Yuan-Ti and helping to organize them. He invites Orsick and the rest of the group to join them and fight on the right side of history. Rejecting Thannick's offer the group was ambushed by Yuan-Ti while Thannick fled into the caves. Dispatching the Yuan-Ti the group attempted to follow Thannick but found the caves too difficult to traverse. While Min offered to use Ricardo to teleport the group back to Iilhi Madina Orsick and Icarus declined. Instead the rest of the group teleported back but following a mishap with the spell ended up smack in the middle of a in session court. Promptly arrested and detained in the prison the group met Anzarr El-Amir, head of the Palace Guard. There in the underbelly of the Ziggurat the group plead with Anzarr who had agreed with the group that something was afoot but needed to keep them locked up for apperances at least for now. However the group found their stay cut short when a ghastly fog entered the prison scaring away the guards. As it had turned out Leone had come to their aid imploring the group to meet with his ally and member of The Voyagers Table, Terrance Lombardo. Making their way to the upper levels of the Ziggurat the group met with Terrance, Leone, and Raul. Terrance explained that the three of them along with some other promenient world figures had been gathered together for a economic summit at the behest of the Sultan's top three advisors. However Terrance believed that this was infact nothing more than a ploy to gather as many non-Torchbearer political figures as possible in one location to kill them in one fell swoop. From there the group traded information and came up with a plan. Once the remaning Freebirds returned to Kumdan Tepe they would sneak into the Sultan's chambers at night to warn her of the coming dangers, fearing that both the Yuan-Ti and Torchbearers would soon make their move.
Once they had regrouped the Freebirds sneaked into the Sultan's chambers. Once inside her private temple at the top of the Ziggurat the group began to warn her of the coming dangers. Much to their surprise the Sultan actually agreed with them about the coming dangers. She was weary of her advisors, believing one of them to be a traitor but had no definitive proof of their desception. She was ultimaetly grateful for the aid of the Freebirds. However their meeting was cut short when the Sultan, Orsick, and Min were overcome with an collective intense headache and spoken to by a mysterious divine voice. The group was ushered back to their room where they awaited the economic summit.
The day of the summit had arrived and the group was taken to the room where the summit was being held on the 4th floor of the Ziggurat. However while the procedings were underway masked assilants attempted to murder the foreign dignitaries. Thwarting their attack the group was informed that more masked assilants had begnun to rampage the upper floors of the Ziggurat. Meanwhile down below Yuan-Ti had begun to launch a siege on the building. Anzarr requested that the Freebirds made their way with him to the top floor to protect the Sultan. However the voice that had spoken to Orsick and Min this time beseched the whole group to make their way to the bottom of the Ziggurat. Feeling that they were more needed to face the Yuan-Ti threat the group began to make their way to the base of the Ziggurat. Cutting down Torchbearer assassins along the way they eventually made their way to the first floor of the Ziggurat where they found Kumdan Tepe Paladins holding the front line but struggling to get the drawbridge back up. Icarus helped to hold the line while the rest of the group fought through stray Yuan-Ti soldiers to pull the drawbridge back up. Eventually they were succesful but were informed that some had managed to slip through and headed straight for the basement levels. Two Paladins, Biggs and Wedge, voluntieered to go with the Freebirds spurred on by Icarus' leadership. Fighting through more of the Yuan-Ti threat the group found that the enemy forces had destroyed a wall in a prison cell revealing a hidden area behind it.
In this ancient hall the group found evidence of a old civilization, once ran by the Yuan-Ti. Painted on the walls were murals depecting what appeared to be a fight between a group of three gods fighting against a fourth god. Deeper in the old palace the group eventually caught up with the Yuan-Ti who had begun destroying a large green crystal sealed away in old palace. In a moment of confusion Lestare attacked the crystal as well causing it to crack and unleash the deadly angel trapped within.
However before the group could engage with the angel time slowed down and the voice that had previously instructed the group to head for the basement spoke to them once more. He revealed himself to be Hayalet, better known as the Trickster God in their world. He explained that the foe the group would soon face was known as Commonwealth, one of Ozan's eight angels. He also allowed the group to ask of him one question each before he would have to resume their fight with Commonwealth. Hayalet proved to be a treasure trove of knowledge; he revealed a large amount of info the group. For starters he explained that Orsick's brother was technically correct. Long ago Niquis, Tanto, and Schmede waged a war on Ozan fearing his power and desire to shape the universe in his image. Ultimately the war was won when Hayalet assisted the other gods. This victory was possible becasue Ozan, the god of light, could not see Hayalet who could move in the shadows allowing him to sneak the other gods past him. Further more once Ozan had been sealed away by the group Hayalet began to mascarade as Ozan. He did this because Irin, or the life energy of the universe, could be transfered through the power of faith or prayer. Hayalet made contact with the first Sultan of Kumdan Tepe and granted him the power of miracles to begin consuming this faith. All of this was done in order to keep Ozan sealed away in his prison. Hayalet stressed that the Freebirds would need to kill Commonwealth in order to keep the realm safe from Ozan's grasp. Seeing no other option the group steeled themselves for the fight. What ensued was one of the most brutal fights the group had to date. Ultiamtely the group reigned triumphent with the help of Biggs and Wedge. Returing top side the group met back up with Leone and Terrance. The Yuan-Ti threat had been repelled and the Torchbearer assassins had been driven out of the castle. However there were many casualties on the Kumdan Tepe side including the life of the Sultan. Driven by a desire to get revenge Anzarr asked to join the Freebirds in their fight aginst the The Torchbearers.