The party has grown in legendary status and have been doing various jobs in the meantime. A courier comes to their Red Circle mansion, looking for Smorgs, Gromor Bane and Achelies. Achelies takes the message, opens the seal and finds it’s from a dwarven merchant offering a job opportunity. They meet with Charboyya’s cloth emporium.
Charboyya invites the party into his office to discuss the job opportunity. He describes that he’d spent money hiring adventurer’s to take messages to his home village of Hanto. The group that he sent did not return. He asks the adventurers to take some messages to his town.
The party asks “How much?” He offers 650 silver for each party member. Nate the archer steps forward and asks for 800 silver. Charboyya agrees. The agreement is made and papers are drawn. The party leaves the simple office and an elf maiden notices Taru asks what he’s doing. The elf maiden’s name is Keleshanne and lets Taru know that she’s off at dusk would be interested in learning more about the cavalryman. She whispers to Taru, “Alone”.
Brandon’s character goes to the Great Throalic library, pays his 25 silver and attempts to research the ancient sword that Achelies wields. The rest of the group orders provisions for the journey.
Achilies and Gromor Bane scout out the pre-arranged location where Taru is to meet Keleshanne. One of the orcs that was showing cloth at Charboyya’s shop notices Achilies. Achilies sits down with the orc and has a drink with him. The orc asks Achilies where he is going. Achilies states he doesn’t know where, but to impress the orc does a backflip. Achilies lands back-flip and impresses the orc. The orc mentions he’s a simple salesman and wants to impress Keleshanne. Achilies tries to convics him that he can help him with this problem. The orc is unconvinced and mentions that he is looked down upon because he’s an orc. Achilies proceeds to buy him a few ales. The orc mentions he is from a villiage named “Burnpatch”. He angrily mentions that a former friend is in the “Grim Legion”.
He let’s them know that the “Grim Legion” is a bunch of crazy folk always fighting horrors. They go to great lengths to appear mysterious and powerful. The orc says he wished his friend never joined the “Grim Legion”. The orc swings his arm and spills his ale all over Achilies. Achilies says that it’s alright, “He spills stuff on himself all the time, such as the enemies blood.” The orc stops and backs away a little. Achilies presses the orc for more information and repeats that Charboyya is an honest business man.
Dusk falls, Smorgs trains on a tree. Taru enters the bar and sees a drunk Achilies. Taru looks for the elf maiden, doesn’t see her and moves to Achilies. Achilies drunkenly assures Taru that he’s “got his back.” Taru sits him back down. The elf maiden comes in and spies Taru. Taru attempts to strike up a converstaion about work, but doesn’t convince her. She turns the conversation on it’s head, purchases an ale and hooks up with Taru. She mentions that Charboyya is a good employer. Taru agrees. She invites Taru back to her abode. Taru agrees, but goes to tip the bartender and communicates to Achilies to follow. She notices the motion and questions Taru about knowing him. Achilies makes a drunken statement and gets Taru to leave with her.
Taru follows Keleshanne to her home, Achilies managing to follow without being detected. She invites Taru inside, closes and locks the door. Achilies sees the the candlelight blow out. Achilies attempts to break into front door, but hears noises that inform he should walk away.
Brandon finds nothing out about the sword, the morning comes. Taru returns home to find a delivered map with directions to Hanto. Gromor Bane finds that most villagers in that neck of the world do not trust strangers. The group is prepared to leave.
A courier named Gorb, a down on his luck Sky raider, is tasked to deliver Charboyya’s medallions and letters. He comes to the ex-Red Circle estate, and recognizes Taru as a member of his clan. He informs Taru that his village has been wiped from the map. He delivers the sealed letters and medallions. The medallions are proof of the groups trustworthiness to the people of Hanto. Nate attempts to see if he can forge the seal, but it is true intricate. Taru invites Gorb, as a member of his clan, to join the adventurer’s group.
In mentioning the Grim Legion, Brandor (Deceased) explains the group is a fanatical horror hunting group.
The group leaves Bartertown, following the map that Charboyya provided. Days pass and the group falls into a false sense of security. The days enter into a routine of travel and camping, waiting for something to happen. The landscape gets wilder: grass taller and trail faded.
About 1/3 of the distance to Hanto, the group encounters a village. The villages notices the adventuring group and all stops farming, holding pitchforks, shovels, knives. A villager man yells at the group to stop as they approach. Nate yells out “Why?”
The villager yells “Stop now”, the other men raise their pitchforks and women and children start moving behind them. Brandor holds up the medallions to no effect.
“That means nothing to me” says the villager. Achelies says that he’s either walking on the road, or over dead bodies. The villager is unimpressed. Achelies says nothing and simply walks around the villager. The villagers grumble but start to part. Brandor hesitates. Gromor Bane stops and begins to cast “Plant Talk”. The villager stares at him and says “Please don’t touch our livelihood”. Gromor Bane is able to convince the villager that he is an elementalist and is allowed to speak to the crops. Gromor Bane wades through the crops and finds an imbibed corn stalk that has a spirit within. A hard, gruff spirit exhibits surprise to Gromor Bane.
“Is there anything wrong with this village?” Gromor Bane asks. “There is no wrong in this village. They are fearful of strangers and horrors.” is the reply.
The groups dares the villagers the attack as they walk forward. As soon as a party gets close they back away. Nate grabs the arm of one ork farmer. The ork farmer pulls his arm back, grumbling to be left alone. The speaking villager tells the group that they want to be left alone. Achelies plows forward through the village, unscathed.
The group continues, Taru on his warhorse, Gromor Bane’s porter pulling along their cart with provisions.
On the 8th day, as the group settles down for the night. Brandor and Smorgs are the starting sentries for the night. As the night progresses, nothing is observed. They wake Achelies and Grob to take over in the middle of the night. As the shift is changing, the only thing the group notices is the wind dying down as the night continues.
Dawn breaks, the group packs camp, Porter is cast, apples are eaten. All the group sees in front of them is the savanna brush. The landscape turns into more of a wasteland.
9th day, night comes, camp is made. Nate and Taru take the first shift on this night, the moon rises, the air chills. Nate perks up and notices an unexpected a humanoid screech of pain. Next is a sound of over sized birds, with the sound of demonic ostriches. The bird sound continues in the direction the group will be heading in the morning. Nate wakes the group to investigate.
The group walks towards five shadowy shapes running around a larger shape on the ground. As they get closer, they see a large bear shaped, bird headed animal. The group doesn’t know where the human scream came from. At 200 yards, they decide to sneak attack the animals circling their kill. The group prepares to engage with five Molgrim.
Nate steps forward and lets loose with his War bow. Gromor Bane casts Wind Armor on Achelies, and the group engages. The battle is fierce, Taru charging, Gromor Bane casting Ice Spear and Flame Weapon to buff his allies, Nate letting arrows fly, the rest swinging their weapons for all their worth. The battle is close with Gromor Bane, Smorgs, and Brandor being knocked unconscious. Then, in a dire turn of fate, the Molgrim dig into Brandor’s unconcious body and begin eating him. Brandor has fallen to his death to a Molgrim.