After the fight we spent the rest of the night in the temple resting. I tried to clean up as much as I could but this place has laid in ruin so long that any chance of consecration was beyond my skills. We would have to be satisfied with the destruction of this congregation and move on. We rose early the next morning to leave. It may have just been elation from our victory but I think this day was brighter and the pall of despair seemed to be slightly less. We travelled south, back through the gloomy forest, undisturbed by the dwarven hoard this time. Four days later we emerged from the gloom and crossed a small grassy plain until we reached the river. We set up camp to rest for the night and the Huldra made ready their ritual to call upon the Valkyrie. On sunrise the ritual began. Clouds formed high up in the sky and a blast of lightning shot through the sky and the flight of Valkyries descended to the field where we stood. The lead valkyrie jumped down to stand before us and, looking each of us in the eyes, proclaimed "Your deeds, brave ones, will have lasting consequences. We will proudly carry you once more to Huldramose. Mount up and hold on this will be a swift flight." She grasped Wrendell on the shoulder, "You will have the honor of riding with me." Lea could only shake her head and look down as Wrendell beamed with excitement. The Valkyrie flew us back at a wild pace with plenty of hooting and howling. They called it a victory procession. Late the next day we arrived in Huldramose exhausted. Randgrid Ironeyes led us into the greathall as honoured heroes. Both of the Huldra queens were on their thrones to welcome us and another celebration was arranged. Once again I felt somewhat out of place amongst all the feasting and drinking though I did have some time to commune with my goddess Rava to relate news of our completion of the quest as outlined in her prophecy so many months ago. I also contacted the ship Captain that brought us up here from Jozht. He had said that he would be in Wolfheim for a while and could take us home again. A week later we set sail from Marsh Hollow to Jozht. The three week voyage was mostly uneventful though the late spring climate was remarkably warm and pods of whales with their calves were spotted most days. The sailors on board say that this whaling season would one of the best in years. Our ship arrived back in Jozht without any fanfare to find the city going about its business as usual. The harbour was busy with fishing and merchant traders. We made our way to the Temple of Sif to meet with Lady Mazurek, who was most pleased to see us all. 'Your survival and success in the mission is a blessed sign. I have a scroll here that arrived recently addressed to you.' The contents were dire news. Queen Urzula was asking for our help once more. The Archduke had finally been captured by the Ghouls and we were requested to assist in his rescue. She said we could get transport back to the Court in Exile from the local stonemasons guild. The visit to the Mason's Gild Hall was one of the highlights of my trip North. The guide showed me around the hall and pointed out some of the specific details and gave me some great pointers when doing finer detailing in hard stone. Once the tour was over we were taken to the guildmasters office to arrange transportation. The guild has a teleportation circle that could be accessed for a fee. I left the negotiations up to Wrendell and Samba and stood in awe of the workmanship in the room and the architectural drawings on the desk. A price was soon settled and we were shortly on our way. We exited the portal in a mine near Kariessen and walked the rest of the way to town before being shown up to the castle to meet with the Court in Exile. The Queen is beside herself with worry. The Archduke is one her most trusted advisors and if he is interrogated could potentially reveal important intel. 'His rescue is of paramount importance. Our resources are already stretched thin so I can't offer much in the way of reward right now but we could arrange some property here in town once you all return. You will find more tangible help with the dwarves of Grissal or the Black Fortress and I think you already have a relationship with them. I would suggest you use the shadow-road though you'll need to employ a guide.' We all go down to the tavern to talk about our options. Although our Holy prophecy Quest has been fulfilled, the blight upon the living is still with us. And so we agree that this rescue is the right thing to do. Nickolai has managed to find a guide as well. She is very unusual but the barkeep says she is supposed to be one of the best guides around. That evening we got to know each other and told the guide of our need to get to the Black Fortress quickly. It was decided to leave in the morning and so with everything now prepared we headed over to the garden of Lord Alonzo to take the secret entrance into the Shadow Road. Our trip was disrupted as we stepped into what appeared to be someone else's fight. A group of swamp giants being stalked by Shadow fey hunters. Once the Giants were defeated the Shadow fey asked us to pay a road toll. We were about to be outraged before they told us the toll was only a single hair from each of our heads. Well not mine obviously.
