[Meta] I had fun, I hope you folks did too. My entire mission statement for that game was to first, introduce Alaise to the group in a fun way, and second, give a chance for the characters to interact and also to explore their back stories a little bit. I think we accomplished both goals. The game started out with the characters traveling with Lorykorth "Lorie" Golndrom, a Duskbraid dwarf of Under-Sehe. Alaise was sent to escort Lorie to the Gravelback Library of Umferone, the Gravelback’s library focusing on arcane lore (but unfortunately, it has very few cookbooks). Nikon was picked up outside of Kytt, where he was exiled from town after accidentally incinerating some kobolds with necrotic energies. Traveling through Dravens and then into Thrinegrove, they picked up Helios (a hermit), and Bardman who decided to tag along for their own agendas. Along the way the party encountered a band of mercenaries with a belligerent giant dwarf in their number named Givg. Givg joined at Lorie’s request, and the party learned she was a Vunt, a species of “devolved” dwarves from the underrealm not far from Under-Sehe. The party all took turns talking together and getting to know one another, with Lorie telling them more about Umferone but also about the Vunt. Alaise had heard stories of the evil and savagery of the race. Helios managed to communicate with Givg, who worshipped him to some degree. After traveling through Thrinegrove, they learned the elves there were not fond of the Dree. Approaching the Gravelback border, there was a group of travelers in front of them who were looking back behind them (at the party) and making remarks. Lorie and everyone except Helios and Givg approached them. Three of them were women in blue cloaks, with one wearing white and wielding a staff who introduced herself as Lizzi Nethercloud. A woman with two scimitars was Ceshith Haldrehk, an elf ranger was Hithdra Ridz, and a woman with red hair and a loot was Vallah Hulbask. Apparently a man in a green cloak and a Dree woman in plate mail had been following them, and they were on the lookout for them. They were also traveling to Umferone so the parties decided to travel together. In camp, Vallah sang tunes about the dwarves of Vunt, the tunneling cities of Ralarth, Indra, and even the lands of the west Eridizar and Umberoth. She talked some with Nikon, asking him questions about his homelands. Ceshith sparred with Alaise, showing herself to be a much better duelist, easily dodging his blows and striking with much more speed than he could summon. Meanwhile Lizzi talked with Helios, and Hithdra complained to Bardman about how boring Thrinegrove was. Something about that conversation urked Nikon, who summoned a Flumph out of nowhere which Hithdra killed with a couple of arrow shots. They finally arrived at Umferone, and checked them into the inn where they met Zanibi, the halfling bartender, and Valser a gnome scholar. They ate and then went to the library to get started where they met Bagnaeg Flintcoat, Skassalsia “Skass” Iceforge, and Kardum Bronzebellt the Master Librarian. Also in the library was a human librarian and her daughter. The group studied there for three days: Helios learned of the phoenix, how tieflings were seldom chosen for its power as it usually preferred shorter life-spanned, less magical creatures. The phoenix has some sort of spiritual/divine war against a creature of evil but Helios never found out who. Bardman learned of 8 virtues somehow connected to his song including honest, compassion, valor, justice, honor, sacrifice, spirituality, and humility. Alaise spent time studying Sehe, learning the names and histories of many of Sehe’s most notable arcane magic users. Nikon learned that wild magic came and went in phases, often increasing when things in the realm were about to go through a phase of turmoil. During those times throughout history, it is not uncommon for dragonborn to wield sorcerous wild magic, as they are naturally inclined towards the sorcerous arts. He was looking for more information about the ancient evil he saw when something happened. On the fourth morning, the party were in the deep library tunnels with Givg and Lizzi when Valser came hurriedly into the office, telling Lizzi that the two who had been stalking them had arrived. Valser let Helios, Nikon, and Givg know as well (they were in another room). On the way out, Ceshith was standing in the way at a landing, and Lizzi walked past her saying “It’s time.” Ceshith had her scimitars drawn and wasn’t going to let the party past. When Alaise, who was trying to get to Lorie, tried to get past her she attacked him. After a couple rounds of combat, they managed to take her down, but then were accosted by Heldrith and Vallah, who changed into a dire wolf. First Alaise went down, and then Bardman. They managed to drop Vallah out of her form who then assumed the form of a Brown Bear. She took down Helios but before she could take down Nikon he used his breath weapon on Givg (who was bandaging the downed Ceshith, not out of loyalty or betrayal but out of opportunism). Nikon, Bardman, and Helios woke up on a boat, blinded, gagged, and bound. Alaise woke up in a different lower tunnel, with Givg standing over him. Her chains were broken and the cuffs on her arms covered in blood. She took him out of the lower levels of the library and he saw the body of a hobgoblin warrior with it’s head bashed in. She took him to the conference room where Lorie’s body was on the floor, flayed open. Givg said Nikon, Helios, and Bardman were taken alive but everyone else had been butchered. Just then the Dree woman in full plate came into the room, quite bloodied and battered herself, but alive none-the-less. She introduced herself as Jendra Faine, Dragon Knight of Shrave. After asking a couple of questions, Alaise asked her if she knew of any oath of vengeance. If he vowed to seek vengeance on the mage hunters of Corrive, she vowed to teach him what she knew and take him back to Dree with her. He agreed. After searching the inn, he discovered Lorie’s belongings, including his journal and some magical items.