April 4-5, 2946 The session opened with a large flock of the Cerbain the PCs observed in the tower swooping over the Party and swarming around them before heading back to the west and out of sight. Fosco, Roadril, and the rest of the group traveled back to the campsite where Azkhala waited. Fosco told her about the “bandits,” but sis not seemed to be believed. Radril somehwhat smoothed things over leaving Azkhala confused and suspicious. The Party then traveled back towards the nameless town where the siblings waited with Lorfalma and Hirgond. Without further incident, they were reunited with the female elf and her wounded friend. Again, the Party told their tale of the bandits escaping with the books before they got there. Woedwyn didn’t immediately seem suspicious, but lamented losing the books.  Together, the group discussed how to make another batch of the healing potion that had temporarily stalled Hirgond’s disease which had come back with a vengeance while the other PCs were away. She told the PCs she could not part with the vial because it was promised to the powerful Mage of Strayhold. She admitted she was actually afraid of him. Instead, they struck a deal to gather the materials for another vial. Most of the components were easily obtained except for the herb Afalas and some water from the Stone Hut of Irk. It lay far to the south, a mysterious structure that few knew how to enter and retrieve some of the precious water. Ultimately, the PCs left the wizards in Woedwyn’s care as they returned to the castle where they met Ulda. Stopping at their camp site, they eventually noticed that it had been visited by a number of wargs, and the Carbain made another visit.  Entering the castle via its secret entrance in the tower, the PCs made their was down to the level with the mushroom people. However, they found the body where they hid some of the books torn apart and the books gone. Fosco then stumbled into a pitch black room. Suddenly, arrows shot out of the dark. Fosco was downed twice, and both NPCs were also pretty damaged. The Archer and his pet warg escaped through the mushroom room. After combat, Radril discovered the slaughtered corpses of the mushroom people. With heavy hearts and bleeding wounds, the battered party barricaded themselves in the old torture chamber and settled in for a night’s rest.