The party’s adventure took a thrilling turn during a tense negotiation with Noreen. Yurian Darksbane, feeling the weight of her broken promises, asked her for a reward of equal value to seeing the orb. With suspicion clouding his judgment, he noted her arsenal—a rapier, a hand crossbow, and a smoke bomb—and insisted on safety, demanding she disarm. Noreen complied, but cunningly kept the smoke bomb tucked away. The atmosphere thickened when she leaned in for a peck on Yurian’s cheek, claiming it was of equal value to the orb. Yurian disdainfully wiped it off before striding away as she collected her weapons and shut the door behind her.
Reunited, the party couldn’t help but chuckle at Yurian’s unexpected encounter. They quickly transitioned to the results of the auction, where they had collectively spent a hefty 1,400 gold on an array of rare treasures: Valerian claimed a Pearl of Power, Xeiros snagged a Ring of Spell Storing, Eeyore received Bracers of Ogre Strength, Isaac acquired a Ring of Water Swimming, and Yurian walked away with a formidable +2 Longbow. The low competition at the auction was noted, likely a result of the orb’s earlier sale. With their treasures in hand, the party decided to take a well-deserved long rest before continuing their journey.
Once rested, Yurian expressed a keen interest in scouting the city for job prospects, particularly eyeing the Thieves Guild, while Valerian offered to send a message for him the following day. Isaac opted to sleep at his boat with their pet wyvern, Jennyfer, keeping a vigilant watch, while Xeiros ventured out for some last-minute shopping. During his wanderings, Xeiros overheard townsfolk murmuring about an oppressive heat to the west, where flames had consumed the trees. Inspired, Valerian contemplated crafting ever-burning torches for sale but quickly realized he lacked the ruby dust necessary for the spell.
As the party discussed their next moves, they resolved to visit the Scarlet Moon druids, planning to take a boat back and possibly stop in Belliard to investigate the fire situation. Preparations were made amidst lighthearted banter about Eeyore’s barnacles and Isaac’s revitalization after his encounter with Xeiros. The conversation turned to the nature of cursed weapons, with Isaac and Yurian joking about Valerian’s sword. Valerian expressed a desire to scry on Vanifer, the fire prophet, using a newly acquired mirror.
Upon arriving at the druids’ location, the party was met with a smoky haze that hung in the air. Xeiros greeted a group of druids in Druidic, inquiring about the Rite of the Wicker Giant—a ritual designed to heal the land amidst recent disturbances. Eeyore approached another group, eager to engage in conversation, offering a mastiff from his robe to a bear, which sparked lively discussions about his magical prowess. Meanwhile, Valerian and Xeiros explored further, spotting a figure reminiscent of a priest from their previous encounter at the water temple.
Tensions erupted when Zonga, feeling insulted by the druids calling him short, initiated a fight with them. This ignited a fierce combat as Eeyore ventured too close to a group of bugbears. Armed and ready, the bugbears attacked, and chaos ensued as a fireball erupted, forcing Zonga and Xeiros to make split-second dexterity saving throws. In a fit of rage, Eeyore attempted to intimidate the bugbears while Xeiros sought to calm the storm. Valerian unleashed his own fireball, deftly avoiding Eeyore, as the battlefield erupted into a cacophony of spells and clashing steel, with Eeyore grappling foes and hurling them into the flames.
As the skirmish intensified, werewolves joined the fray, leading to frantic maneuvers and strategic plotting. Yurian activated his flight ability to evade a werewolf’s jaws, while Valerian used fairy fire to illuminate lurking enemies. The camaraderie of the party shone through even in the chaos, their banter lightening the tension of the battle.
With the fight escalating, Yurian unleashed a powerful spell that decimated multiple foes, while Eeyore continued his relentless grappling and damage-dealing. The climax of the conflict arrived when Eeyore delivered a brutal blow to an opponent, leading to their swift defeat. In a final act of dominance, Eeyore tossed the fallen enemy into the fire, signaling the end of the fierce encounter. The party emerged victorious, their bonds strengthened by the flames of battle.