You spent some time looting the nearly score of dead ogres and all the while discussed what could have happened to Kaven. Two main theories developed. He either took the opportunity that the chaos of battle created and fled, or he was captured by some yet unknown foe. The first theory was tested by searching the area around the interior keep thoroughly. No sign was found. Vale said the only other place he could be would be the basement where the Black Arrows held captives in cells untill they could be returned for justice. The party formed up and headed down the stone stairs to the door to the jail room. You politely knocked first.
Upon entering the room, you found Kaven standing ready for a fight. Next to him was a thin yet attractive female elf. Some of you quickly recognized her from the top of the clock tower in High Madreth. There were a few groans as you realized that while you were healthy, you were mostly out of spells. Henrik asked Kaven if he was here of his own free will. His response was affirmative, but it didn't seem to ring completely true. The group started to cautiously approach the two enemies. Their positioning prevented an outright charge. As soon as three or four of you had moved into the room and others were filling in, she changed into her more memorable form and cast a spell, creating a wall of stone dividing the group in two. Those on the 'outside' started pounding, chipping, and casting at the wall hoping to break through quickly. Those 'inside' continued the fight.
You threw everything you had at her and Kaven. They returned the favor. Kaven proved not too much of a challenge as he was only moderately well equipped. She on the other hand proved to be much more of a challenge. She tried dominating several of you, fired scorching rays, and dished out some serious damage with her long spear, which drained Wisdom each time it hit. You all smited, raged, and used several wands you'd been hanging onto. She started to gain the upper hand while those cut off were still shipping away at the stone. A dispel magic landed on her, which forced here to cast an invisibility in order to re-buff. You took the time to heal as best you could. The others broke through the wall at about the same time.
She became visible, this time wreathed in flames. She was positioned in the middle of the room. With her long spear, she kept you movement to a minimum as she was able to make several attacks of opportunity each round. However, the added foes proved too much for her. Before she was cut down, she said something to the effect of, "You are too late to stop it. Mokmurion will have his sacrifice." You all shrugged your shoulders, got everyone to their feet and took great pleasure in looting her corpse. Her long spear has several runes along the shaft very similar to the bastard sword recovered from Nuallia under Thistletop.
The trip back to Rothberry was wet - still - and uneventfull. Once in town you set about getting ready to do identifies the next day, supplying the the long trip to High Madreth to report to the Mayor, and asking a few questions about someone or something called 'Mokmurion.' Wolfgar was able to find out that that is likely a name associated with giants, but that is in a very old form not used by giants for generations, back when they were more powerful. You had a good meal and nights rest. The next morning you cast some identifies and headed for the stables when you heard screams from outside. Running to take a look, you saw water everywhere. It was rapidly rising. Building debris, a body or two, and a large branch floated by. The branch writhed and you realized it was a huge snake. It was headed straight for a family of dwarves trying to flee their home. Someone asked, "Crap, we're never going to get home are we?" You threw your stuff back into the inn and headed for the snake. It was a pushover. You spent a little time helping other folks to safety when more screams came from the lake side of town. You jumped on your horses as the water was still rising and headed to the commotion. What you found defied imagination. Some of you recognized the beast from fairy tales - the Black Magga. But that was impossible as that beast was supposed to be stuck in the Storval Deep, far in the Aelinvuud Forest. Yet here it was.
The group spread out and started the approach. As you got closer, it breathed out a noxious cloud of gas. Instead of horses and people dropping dead, many became confused and started wondering off or attacking each other. Bach and Henrik were able to get to the beast and started the attack. Golian made it a few seconds later. Others were fleeing, fighting their own horses or standing and muttering away. The beast alternated between grabbing people and squeezing or trying to eat them or simply biting. No one was seriously hurt and you managed to do cause the beast to flee into the depths of Claybottom Lake.
After the fight and when everyone was accounted for, you noticed that the water was receding. You also noticed many more human corpses than you would have expected from within Rothberry. A little investigation revealed that nearly each and every piece of human flotsam had a sihedron tattoo.
You debated about what to do next and nearly settled on getting your stuff and heading home as the job at hand seemed complete when Wolfgar pointed out that the water could only have come from upstream, beyond the dam that holds the Storval Deep back. If the dam is damaged, the town could still be in danger. He asked the group to delay your return until you could at least inspect the dam. You all agreed with varying levels of enthusiasm.
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