Rise of the Runelords

After spending a couple of months away from adventuring the group gathered back in Ardrinn.  Edwin and D'Argo were just finishing up all the crafting work left for them.  Several of you had traveled during the break and most of you had gathered some information relating to either the poem you discovered in the catacombs, the sihedron symbol/cult, the Runelords, or  some other bit of information relating to places you have been or people you have encountered.

After several rounds of drinks and haggling over definitions, you figured the next step was to travel north - way north - to a lake called Abanfyl (Stormunder in the barbarian tongue).  It is there that something to do with keys likely has to happen.  Henrik, Golian and Malloric mentioned that they had heard that Duke Enveh was getting ready to leave for Tenh soon.  Maybe you could hook up / tag along.  The group packed and headed to Radigast.  Even with Edwin's and Pirozzi's connections, you could not insinuate yourselves into the Duke's retinue, nor was an invitation extended.  "Screw him anyway." was someone's reply. You provisioned for a long trip overland and headed off.

The vast majority of the trip was uneventfull.  You had a few encounters with wolves, a bear, a couple ogres, etc.  Nothing that even made you break a sweat.  You reached Redspan before the Duke and found it to be a city mostly recovered from being sacked.  You were able to re-provision and headed out north again. About two days from Nevond Nevnend you were attacked during the night.  The howling of wolves woke you and most were able to don some armor and cast some spells before the assault.  You were approached from all sides and soon had D'Argo's tiny hut dispelled.  Balros headed toward a couple of caster looking types and a large 'spirit' bear.  Malloric followed.  Henrik was still getting armor on while D'Argo and Pirozzi targeted spells into the darkness in another direction to get some hidden spellcasters. Balros laid into the bear and had the favor returned at least two-fold.  The female caster approached Malloric and offered him a flask which he took.  He was about to drink it down when Balros struck at the vial, shattering just before Malloric could drink. Shortly after that, Balros apparently decided this wasn't his fight and started to simply walk away.  Malloric managed to down the female caster.  A male caster and the bear moved off a way.

From another side of the camp three Hextorites approached.  One proclaimed his presence and commanded all to flee.  A couple of you felt compelled, but with the protections from evil in the area resisted the urge.  The other clerics followed up with silences forcing the group to spread out more. Wolfgar and Golian engaged the main cleric with spell back up from Pirozzi and D'Argo.  Edwin was kept busy as usual with cures.  Henrik was nearly ready to go.  That was timely as the male caster started summon beasts and demons that Henrik attacked.

From the shadows approached a female in leather with wooden stakes in each hand.  Malloric quickly recognized her from one of his warrants.  He looked for the monk, but she was not around.  After a few rounds, the vampire transformed into a bat and flew off.  During this time two other females approached from yet another clock direction.  One was the monk from Malloric's warrants.  He looked at her and frowned a nasty grimace, muttering under his breath something like "You have got to be fucking kidding me!"  Wolfgar and Golian had nearly downed the cleric.  Malloric and the monk made eye contact and exchanged a few hand signals.  Everyone looked around a bit confused.  The monk signaled to the enemies and they withheld their attacks for a moment.

Malloric and the monk conversed.  The result was that your opponents would withdraw and the vampire was forfeit.  Only the monk and the lone other female caster followed the agreement.  The others attacked.  Golian and Wolfgar finished the main cleric and went after the other two.  The vampire reappeared and was quickly beaten.  All you focus turned back to the male caster and his "bear."  The bear was massive and barely missed.  When it did hit, it often added an rending attack.  The male caster kept repositioning himself with the bear between himself and opponents.  When he had good positioning, he cast a wall of fire encasing the bear, Balros, Golian and his staff which had transformed into a huge constrictor snake.  Golian was able to save Balros just before the snake crushed him to death.  D'Argo and Pirozzi had managed to get to a vantage point to see the caster behind the circle of fire and burned him down.

You cured up, looted the bodies and pursued some answers from Malloric.  He was clearly not happy and mostly muttered something about a "Pathfinder Code." You finished your journey and reached Nevond Nevnend, the one time Capital of the Tenh.  You were a bit surprised how you found it.