- The party came in sight of Fort Inevitable but decided to check out the surroundings before heading in. They chose to approach a Mill and met Mr. Kettlefoot, the halfling miller and patriarch of a substantial family that runs the mill. Kettlefoot filled them in on what they could expect of they went into town, with a little background thrown in and hearing of the bureaucracy involved they took him up on the offer of staying at his mill, on the sly, since he didn’t have a hosting permit.
- He filled them in on his illicit foodbank for people who could not afford food after paying the Hellknights levies and fines.
- Next morning they went into town, received their papers from Sergeant Bolgur, a sneering half-orc and paid their fees.
- Inside the town is lovely. Orderly, clean, well kept. On noticing that everyone is smartly dressed, some of the party bought new clothes.
- They checked into the town’s luxuriously well appointed Inn (that costs a bucket) and met Iliara Starcloak, the elvish leader of the Goldenfire Order who is similarly a guest while she intends to find her missing apprentices/colleagues (that relationship isn’t entirely clear). She arranged a meeting with them later that morning.
- At the meeting, she showed the party what the two missing initiates look like with an illusion spell – Jharun a callow local man, but with an intricately brilliant mind (apparently) and Tiawask, a woman from Tian who specializes in elemental portals – of which the Echo Woods have a surprising and unpredictable number.
- They set off for the Emerald Spire for a brief foray before sundown (and the Hellknight’s curfew).
- Arriving, they found the ruins of some sort of fortification on top a small rocky outcropping. The battlements, while crumbling in some places looked like they were made from dark green volcanic glass. From the center of the castle/tower, a pinnacle of sparkling green crystal(?) rose skyward catching the light from all around. Super easy to find.
- The party decided to enter the castle through a breach in the glassy green walls. Inside was a persistent darkness that made vision tough for Beth and Cyrus, the two humans. As they approached they got into a rolling combat with half a dozen goblins and their dogs. The goblins were startlingly ineffective and when there was only one left, he fled into a tower room. As the party gave chase, the roof collapsed on them and they narrowly avoided getting brained by the falling masonry.
Don’t think I forgot anything…
Anden Kettlefoot – That was the halfling’s name.
The party also retained the services of a legal expert, for a nominal monthly retainer.