Chapter 17

After a number of days separated the Constellation of Ilmanar is reunited in Zzunshit where Raschid expresses his disappointment at having missed the chance to battle giants. Buoyed up by their recent victories, the group decide to return to the wilds for more scouting as Methommet returns to the South West to serve with the garrison and Benin returns to AqQuallat to oversee the workings of the state.

The group begins by discussing what is to be done with the reported claim that gold has been found. Hamar suggests using naked slaves to harvest the gold but Raschid suggests that the money to be made in gold rushes is not in the gold but in providing materials for the people who find the gold. As a result, the mages decide to spread the word that gold has been found and head off to scout the river themselves.

Fearful of a new orc hole near AqQuallat, the group begin by scouting the hills surrounding their capital but they find no orcish presence at all. Moving further east, the group notice a flying creature circling above them. Due to its altitude, the creature cannot be recognised and some suggest it might be the creature from the keep. The group retreat to the cover of some trees and wait, emerging when the coast is clear only to notice not only the first creature but a second lurking on the far side of the forest. The group realise that they are being attacked and Nazim unleashes a puissant ball of fire which fells the beast on the far side of the forest. Fleeing the creature behind them, the group pass by the forest only the be attacked by a third creature waiting in ambush. not only are these creatures manticores, but there are now three of them looming in on the group.

A lance charge fells the beast that was waiting in ambush and two more fireballs wound the remaining manticores. A web spell is then used to bring one manticore crashing to the ground prompting Hamar and a number of troopers to leap into the webbing and engage the beast in melee combat. A few well placed arrows and the beast is dead leaving only the final beast which has been hovering above the party spraying them with quills. Seeing its three companions killed, he beast turns tail and flies off. Despite their wounds and their lack of magical energy, the group pursue the remaining Manticore, hoping to find its lair but this is to no avail as the beast is flying and the magi are shackled to the ground.

The magi and Raschid return to the forest where they discover the full extent of the carnage. Though the mages fared well and worked better as a team than they have in the past, only two of the 20 mercenaries the group took with them are still standing. The casualties include a dozen dead and six men gravely wounded. The group realise that while soldiers may make them feel more secure, they are simply unable to stand up to the kind of beasts that the constellation of Ilmanar and its Vizir will be forced to battle if they are to tame their lands. The group resolve to spare their soldiers such risks in future and the remaining troopers are instructed to return to AqQuallat with the bodies and the wounded and return to their duties there.

The group settle down, using the small wood for cover but they are awoken in the night by a shuffling sound. The group are confronted by a shambling wreck of a figure they immediately realise is a night-walker. Raschid calls upon the power of Ilmanar but the beast is too strong. Rabhat wades into combat but sees his blade shatter on the arm of the beast that now reaches out for Jann with its icy-claws. Jann draws the magical blade he was given from the corpse of the Bandit King and steps to, severing the beast's arm. Nazeem then draws on the stored energies he keeps on his person and sends two magebolts whistling towards the beast, causing its head to explode. In the morning the group harvest virtue from their defeated foes and find that the nightwalker's claw contains magics but that such magics are inherrently evil. The group decide to take it with them nonetheless.

The group then scout further east until they see the ruins of the Keep in the distance. Making Koljazar invisible and gifting him with the ability to fly, the group send the Somnolent One off to scout the ruins, he returns with tales of a brood of Gargoyles as well as a vast and powerful dragon asleep in the belly of the keep. Clearly the mages have some way to go before they are ready to defeat this opponent.

• Chapter Eighteen

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