A Soft Glow

The Flood Festival is in full swing. On the evening of the 6th night of the festival guards on the city wall spot a soft glow to the north-west. It is coming from the area were the "Lucky Monkey" is located. A message is immediately sent to Terseon Skellerang, the Captain of the Town Guard. Terseon shakes his head - he had a feeling he would be hearing something like this as soon as the Cleric Jenya informed him earlier in the day that the Knowlern Troupe was headed in that direction. He quickly writes a note to Jenya, Cleric to St. Cuthbert. The note is short - "Problem possible at "Lucky Monkey", will send scout to investigate."

The scout travels cross county to the"Lucky Monkey". When he arrives he finds it burned to the ground. Evidence of large two groups of bodies are also found. From the position of the bones it is determined the bodies, mostly human, died before they were burned in the Inn. He can also tell that one group was cared for, placed carefully as if part of a religious ritual.

All around the site he finds evidence that 5-8 humanoids circled the building, most likely searching the area and starting the fire. He also finds the trail of multiple horses, a canine, and the cart drawn by a couple of humanoids leaving the site and heading towards Cauldron. He gives instructions to a bird and lets loose towards Cauldron and follows the group.

The scout has no trouble catching up to the Troupe as it travels towards Cauldron - since the Troupe stays to the winding road and he does not. He spends an hour keeping with the Troupe as they travel. He has no trouble keeping hidden. But he decides to get back to Cauldron and report on what he has seen.

When the Troupe arrive in Cauldron they seem to not notice how easy it was for them to enter through the gate with the body of a dead cleric in their wagon. The guards, informed that there were coming, let them pass without the usual questioning and search. After the Troupe passes through the gate a small band of guards follows them at a safe distance - relieved when the Troupe immediately goes to the Church of St. Cuthbert, one of the two places they were told the Troupe was allowed to go without confrontation.

Word of the Troupe's recent adventure travels quickly around town. A beloved Cleric is dead, the Troupe failed in saving him. But they did manage to save and befriend a Drow half-breed. The Lucky Monkey is destroyed, burned to the ground by the Troupe. And the Wands are nowhere to be found.

A couple days later Terseon Skellerang receives a report that the Troupe has climbed out of the City over the wall to the north-east. He has told his guard to give the Troupe any assistance they can, to stay out of their way, and report on their actions. Guards on the wall report that the Troupe had a crude map and were headed towards a lava tube 200 feet below the city's wall.

Terseon Skellerang can only wonder how many deaths and what destruction will take place in the next few hours. He triples the guard on the north-east wall and prays.