As the last session began, it was early evening on the 15th day of the 3rd Trigon of Elok’s Influence. The party stood in the cold and snow of Emathan’s far north, just out of sight of what was presumed to be a camp. As the night closed in, the icy air began to bite against any exposed skin. There is a reason that few call this frigid region of Emathan home. The party was quickly beginning to understand that reason.
After a quick discussion, it was decided that Ronin would scout ahead to determine who was inhabiting the camp. Taking cover in a thicket of trees just outside the camp, Ronin observed three Dark Scar Orcs and two Dark Scar Worgs with three large tents nearby. The presence of the Dark Scars was puzzling to Ronin, as they were far from their home along the northwest side of the Midnight Depths.
Ronin could now see the source of the blue light that illuminated the heavy winter sky above the camp. It was indeed a crystal structure akin to that found in the Sea of Sand. This appeared to be the location where the second rift into Arcmyth would open.
Ronin returned to the party and reported his findings. A plan of attack was quickly devised, including the use of Douglan’s magical steed to lure the worgs away from the camp and Ronin sniping the orcs while levitating behind the camp.
The party’s assault on the orcs was launched. Unfortunately, only one of the worgs made chase after Douglan’s magical steed as it raced past the camp. The second immediately set eyes on Douglan and charged. More orcs piled out of the tents and raced toward the first party member they laid eyes on.
The orcs fought with the reckless viciousness that was common to their kind. To the Dark Scars, every battle was won, or you died trying. For the most part, the party was easily handling their foes. Only Douglan had his hands full with several orcs and a worg finding him a nice shiny target for their rage.
As the party continued the fight, four heavily armored warriors emerged from under the snow and joined the party against the orcs. The party and their three new allies made quick work of the orcs and their worgs, who soon lay dead at their feet.
The party members spoke with their new allies as Ronin began to search the tents. Douglan and Kogaan recognized the warriors as members of the Forsaken, one of whom was Render, the warforged who had helped them find the void water cave in the Shattered Lands.
Render explained that the growing intensity of magic in Emathan now allowed them to leave the Shattered Lands. They had begun assisting the Keepers of the Moon in observing the Dark Scars’ activity in the region, since the cold had little effect on them. Render asked Douglan if he could join the party in their quest to save Emathan, and the party agreed that the assistance would be welcome.
Searching the tents, Ronin discovered a hulk of a man bound and gagged. He immediately recognized him as a Goliath. The Goliath introduced himself as Ori and swore an oath to fight at Ronin’s side as thanks for saving his life.
The party next turned their attention to the crystal structure. A decision was made to try to destroy the structure. The party moved a short distance away as Ronin began to pepper the structure with arrows. After multiple direct hits on the crystal, it exploded into a shower of crystal shards. The blue light was extinguished at once, and the sky fell dark.