1.13G - Estrode

Although dusk was falling again, and she would dearly love to rest after the day’s excitement, she took the hammer and made her way back up the steps to the very base of Hammerknell.

It’s funny, she thought, each time they send me back here I get a little bit closer to the door.  Maybe one day I’ll go inside.  Then she stopped and shook her head, knowing if the doors of Hammerknell ever did open Telara would be in a worse state than it is now.

Holding Scotty’s gift, she crossed the paths heading towards the east.  As she rounded a corner of the fortress she knew she was in the right place.  Before her, an Abyssal Cultist was channeling magic through the rune vessel and into water-being four times as large as she was.  The water-being crashed into the wall of Hammerknell.  Again and again it crested over the stones.

7.6A - The Eye of Regulos

So I will get to hurt the Endless, and destroy the Eth machines making this possible all in one go. Anneleigh though.  I am a lucky girl indeed.

She walked into the eye of the rift, left alone by the Cultists she passed.  Maybe they saw my attunment and believe I have changed sides. Anneleigh wondered.  Whatever the reason, it is another stroke of luck.

7.5a - Attunement to the Endless Court

Anneleigh returned to the outpost and found Donal.  He was surrounded by Dame Volya and the others who had made it back from the field.

“Dame Volya has told me what happened out there.  I want to believe it can’t be, and yet I can deny it no longer.  He was a hard man to love, and yet we all did.  He served Sanctum and the Vigil as a hero, but now they must declare him a sworn enemy.  I don’t know where that leaves me or the rest of his men....”

Donal trailed off; the shock finally getting the better of him.  Anneleigh let his thoughts wander for a moment before speaking.

 

7.4a - Kain's Decent

Anneleigh did not return to Thalin Tor as instructed, but instead continued to search for the others.    She was beginning to lose hope when she heard scuffling from behind one of the large gravestones in a cemetery she was investigating.

“Oh thank the Vigil you are here, Anneleigh!” cried Dame Levitia Voyla when Anneleigh rounded the stone.  “I only pray you are not too late.”

“What has happened,” Anneleigh said as she knelt to address the gash on Volya’s leg, “Where are the others?”

“Don’t worry about my wounds, madam!  Captian Ledisko is here in this cemetery, buried in a shallow grave!”

1.10G - The Runeguard

Gwenllian returned once more to Hammerlord Post.  Thomas was waiting for her at the bottom of the steps.

“We watched the Abyssal flee from the woods.”

Gwenllian smiled, pleased with her work, but dropped it quickly as Holden joined them.  The sight of him reminded her of her vision of a spiteful return, however, her near death and failure in her rescue of the messenger had reminded her of the need for companions.

“I don’t even need to ask.  I can tell by the look on your face that Dorim won’t be performing any more rituals anytime soon.”  Thomas continued

7.02a - Lady Burlingham

“That was amazing, Anneleigh.  I must admit, I was completely overwhelmed by the grace of the Messenger of the Vigil. “said one of the guards as Anneleigh rose to her feet.  “I’m honored to have taken part in the summoning.”

One of the guards took a family seal from his body, looked it over, and, with his eyes downcast, handed it to another man.

7.01a - Learning the Past

Anneleigh followed the dwarf back towards the Exile’s Den, but was surprised when they turned right and followed the path leading to Icewatch Outpost.

“This area is swarming with Abyssal.” Anneleigh said with alarm.  “We can’t go through this way.”

Daro Copperthumb smiled at her.  “It was an Abyssal Stronghold, yes.  I seem to remember you kicking that ball rolling before you left.”

6.09a - The Tablet

With the guards out of the way Anneleigh was free to study the tablet for a few more minutes; enough time to decipher the last few clues she needed.

“The last phrase refers to Hammerknell Fortress,” she thought to herself, completing the fragmented clue she used to lure the guards, “No one has been in Hammerknell Fortress since the dwarves were forced out.  This is troubling news if the Abyssal think they can get in there.”

1.02G - The Relics

Gwenllian returned to Talvar, unsure if she found any information that the council would think useful.  When she entered the house she found the room a buzz with planning and excitement.

“We’ve got our first lead, Linny.” Hartigan said.  “The local wildlife has been turning up dead, tainted by planar energy.  Garret just returned from a hunting trip to the coast.  Tell her what you told us, Garret.”

“The Azure Blade has landed on the shores to the south!” said the large dwarf to her right.  She thinks back, trying to remember Garret from her memory but decides this must be the first time they’ve met.   She smiles at him, trying to work up the same level of excitement he was showing.

“Who are the Azure Blades?”  Gwenllian asked.

5.08A - Kain's Mission Complete

Anneleigh crouched beside the shaken prisoner.  He groaned and then looks up to see her.

“What.... What happened?”

“I believe Doctor Visek had kidnapped you and created his vessel around you.”

The prisoner cried out, not in pain but in distress.  “I remember now, yes.”  He puts his head in his hands and shakes his head.  The movement gives Anneleigh the impression of he is trying to shake off a horrible memory.  “I was the vessel; the souls of others have been trapped with me.  The shell of the gnarlbone was only an exterior.”

5.08A - Doctor Visek

Carwin and Anneleigh agreed; there was no time to waste in ridding Scarwood reach of Doctor Visek.  Hoping that Marshal Kain would understand, she disregarded the order to proceed to Camp Cestus and made her way to the Barricade in Shatterbone Canyon.

She found Dame Levitia Volya already stationed in barricade’s command.

“I’ve been sent to kill Doctor Visek.”  Anneleigh said to the commander, who was clearly not expecting her.

5.06 - The Cultist

The Sagespire monks led Anneleigh inside and sat her down in an area that looked very much like a kitchen.  It had a closed in feeling, rather unlike the open worship room she had been welcomed into earlier.  She got the impression the monks wished to be a little more secretive with their next task.

“This report was discovered on the corpse of a Shatterbone Cultist.  Inside, it gives evidence of a Shatterbone spy within The Sagespire.”, said the first sage. 

5.01 - Introductions

Anneleigh remained in Sanctum for several days, refreshing her body, mind, and spirit, and preparing for the journey ahead.  When at last she felt strong enough she departed via the porticulum for Crimson Wash – the most westerly place she had visited thus far, and began the trip into Scarwood Reach on foot.

4.02 - Demon Steps

“I’ve felt a dark presence in the Demon Steps... It can only be Angdralthus, the lich sent by the Endless Court to oversee their operations.”  The priestess Hellen said. 

Anneleigh looked around to the piles of bodies and swarms of endless cultists and Hellen noticed her gaze. 

“The sooner we rid Scarlet Gorge of the Endless, the sooner we can better assist those who have already perished, but we are likely to lose more lives if we do not act quickly.”  She said.  “You must acquire his phylactery if you hope to defeat him. “

4.01 - Crimson Wash

Anneleigh blinked and looked around before realizing where she had been transported.  Grateful she did not have to reveal her secret to Gwyddon, she looked up the road to the inn, the thought of a decent sleep in her mind.  Instead she saw Marshal Oakheart coming to her side.

“The shadows are falling away.  The unnatural darkness is lifting.  If I had to guess I’d say you had something to do with it.”  Oakheart said with a smile, something she had never seen him do.

3.14 - The Stranger and the Rift

Anneleigh and Gwyddon, still in their wolfish forms, made their way through Shadefallen keep, following the path upward as it twisted around on itself, until they reached the highest platform.  Neither of them said anything as they walked. 

When they approached the Alter at the far end of the dais they saw the Hag had already arrived, and she had a guest.

3.13 - The Shade Well

Anneleigh and Gwyddon in their new forms followed Laria’s instructions to the summoning circle of Malevolent Shade Well.  As Laria predicted, they were able to walk freely among the cultists and their summons. 

3.12 - The Hag's Curse

Anneleigh and Gwyddon listened as Brother Jebiah described how to find the Hag’s Cottage.  As it happened, it was not far from Tearfall Run.  The research camp had been set up in the shadow of both the cottage and Shadefallen Keep, the old Mathosian castle of this area that has now been overrun with endless cultist.

3.09 - Research Grant

Anneleigh followed path back to Tearfall Run.  As she approached the small research party she passed Laria’s forest Alter and grimiced.  Right now all she wanted was an impossible wish, a wish for further instruction from the forest guardian, but she knew Gwyddon was right.  Laria would return to Gloamwood only when she was strong enough to continue the fight.

The research party was composed of a young woman, whom Anneleigh supposed to be Fiona, a dwarf monk and several assistants and guards.  Anneleigh approached Fiona and relayed her instructions.

3.04 - The Deeps

Anneleigh followed the forest road downward towards the base of the large waterfall.  When she finally approached the waykeepers they were surprised to see her but regained their composure quickly.

“An ascended!  Thank the vigil!  My scouts narrowly avoided capture escaping the Deeps.  One reported massive stockpiles of goblin venom.  They could poison our entire water source with a supply that large.”