The rain continues to pour on the streetside, sloshy footsteps can be seen kicking the mud with each step. Despite the dreariness of the weather, many are out and about in this small shanty town. A crowd of townsfolk walk down the weathered path towards the town square. Behind them are two heavily cloaked individuals looming by as they follow the masses towards the centre.

“My brethren, heed my words, the time of darkness is upon us, and yonder the valley which has taketh countless souls. We must repent our sins, for these are punishment sent to us by the Celestials, and we must offer tribute to appease them”

In the middle, a bald looking man with ragged robes speaks towards an amassing crowd, speaking of omens as if he were the avatar of the Celestials themselves. You look up towards the ragged man and sigh.

“Do you think he knows that the Celestials are real, and they are ever watching?” you ask as you turn towards the hulking figure beside you.

“Foolish humans will never know their doom until it is too late, let him be, he will soon know the wrath of the Celestials, especially when their names are used so lightly by lowly mortals,” Boborygos replied.

You both turn away and head towards an inn called the Pickled Dragon. It has been 2 weeks since the incident at the Jerosian Ranges. Both of you have no idea why these cult of people from beyond Dwendil are targeting you, and you are no closer to solving the issue of the Daemonic artefact which seems to be attracting countless amounts of shade in the northern Valley.

One thing is for sure, you require the help of a shaman in order to deal with Nether forces and you have an old acquaintance from the war that you aim to meet, which is why both of you have travelled to the small town of Kyrem. Kyrem is known for its strategic location between the main roads of the Capital and Slolam, the port city which acts as the border of Dwendil.

There is a saying by many Dwendolians stating that if one does not pass Kyrem, then they did not make their journey to Slolam. This is partly because, without proper supplies and planning, the road to Slolam is filled with danger from bandits, rogue wizards and the uncommon occurrence of getting chased by redneck Halflings.

“Are you sure she is still in Kyrem? Knowing her, she could have daddled off to the capital to make more coin. We both know how fickle she can be when it comes to coin”.

You remain sceptical as to whether your old companion would still be around, despite the accuracy of the Stonescrying done by Boborygos.

“My readings remain accurate as they were 10 years ago, however, she might not be as easy to find as she has changed her form countless times over the many years we were separated. The last I spoke to her, she was parading around town as a giantess witch doctor” said Boborygos.

“Any ideas on how to find her then?” you ask with a look of uncertainty on your face

“We will gain better information at this inn, I hear it is where she conducts her trade,” Boborygis said as he sits down next to a fellow orc by the corner of the inn’s tavern. “You should try to speak to some of the folk here, and maybe that might give us a better view of where she might be”

Out of the corner of your eye, you see a figure dressed in leather, with red hair. You gasp at the sight of her, blinking as to whether she might be the same individual that passed you by back at the vault. You immediately head towards that her direction. You follow her trail through the rain and whizzed past a few alleyways, but on the last right that you had made, you see a dead end with no sign of the girl. You muse that it could be your mind playing tricks on you.

As you turn behind, you are suddenly knocked onto the ground. Shackles appear on your wrist and legs as they dig deeper in your skin. Your screams are muffled and your body begins to sink into the ground. The last thing you see before fully submerging is a red-eyed woman who looks at you before you pass out.