Chapter 13: Session 11

After a week of Lugh's herbal remedies and the Ogren's own natural regenerative powers, Mitu begins to rouse from his coma.

A Koba illusionist has some fun with Val and Rin, before being chased away by Lugh's wolf.

Many pilgrims are met on the path, going up and coming down. Among them are several ruddy-cloaked wanderers from Sashmir, a quintet of blue-robed men who serve at the Sea Lord's Necropolis, and a familiar looking Ogren (seen at the start of the path buying supplies almost two weeks prior) journeying with a kuzani (Both of whom, Val notices, pour over some maps in the hope of finding something off the path between the Central and the fourth Pilgrim's Outposts).

With Mitu awake, healed, and generally healthy, the party makes good time, reaching the Central Pilgrim's Outpost in only a day and a half. They avail themselves of the Hot Spring, resting, relaxing, and recouperating. Three dark cloaked men -- two human, and one the strange little Koba (Bolvik the Mighty!) -- wave Lugh and Soreiss to their table. The three of them are Scions of Phantasm, members of an ancient order of Illusion crafters. One of them reveals himself to be none other that Drenwirth of Malron, the strange Wine Merchant met in Larka City who disappeared (and was suspected dead or captured by the Company) before a company attack. He explain that they are themselves in hiding but hope to locate an ancient treasure -- or would do so, had their maps not been stolen by and Ogren and a Kuzani not four days prior...

After pleasantries are exchanged, and the trio reveal that they plan to spend their winter in the Necropolis of Nekarnus, Lugh returns outside to find the other PCs sparring in a nearby clearing. Soreiss remains chatting with the illusionists, even as Lugh decides to make some additional dinner outside, making a small camp just up the road (where several other pilgrims have had the same idea). Lugh purchases several vegetables from a local vendor, and starts cooking a stew. Lugh chats with other pilgrims, and soon the stew becomes a community effort, with nearly two dozen pilgrims and outpost staff in attendance. The other PCs rejoin Lugh at the cooking pot, and a camping party lasts through most of the night, ending a few hours before dawn.

At dawn, the sound of hoofbeats is heard moving up the path toward them all. The PCs and the remaining pilgrims awaken to see three Riders on their Horses. They bear the livery of Amundus, wearing heavy armor and wielding lances and large war axe's. They call for the path to be cleared, and Soreiss adds urgency to the request by shouting for everyone to do as they ask.

The riders seem to recognize Soreiss, referring to him by the name of his old life: "Lord Nur, Prince Amundus offers you his greetings and wishes you a good journey" they say to him, before resuming their business quickly up the steep road of the Violet Path.

An couple hours later, the PCs break camp and head out. In the mid afternoon, as the path winds its way into the valley between two hills, the PCs find a disturbing sight -- several camps of armed, armored men bearing the colors of the Red Sun Trading Company set atop the two hills. The party waits in the path, spotted even as they watch the soldiers on the hills, as Soreiss teleports back to the Central Pilgrim's Outpost to ask about these men. The pathguards know of the camps, saying they've been there for several weeks and have given travellers no trouble. Soreiss returns to the party with his news.

However, the party is still uneasy, especially with Slip's history with the Red Sun. They push forward along the path, but their concerns are soon confirmed. The earth seems to churn beneath their feet, rocky spears erupting around them all to cage them in. Mitu knock the rocks asunder even as new spears of rock burst upward to maintain the cage. Three men stride down the path toward the PCs, looking at Slip as they address the party as a whole: "We mean your group no trouble, however, you appear to have something that belongs to us..."