In the morning, Desmond told the Rovers, and his mother and brother, about the baby on the way. They were all happy for him, of course. Heidi in particular was overjoyed to have a grandchild and was determined to do better as a caregiver this time. The other Rovers were committed to ensuring they had finished saving the world in time so that the father-to-be could be home for the birth — and also be alive for it.
Demonstrating once again his love of a good soak, Urs returned to the bath house, where a toga-only policy had been instated. The staff embroidered the image of a lavender sprig on his kelp kilt while he bathed as yet another sign of their adoration for the town hero.
Aengus recognized that the symbol of Torm he fashioned for Vara’s shrine earlier in the week was not his best work, so he used a spare hour of his morning channeling magic to reform it into something worthy of its place of honor, removing all the imperfections.
At noon, the Wild Rovers set out of Shalako, according to the directions given to them by Drusilla, following the faded fragments of a road once belonging to a long lost city, in search of the hermit Thales who might help them in their search for magical artifacts. They traveled northwest for hours, passing through increasingly barren ravines and deserts. Occasionally they recognized crevices in the earth reminiscent of those from which horrors had previously ambushed them. These they gave a wide berth and pressed onward.
Eventually they came upon a troll, covered in rotten flesh and pulsating with a strange energy. Fortunately for them, it seemed to be distracted by something in the distance, so it had its back turned and did not sense their approach. Following Urs’s wise tactical instruction, the Rovers unloaded volley after volley of ranged attacks and spells on the creature, taking steps backward continuously so that the troll would have difficulty reaching them. Before it had a chance to strike back, it was dead. The rotten flesh of the troll seemed so unnaturally foul that it likely would have affected them adversely had it still been alive. Naturally, Desmond took some samples to share with his brother.
After a few more hours of travel, the Rovers passed into a land of canyons that their old friend Bratak once called home. In the distance, large spider-like creatures could be seen skittering across rock faces. Suddenly a trio of three-headed flying chimeras attacked the travelers. These monstrous crosses between dragons, lions, and goats surely regretted selecting this band of bipeds for their next meal, as the Rovers made quick work of them. None had encountered such creatures before, save Urs, who informed the group they were called “Trimerits”.
The Rovers were now faced with a decision. Ahead of them were about a dozen elevated paths, each divided by a treacherous ravine. They decided to proceed down a central path so that switching to any other path later would be less difficult. Desmond transformed into a giant eagle and flew above them to scout for obstacles. On other paths, he spotted more spider creatures. On yet another, he saw a very large creature moving very quickly. And on their path, he spied a crowd of zombies shuffling their way.
Again the Rovers thought tactically and used the terrain to their advantage. Aengus conjured a wall of fire parallel to the path ahead of them, and each zombie was burnt to a crisp as it lumbered towards them through the flames. With the expenditure of one spell, all were dead, and the Rovers sustained no damage.
But these were not the only creatures blocking their path. Approaching were still more zombies, and at the head of that horde was a creature so frightening that Kevin Urs would surely have nightmares for days. A fleshless creature of bone and sinew walked towards them on two legs, its towering form emphasized by the normally sized humanoid visible in the monster’s rig cage, screaming in agony. Desmond summoned a swarm of insects to feast on the monster, and Aengus conjured another wall of fire. As it drew closer, Aengus called on Moradin to turn the creature away, but its nature appeared to be something other than undead, as it was unaffected. Forming a miniature phalanx on the narrow path, standing shoulder to shoul—well, thigh—Aengus and Vara held the front line as Urs and Desmond peppered the monster with ranged attacks. However, knowing Urs would be much more effective on the front line, Aengus and Urs swapped places. In two fell swoops, Urs beheaded the monster and the humanoid inside it, the latter seemingly relieved to be free of its torment, and both fell into the ravine. The fire finished the zombies as it did before, and the Rovers could once again catch their breaths.
Days since the Rovers pledged their service to the paper dragon: 5
Days since Aengus used Divine Intervention: 2
Days since Aengus sent his letter: 1
Weeks since Tyresha got pregnant: about 6