The Burning City of Enstad

When last we left our Heroes - now called the Fellowship of RedWater - they were on the outskirts of the once Elvish capital of Celene - Enstad. Now a burning ruin. The towering trees - many they see over five hundred feet high, burning pyres in the day and night. It is a dark and tragic sight as they continue to chug along the canals deeper into the city.
Master Senji advises he has had 'dealings' with the Black Runes before, so hopes they can gain passage without too much difficulty - may have to pay some tolls or more.
As the fellowship had traveled over the past weeks: 
Baris had decided to look at the ax. It seemed a strange weapon. The haft the witchdoctor discovered was made from bone. The blade, was a giant tooth. Looking at the weapon or tool closely, Baris - with the help of Extraño's arcane skills - was able to confirm this was from some gigantic beast. Nothing from this area - the Wild Coast - but perhaps from the far southwest near the Sea of Dust. It was well-made, and could be enchanted it seems, according to Extrano.
Doctor Holliday spent a number of evenings on watch with the human girl, Cheeta. At first she was pretty closed-mouthed, but after the Doctor had told her of his childhood and early life in the Duchy, she had warmed up to him.
The Doctor learned that she was the 4th child of six girls and 1 boy. Her father a merchant in the City of GreyHawk. Her mother died in childbirth with her younger brother. The merchant family hit upon hard-times and the children - but the boy - were indentured into workhouses to pay the debts of the family. Cheeta, from age 10 to 20 worked as a near slave to pay off the debts. After the 10 years, the debts were paid, and the 4 girls - 2 died due to goblin fever a few years back - were finally free. Cheeta sighed and looking out at the smoke covered water shrugged. "I had no interest in seeing my father again, my sisters all decided to enter into sisterhood at a temple. Ha!" Her long red ponytail whipping about her face as she recalled the story. "Not for me though. I wanted to travel. I went down the Wild Coast.. met up with the wrong people.. and met Master Senji in Fax. He needed a crew, and I needed out of that town." The girl spat over the side of the boat. Looking over at the young 1/2 orc, she smiled. "You seem to be an old soul, Doctor." She always called him 'Doctor' even though he had told her to

use his 1st name. "Your bird there.. it seems to be smart. I like ravens. Don't like crows.. but I like ravens." With that, she walked away to take the wheel from Master Senji. Looking after her, the Doctor was speechless. His raven landed on his shoulder and nipped at his tusks as she always did. The bird was forming a bond, possibly deeper than a normal animal and master. Sometimes he felt the bird knew his thoughts.


Extraño learned more of the Ring of Five - a group of powerful wizards - realizing he one location they could be based in is the City of Greyhawk. Kantiff practiced his skills as a monk extensively, remembering the old monk whom had showed him the way.
Traveling up the canals, the smoke started to thicken as they passed by more and more trees. Once called 'tree holds' - or in Sylvan - a'Sarasti the massive trees were like a village unto themselves. Master Senji was grim, he spoke little by this point. Everyone was on edge.. some coughing due to the smoke.
At one point they saw a group of six - or seven(?) - figures coming down between two burnt trees. Deciding to avoid them they kept heading up the canal. Then ahead was a strange sight a black and grey wall - right over the canal. After some perceptive investigation by the witch-doctor and more, the Fellowship realized it was a massive tree fallen across the canal and the black and grey was smoke rising. The tree was burning from the inside. The steamboat was nearly hit by falling chunks, but successfully navigated obstacle.

Further on, the party realized with horror - the water in the canal.. was going down. After a little longer the boat ground to a halt. The water level too low now, a bare stream down the middle of the wide canal. What was or had stopped the flow?
"The Black Runes no doubt!" Growled Master Senji.
A single dwarf was then seen walking slowly along the railing of the canal - smoking a pipe. Words were exchanged and it then was apparent that this dwarf was cause or had taken part in the destruction of the city. All the fellowship attacked. He then retreated heavily wounded no doubt.
Leaving the Master, Cheeta, Saris the drow elf and Robin Hood - sick with a fever - on the boat the party set out to explore further and find the cause flowing river to be stopped.

Baris saw a glimpse of a single a'Sarasti - not burning!? He felt the life of nature there still. Perhaps there would be answers to the canal drying up? Or just more questions? Strangely, the elvish spear the witch-doctor used, the haft of the weapon has tree branches engraved in the wood. These seem to be becoming more pronounced and visible. The druid feel the weapon seems to be...  alive similar to

a living tree? Maybe there was some connection to a tree here? As well, Cedric whom had been training with the elvish long blade, it seemed lighter to the paladin, and more easily used to swing in battle. It seemed to nearly be an extension of the warrior's arm. 

The group noted three winged creatures flying down the canal, Extraño, realized these were wyverns and without a thought fired off a ray of blue frosty energy. The range was short and the winged creatures flew onwards.

Investigating ahead, the heroes were surprised by a patrol of Black Runes. This was not random patrol though. A massive firegiant carried two Black Rune dwarves. The 2 dwarves were armed with flame-throwing cannons, strapped to in a harness to the shoulders of the giant. They had been in the process of burning a massive tree. Now they had live targets. The Fellowship of RedWater was surprised, but prevailed against the trio. The giant falling to crush one of the dwarves in the muddy canal bottom.

Doctor Holliday was interested in the flamethrowers, but Baris seeing only the destruction of the nature all around him acted and pierced the canister of the one surviving cannon, detonating the explosive fuel.
After some discussion, they recovered some treasure (and one of the cannons with Baris' help) and decided to check on the grounded steamboat.
The adventurers saw a the steamboat ahead but it was on fire. The boat and crew had been attacked by wyvern riders. The same three the party had spied earlier. Master Senji was gone, Cheeta as well. Saris was dead. Robin Hood was near death but still alive. It looks like the boat was intact but partly burned. Sending his raven to scout, the party learned there was a Black Rune camp fairly close, but it had thirty or more Black Rune warriors.  Master Senji and Cheeta no where to be seen.
Deciding they could not risk a battle with such overwhelming odds, they moved on the Treehold
perhaps the best option..
Coming to a bridge the heroes spied Black Rune patrols and guards. Taking some time to plan an ambush the heroes defeated 1/2 of the Black Runes, with a combined effort of spells (Extraño's fireball was devastating), bolts and bullets.

The dwarves still hold the bridge. Will the Fellowship of RedWater be able to take the bridge and explore the last a'Sarasti - Treehold - in Enstad? 

Until next time.