The Lone Tree and the Burning of the Weeping Willow Stables

When last we left our Heroes - the Fellowship of RedWater - they were engaged in battle with a force of Black Rune dwarves on a bridge across the dried up river in the burning city of Enstad.

One dwarf was preparing to blow a horn - assuredly to alert further Black Rune soldiers, but key fire and spells were able to take the dwarf down. After the battle the Fellowship decided to head to the lone tree not a raging inferno or burnt husk.   Coming up to the massive tree, they beheld a wondrous sight. A massive tree over 300 feet tall towered into the sky. A shimmering blue and green forcefield (?) seemed to protect it and keep the fire and destruction at bay. A massive natural ramp 10 feet wide made its way up and around the trunk, looking to have houses and shops it seems at intervals. The Fellowship decided to watch for a while and noted a lone figure - looking to be an elf - at a 50 foot interval facing out from the tree - perhaps concentrating on the protective shield. Perceptive members determined it was the same figure all around. A statue, illusion or..?
Other travellers looked to be entering the area from the North so the group decided to follow suit and did the same. Kantif decided to take on the disguise of an elf.
As soon as they passed through the shield, the adventurers took a deep breath. Clean and Spring like air! taking deep breaths, they realized it had been at least 4-5 days since they had not smelt smoke.
Travelling onwards, they started the trek up the tree lane. The Fellowship passed a number of businesses boarded over, and others homes not in use. They did see a shop: The Lucky Mask General Store. None seemed interested, so they climbed onwards and upwards. A second shop Silman Cheeses, and then a third: Dreegle's Poisons and Sundries. The party walked ignored all and finally arrived at Azuul's Rest -  a tavern and inn.
The party saw a large figure all in ragged red leathers outside the main door. A sign above the small ogre's head: All weapons deposited here. The party hesitated at first and then started dropping quite a large number of weapons. The ogre then passed each a chit to get their gear back, and the party saw a massive tall door. They entered a large and busy tavern area. The room seemed strange to them - the layout, but they moved in. A massive aquarium on the left, over 20 feet long and 10 feet tall held a number of exotic fish and sea creatures. Moving into the loud and busy tavern, the Fellowship stopped in their tracks. A Firegiant and two Black Rune dwarves sat at one table. The giant drinking from a massive tankard looked over at the group and then away. It seemed this was a similar team to the one giant and 2 dwarves the party had killed recently. There was a harness nearby with two flame guns attached. Perhaps the 3 were on a break... Kantif realized looking like an elf was not the best idea so with deceptive skill was able to remove the disguise and look like a 1/2 elf. The group realized something then, the tavern was just part of a massive room - part of a giant's ship. A massive ship stuck or in the tree...? The door and some of the furnishing were giant-sized..
The group moved in and discussed options with the bartender -an older human man - for rooms. All got rooms except Baris - the bartender telling the witchdoctor that mangy mutts did not stay in Azuul's Rest (referring to Baris' hyena). Baris asked about a stables. The bartender raised an eyebrow and blew out his cheeks. "Well the only stables around here for that would be about 300 feet South." The Weeping Willow Stables. Baris headed off, Kantif accompanying him for protection.
Doctor Holiday and Cedric decided to get cleaned up, the hot baths being the option. This included

all clothes being mended and cleaned. Robin went to sleep, his recent battles of using his new warlock abilities warring with his previous ranger skills had drained his energy and more. Extrano had moved to the fireplace, while there, a different group of Black Runes commented he would be worth a lot as a slave.. the wizard quickly retreated.

He decided to check on some of the shops. He entered the cheese shop, where he met an old hobbit that sold him some enchanted cheese, he realized he should get some sleep so the wizard returned to the tavern and went to his room to study his magicks and rest.
While the Doctor and Cedric enjoyed personal hot relaxing baths, Baris and Kantif with hyena in tow went off to find the stables. Moving outside the protective shield, the smoke hit them again.. hard to breathe. Walking along they saw 2 dwarves at a ramp. A weeping willow tree partially burnt above. Walking up Baris asked about stabling his hyena. The 2 dwarves looked at each over and then back at the druid and rogue. At once suspicious. One dwarf asked what unit the two adventurers were with. Deceptive as they could be, the 2 dwarves realized something was not right so called their sergeant. A tall muscled orc stepped out and started to question the rogue and druid. Finally one of the dwarves raised a flintlock pistol, the other his ax and the orc a massive sword. "Surrender. Or die."
In the morning, Doctor Holiday woke up the room he had paid to share with Kantif. The Doctor realized the rogue had not slept there. Gathering the party he asked some pointed questions of the bartender and realized that Baris and Kantif had not come back!
Meanwhile... Baris and Kantif had been subjected to some questions where the witchdoctor had told most of the story of the party and more to the Black Runes. Both the rogue and druid were trussed up, and gagged so spells were next to impossible.
The Fellowship decided to look for their comrades and came upon the Weeping Willow Stables. Confronting the 2 dwarves, a battle ensued in the stables. Spells - fireballs from Extrano and blasts of flame from Robin the new warlock of Orcus Prince of the Undead - did heavy damage to the dwarves

and to the wooden structure. Thograa, the 1/2 orc rogue - now part of the Fellowship - saved a few members by binding wounds and administer a heal potion to Extrano, the wizard. The whole place started to burn. 2 cavebear mounts caged to one side growled, roared and crashed against the bars trying to escape. The party were on the ropes and nearly down a few times but excellent tactics by the group, great battle skills and more from all as Baris and

Kantif were dragged out and threatened with death and broke their bonds and fought alongside the rest of the rescuers.
In the end, the party stood over the dead dwarves and dead orc sergeant. The place a raging inferno. Two dwarves had retreated further into the stables and locked a door. The druid tried to persuade both the cavebears to help break down the door, but the animals were passed the point of coherence and crashed out into the day. Baris was adamant about leaving his equipment. Doctor Holiday, Cedric, Robin and Extrano wanted to leave. So the party split up. Baris and Kantif at the door and the rest of the party made it out of the smoke and burning building, waiting outside to see if the witchdoctor and rogue survive the inferno of fire and smoke... The two adventurers have some hard decisions to make as Baris shapechanges to a small rodent and goes underneath the door!

• Boxes piled against the door, a single latch/bolt holding the door locked.
• An unconscious hyena tied to a ring against one wall
• There are 4 doors - 2 partially open to a cell you think that looks familiar, another open doorway where you see 2 dwarves running down a passage into darkness, a 4th door is latched closed.
• Some shelves along one wall, with boxes and bags, as well as a familiar spear leaning against it and a variety of other gear including Baris' and Kantif's armour and shield

So there are a number of choices for next session:

• unlock the door for Kantif and move the boxes blocking the door
• get the spear
• search shelves for rest gear - visible: armour and shield is here
• get the hyena
• chase the dwarves 
• Open the 4th door
• OR..?

There is very little time so what to do? May be able to do 2 safely and escape. 3? Then you are pushing your luck. 4? You are dicing with Death, and he is grinning at you. 5? Welcome to Burning Man.