We did not meet in a bar..

The Retainers/Followers/Henchmen: Skrit and Vencer from the RedWater Fellowship make friends with a few select refugees from the demon infested city of Wayberry and decide to go on an adventure..

The Fellowship advise the young and inexperienced group that they need live subjects to power the magic engine of the flying tower. The Flying Tower - now under control  of the Fellowship - was originally created between a select group of elves and an infernal pact with Hellish denizens, using a life-draining force to power the flying tower and all its magical enhancements.

Thus the BETA crew head out in search of 'evil' creatures for this..

Drekarr Silver Mines - formerly an extremely profitable silver mine and town high up in the Lortmill Mountains. The caravans call it the Silver Path. They are aware of a tribe of kobolds that infest/lurk around this area a number of days ride/walk North East of the Holliday camp.
Since these kobolds moved in - just about a 1/2 year now - the pass directly North and fork path northeast to Kron hills and route into Enstad - the former Elf lands - has been unavailable. No merchants or others travel it due to these kobolds..

Leaving the tower early in the morning, the young and eager group set off, following the map provided to them by Gothi the ranger in the Fellowship. They had gathered a number of rumours of the road and mountains ahead...

Rumours:
- a giant has been battling the kobolds as of late. A lone traveler witnessed the giant tossing kobolds over a cliff
- the silver mine once near the top of the mountain pass is packed with loot..
- there were ongoing feuds between Wayberry and Rastor [1st city along trade route to northeast in Kron hills] that each owned the silver mine
- a Witch leads the kobolds - using captives for her unknown & nefarious purposes..
- heard from a refugee - orc female named Selanshi - that there is a waterfall where the water falls upwards.. deep in the mine that heals both mind and spirit.. but takes something in payment.. 

- the kobolds worship a cursed goddess

A smile grows from ear to ear on Vencer's face "My friends, if this witch is not palatable and we... end her life. Then there are bound to be many things of arcane nature that can benefit... us. We must prepare ourselves to face a magic-user however."

Corrin share Vencer’s expression, thinking of his pulling off one of his favourite schemes “If I can see the witch I’ll be able to disguise myself as her, but I’ll also need to hear her voice which will probably be the most difficult.” 

"I have something that can get you quite close my new friend." The wizard says. "Have you ever been invisible?"
Corrin shrugs, “I’d disguise myself as a kobold if I could but they’re simply too small. I’ve been as close as I can to invisible but never magically.”
Vencer smiles widely. "Well, I say lets change that. You give the signal and you shall disappear to mortal eyes."
Nodding in reply, Corrin ponders, “If we manage this we may be able to even turn some of the kobolds against her.”
Walking along Vencer agrees. "Then we take care of them."
The Changeling grins humming a tune, “By capturing them and bringing them here.”
Vencer's viper slithers up around the young man's neck and looks about with a hiss.. "Most of them."

Springtime in mountains. Fresh smells, clear, rushing water of overflowing streams. With Pyra scouting and Irakul using some survival skills, they make good time. The Beta crew follow the path - actually a well-worn track down to the river barge crossing. They see the dwarf Sando and agreeably, for a small price starts to take them across the 100' wide river. Conversation ranges to many subjects, the dark news of Wayberry and the demon portals well discussed. 1/2 way across, they see back a old man jumping up and down waving at them. They had forgotten.. a merchant had approached them to provide escort through the mountain pass and along the Silver Path to the far side. A 100 gold and emerald ring as payment. Quickly discussing, they head back - with some extra coin to the bargeman for his troubles - and pickup the grateful merchant. One, Heste Tossig. It is a fortunate turn of events for the crew as Heste has a map of the mountain area.

Deciding not to stop at the inn across the river - the adventurers press on. They make it to the Standing Stones a large area where it seems there is no life. With Skrit's knowledge of religious history and runes that are visible on the weathered massive stones, Vencer uses his magics and detects.. something.. it seems the area was once the burial ground for one of the Old Ones or Ancients - a Titan.   

Further investigation by them determines the lake nearby holds a similar magical essence to it. either blood life or fluid of some creature.. the titan..? They take some water - Irakul drinks some with no visible effects other than feeling quite refreshed.

Pushing on they travel for the day and make camp. During this time, Corrin entertains the party with some of his tunes, ballads and songs from his homeland. Pyra continues to be the scout, her tiefling form flitting amongst the shadowy trees, while Irakul makes sure they are on the best path forward.

Making camp for the night, nothing disturbs their rest and watch.

The next day - bright and sunny again - they start to look for a ford across the fast moving and wide river to head further into the mountains.

Coming over a rise, the party see a sight: a stand off of sorts. a horse -a riderless warhorse it seems with a saddle and harness stands in the middle of the river. On one side are 2 mountain lions growling and pacing back and forth. On the far side, a wolf pack, led by a very large Alpha male growl and jump forward and back again. The warhorse looks to be injured, deep cuts in it's haunches and cuts on its legs.

The mare rears up and comes crashing down to spray water and try to keep the hunters at bay.. but she tires.

The party does not hesitate going into action near right away. New to battling together, they act like a experienced team. The spells of Vencer teleport him into combat and his spells blast the mountain lions. Irakul races up swinging his massive 2-handed ax. The executioner's hood - which he seems to wear at all times - only show the glint of his eyes as he hacks into the beasts. Corrin uses his spells and voice to great effect to affect the cats attacks and damaging them with his mockery. Skrit's divine powers send bolts of energy into the animals. While Pyra is able to use her roguish skills to sneak attack as the animals are engaged with others.

As the 2 lions are dealt with it seems the wolves tried to take down the warhorse, but the BETA crew had more up their sleeve. Missiles, spells and more take out the Alpha male and the majority of the wolves go down while the rest of the pack run howling into the forest. 

With the hunting beasts defeated, the party is able to calm the warhorse and bring her to the bank and up on to land. The party then decides to rest again since it is late. Making camp, Irakul picks up the bodies of the beasts and seemingly talks to someone over his shoulder a number of times but.. there is no one there. Heste cooking some dinner looks at Skrit questioningly - whom shrugs.. they skin the 2 mountain lions and alpha male wolf, as well, Vencer takes some body pieces (eyes, fangs and more)  " these may be of use in a spell or minor magic item."

The next morning, feeling refreshed they go further into the high mountains now. The air is colder here, except for midway onwards in the sun. Speaking with Heste, they determine there is a wayfarer's lodge they can reach probably about 2 hours after sunset so they push on.

The sun has set and it is dark, the crickets and night life of the mountain wilderness are out and noisy at first until Pyra holds up a hand as she scouts ahead. She can smell smoke.

The party discusses for a moment, thinking this is perhaps the campfire chimney smoke of the lodge just over the rise ahead of a screen of trees. Vencer sends his snake familiar Mystra to coil around Pyra's arm so he can use the snake's senses. The rogue flits out disappearing from view easily in the shadows and sees not a camp or chimney smoke, but the wayfarer's lodge on fire. As the tiefling watches, a man runs out the front door and through a haze of smoke. he gasps and cries out in pain as a bolt hits him in the back and stumbles to the ground - not moving. A dwarf steps into view reloading a crossbow. Not a Blackrune a gray-skinned dwarf  [DM: some call dark-dwarf]. Using a message spell Vencer and Prya communicate and they come up with a plan. A young man in robes and leather cloak runs out of the smoke away from the dark-dwarf.

Corrin mounted on the warhorse races forward to confront the young man running. He just stumbles and yelps at the site of the warhorse and rider. At this point a bolt catches him in the back and he falls to the ground. Skrit runs forward and tries to help the fallen dwarf but it seems he is dead sot he healing spell is for naught. The party move sin and engages the enemy. It seems a group of gray dwarves have killed a group of all in similar robes. Irakul now with a light spell on his executioner's axe moves forward and sees the dwarf in the doorway. The dwarf blanches even grayer at the hulking figure of the goliath - with ax glowing and in his dark hood - fires his crossbow and slams the door shut.

Pyra sneaks up and surprises a dark-dwarf coming around the side of the house. Using a crossbow she acquired from the warhorse, she is able to finish the dwarf off, but takes a grievous wound in return. The rogue looks to be a deadly sniper with the weapon.

The party all move forward thinking the battle going well until they see a dark skinned elf with white hair up in a tree..? No as the creature moves forward into Irakul's light, they see the large bloated body of a spider with 8 long legs attached to the drow - a drider!

Fortunately for the party, the dark-dwarves and the drider all look to be injured - perhaps the battles with the robed humans, dwarf and elf and more. Corrin uses his spells and more to buff, attack  and support (the bardic inspiration a key effect) while Skrit engages the drider with his moonspear. The battle rages back and forth, the dwarves go down one by one. Irakul follows a dwarf into the lodge seeing a fallen draconinan and 1/2ling but not finding the dwarf crashes through a window out of the smoke. Vencer teleporting into to attack or use a opportune spell and out again with his portal mage abilities. The drider hurls down a ball of flames which hits 3 of the party. Irakul falls with an attack from the last dark dwarf. But the drider seeing her minions fall, decides the best tactic is to run away and fight another day! She hisses a curse at them and leaps into the dark.

 Skirt determines the drider is too far gone out into the night for him and the injured party to chase. They heal Irakul and see the lodge still burning.. what next for the BETA crew!

Until next time..