Finally back in Malwander, the group gives Nori the items they have retrieved from the Glorioles City of the Black Caverns, and he begins the process of translating the tomes immediately. Marlos insists that the group join him and Carstos for dinner that night, as there is much to tell them. The group is then left to rest until dinner.

At dinner, Carstos welcomes the party back and says, “There’s much I have to talk to you all about, however, I also believe in discretion, so if any of you have issue with us discussing any of this out in the open, please let me know and we’ll talk separately after dinner.” Isach indicates that he would, and then Carstos continues, “Flain, we’ve kept an eye on your friend as closely as possible while you’ve been gone. Please realize that the reason we have to careful here is he has ties to the council. He’s spent several nights at Councilman Irithan’s house. Anyway, as you’ve probably deduced by now, he’s not really the one you seek. I suspected this when I sent you to see him, but I needed you to confirm it. However, he has been seen with an unknown companion sneaking out of the Councilman’s home just two nights ago. They were accompanied by a third man, someone I believe Sione and I have discussed, the mysterious Maj. Before we get into that, let me finish with Flain’s concerns. The unknown companion is probably the man you are looking for, unfortunately, he left town just yesterday. That’s all I can tell you for now.”

“Now to you Sione. You and I spoke previously of the man named Maj. Well, he is definitely the leader of the band of poachers you are looking for. As you can guess, we really can’t move against him yet because of his ties to Councilman Irithan. However, if we can get definitive proof of his poaching activities, not even Irithan will be able to protect him. One of my men has been able to infiltrate his group and has told us that they are planning an incursion into the Menowood in two nights time. Now, I cannot get directly involved until I have proof of wrongdoing, so I want all of you to gather the proof I need while hopefully disrupting their plans. What they are going into the Menowood for is unclear, only that it’s been termed a hunting expedition. There are a dozen or so of them, including Maj, however, only 5-6 of them are competent hunters, the rest are merely porters. Between you and the man I have on the inside, the odds should be fairly even. The one thing I would warn you against is underestimating Maj himself. He has the reputation of being ready for almost anything at all times and is more than a competent fighter in his own right. Be careful, and let me know if there is anything you need from me.” Carstos says.

The group decides to try and find out more about what the poachers are up to, as well as what part Flain’s mystery man, Striden, plays in this. To achieve this they stake out Irithan’s house figuring that if Maj is there, they may be able to obtain some further information. While Lirrim and Isach sneak into the house, Xifias disguises himself as a member of the city guard and goes to the door. He tells the servant who opens the door that a burglar has been spotted in the area, hoping to cover their tracks should something go wrong. Little of any interest is found outside of the magical wards protecting the councilman’s desk upstairs, which Lirrim and Isach take special care not to disturb. They manage to sneak back out just in time for the dinner party happening at the house to break up. Curiously enough an elven woman leaves the party and is refered to as Kasera as she leaves in her carriage. Unfortunately, no one in the group is able to get a good look at her face. Panjur is sent to follow the carriage, while the rest of the group prepares for the next day.

The next day, Carstos gathers the group and tells them that Maj and his men are headed into the western Menowood. Sione and Lirrim theorize that they will most likely stick to the outer wood, as the inner wood is controlled by dark fey of all sorts. Easily tracking them from a safe distance, the group follows the poachers into the woods. Strangely enough, the porters appear to be carrying a large, covered cage. At nightfall, the hunters stop and make camp, erecting a large tent in the center with a large campfire on either side. The equipment and trunks the porters have been carrying are taken inside the tent and the cage is set down near the entrance. Maj and the man Flain is seeking stay in the tent, while the rest of the group camp around the fires. A guard is posted on each side at all times.

The next morning the camp begins making preparations for the day. One of the first things they do is pull the large cage out into the center of the camp. Spending much of the time either eating or making plans for the days hunt within Maj’s tent, they appear to be in no hurry. Finally, Maj emerges from the tent and approaches the large cage. He pulls off the cover to reveal a short, stocky creature with pale green skin. It rises and stretches to its full height before slumping its shoulders. From the jutting lower jaw protrudes prominent tusks on each side of a row of sharp fangs. Reddish eyes peer our from above a snout like nose. Course fur covers most of it’s head and continues down it’s back. What is not covered in fur is thick and leathery with scars arranged in bizarre patterns all over its body.

Maj then turns and speaks to the beast, “Are you ready to go to work now? We have more eliminations planned for you to perform.” With this, he clasps an amulet he’s wearing around his neck. The creature merely grunts its acknowledgement, staring intently on the amulet in Maj’s hand. As Maj opens the cage, the creature stumbles out, and one of the hunters hands it a large battleaxe. Maj, the beast, and the five hunters now move off into the woods with the group following at a safe distance. It is soon apparent that they are tracking what appears to be a wolf, which they soon manage to corner, with Maj and the beast hanging back, hiding in some brush.

Just as the hunters are about to attack it, a young druid bursts through the far side of the clearing and engages the men, attempting to help the wolf. As soon as he does, Maj and the beast also emerge from hiding to attack the outnumbered druid. It’s suddenly apparent that Maj and the “poachers” were not after the wolf at all, but instead are here to kill the druid. The group joins the fray, however, they are too late to save the druid who falls during the battle. They manage to defeat the hunters and the beast, but Maj proves too tough for them to take down. He escapes the combat as Isach lays on the forest floor, bleeding to death. Suddenly a warm feeling floods his body, and he’s able to stand. The only explanation for his life being spared certainly must be divine intervention at the hands of Corellon Latherian.

Taking the captured Striden with them, the group heads back to the poacher’s camp and tell the porters to return to Malwander. Searching the camp reveals little, but they do find addressed to Maj from someone named Azeal informing him to continue the elimination of the Menowood druids. However, the letter does not clear up the question of why this is being done. In fact, it only increases the amount of questions the group has. Was Sione’s uncle eliminated intentionally? It would appear so, but why? Why target the druids of the Menowood? What purpose would killing them fulfill?

The group heads back to Malwander to report what they have found to Carstos and Marlos. Hopefully they can make more sense of this, and hopefully Nori has made some headway on the translation of the books they recovered from the Glorioles. Maybe they can get some information from their newly acquired prisoner. The threat of possible death for his role in the killings may be enough to make him talk. Or so they think.

Once back in Malwander, Carstos puts Striden into a cell and allows Flain to try to talk with him. They have very little time, for Carstos has received a letter directly from the King’s court instructing him to release Striden. Carstos figures he can only hold Striden until morning, when he probably will flee Malwander forever. A cryptic letter referencing “the forbidden one” is found in Striden’s belongings, and strangely enough, the guards find a holy symbol for the god Nerull as well. Even when faced with the possibility of having that information released to the townspeople, Striden doesn’t flinch. He knows he’ll be free; it’s just a matter of time. However, he does tell Flain that the man he is really after has fled to, and lives in Greyhawk.

The group plans on following Striden when he’s released the next morning, figuring he’ll leave Malwander as soon as possible. He has other plans though, and stays in Malwander at Councilman Irithan’s house. Looks like they will have an easier time keeping an eye on him than they thought. Nori also tells the group that he’s been able to translate one of the books, which appears to be a journal of some sort. Apparently, there are at least five other underground cities nearby. The Bonewood houses one, while another lies in the Hestmark Highlands, and one is on the Lendore Isles, though he’s not sure which isle holds it. Yet another is on the Tilvanot peninsula, home to the Scarlet Brotherhood. Finally, one sits in the Vast Swamp, and while it’s may be a dangerous journey, what he’s translated of the journal so far gives him a fairly accurate idea where this one is located, while the rest he’s not as sure about.

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Chapters - Find out what's happened so far.

Chapter One – Shapeshifters in Our Midst

Chapter Two – A Prophecy Fulfilled?

Chapter Three – The City of Black Crystal

Chapter Four – Poachers? No, Murderers!

Chapter Five – The Vast Swamp

Chapter Six – Delivery for Quarion

Chapter Seven – Evil Afoot in the Menowood

Chapter Eight – An Item in Naerie

Chapter Nine – Back in Malwander…

Chapter Ten – A Journey Into Madness

Chapter Eleven - Serpent Isle

Chapter Twelve – The Return of Maj

Chapter Thirteen – The Hestmark Highlands

Chapter Fourteen – A Spy Among Us?

Chapter Fifteen – The Bonewood

Chapter Sixteen – Return to Rook's Roost