Returning to Malwander from their escapades in Pitchfield, the group finds out from Marlos that Nori has actually gone to Pontylver to try and find Ger’s research. Apparently he ran across a particularly tricky passage in one of the books he was translating and felt that the information was important enough to warrant a trip. Marlos is unsure what it was regarding, but Nori left the items the group had in his care with Marlos, not wanting to risk having them with him on such a dangerous journey. This puts the group in a precarious position. They can’t leave the items in Marlos’ or Carstos’ care because Kasera and her followers would look there first. So who else can they turn to? They decide to travel to the Menowood and talk to the Council of Druids there, hoping they will be able to protect the items while the group travels on to Naerie to meet with Duras.

Once they reach the Menowood, they are greeted by a lower level druid and told that the Council in currently engaged in a heated battle in the central Menowood with a mysterious camp of spellcasters. Perhaps this is why the druids were being killed, to hide the camp for as long as they could? The battle is so intense the druids have stationed treants all around the central Menowood to prevent anything or anyone from getting in or out. The group immediately asks if there is anything they can do to help and are told that a band of strange creatures have broke the containment and are attacking villages in the area. They are asked to stop these creatures if they can. Strangely enough, the creatures appear to be headed in a straight line toward the location of Lirrim’s village.

Moving off to deal with the creatures, the group reaches the village the monsters have just decimated.Those who didn’t flee have been massacred, and it appears as if the creatures went out of their way to destroy everything they could in the village. Luckily, most of the villagers fled to the nearest village, and the beasts haven’t reached it yet.If they hurry, the group should be able to reach it before the creatures do.The village has already evacuated except for a few brave souls who join the group in preparing for the attack.

They don’t have to wait long for the attack as the creatures stream into the village and are instantly engaged by the party.The group is surprised by the fact that there are only 20 of the beasts, but it readily becomes apparent why they are so dangerous. As the group kills the first of the monsters, the rest howl as if in agony. The howl shakes many of the fighters and causes them to flee in fear.As they howl, the creatures appear to gain in strength, meaning that the more of them you kill, the more powerful the remaining ones become.Obviously the group cannot continue to kill the beasts because doing so just makes it that much harder to kill the rest. They decide to start subduing those that they can through other means. However, even though they can stop some of them, the rest manage to destroy the village when the group is forced to retreat.They then make preparations at the next village to fight the remaining creatures as best they can.

Once again, they do not have to wait long, and the creatures, now identified as the Feral, stream into the village. Strangely enough, they do not wander directly into the ambush the group has laid for them, but instead enter one of the village’s homes. Not seeing or hearing anything from within, the group decides to investigate. The house appears to be empty, but how can that be? Searching reveals a secret door leading to a ladder vanishing down into the darkness. Climbing down to investigate, Lirrim follows the passage to a large altar room where dozens of Tharizdun’s worshippers appear to be involved in a ritual. Strangely, the Feral are participating in the ritual as well, indicating that the cult probably commands the creatures. As the ritual reaches the crescendo, a large swirling portal opens in the floor and a great howl is heard from within. Lirrim tries to stop the proceedings with a well-placed arrow shot at the high priest, but it appears as if he is too late.

Deciding not to wait and see what form of monstrosity will emerge from the portal, Lirrim flees back up the passage. It now becomes apparent that the monstrosity is loose, and pursing the party up the passage. They manage to just escape the house in time to see a large demon emerge from the ground destroying the house around it with ease. Obviously far too large to fit through the narrow passageway, the demon created it own means of escape, killing all below it as the passage and altar room collapsed from the destruction. The group flees the demon in uncontrolled terror, moving as fast as possible to get away from the evil thing.

It’s not until they are a safe distance away that they recover their sense enough to realize that they have fled straight into part of the central Menowood, a place inhabited by evil fey of all sorts. As they move, it now becomes clear that some sort of fey are playing tricks on them, trying to lead their path back toward the demon. Finally able to see through the ruse, the group now must battle the fey while hoping the demon doesn’t catch up to them. Luckily, they are able to destroy the evil fey before it can reach them. Deciding that the druids must be told of the demon, the group presses even further into the central Menowood, finally reaching the ring of treants guarding it’s core. Speaking to the incredible creatures the group tells of the demon and the destruction of the Feral. They are thanked for their help and told that the Council will deal with the demon when the time comes. For now, they must leave the Menowood while they still can, for even though the battle is going well for the Council, the demon is closing.

The group flees the Menowood and heads back to Malwander. Deciding to head to Naerie to meet with Duras, they make preparations to leave the next morning. Hopefully the druids have been able to deal successfully with both the camp of evil spellcasters, and the demon unleashed by the cult. It also looks as if the group must now carry the amulet with them, as there is nowhere safe to keep it for now. Maybe Nori will have returned by the time they get back, or maybe the Council will have finished cleaning out the Menowood and would be willing to hold the items for them?

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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