The 12th of Saarh - the 4th of Atki (including the Summer Festivals)
The Company travels through Esoria and crosses the border into Courriseux near Marlona. Along the road, they see troops mustering, bearing the banner of the King and Queen of Esoria, moving slowly toward the eastern border.
Across the border in Courriseux, near the small village of Benezet, they come across the remains of a massacre. Dozens of dwarf bodies lie mutilated and unburied on the field, slowly being eaten away by vultures and insects. The lack of a proper burial for the dwarves leads Jeremi to suspect that these are the remains of the dwarf refugees who fled Marlona in front of the Illumination.
Questioning the residents of Benezet confirms this suspicion. The townsfolk are leery of Jeremi, who bears the symbol of the Illumination. They speak of war with Esoria, noting that the leaders of Courriseux do not condone the Illumination's actions and see the illegal border crossing as Esoria's refusal to recognize the sovereign kingdom of Courriseux.
Continuing their travels through Courriseux, the Company note that troops are massing here as well, bearing the banner of the King of Courriseux, but they are not as well organized, nor are there as many troops, as those in Esoria.
The 5th of Atki - the 1st of Kroft
The Company travels through Courriseux and into Stadhof. Moving through the wild lands of Stadhof, they eventually reach the land of the Vistibalts, Grumash's tribe. On the borders of Vistibalt territory, they see tall pikes with the heads of Universal and Eastern �tonist priests on them. Entering the village, Grumash reunites with his father, Eggrund, the Wolf-Chief of the Vistabalts, who explains that their tribe was the middle ground for a fight between Universal and Eastern AEtonist missionaries who wished to claim Vistibalt territory for their own. Under the leadership of Eggrund, Adelgroth the Wolf-Priest, Parcivax the Shaman of the God of Trade, and Lynesse, Shamaness of the Goddess of Fertility, the Vistibalts played both sides of the conflict, working up the trust of the missionaries, and then turned on the invaders and completely destroyed both camps. The village has been quiet for the past few weeks, but Eggrund expects some type of repercussions will result from their violent action, and asks Grumash to stay with the tribe and help them to resist any further invaders. Grumash agrees, and with few words, leaves his former companions to carry on their quest.
The 2nd of Kroft - the 10th of Rendur
The Company continues on into their third month of travel, scaling over the mountain pass of Karnass and into Buchlayne Minor. They notice a movement of Eastern �tonist troops heading west as they move down into the outskirts of the country of Margova. The temperature is much cooler here, the forests thicker, and the wildlife more plentiful. Several times the Company spy packs of wolves moving through the trees.
As a torential downpour begins, the Company takes shelter in the small thorp of Dva Dub ("Twin Oaks"). Passing through the outer fence, they seek refuge in the Plow Tavern, where the owner, Bumor, tells them that there are plenty of abandoned farmhouses they can use. He seems uncomfortable by their presence.
Inside the Plow Tavern, the Company also encounter a "goblin" ranger, a Bellin from the Lugalate of Nur. He explains to the Company that he was "sent" to this land to find them, and to help them on a great task. He seems surprised that his vision has come true and that he has found the company about which he dreamed. Both sides seem skeptical, but eventually the Company allow Orongorg to join them.
The Company go from farmhouse to farmhouse seeking shelter, but are rubuffed time and again by frightened townsfolk. They notice also that there are no children in any of the farmhouses. Reaching a larger farmhouse in the center of the village, the Company eventually encounter a rude foreigner who orders them to "go away". The Company refuse, and break their way into the house, entering into battle with its occupant. Seeing the tide of battle turn against him, the rude foreigner runs up the stairs and threatens to kill six children who are tied and gagged. The Company kill the man and rescue the children, and return them to one of the farmhouses. Rather than the expected gratitude, the members of the Company are greeted with fear, and rebuffed for "making things worse".
Seeking to settle the matter once and for all, the Company follow the town leader's wife to the Plow Tavern, where they meet up with three more foreigners just before the sun slips down below the horizon. Upon sunset, a fearsome figure arises from the root cellar. Clad in mail from a past age and wielding a longsword of ancient lineage, he has a very charismatic
