Chapter 1 - The Red Waterfall

Ewan's blade slices the lower half of the bat-like creature on Kicsi's arm and makes a sickening spat sound as it hits the ground. Kicsi, flailing wildly, manages to pull the head of the creature off her arm.

Mac turns to face the third creature, places his thumbs together and outstretches his fingers sending an intense beam of red hot energy into its face. It's last sounds are a horrid screeching sound.

The remaining creature, seemingly aware of its fallen brethren, lunges at Mac and attaches itself about the neck. The wizard cries out in pain.

The first punch misses its mark as Mac turns chaotically at the last second while the second punch smashes into the back of the creatures head. There is a sharp cracking sound followed by the slumping of the creature on Mac's skin, teeth still dug in.

Looking around the cave, Ewan finds nothing save dirt, rocks, and bat guano. Not a single gem can be found and there don't seem to be any other passage ways to explore. He gets the impression that this truly is just an ordinary cave with nothing special about it at all. After searching herself, Kicsi comes to the same conclusion. Mac shakes his head in the corner. "I think we may have been duped," he states bluntly.

Mac shakes his head. "I doubt it," the wizard replied. I had wanted to say something before we left Red Larch but didn't. I didn't trust that lady. My suspicions have been confirmed." He kicked a pebble with his boot and looked around the cave in vain once more hoping that maybe something would grab his attention that he had missed the first dozen times.

Mac stroked his chin and thought awhile before answering. "She was acting strange if you ask me. Maybe she was trying to derail us for a short time." The wizard shrugged his shoulders and looked over at Ghelin for another opinion.

"Perhaps we should go back and question her?" the wizard added.

You travelled back to Red Larch as quickly as you could arriving shortly before sunset. You headed up the Long Road and found Albaeri barking orders at more of her miners and that she doesn't give one rat's tail about their pay but no one is going back into the mines when robed figures in the masks are still around each night.

She huffed a curse under her breath and turned to walk back to her house. She stopped dead in her tracks upon seeing the lot of you with a look of utter surprise on her face.

The Tethyrian woman cowered back as the Tiefling made his point. "Look, I don't want any trouble here," she pleaded hands brought together on her chest. "Since the weather has been acting all funny many people have been coming around and getting in the way of our business." She paced around in front of her door looking towards the quarry. "We are the true Believers here, not like all of you phonies showing up. Larrakh warned us against the like of you." She spun to run into her house but Mac casually put out a foot to trip her and send her crashing into the dirt and grass.

"We're most certainly not done with you yet," the wizard said.