| Session Date | January 12, 2019 |
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| Base XP Gained | Carry Over |
The Battle of Grilbie over, the party's first concern was determining the disposition of the defeated Brigands. Though beaten, they were hardly crushed and remained a threat, especially given that their largest force was not even present at the battle. They consulted with the druid Forminos, who dispatched a bird to spy on the southern force. Shortly thereafter, the miller returned with word that the enemy that retreated north had split, some going east and some west.
As the Dwarves had things well in hand, the party rested now at the Inn, and Iban took the time to use his crystal ball to check on Winfrith. The Ranger was heading south, clearly off the road. he seemed fine. Meanwhile, Aldeberon noted that one prisoner wore chainmail. Feeling he was likely a senior brigand, he questioned him as to the source of the brigand's wealth. In exchange for a promise not to be slain, the brigand related that Fasanorn held a chest believed to be stuffed with coin. He had been free with it to his men, which had ensured their loyalty through a cold winter. As far as he knew, the chest was back in the ruined keep. Their band had nothing to do with the Giant King, and were neither enemies nor allies of him. Aldeberon then executed him, despite his promise.
The Dwarven captain began putting the local villagers to work in extending the partial barricade started by the brigands to protect the southern flank. He also put out pairs of foot patrols to watch throughout the village, while the bulk of his force was placed in the stone Keep. The wounded Dwarves were all treated by the local clerics in gratitude for their aid. In response to Iban's recommendation, he ordered each dwarf patrol and sentry be issued a small bag of flour for use in detecting invisible opponents. As it grew dark, the Ranger Calidor headed out to scout north and west, promising to return by dawn. Iban and Cadwallider decided to rest and memorize spells in the Keep, while ZZ opted to spend the night in the Dwarf House nearby.
The Ranger returned before dawn, confirming that the brigand force had split up. He also found an old camp in the pinewood north of town, apparently one that had been used for some weeks. The Druid, meanwhile, reported that his bird found the brigand force to the south, no longer hurrying towards the village and in fact beginning to move off to the west, into the Empty Quarter. More disturbingly, the dwarf captain reported that two of his Dwarves on foot patrol had been slain in the night, to the northwest. There was no sign of their attackers, but the sentries were now ordered to keep the snow around them swept and smooth to watch for invisible prowlers.
Fearing the invisible killers were still around, the party let word be spread that there would be an important meeting at the Inn to discuss their plans. As Iban began to speak, Cadwallider searched for invisible spies but found none. The meeting was otherwise rather innocuous, reaffirming the Dwarven commitment to defend the village.
Iban now searched for his former sword with the crystal ball, seeing it with the same brigand as before but now underground. Cadwallider then used his Book of Infinite Spells to cast demand on him to take the brigand treasure and bring it to the village. This apparently failed to work and, worse, the book changed pages to a new spell (detect invisibility). Iban also scryed on Winfrith, finding him still riding south in the wilderness.
Iban now went invisible and headed south to check on the brigands reportedly going west. A few hours later he found their tracks indeed heading west, screened by wolves it would seem. He followed until the day ran out, climbing a hill at dusk to see campfires miles further west. He cast fly and returned to the village. There, he peered in his crystal ball once more and observed the brigand with his old sword, still underground. This time he was sensed, and the brigand knowingly patted the sword and smiled evilly, after quickly ordering someone from the room.
The party now took the dead wizard slain by Cadwallider, and ZZ cast speak with dead. They first asked the location of his spellbook (in his quarters back in the ruined keep). They then asked how many spellcasters Fasanorn had in his serve (2 in the northern force, 2 in the southern, 2 more with the main group, and 3 in Lammoch's band). Fully dark now, Iban and Cadwallider used fly and detect invisibility to check for spies, but detected nothing.
The next day consisted of more patrolling using birds and scouting by Calidor afoot (with a bird overwatch). At midday, Iban scryed to check on Winfrith (still moving south), his old sword (nin total darkness), and Calidor (safe). No enemy seemed anywhere near the village. Feeling thus secure, Cadwallider teleported to the party's quarters in Kazakh. He sent their runner to fetch Nali and to pick up the ink he and Iban had ordered previously. While waiting, he acquired the wish ring from Havok.
Nali arrived soon after and was pleased to see the wizard, who filled him in on the battle. Nali was pleased, saying that it was his father that had made the call and ordered the Dwarves to defend Grilbie. He noted that it was idea to have the party commissioned as officers in the Dwarf Army, in order to smooth over any difficulties they might have, and that his father had now decided to make Theosophy appointments permanent. A force of several hundred more Dwarves was enroute to ensure the security of the village, and they were bringing engineers to do some real defensive work. The Dwarves still planned on using Grilbie as a link for trade across the Empty Quarter, though in response to a question from Cadwallider, he did admit that they were also looking at a southwestern route, as well.
Nali then mused about the brigands and the strangeness of their attack in deep winter. He again reiterated his disquiet that the various dangers recently cropping up (Giant King, Ice Wizard, Brigands, Earth Dragon cult, etc.) seemed to be beyond coincidence, though he had nothing more to say on the topic. After some words of encouragement, he departed.
Next day, Cadwallider teleported back to Grilbie after receiving the ink he'd previously purchased. Iban had meanwhile scryed the brigand (failed), his sword (still dark), and Winfrith (still traveling). No sentries or scouts had seen anything within 20 miles of the village. The village wizard, Alarius, however, returned during the day, seeking to reassure the party that he had survived. He wa rather put out at the party's cold reaction to him, noting that his home had been largely demolished and ransacked. he was further distraught that much of the stone was being used for the temporary barricade now largely completed. He left in a huff.
The following morning, a force of 250 Dwarves marched into the village in good order and soon set to improving the local defense, starting with a stone bridge to replace the wooden one burned by Aldeberon, to be followed by a second stone tower in the northern portion of the village. Meanwhile, the Dwarves began to construct wooden shelters for the remainder of the winter -- they were now moving into every unoccupied space in the village for temporary quarters, and still many would be forces to sleep outdoors in the bitter cold.
Iban scryed again with his crystal ball on the brigand(nothing), Winfrith (arrived in Four Friths), and the brigand again (mounted, outdoors with other brigands). Feeling the village was now secure, the party considered returning to the ruined brigand keep to search for their treasure. They were most interested in where that money came from. Learning that might be of great interest.