Session XV & XVI - The Harpers Strike Back

It's with a swollen heart that our heroes leave the body of their fallen friend behind, hurrying towards the south gate where they meet with Lord Barnaby Belmont, baron of Lamodieu, and a handful of surviving men and women at arms, amongst which is Kella Thrundottir, a dwarven war priest. Following Belmont's orders, she agrees to help the party in an attempt to save the town from destruction. 

After a hard won battle to douse the flames, all of the town's defenders gather at the 'Bear in Bear out tavern, A richly decorated establishment with hunting trophies hanging from every wall. Despite the flowing ale, the atmosphere remains somber as the party mourns the death of Klaes. Nevertheless, they make acquaintance with Kella and who reveals to be another Harpers member from the Neverwinter faction cell. 

Arilyn on the other hand, aside from revealing she once also was Harpers, remains quiet with regards to her intentions aside from helping an old friend put his mind to ease. The latter told her of a mysterious cult calling itself The Scarlett Moon Circle, the leader of which pretending to have the secret of some ''wicker giant ritual'' and gracefully offering his councils to anyone who would hear it. She gives the party little information, having witnessed the location although not the ritual itself.

As the evening progresses, the party members drown their sorrow in many tankards filled to the brinks and distract themselves by putting Klaes' equipment to good use. Most notably, they offer Kella the axe Orcsplitter, on the promise that she would accompany them on their investigations. The party also hears yet more dire news from Sister Garael who informs them of the fall of Womford, at the hands of the Crushing Waves cult. 

The next morning comes all too fast. The heroes make arrangement for the burial of Klaes who they intend to have interred as a Champion of Westbridge. A brief morale respite comes when they discover the Viridian Rose, a trinkets and oddities shop; a gnome by the name of Traben Stoutspark running the place. With patience and determination, they manage to dig up a plethora of magical items which Traben agrees to part with for a seemingly randomized pricing scheme. 

During a final meeting with Belmont and Arilyn in the center town, plans are laid out so both Beliard and Red Larch are to be investigated by these newfound allies, before making their way towards Summit Hall. 

Meanwhile the party heads out in the heart of the slumber hills to mount a counter attack against the Eternal Flame cult. Having taken a mental note of the Hill Giant's oasis, the heroes decide it is their responsibility to rid the region of such creatures on the way. 

They take the giants by surprise and unleash some fury upon them. Two fully grown male and female giants hurling giant rocks and swinging tree trunks are no match for the heroes. An child giant eventually comes out of the woods with a stupid grin on his face, heading straight for Tico and Halvarth. His smile shortly disappears when he realizes his so-called mid-afternoon snack stings back and he is quickly dealt with. 

The situation takes a grim turn when, all was said and done, the party finds itself standing around a baby giant, left on the wet ground by its mother who was defending her territory against this invasion. With Orscplitter urging Kella to slay it without delay, as it would eventually grow big and hungry and evil and would plague this land causing death and destruction, the entire situation made other party members clearly uncomfortable. 

After a moment's hesitation, Kella finally lifts the axe and plunges it into the baby's torso who stops cooing soon after. 

An uncomfortable silence follows eventually broken by Elthas' disapproving sneer and the party sits silently near the lake, taking a breather before pushing forward towards the Scarlett Moon Halls. 

They travel for the remainder of the day and reach a sizeable hill on top of which stands a tower as described by Arilyn. They can see, from a distance, a number of bonfires on the hillside and, towards the top, besides the tower, a man shaped fire that seems to be perpetually burning. 

Expecting nothing good to come out of this place, the party decides against diplomatic investigation and rather scales the steep slope on the north side of the hill in an attempt to keep the element of surprise and attack whatever cultists are currently occupying the place. 

Sure enough, the heroes are met at the top with a handful of hell hounds and Flame Guardians who light their blades on fire before launching recklessly into the fray. 

An impressive scaffolding structure circling the tower provides cover for Tico while he buffs his allies with arcane energy. A magically hasted Kella wreaks havoc drawing most of the attention, catching crossbow bolts mid-air and throwing them back. Trash makes good use of the winged boots found at the Viridian Rose by distracting enemies and slamming them with thunderous boons of his tinkered armor. Elthas uses his signature ability, piercing holes into reality while is faithful Owl the owl facilitates this process. 

A few Eternal Flame Priests, through devoted supplications, summon the Wicker Giant, who really turns out to be an immobile fire elemental standing around a wooden structure. While he turns towards the heroes, Halvarth decides he's had enough and polymorphs into a Tyrannosaur, roaring loudly and destroying everything in its path. 

As Trash is holding the last remaining Flame Guardian threateningly aloft from the top of the scaffolding, trying to make him talk, Halvarth, in his monstrous lizard form, positions himself underneath and unceremoniously maws the cultist, the unfortunate man's scream turning into horrible gurgles as his entrails are being splattered all around.

Having scaled the tower most of the way up, Elthas witnesses most of the encampments on the hillside scamper out into the wilderness, most likely wanting none of what was happening on top of the hill. He takes a moment to channel is otherworldy abilities and senses, just like he did in the Sacred Stone Monastery, an extra dimensional portal somewhere underneath this structure.