With the monastery secured and Lijanne’s remains resting peacefully in the surrounding hills, we have taken a moment to rest atop the ramparts. While we await Bellatoris and Milo to deliver new orders, we have begun to tell stories of our various exploits over the past season. Most interesting is a tale of a run-in with Ulharos, a young blue dragon. Numerous rumors have been told of the young offspring of Eshaedra, and our fellow confirmed many of them. The young dragon evidently takes great glee in finishing off his opponent, as if he grows stronger with the death of each foe. Like his mother, he wields devastating Lightning Breath and prefers to stay far from his target, all the better to Snipe at them from unsuspecting angles. Ever the Opportunist, Ulharos has no issue with seeking out an injured opponent and having his way with them.

We have arrived at the Sacred Stone Monastery and our hopes of finding Lijanne alive and well have diminished. It appears evident that the masters of this place are members of the Cult of the Black Earth and whatever counsel she may have received here was likely meted out from the tip of a sword. Valen Shatterhelm stands boldly at the base of the monastery’s elevated rampart, silently daring anyone to approach his forces. With Claws of the Umber Hulk in each hand, he stands poised to rend, in one stroke, the armor, flesh and bone of anyone foolish enough to get too close to him. His grim visage seems to shimmer, possibly magically enhanced by Armor Crystals, making him nearly impervious to breath attacks.

After our successful mission to the Rivergard Keep, I and several of my companions have been chosen to partake in an expedition to the Sacred Stone Monastery to determine the whereabouts of Lijanne, a gifted seer of the Emerald Enclave. Leading our party is Milo Timberheart, a human ranger astride Bellatoris, a mighty pegasus. Stories have circulated about the many battles they have undertaken together, with Milo providing cover fire as Bellatoris flies into action. Aurelia, a human cleric, has also been known to accompany the pegasus on joint missions, keeping the majestic mount protected by means of her Death Ward spell.

The battle for Rivergard Keep is over and the Cult of the Crushing Wave has fled. While we are victorious, the losses suffered by my companions are heavy, thanks in no small part to the emergence of Nidhogrym in the waning moments of the encounter. Our ranks were already running thin due to the ever-steady rain of frost arrows coming from the keep. So much so, that the appearance of the white dragon and his Cold Breath had many of us fearing that our mission would end in failure. Many of our gathering were temporarily taken out of the fight, Frozen in their tracks. So Vicious was Nidhogrym that his attacks continually kept us off balance, many times forgetting our bountiful training.

Our arrival at Rivergard Keep has unearthed a grave development. The scouts have returned with word that the keep is secretly inhabited by the Cult of the Crushing Wave and they have troops in place to prevent anyone from meddling in their unseemly machinations. Aeryn Crestin seems to be leading the motley crew of mercenaries which have been assembled to protect the keep. Astride a Giant Toad, he keeps watch over the force, his steed ready to Swallow Whole anyone disobeying its master’s wishes.

After a well-deserved rest following our adventure to the Primordial Graveyard, I find myself on another quest and am actually glad for the interruption to my lackadaisical days. I am joining Ulfgar Ironfist and his company for a mission to the Rivergard Keep. The shield dwarf fighter has long been an ally of the Order of the Gauntlet and is rumored to be highly proficient with his Arrow-catching Shield, which has saved him from many attacks if the rumors are to be believed. His enchanted Ring of the Ram has helped him in many combats by forcing his opponent to stand toe to toe with him rather than attack from the skies. Always ready with a Potion of Heroism to increase his combat abilities, it’s no wonder he’s been at this line of work for so many decades.