Level 8

Level 8 finds our crew lost and depressed on the wrong side of the Scar. Tam and Alwain pooled their scouting prowess and they began to hike back. After many long cold nights of contemplating cannibalism, they were spotted by some copper dragon scouts, who gave them a lift back to the entrance of the minotaur caves. In the interim, most of their mounts had been lost and/or eaten, with only Guillermo, Secretary, and Alster's new mammoth remaining. Our heroes saddled up, bid a fond farewell to Tam and headed back to Vanguard Tower.

Shocking revalations! Vanguard Tower was now home to a mass of refugees from the nearby villages! Alster demanded free goat cheese, and was shocked to find a stable tax structure! Surely Stuart must be behind this! The crew woke up Superion with the dragon blood potion, cleared up Charna's little demon problem, and sat down to read the mail.

First off, Ronnik dropped them a note letting them know he had found the stronghold of the traitorous Benwick. (Presumably also host to Superion II, his succubus girlfriend and that dwarf warlock) Also, Benwick was planning something big, yet unknown. Ronnik feared Benwick may have spies in the refugees, so he gave the crew a secret signal to summon him, a red cloth hung from an eastern window.

Secondly, the Red Duke declared Sir Aron a traitor and executed him, and is now offering a bounty for the Cats of Thleen, supposedly his statue-thieving accomplices. Is this some ploy to draw the crew out, or was Sir Aron able to throw the Duke off our heroes' trail?

Finally, the goblins left the crew a note and a box. The box was a set of cut crystal lenses, taken from a drow messenger. When worn, the glasses show a youngish female drow, inviting her kin to Erelhei-Cinlu for a tournament for the Feast of the Sundering. Top prize is a gem that is the spitting image of the Last Breath of Io. According to Alster's religious calendar, the feast begins in just nine days.