With preludes and preparations out of the way, the PCs board the Lyrandar airship Eminence. On board, they have no duties. The trip north consumes one uneventful day. After they land at Ardev, they set off on the Orien trade road leading northwest.

From around a curve in the road ahead, they hear raised voices. On the road, three humans have captured a dark-skinned, tattooed goblin and are questioning it. Based on Captain Kalaes’ description, the party can tell the goblin is of the Kech Volaar. Although these humans are dressed as hunters or scouts, they wear cloak brooches that mark them as proud knights of the Emerald Claw.

Encounter: Emerald Claw Scouts
5 Emerald Claw scouts
Govaan, Wordbearer goblin

Sabraxa and Gennal stay with Govaan while Sariel and Rick interrogate the last Emerald Claw scout. He reveals that the Emerald Claw works for Captain Warrik and Demise. Demise ordered them not to interfere with those seeking the Ashen Crown. They don’t know why, but they know that Captain Warrik disagrees with Demise about this.

Govaan is unusual in that his skin is dark brown, mottled with lighter orange-brown. He is bound and bloodied. Saying only what he must in a reserved manner, he claims to be a mercenary returning to Ardev after a pilgrimage to Six Kings. They press and discover that Govaan is a Wordbearer scout trailing his comrades to report pursuit and other dangers. Govaan is unwilling to accompany the PCs, since that’s not his job. When they release him, he gives them a silver Dhakaani necklace.

They continue along the road. The plains here roll along, intermittently covered in thick scrub. In this region rocky spires, some flat on top, also rise from the grassland. In the distance, from the direction they’re traveling (northwest), they hear horns blaring. Those horn calls aren’t Brelish. They sound like war horns of Droaam. They probably belong to raiders who are preying on far-flung ranches and farms.

A hint of smoke on the breeze catches the party’s attention. Crouching low atop a wide stone spire amid some boulders, a single gnoll watches the road. The party approaches stealthily and circumvents the monsters to get behind them. A hulking minotaur blocks the road. Just behind it is a gnoll in chain, its khopesh and shield ready. Dried blood stripes the minotaur’s scale armor, shield, axe, and hair. The gnoll has similar decoration, along with piercings and ritual scars. Two leather·clad orcs lurk among scrub thickets to either side of the road. A small fire burns to the west of the road, heating a rough cauldron and giving off a thin plume of smoke. A human head sits next to the blaze. Seeing this, Gennal and Sariel can’t just move on without making them pay for murdering a human. Pelor demands retribution for evil.

Encounter: Turakbar Toll
Young Turakbar minotaur raider
Gnoll Mockery priest
Turakbar gnoll hunter
2 Turakbar orc marauders

Other than mundane equipment, the gnoll priest’s magic holy symbol, and gruesome trophies, the raiders carry gold and various jewelry. The minotaur also has a tiny ivory box intricately shaped like a stylized dragon skull. Inside its red velvet enclosure is more gold.