The Road to Rorthgrar
The Veiled Vanguard returns to the city, completing their quest at the Mage’s Guild and securing travel supplies before setting off with Professor Leorcin toward the ancient elven ruins. Along the way, they encounter injured travelers who warn of draconic creatures at the city gates, and upon arrival, they are ambushed by wyverns. A powerful elven sorceress, Laurna, helps them defeat the creatures and is celebrated as the city's savior, joining the group as they enter the grand dwarven city of Rorthgrar.
Returning to Illnerya with Professor Leorcin, the party headed to the Mages Guild to conclude their quest. Despite Emelyne’s anxiety over her controversial field of study, they entered to find Baron Angus Blackshire and Governor Hangrebela conferring with Amoral Tamlish regarding city concerns. After Valerie attempted to pat the departing Baron’s butt unnoticed, the party voted to claim the Pearl of Power over the Tentacle Rod as their reward. When Valerie inquired about rumors of a spreading sickness, Thalia challenged Tamlish directly, earning a spell-induced stun for her insults. On Valerie’s recommendation, Emelyne bluffed her way past commissary ID checks to purchase the Invisibility spell, writing it into her spellbook.
Preparing for their expedition south to Lammuld Wood, the group signed a contract as the Veiled Vanguard to serve as Leorcin's entourage in exchange for keeping any recovered dungeon treasure while he claimed credit and key artifacts for his college. Purchasing a wagon, draft horses, riding horses, feed, and seat cushions for 289 gold pieces and 40 copper, they set off with Leorcin and Thalia in the cart, Emelyne and Diablo riding ahead, and Valerie, Naoki, and Diablo providing road music.
Along the journey, Valerie recalled her studies of Rubealon, a wealthy trade hub established by dwarves who fortified their continent-spanning trade routes following the Tears of Toumas. Approaching Rubealon's northern gate of Rorthgrar—defended by twin lava moats—they discussed kingdom tariffs and considered hiding their Bag of Holding contents despite the risk of a lifetime ban. Leorcin explained their true destination lay in cursed ancient elven ruins from which few travelers ever returned. On the second day, they healed two injured travelers who warned of draconic beasts besieging Rubealon's closed gates.
By the third day, the party arrived at Rubealon to find the gates barred and three wyverns lurking outside. Combat erupted as Emelyne advanced; two wyverns swarmed her, knocking her unconscious before Naoki revived her with Healing Word. Craum unleashed an acid-transmuted Fireball across the beasts, Valerie created illusory copies with Mirror Image, and Diablo heroically lunged forward to grapple one of the flying monsters.
The city gates swung open as an elven sorceress named Laurna emerged, blasting two wyverns with a Lightning Bolt. After a wyvern dropped Craum and Naoki revived him, Craum struck back with an acid-infused blade before Valerie obliterated the monster's head with a well-placed Shatter, showering herself, Craum, and Naoki in gore. Inspiring Diablo, Valerie watched as he scaled a nearby rock, leaped onto a wyvern's back, and rode it, just as Laurna cast a disintegrating spell that vaporized the remaining beasts.
As the dwarven guards hailed Laurna for saving the city, Valerie immediately composed a victory song celebrating both "Diablo the Dragonrider" and the elven savior, coaxing Laurna's name from her in the process. Paying an eight-gold entry fee—during which Valerie flirted with a blushing dwarven guard—the party invited Laurna onto their cart. Entering Rubealon, an opulent city illuminated by massive underground mirror arrays, Diablo and Valerie formally introduced the Vanguard as Laurna explained she was investigating trade disruptions, setting the stage for their time in the dwarven realm.