We began the day in grim circumstances. Edra was still in shock after everything that had happened, and Mia had fallen unconscious from her injuries. Mike stayed close to her, tending her wounds while also forcing some strange “medicinal herbs” on Edra in an attempt to calm her nerves. Meanwhile, Faradrim and Virgil took care of the dead, burning the corpses of Vos and Ludvig before anything worse could happen to them.
Before we left, Edra shared something disturbing: Vos’ mutation had apparently been caused by the haze surrounding Drakkenheim. Whatever is festering in that city is capable of twisting people into monsters.
After breakfast we set out for Emberwood Village. On the way, we came across a camp near Hendrix Farm occupied by Fallen Fire cultists. We avoided trouble for the moment and continued on until we finally reached Emberwood.
The village was crowded with mercenaries, adventurers, opportunists, and all the other sorts drawn to the ruins of Drakkenheim. We met a merchant named Armin, a friend of Eren’s, and were introduced to Tobias Crowe, the local blacksmith. Tobias’ daughter, Ema, showed us around the village and pointed out the important landmarks (for the mere price of one coin each).
She showed us Eventide Manor, which is supposedly haunted by children, as well as several establishments around town: the Gilded Lily, the Bark and Buzzard hostel, and the Skull and Sword — a filthy, rowdy tavern with a reputation to match.
We also passed the Chapel of Saint Ardena, occupied by followers of the Sacred Flame, and the old watchtower held by the Hooded Lanterns. The Red Lion Hotel looked far beyond what we could afford. We stopped by Crowe and Sons and Virgil left his sword to be repaired.
Later we spent some time inside the Skull and Sword. The place smelled of stale ale, mud, and bad decisions. There we met Hagu, one of Faradrim’s contacts, and Frida, an orc barwoman who seemed more capable of starting fights than stopping them. Hagu warned us that the safest route into Drakkenheim was through the mill and advised against traveling directly north, calling it far too dangerous. Faradrim also mentioned someone called the Queen of Thieves — apparently a powerful figure in the shadows around Drakkenheim.
Mia later explained more about the politics surrounding magic in this land. Spellcasters operating outside the Academy are considered illegal, and the Sacred Flame actively hunts them down. Useful information to know before anyone starts throwing spells around carelessly.
We eventually headed to the Bark and Buzzard for food and rest. The proprietors, Holger and Carin, seemed decent enough. At some point during the evening, we took part in a friendly competition involving a metal scarecrow. Virgil managed to outsmart the other contestant by using his third eye.
Before the night was over, we met Petra Lang, a lieutenant of the Hooded Lanterns. She told us her brother, Ansom, had been abducted by rattlings and begged for help finding him. She mentioned River, a representative from the Academy, who was looking for investigators to deal with trouble connected to the Rats Nest Tavern and Eckerman Mill.
By the end of the day, it was clear that Emberwood is more than just a refuge outside Drakkenheim. Every tavern, every rumor, and every stranger here seems tied in some way to the darkness creeping out from the city.