Session 19 - Granite-lickers on the defensive

Standing on the east bank of the Desarin River deep in the Sumber Hills, the PCs decide to move south to see if they can spot what they believe to be one of the old Haunted Keeps where Earth Cultists are possibly entrenched. However they first seek to find a secure camp for the evening. In the drizzle of the afternoon, the slog through mud and eventually find a dry recess under a sandstone overhang.
On Taraxacam's watch, a pair of Peryton's attack - the seem intent upon eating elf-heart. After the first of the pair is slain, the second grapples Lane and tries to fly off, but not on Thanatos' watch - using the divine power of Anubis, he freezes the Peryton's movement and the last best is brought down.
After a late start recovering from the late evening fight, the PCs set out. Torrential rain erupts and progress is hampered but the PCS reach a spot where they believe the Earth Cults hideout lies on the opposite side of wide, muddy and currently-turbulent Desarin River.
Seeing no safe means to cross they set out for the Knights of Samular. There they are provided shelter, food and medical attention.
The meet: Lady Ushien Stormbanner - the current leader of the Knights Sir Relmon Captain of the guard Sir Clandis Mission commander
The PCs relate all they know at this point about the Delegation ambush. The suspected "hideout" of the Earth cult seems to coincide with the "Sacred Stone Monastery". A reclusive group that shuns outside contact.
The PCs learn the best way to cross the Desarin River is by keel-boats who frequently are found in Womford (1 day south of the Samular Knights). However Lady Ushien considers them "border-line" pirates who have turned the once quaint and quite community of Womford into a den of villains.
All attempts by the Knights of Samular to work with the Knights of Feathergale spire have proven unfruitful.
The Knights are heavily pre-occupied with keeping the valley roads safe - raiders and brigands have taken advantage of the troubles and highway robbery has become a very serious problem.
Lady Ushien dispatches Clandis and 4 knights to the ambush site indicated by the PCs to search for the fallen knight who was to be interned here at the Hall.
All able bodied knights recovering in the infirmary are pressed into local duty early. independent "news-riders" are sent by swift horse to Belliard and other larger settlements to deliver the news on the missing delegations ambush fate.
Lady Ushien offers to work with the PCs - sharing information and help as needed.
Looking at the map, the Sacred stone Monastery, Feathergale Spire and Blood Moon Hall (where druids are attempting a "balancing" ritual) are all west of the Desarin. "Were on the wrong gods-damned side of the river" explains one frustrated party member.
In the morning the PCs arise and depart for Womford... mid-morning a quake shakes the ground briefly.
In the dusky hours they reach Womford... its citizens tucked, in and shuttered away as the riff-raff begin the evening revelry centered around a brothel that was likely a respectable inn & tavern years ago. Olivine learns from the man serving drinks that there is a capable keel-boat captain who goes by a variety of nicknames such as "Shoal", "Shoalar" or sometimes "Quinn" who has the most experience on the river.
Finding no suitable or safe lodging in Womford, they cross the bridge to the Bargewrite Inn and duck inside before the gates are closed. They find safe lodging quickly. They learn the inn is dealing with supply-chain issues and there are opportunities for work for caravan guards.
In the morning the PCs return to the docks where they locate "Sholar" and his second in command - a grubby halfling who is called "Pike". The crew is busy loading what looks like ground mill and other basic sundries onto the keel-boat. The PCs request passage to just south of the Sumber hills on the WEST side of the river.
Sholar says it will cost 50gp. The party tries to arrange a half now, half when delivered arrangemnt, but Sholar turns it down... 50 now or no ride. Olivine is stuck with paying the bill and the PCs are told to ride on the bow and not to come back behind the boat house / cargo area.
The oblige and endure a very wet ride up north up the river. The meet a keelboat going south - both captains briefly acknowledge each other and shout "clear goings" ahead. Mid day, the PCs are deposited on the west side of the river just into the Sumber Hills. "Just like old times eh captain" says Pike.
As the keel-boat pulls away, the PCs get their bearings. It seems this is and ideal spot for keel boats to land - old ruts in the sand show where keel-boat have landed before and also bugbear and boot footprints are seen in the sand.
It is dusk and heading into twilight as the party follows the path which transforms into a ever-narrowing defile. However it eventually widens to a box canyon wherein a large Monastery like structure is seen nestled in the canyon.
There are no lights on and one could easily assume it was empty.
Josef, Thanatos and Lane approach the main doors while Olvine and Taraxacam hang back. Thanatos' first and second knocks upon the door go unanswered. He pushes and pulls on the doors by they appear bared from the inside.
The party decides to peek in the tall narrow arrow-slit like windows after tossing in a coin enchanted with light. They can see an empty foyer through one window and some kind of library of sorts in another.
Thantos uses misty-step to bypass the bared front door and stands in the foyer where he debars the door for the rest of his companions allowing them entry.
As the party shuffels in, Olivine peeks in a 3rd window and sees 6 humanoids (using dark vision). The occupants also spot him and one of them says "Look, there, I told you I heard someone knocking!"
From the foyer the party can hear approaching foot steps (walking) and a door to the lobby opens... 3 figures in "gold" gargoyle masks sternly command them to leave and come back in the morning... the party does not do so and combat breaks out.
The monks are soundly defeated, but are briefly joined by a superior in stone armor who can cast spells. Other than an effective shatter spell cast upon Thanatos and Josef, he to is soundly defeated without much trouble.