Making Ready
Winter 41, 6840 CA
While the others get settled in at Bracemark Manor, Zed makes her way back to Bracemark Manor. She finds it swarming with Swordrunner goons, with an ogre guarding the front door and the warlock Mordo running the operation. Zed can see no signs of Percy, but decides to climb in from one of the second story windows. After finding that the second floor is also being searched, she is prepared to cut her losses and leaves. A ghostly hand pulls her back and Abanus offers his assistance by possessing one of the Swordrunners. With his distraction, Zed is able to make it up to the turret where Percy is hiding. The two of them escape together.
They make their way back to meet the others at the Maralys estate. They discuss the Eye of Aureon and after some intense peer pressure, all of them touch the aetherstone and suddenly have a great well of power inside them awakened. They also manage to translate Grumm's journal. They learn about his transformation from Kalashtar to troll, his relation to a mysterious 'Lady', and his motivations for taking over the Swordrunners.
When Cora and Sovek arrive, the group decide to explain the situation to them in full detail. Cora is furious that Valia has become involved in all of this, but admits that its best that they're likely the best suited to keep the Eye of Aureon safe. The group is allowed to spend the night, but they decide to rest in the main foyer where they can set an Alarm spell and be prepared for any night time intruders. The group discuss the day they've had and try to make the best of their situation.
During the night, the Alarm goes off just as an ogre and troll burst through the windows on opposite sides of the foyer. The group is able to wake before getting surprise attacked, but must immediately rise and fight for their lives. Still drained from their earlier struggles in the Swordrunner base, the party is low on resources and must make do with what strength they have. Strange half-trolls swarm the room before the front door burst opens to announce the arrival of Boss Grumm. Along with him are his two lieutenants, Fandagh the barbarian and Morgo the warlock. Things grow only more dangerous when an explosion from the back of the house tuns into a three headed Dire Troll tearing itself through a hallway too small for its enormous size.
The battle is a brutal slog, but Sovek's Spirit Guardians does an adequate job of keeping the troll and trollkin from regenerating from their wounds. Fandagh and the ogre are slain and Boss Grumm soon finds himself outnumbered. Before he can suffer the same fate as his fellow trolls, he turns invisible and makes a quiet exit. Outside the house, Zed had decided to take care of the warlock who had been taking pot shots from a distance. She suddenly finds herself hoisted ten feet into the air by an angry troll, who proceeds to knock her unconscious and declare an ultimatum to the party: Surrender the Eye of Aureon or watch their friend die.
Valia attempts to persuade Boss Grumm that they too don't want the Eye of Aureon to fall into the wrong hands, but he remains resolute that the Eye is surrendered. Cora insists that this is too important to hand over, even if it means losing one of their allies. Wally produces the Eye from the Bag of Holding and takes it outside and it is taken by Morgo. Zed is tossed to the ground and Boss Grumm retreats with his remaining forces. He leaves the Dire Troll behind as a distraction that the party must slay. By the time it has been defeated, Grumm has long departed.
The group survives despite their wounds. They do some cleanup and at last manage to get a long rest in.
The Next Day
Winter 42, 6840 CA
The next day, the group helps to do some further cleanup at the Maralys estate and promise to spend more time later getting it fixed up. They go into town to check up on friends and family. The Mince the Mark Bakery is closed despite it being normal operating hours. They find Roph and Mirabelle together at Maralys Outfitters studying maps of the city and looking oddly ready for battle. Roph reveals he knows about Nazsnag's abduction and has retrieved his wizard gear so he can track her down. The group promises to do everything they can to help.
Back at the Bracemark Manor, they find Havmos sitting on the outside stairs waiting for them. He happily greets them and expresses his disappointment that the Eye of Aureon was lost. He reveals that he and Limaera were rescued by a mysterious stranger, but Havmos was left in the streets of the city while Limaera and the stranger disappeared down an alleyway. He offers the party a reward for his rescue, but regrets he cannot pay more since his apartment was torn apart and he needs to look into new lodging.
The group makes a few more stops: including getting the items they found in the Swordrunner base identified: A Necklace of Fireballs, a Bag of Beans (not for eating!), and an Immovable Rod.
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