Tale of Two Sisters: Episode 08 - The Viper & The Beast

The Crimson Companions manage to rescue Gnaw'd Rotflesh out of the crocodile invested swamp. Gnaw'd Rotflesh appears to be fine.
A month has passed since the The Crimson Companions left for Sersinara. Elven Goddess Laer reveals more of the history surrounding the continent and how, now with one of two Keystones in possession. The protagonists find themselves binded to a destiny.
The quest still remains and Tillina Kinato is still out there, The Crimson Companions continue their journey following the map left by the masked-archer. Wilhelm Ironbark continues leading the party, cutting down branches and making a path along the way.
Reanna Laerillin finds herself in a tense position with Wilhelm Ironbark over his rash behaviour to immediately attack any beasts he sees, trying to simmer the situation - he only makes it worse.
Siona Nathildur offers to cook for the journey ahead. Siona Nathildur explains to Jascha that the Hineraiin fabric he holds bestows protection to the wearer when they most need it.
Siona Nathildur tells the The Crimson Companions of a flower she found, called the Yiranti Flower, nicknamed "Death-Flower".
As they continue along this path, Wilhelm Ironbark finds the same creature that was stalking them when they were by the shores. As he makes an attempt to befriend it once more, it scurries away again.
Jascha is given a vision of sorts from his deity that he keeps to himself.
5 days and 5 nights pass. Wilhelm Ironbark makes an attempt to redeem himself with Reanna Laerillin once again and appears to be in a better positive light.
Gnaw'd Rotflesh finds a Steel-Bird, that he quickly captures and devours, unsettling the party for a brief moment.
As they continue on this route, The Crimson Companions find the supposed camp. Hearing voices in the distance, they decide to investigate. The whole area looks like an operation of sorts. A large open area in the middle, surrounded by tents of varying sizes. 4 Towers are positioned equally in areas, armed with an archer each.
Several humanoid figures stand in the centre with a huge beast that is being held down by four different chains. The beast looks like a wingless dragon in initial appearance. But has a much thicker neck and spines on its back that stretch all the way to its tail. It boasts a pale green for its skin and a dark green for its scales.
The beast doesn't resist the chains much but is facing towards this masked individual. Who seems immediately different from the rest.
Wearing a gold mask in the shape of a snake that frills out like medusa's hair. The individual has blonde hair that streams underneath the mask, it looks to be some woman of importance. She's dressed in some full black leather like armour weilding a longsword which appears to be made out of Sersinarian Steel.
She appears to approach this beast and places her hands on its jaw. A glowing light radiates from where she had placed her hands and it begins to follow into the beast and you see its belly glow bright, a white colour and the scales begin to shake as a wave of energy begin to roll across its body. At this time the creature begins to fade in and out of invisibility.

"Beautiful things, with all that hidden power. Your hidden nature has always been there, you just needed someone to show you how to harness it"

— Vesryn

Around her stands 4 Silver Masked guards, who wield spears appear to be keeping close to the masked-girl.
A member of the red cultists approaches her and explains; "My lady, it appears whoever has taken down Elluin made good work of his body. Burning it to ash"
Saladar Al Shalim during this exchange between the cultists makes an attempt to stealthily kill any members of the cult as he makes his way towards an area where it appears that they are holding some people captive. Before Saladar Al Shalim reaches this, he takes a look inside a tent and finds two maps of importance, one which appears to be a map of this camp and another. A large map of Sersinara, highlighting routes to 2 locations. One to a Volcano named Vinekaro, and the other to a location marked "R", besides that everything else is lacking.
Making his way to the prisoner pen. Saladar Al Shalim jumps in and with the acquired keys from the tent, he frees all of them and impersonates one of the guards using Elluin's mask and escaping with all 4 prisoners. Tillina Kinato was unfortunately not one of them but one of them bears a striking resemblance to Janaya Ilntero, with little time to question it - Saladar Al Shalim wastes no time getting out.
Gnaw'd Rotflesh, Jascha, Wilhelm Ironbark, Reanna Laerillin & Siona Nathildur accidently alerts their presence to everyone in the camp, Combat ensues with the masked-girl, the 4 silver-masked guards and the raptors. Wilhelm Ironbark suffers a devastating attack from the silver-masked guards which leaves him almost dead. Saladar Al Shalim's quick thinking saves the team.
They don't manage to defeat the masked-girl, however they manage to kill 3 of her silver-masked guards. Weakening her footprint. The beast still remains, it is unclear to The Crimson Companions whether or not it's still at the camp or let loose.
With the prisoners brought into safety in the deep jungles, The Crimson Companions run east, keeping as much distance away as possible.
The prisoners introduce themselves as:
Mivli Xanaer
Eidad Windmore
Orla Windmore
Animaera Ilntero

Mivli Xanaer tells The Crimson Companions of a sanctuary not too far from here. Just over 2 days travel, there they can rest and sleep in proper beds.
The Crimson Companions brace for a journey towards this "sanctuary"...

- End of Episode -

Campaign Date
2nd Nyolcadi, 602 AE
Session Date
23rd August 2020
Chapter
Tale of Two Sisters
Protagonists
Saladar Al Shalim
Gnaw'd Rotflesh
Jascha
Wilhelm Ironbark

Allies/Supporting
Reanna Laerillin
Siona Nathildur

NPC Appearance(s)
Vesryn
Group Appearance(s)
The Legion of The Hidden
Location(s)
Sersinara