45 - 9/24

After collecting Scribbles the group departed from the dangerous extra-planar library back through the portal. Standing outside the gate, it seemed that the gnome Vinyas had tattled to the headmaster. Archmage Pescennia confronted the party, and was furious at their intrusion into the portal she had worked so hard to open. Panic at first tried to apologize, but the headmaster banished her from the school along with Scribbles and Ember.
Not long after, Morrigan received a message from her cousin Isabel that her twin brother Leon had gone missing, and was worried as to his fate. She had exhausted all her resources and hoped that Morrigan could aid her, but before leaving Darnagal the group had other matters to attend to. Morrigan went to the Temple of Muir, despite the Hollow spell she was able to enter because of her magical amulet, and met the priestess Eslin. She was incredibly grateful to have the relic of Muir, the Hand of Saint Sidvala, returned to their hands. Unknown to her Morrigan had corrupted the artifact and it would hopefully seep its evil into their hearts over time. Meanwhile Zelem left to find information on the man who had departed abbey isle with the Ioun Orb, learning that he had indeed arrived in Darnagal but had mysteriously been slain by some powerful person. Little evidence was ever found as to who did this, and many who even dared look into it were met with nightmares for some time.
Once those tasks were done, the group decided to make some attempts at Communing with other planar creatures to see what more information they could gather. A few bits of information were gathered, the orb was not on this plane, Leon was in danger, but during one of the casts Zelems mind was ravaged for a day after delving too far into otherworldly knowledge. During this time, the group decided it best to head south.
Upon arrival in Gleamshore, Isabel explained that a few had gone missing among other oddities. Some in the town had come down with terrible nightmares of shadow, death and endless smoke, but she was more concerned about her brothers kidnapping. The group investigated one area where a fence had been broken, learning that the attacks were not lupine as originally thought, but likely some form of undead. After consulting with Isabel, Ruven learned about Leons favorite cloak and cast a spell that happened to locate it. It had gotten caught by a stick in the woods and nearby were drag marks, indicating he was unconscious.
Unfortunately the trail was lost but the group trekked through the woods hoping to pick it up again. After stumbling on a large paw print, Morrigan looked up to suddenly realize she was being stared down by a Dire wolf. The group began to scan around, realizing there was not one but an entire pack of ten that had snuck up on them. Morrigan roared at them in infernal, terrifying the wolves into retreating. AS this happened, a mysterious man stepped out of a tree and confronted the group.
While the introduction was tense, it became apparent neither side meant the other harm and introductions were had. They were led into his cabin, where a familiar sight sat in the corner. A young women was blankly staring out the window with a familiar look of sadness and emptiness. The group conversed with Daitha to learn that he was infact a Vel, and this was his niece. He was the oldest brother of the three born of Hanfred Vel, the other two twins. The young child was the cousin of Ember, and the daughter of Gilean Vel.
With this critical information Daitha gave them all the information he knew as to the whereabouts of the undead to an abandoned sawmill. The group continued with haste to find out what had happened, but upon the approach an alarm spell was raised and dozens of buried ghouls rose. The necromancers inside the sawmill arrived to defend their evil operation, with the initial assault of Cloudkill and Icestorm revealing these were powerful foes. Morrigan used her channel divinity to vaporize many of the ghouls, but the necromancers would be more difficult to overcome.

Important Characters

Morrigan Oweland - Morrigan is a noble from the town of Saltmarsh. She serves the dark goddess Hecate who has transformed her servant into a fearsome creature of darkness, a unique form of Vampire. Upon return to Saltmarsh she has now reclaimed her position and is one of only two noble families in charge of the port city. Morrigan has formed the Akadian Pact and an alliance of towns in the Plains of Mayfurrow.

Zelem - Tiefling, conman and swindler. He has numerous alter-egos and a strange dark patron. Recently a mysterious tortle has given him a quest to find a powerful artifact, which seems to have been taken by a Priest of Muir. After his disguise was outed, he is now a famed hero of Saltmarsh and revered by the guard, much to his dismay. He has spent much time and money in turning the former town of kennmouth (now, Fortune's Crossing) into a haven for his criminal enterprises.

Panic - A tiefling more like a moth than a devil, the charming Druid joined the group in an effort to save her beloved from a terrible affliction. She is weary about some of her new companions, but hopes that together they can help her. She was recently expelled from Brighthallow, but has learned that Embers terrible affliction might be cured through the Gilean Vel.

Ruven - A trusty half-elf that has worked with Zelem in the past, after her adventures with the Snake God in the south she has ventured to the north with her friend Panic in an effort to aid her on her quest. She seems distrustful of the significantly more evil companions Zelem has found himself in the company of, but has reluctantly continued to journey with them. Upon return to Saltmarsh she has taken up the role of Spymaster and seeks to further the parties goals by learning as much as she can of the nearby regions.

Pink - After exacting revenge on her mutinous crew, she has reclaimed her title as Captain of the Lady Matilda and is now Pirate Lord of the Pinnacle of Freedom Isles. With the assassinations from the Stoneheart Company she has continued on to conquer the remaining ports, and rallied them to her side. She has now returned to Saltmarsh to aid her companions in their endeavors.

Danta - The Half-elf Bard has aided the Owelands in the past and is a friend of Morrigan. Having met an untimely death in the mysterious caves now controlled by Hector, the party has managed to resurrect their old friend who know has joined them on their adventures. He has taken to personally leading the task of forming an entertainment district in Saltmarsh.

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Scribbles - A scribe of Brighthallow, she has helped Panics wife Ember for many years and further helped her discover valuable information about Hanfred Vel and the curse that had befallen the Vel line. She was expelled from the academy of Brighthallow after breaking into the forbidden section, and now is with the party and taking care of Ember.

Archmage Pescennia Visennis - While she came across as friendly on the first visit, she was furious when she discovered the party had entered the mysterious portal to the otherworldly library without her persmission. She expelled Panic and Scribbles from the academy, and demanded Ember go with her.

Ember - Panics wife, she has succumbed to an ancient curse upon the Vel family line. Panic desperately searches for a cure, and the key seems to lie with Embers uncle, Gilean Vel.

Eslin - A priestess of Muir, she was happy to get the artifact of muir from Panic.

Isabel Oweland - Morrigans cousin and co-ruler of Gleamshore, she has asked her cousin to find out what has happened to her twin cousin Leon.

Daitha Vel - Recently discovered as the uncle to both Katya and Ember, he is the eldest of the three Vel brothers and a powerful druid. He has made his sanctuary deep in the woods, and is taking care of Gileans daughter while his brother searches for a cure.

Katya Vel - The daughter of Gilean Vel, she has suffered the same fate as Ember and is slowly deteriating from the horrible curse that plagues the Vel family line.