A Just Execution?

They crossed the tall grass on the other side for several hours until they came upon two dead lion men and a large humanoid wearing nothing but pants sleeping nearby. A huge glaive stained with blood lay nearby. Brynjar knew it was a rune reaver, a being bent on the destruction of all magic. There was a 5000 gp bounty for its head.  

Brynjar delivered a coup de grace to the rune weaver and cut its head off. The glaive did not radiate any magic. Basil put the head in a waterproof bag and they put it and the glaive on the mule.

Continuing On

They continued until Ezzerkash spied a feral looking giant with a silver greatsword with a symbol of the moon on it hilt. He pointed it out to the others. Oobleck also noticed. It was sneaking through the tall grass about 20′ away.

They heard voices in their head asking why they were there. Cham said that they were chasing Neverhold. The giant asked if they were sent by a to retrieve the Crystal Fold. With that, the giant started walking away paying them no attention.

They traveled for the rest of the day. Near sundown they came upon a large wall of standing stones. From a mound beyond the wall was the remnants of a hanging tree. Four beings jumped off the wall. They were female Litorians (lion people). The ran through the tall grass and were upon the party.

The Watchers of the Wall

They said that they were the Watchers of the Wall and that the party did not belong there. They demanded that they leave or die. Cham asked if Neverhold had come through. They said that she would be judged for her crimes (by them). Cham said that they party wanted to help them judge her. They said that Neverhold was none of their concern

Basil asked what sort of business was required. They responded that the party could fight for the right to pass. Ezzerkash accepted the challenge. Basil cast Lifelink on him.

Cham attacked and hit one of the opponents. They turned out to be oath sworn monks, but none of them hit Cham, and one of the ones on Ezzerkash fell unconscious. The other hit Ezzerkash. He clawed her back. Slimy charged in on Cham’s opponent to no effect. Oobleck summoned a small earth elemental. Basil cast Lifelink on Cham.

Cham made herself a perfect copy of her opponent while smacking her as well. The monk yielded, backed up, and sat down. Her other opponent missed her. The other hit Ezzerkash. He attacked back with a bite and a claw. His opponent yielded and told him that he did not have to fight the unconscious one. Oobleck’s earth elemental appeared and attacked Slimy’s opponent. Slimy hit its opponent and grabbled it. The elemental missed the grappled opponent. Oobleck moved to get a clearer view. And hit her with a sling stone. Basil absorbed some of Ezzerkash’s damage.

Cham hit the remaining monk. She yielded. Oobleck ordered Slimy to release her. She asked if Neverhold had passed. They said that the Nameless Baroness had just entered the Hidden Ministry, and Neverhold had arrived the previous day. She attempted to sneak into the Hidden Ministry, was caught, and was going to be hanged. The Nameless Baroness was after the Crystal Fold.

The Execution

The team agreed to let the Watchers execute her so as to not delay them on their quest for the Crystal Fold. Upon making the decision, a Rune Manifest of Honor elemental appeared. Brynjar received a Loyalty reward. The party all received a Compassion award and Sincerity award. Ezzerkash received the Justice award. Brynjar was Stripped of Honor. Everyone received Honesty, Valor and Sincerity awards. Brynjar was stripped of all awards, but was not cursed.

The team witnessed the execution and salvaged anything useful from the body. Basil recovered a pair of Boots of Striding and Springing and her quarterstaff with the runes of the coven.  

The Camp

The Littorians were beset by a dragon. One of their artists had drawn a picture of it. They learned it was an Umbral Dragon, a sleek dark dragon that moved with disturbing serpentine grace, who eyes were like burning embers.

The Littorians were disturbed by the coming of the Coward Star (the comet). The last time it was seen was when the Verrick overthrew their god, which the Littorians thought was dishonorable.

They refuse to speak of the Crystal Fold and the Grinlocks, who they owed a life debt. However, Darlin Bitterslice, a fey quickling magus, volunteered to show the party the entrance to the mound by the wall. The Crystal Fold was inside it. The Watchers on the Wall agreed to watch the girl and the mule while the party went underground.