Following the burial of Shin, we go to the reception planned in his honor. There we meet Goandelin, head of dwarven intelligence. Sorry, general Lanarak. I don’t think I can ever get used to all these people that don’t know each other and therefore are so formal with their dealings. It might also be a dwarf thing, since my comrades in arms don’t seem to have the same stick up their butts.

Anyway, he offers us the support of the dwarves with the “big problem”. Not sure how him saying it is different than the other dwarves that already did, but as I said, formalities and bureaucracy. I am grateful for anything they can do. So I ask him what he can actually do for us, like letting Miriana learn the teleportation rune for this location. To my surprise he was willing to divulge this spiritual secret. If Miriana was so inclined, she could launch a demon invasion straight in the heart of the dwarf lands. The responsibility of the future of a nation resting on those shoulders is as large as mine. The burden of youth…

None of this shows on her face, as she joins Ravia in an exotic dance of some sorts. It seems to involve an intricate pattern of step, drink, step-step drink. It must be a very taxing dance to require this much hydration, but they seem to enjoy it immensely. The food is adequate, if a bit bland from mass production. This pie would really come to life with a bit more butter glazing for example.

Speaking of glazing, Sylas got me all perked up when he started fighting with some locals. Fisticuffs! But then after a few blows they stopped, hugged it out and drank beer together. Start a fight and then not finish your opponent? Madness!

Speaking of madness, I realized that Ravia is now once more a fully functional female of age. Weddings and funerals are typically occasions where people are very pro-life, and form emotional attachments. So, I walked up to her to join the chaotic step-drink-dance, as I came to call it in my head. After all we had been through recently, I felt kinship with her, rather than mere annoyance at her prickly personality. So I offered to make her become part of my family. Children are the most sacred beings, and she knows I only select the strongest and most able of those I encounter. She knows of the shortage of males at my hometown, which would mean I would need to work that much harder to find her a suitable partner, but she just stared at me in response. After what felt like an eternity, she poured her drink over my head, followed by Miriana hitting me in the face.

I was completely baffled. Was this some custom I was unaware of? Now she was no longer able to perform the step-drink-dance. Does this indicate she was willing to sacrifice for me? How does the hit from Miriana factor into this? I do not wish to offend her, so I hope she will bring it up in the future.

The next morning, I started making breakfast at the usual time, but the group seems unnaturally sluggish. This dance must have really been taxing on them. Everyone grieves their losses in their own way, c’est la vie. Oh, extra bacon, nice.

Once they finally do get up, Miriana and me go to town to learn the teleport rune. On the way we find a dwarf lady collapsing in the street. She wobbles about like she is possessed, with her eyes doing freaky shaman stuff. Miriana sends Snickers to fetch Ravia, while we try to stabilize the dwarf lady.

Once Ravia arrives we examine the victim. She is mumbling somewhat coherently, but is clearly not ok. The husband mentions they had been to Vedykar recently. A known infectant lurks in those parts, so I become very alarmed at possible contagion factors claiming the lives of innocents. We quickly bring them to their home so we can quarantine the danger. Ravia attempts to console the husband, bless her heart.

We leave, and I immediately make out to fetch a priest. To my utter astonishment Ravia berates me, telling me to let the husband handle it. It’s a community danger, everyone knows that a person bitten by a zombie will try to hide the bite for as long as possible, no matter the danger to others. How can someone be so callous with the safety of others? If a limb is infected, you cut it off. Not hope that rainbows and unicorns will make it all better.

Luckily, a priest was already called by a concerned citizen. We met him on the streets, and I promptly told him the address of the possibly infectious sporehost. I must say I am glad that Ravia seems to have forgotten about my offer during the feast, since this was very disappointing.

Miriana and myself then continue to the teleportation circle. After some back and forth with the dwarf in charge (bureaucracy, juch!) we are let in and Miriana does some arcane mumbo jumbo. Her sort of magic is all so rigid and documented, must be because of the danger of demon interference. I prefer the more casual approach of beseeching the spirits for their aid, but whatever works works I guess.

We return to the inn, where Mirianna connects us telepathically. Sylas discloses a message he received from the evil lady, and we discuss what to do. I feel like we are wasting a lot of time while others suffer, but the group prefers to go in more prepared. I understand their way of thinking, but if one of our own is undergoing this hellish ordeal we have to get him out as soon as possible!

We agree on getting going, and take off in the Winged Serpent towards the halflings. We make excellent speed, and arrive in the night. The camp is not where it should be however. In its stead there is evidence of a battle, with weird mutated eye infected dinos strewn about. We start looking for tracks and other evidence of what happened here, when we find out the hard way: danger lurks nearby.

Two large carnivores and a small gaggle of their lesser kin ambush us. Well, as much as a several ton beast with a heavy tread is capable of ambushing, but still. We quickly dispatch these weird, obviously cursed beasts without any serious injury to us. Since the ground is obviously not safe, we go back on the Winged Serpent, and look for any survivors.

It doesn’t take us long to see fires on the horizon. As we reach them, ineffectual boomerangs are hurled towards us as a warning, which is promptly ignored. We land, and the halflings realize their mistake. They welcome us, offer food and shelter, and promise to bring us to their leader at dawn.