Into the Hills (Date 1/11/28)

Some observers say that Hedge didn’t so much as “lunge through the collapsing portal”, but more accurately could be described as “tripping awkwardly over a fallen foe and then stumbling through the portal”. Either way, his return was very dramatic. As the party scoured the area for some sign of where the monsters had come from or where they had vanished to, a loud clatter like staccato thunder drew them back to the street. Above the orphanage, a swarm of chaos fluttered and popped angrily before disgorging a pair of grappling fighters. One was obviously Hedge, but his foe, clad in black leather, was unknown. During their scuffle, Hedge pitched the stranger off the roof, but some magic in his boots landed him safely on his feet. Hedge tackled the man, but his foe wriggled free, and the two rose to their feet facing each other in sudden recognition. The man was Fen, the child who had only moments ago been captured. Hedge too seemed a bit older. He had grown a beard. Neither could recall where they’d been, what had happened, or why they had been fighting, but some changes were clear. Fin now spoke Hedge’s native tongue, he wanted to be called Ichiban, and Hedge said his garb and weapons marked him as a hated “ninja”. Hedge volunteered to take over the young man’s training.

Relania and Euwyn met and talked over recent events. They agreed to stay together.

Marty called a council meeting to warn Malwan of the threat of deamons. A debate was had to decide which of the threats was the most immediate. Eventually, it was decided to listen to Ilyana who had been clamoring repeatedly in the background about some sort of treasure map. It turned out to be a magic map created on the scales of the dergodaemon. It revealed a treasure in the hills, something of value known to the monster lay hidden a hundred miles from where they had fought the beast.

Exploring the hills on their way north, Ilyana spotted a group of wandering giants. They had a prisoner, but the party was unable to save him. Before he expired the ancient man in strange, tattered garb croaked out a message in an unknown language. Everyone looked confused until Hedge spoke up. To him the words were clear as day, though their message was still uncertain. Red, 9, Yellow, 4, Blue, 36.