Zor 12th Sypheros - Zor 19th Aryth 998 Y.K.
The journey back is peaceful and they reach Sharn fully healed. There seems to be no immediate crisis for them to hurl themselves into so they decide to spend some time relaxing. Also Kapek needs time to replace the magic items he lost to the Beholder. The other Fists agree to give Kapek an extra share from their loot to help him replace those items. Wil also donates some of his share to the rest of the group, feeling preparing them to help save existence is a worthy cause.
With the aid of Lorric's silver tongue the loot is turned into money and then into new magical items to help them on their quest.
As well as shopping and bargaining the Fists seek out their contacts to gain a understanding of what is happening in the world, picking up several rumours :
Abberations are coming over the mountains from DROAAM.
Skyreach tower is now completely evacuated.
A star in the night sky has blinked out.
The plane of DAANVI (the Plane of Order) has ceased to exist. It is believed this is connected to the disappearance of the star.
Earthquakes continue to shake Sharn, seemingly originating from Skyreach Towers.
Skyreach Tower is falling down to reveal beneath it a black Obelsik with a huge centipede coiled around it.
The Fists also pursue their own agenda's.
Mirra writes up their latest adventure for the 'Korranberg Chronicle' and starts to work on her book about her adventures as part of the Crimson Fist.
Lorric ventures into Khybersgate to finish his feud with the blackscale lizard folk only to find they have already left the city to join with others of their kind.
Ajax tries one last time to find Kalen E'ressar's missing twin sister. His investigations find nothing and he pays a priest to inquire of Divine Powers where she is, the answer he gets 'is in a mass grave near Skyreach Towers'. Leaving him in no doubt he will never solve this mystery. Kalen has already accepted her sister is dead so Ajax does not disturb her with this final gruesome detail.
All discover the Fists are now heroes, particularly for removing the Glyph that had prevented Healing magic from the sky,and they are deluged with invitations to social events which they are happy to accept
After about a month a small metal sphere with filigree wings flies into the house of the Crimson Fists. Wil recognizes it as a device that can come from a Warforged. It is called a 'Final Messenger', a way for a dying constructs to send a final message out.
It is from the Gilded Man declaring that his mission is a failure
Lorric also receives a 'Sending' from Maleketh reminding him he is due to fight a match on the 20th. Lorric is offered 20,000 GP and travel expenses.
There is some debate about what should be done. Should the message be ignored, should they travel to Stormreach and just kill Malekith or should Lorric fight the gladiatorial match ? In the end Lorric is pursued that no matter how dishonourable Malekith is, he should be the better man and fight the match he himself advertised.
As Malekith is paying travel expenses the Crimson Fist buy a scroll of 'TELEPORT' and Teleport to Stormreach.
Once there Lorric and Ajax are recognized as past Champions and mobbed by the curious people of Stormreach, who are all eager to see the upcoming match. First the Fists return the brooch they borrowed from the couple who live in Lorric's parents old house. The brooch which had been the focus for the 'Locate Person' spell which had enabled them to find and rescue Lorric's mother in the Abyss.
From there the Fists head to the nearest Inn to pick up rumours which might tell them what dirty, underhand trick Malekith is going to pull this time. The information they gather suggests Malekith's new Champion may be a Balor !
