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All six players in attendance:

On the morning of March 8, 1108, after successfully deactivating the magical staff, the party briefly discusses which of the two paths out of Gressa should be taken. While they had hoped to confirm the proper direction with the villagers, the choice is fairly clear: The NE path heads deeper into the Rain King's domain, while the NW path heads toward the party's eventual goal: The mountain pass.

In order to conceal the (rather audacious) staff, the metal head is removed from the wooden staff, wrapped in cloth, and placed in Dhersion's backpack. Dhersion uses the wooden portion as a walking stick. Four of the goats that Aramil found yesterday are added to the party's caravan, and the group heads northwest.

Due to a late start and approaching bad weather, the party isn't able to make full progress this day. As the woods have grown deeper, they camp just off the trail in a nicely sheltered area.

Shortly after heading out on the morning of March 9, the party encounters a small group of scouts - apparently from a nearby village. When approached, they demand that the group leave the path and not enter their village. With little discussion, Roget agrees on the party's behalf and orders the others to hike off the trail in the direction that the scouts indicate. Once out of earshot of the natives, a heated discussion about leadership ensues - mainly between Roget and Vincent.

For the next hour, the party stumbles through thick underbrush in a constant, cold drizzle. Progress is slow. As luck would have it, though, they find something to take their mind off their misery: A small swarm of 14 Dretch demons!

The demons start off by inflicting a magical Scare on the party, which causes the mule and the goats, along with Kesi, Aramil, and Vincent, to flee. Then, the battle gets serious. Despite the fact that the demons are not harmed by non-magical weapons, and that they emit a noxious gas when killed, the group manages to destroy the lot of them. In the process, though, Roget and Kesi are seriously wounded - and it takes all of Roderick's healing skills to bring them back to fighting shape.

After disposing of the demon bodies on a makeshift pyre, the party prepares to head into the thicket once again. Just then, they are approached by a native woman from the nearby village - who introduces herself as Keiki (KAY-kee). She needs help with a “friend” and since the party has killed the demons, she decides they may be able to help her. The party agrees and she leads them to a clearing where a large fire is burning. Inside the fire, a winged androgynous creature is resting.

The creature is from the elemental world, where positive energy and fire combine into radiance. The material world (especially at the tail end of winter in a temperate climate) is deadly to “her” and she is slowly dying - even though she sits inside a fire. Her name is Gilda and through telepathic communication, she tells the party all she knows about the elemental world's fall to the Shadowlord and about how she arrived here two weeks ago through a gate opened by a man wielding the staff that the party found in the village of Gressa.

While Gilda is able to tell the party much of what they did not know about the elemental world, her information about the fate of Gressa is scant - since she was forced to flee to find a fire before the coldness of this world overwhelmed her. For more on what the party learned about the elemental world, read Elemental

Gilda's sole desire is to return home - even though the Shadowlord has taken over and her fate there is uncertain. She would prefer death in battle with the Shadowlord over a lingering, painful death by cold in this alien realm.

Because of Bigby's understanding of the magical staff, the party decides it can use it to send Gilda home. However, Roderick's spells are needed and his were depleted by the battle with the Dretch. They camp here near Gilda and spend the day listening to her stories. They also discuss the nearby village with Keiki - which they learn is called Adoette (ah-do-AY-tuh) and is headed by a “fool” of a chief named Alein (al-LIGHN).

The next morning, March 10, an elaborate plan involving all three spell casters is undertaken. The intention is to use the staff to “dissipate” Gilda back to the elemental world. The first attempt, however, fails to do much except put out the fire that Gilda is sitting in. After a break to study why it failed, a new plan is hatched involving a large tripod with suspended water, a sonic spell to turn the water into mist, and an obscuring mist covering the fire. This triple play seems to work spectacularly - and when the spells are cast, the mist and Gilda are gone!

Not long after this success, while the party is getting ready to head out once again, Keiki's daughter, Aprili, runs into the camp and declares that the Rain King has arrived at the village!

 ...cue cliffhanger music...

XP awarded: 1,500 each, Running Total: 5,500.