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All six players in attendance:

Shortly after 10 AM on March 10, 1108, the young girl named Aprili rushes in to Gilda's field to warn the party that the Rain King has arrived! She reports that an army was marching on Adoette just minutes ago. Unfortunately, she fled the village before she could learn much about the approaching troops, other than there were “dozens” of men.

After a brief debate, Roget instructs Kesi and Vincent to independently scout Adoette so that they can learn the size of the force. Aramil heads into the woods toward the village to act as a forward sentry. The others ready their equipment and prepare to flee. Dhersion (who is carrying the Rain King's staff) hides himself outside the clearing, in anticipation of arriving soldiers.

Vincent arrives at Adoette first and spots three pairs of soldiers on guard. He keeps hidden and circles around the village, observing (as best he can) how many soldiers are visible. Unfortunately, as they have established a fairly sizeable perimeter, he learns little of what is happening inside.

On the way to Adoette, Kesi encounters a group of six soldiers heading in the general direction of the clearing. She avoids them and continues on to the village, where she finds a suitable tree to climb and is able to observe past the sentries into the center.

Back at the clearing, Aramil spots the arriving soldiers and hides himself while they pass. Roderick and Roget greet them as they enter the clearing. The leader orders them to lower their weapons, though a confusion with the language complicates the dialog. After an awkward standoff, two of the soldiers reluctantly advance, at which point Roget signals the hidden archers (Aramil and Dhersion) to fire warning shots. The arrows spook the six soldiers, and they flee back toward Adoette.

When Vincent and Kesi return to the clearing, they compare notes and determine that the army consists of 60-80 men. There are perhaps a dozen experienced soldiers, several archers, a female magician, and three robed persons (bureaucrats? clerics?). The bulk of the people appear to be reluctant conscripts or squires and other non-combatants.

Since the size of the army is beyond the party's comfort level, they decide to flee. Dhersion and Kesi return to the woods to scout the expected soldiers, while the others head off trail to the NW.

Soon, a clumsy, fast-moving army arrives at the clearing. They consist of the leader, nine veterans, an archer, the magician, one “bureaucrat”, and about 30 conscripts. They encircle the clearing and approach from several directions at once - all the while being carefully observed by Dhersion.

With no enemy in the clearing, they group together to discuss their next plans. The magician apparently then scans the area for magic, focusing most of her attention on the dying fire from which Gilda was sent home.

When the army begins to follow the trail left by the main party, Dhersion opens fire from his covered location and succeeds in disrupting the conscripted soldiers. It takes the leaders several minutes to regroup their forces - at which point Dhersion is nowhere to be found. After a couple such incidents, the army realizes it is far out of its element and returns toward Adoette.

Kesi, after scouting some more, heads NW away from Adoette, and eventually catches up with the fleeing main party. Shortly thereafter, Dhersion also heads NW, but sets up camp a mile or two outside the village - just far enough off the road to avoid being seen.

The main group, having left around noon, and confined to the woods for the first two miles, covers only eight miles before they decide to set up camp for the night.

On the morning of March 11, Roderick wishes to perform a divination spell, but is rebuffed by the party - who insist that they head out onto the road as soon as possible.

Back outside Adoette, Dhersion spots the army as they march NW away from the village. He once again uses his skills to hide and fire to disrupt the soldiers. This time, he targets one of the horses pulling the army's supply cart. After several minutes of confusion, the army splits in two groups - the leader, three veterans, four archers, the magician, and 10 conscripts continue NW, while the remainder (including all three “bureaucrats” return toward Adoette).

Farther north, at the mid-day break, Roderick insists that the party allow him to cast his Augury spell. They agree and he asks Imhotep whether the party should return toward Adoette to find Dhersion and face the army. Instead of the usual answer, Roderick is instead sent another vision. This time, the same young woman he saw in the dead village of Gressa. She says simply, “Dhersion is helping me.”

As this is a clear sign to Roderick that the party should turn back, a heated debate ensues. Eventually (after much yelling) they agree to continue NW. However, after only two miles, they encounter another village. Vincent is sent in alone to negotiate, and he soon returns with an agreement from the village chief that they will assist the party defend the village against the Rain King's army (which is assumed to be on its way).

Behind them on the road, the smaller, leaner army is indeed approaching, and Dhersion is right behind…

XP awarded: 500 each, Running Total: 6,000. Everybody gets to fourth level.