Following the battle with the nonexistent Ithaquas, Wildward engaged with the surviving dire mountain goat only to learn that its deceased mate was pregnant. Acting quickly, with the aid of Berouwvol, the Wildward performed a successful emergency c-section. He now has an infant baby goat snuggling the crook of his hips…hard.

Around the campfire, Nyx used her fireside chat venue to reveal that she had been living with the Cult of Morkano prior to meeting the rest of the party at the Porcelain Pussycat. As she revealed the details of her story, she made it clear that the Cult’s leaders had poisoned the waters of her trust, in addition to the poisoning of the waters of Fairhaven. Nyx is prepared to use her standing in the Cult to help the Patrons and their allies of Aerandir gain entrance into the Moraeambo stronghold. Nyx proposed that the Patrons cut off the head of the snake by destroying the leadership of the Cult. The Wildward revealed that he was sent to Fairhaven to find C and accompany him.

The group set off on the 100-mile journey from Sky Mirror Lake to the Moraeambo. Cee and Berouwvol led the marching order, with the Wildward using his foraging, meteorology, and cartography skills to support the party as its primary wilderness guide. Edible roots were discovered, gethered and eaten. Nyx deployed her invisible friend Gary on a variety of reconnaissance missions: tracking the wayward paths of the Ithaqua, venturing to the Moraeambo to steal Wulfgar’s handwriting sample, and even flying further north to try to find the Cult’s ultimate winter stronghold. Faithful Wilfrick herded the pack animals from a safe position as the journey progressed uneventfully.

From her position in the rear of the group, Siri noticed lots of Kobold tracks. Setting up an ambush, Gary served as Nyx’s eyes to use telepathy with Yerimi, the self-identified leader of the Kobold platoon. Somewhat intimidated, and wanting very much to secure the safe passage of the Kobolds, Yerimi informed the Patrons that he was a lifelong servant of the great red dragon Vayotorn. This group was traveling to a stronghold that matched the description of the Moraeambo, in order to make the area ready for its new resident. One of Vayotorn’s offspring is set to move into the area.

So eager was Yerimi to avoid a confrontation that he paid the toll of a 100gp diamond to Berouwvol, who stepped forward as the face of the group when Yerimi insisted on seeing his interlocutor. Significantly, Berouwvol lowered his warhammer and allowed the Kobolds to pass unharmed. Is Ber turning over a new leaf of gentler behavior? Will the Patrons leverage their relationship with Yerimi in the future?

Meanwhile…Wildward has used Druidcraft to predict that a snow storm will hit the area in the next 24 hours.

In the aftermath of the Battle of Sky Mirror Lake, the Patrons apprehended Cult Leader Ernesto, who attempted to flee via small water craft. Wildward and C combined to pull Ernesto into the water, knock him unconscious, and bind him. They tied him to a tree while the group rested to gather its bearings.

Several individuals performed rituals to the gods and nature during the rest. C took his Oath of Vengeance to Yenaelweth. Verred smeared herself with earth and mud, then cleansed herself in the cold waters of Sky Mirror Lake, affirming to Aerandir her pursuit of her world walk. Wildward invoked the spirit of Nature to guide his pursuits. A great deal of divine power and attention attends the adventuring group.

Upon considering the information gleaned from the cultists, C found Ernesto guilty of capital crimes and authorized Nyx to execute him, and she did with gusto. C stated that his preferred course will be to turn the group away from the Pass of the Dragon to pursue the destruction of the Cult of Morkano at their headquarters citadel. All of the Patrons of Fairhaven are on board with this plan, as it offers a path to combating the group directly responsible for the poisoning of Fairhaven’s fresh water supply. Regardless of what unfolds in the quest for the Pillar of Heaven, C and his allies have a chance to protect hundred of thousands of innocent lives if the Cult’s sinister plans can be stopped.

Nyx dispatched Gary the Invisible Friend on a variety of scouting expeditions. Gary discovered that the Brightmore group had not yet departed from Robin’s Roost. As he set out to the north-northeast to locate the cult compound, the still of the night was disturbed by a horrifying, blood-curdling scream that echoed off the surrounding hillsides. Siri recognized the sound as that of the terrible and entirely fictional Ithaqua – an imaginary monster of insatiable greed and hunger.

Boldly, Berouwvol set off to hunt the monster, and the rest of the group quickly joined him. With tactical expertise provided by Nyx, the combined forces of the Patrons and the Aerandir party made quick work of two Ithaquas with ranged attacks. Amid the fracas, it became apparent that Wildward’s use of Sarmbik’s Wand of Wonder created dangerous results for friends and foes alike. Yet the group prevailed, this time with no fatalities.

Upon waking up in camp, Pemming Gildshine returned to Fairhaven to conduct a campaign of spying and mischief. The rest of the Patrons of Fairhaven conducted a spirited discussion concerning how to engage with the group of black-clad campers at Sky Mirror Lake. Nyx’s invisible friend Gary had investigated the entire area, which made the Patrons well aware of the layout of the terrain. It was agreed that Nyx would approach the group and parley to gather information about their purposes and who sent them.

As the Aerandir party awoke, Brynne Simons presented the Patrons with several books that had come from the Royal Library. The various tomes of knowledge will help those who use them as resources to glean relevant information on a broad range of topics. In return for the two scrolls Nyx gave her, Brynn also provided three Paladin-only scrolls to Cee, who it appears is deeply admired by most of the members of the Aerandir party.

With the marching order set and various plans in place (including a run by Gary back to Robin’s Roost), the Patrons and their allies hit the trail toward Sky Mirror Lake. After a couple of hours, several winged creatures appeared in the skies above. It was a pod of wyrmling silver dragons. With a bit of effort, a line of communication was established, and one of the dragons landed to hold converse with Brynne, the group’s only speaker of Draconic language.

The dragon informed Brynne that the group’s coming had been indicated by an ally (Hubbard K. Dewling) in Robin’s Roost. Moreover, the dragons were aware that the black-clad campers at the lake had been poisoning the water there. A second group of wyrmlings was already scouting the scene at the lake. The Patrons and their friends were being watched and tested by the elder silver dragons who guard the pass, it was learned.

Next, a raven arrived from Robin’s Roost, bearing a return letter from Otis Shipman. This letter was a response to Nyx’s letter from several days earlier. Otis offered reports regarding the routing of a squad of Thornicroft’s soldiers, along with a story about a break-in at the Royal Library of Fairhaven that resulted in the ouster of chief sage al-Qarawi. The letter also informed the Patrons that Archduke Ravensdale had been appointed to the newly created post of Chief of Internal Security for the Kingdom of Fairhaven.

At last, the large group of adventurers reached the southern shore of the Royal River. Fording the stream, everyone took up concealed positions as Nyx entered the camp to speak to the campers. Among other things, she learned that they were indeed Cultists of Morkano, on a mission ordered by a Cultist named Wulfgar, to poison the water and make their getaway. She also learned that Wulfgar and the rest of the cultists dwell in the headquarters of the Cult of Morkano to the North.

Nyx exited the camp, and the party attacked. Many cultists were felled by swords and spells, as the cult leader, Ernesto, sought to make his escape by boat. Toward the end of the combat, a blanket of darkness engulfed the main battle area. An eruption of fire followed several seconds later, destroying all the remaining cult members (save Ernesto). Sadly, Miya Bywater of the Aerandir party was burned to death in the flames, and many other allies suffered burns in the fire.

The Patrons wrapped up their foray into Sarmbik’s Vault with an organized process for dividing the great treasure. This process featured several intra-party deals, including the sale of the first selection by Berouwvol and a tourmaline for the Wildward, from Nyx, in exchange for a promise of regular use of his new Wand of Wonder. C took custody of Sarmbik’s crystal ball, which is ostensibly linked to his madness. Before they left the Vault, Nyx performed a strange ritual to summon her new invisible friend, rousing C’s suspicion.

Outside the tomb, the leading Halflings awaited the Patrons. Several Halflings imposed the Patrons to make good on their promises, including the promise to provide information about the Pass of the Dragon to Everwin Peake, and the promise to help Robin’s Roost with its poisoned water supply. Hubbard K. Dewling translated Sarmbik’s map of the Pass of the Dragon, and the Wildward made a copy of the map for Mayor Adleberg.

After the Wildward provided the plans for Robin’s Roost to build its own water purification cistern, the Patrons hit the trail toward the Pass of the Dragon. They made their rendezvous with the party of Aerandir. Currently, the Patrons are within striking distance of Sky Mirror Lake, where Nyx’s invisible friend has espied a group of black-clad campers.

In venturing beyond the guardian room of Sarmbik’s Vault, the Patrons of Fairhaven came to a natural cavern deep within the hillside of The Roost. Replete with stalagmites, spikes, and scalding geysers, the cavern challenged the Patrons to find a way to traverse its natural and man-made obstacles. This was accomplished with an extremely well-constructed rope bridge and some spider-form reconnaissance by The Wildward.

Most of the party withstood the ill effects of the mad gnome shade’s appearance, but Cee’s courage was thwarted by Sarmbik’s horrifying visage. Pemming bolstered the party with inspiring music and glib banter. Amid the inane babbling of the ghost, many Patrons assailed the spirit while Nyx engaged it in a telepathic contest of wills. Nyx prevailed, and the ghost revealed that it was being controlled by “The Lady” through its crystal ball.

Soon after driving off the ghost, the Patrons advanced into the heart of Sarmbik’s Vault: his spare but well-stocked treasure room. Therein, Sarmbik’s ghost was at last defeated by the mighty hammer falls of Berouwvol. The Patrons then looted his treasure. Among many other useful boons, the hoard contained the one particular item for which the party had trespassed the ancient tomb: a detailed map of the Pass of the Dragon.

After eliminating the were-rat, and his badger and toad allies, the Patrons of Fairhaven resumed their journey with Wender Wilkins along the Royal River. For his part, Wilkins collected the bounty for the were-rat’s head, upgraded the Patrons’ treasure to more portable forms, and provided some useful information about his home town of Robin’s Roost. On board the ship, the Patrons discussed tactics for engaging the Brightmore party and potentially eliminating them as competition in the quest for the Pillar of Heaven.

Upon arriving in Robin’s Roost, the Patrons were greeted by Adia, who served as a guide and advisor in town. It was clear that the townspeople were erecting a fairgrounds to honor the impending arrival of native son and folk hero, Everwin Peake. She led them to a wood-built motte-and-bailey style keep called the Roost, wherein resided the noted halting sage Hubbard K. Dewling. The sage enjoyed beer with the Patrons at the Dragon Skull Inn, and he shared what he knew about the Pass of the Dragon (which was a fair amount).

Other troubles persist in Robin’s Roost, including the befouling of the water supply by a bizarre bluish-greenish-blackish algae. Upon parting company with Dewling, the Patrons were led by Adia to the home of Adelberg, the town mayor. Once they gained entry to the meeting, the Patrons agreed to help the town with its water supply in exchange for the key to Sarmbik’s Vault, which is said to contain vital information about the Pass of the Dragon. The Patrons also agreed that they would share any information that they found in the Vault that could be vital to Everwin Peake’s success in the Pass of the Dragon, including Sarmbik’s Journal and the map he was thought to have made of the Pass.

The Patrons gained entry into Sarmbik’s Vault, and they bypassed a room filled with summoned and illusory guardians. They defeated a poison dart trap. Now, the party stands at the mouth of a large cavern, which roils with steaming geysers, and includes a spiked floor and a precipitous path across slippery stalagmites.