The return trip to Frontier moves at a good pace and weather is agreeable. The party arrives at the shrine of Mielikki as evening falls on the end of the 2nd day and the group decides to camp there overnight.

During the evening Klembsy experiences a waking dream while sitting around the campfire.
The druid takes a pull from his waterskin. He closes his eyes as he savors the cool water.
Opening his eyes he is surprised to see the scene around him has drastically changed. The fire remains but his companions and the horses have vanished. The grotto is completely covered in snow and light flurries drift in all around, the scene is quiet and peaceful.

Evening passes without incident. The party climb from the comfy extra-dimensional spaces a bit sore but refreshed after getting the first full night sleep in almost a week.
The complex is again searched. Nothing new is found. No traps are found. No additional magic is found.
Outside the bodies of the fallen enemy remain and scavenger birds have begun to discover them.
Enthar’s body is gone. Wren recalls to the group seeing the trio of fleeing orcs on horseback take a body with them.

Dawn breaks and the party departs.
Kistol and Trist, invisible, scout roughly 1 mile ahead of the party.
Marching order is the same as the previous day with all on foot save for Finna and Klembsy who ride and lead the 3rd horse.
The orc, hands bound and rope leash around it’s neck held by Max, leads the party towards the Hand of Heklael Clan cave.

Kistol nods to Farouk, “Sounds interesting. Let’s wait ’til we get a little closer though.”

Kistol checks his gear and volunteers to scout ahead with Trist as they move. “The east fork of that orcs trail is probably the best bet. Seems to lead to the orcs’ territory. Maybe he got lost and doubled back.” He will stay alert for traveling noises other than the party and tripwires along the path past what Trist has already investigated.

First light breaks the group reaches the valley.
All agree to rest briefly but the break is cut short when the call of a frontier signal is sounded.
Ein leaps up. “That’s either Trist or Francis and it’s not far. Let’s move!”

MAP

In the morning Varric is missing and all his gear is gone.
Ein and Trist are able to find his tracks that appear to be leading back the way they came from Frontier.

Ein pipes up, “Guess it was too much for im’, oh wells. Hope he makes it back ok.”

Camp is packed up, gear is stowed, and the group heads north, up the ettin’s trail, towards the orc’s location.

The travel is quiet and progresses with relative ease save for a brief, tense moment when a white dragon was spotted overhead. Appearing to not notice or care about the party, it’s passing was quick and uneventful.

As dawn opens up over Frontier, the party moves out heading north east into the mountains.

Moving at a somewhat slow but steady pace, (1/2 the party are not accustommed to the terrain) Trist and Klembsy compensate by scouting a short distance ahead while the rest of the party plods along (Ein leads their mules). The trek is uneventful and as late afternoon melts into cool sunset, Trist and Klembsy return from point and announce the shrine is just up ahead.

After a short party discussion followed by a quick 1st meal of boiled oats with cream, sliced apples and hot tea, Maltron and Bel head off to the Academy to meet with Marcetheus.

Even at the early hour of their arrival, the reception clerk allows them entry. Welcoming them, they are escorted to the room where Bel was ‘interviewed’.

Marcetheus awaits inside. He introduces himself to both and offers them a seat as well as hot tea, sliced fruit, and a few freshly baked, cinnamon and honey drizzled corn biscuits.

Once the pair have refreshments and nibbles in hand, the guardian begins.

After a quick breakfast Kistol returns to The Cheshire’s Grin.
Johana hands him Palladie’s delivery.
Wrapped in a canvas cloth inside a small wooden box he finds his spring sheath and masterwork picks (+10% open locks)
The two head up to the roof and converse over clay mugs of weak tea. Jo relays that last night, she met up with a few guild members at several different taverns. Apparently the ‘alley-word’ all over is that the bosses are furious with the slaver operation happening right under there noses. Kistol’s and the party’s arrival have really stirred up a hornets nest. They’re pulling everybody in, trying to sniff out insiders.

Day 13, “Finally Frontier”

Night passes without incident.

The party awakens to the twilight of dawn.
Looking about, the surrounding territory is shockingly different from the previous evening.
The humid, warm air has been replaced by a dry, chilled breeze.
The smell of the ocean and seawater is no longer apparent, in it’s place pine and fresh cut greenery overwhelm the senses.
And what was once the almost perpetual squawking and culling of seagulls, is now the occasional cry of a hawk hunting overhead or the caw of a curious raven passing by.