Trailblazers

Flames rise on this hallowed night.

The Season opens as the Dreamers set out on their journey alongside their newest member, Virakai.

## Plot:

The Dreamers rouse themselves in the morning, eager to be moving on but also concerned about Saoirse’s transformation.  Saoirse is keeping the details of how she is feeling to herself, but says that she can breathe easier.  Gwendolyn can’t tell if this effect is a symptom of the Bloodline she drank, or something else.  Lucius’s fey instincts cause the hairs to rise on the back of his neck, but he stuffs down his misgivings and steps forward to ask her if she is feeling better.  She replies that she is mostly feeling better, and the group returns to discussing their destination… the Droztfeglend.

Several routes are discussed, including trying to cross the mountains at Temetes Grend, traveling south past iEidira Geats, and heading north through Craic Tur.  They discuss the perils of ocean and river travel, and the possibility of finding answers about Saoirse’s curse from the Crused Lady of Craic Tur.  Haze jokingly asks about how long it would take them to get to the ruins by Airship.

The group tentatively decides on heading through Craic Tur, and they set off down the road.  Sir Hebron sees them off, and asks Gwendolyn to keep an eye on Sir John for him.  Everyone says their farewells, and then they carry on their way.

Lucius and Virakai lead the group, Mance and Réalta bring up the rear and overhear the sound of Grimm throwing his spear in the far distance.  Saoirse locates a fair camping site despite the interference of Haze’s philosophical ponderings.  Friend the tiger brings a small boar into camp in their jaws.

The Dreamers get ready for their evening, but Virakai notices a red glow on the horizon and then Sir John comes galloping back to warn the group that a nearby village is on fire.  Virakai, Réalta, Lucius, Doc, and Haze rush towards the blaze.  In the distance, Virakai hears the sound of screams and crackling charcoal as the party descends upon the village. Lucius springs towards the carriage and with a burst of strength manages to leverage the cart off of three struggling civilians, while haze completely extinguishes the flames from above with a torrent of magic.

Virakai manages to control the blaze of a nearby building and prevent the rescuers attempting to break down the door from being caught in the flames. Rushing into the roaring cinders, Virakai held off the descent of the burning beams of the rooftops from crashing down onto the family below. Rushing out of the blaze, he sees Realta crash through the window of the adjacent homestead, hooking the windowsill in order to bring the coughing elderly denizen rolling safely away from the smoke and flame.

Doc struggles through the final building, but finds the unfortunate bodies of two residents already succumbed to the blaze. One lies in smoldering embers, as a burned out husk upon the floor. The other, free from the blaze, lies on the bed in the corner, unburned, but seemingly killed by some toxin or asphyxiation. Managing to free themselves from the remnants of the now ruined building, Doc joins with the rest of the party.

Thorough examination reveals symbols on the sides of the buildings, as well as what looks like the raking tracks of flame, traceable throughout the village. Virakai, examining the markings, spots nearly perfect circular flames in a number of places throughout the charred streets and yards of the farmsteads. The conclusion, Virakai finds, can be only one thing. A Ritual… a ritual to hallow this place to The Elements… old gods, old powers, natural, powerful. Destruction incarnate.