After braving the dangers of the Glidewings, our brave Adventures make it their destination: The Temple of Oatali. There, a Lizardfolk shaman named Revo and a Dragonborn fighter named Xorios. Revo explains that an artifact, known as The Fangs of Oatali, has been stolen by a tribe called the Blood Spears and destruction is only days away if the artifact is not returned. Revo offers to guide our Adventurers to the camp of this tribe, but is certain that not many will live since Oatali will surely kill those of impure hearts. Xorios then breaks the news that many acolytes were captured or killed by this group, including his own son and Torrin’s brother. Xorios offers to accompany the Adventurers as well in order to find out what happened to these dear family members.
The group sets off on a boat, lead by Revo, down the river to the Blood Spears encampment. While traveling, the group is hit by a tidal wave symbolizing the wrath of the Great Serpent at the loss of the artifact. Serpa and Leonaris are swept overboard and quickly attacked by a giant serpent, which proves to be no match for our Mighty Crew. Asher, having found a magical Amulet of Health, bestows the gift upon the wizard Serpa to hopefully allow him to survive more of a fight in the future since their path seems to get rougher and rougher as they go.
Our group eventually arrives at the enemy camp, and Xorios finds a horrible sight: a mass grave where the bodies of his son and Torrin’s brother lie amidst the corpses of the missing acolytes. Torrin then swears his Paladin Oath of Vengeance and Oatali bestows upon him a boon: transforming his sword into a magical instrument with which he can carry out his vengeance on those who killed his brother. After some careful scouting, our Adventures lure some guards into a trap to whittle down the numbers they face before attacking the camp head-on. After a ferocious battle where many of our Adventures distinguished themselves with moments of cleverness and bravado, the encampment was cleared and the Boss Man was slain. However, as the leader of their clan lay dying, he uttered a threat: That Taraka was waiting for us back at the temple. It appears our Brave Adventures played right into their enemies’ hands and left the temple wide open for attack in their haste to recover the Fangs of Oatali.
Fangs in hand, our group rushes back to the Temple to protect, or avenge, those who remained behind. Revo suggests that the people behind the attack might be after the hidden knowledge in the Temple, since they have many rare and unique books. Whoever these people are, it seems as if they want to know more about Oatali and the history behind the Great Serpent. When they arrive back at the Temple, our Brave Heroes learn they must face one more challenge before they can charge into battle: A waterfall stands between them and the entrance. This is not just a normal waterfall, but a test where our Adventurers must relive a strong memory from their past or the past of a loved one.
Leonaris bravely goes first, turning himself invisible before plunging to the waters. He experiences a memory of his mother, carrying an aberrant Dragonmark and searching for, and finding, the remnants of House Tarkanan. Next, Torrin relives a conversation with his deceased brother, discussing his uncle’s newly-manifested Aberrant Dragonmark. They discuss plans for the future, plans that his brother will now never be able to carry out, and Torrin’s own Aberrant mark pains him greatly as he passes through the waterfall.
Mara finds herself transported back to her hometown of Stormhome in the seat of House Lyrandar, recalling a history lesson from her mother as she prepares to become an ambassador. She is tutored on the history of demons and fiends and aces the lesson with flying colors. Basil’s memory brings him back to his days as a Lieutenant, when he found Audric, a soldier in his command, using an Aberrant Dragonmark to speak to the undead who had been attacking their camp recently, using this strange ability to protect those around him. Basil, despite being advised against the decision by his fellow soldiers, decides to let Audric go instead of turning him in. He is ridiculed and criticized for his choice, which starts him down the path he now treads.
Serpa must face his memories of the Dragon Lair Trial, a rite that all members of House Phaladrin must go through in order to attempt to awake the sought-after Mark of Shadows. After reliving that harrowing experience and being reminded of how snotty and stuck up he was before Leonaris tried to assassinate him, Serpa expresses his gratitude for Leonaris’s attempt on his life since it woke him up from the life he had been living. Finally, Asher reluctantly enters his trial and finds himself riding a wagon in the Heartlands towards Metrol, the Rising City of Cyre. After taking the offer of hospitality from a nearby farmer, Asher notices this man acting normally near him despite being completely on fire. After talking with the farmer, the man and his children ask him not to let them die again and Asher is struck with an overwhelming urge to look into the wagon he is transporting, something he was expressly told not to do. Much to his surprise, there is a child named Baladan in the wagon covered in a Dragonmark from head to toe. He asks Asher to come find him.
Despite many of our Party being shaken by their experiences in the Waterfall Trial, the group pushes on and finds that they are too late: the Temple has been breached and there is not a living soul to be found. After working past traps and twisting passageways, the group finally makes it to their destination and opens the door to the library. Ready for a fight, the group comes face-to-face with a creature they’ve never seen before. Standing before them is a furry biped with backwards hands, a cat’s head and an air of nonchalance that only the very powerful and accomplished can posses. The rakshasa welcomes them back and bids them to enter. Will our group of Brave Warriors be able to overcome this foul beast, or will they end up being the ones tamed by this fiend?