Vola, Nimbee, Pheobe, and several exhausted escaped prisoners hold their breath as fifty lizardfolk run under them with torches. Vola’s rope trick keeps them hidden inside an invisible room about sixty feet off the ground. A black-scaled dragonborn woman stomps up the path screaming, “Find them, you spineless reptiles! Vola killed her company in Greenest! Bring her back to face me!” She wears purple armor and wields a long sword on her hip.

Vola’s whole body tenses up, and her hands tighten into fists. Her eyes begin to glow red, but Nimbee (who is sitting on her shoulders) pats her cheek, “Hey now, we can’t give away our position.” Vola takes a deep breath, and her eyes return to normal. Her body relaxes as Rezmir fades away along the path. After an hour, the night gets quiet and Vola lets down the rope. Everyone quietly climbs down. No sooner do they land on the ground then they see torches coming their direction from farther up the path.

Vola swears and leads the group off the path behind a few boulders only to run into an invisible force wall. Patting her nose, she waves to the group to stop and keep quiet. The air in front of her shimmers like a mirage in the desert. Then, standing in front of her appear Zelena, Issa, and an elven man who looks worse off than the villagers. Zelena’s hands are raised above her head as if she is holding up a blanket, “Vola!” Zelena rushes out and hugs her half-orc friend. “I was worried when I didn’t see your group on the path, so we hunkered down here while the search party passed.”

Vola explains they, too, were hiding. Together, the two wizards create another invisible dome, but this one is twice the size of the rope room to fit all of the prisoners and rescuers. As they finish the spell, they hear Rezmir yelling along the path as she returns to camp, “Pack up everything! We’ve been found out! Forget the prisoners, there is no more time!” The whole group inside the magic dome lets out a collective sigh of relief. They are able to sleep in peace without being followed.

The trek back to Greenest is uneventful. Rations are shared with the starving escapees along the way. The village is overjoyed at their return. Cassie pays them what she promised. Leosin reunites with Nelson, who still has a limp in one leg. The local chefs cook up a huge feast to celebrate the return of their missing friends. Many buildings are still in disrepair, so the meal is served in the open town square. They pour cauldrons of corn, potatoes, sausage, and river crawdads onto tables, and everyone eats with their hands. Though the town had all their jewelry stolen, they are still rich in spirit. The tavern owner unlocks his bar for one free night of celebration. Those with musical talent play exuberantly in a corner. These people are grateful just to be alive and together.

As the feast dies down, Leosin asks to join their table. Over a bottle of red wine, he questions if any of them caught a glimpse inside the cave. He explains the camp belongs to the cult of the dragon, a religious sect that worships dragons. There are reports of smaller villages across this countryside being raided, which is why he knows their leader’s name, Rezmir. He is worried the cult may strike another village and desperately wants to know what else they are hiding. However, he is too exhausted to travel for a few more days. He offers the group 200 gold pieces each to return to the cultist camp and either watch for movement or investigate if all seems quiet.

The heroines agree, and he says, “When I am recovered, I plan to meet up with a friend of mine in Elturel. Find me there and I can pay you. His name is Gunter Frume, a paladin of Thor. His temple is also concerned with these raids and may be able to help. Elturel is a few days North of here. It is easier to take horses than travel that distance on foot. Governor Cassie offered me a horse, perhaps she can assist you as well. Good luck, and thank you again for rescuing me.”

-We definitaly fudged a couple spells. Rope trick and tiny hut only hold 8 people each, but I liked the idea of both. As DM, you get to make your own rules and decide how to follow the existing rules. We don’t remember how the original game went (it has been four years), but I like the wizards working together to squish two huts together into one big hut.

-I also may have embellished this party, but they deserved a break!