Jonathan sighs, "This is just getting annoying." He complains, massaging his brow with one hand. "Can't the gods just be more direct for a change? It would be useful if the ones on our side said 'hey, this is what's happening, this is how you could help'. This is why I didn't follow the clergy back home, it's all jumbled wording and mystery."

Left to wonder the oddity of it all, you begin to retrace the events that have unfolded in town placing your new insights into the holes.

RECAP

The stream providing water to Holden Heights was blocked by some sort of powerful magic. The source is unknown

A half orc rider, now known to be Gunthar Walamak, seemed to run another driver off the road that nearly ran Knok over. Gunthar's wagon crashed sending the cargo scattering in the wreckage. Those crates were never found due to Quentin and Knok rushing to tend to the fallen half orc. They stablized him with the help of Lord Commander Zynphura. What happened to the rider that had been ran off the round has never been determined.

Quentin and Knok visited Oppenholdt who was in a rush to investigate the water blockage. Knok was hoping that Oppenholdt would be able to explain the compulsion he suffered in the middle of the street but the wizard told Knok that it was the work of old god magic. 

Oppenholdt arrived at the blocked stream and attempted to summon an elemental to clear the way. The blocking lumber was tossed aside but Oppenholdt lost control of the elemental forcing those gathered to flee down river.

The sacred grove that had been home to Paren was destroyed by this deluge of water toppling the obelisk and cracking the stone.

Quentin and Knok visit Krusk where they learn that an unholy magic has been released and it is infecting the souls of people it comes into contact with. Krusk cleanses Knok of the infection but has requested they find the injured driver and bring them to him. While healing Knok, he performed some sort of mental tap that cycled through Knok's memories.

Several of the party members were taken to the Lord Rynholt's estate where the lord seem to be rather spoiled. Krusk called to cancel the Bridge Festival but the Lord would not have Holden Heights' largest event be cancelled because some Messenger got scared. 

Lord Commander Zynphura was questioning Gunthar in the guard barracks when he suddenly attacked her and nearly killed her but Quentin and Knok were able to save her. Zynphura and Gunthar were both severely wounded and were rushed to be treated by the town healer, Talia of Talia's Tonics and Tinkerings.

The bell tower of the Shrine of Shamara was destroyed and came tumbling down on the town square. The group was able to shepherd many of the visitors to safety but Jonathan seemed to be crushed by the bell itself. When the dust settled, the bell had been split around him and embedded into the ground. 

The group was able to find shelter in the Wishing Well by various means. The secluded inn seemed to be rather odd in nature. This caused several of the party to be suspicious of its owners. By placing a coin into the border of the portrait in their room, members found a secret spiraling tunnel below that led to an odd receiving chamber. After lifting all of the candles with one exception, the group entered the subterranean meeting room hidden below the Wishing well. 

Several of the party members became privy to information regarding a dagger destined to be delivered by Gunthar to Krusk. They learned that Gunthar was dead. They were tasked with finding the crates that the archaeologist was delivering and making sure they were taken to Krusk to be cleansed. 

Back on the streets of Holden Heights, several of the party members learned that the bell tower had been attacked by something made of dirt and plant matter. Unsure how it all fit in, they decided to go and check on Zynphura at the guard station.

Falaine took flight above and spotted fires in the north and the decay of the forest to the east. She returned to report this to the group before shifting into a horse and galloping away. 

Some of the group encountered a strange guard that seemed less than charismatic. A strange raven sat on top of the crates that the guard was protecting watching the group's every move. When one member got too close, they were forced to turn around and return to the group. Finding this unsettling, the group decided to investigate where the workers were taking the goods. 

Following the workers into the town square, the group found that they were being delivered to Gunthar's booth that had been empty before. A lanky human was working there with a strange snake tattoo on their arm that was mostly covered in less than quality clothing. An elvish man was looking over the goods and purchased a chalice while other patrons laughed at the quality of the wares. 

Some of the group members coerced one of the workers into an alley where they demanded to inspect the crate. Paren left for a moment but came back with some tools to open up the crate revealing a fine red dust that emanated from the crate. Having breathed in this dust, Paren and Finan began to feel odd. They didn't have time to worry about that though as a ghoulish creature appeared before them. It seemed that it was guarding whatever was in the box. With Quentin's help, they were able to defeat it and take delivery of the shard. 

Gunthar, The half orc archeologist, seemed to be recovering but died the following morning according to the reports. Zynphura was back on duty at the Shrine showing the wounds of the fight in the guard barracks. 

The shard was taken to Krusk where he placed it into a magical portal. He also cleansed Finan of the blight. 

The group descended into the bowels of the Wishing Well and found a group of people dressed in clothes from the Glimmering Sea. There was a brutal fight over the small chasm created from the rushing water of a stream. The bridge had grown weak from what the group assumed to be a recent deluge of water. After slaying the northerners, the group noticed someone flee deeper into the tunnels. 

A message is received through an animal creature that the gate is under attack. The group rushes from the Wishing Well to the gate. Some of the party noticed the dead body of the Lord Commander in passing.

A large influx of wild creatures attacked the northern gate (that's on the Eastern side of HH). Boars and hyenas broke through. The boars attempted to charge right pass the group, but some of the members stopped them. The boars that weren't stopped charge to the shrine of Shamara where Krusk stopped them. 

Able to easily fell the hyenas and remaining boars the group in the street felt a moment of relief until the boars undulated in a very unnatural way. Spiders burst from the creatures and nearly devoured one of the party member's leg until they were all kicked off.  They then scurried away and out of sight. 

In a moment of acceptance, Krusk delivered the shard to Falaine. 

A giant earth elemental seemed to come from the ground at the center of the town square and began to siege the Shrine of Shamara.  It destroyed the remainder of the facade and stepped through the opening cleaving its earthen fists through the marble. Vines rose from the ground rooting it in place but it continued to batter the shrine. The group could now see the chamber of Krusk was covered in a moving black mass. Left to only bones and fragments of clothing, the body of Krusk lay dead across the desk. 

The group returned to the Wishing Well for their final night at the inn.

The next day, the group set out to search for more information on the dagger from Paren's contacts. The other part of the party went to the library of Oppenholdt to research the old gods. 

Tanni and Falaine seem to discover that any history of the old gods has been removed or possibly never even been allowed within the grand libraries.

(And then there was plenty more amazing things that happened as well, but that's the main history so far. Just wanted to make sure some things were covered that may have either been forgotten or lost to characters leaving. Let me know if you have any questions!)

Jonathan feels a ringing in his ears as he thinks back on the events that have unfolded. He wasn't sure why he was saved but he was certain of what he saw. 

Paren suddenly opens his eyes. "I finally have a name. Have any of you ever heard of Merveille? That is the name the entity calls itself."

(Guess a History check for that?)

History: 15

Quote from pokepaladdy >>

(Guess a History check for that?)

History: 15

 (History or religion would work)

Falaine

History: 19

Religion: 6

Religion: 2

Religion check: 21

Falaine brightens up. "I've heard that name... The tribes in the east invoke it in their burial rites. I hadn't made the connection till now... I've offered gifts to this God for the passage of the souls of some close friends. The orcs call her the Shepard of Death"

The calm persists in the streets. Little is seen of the townsfolk except for the occasional person traveling quietly from one place to another. Even the guard patrols that seemed to become regular had died down. Holden Heights was definitely a much quieter town when there wasn't a festival going on. A few blocks from the town square, the party continued discussing the meaning of the letter and their role in the future of it all. 

They seemed to have several options. Would they plan to go and find the elder Warden, seek out the secluded tribes, move to Thornwood to investigate the fires, or do they quit the adventure due to all the burden they had never planned to accept?

Paren looks up at the group. "I think our best course of action is still to find the crates and return them to their resting place. Returning things to the way they were before all this madness happened seems to be the best thing." 

"So then where are our leads? Do we go back to your catacombs? Or do we know they are still in town?"

Finan is happy the group has finally taken the time to sort out the goings on in town. While still far away from connecting the various threads, there was some new information that might help clear the fog that laid over recent events.

"Maybe the Halflings might have a clue where the crates are? Sounds like the sort of organization that keeps tabs on things going on in a town, right? And Paren, back at the gate you mentioned the guard captain, something had befallen her? What did you see? I would like to speak with her, and with Talia. Either could be responsible for Gunthar's death, or might lead us to his killer."

Mechanics:

Paren looks sad for a second. "I don't think you will be able to speak with her Finan. On our way I saw guards carrying her body. It looked like her death happened a while before the attack at the gates." 

"From what I've heard that doesn't stop the devout followers." Jonathan mentions. "My grandfather employed a priest to request a message from my grandmother after passing, I'm sure there's methods that those who've died can pass on what they know." He shifts the pack on his back, feeling a little burdened again now he has to carry all his current belongings with him. "Either way, I'm getting tired of heedless chases like yesterday."

Tanni throws a look at Jonathan, "What, speak with dead men? I don't much like that idea... Though thinking about the mess we're in, it might be necessary." She straightens herself up and smacks her fist to her palm. "So it's decided, we're hunting shards. I say we march to the halflings, find out where the crates were delivered and gather the shards as fast as possible. That should at least put stop to the blight, right? After that, we'll see what we can do about Shamara and others." Tanni adjusts her backpack with vigor and looks around expectantly.

"That's what I feared." Finan replies to Paren, "Another one dead that dealt with Gunthar."

He then smiles when he captures Tanni's enthousiasm. "Halflings seem like an easy first step. If they work with Aiden, perhaps showing them one of the coins I have will loosen their tongues a bit. However, I do want to speak to Talia directly after, if possible. Either she killed Gunthar and perhaps Zynphura too, or she might be in danger."

Quote from Cromusz >>

The lounge of the Wishing Well is busy with patrons getting their last few bites to eat before heading back home. While no seems to pay particular notice to any of you, you do happen to see some familiar faces among the crowd. The tiefling woman, Sunspot,  that had been running the blacksmithing competition is sitting at the bar over a heafty order of eggs and sausage. Sitting next to her a few of you may recognize Master Brewer Bearmar already nearly finished with a giant stein of breakfast ale known for being so heavy that you wouldn't have room for meats or potatoes. Not far from there was an elvan woman dressed in a green cloak that look to be recovering from some injuries. She's being tended to by a small gnome  woman who some of you may recognize as the town's healer Talia from Talia's Tonics and Tinkerings.

Renard rushes to your table adding more food to the offerings. The feast is rather bountiful and you assume they're working on pushing out the food so it won't spoil in the back when they close for renovations. Renard brings you all the drinks of your choice before retiring to the back room. Ombre sits on a tall stool behind the bar and is writing into a leather journal.

The soft sound of music can be heard over the drone of conversation. It's a pleasant tune played on a flute that adds a beautiful ambiance to the lounge.

((You all recall your breakfast this morning surrounded by notable people you've encountered in the past few days...))

Paren folds up the note and puts it back in his bag. "So, where first? Halfling or Talia?"