There's not really a whole lot more to determine about the grue. He's got some spikes, and a grayish-purpleish skin tone. His blood is a sickly green color.

As you walk back the way you came, the portal is still open.

Caradoc will lead the way out and be watchful of their exit. Strange portals have strange effects...

Nothing else happens to you in this odd place. You step back through the portal and reappear in the middle of town just where you left. As you do, the portal disappears. The townspeople are staring in disbelief and awe. The outpost guard is there with spears and swords pointed towards you ready for something threatening to come through.

And, before we go further, everyone levels up.

Caradoc takes a long look around to make sure he’s got everyone’s attention before calling out 

“We got ‘im!”

Damara fidgets, not caring for so much scrutiny, and the hostility, intentional or otherwise, has her wanting to raise her weapon.

The guards lower their weapons as they see you come out of the portal and the portal close without any enemies following you. 

The captain, the same captain from before, approaches and says, "Accompany me back to the fort for a full account of what happened." 

For reference sake, it is now mid- to late-morning.

Coming out of the portal, Moneo blinks his eyes a few times adjusting to the light of day, pulls his backpack up, and instinctively starts heading towards the pub, still reeling from his experience. Hearing the captain, he pauses just before passing the guards to look back at the others, and with a sigh heads after them.

Relaxing a bit as they lower their weapons, Damara lets out a quiet breath and begins to follow the Captain at his words, only too happy to be away from that situation.

You follow Captain Gaias back to the fort where you give him a full rundown of what happened.

"What in the name of the gods is going on around here?" he asks rhetorically. 

Damara, roll a religion check, please. (DC10)

14

(oof. That advantage Aeneas has woulda been nice there lol)

Damara has no input for the Captain's question. Lol.

"Anyway," Capt Gaias says, "here - for now, let us show our gratitude with some coin." He produces a pouch that has 50gp in it.

"If you keep coming to our rescue, I might have to send word to the city so that you can be properly recognized."

Moneo is starting to come back to his senses, reaches out to take the pouch, and says a bit sarcastically. “This should be about enough to cover the bar tab after that little foray. Though I certainly hope not to be abducted like that again. Any word from the scouts on if there were any Harpies left?”

"it looks like you got them all. We haven't found any signs of any more active harpies or dens in the area." Then, smiling so as to signal the end of the conversation, he says, "That was all I needed from you. Thank you for filling me in on what happened." Then, he reaches out to shake each one of your hands and walks you back to the door to show you out.

Caradoc looks around a bit bewildered. 

“Anyone else think that was weird?”

“Seemed almost like a formality.” Moneo says as they are escorted from the room. Then looking to the rest of the party asks “So... have you all got any theories about what in the hells is happening? We all seem to be answering a similar call. And there is definitely something bigger than us going on...” As he says this he reaches up to touch the tattoo on his chest half hidden under his vest, and looks towards the skies at the same time.

"Perhaps," Damara says, beginning to head back toward town, intent on finishing her business from the morning with Neskaryn, "the truth, of what is happening, is a secret that, we, are not yet meant to be, privy to."

As you head back towards town, you actually see Neskaryn waiting at the entrance to the fort, impatiently tapping his foot. 

When he sees you approaching, he perks up, stops tapping, and he walks up to you.

"Is it true that you recovered the nyx fleece?" He doesn't bother with a proper greeting and he is speaking in a low tone that is almost a whisper.

Damara nods, slowing enough to give the Leonin a look, but otherwise continuing along toward his shop.