Finding Rayla

Rayla disoriented from the exploding geyser ran through the forest. The steam from the geyser had been so intense that she was nearly burnt. Though she had escaped serious injury her vision was blurry. The voices of the Right Night mercenaries pursuing her seemed to surround her. She had lost track of the group with the geyser's explosion and she suddenly felt very alone. It had been some time since she felt this way, her group of friends had filled the void of being alone and suddenly that feeling had come back. Rayla ran into a clearing and a wave of memory poured over her. Rayla's heart stopped for a moment as a memory of warm sunlight spilling through the trees consumed her.

She was looking up at the face of an elven woman, somehow she knew it to be her mother. Rayla had never known her mother. The women is holding her, Rayla, an infant. the memory seemed impossible but somehow Rayla knew it to be true. Tears streamed from Rayla's eyes as she stood motionless, she was remembering the face of the mother she never knew. Looking down at Rayla and her mother is a gold dragon, Rayla feels a sense of peace at seeing the dragon. A look of worry passes over her mother's face and the infant Rayla is being handed to the dragon.

"Now we got you lassie" said the taller of the three Red Night Cabal Mercenaries approaching Rayla. The memory faded and the sense of loneliness returned. She might be able to handle three on her own but she could hear others approaching. Ngarius appeared behind one of the mercenaries his hands a blur, Whatever he had done the mercenary dropped to the ground, either dead or unconscious.

"That evens the odds a little" said Ngarius.

***

Morthos was trying to figure out how his spell had managed to transport the entire group this far. There was something about Norbert's staff that was clearly far more powerful than the wizard seemed to recognize. A few miles away was the city of Firefield, the Ashen Manticore was far behind them. They may just escape. The group started walking towards the city but as they drew closer they could see that something appeared to be wrong. Faneara's armies were in the process of setting up siege camps around the city. There way into the city was cutoff.

They needed a plan and it was Leomarvis that came up with the idea of sneaking into the city. He could let the soldiers on the walls that the group was friendly and coming to help. When it was clear he would signal the group to follow. The group thought it was a good idea. Fortunately many soldiers were busy setting up tents and palisades and did not notice the elf quietly slipping through their lines. Leomarvis climbed the wall and was immediately surrounded by soldiers. He quickly explained who he was and the soldiers agreed to let him signal the others and help them up the wall. Leomarvis signalled the others and they also managed to slip through the lines undetected.

As they approached the wall Leomarvis was grabbed by several soldiers and tackled to the ground. As the others climbed ropes that had been lowered for them they were also tackled when they reached the top of the wall. The soldiers thought they were spies. Argus managed to break free and dropped down from the wall. The soldiers fired arrows at him but the barbarian managed to get away. Fleshripper looked at Argus, "come with me my friend" Argus said to the bear and Fleshripper followed.

"Take these spies to the headsman, no sense in wasting time with putting them in cells" said the captain of the guards. Leomarvis tried to protest and got a dirty rag stuck in his mouth for his efforts. Bound the group were marched towards the meeting with the headsman axe.

***

Rayla and Ngarius were surrounded by mercenaries, when suddenly a great golden claw grasped them and lifted them into the air. Suddenly the air was filled with a rush of heat as the gold dragon that had just grabbed Rayla and Ngarius let go with a blast of it's fiery breath. The gold dragon then flew up into the sky placing Rayla and Ngarius on its back. In thew distance they could see the Ashen manticore setting the forest on fire.

"I am Vorezzinex" said the dragon in answer to Rayla's question. "I spoke recently with Shimmerall and had to come see if what I suspected was true". Rayla asked Vorrezzinex to take her an Ngarius to the others and the dragon agreed. When Vorrezzinex reached the city Rayla saw Argus and Fleshripper being chased by soldiers. At her request Vorrezzinex swooped down and grabbed Argus and Fleshripper.

The sight of the dragon struck fear in the armies of Faneara and those within the city. Bob had managed to get his hands free enough that he cast fog cloud and the captured group members managed to escape the soldiers. Vorrezzinex located spot to land and set Rayla, Ngarius, ARgus, and Fleshripper down. Then set off to attack Faneara's soldiers at least until the Ashen manticore came. The creature was too powerful for Vorrezzinex to fight on his own.

The group managed to meet up and then escape through the portal back to the city of Amago.