The Bounties

The group, exhausted from their harrowing battle, stood in the hallway of the Airshob. Morthos cast a healing spell, bringing Honkess and Norbert back from the brink of death. As they gathered themselves, they pondered why Mr. Hady had targeted them specifically, focusing particularly on Honkess and Norbert. Suddenly, they heard a strange flopping sound coming from Norbert's room. It was the fish—the demon that had not returned to the Nine Hells with the others.

Honkess, with a swift kick, broke the Polymorph spell and picked up the creature. The group interrogated the demon, which reluctantly agreed to share information in exchange for not being sent back to the Nine Hells. After tense negotiations, Morthos managed to strike a deal, offering the seemingly repentant demon a job with the group.

The demon revealed that Mr. Hady had left the Nine Hells to live among mortals as a hired assassin. His target was Honkess, with a bounty of 10,000 gold pieces. Discovering the bounty on Norbert, Mr. Hady had attempted to kill both targets simultaneously, nearly succeeding. He had been hired by someone known as The Blood Stone, who resided in the Jungles of Kaesteron. The group decided to change their course. Instead of heading to Ebonfall to deal with the Obsidian Order, they would go to Kaesteron to confront the source of the assassination contracts.

The Airshob flew to the jungle city of Ariki. Upon arrival, Bob and Arace sought out the seer of Ariki, hoping she could help them locate The Blood Stone. Meanwhile, Honkess went shopping, and Morthos, Blueterion, and Norbert explored the town. Morthos was soon approached by a large goliath wearing a skull helmet. The goliath, a fan of Morthos, introduced himself as Grogskull and offered to buy drinks for the group. They followed him to the Black Oak tavern, where Grogskull asked Morthos to play a few songs.

Morthos's music enchanted the crowd, while Bob and Arace finally met with the seer. She revealed a vision of an ancient temple and a long-abandoned city deep in the jungle, where The Blood Stone resided. She also warned them about a dangerous bounty hunter named Grogskull.

Back at the Black Oak tavern, Morthos played to the delight of the crowd. Grogskull introduced Norbert and Blueterion to several of his friends. Things took a turn when one of the men insisted on enchanting Blueterion’s greataxe. When she declined, he became increasingly aggressive. Bob and Arace entered the tavern just in time to see one of Grogskull's friends about to stab Norbert in the back.

Reacting swiftly, Bob launched an arrow that intercepted the attack, and a chaotic fight erupted. Greg, one of Grogskull's friends, attempted to cleave Norbert with his magical greataxe, but Blueterion ripped it from his hands and struck him with it. Bob, Arace, and Morthos focused their attacks on Grogskull's wizard friend, and Norbert unleashed a bolt of lightning that felled the spellcaster.

A shot rang out from a gun carried by one of Grogskull's associates, signaling that this was no ordinary barfight. The battle raged on, and the group prepared for the next onslaught.