As Reported by the Avalon Press
The October gathering proved to be a strange and twisting one as the Heroes traveled to the Wolfskaels. A few moons ago, a violent earthquake opened a new fissure deep beneath the Wolfskael Mountains. Archaeologists at a nearby explorer camp began mapping this fissure but soon vanished; only young, less-experienced adventurers ever make it back. Those who return spoke of pools of blood, red-veined stone, and constructs pulsing with corrupted liquid. Worse, banites began appearing in the fissure and the tunnels within in greater numbers. The head archaeologist, fearing the worst, asked the Heroes for assistance.
When the Heroes arrived, they quickly realized more seasoned Heroes were sapped of their power and skills whenever they entered, leaving the bulk of the adventuring to the newer faces. It was quickly discovered that the banites were being led by an individual named Straze. He was leading the banites to distill the liquid, called Vileblood, from the corrupted veins in the earth. Much of the gathering was focused on defeating the banites that wandered through the caverns. It was also discovered that there was a red mist deep within the fissure that only newer Heroes could travel into. However, banites were not the only foe the Heroes faced. One group reported that they had been attacked by Dark Elves and implanted with Mind Control worms. Thankfully, one of the Heroes was able to break control of the worms, inform the others, and then the group had them safely removed. It is unclear at this time what the Dark Elves were seeking to accomplish.
On Saturday afternoon, members of the Coventry Defense Force arrived amongst the Heroes with arrest warrants. One of those warrants was for the Hero Lucretzia for arson and murder. She was captured and interrogated by both the Defense Force and the Nobility. While it is unsure what was discussed, Lucretzia was escorted back to Coventry to be sentenced and serve her punishment.
In other news, a group of Heroes returned from a mission to the Barrowdowns. With them, was Sekemket the Burned, whom they had helped in the Barrowdowns. According to reports, they also witnessed Zebulon being summoned by a rite in the Barrowdowns.
On Saturday night, Baine was summoned in the tunnels. During this encounter, a Dalesman was taken. Thankfully Baroness Keldyn was able to retrieve this Dalesman from Bain and both are safely home.
On Sunday, an earthquake rocked the tunnels, pulsing for a long time. Baine sent waves of banites into the cave to take control of several of these major veins of the Vileblood. As the Avalonians fought against the banites and took control of these veins, Shabazz appeared along with Rodmilla, Queen of the Ghouls. In the aftermath of the battle, the Heroes, having recovered the power item and mantle of Bazmodeous, sealed Bazmodeous away in a box of some sort, unfusing Shabazz. Now, presumably, only Shaun Vicks sits on the seat of Hierarch. It is unclear if he is still the King of Hell at this point.