The expeditioners have three gaian at swordpoint. They are beaten, but they are not silent. They yell at their captors.
“Ayatsuka, there are more of us, and we are coming for you.”
“Alanhoran waits for you in the temple!”
After much deliberating, (and Millicent briefly making one of the Gaian sick with divine plague) the expeditioners decide the let the gaian go. They flee into the woods.
With Zornāns severed head, Edwina thinks of a plan. She wants to bring it to the grey necromantic pillar to hear what it can tell them. Their map shows that there should be a pillar to the north, though they have not visited it. In searching, Teala leads the group off the trail and they come to the river where they find a giant stone bridge. The bridge is in ruins, but mostly traversable, and a giant tower is built up on the other side. The expeditioners cross the bridge to the only major break, which must be jumped.
When Prold jumps, he hears a strange laughter echoing from the river. As more of the expeditioners gear up to make the jump, Prold spots the source of the laughter. A troll sneaking up from behind! As the fight breaks out, another troll climbs out on Prold’s side, and a third slithers out from below as well.
The fighting is harsh, but the expeditioners have learned from their last troll encounter and this time brought Alchemist fire. A troll knocks Prold into the water, but he recovers and climbs back up to deliver several heavy blows. The troll, ignited by alchemists fire, burns to ash under the barrage.
On the other side of the bridge, Maddox defends against two trolls with his steel shield while Panowin slips between their legs, dealing precise blows. The fight is about even, Teala and Edwina bolstering their allies, but full decided when Millicent arrives with her blood flaming sword.
After the trolls are burned down to ash, Prold congratulates Millicent. “That flaming sword came in handy.”
Millicent ponders the blood red flames as they dissapear. “That wasn’t me.”
“What?” Prold is confused.
Millicent turns to look at her orc companion. “I didn’t do that.”