While on their journey, the group spotted something glimmering in the distance. As they trekked across the desolate wasteland, the relentless heat of Athas bore down upon them, distorting the barren landscape with shimmering waves. The cracked, sun-baked earth stretched endlessly, offering no respite from the harsh conditions. Just as their spirits began to wane, they noticed a faint glimmer buried in the sands ahead.

Drawing closer, they discovered an enormous glass prison, half-submerged in the scorched ground. Its surface, dulled by time, still remained intact. Inside the translucent walls, a swirling mass of water churned, glowing with an eerie, otherworldly light. The group felt a soft voice resonate in their minds, pleading with quiet strength, "Please… release me. I have been bound for centuries. Free me, and I will restore life to this forsaken land."

Shiv initially considered smashing the prison with his hammer, but the elemental warned that it might be harmed by such force. They began to dig around the prison, and Safi wildshaped into a hatori to investigate beneath the surface. Safi also attempted to dispel the magic of the prison but failed. With Karnos' knowledge of arcana, aided by Fazanna, they located an opening mechanism that Safi promptly activated.

The glass prison shattered, and the water elemental surged forth, forming a graceful, swirling vortex. It immediately began to conjure clean, crystal-clear water, filling their flasks and containers. Before departing, the elemental paused and warned them with urgency: by breaking its prison, they had drawn the attention of creatures that hunger for elemental power. The elemental slipped away, but a sense of foreboding filled the air as a distant rumble stirred beneath the sands.

As the group approached Altaruk, the city felt both familiar and subtly changed. The walls, once weathered and worn, had been reinforced with new stone and timber, standing taller and more imposing than before. Heavy gates bristled with spikes, evidence of recent construction aimed at bolstering the city’s defenses.

Outside the walls, a low earthen berm surrounded the farmland, stretching across the horizon like a protective barrier. Small patrols moved methodically along its length, armed with spears and shields, their eyes scanning the area for any sign of trouble. The once peaceful expanse now felt tense, as if the land itself was preparing for conflict.

At the gate, Balican templars stood sentinel, clad in dark robes adorned with the crest of Balic. They carefully inspected every traveler who approached, their sharp eyes scrutinizing each individual. The bustling, welcoming atmosphere of Altaruk had vanished, replaced by a weighty anticipation, as if the city braced for something dark lurking just beyond the horizon.

The group decided to send Gidewei in alone, instructing him to enter without any magical items. After an hour passed without his return, they chose to follow him inside. Upon arrival, the templars quickly identified the group’s magical items, leading Safi, Shiv, and Fazanna to decline entry. Karnos, Shank, and Anvar paid their fees and entered the city. Shank and Anvar headed straight for the safehouse while Karnos began his search for Gidewei.

Outside, Safi took the remaining magical items, wildshaped into an insect, and flew over the wall toward the safehouse. Soon after, Fazanna and Shiv entered, paying the appropriate fees to gain access.

Safi transformed into an inconspicuous lizard, slinking through the shadows as he crept into the prison area. With nimble movements, he snatched up the prisoners' equipment, his keen eyes catching the absence of Karnos' lens—an unsettling reminder of the stakes at hand. He hurried back to the group, urgency propelling him forward.

Meanwhile, Fazanna focused her energy, teleporting in like a specter to seize Gidewei from his cell, vanishing just as swiftly before reappearing with a determined spark in her eyes. Without missing a beat, she invoked dimension door again, summoning Karnos to their side. The air crackled with tension as they prepared to return to the safety of their hideout.

But as they began their retreat, a shrill alarm bell shattered the stillness, echoing through the night like a harbinger of doom. Adrenaline surged through them, and they moved as one, darting through the shadows and evading the patrolling guards with a mix of skill and desperation. Every heartbeat felt like a countdown as they navigated the perilous path back to the safe house, each moment a testament to their resolve and cunning. Finally, they slipped inside, breathless but alive, the weight of their narrow escape settling around them like a heavy cloak.