Scarlet Moon Hall

They took their time and arrived at Scarlet Moon Hall in the early evening on their second day of travel. The trail was eerily quiet.

The party was eager to continue investigating, so they left early the next morning. Alexander loaded his wagon with supplies and ale, then directed the two draft horses dragging the cart up the Larch Path. LiKi and Leopold took their customary positions, lounging in the back while Kahntun scouted ahead on his trusty war horse [insert name here]. It was long before the ominous image of Scarlet Moon Hall and its surrounding areas came into view.

Visible through the smokey early evening haze that covered the hill, they saw a square tower ringed by ruined walls. In front of the tower burned a bonfire shaped like a fiery giant. Scattered on the slope below the tower, they saw seven bonfires with tents clustered around them. Humanoid figures huddled near these closer fires. A trail lead up to these hillside encampments.

There was an air of lively anticipation in the hazy atmosphere of the camps around Scarlet Moon Hall.

There was some debate about how the party wanted to approach the druids. They weighed the benefits of trying to infiltrate the festival and learn as much as they could from those who have gathered to take party against the other option: walk right in and fuck shit up.

Everything that they had learned from their experiences, not least of all being ambushed by Bastian Thermander at Rivergard Keep, suggested that some of these "druids" might in fact be members of some sort of cult associated with fire. Each of the other groups they had infiltrated had been connected to one of the four elements, and fire was literally the missing key (the group is fairly sure that they will be able to recover the key connected to the element of air at Feathergale Spire). Yet, they had no idea about what those keys lead to or what broader conspiracy was afoot; plus, the cleric Neb Kebone was supposed to be at the festival, and Kahntun thought that delicately infiltrating the cult would probably make it easier to find him unscathed. So they elected to proceed with measured caution.

Here's what happened (use the map above as a key for where each encounter occurred):

Hc1. Druid Camp

Varigo

Mahoon

Iniri

Fariya

The first group of druids the party encountered shared their camp with not one, but two giant elk.

Four robed humans--two male, two female--chanted as they stood around a bonfire. On the periphery of the firelight were two massive elk, placidly chewing.

While LiKi and Kahntun stood back, Leopold and Alex approached the group and were met with merriment and the offer of a sip or two of brandy from a small cask. Obviously Alex dove right in. When it became clear that this camp were friendly, Leopold signaled Kahntun and LiKi to join the party.

Our heroes learned that this group of druids was eagerly awaiting the Wicker Ceremony which was set to take place any day now, perhaps the following evening. They were invited to spend the night celebrating the forces of nature with their new friends, but Leopold was eager to speak with those in charge of the ceremony as soon as possible. The druids told them to follow the path northward and speak with the druids conducting a ritual before the giant blaze by the tower.

LiKi asked about the neighboring camps. Fariya said that she was disapointed that the festival wasn't more friendly. The neighbors to the left kept to themselves. They had a bear chained up which was unsettling for the druids and kept the elk on edge.

The camp just to the north was even less friendly. They were downright standoffish. The friendly druids had made cursory attempts at befriending the two men at this campsite, but these attempts were met with gruff, acerbic denials.

Hc3. A Grumpy Pair

Storol

Wiglaf

Our heroes were met with the same lack of warmth. Storol and Wiglaf sat and stared as the party approached. When Leopold said "hello! We're here for the festival!" one of the two men grunted and mumbled a menacing "congratulations."

LiKi explained that they hoped to speak with those administering the ritual, and Wiglaf bluntly asserted "that wouldn't be us."

An awkward silence hung in the air for a moment too long before Alexander segued with an "alrighty then" before the group continued up the hill toward the tower and the giant blaze.

H1-3. Another Abandoned Keep: Scarlet Moon Hall

Beyond the ruins of walls ringing the keep's central tower was a courtyard cluttered with tents. A humanoid-shaped wicker giant, two stories tall, burned brightly there. Two figures in robes stood near the wicker giant, their heads lowered in prayer.

The tower was under repair, with wooden scaffolding some thirty feet high stretching across the east and west sides. Lanterns hung from struts and poles attached to the woodworks. Two guards with crossbows watched the courtyard from the scaffolding to the west. Rubble choked a wide doorway, likely once the main entrance, on the tower's south side.

Waves of heat came from the burning wicker giant, but the wooden structure contained the flames without being consumed by them.

Ruined walls surrounded a shallow pit to the east of the tower; the party assumed that this was probably a basement once.

It took several moments to stir the robed figures from their chanting reverie. When they did, they didn't get much out of them. One of the chanters told the group that the festival would begin on the following evening and that they should return then. When Kahntun tried to ask a follow up question, he was curtly cut off with reiteration that about the starting time of the festival.

Flummoxed, the group decided to explore the camp further and try to gain more insight into what was going on.

Hc3 Revisited, A Grumpy Pair 2: Werewolves!

As Alexander lead the party through Storol and Wiglaf's camp, he was rudely bumped, hard on the shoulder. Without hesitation, our fighter lived up to his role in the party . . . by starting a fight. He punched Wiglaf hard on the face. An instant later the party witnessed grotesque transformations they changed into werewolves.

The fight didn't last long. Outnumbered as they were, even in hybrid form, the werewolves did not stand much of a chance. Luckily nobody was cursed in the exchange. Kahntun was already dealing with his wereboar lycanthropy. He wasn't sure he that psychological he was prepared with yet another curse! The first party of druids came to investigate the commotion and were shocked and appalled. They didn't have the least suspicion that the two aloof men were in fact werewolves.

Hc6. Druid Camp

Comnall

Murcadh

Sauruki

Ragnad

At the next camp, three people dozed near the bonfire as a fourth knelt close to the ground just outside of the firelight. They were suspicious about the party, but not outright rude. However, when talk came around to possibly disrupting the weird festival, three of the druids drew their weapons and began to advance. From behind their back, the fourth druid made a symbol with her hand by crossing the forefingers and overlapping the thumbs to create an X-shape linked by a line across the bottom.

Picking up on this, Leopold duplicated the symbol and a light of recognition appeared in Sauruki's eyes. She urged her companions to settle down. She wanted to speak with these new comers. Begrudglingly, these other three put down their weapons and reassembled around the fire. Saruki then pulled our adventurers off to the side to talk.

Saruki explained that she was a member of the Crushing Wave Cult on assignment for Jolliver Grimjaw out of Rivergard Keep. She had spent the last two months travelling with druids hoping to infiltrate the "Eternal Flame Cult." Her investigations had lead her to the cleansing Wicker Man ceremony here at Scarlet Moon Hall. She punctuated this speech with pointed proclamations like "Olhydra be praised!" and "All hail the prophet, Gar Shaterkeel!" The party dutifully reciprocated by parroting back these prayers, although Leopold's rendition bordered on mockery.

They learned from this infiltrator that much had happened since she arrived at the camp. Many druids have come and been summoned to the bonfire. Some have been burned alive. Others have entered the tower, never to be seen again. She suspected that the tower lead to an entrance to "the fire temple." She also suspected that the cult were using this ceremony as a ruse to recruit cultists, take prisoners, make sacrifices to their false god, Imix, or all three. Kahntun insisted that they were here to put an end to these shenanigans. LiKi lied and told Saruki that Jolliver had given her authority to recruit any Crushing Wave cultists to assist her, punctuating the authority of this claim by pulling a piece of fur out of her bag, throwing it to the ground, and conjuring a living, breathing dire wolf. Saruki pledged to help in whatever way she could. As the dire wolf sauntered over to LiKi to stand dutifully at her side, she noticed that even the skeptical druids around the campfire were impressed with her familiarity with the beast.

It didn't take long for Saruki to live up to her word to offer assistance.

The camp just to the east consisted of three robed figures and two wargs. When the party approached to investigate, the robed figures revealed themselves as bugbears disguised as druids. The party attacked. After a couple rounds, Saruki arrived and conjured a tidal wave of water that ended the fight, slamming against the wargs and two of the bugbears.

Bugebears posing as robed druids.

Hc4: Cult Camp

The party didn't get much information from these supposed druids. This group seemed very sketchy, but didn't hinder the party as they proceeded to the camp to the north. However, later it would become clear that these were fire cultists in disguise; the party would then kill them before engaging with the much larger contingent of apparent cultists in front of the old tower keep.

Hc5: Fiddler's Camp

Flix, the sprite.

Gariena, the druid.

Afid, the sprite.

This group lightened things up. Gariena was good-natured, wise, and played a mean fiddle. Her sprites were lively rascals. They immediately started teasing and playing jokes on our party. At one point, Flix floated about six inches in front of Kahntun's face, nodding earnestly, with furrowed brow, as our young half-orc solemnly explained his suspicions. At the same time, just behind his back, Afid made all sorts of inappropriate pantomimes, apparently taunting the paladin for that very solemness. At one point, both sprites swooped down to deftly braid LiKi's hair. When she shook them off, they vanished, only to reappear with their heads sticking out of the back pouch of Alexander's rucksack.

Gariena displayed an intense anticipation for the Wicker Ceremony, but she wondered why the preparations had taken so long. She also expressed a sense of alienation. She didn't seem to think her neighbors very friendly. This added to the party's suspicion and dislike of these supposed druids. They invited Gariena back to the first druid camp they encountered where they spent the night resting, exchanging stories, and drinking from Alex's keg and the flask of brandy they had sampled earlier. Their camp was further cheered by a beautiful duet performed by Gariena and Leopold, accentuated by the graceful dance of the druid's beloved sprites. When all had retired to their beds, Kahntun stood guard, weary of the waxing moon, wondering where this cleric of Samular, Neb Kebone, might be.

Showdown number 1

In the morning, our heroes told their new friends that they were going to deal with the fire cultists who have taken root at Scarlet Moon Hall. They suggested that things were going to get violent. That was all the druids needed to hear; they bid farewell, then set out on the road south. Here's what happened next:

The party went and killed the phony druids at camp Hc4.
They then confronted the priests chanting before the wicker man.
When it was clear that the priests were going to keep up the ruse, Alexander got frustrated and threw his water pellet at the giant elemental. This released over 25,000 gallons of water, dousing the wicker man (which turned out to be a fire elemental).
An ear-splitting hiss of steam erupted from the dying fire elemental as boiling water and mud burst forth, surging down the hill. It knocked down our heroes and enemies alike, causing minor bludgeoning and fire damage.
The fight was on.
The two priests attacked, casting fireballs (one of which LiKi counterspelled) and scorching rays, one after the other at the party. The assault was relentless.
On top of this, a warrior and two hell hounds joined the fight from their hiding places in the pit adjacent to the tower.
Two other warriors shot crossbow bolts down upon the party from their vantage point atop the scaffolding attached to the left side of the tower.
It was a dire fight. LiKi pulled out a boar from her bag of tricks. It did not last long.
A fireball knocked both LiKi and Leopold unconscious; but what is more, they were lying in open flame! The brush was burning.
Alexander used his turns to move his wounded companions and revive Leopold.
Kahntun attacked.
Leo got LiKi up.
The battle grew in intensity as LiKi unleashed her own magical torrents upon the fire cultists.
Kahntun did tons of damage, and feared one of the priests, stopping his assault.
Alexander dashed and slashed at the foes.
In the end, Kahntun delivered the final blow of this battle, unleashing a divine smite upon one of the priests.
The crossbow-shooting warriors retreated into the interior of the tower.
The battle was over. All was silent except the low crackling of the flames that burned here and there in the brush.

The wicker man was actually a fire elemental in disguise. Luckily for our heroes, Alexander's genius move instantly extinguished this flame thanks to the elemental's "water susceptibility."

More hell hounds!

These flame priests aren't fucking around.

Showdown number 2

After taking advantage of Saruki's (the water cultist) hospitality and protection, taking a long, badly-needed rest, they prepared for their battle inside the tower. They didn't have any idea (nor did Saruki) what they would encounter in there, but they were nervous.

Leopold had an idea. He told Saruki that she should return to Rivergard keep to report back to Jolliver. It became clear from their conversation that the Crushing Wave Cult and the fire cultists were deadly enemies, which makes sense when you think about it. As soon as Saruki departed, the group sent another message to the knights of Samular fortifying the river stronghold. They should capture Saruki and lock her up.

Kahntun had some pangs of guilt. Saruki had helped them after all. But LiKi quickly reminded him of the misdeeds of the water cultists. The lycantrhopic curse coursing through his blood at that very moment was, after all, the result of his encounter with their leader, Jolliver Grimjaw.

Here's what happened next:

Inside Scarlet Moon Hall. The fire cult were in the process of refurbishing this old "haunted keep."

LiKi conjured a direwolf from her bag of tricks. The wolf stealthily prowled around the tower and discovered that the only access to the inside was a doorway thirty feet up.
The party sneaked up the scaffolding.
Alex poked his head in. Immediately two crossbow bolts slammed into the wall, inches from his face.
He and Kahntun decided to charge in! Kahntun was stopped by an azer who tried unsuccesfully to grapple him. Kahntun struck back, injuring the azer, but the waves of heat that it emitted burned our paladin.
Alexander charged in and jumped over a gaping hole in the floor.
He killed the two fighters with the crossbows; Kahntun killed the azer.
LiKi, her direwolf, and Leopold then entered the tower. They looked down into the pit below. They saw these tiny weird things burning the debris, seemingly attempting to make a tunnel toward a subterranean passageway.
Our heroes climbed the stairs to the fourth level. There they were confronted by one Eternal Flame Priest and two Eternal Flame guardians; a fierce battle ensued.
Suddenly a giant stinking cloud emerged on the floor, disorienting many of the combatants on both sides. Then the floor fell out beneath the party. Kahntun, Alex, and the direwolf fell through the new hole. Alex managed to keep his balance as he came crashing down to a narrow landing on the third floor, but Kahntun and the direwolf plummeted all the way to the bottom floor. Now they were engaged in battle with the magmins, and quite short on health!

Other stuff happened. The party killed everything, including Elizar Dryflagon, the "druid" who oversaw this operation. He put up a difficult fight. You can see statblocks below.

This azer tried to push Kahntun into the hole.

These magmin were burning tunnels into the debris below. Kahntun learned that they explode when they die.

Elizar Dryflagon was a powerful caster. This was another hectic and dangerous fight, no less because it took place both horizontally and vertically in the tower.

When Dryflagon puffed on his pipe, smoke mephits appeared; they then coughed up clouds of embers in an attempt to blind our heroes. Leopold took the cool looking pipe off of Dryflagon's corpse.

Battle highlights:

Leopold smashed a dust of dryness pellet, knocking Dryflagon out of concentration, breaking the "stinking cloud" that he had surreptitiously dropped on the party from the floor above.
Alexander smashed his pellet, extinguishing Dryflagon's "wall of fire."
LiKi landed powerful firebolts.
Leo viciously mocked.
Kahntun almost died from his fall.
The direwolf died from the fall and the exploding magmins.
Kahntun cast a level 2 cure wounds on himself.
LiKi fired an ice knife from above, mortally wounded two of the magmins.
Alexander chopped Dryflagon into ribbons.

Finishing up. This violent series of encounters ended this part of the adventure. They found the cleric Neb Kebone in the attic. He cured Kahntun of his lycanthropy, then continued on his way back to Rivergard Keep to check in with the knights of his order stationed there.

LiKi recovered a key from Dryflagon's desk. It pulsated with hot, orange light. When they checked the passageway below, it appeared that they needed yet another key. They were headed back to Feathergale Spire! Air was the only missing element.

There appears to be but one missing key required to grant the party access into the subterranean domain of the lost city of Tyer-besil. They are pretty sure they know where to find it. But what tactic will they use to retrieve it? And what will they even find once they gain entrance to those ancient chambers? Stay tuned to find out!

TL;DR:

The party went to the druid "festival" at Scarlet Moon Hall.
They discovered it was fake; the Eternal Flame Cult was using this ruse to test and recruit potential cult members.
The party fucked shit up, killing the apparent leader of Scarlet Moon Hall, Elizar Dryflagon.
They learned that these cultists worship Imix, god of evil elemental fire.
They also figured out that the top leader of the cult, whose name they didn't discover, is attempting to draw this god into the material plane in order to chaos a "cleansing chaos."
They found the third key.