Jumping straight into the action this time, the first part will follow in a separate post.

The rag tag band of misfits were still reeling from the shock of Sarmyars’ disappearance as they ate breakfast.

They broke camp and after a very brief discussion headed off in the general direction of where they believe the gnolls to be.

It wasn’t long before they reached the Neverwinter river again. Once again Dram Misty Stepped across to the opposite side of the river. He wanted to be in a prime spot to watch the hilarity that was bound to happen as the others tried crossing.

It was kind of disappointing, if Ace hadn’t been caught by Grull there would have definitely had been a belly laugh or two from Ace stumbling into the river.

Once everyone was across Ace and Grull spotted Sarmyar in the tree line. Grull grabbed her. Then she wasn’t Sarmyar. It was very confusing. The interrogation by those two wasn’t very good. Dram decided to help out by using shocking grasp on the stranger. He placed a hand on the stranger mumbled the words of the cantrip and it just sparked and nothing happened.

The next thing Dram knew he was up in the air and floating over the middle of the river. There was only one thing to do Misty Step to safety in the trees. Dram disappeared and reappeared in the trees hidden from the others. He had been taken by surprise. Yes that was it. It’s the only explanation he had for how the stranger had managed to levitate him over the river. He pondered what to cast next in retaliation. This was a magic users battle for top dog spot.

While that was going on Grull asked the group to vote on if the stranger could join them. Nick tried to change the vote to one about leaving Dram behind. So from his hiding spot Dram fires a ray of frost at Nick’s butt. It hit freezing Nick’s butt.

After all the excitement and magic pissing match the group head off once again in the direction of the gnolls.

Eventually after working their way through trees and undergrowth they came across a gnoll guard. Dram and the newest member of the group Darcy fired off magic missiles timed to hit as Ace was about to strike the gnoll with his axes. The gnoll slumped to the ground moments after the magic missiles hit.

The group then came across three more gnolls in a clearing that looked like the remains of an old abandoned temple. One of the gnolls was standing on top of an altar with a bow.

Darcy tried putting the other two gnolls asleep with a sleep spell. Succeeding with one of them. The party attacked the other two standing gnolls.

In the confusion of battle Dram fired off magic missiles at the gnolls. One such volley killed the gnoll on the alter.

While the the battle raged on, the alter flared up and where a dead gnoll once was stood a reborn gnoll. But this was no ordinary gnoll, it was a lot bigger. It leaped of the alter and joined in the heat of the battle.

Blows were traded, magic cast and eventually the gnolls were dispatched. When the large gnoll died it burst into flames burning those around it, leaving just a pile of ashes.

While the others examined the alter, Dram looted what he assumed had been the head gnoll. His rummaging through the remains and possessions of the corpse turned up a couple of sapphires. Result.

Dram then called Grull over to see if any of the weapons and armour were any use to Grull. It turned out some of it was.

After the others did the repulsive job of cutting off evidence that the gnolls had been killed for the reward. The group headed into the trees to set up camp for the night.

As dawn approached Dram was was sitting on a stump wrapped in his fur blanket, cuddling his glass staff, lost in thought.

“I bet Sarmyar is having a boring time without me.” With that thought lingering in his head Dram mumbled some words and disappeared.