Several days after the cohort parted ways with Krags and Gonlin they began to pass the outermost farms that surround the city of Velling. By mid-afternoon a thunderstorm rolled overtop the party, turning the recently abandoned road to a thick mud. In between two claps of thunder a piercing scream sounded out from the forest ahead. The cohort immediately bolted to the side of the road and hid in the underbrush.
"What was that?" Whispered Naivara.
"It wasn't high pitched enough to be a vrock." replied Akash with a whisper of his own. "It could be somebody in trouble, it sounded like a person to me. It could be another survivor."
"This close to Velling?" Asked Naivara incredulously. "I find that hard to believe."
"Still, we should check it out, just in case." Suggested Charles with a shrug.
"I can just scout it, like I did in Nestrin." Said Akash "Nobody will notice an extra squirrel in the forest."
"Fine, just be careful. I don't want another swarm of dretch chasing you back here like in Nestrin." Said Naivara.
Akash let out a chuckle that turned into a squeak as he shrunk down into a large gray squirrel. In a flash he dashed deeper into the forest in search of the scream. A few hundred yards into the brush he came into a clearing with a small farmhouse. The farmhouse was lightless, however, there were fresh tracks in the mud. Akash skittered closer, climbing on the siding of the house, then making his way to a window to peer inside. Akash spots a half-elven woman cowering by the front door. She gripped a gnarled walking stick, appearing ready to hit the next thing to walk through the door. Akash climbed around to the other windows around the house but saw no other inhabitants. He then made his way back to his waiting companions.
"So," He began, after reverting to his natural form, "There's a house over there with a half-elven woman in it. I'm pretty sure she was the source of the scream. She was at the front door, and looked ready to whack anybody who walks in. I think we should go talk to her as a group."
"Was anybody else with her?" Asked Charles, "I'm surprised that anybody is still out here alone."
"I didn't see anyone else in the house, but we should still be cautious. I too think it's a little suspicious to be this far south all by oneself."
A few minutes later, the cohort found themselves in the clearing that Akash described to them.
"Hello?" Called out Charles. "We mean you no harm, just looking for a quick chat." A minute passed in silence, just as he was about to ask Akash if he was sure that someone was here, a soft voice replied.
"Who are you?"
"We are Craig's Cohort. We are here to liberate Velling." Charles responded.
"Ha!" The voice laughed. The front door opened to reveal the half-elf Akash spoke of. "Come in, quickly, it is not safe." She beckoned them forward with her free hand. The party quickly filed inside at her bequest. They huddled around the somewhat decrepit dining room table, a small fireplace open behind them.
"I have to ask," Hal began, "why are you here? This area is extremely dangerous. Frankly I am amazed that you have survived this long."
"Well, until just recently I wasn't alone." The woman responded. "My brother was here with me, but he went out for supplies a couple days ago, and hasn't been back since." Her grip on the staff grew tighter and her gaze dropped. "The demons' activity has increased recently and I fear the worst for him."
Gnoll's eyes narrowed slightly at her story. "I'm sorry for your loss…" one eyebrow raised in question.
"Uhh, Nessie."
"Nessie, I, we are sorry for your loss, but why are you still here? You still haven't answered my friend's question. Why haven't you left, why did you scream, what is your brother's name?"
Nessie looked up from the table, her eye's flicking between each member of the cohort in turn. "You really ask too many questions." She pushed back from the table, as a swirling green and purple pattern erupted in the air behind her.
The cohort all pushed their own chairs back in reaction. However, at the sight of the swirling, hypnotic pattern they all froze, save for Gnoll and Akash who shared a nod and charged. Immediately Akash fired a bolt of radiant energy while Gnoll struck simultaneously with a conjured mace alongside his steel mace in a fearsome combination. Staggering backwards, Nessie's skin seemed to pull back to a gaunt grin and the portions of her shoulder that was struck by the maces sloughed off like a reptile's shed to reveal a slightly green tinted skin beneath. Recovering from the strikes she struck back, nails elongating to gouge into Gnoll's armor with a sizzle of acid.
"You couldn't just leave us be down here could you?" Nessie hissed through gritted teeth. "You adventurers always poke your noses where they don't belong!"
"Well, when you start killing people it typically gets attention!" Yelled back Akash as he reached out with a hand at a small metal amulet that dangled on her neck, causing it to glow a cherry red. The smell of searing flesh engulfed the interior of the house along with her scream of pain. Gnoll quickly followed up with a heavy blow to her head causing her to slump unconscious. The pattern disappeared and the rest of the cohort unfroze, looking around quickly.
"What happened?" Charles asked
"She cast a spell on you. Akash and I handled it." Stated Gnoll "Hal can you please toss me the rope from my pack over there?"
"Yup, here you go." He said, tossing a bundle of roughspun rope to Gnoll.
"I am going to tie her up for interrogation, the rest of you should start searching the house for any extra information we can use." Directed Gnoll as he propped up Nessie in a chair and began wrapping the rope around her securely.
Charles, Naivara, and Halimedes began scouring the house. While it initially seemed fairly normal on the surface, opening wardrobes and cabinets revealed nothing, but dust and cobwebs. "Well, there's really nothing else here." Said Hal walking back into the kitchen area. "Either of you want to wake her up so we can get this party started?" He asked, addressing Gnoll and Akash.
"Yeah, I got it." Replied Akash, and he laid a glowing palm on Nessie's shoulder, causing her to awake with a jolt.
"Hoshath kamo eatha!" Nessie spat as she awoke, the vowels layering on top of each other in a discordant cacophony.
"Ha, that's quite the insult." Laughed Hal to Nessie's surprise. "You didn't think any of us could speak Abyssal did you?" Her eyes narrowed at him. Hal took a step forward and leaned over her until his face was inches from hers. "You will answer our questions, and I expect truthful replies." He then drew his blade and held it up to the side of her face, brushing aside a lock of hair from Nessie's ear with its tip.
"You may speak the tongue of the Abyss, but you have never experienced it." Nessie replied in a low, defeated voice. "We just wanted a better life."
"Be that as it may, you're still killing and displacing the people here, and we simply cannot allow that." Hal pulled up a chair and sat beside her, leaning his sword against the table leg. "Who brought you through to this plane?"
"I made a deal with Fraz-Urb'luu. He allowed me to come through if I pledged loyalty to him."
"What do you know of his plans?"
"Nothing, I am just here to dissuade people from going to Velling, that's it."
"What about Velling? What about Eldbridge? He's supposed to be dead. What do you know about him?"
"...I don't know." Nessie replied after a pause, eyes shifting side to side.
"Huhhhhh" Hal let out a long sigh, and gave a nod to Akash who snapped his fingers, lighting a fire in the cold fireplace. Hal stood from his chair and began poking an iron into the now roaring coals. "If this is going to be pleasant, you need to be truthful with us." Now brandishing the iron with a red-hot tip he asked, "Who is Baron Eldbrige of Velling?" Nessie turned her face away from the radiating heat of the iron.
"The true Baron Eldbridge is dead. The current Elbridge is one of the Prince's Lords. He is the one who commanded me to make my post here."
"That's more like it. Now, what is he doing in Velling?" Said Hal, pulling the iron away from Nessie.
"He is the Hallowraja in charge of bringing forth the Prince's army. One or two demons breaking through the barrier isn't hard, but bringing through an army requires more, structured processes."
"Guess that explains why everything is coming from Velling." Hal commented, before turning back to his companions. "Any more questions?" He asked, picking up his sword once more. "If not, I think it's time to send you back to the Abyss."
"Wait! Please, there's more." Nessie said desperately. "Velling is well guarded, but I know a secret way into the city." Hal lowered his sword ever so slightly. "I will tell you the way, but we have to make a deal." Hal nodded at her to continue. "I will tell you the way into Velling, if you don't send me back to that accursed plane."
"You are also not allowed to tell anyone who we are, what we know, or where we are going. Additionally, you cannot harm us, or take steps to harm us in any way." Hal added onto her deal.
"Tsk, I guess you're at least a little smarter than I thought." Nessie said, "Fine, I accept the terms. around the south eastern edge of the city, there is a sewer grate that is unguarded. Once you're inside, take two lefts, three rights, and then two lefts, then you will be right under the main bazaar of Velling. Now let me free, and I will go on my way."
"You see…" Hal said as he sheathed his sword and backed away, towards his companions. "That wasn't part of our deal. You seem capable, you should be able to get out in a few hours. Good luck." Turning to the rest of his companions they walked out of the farmhouse.
"I took these from her when I was tying her up." Said Gnoll, after they were free of the clearing. He produced her staff and amulet. "Still not quite sure what they do, but I can figure it out over dinner. I don't think we want to invade a city full of demons at night."
"That is a good call." Said Charles, "Let's get a little closer then pitch camp."
Half an hour later the cohort began setting up camp, pulling their thoroughly soaked tents from their packs, arranging them under the heavy boughs of the pines surrounding them. As then all pulled out various rations to eat cold, foregoing a fire for the risk of discovery, Gnoll began examining the implements recovered from Nessie. "So this staff imbues the user with primal power, allowing you to use long forgotten physical strikes. Akash, this might be good for you, as it should also work nicely as a casting focus." Akash graciously accepted it. "Then this amulet seems to just make it easier to dodge certain things. If nobody else wants it I think I will keep this one for now." reign no takers he slipped it over his head, the chain fitting rather snug over his larger than normal neck.