1:00am 5th of heat.

It is a cold and rainy night as we sit talking to Roderick. He tells us his is operative, a thief from the Thieves Guild, is ready to lead our bounty hunter into the Guilds trap, if we are ready. Roderick likes the fact that he knows where this guy is and would like to know if we are ready to try and take him tonight. He warns us that if we wait then there may be some circumstances that could change. I seem to be the only one concerned that we, or perhaps more to the point I have not had time to prepare the appropriate spells for the situation, but the rest of the group is up for it and there is no time like the present.

As we are talking, one of Roderickís men enters and gives us an update on possible locations that would suit our request for an area with some vegetation and that would have limited access. Roderick still seem hesitant regarding being in an open area but gives us the options of an old burnt out guesthouse which has some trees and vegetation surrounding it, which would be a logical place for convicts or transients to occupy. Additional choices include an ally not far from the Elf Song Tavern, a small cemetery attached to the church, or a small park-like cemetery just down stream from Rosewater Park.Ý Leaving the decision to Élensűl he makes the selection of the guesthouse.

As we are escorted to the location the night seems to turn even more dismal with the light rain becoming heavier and the temperature dropping. Perhaps it is just the time of night and my fatigue showing itís faced but boy does this place look gloomy. The area is surrounded by stone walls and a thick thorny hedge.ÝThere is a main arched gate toward the front and a smaller gate that opens out to a street at the rear. Placed more or less in the center of the area are the remains of a small one room house. The roof has collapsed in and there are a few gaps in the stone walls that have crumbles allowing access. There is one door and the remains of a fireplace opposite it. Roderick explains this is part of a large manor owned by one of the guild members, the main house is a distance away and this area of the property has not been used in quite some time. Roderick continues explaining that he will have a large number of troops stationed down the street and he will have them start to close in when our target enter this property but they wonít advance until we signal them. On the other side toward the main manor house will be a squad of Sir Janosís men also serving as backup. I will say one thing if we things go wrong there will be a hell of a lot of soldier around to save our ass.

Stephen, Jaden and Élensűl station themselves in the house while Raven and I tale cover outside to keep watch. In preparation Jaden sends Jeck to watch from one of the hedgerows and instructs the bird to notify him if someone approaches. He plans to casts invisibility on himself when Jeck signals and in the meantime crouches in one of the corners behind some fallen beams. Stephen takes cover in the fireplace while Élensűl will sit quietly in one of the corners. Raven turns into a panther and watches from cover on the fare side of the yard. I hide in a low tree between the back gate where we expect them to enter from and one of the collapsed openings of the house.

After a short time I hear the rear gate swing quietly open and I see two figures stealthfully enter. The first of the two to enter seems young not yet out of his teens and if I was not expecting him he could of easily of passed right by me without me even noticing. I let them pass watching them as they approach the house. As they advance they pause for a moment listening to some activity from inside. I can only assume it is Jaden casting his spell.

When they finally get to the opening the thief holds back allowing the bounty hunter to enter. The hunter immediately attacks Élensűl with a well wielded rapier, even with Élensűls fast reflexes he still manages to hit him, and quite expertly. Raven and I move in closer and take cover keeping an eye on the gates. Through the opening in the wall I can see the battle ensue. Invisible, I believe Jaden tried to affect him with a daze spell but there seemed to be no effect. I can now see Stephen spring to action as he tries attack with is rapier but is out classed and does not make contact. I can see a devious smile cross the bounty hunterís face as he realizes the situation. During his continued attack on Élensűl the hunter begins to shimmer possibly from some protective spell.

During the last attack the young thief retreated toward the gate. Since my attention was devoted on the bounty hunter I dismissed his actions but I was soon to change that opinion. For unbeknownst to the rest of us Jaden had noticed something disturbing. During the bounty hunters last attack his cloak opened enough to show that he was wearing the armor of a city guard and around his neck was a symbol if the Church of Ardania. As soon as Jaden communicated this I had great concern that our bounty hunter could have forced an exchange of identity and was trying to sneak out of the area now that it was obvious this had been a trap. I immediately ran after him and callout ìthey may of switched identities donít let the thief escapeî hoping to warn the guard of my concern. As Raven, still in the form of a panther comes to assist me in restraining our thief I hear the fire of magic missiles as Jaden released a volley into the hunter. As the mÍlÈe continues in the building the hunter successfully makes his way to the door and as he steps outside the building a tremendous explosion detonates inside the structure. There is ice, snow and debris flying out all the openings and I can only wonder how anyone could survive such a maelstrom.

As I restrain the thief he gives no resistance exclaiming ìwhat the hell are you doing?î Raven quickly returns to assist the others. To complicate matters Élensűl is now feeling a burning in his wounds from the huntersí rapier. Everyone manages to exit the building and blocks the hunters escape from the yard. At the last moment the hunter manages to change direction and second ice storm envelopes Élensűl and Raven. Raven finally gets to pounce on her foe biting and clawing him as he narrowly escapes a pinning attack. As he makes a sudden turn he throws something into the air and lands one last jab into Raven as Jaden and Stephen cast a shower of Magic Missiles into the still shimmering but now unmoving body. Raven now, really pissed off, jumps on the hunter and starts mauling him while Élensűl runs him through with his spear.

The object he through onto the air seems to get larger and I hear Stephen call out ìBlackHawk shoot that thing downî. I manage to get 3 shots off, hitting it with the first two. The second shot made a distinctive metallic sound but it did not drop it. Just after my last arrow flew off into the darkness, Stephen manages to invoke another round of Magic Missiles from his wand at the flying object. This seemed to affect it and it started losing height but is now flying directly toward Jeck in the hedge.

My attention is again drawn the Bounty Hunter, after Élensűl lands one last stunning blow on him he throws his rapier to the ground and calls out ìHOLDî. As Jaden forces him to his knees and starts to ties his hands he suddenly yells out ìSomethingís Wrong, SOMETHINGíS WRONGî. And we all here a loud raven cry. Jaden, Stephen and I run over to where Jeck was and we search for both Jeck and the object. We find Jeck bleeding and making distressed cawing sounds. Stephen cast a heal spell, he recovers and says to Jaden upon questioning ìbird attacked, flew awayî. Further searching in the area does not reveal the attacking object.

In the mean time Élensűl continues to secure the Bounty Hunter while Raven returns to her human form and casts dispel magic in the area. It dispels something but he is still shimmering. When the bounty hunter first sees Raven now in human form his eyes widen and he says ìYou!î

With our captor finally subdued Jaden yells for the soldiers and as they approach I tell them to look for the object that attack Jeck. As I am talking to the first guards that have arrived I suddenly hear a choking sound from the Bounty Hunter. Raven had pulled off the chain with the symbol of the Ardania Church from around his neck and at the same time something appears.

Scribed by Steven BlackHawk Fox