The party reaches Dawnspire and learns that Whitecap’s troubles are part of a larger pattern of strange events across the region, from Mosswater Vale to the O.P.A. mines upriver. After meeting with Patron Halver and confirming that two Aegis Archive scholars have gone missing in the Ravenfall ruins, they decide to head into the mountains to investigate.

As the party breaks camp at the forest’s edge, the old man from the night before emerges from Mosswater Vale, calm and talkative.

• He recalls strange dreams, culminating with a living tree and a rising sense of chaos.

• After speaking with him, the party concludes that he was likely caught in something else’s influence.

• He explains that he was trying to reach Pussywillow Grove deeper in the Vale.

Shepherd agrees to escort the old man safely (since Dustin was absent), while the rest of the party continues south.

Arriving in Dawnspire, the group is welcomed by Lysa Morren, aide to Patron Edrik Halver, who arranges a meeting with Halver for later in the day, at his office in Patron’s Hall.

Meanwhile, the party consults with Brezug, a Clank alchemist in Potion Alley. He agrees to analyze their black sludge sample and notes that Biscuit often buys potions from him to resell at a markup.

When the group meets with Patron Halver, he presents them with a ceremonial “key to the city” for their actions in Whitecap. He also mentions several pressing concerns taxing the city’s resources:

• Increasing strange activity in Mosswater Vale.

• Disruptions at O.P.A. mining operations upriver due to a creature loose in the tunnels.

• Two Aegis Archive scholars overdue from an expedition to the Ravenfall ruins.

After finding lodging for the night (and discovering that Halver hands out those keys pretty freely), the group weighs their options.

The next morning, they visit the local Aegis Archive library, where the curator confirms that two scholars - "Bob" and "Lisa" (maybe letting the players name all the NPCs was a mistake ) - are late returning from Ravenfall, having been expected expected back a week earlier. He notes that Ravenfall is "haunted", but also a valued source of historical records and pre-scourge relics.

The party decides to head for Ravenfall to search for the missing scholars. The trip will take several days: first along the coast road, then into the mountains.

Two days later, as they turn inland and begin their ascent of the mountain road, the party is stopped by self-described "toll takers" - roadside bandits demanding payment.

The party refuses, a fight breaks out, and they quickly defeat the large group. From the bandit leader, they recover two bags of stolen gold.

With the bandits dealt with and the mountain road narrowing ahead, the party presses on toward Ravenfall, hoping to find answers, as well as and the missing scholars, somewhere in the ruins above.