The party climbs into the mountains south of Dawnspire and reaches the ruins of Ravenfall, where they meet Flynn Horne and recover one of the missing Aegis Archive scholars. Strange behavior, haunting dangers, and a mysterious idol deepen the mystery. After exploring the outskirts of the ruins, the group endures a tense night that brings a ghost attack, a deadly flickerfly, and a wyvern swooping in to claim the kill. Exhausted and rattled, the party regroups at Flynn’s tower and prepares to search the cliffs at dawn for the Wyvern, for Bob, and for the idol that drove him into the mountains.

Shepherd, having safely guided the old man to Pussywillow Grove in Mosswater Vale, transforms into a vulture and flies southwest to rejoin the rest of the party. He carries one of the Speaking Stones, so he has been able to stay informed as the group traveled south through Dawnspire and onward into the mountains.

Upon arrival, Shepherd describes a strange incident in the Vale. A sudden wave of chaotic magic knocked both him and the old man off their feet. He also reports speaking with local animals through his druidic abilities, and they confirmed that unusual happenings are becoming more common in the region.

Over the next two days, the climb toward Ravenfall becomes harder. The mountain road narrows to a rough trail, then almost disappears as the party scrambles up the last stretch of steep canyon and reaches a ridgeline.

The ridge holds a simple wooden hut and a lookout tower. Across a flat stretch of land about a quarter mile wide, the group sees the outskirts of the Ravenfall ruins pressed against the higher mountain slopes.

As they near the tower, a thin man steps out to greet them. He introduces himself as Flynn Horne, an elf who appears to be well into his third century. He calls out:

“The mighty heroes arrive at last! You sure made quick work of those bandits.”

Since the bandit ambush took place more than ten miles down the canyon, the party immediately wonders how Flynn could have witnessed it. They suspect a spyglass, scrying magic, or some other method of extended sight.

A brief conversation reveals the party is searching for two missing Aegis Archive scholars. Flynn replies that he has been looking after one of them.

Inside the cramped hut, the party asks about Flynn’s connection to the ruins. He explains that he built the tower nearly twenty years earlier, shortly after the first shelters opened. He says he has no official post, but he has acted as a self-appointed caretaker of the nearby ruins. He warns away would-be looters and supports the research teams sent by the Aegis Archive.

Flynn describes Ravenfall as it was before the Scourge. It once served as a great archive of knowledge and a celebrated communications hub that used trained ravens to send messages across the region. When the shelters reopened, only ruins remained. Whatever defenses Ravenfall once had were not enough.

Flynn also warns of hazards in the area. Aerial predators nest in the cliffs above, including giant eagles and wyverns, and the sparse vegetation across the flats offers little cover. He confirms that the ruins are haunted and suggests they are capable of protecting themselves, though he does not explain how. When asked how to enter safely, he questions the party’s intentions.

“You said you came to find the two scholars. Seems to me you are half done.”

Shepherd prepares tea while Flynn retrieves Lisa, one of the missing scholars. Her arm is in a sling, though she appears generally well.

Lisa explains that her field work with her fellow researcher Bob had gone well at first. About a week before the party’s arrival, the two discovered a strange statue of red stone buried in the rubble. The statue had eight eyes and was roughly the size of a large gourd. They planned to return to the Aegis Archive the next day with their findings.

By morning, the situation had changed. Bob insisted on keeping the idol for himself. Lisa disagreed, and the argument escalated. Bob forcibly grabbed the idol, injuring her arm in the struggle, and then fled into the mountains above the ruins. Lisa describes Bob as obsessed and acting completely unlike himself.

The party notes several details.

• Lisa says she stayed at Flynn’s hut to recover before attempting the difficult route back down the canyon, yet when offered magical healing she declines and claims she is almost fully recovered.

• While describing the statue, her voice takes on a rapt quality. She says she must retrieve it and then quickly adds that it deserves a proper place in the Archive.

• When asked about the Ravenfall ruins and their research methods, she confirms that the ruins are haunted but avoids specifics. When pressed, she glances at Flynn and says he knows a great deal about the ruins and has been helpful to visiting scholars.

Asked where she and Bob had camped, Lisa indicates the outskirts of the ruins. Despite Flynn’s warnings, the party decides to investigate.

Crossing the open flats, the group sees the collapsed outer wall of the ancient settlement. One of the two tall raven pillars that once flanked the main gate has fallen.

Inside the outskirts, everything is quiet, though Shepherd is visibly uneasy about the possibility of ghosts. They find a semi-permanent camp used by Archive researchers, stocked with supplies. Bob’s abandoned backpack confirms he was there.

As nightfall approaches, they search for signs of Bob’s departure and discover faint tracks leading toward the cliffs. A large shape circles high above in the fading light.

Unable to stay in Flynn’s hut and unwilling to sleep in the open, the group considers camping inside the field station. Shepherd refuses, citing the risk of ghosts. They compromise by camping just outside the ruins, pressed against the outer wall.

Naturally, during Shepherd’s late-night shift, a ghostly encounter occurs. At first he only feels watched and uneasy, but the sensation grows until he is convinced that something unworldly is present. His nerves fray as he begins to panic. The fear becomes real when a translucent specter rushes out of the darkness and grabs him. His scream wakes the others, and the group destroys the ghost.

Winston and Shepherd immediately retreat across the open ground toward Flynn’s tower. Winston wants to confront Flynn about his lack of help. Shepherd simply wants distance from any more ghosts.

The remaining party members look uneasily up at the night sky as they stay pressed against the ruined wall, unsure of their next move.

Midway across the open ground and struggling in the dim light, Shepherd lights a torch. The sudden flame glints off a set of shimmering wings and reveals a horse-sized dragonfly-like creature between himself and Winston, about 30 paces ahead. Instinct takes over and Shepherd hurls a bolt of magical lightning at it. A new fight begins in an instant.

The creature moves with unnatural speed and slices at Winston with razor-sharp wings. Shepherd and Winston fight desperately while trying to bind the creature, though it tears free several times. The rest of the party arrives as Winston nears death. Working together, they tether and injure the creature.

Suddenly, a large wyvern swoops down out of the darkness and snatches the creature in its claws, carrying off the conveniently prepared meal. The group tries to stop the wyvern but cannot bring it down. Fhino manages to illuminate it with a burst of magical light, and they track the rough direction it heads into the mountains to feed.

Exhausted and injured, the group reaches Flynn’s tower. Flynn steps outside, having witnessed the end of the fight.

“A flickerfly? I'm amazed no one died. Thank goodness it was a juvenile.”

The party has reached Ravenfall but stands on the edge of deeper danger. Lisa is safe, but Bob is still somewhere in the mountains with a disturbing idol. Between ghosts, predators, and the warnings of Flynn Horne, the path ahead promises even greater risk. With dawn approaching, the group prepares for the climb into the cliffs and the search for the missing scholar.