The Fireball Gazette

Bear or Deva?
Their mission led them to the Cliffside where Wilma’s father was being held, but their journey took a chaotic turn when they were ambushed by what seemed to be a ferocious bear. As tensions rose, the bear transformed into Deva, revealing the ambush to be a clever trick. With Deva’s shapeshifting abilities, the party formulated a plan to infiltrate the camp. In her spider form, Deva sneaked past the guards and scoped out the camp’s layout. She spotted some Fort Murray uniforms, setting the stage for a daring ruse.

Mad Matt’s Wild Plan
Mad Matt, ever the unconventional thinker, seized on Deva’s discovery. He sent Sir Spencer, his monkey companion, to retrieve the uniforms. Once suited up, Mad Matt devised an absurd plan to pose as a wounded soldier. To sell the act, he insisted that Havi punch him – repeatedly – until he was visibly battered. With his injuries looking authentic, Matt limped to the guards, claiming to be Sergeant Matthew from the Fourth Cavalry with vital intel. Vomiting on a guard added a gross but effective touch, and the guards bought his story, rushing him to the infirmary.

A Most Intriguing Story
After the doctor patched up Matt’s worst wounds, Matt insisted that he be taken to Commander Stein to report on the intel he allegedly gained on the front lines. Once in the commander’s tent, Matt reported on the secret plan of Lysander von Trümmbach, insisting that the Fort Murray government was secretly creating a seaworthy fleet that would decisively end the war in mere days if left undisturbed. Matt was so enthralled in his story that he forgot that his crew switched sides in the war – they were sent from Fairview to recover prisoners of war that were being kept in a Fort Murray camp. In other words, the commander he was speaking to was a direct subordinate of Lysander von Trümmbach and not amused. Luckily, Commander Stein chalked it up to a concussion and sent Matt back to the infirmary.

Taking Out the Guards
While Mad Matt's performance unfolded, Mabel and Havi handled the guards in their own way. Using magic to create a distraction, Mabel lured a guard away, allowing Havi to sneak up and swiftly kill him. Havi, ever resourceful, masked the blood with vomit, maintaining their stealth. Deva, still in her spider form, accompanied Tiyana as they found more uniforms and blended in.

Matt Unleashes Tentacles
Back in the infirmary, Mad Matt didn’t let his cover stop him from unleashing chaos. Drawing on his connection to the dark entity Nalzagoth, Matt summoned shadowy tentacles that subdued the doctor. With the doctor incapacitated and tied down by eldritch forces, Matt created a grim spectacle beneath the infirmary tent. When a guard came to check on him, the rest of the party acted swiftly, with Havi launching a ballista bolt that killed the unsuspecting soldier. Mabel grabbed the guard’s uniform as they prepared to move on.

Prisoners Freed
With Deva’s scouting revealing the location of the prisoners, the team pressed forward. After freeing the captives, they had to carefully navigate their way back through the camp. Mad Matt, still yearning for more carnage, nearly blew their cover. Havi saved the day with another quick-thinking act, pretending to be drunk as he carried Matt in his arms. This ruse worked just long enough for the rest of the group to sneak past the camp’s guards.

Final Showdown
As they neared their exit, one of the guards recognized Mad Matt and attempted to send him back to the infirmary. Havi’s drunken antics swayed the guard, who led them to a secluded area. Seizing the opportunity, Havi used Matt as a makeshift weapon, smashing into the guard with both Matt and his battleaxe. The ensuing battle ended with the guard’s messy demise, but without any vomit left, Havi covered the remains with soup. The group slipped away, leaving the camp behind.

Wilma’s Reward
Returning to Fairview victorious, the adventurers were greeted by a relieved and grateful Wilma. True to her word, she handed over 80 gold, including the stolen amount plus interest. She had also managed to recruit 12 eager interns for their ship – though only 9 stuck around after hearing the full terms of the deal, especially once Matt mentioned pledging loyalty to Nalzagoth. With new allies and a fresh batch of recruits, the party left Fairview, ready for their next adventure.