Just the T.I.P. is currently in a small grove somewhere north of Malkara, assessing the aftermath of their latest endeavour: crashing a gnoll ambush of a caravan. Turns out the caravan had an archaeologist named Julia Pangol - J’s cousin - traveling with them, and a forward party decided to take her captive. She is seeking the same goal that we are, the heart of an iron golem. When we find it, we’re meant to deliver it to the Grue albino Lucien, who will reveal the location of an abducted dwarf girl as recompense.

Bird Girl, after assessing the wreckage, takes to the sky to attempt to seek out the prisoners. She notes a fort off in the distance, and relays that information with J, who has traced several sets of footprints in a similar direction.

As this is happening, Dorian and Ren chat about what to do with Narcel’Uss’s “prisoner.” The priestess lost interest with the gnoll soon after reviving it, leaving it to the odd couple for interrogation. Ren’s approach was simple – kill the gnoll, because it has no useful information. But Dorian thought of some valuable uses for the lone survivor, and attempted to persuade the barbarian that this thing was worthy to keep. With a bit of convincing and an allegory to a game, Dorian convinced Ren that questioning the gnoll was better than just killing it – death would come later.

She wasn’t haven’t any of Dorian’s sweet talk though, snarling and not giving any information. Her fate was sealed. Ren attempted to end the gnoll’s existence, but she wasn’t ready for her final breath yet, overpowering the half-orc in a rare show of superior strength. Ren was surprised by this and was rescued from a counterattack by Bird Girl, who subdued the gnoll. The previous fight had apparently sapped more energy than she had realized, and J and Bird Girl provided magical support, with the latter providing an entire pomegranate for Ren to consume. The gnoll grins at Ren and shares a word with her in Orcish, strange given that the gnolls of the Scything Crag rarely, if ever, have contact with the seaborne Orcs. She calls Ren something akin to a coward or traitor, before turning a quick phrase about dying a warrior’s death. Ren is now bleeding profusely, a wound from the previous battle opening up once again to spill fresh blood on to the ground. Bird Girl consuls her, but something odd happens – the bleeding stops. Ren thanks Bird Girl for the support and is also offered a pomegranate, devouring the entire fruit. Bird Girl is taken aback by this – one seed usually fills her up.

After J restrains the gnoll more securely, the party ventures outward to investigate the fort. When we arrive, its architecture is reminiscent of the previous fort’s site – albeit larger. The walls have been crushed inward, with significant vegetation overtaking the space. However, Vani reading Thieves Cant and other information around reveals that the space is being inhabited. A couple of gnolls emerge from the interior, doing a regimented patrol shift. Vani is able to discern that the gnolls are organized and are prepared for infiltration. Vani scans the perimeter and disables any traps within the vicinity, opening up potential pathways into the space. The space is well-guarded though, and an opportunity to infiltrate doesn’t arise. Ren grumbles and grows impatient, but Dorian is able to subdue her. The risk is too great and she would endanger the whole party by prancing in there and cutting up hyenas. After some observation, the captured gnoll stirs. In a panic, J constraints her and Dorian rushes in to help. As Ren turns to quip at Dorian, she notices that he looks different – he has become a gnoll! She rushes in to challenge the new adversary, but Dorian is still intact and aware of his capacities. It seems like an illusion was cast on him, and by him too! Ren suggests that they use this disguise to infiltrate the space, but Dorian is unsure about how to control his new power. In an attempt to do so, he slimes everyone with a wave of grease – smearing everyone in slime! Bird Girl tastes the new product, which is slightly sweet but not too fulfilling. Unable to process quite what is happening, the T.I.P. evacuates the space and heads back to the caravan to regroup and rest.

Bird Girl and Vani decide to stay and perform reconnaissance work while the others return. They groom and preen away the grease, which dissipates magically after some minutes have passed.

The others return to Sir Bart, who has not been too active since his revitalization. The stump of his arm hangs limp as he questions the group on why they would bring back a hideous creature like a gnoll. Ren steps in and tells Bart about the gnoll’s wish to die honourably, and ends up protecting her from any others that might seek to provide an unsavoury end to her life. Bart scoffs racistly – not all Rangers are super cool like Bird Girl – but gives some advice about how to assault a fortified position. An hour passes, giving the party some time to rest.

During the rest, Dorian consults J on the nature of magic. Because J invokes the power of nature, she can’t offer much in the way of advice. Dorian takes the rest of the time to recall memories – about his disappointed father mostly. Guess he wouldn’t be disappointed anymore.

Now rested, Dorian, J, and Ren return to the fort. The T.I.P. regroups and infiltrates the fortress with the help of a spider. J becomes an arachnid and skitters into the base, looking to collect intelligence and assess if it’d be possible to have a full-blown assault. As she enters, she notices that the area is quite fortified, with at least seven gnolls around in addition to the patrollers inside. She goes deeper into the fortress and comes into a chamber with a figure tied from the ceiling and what looks like a holy person. Julia Pangol dangles from the ceiling, alive but clearly not in a good situation, as a gnoll priest of Nurzhan threatens her. Beside the priest sits a colossal hunk of iron in the form of a person – the iron golem. Its head sits in a chamber settled inside of its chest, and J deftly pries her tiny form inside to find a wooden box. She descends upon it and is assailed by a voice that only utters three words,

“She did it.”

J ponders the implications of this, but catches her resolve and heads back to tell the party about the situation. Dorian wants to come up with a diplomatic solution to this situation, but Ren doesn’t think that gnolls will listen to reason. They bicker, and as they too, a party of three gnolls emerge from the portcullis, armoured and prepared for a journey. They seem weary of their environment, but trek towards the caravan, presumably to check on the outcome of the rearguard. The T.I.P. sets up an ambush.

Vani and Dorian set up a perimeter and attempt to silently deliver death to the pack. But Ren is unable to stay silent, particularly while carrying a person that weighs several hundred pounds. J mobilizes into action and transforms into a lion, pouncing at the other party. The gnolls are alerted, but not before Bird Girl takes to the sky and rains death from above.

The three gnolls set up a shield wall and are able to brace the impact of the assortment of ranged blows. They counterstrike, hucking javelins at the flying figure above them. Bird Girl dodges two but is grazed by a third.

As this is happening, the half-orc barbarian puts her group’s prisoner down. Ren takes a handaxe and frees the gnoll’s restraints, before whispering a word in Orcish – translated as “heroism, valour, or recklessness,” and charges into battle. The gnoll watches her former guard freely charge into the fray, then snaps back into consciousness and runs to her former captor, the insolent chap who tried to talk to her earlier.

Dorian is surprised by this new enemy and is quickly overcome. She barks outward into the melee, “Stand down!” but is soon after rescued by a pouncing lion. The other gnolls rush to the aid of their apparent master are about to lay a swift demise to the fledgling rogue Dorian. These creatures hulk over him and have flails drawn – the preferred weapon of their conqueror God. Dorian is in trouble.

“Explain yourself.” They utter in broken common. A bead of sweat forms on Dorian’s brow, and he pauses for a moment. If he says anything wrong, he is dead. His party is scattered and he has seen what these creatures are capable of. If it were one and he had the jump – he could locate a vulnerable area. But this is not going to work.

A voice emerges from Dorian’s subconscious: Narcel’Uss, priest of Nurzhan. Her snobby, disdainful tone seems dulcet as conversations about the merits of the conqueror pour into Dorian’s mind. And one thing all conquerors need are emissaries.

“Stand down, Tipsters.” Dorian Keene commands his party. J loosens her grip on her query below, and the others turn. A small smirk emerges from the trickster’s lips, “You have passed Nurzhan’s test.

The gnolls grip their flails tightly but don’t bring them down on this tiny morsel. How delicious his bones would be! Their leader rises slowly and looks down at Dorian, hot, acrid breath gushing outward to this fool.

“You’re chosen?”

Dorian scoffs, “Isn’t it obvious?” The gnolls snarl and grumble, not completely convinced at this. Dorian taps into his inner power and etches an illusion – the mark of Nurzhan – straight on his forehead. This deception is very convincing, and everyone is taken aback by this new revelation. No wonder why he and Narcel’Uss argued so passionately – they were both invoking the same God but in different aspects!

Everyone except Bird Girl. She saw through the hoax, and decided to play along as part of this action. She approaches the newly coronated emissary of Nurzhan and kneels down, pledging her service to him. Ren, Vani, and J don’t know what to think. The leader of the gnolls addresses the emissary,

“Have you come seeking the relic?” referring to the heart of the golem.

“In a manner of speaking. We don’t need to take it though, merely to borrow it.”

The gnolls nod and lead the T.I.P. back one more time to the fort, given safe entry by their (un)holy mission.

Dorian quickly reapplies the mark as they enter the fort. Inside, the group is led to the area that J scouted before. Everything remains as it was, with the congregation of gnolls encircling their holy priest, who is taller and more sinewy than the others. Natted white hair and a wispy beard cloak the priest of Nurzhan, and he addresses the emissary,

“Lankaeran. Strange that an emissary would come from human tribes.” Bird Girl summons a voice that the other members had not heard before – something commanding, clear, and in long sentences.

“You dare challenge our emissary?”

The captured gnoll grins wildly and addresses the group,

“A simple test will show his worth.” The Trial of Screams – in gnollish tradition, a rite of passage that proves devotion to Nurzhan. All of these creatures show the results of his trial – a tremendous branding somewhere on their bodies. It will prove loyalty to the cause, and the only measure for success is not being a coward. Dorian would have to endure torture to keep up the ruse. He glares at Ren for a moment with knives for eyes,

“What if I don’t endure?”

“We take something.” The gnoll points to Dorian’s manhood, implying castration. “Can’t have the pack weakened by bad seed.” Bird Girl stretches out her talons,

“I’ll act as consul and aid the emissary.”

Ren describes to Vani what is about to happen with glee – this is going to be a very good game – and the blood runs from Vani’s face. Dorian prepares himself for the procedure, and a huge brand sears his chest just below his heart. White-hot pain sings throughout his body, but he endures, and does not scream. The smell of cooked flesh wafts through the room, but the emissary stands proud and tall, succeeding the test.

Dangling above, Julia mutters something about it always being cultists as her cousin sits hidden in plain sight in a different form, desperately trying to figure out to free this captor.