The booming voice shook the very earth, a notice, claiming that both goddesses Dalanesca and Angela’s life was in critical danger, instructing the worthy to go on a hunt for the ingredients necessary to save both the world, and Dalanesca’s life. A massive scavenger hunt with a dire deadline, the race against time had started, and not too long until the Bear Claw was discovered deep in Railoch, the expedition team were ambushed quickly after discovery and theft of the bear claw lead to the bandits that have learned to thrive off of the unforgiving land holding the ingredient ransom for a large sum of gold and silver.
Negotiators have been sent, only to be ambushed, and a notice posted, claiming that they would only reveal themselves once the ransom was agreed to be paid off. Cedric have received word of this, and learned that the disciples were already gathering the money that was demanded, even emptying their own pockets. Cedric, deeming this unacceptable, saw this as an opportunity to take back the bear claw, and assist the dying Dalanesca.

The Hand of the Conclave quickly mobilized, the vastness of the Railoch made planning difficult, and the amount of uncharted land within the forests could mean they could be anywhere, but they had an advantage in knowing how the package would be transported through carriages, 4 decoys, and 1 containing the ingredient to be delivered to the meeting spot, the negotiators offering the ransom would make the perfect bait for their plan.

Under the dead of night, rain poured and thunder bellowed, the carriages were on a rocky path, making them hard to track, they were riding fast despite the horrible weather, the ten operatives split evenly between five carriages, with Cedric joining a group, the decoy carriages were downed one by one, until the final carriage, the one that held the claw, had been discovered, quickly rejoining the group, the operatives quickly ambushed the carriage, the victory within grasp, Cedric opened up the carriage, only to find a tracker. As they pulled away from the carriage, they hear quick murmuring, and the unsheathing of blades.

Cedric and his operatives swiftly reeled back into the shadows, waiting for their opponents’ next action.