On the 6th day of Winter's Reach, the party arrived in Rathven. There they learned about something called the Red Plague. It started slowly, but seemingly everywhere at once. No one is sure how it spreads from person to person, but it is increasing, and so there are concerns about strangers coming into various towns. Plagues in civilized places are essentially unknown because powerful priests can end them, but this Red Plague resists the healing powers of the gods. The sick are healed, but in only a few days the symptoms return. The first people seem to have become infected at the same time the red flash of seen in the sky on the winter solstice.

Continuing west, the party was intercepted by a green dragon named Golidorinfara and young Nogi. Golidorinfara expressed gratitude for saving Nogi, but she did not wish to be indebted to anyone. She also said that if this was an attempt to become friends of green dragons, it would not work. Nogi did not seem to agree. To repay the debt, Sir Alestair was given a new shield given from three massive scales, presumably from Golidorinfara. The other members were given sacks of gold, most likely from a hoard. The two departed, but young Nogi almost seemed like he wanted to stay for a while.

On the 8th day of Winter's Reach, Livid spotted some white horses crossing the road at full speed, and they were followed by men on horseback. Suspecting they may be unicorns, the party quickly followed through the trees. They found a ruined keep, and outside the walls they found a group of men trying to get into a small stone building. They were led by Baron Torvin Tripes, and he explained that the unicorn horns could be made into a cure for the plague. Livid attacked, presumably in defense of unicorns, and battle ensued. Several of the men surrendered.

A voice from the stone building asked whether it was safe. Being assured that it was, the owner of the voice unbarred the door and opened it. Surprisingly, the owner appeared to be a mummy. Three unicorns came out behind him. The unicorns were named Leocadio, Archelaus, and Lysistrata, and they explained that this mummy, Commander Artivis Tradlin, was known to many throughout the area. He helped those in need when he could. Artivis was once the commander of the keep, called Wittich Hold, and he was killed during the Siege of Rathven. He was well loved by his troops, and he died a hero, so he was given a rather nice tomb. He awoke a few years later. He had always had a soft spot for Lorris. He felt it was a beautiful country, and the people were exceptional. He preferred that it be under control of Borden, but in any event he wanted Lorris to be a peaceful and prosperous land. He believes he came back from the dead because Lorris had fallen into a land of little more than warring tribes.

Artivis explained that Wittich hold was abandoned for many years. In 266BE, a barbarian tribe occupied it. The druids of the tribe seemed to be building something in there. Whatever it is, they spent 100 years doing it, and then they left and never returned. Other treasure hunters came, but they left disappointed. The party thought this sounded like a challenge, and they headed into the keep.

Much of it was collapsed, but there was a single room with trees growing in it that seemed to iron. So that was odd. The room was marked with a symbol of a thorny palm, and a door was set into the floor. The door was locked with a puzzle of sorts, and the puzzle was moving marked stones into a specific form. One section marked the gods in their place above the mortal planes. Abril was shown surrounded by its two moons, and this was surrounded by the elemental planes. Below was the realm of the dead.

The door opened, and the party descended below. They came to a massive room that was some kind of illusion. It was a natural, sunny setting in an underground cave, and they were attacked by seemingly less evolved version of dwarves, orcs, trellimen, and finally a merging of elf and human. They carried simple weapons, but they were no match for our trusty band of merry rat bastards.

The next large room was simple stone, yet occupied by what can only be called elemental dragons. The party had not exactly rested since their battle with the early creatures, and they were unprepared for the battle. They managed to defeat the Air Dragon, but it became apparent the others would kill them. The party, displeased with the notion of being dead, decided to flee back into a hallway. Sadly, they could not disengage and take everyone with them. It was at this time that the God of Dragons, Jonril, commanded that they obey him. For a moment, the less-intelligent elemental dragons seemed like they might listen to this tiny less-sane version of themselves, but then they decided to give chase. While Jonril led them through the darkness, the party collected their wounded and fled into the hallway. Jonril, slightly charred, joined them moments later.

After resting and preparing themselves, the party once again set out to do combat with elemental dragons. Victory was theirs, and then the secrets of the cosmos were revealed to them. At least, the secrets of the cosmos as understood by the druids of Wittich Hold who built this place. Leti, they believed, was the child of Gai'La'Cah and Abril. This created life on Abril, and Leti also became the protector of Abril. The dragons seemed somehow above this, as if they are bridge between Abril and the elemental planes.

A sort of presence filled the room. This aspect of Agnelo was comforting... for a moment. Then elemental surges flashed through air, burning and slashing at each person. Those who could resist the burns without giving themselves over to the elements were rewarded with new powers as well as harmless thorns growing under this skin of their left hands.

Having spent two nights underground, the party is prepared to go back above the surface and see how the unicorns and a mummy have handled three bound prisoners.