A few nights after the massacre of Tinkers Hollow, the party is returning back to the capital city of Dagin via Lake Reykal when Greytome receives several messages (multiple sending spells) from the War Wizards of Dagin (under the orders of Lord Prio) to investigate and examine a newly discovered Gate Stone near the city of Tarsis.

Greytome explains to the party that the gate stone is a large fixed magical item that facilitates travel between distant locations, allowing a large number of personnel to travel to the location of its twin gate stone as long as they are on the same plane of existence.

The party follow orders and travel to the Gate Stone and discover a blight has befallen the local area. Arthion explains that Blights are plants that are tainted with evil, usually after a forest nearby is corrupted by an evil force and that they resembled dead versions of their original plants. Ser Phillip quickly realizes his Divine Sense allows him to pinpoint the Gate Stone, revealing that infernal/fiendish magic is involved. The party arrive to a group of cultist (same faction of unknown cultist from Tinkers Hollow) attempting to activate the Gate Stone. The party defeat the cultist and realize the Gate Stone ritual was partially completed allowing transport for a few minutes (rather than hours). The party decides to take the initiative and enter the Gate Stone to discover its true use in Argoth.

The party enter the Gate Stone and are transported near Parabor, a small racially diverse mining city in Issia. The party verifies the rumors of the Orc occupation to be true and decide to gather intelligence needed for Rostland nobility to directly participate (instead of sending lesser bannermen) to support Issia.

The party rescue a caravan merchant (Eravan) from an orc murder squad that has access to the city of Parabor, while its under martial law from the Orc Horde. Eravan tells the party to link up with a man named Gwindor in a tavern called the “Three Legged Mare” by the western docks (poor district). He mentions that Gwindor is a Half-Elf who is very wary of strangers, but will speak with you, if you say this phrase to him, “Aa’ menle nauva calen ar’ ta hwesta e’ ale’quenle” Sylvan for “May thy paths be green and the breeze on thy back.”

Eravan tells the party to not reveal their presence while behind enemy lines and do as little as possible to bring attention to themselves. Eraven mentions a radical cult called the “Fist of Heaven” have eyes everywhere and are attempting to locate something they are referring to as the “Unseen Vault”. The Orc Horde have declared martial law in the nearby regions and heavily patrol the areas. Parabor is currently under Orc occupation and they control the city with an iron fist and gestapo tactics. (this tactic is unheard of from orcs, who always raid and pillage)

Gwindor (tavern owner) mentions an elven tale concerning the Badntzite (frost gem), it’s said this bearer of the Badntzite is capable of unlocking the “Unseen Vault”. Gwindor directs the party to the Hopeful Beacon (Temple of Abadar), where they are to pay respects to a female elven historian, known as Elaria Feywing, who died recently of mysterious circumstances. Gwindor mentions the answers to the questions the party have might be revealed to them by a dwarven female priestess named Yelsa Hodwick. (protege of Elaria Feywing).

The party is well received by Yelsa Hodwick and mentions she is involved in the parabor resistance called the Emerald Cabal formed by Human Ranger of Rostland (Chris Character) to plan, coordinate, and execute acts of sabotage on supply lines, transport facilities, and to gather current intelligence for Issian forces. Yelsa tells the party that Elaria Feywings research focused on the “Unseen Vault” and that Elaria always believed the Badntzite (frost gem that’s a key for the unseen vault) was in a structure called the Icy Spire located on one of the Acuben Islands of Winterbreak Bay.

Winter has come early to Issia and and it’s proven to be the coldest winter in history. The Wizard and the Druid seem to think its due to the Frost Gem being in the possession of mortals, causing the Winter Court to express its displeasure with this, by making it the longest winter ever experienced in Argoth history.