As the group arrive at the Allen Farm they see a large red barn to one side, a water well to other other and a small white farm house with two middle aged humans sat in rocking chairs on the porch.
As the group approach and make introductions they find a very friendly couple, Jonah and Jeanie who offer them food and shelter. The couple explains that Bienya, at least the local area, is a largely farming community with friendly neighbours and little trouble. They can think no reason why anyone would want to harm Balla and can only conclude it must be due to her being wrapped up in cartel business.
The group decide they should camp in the barn for the night so as not to impose any further on the Allens and to keep an eye on Sorsosa. Lotty, Singe & Elric, who had joined Jonah & Jeanie in their home take out some of the soup Jeanie prepared to Geshut & Dolosius who has been guarding Sorsosa in the barn. Singe notices a small splash of blood inside the house as they leave.
Sorsosa, now awake (even if he'd like he group to think otherwise) feels the rough end of Singe & Elric's questioning techniques and quickly shows his colours. He has no loyalties to the cartel and is happy to exchange any information the group asks for in exchange for his life, he's even willing to offer up some gold for good measure. The group manages to gain from Sorsosa:
- Balla had been sowing the ground with raw exhaltium where her tobacco plants are grown which produces the laced leaves.
- The exhaltium is mined in the Crimson Fields in a mine North West of Allingdale
- The cartels' "generals" don't tend to have access to much of the cartels resources; everything is stored in a vault within Morrow's compound
- Morrow himself is a fiendish creature, Sorsosa has even seen him raise the dead of his enemies and force the lifeless husks to turn and fight for him
- Fane, Morrows body guard is a Paladin fighter with the ability to cancel out the magic of others. He is always at Morrow's side unless specifically sent on cartel business at Morrow's behest.
- Vi, is a great spell caster but not good with her fists so ambushing her may be the best approach.
- Morrow's base is heavily guarded - the direct entrance to his throne room (that the group have already travelled) through the Last End Inn would be a fools errand; the patrons of the Inn are usually all sicarrios. He knows of an entrance through the sewers that is still defended but can be navigated by Morrows closest generals.
Singe & Dolosius take an uneventful first watch before waking up Geshut & Elric for the next watch. Deciding to investigate the blood Singe noticed inside the house Geshut turns Elric invisible and he steals towards the house whilst Geshut keeps watch in the barn.
Elric finds the doors locks but manages to pick the lock of the back door, he sees the blood next to a door but can not open the door or see inside as to where it leads. He managed to sneak in to the kitchen and finds a key but not without seemingly alerting Jonah who starts to investigate what the noise might be. Elric manages to sneak back outside and find the key fits in a lock leading to the basement from the outside of the house, he sneaks down only to come face to face with Jonah - who is very much dead - he also sees a woman and two children dead on the floor, it is quickly apparent the Allen family have all been slaughtered and the group have been dealing with imposters. As Elric goes to leave he hears the outside door lock and bolt behind him, Faux-Jonah might be figuring out that something is wrong. Sneaking back up to the internal door Elric find the key works there as well and sneaks past Faux-Jonah back out to the barn with the imposter calling out "don't leave" he obviously knows someone is there even if Elric can't be seen.
Elric wakes up the rest of the group and explains what they have found, Lotty and Dolosius head to the back of the house, Elric & Singe to the front whilst Geshut stays to guard Sorsosa. Faux-Jonah is sitting at the kitchen table staring at the front door, waiting for someone to arrive. Singe walks in first to calmly speak with the imposter, as Singe wonders to himself is Elric is still hidden the creature seems to detect his thoughts and invites Elric in.
There is no doubt this is not Jonah and instead some kind of shape-shifting creature with the ability to hear the thoughts of others. As the group gingerly move in to vantage points around this creature it changes its form, the physical form now matching the madness in it's mind. This raving creature seems to be indifferent to life or death and instead just fascinated by the events that are unfolding.
After some devastating blows from a tired and frustrated group they incinerate the creature and head to the bedroom to find Jeanie's impersonator. They find an empty room and run back to the barn... just too late. Vi is there in the visually familiar form they previously saw when they fought her in Delarosa, she is holding Geshut hostage. Before anyone can make a move Vi disappears through an increasingly familiar purple portal, taking Geshut with her. The group all run towards the portal but to no avail, even with his speed Singe reaches the portal just as it disappears, the only thing left behind is Geshut's powerful staff. Looking in to the barn they see Sorsosa is laying in a pool of blood, throat slit and beyond even magical means of healing. Elric finds a strange gem on a rope in Sorsosa's pocket, it seems he has a magical vault to keep his assets safe, if the group are able to work out his password maybe they'll have some compensation to acquire.
As the group gathers, somewhat late, for the day they decide to head back to Balla's farm with the exhaltium ring to see if there is anything there that may be recoverable before heading on to Sierrona - it seems the only place the group can go but the last place they want to be.
Just as they go to leave the door knob turns and Fallah, the half-elf the group recognised as Marcus' right hand, steps in. She explains she's been a day or so behind the group and has made contact as she's concerned the cartel has become aware of her own organisation's involvement with the group. As they exchange tales and tell of Geshut's fate Fallah explains that they had heard rumours of a half-elf warrior from Zanidonia that had been taken by the cartel and as they made enquiries a note magically appeared saying "your rebellion is over, I have your friends, bring me Remmi's head and I will let them go". The group is heartbroken to hear that Morrow seems to not only have kidnapped Geshut in front of their very eyes but have somehow taken Rhone who the group thought was well on his way North by now.
Fallah explains that it is of great concern that the cartel have linked our heroes with the Brokers of Shadows and whilst they can not join any direct action against the cartel they may be will to help with investigation and subterfuge. Fallah agrees to investigate potential ways to separate Fane from Morrow and will see if she can spread rumours that the group has turned on Remmi, they agree to meet up again in Sierrona, the group must head to the "Siren's Call" Inn and ask the bartender "if there is any interest in rumours around town?" and hand over exactly 21g - this will get a message to her.
Before they part ways Fallah confirms that her observations on the way in to Bienya are that the Voodist cartel were responsible for taking out Balla before they themselves were chased off out of Bienya.
The group head back to Balla's farm, they find a hidden trap door in the barn and manage to get it open, although not without sacrificing Nessie having found the trapdoor had an arcane trap around it. Unfortunately the basement yielded no loot and the group decide to make haste to Sierrona, ditching the cart (world 3 - 0 carts) for speed. Along the way the group send a message to Remmi to update him on their progress; it is not Remmi that replies but Layla Lasador who explains that Remmi got pretty hurt in a fight and he is resting up at her place.
As they arrive outside of Sierrona our four adventurers start to feel the weight of not just the task ahead of them but the journey they have already taken. Diminished in number and motivation whilst still trying to hold on to the good that they have done and the changes that they have already made. They are unsettled, nervous and even scared of the challenge that's ahead of them, still unsure if they're fighting on the right side but nonetheless taking comfort in each other and the team they have become. They remain focused on the task of saving their friends and do their best to prepare for what might be to come.