They’re here, they’re there…the EFK is everywhere!

A hasty consult with the local druid representative reveals the possibility of additional allies to be recruited to the cause. In particular, the wolves of the frozen northern wilds might be persuaded to aid if the pack leader can be defeated in single combat.
Additionally, the faerie folk of the woods will aid the rebellion if the group can defeat a monster that terrorizes the crossroads – a series of linked portals that can be used to travel great distances in a short time.

Leaving their de facto headquarters, the group uses one of the crossroads to reach the northern foothills where it is decided that Reza will represent the party in single combat against Frostbite – a hulking, elephant-sized, ancient dire winter wolf. Reza quaffs a potion of Storm Giant strength in preparation, while Humbar casts Favor of the Deity upon him and WEapon of Impact on his mace. While the druids and hundreds of wolves and the rest of the party look on, the battle is joined.

The wolf howls and Reza’s knees are a little less steady, but there is little time to recover for the beast is upon him. They battle, smiting each other mightily. The beast rends and bites, and unleashes blasts of frigid cold. It hurls Reza to the ground on several occasions and it is only the silveryfire that allows him to persevere and win the day. He unleashes a barrage of wicked blows, driving the beast to the earth. The wold rolls over and exposes its belly, signaling defeat. All wait to see if Reza will slay the beast – but in the end he accepts the beast’s submission. Now the pack leader, Reza delegates command and control to the defeated Frostbite in a druid-mediated conversation. With assurances that the wolves of the wild will aid as they can, the group turns it’s attention to the forest folk.

Using the crossroads allows them to cover over a hundred miles in the blink of an eye, arriving at the heart of an ancient forest glen.
There, another crossroads portal stands, but all fear to enter it, due to the fearsome Sussurus that lurks within. The group prepares, but has little time to kill as the beast ‘unfolds’ from beyond space and pops into existence. It resembles a horrid arachno-centaur for the space of 40 seconds, then it resembles a large pile of pulp as the group works its normal tactics. The beast has little chance in the face of triple-strength fireballs and streams of magic missiles and the powerful attacks of Reza and Lubbitch.

Returning to the HQ, the group receives a dispatch. A Zhentarim field commander has seized villagers and is using them as human shields. He means to sacrifice them to Bane in an attempt to cow the rebels. He is making his way to the temple via a road that crosses a river, and a bridge will limit mobility. The group unrolls the carpet of flying and sails off to investigate. They arrive and see the commander, a pair of armored ogres and a quartet of archers herding about three dozen villagers across the bridge in question. Area of effect is not in effect if casualties are to be limited and the group adapts, dropping off a pair of archers to cut off easy passage. Barada, Dalliance, Humbar and Bud continue the attack, with Humbar roaring and charging the enemy. This panics the villagers and they break, exposing the commander and the ogres – who start to fly. Not toe outdone, Bud Feaster ‘chuffs’ into the sky on his slippers and proceeds to batter one of the hapless ogres. Darts from Reza aid in his demise and the second one falls victim to a Dispel Magic that turn his powers of flight into powers of falling. The day is won and the group’s stature increases further, Exhausted, they return to the HQ, deploy the mansion and sleep.

The following morning, Dalliance exits the mansion and is attacked.
The battle is brief but savage and eventually it is determined that the most likely culprits was a trio of Invisible Stalkers. Dalliance is a bit shaken by the idea that someone powerful enough to harness a trio of stalkers cares enough about her demise to send them. Hm.
Anyhow, no time to waste. Recent intelligence suggests that there is a major force heading towards the area, due to arrive within about 48 hours. More reports place a supply caravan on a road not too far from the HQ. The group unrolls the carpet again and they are off.

An hour or so of flight and the caravan is spotted, It has an aerial escort of a huge demonic bat beast with a rider of unknown origin and a smaller satellite rat-bat-toad and rider. A strategy is concocted, and a Globe of Invulnerability and Invisibility 10 foot-radius soon shield the carpet’s occupants. The battle with the fearsome beasts is anticlimactic. A pair of fireballs from Dalliance finish the creature, causing the rider to leap off and begin feather-falling as the beast crashes into the earth below. A Disintegrate spell does for the second flier and the combination of gravity and the earth does for the second rider. The emboldened townies attack and the combined forces swiftly rout the remainder of the caravan guards. With the rebellion now well-supplied, the group turns its attention to assaulting the last bastion of the occupying forces, the Twisted Tower.

Pausing for a span of about 12 hours, the group prepares for the assault and discusses strategy and tactics. Eventually they repeat the inviso-globed carpet strategy and circle the tower, making note of the hundreds of warriors and assorted allies that lurk hither and yon.
Landing near the rear wall, the group deploys a Passwall spell to gain entrance to the building and begins to reconnoiter. they wander about for the space of an hours or two and see various things, explores secret passages and discovers hidden wood cellars. Eventually, they happen upon a richly decorated hallway that terminates in a set of large doors, a single small door and an octet of armed and armored guards, The group retreats a bit to allow for discussion and ponders the options…