Standing Stoned

After hiding out for a day, the group decides to enter the caverns again to try and destroy the Abyssal themed standing stones. A divination spell is cast by the cleric and the resulting information is interpreted to mean that there is a tunnel from the caverns to the Realm of the Wailing Fog – located many miles to the southwest. The stone wall is transformed into flesh and the polymorphed wizard chews through it in weasel form. The rest of the group is changed to gaseous form and wafts into the caverns beyond. After regaining corporeal form, the set about investigating the area around the standing stones. The remnants of a magic circle are seen inside the stones and there is quite a bit of mental energy devoted to discussing how to destroy them. Eventually, Malchor tries to disintegrate one of them and is dismayed when his spell rebounds upon him. He avoids being turned to dust, but this dampens the party’s ardor for destruction a bit.
The investigation of the cavern complex eventually reveals some sort of altar/sacrificial table and an alcove nearby is filled with stacks of desiccated bodies. For what purpose, none can say, but the corpses are burned on the principle that anyone that hoards corpses is doing something unnatural with the bodies. Eventually tiring of the investigation, and unable to find a tunnel/passageway out, the group re-gases themselves and wafts out of the caverns.
While they wait to solidify, they witness an attack upon a caravan by the ‘red dragon’ – or, at least what appears to be a red dragon. In a move most unlike a red dragon, it projects balls of fire onto a pair of wagons, effectively stopping the center of the caravan. While the exasperated party watches, a section of the wagon train disappears from sight – followed soon thereafter by the ‘dragon’. Grumble grumble.

Moving on, the group planewalks towards a likely location – a fork off the main caravan path through the Hullack forest. They set along the path and almost immediately find a clue that matches the cleric’s divination. As they journey along, it becomes clear that there is a conflict raging. They pass by abandoned and partially destroyed farmhouses and rescue a farmer from the clutches of a three-armed giant. The farmer rewards them with a quiver of magic arrows, directs them to talk to the constable and then flees the area. The party journeys until they find the village center – surrounded by a hastily erected palisade. They set about making contact and try to understand what has happened.