Two days into their march through the vale's westward pass, the Order of the Burning Shield had set up camp in a small clearing within a dense thicket of trees. Lorne and his Silverguard mercenaries set up alongside them. The group sat around several large campfires eating their meals as they discussed their plans for tomorrow.

Ebonheim sequestered herself away from everyone else and used her Arboreal Stride to travel to one of the groves frequented by Elmsworth. It had been a while since she last saw him, so she figured this would be a good opportunity to visit him. And hopefully get a bit of advice from the elder Ent.

As she emerged from the shadows cast by the towering trees, she saw him standing before her. His mighty trunk towered above her, reaching high into the sky. His gnarled roots spread out around him like a protective barrier. The leaves rustled in the breeze. He seemed larger than usual today.

"Elmsworth," Ebonheim greeted warmly as she approached him. "It's been a while." She glanced up at his face, which seemed to be staring straight ahead. "How have you been?"

The ancient Ent slowly turned his head towards her and blinked his large eyes slowly. He didn't speak right away. After a moment, he finally replied: "Ebonheim...it's good to see you again." He paused for a moment before adding: "I sense that you have brought many outsiders into my forest. Remember our pact—you will be held responsible for any who cause harm to the land outside of the path you've built through it."

"I remember," Ebonheim replied quickly. "I instructed them not to cut any trees down or disturb anything outside the path. They're camping at a clearing now. They won't harm the forest."

Elmsworth continued staring at her intently. "I trust you...but what do you plan to do with these visitors? Why have you brought them here?"

Ebonheim sat cross-legged on the ground and leaned back against Elmsworth's trunk.

"Have you heard about what's going on? We're preparing to confront a group of demons residing at Old Drakon Castle. I haven't been there myself, but doesn't it border your territory somewhere? "Do you know anything about the demons?"

Elmsworth rumbled deep within his chest. "I know...the place you speak of." He remained silent for a long moment before continuing, "There has been much activity in that area lately. A foul miasma has been permeating throughout the land near those ruins. It has infected many animals and plants nearby."

"How long ago did this start happening?"

"Three seasons ago," Elmsworth answered. "Ever since then...I've felt something...unpleasant emanating from those ruins." He shook his head slowly. "I've avoided approaching the area too closely because of this."

"I see..." Ebonheim closed her eyes and pressed her back against his trunk. "Kelzryn told me he sensed Asuras there...but I don't know much about them. Do you?"

Elmsworth turned away from her and looked towards the horizon. "Nay. I know that demons are creatures that do not belong in this realm. But little else. Their kind has never ventured into this valley before."

He rumbled softly as he continued gazing off into the distance. "I do not understand why they are here or what they intend to accomplish by staying here. Perhaps they have found something within those ruins that interests them...or perhaps they're waiting for something. Either way...they pose a threat to my forest."

"I plan to confront them tomorrow," Ebonheim said, opening her eyes and glancing up at Elmsworth. "The battle will most likely spill into your forest since the castle sits near the vale's edge. I hope you don't mind."

Elmsworth lowered his gaze towards her. "So long as none of the destruction reaches the deeper parts of my forest...I shall tolerate your actions. But if things take a turn for the worse...then I will intervene."

Ebonheim nodded. "Do you think it'll be possible for us to drive them out? There's only about two hundred Order members participating in this expedition—along with fifty Silverguards—against a few hundred demons. I'm not sure how this will turn out..."

Elmsworth blinked slowly before replying, "You've grown strong since we first met. Your presence alone should give you an advantage against such beings. Your followers are formidable as well. They may prove to be capable enough to achieve victory." He paused briefly. "But you shouldn't underestimate these demons either. I suspect they've come here seeking conflict."

"I also heard that those demons might be holding a god captive at the ruins...what do you think? Did you happen to encounter any god besides me in this forest?" Ebonheim asked tentatively.

"Hrmm..." Elmsworth grumbled lowly. "If there truly is a deity imprisoned within those ruins...then I'm afraid I have not sensed their presence."

"Oh..." Ebonheim sighed softly and closed her eyes once more.

She had hoped that Elmsworth could verify the rumors for her—or even tell her who the missing god might be—but he didn't seem to know anything about that.

Still...if the rumors were true...then that meant she had a duty to rescue this deity from their captors. That was what she told herself anyway. She still wasn't entirely sure why she felt so compelled to help someone she'd never met before. Was it because they were a fellow god? Or maybe because they were a prisoner? Whatever the reason...she wanted to help them.

She rose to her feet and brushed herself off. "I should head back to camp now. Everyone's probably wondering where I am." She glanced at Elmsworth one last time. "Thank you for the conversation. It was nice seeing you again."

Elmsworth inclined his head slightly towards her. "Take care on your journey, Ebonheim. May fortune favor you in the battles to come."

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When she returned to camp, she found Serrandyl, Evelyne, Viviane, Ingrid, Lorne, and Ardeunius sitting together around a large bonfire. They all seemed deep in conversation.

As she approached them, they stopped talking and looked towards her.

"There you are!" Serrandyl exclaimed cheerfully. "Where'd you run off to?"

"I visited Elmsworth," Ebonheim responded as she sat down next to Serrandyl. "Just checking in with him. He's doing well." She glanced at the group. "What're you guys discussing?"

"We're discussing tomorrow's plan," Ardeunius replied, folding his hands together in front of him. "At our current marching speed, we'll reach the ruins before sundown. We can either camp a safe distance away from the castle grounds or attempt to take the castle while there's still daylight left."

"I say we attack them immediately!" Serrandyl suggested enthusiastically. "No point waiting around! Let's strike fast and hard!"

"We aren't familiar with the lay of the land, nor the numbers and types of demons we'll face," Lorne pointed out. "It would be wise to spend a day or two scouting the area before committing to any course of action."

Ardeunius nodded in agreement. "Indeed. It wouldn't do well to rush into battle unprepared. We need to ascertain what sort of opposition we'll face first. Besides, the garrison stationed at Dulgaan will be joining us the day after tomorrow anyway. We'll wait for them to arrive before moving in."

"I agree with Ardeunius and Lorne," Evelyne added. "Rushing in without scouting ahead first would be foolish." She glanced towards Ebonheim. "What do you think?"

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Ebonheim blinked in surprise—she hadn't expected to be consulted regarding this issue. Warfare wasn't exactly her area of expertise...but she appreciated the gesture. She cleared her throat and spoke: "I think spending time gathering information is important. We need to find out exactly what we're dealing with before committing ourselves to a plan."

Serrandyl pouted at her words but didn't argue further.

Ardeunius nodded again. "Excellent. Then that settles things. We'll resume our march before dawn." He rose from his seat and stretched his arms above his head. "Everyone get some rest. Tomorrow will be a long day." He headed towards his tent, leaving the others behind.

The others soon followed suit, heading towards their own tents.

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Ebonheim perched atop a tall fir tree, surveying the area around her. The walls of Old Drakon Castle loomed in the distance. A faint mist hung over the landscape, obscuring her vision somewhat. But she could still see clearly enough to make out the details of the structure before her.

The ruins stood atop a cliff overlooking the vale below. The outer walls were covered in thick vines and moss, giving the impression of a forgotten fortress. The crumbling remains of towers and battlements jutted out from the ancient stonework. The only entrance into the castle grounds was through a massive portcullis located on the southern side. The gatehouse stood atop a massive stone platform that jutted out over the cliff edge.

A path cut through the forest below, leading directly to the gatehouse.

The surrounding area was blanketed with dense foliage, with only a few scattered patches of bare earth visible. She could hear the rustling of leaves and branches as creatures scurried through the undergrowth.

Her eyes glimmered as she used her Divine Sight to scan the area.

One by one, auras began appearing within her vision—each representing a demon hiding amongst the trees. They appeared as dark silhouettes against a dimly lit background. Most of them moved about aimlessly, but a few stayed stationary. As she focused on each individual aura, she received more information about the beings present within the forest.

[Race] Asura (Lesser)

[Sub-Type] Bhutava

[Health] 300/300

[Combat Stats] Melee Attack 28; Arcane Defense 23; Physical Defense 26; Damage 20-23 Kinetic (Claw), 28 Kinetic (Weapon); Block 25; Evasion 21

[Special Abilities] Damage Reduction 12 (Kinetic, Fire, Electric); Regenerate 50 Health every hour; Basic Earth Manipulation; Can burrow underground and create subterranean dens.

Stout, muscular beings with dull, rocky skin and glowing red eyes roamed the forest floor. They carried crude swords and axes in their clawed hands. Small, curved horns protruded from their heads. Their legs bent backwards at the knee joint. Some had tails while others did not. Most wore little clothing—only a loincloth around their waists. Others wore chainmail armor and helmets.

They seemed to have no organization whatsoever, simply wandering around aimlessly or sitting idle.

Another type of Asura possessed long, slender limbs and bony wings protruding from their backs. Six eyes glowed within their narrow skulls. Sharp fangs jutted out from beneath their thin lips. They glided through the air silently, keeping close to the treetops.

[Race] Asura (Lesser)

[Sub-Type] Shadaksha

[Health] 270/270

[Combat Stats] Melee Attack 25, Ranged Attack 27, Arcane Defense 24, Physical Defense 24; Damage 20-24 Kinetic (Wings, Claws), 25 (Eldritch Blast); Block 21; Evasion 27

[Special Abilities] Damage Reduction 12 (Kinetic, Fire, Electric), Regenerate 40 Health every hour; Nightvision; Paralyzing Screech; Flight; Eldritch Blast - Shoots an energy bolt from their hands.

Ebonheim noted down the information carefully. She counted at least a hundred Bhutava Asuras and about forty Shadaksha Asuras scattered throughout the area. There seemed to be no rhyme or reason for where they chose to roam. Some wandered near the treeline while others stayed deep within the thicket. A few even appeared to be resting on branches high above the ground.

The gatehouse itself was guarded by several large demons standing watch. They had long, serpentine bodies with four arms. Their heads resembled those of bulls with thick horns protruding from either side. Spikes lined their spines.

They were too far away to determine their stats. She would need to get closer before she could assess them accurately. But judging by their size...they had to be stronger than the other Asuras lurking about.

"Maybe I should have let Kelzryn handle this after all..." Ebonheim whispered to herself.

She shook her head slowly.

No...she needed to do this herself. She needed to learn how to deal with problems like this on her own terms. Otherwise...what kind of god would she be? Besides, it would have complicated matters with Ardeunius—raising questions about her relationship with a fabled being. Better to avoid that and focus on the present.

She leapt off the branch and used her divine magic to slow her descent until she landed softly on the forest floor. Once she landed, she began moving silently through the underbrush, making her way back to the main campsite where everyone else waited.

Serrandyl perked up as she approached, jumping to her feet and running over to her excitedly. "Ebonheim! What did you see?" she asked eagerly. "Are they strong?"

"They are..." Ebonheim replied.

"Stronger than Kungwans?" Serrandyl asked, her tail wagging behind her.

"Hard to say," Ebonheim said with a shrug. "Maybe a little bit stronger. I'm sure there are stronger ones inside the castle itself."

Lorne stood up and walked over to them. "How many were there?" he inquired.

"Outside the ruins, I sensed around a hundred and forty," Ebonheim replied. "A small group patrols the gatehouse leading into the castle grounds. They're bigger than the other demons I saw lurking around."

Ardeunius scratched his chin thoughtfully. "I expected as much. How many types of demons did you see?"

"At least three," Ebonheim answered. "But there could be more. If you're familiar with Asuras, you'll recognize the different kinds."

"Indeed," Ardeunius said. "I've studied their kind extensively. Bhutava Asuras are considered lesser demons. They're often used as cannon fodder during large battles. Shadaksha Asuras generally oversee the smaller ones—they're more intelligent and cunning than their brethren. Though they typically don't possess any strong powers, they're quite adept at utilizing magic to their advantage. The Bhutavas do not."

He glanced at Ingrid. "Hrafnsteinnians are familiar with dealing with such demons. Isn't that right?"

Ingrid nodded stiffly. "Yes...we've dealt with them in the past."

"Very good," Ardeunius commented. "I'll ask that you join our council when we plan our attack. Your insight would be greatly appreciated."

"I'd be honored," Ingrid responded. She gave him a quick salute before returning to her seat.

Ardeunius turned back to Ebonheim. "You mentioned the guards at the gatehouse seemed larger than the others?"

Ebonheim nodded. "They looked like humanoid bulls with four arms. Their backs had spines and horns along their heads. I didn't get close enough to inspect them properly."

"I see..." Ardeunius drummed his fingers against his thigh, thinking for a moment. "I don't recall such demons from my studies...perhaps they're some new breed of Asura?" He shook his head slowly. "We'll have to wait and see what we're up against when we reach the castle tomorrow."

"Do you think there's a way to get inside without alerting them to our presence?" Lorne asked.

"There might be," Ardeunius replied. "There are many secret passages within those ruins—most likely forgotten by the current occupants. But even if we find one...we'll still have to deal with whatever demons are stationed inside."

"Let's worry about getting past the gatehouse first," Ebonheim suggested. "I don't know how strong those four-armed demons will prove to be, but I'm sure they'll be more difficult to handle than the other Asuras roaming about."

"Agreed," Ardeunius said. "It wouldn't do us much good to find a way into the castle only to find ourselves surrounded by enemies on all sides. We need to take things one step at a time." He glanced at Ebonheim once more. "Speaking of which...how would you like to proceed from here? We can spend a few days gathering intelligence if you'd like."

Ebonheim shook her head. "No...we should attack tomorrow. If we wait any longer, we risk losing our element of surprise. I'll be the vanguard for this assault. The rest of you stay back and support me from afar. If anything goes wrong, retreat immediately." She looked around at everyone present. "Any objections?"

There were none.

She sighed heavily and ran a hand through her hair. "Good. Let's get some rest. Tomorrow will no doubt be a long day. I'll go and help Evelyne and the other Arcanists finish concealing our camp."