The group wakes to a simple breakfast laid out on the table in Kaelen's kitchen. The morning sunlight filters in through the trees outside, casting long shadows. It's time for the journey to the Temple of Lathander to begin.

  Kaelen approaches Akmenos as he prepares to leave, holding a small charm crafted from polished wood and etched with runes. "Take this," he says, handing it to Akmenos. "It will ward off weaker fiends, but its power is limited. Don't rely on it too much."

  Akmenos gives him a small nod, taking the charm with gratitude. "I won't. Thank you for all your hospitality. We will be going now."

  Kaelen nods back, his piercing gaze lingering on Akmenos. "May the light guide your path, Hellrider. Stay vigilant, the Pines are as old as they are treacherous. And remember, the Temple of Lathander is more than a place of healing, it's a bastion of faith. You need to remind them why this fight is worth their help."

  Garrek adjusts his sword scabbard on his belt, Lyle secures his pack, and Bryn pulls their cloak tighter as the group prepares to leave. The forest air carries an eerie stillness, broken only by the faint rustling of towering trees.

  As the group steps out and onto the trail leading into the Whispering Pines, Kaelen stands in the doorway with a hand raised in farewell. "Good luck! And hey, if I find any more info on Thornblood, I'll figure out a way to tell you" he says before turning and disappearing back inside his house.

  The group begins their journey. The path is narrow, flanked by dense undergrowth and ancient trees. The occasional whisper of the wind through the branches sounds almost like voices, but it's faint enough to dismiss. "The Pines live up to their name," Akmenos says, brushing aside an overgrown bush on their path, "I swear I hear voices but it must just be the wind."

  Garrek hacks off a low hanging branch with his sword and speaks up, "It's strange, after all the stories we've heard about this place and about that man, none of it seems to have added up."

  Bryn, walking in the path of Garrek and Akmenos, proceeds with relative ease and grace, "He was nice. A hermit, but a nice hermit. The Pines have also been quiet, usually a sign of danger but so far, I don't see any signs of a threat."

  That’s weird. Bryn’s voice sounds different today. Almost natural. It’s surprising how much different their voice was just a day ago compared to now.

  This time, Lyle speaks up, "No tracks, no birdsong. Just the trees rustling and our footsteps to drown out the silence. It's eerie. I would stay alert. Bryn can hide, she's good at that, but you two are like two owlbears in a clay shop."

  Akmenos slows for just a second, "She? Hm. Between that fake voice you've been putting on and the fact I still haven't seen your face, even when we were sleeping, I was starting to wonder what was up with you. So you're a woman? Why hide that?"

  Bryn, walking a few steps behind Akmenos, gives him a curious look before responding. "That's... an interesting question," she says, raising an eyebrow. "But fair enough, I suppose. I'm a woman, though I don't usually bother correcting people if they assume otherwise. Life on the road teaches you that it's better to keep people guessing. Makes it harder for them to figure you out."

  "I see. I meant no offense by bringing it up."

  Bryn chuckles softly, shaking her head. "None taken. I get that a lot. Part of the job, I guess. Doing what I do means blending in or standing out, depending on what's needed. If people can't quite figure me out, it gives me an edge." She adjusts her hood slightly and adds, "Honestly, it's kind of refreshing that you just asked outright instead of dancing around it. People usually avoid the topic entirely."

  Garrek glances back over his shoulder, smirking. "Well, Bryn's mystery aside, I think we can all agree she's the one you don't want to cross."

  Lyle grins. "She's definitely the deadliest out of us with a knife."

  Bryn gives an exaggerated bow, her tone playful. "Flattery will get you everywhere, boys."

  The group continues down the path, the moment easing the tension of the eerie forest surroundings. Akmenos speaks up again, "So what's your stories? You all never gave me a straight answer."

  Garrek snorts, shaking his head as he trudges forward. "I Guess we've been avoiding that question long enough. I'll start, since I've got nothing to hide. I was a soldier, like you. I served in a mercenary company called the Iron Wolves. We got betrayed by a client and most of the Wolves didn't make it. I've been wandering ever since, trying to find work where I can and keep my blade sharp."

  Lyle, walking alongside, pipes up next. "I grew up in the Greenfields. Quiet, peaceful place. My family were farmers, but I was always more interested in the woods. Hunting, tracking, exploring... it was my escape. When raiders came through and burned our village, I tried to help people escape, but I wasn't enough." His voice grows quieter. "After that, I took to wandering. Figured if I couldn't save my home, I'd at least try to make sure no one else loses theirs."

  Bryn is silent for a moment, then shrugs lightly. "Not much to tell, really. Grew up on the streets, learned to fend for myself early on. Got good with a blade, good with people, and good at finding things that weren't mine." She smirks, but there's a hint of something deeper in her tone. "Made a name for myself in a few cities, but eventually got tired of looking over my shoulder all the time. Now I pick my jobs carefully and try not to attract too much attention."

  The group falls quiet for a moment as their stories hang in the air, the only sounds being the crunch of leaves underfoot and the faint whispers of the forest before Akmenos speaks up again. "Okay, so how'd you all meet and why'd you decide to stick together?"

  Garrek glances back at Akmenos, smirking faintly. "Well, it wasn't exactly destiny, if that's what you're thinking. We met the way most folks like us do. Circumstance, desperation, and a bit of luck."

  Lyle nods, picking up the thread. "Garrek and I crossed paths first. I was tracking a band of gnolls that had been harassing a small village near the edges of the forest. Turns out they'd already gotten to his caravan he was protecting. He was the only one who made it out alive. We teamed up to take them down."

  Garrek grimaces. "It wasn't pretty, but we got the job done. Just a shame the caravanners didn't make it. After that, we figured we worked well enough together to stick around for a while."

  Bryn chuckles softly. "I joined later. Ran into these two in a backwater town where they were trying to take on a bounty without any real intel. The target turned out to be a gang of bandits holed up in an abandoned fort. They'd have been outnumbered two to one if I hadn't 'accidentally' overheard their plans in the tavern."

  Garrek rolls his eyes. "Accidentally overheard, sure. More like you were planning to rob us blind."

  Bryn smirks, unrepentant. "What can I say? You looked like easy marks. But you turned out to be decent enough, so I stuck around. Figured it was better than working alone."

  Lyle grins. "And the rest is history. We've been looking out for each other ever since."

  Akmenos nods, his tone serious. "Well, I hope I can live up to your expectations. You've got a good thing here, watching each other's backs. I'll do my part to make sure I don't hold any of you back."

  Garrek grins, a rare warmth in his expression. "Don't worry, Akmenos. You've already proved yourself by sticking your neck out for this fight. That's a lot more than most people are willing to do."

  Lyle adds, "Yeah, you're with us now. We don't expect perfection, just don't get yourself killed trying to be a hero."

  Bryn smirks, adjusting her cloak. "And if you do, at least leave something shiny behind for me to pawn."

  The group chuckles lightly, the tension breaking for a moment as they continue deeper into the forest. The trees grow taller and closer together, their whispers more pronounced now, as if the forest itself is aware of their presence.

  Akmenos swats at a bug buzzing around his ear. "I'm sure you're all pretty curious about my story after having spilled yours."

  Garrek glances over his shoulder with a smirk. "I'd be lying if I said I wasn't. You don't exactly meet a Hellrider every day, especially not one walking around with their head still attached."

  Lyle nods, his expression a mix of curiosity and respect. "Yeah, you've got the air of someone who's been through the fire and came out the other side. Literally, in your case."

  Bryn tilts her head, her sharp eyes studying Akmenos. "You've dropped hints here and there, but yeah, I'd say it's about time we got the full story. What brought a Hellrider out here, wandering with the likes of us?"

  "As you know, I'm a Hellrider. Have you heard about what happened with Elturel?"

  Garrek's expression hardens, and he nods grimly. "Yeah, I've heard the stories. Elturel dragged into hell, the Hellriders fighting tooth and nail to bring it back. Most people don't know all the details, though, just the whispers that made it out."

  Lyle shudders, looking uneasy. "I heard it was devils... an infernal pact gone wrong or something. Sounds like something out of a nightmare."

  Unauthorized duplication: this tale has been taken without consent. Report sightings.

  Bryn crosses her arms, her tone cautious. "And you were there for all of that? Makes sense now why you seem so... driven. No one walks away from something like that unchanged."

  Akmenos nods solemnly, the weight of his memories clear in his expression. "I was there when Elturel fell. We thought we were protecting it, but we were just pieces in a larger game. The Companion, that shining second sun, wasn't what it seemed. It was part of an infernal pact. When it failed, the city was dragged into Avernus, the first layer of hell."

  He pauses, his voice tightening. "The Hellriders rode into the flames, just as we swore we would. Some of us went willingly. Others... didn't. It wasn't long before we realized the true cost of our oaths. Avernus is a battlefield where even the air is poison, and the devils are relentless. I fought alongside comrades who'd give their lives ten times over to save the city, and I watched as many of them were taken. Either slain or twisted into something unrecognizable."

  Akmenos’ gaze hardens. "Elturel was saved, but not without sacrifices. When it was all over, I couldn't go back. The Hellriders are supposed to be protectors of the people, symbols of hope. All of them. The people of Elturel thought different. They blamed people like me for what happened. After that, I knew I couldn't live up to the Hellrider expectations anymore. So I left.

  The group falls silent for a moment, the weight of Akmenos’ words settling over them. Lyle looks down, his face pale. "That's... that's more than I could ever imagine. You've seen hell itself and lived to tell the tale."

  Garrek nods, his respect evident. "No wonder you're so determined to stop Thornblood. You've already fought the worst and come out the other side."

  Bryn tilts her head, her expression unreadable. "Well, I can't say I envy your past, but I can see why you're not one to back down from a fight. You've got nothing left to lose, do you?"

  "I spent a lot of time fighting Devils and Demons. Both of them pure evil and despicable. I hate them. That's why I’m doing this.” Akmenos pauses for a second, staring down at the path under his feet. "Avernus itself killed many of us and changed the rest of us. Whether it be mentally, physically, or spiritually, none of us returned the same person we were before. Some lost limbs. Others lost their minds. Most lost faith. They believed Helm had betrayed them. Some, like myself, were left with... different kind of scars."

  Akmenos goes quiet for a moment. The group watches him as he suddenly erupts into flame. "Those godsdamned Devils massacred us and twisted us! We saved that city! And what did we get?! Shunned and berated for what? For looking similar to those... fiends?!"

  The group backs off slightly as they watch him burning with anger, literally, before it starts to simmer down again.

  The others are frozen and silent while Akmenos is stood taking deep breaths. Garrek looks on with cautious readiness. Lyle looks ready to bolt and Bryn already has a hand on one of her daggers.

  Finally, Akmenos speaks up. “I’m okay. Back in Avernus, I lost a piece of myself and that rage took its place.”

  Garrek nods slowly, his gaze steady. "That makes sense. Anger can break a man, but it can also forge him into something unshakable. You've got the look of someone who's learned to wield it, not let it wield you."

  Lyle, still pale, offers a tentative smile. "Well, I'd say that's a hell of a skill to have. If Thornblood's summoning demons, we'll need every edge we can get. And you've got more experience with them than anyone I've ever met."

  Bryn raises an eyebrow, her voice curious but cautious. "So what's the plan when we face something like that again? You've seen what they can do. What's the move? How do we make it out alive?"

  The group pauses briefly in their trek, clearly looking to Akmenos for guidance.

  "We fight smart, cover each other's backs and stay focused. Most demons wait for an opportunity where they know without a doubt they can win. We don't give them that chance."

  Garrek nods firmly, gripping the hilt of his sword. "Makes sense. No room for mistakes with something like that. We'll watch each other's backs like we always have and keep the pressure on."

  Lyle's hand hovers over the quiver at his side, his expression resolute. "If they're waiting for an opportunity, they're not getting it from me. I'll be watching every shadow."

  Bryn smirks faintly, though her eyes carry a seriousness that belies her usual demeanor. "And if they do try something, they'll regret it. I've got a knack for turning the tables."

  The group falls into a determined silence as they push forward through the forest, the weight of Akmenos’ experience lending them focus.

  The Pines grow more dense as does the fog. Akmenos’ pace slows. “Something doesn’t feel right. Do you hear that?”

  Garrek slows to match, “I don’t hear anything.”

  “That’s the point. The wind is gone. So are the birds.”

  The group slowly continues for a few more minutes before Lyle calls out, “Hey! There’s something over there!” Lyle points to their side. “It doesn’t look natural. Should we check it out?”

  Akmenos doesn’t answer, instead, he begins trudging through the foliage. As he gets closer, he sees it more clearly. “Looks like a broken down carriage.”

  Bryn kneels down beside one of the shattered axles. “Wheels are done for and there’s blood.” She reaches down and touches it. “Seems recent. Maybe within the past day or two.”

  Lyle circles around the rear of the carriage. “Empty sacks. Looks like they were looted. Weird, there’s no trail so why bring the carriage this way.”

  Garrek, who had been examining the front of the carriage, speaks up. “Horses are dead. They’re not tied to the carriage though.” He kneels down. “This doesn’t look good. Looks like they were dragged away.” He moves closer to the horses. “Gods… are those…”

  Akmenos walks over. “Those are bite marks. Something large took chunks out of them. The real question is, where are the people?”

  The group falls silent as they continue examining. After some time, Bryn speaks up. “I think I found them.” She pushes through some dense foliage and finds three bodies, all mangled and torn to shreds. “Wait, what’s this?” She reaches down and turns one of the bodies over onto it’s back. It’s face is twisted in an unnatural grin. In it’s teeth sits a chunk of flesh. “Is that… did he…”

  Akmenos kneels down beside Bryn. “Yeah. Look there.” He points to one of the other bodies. “He’s got a human jaw sized bite mark on his arm. He ate him. I don’t like this.”

  Beside them, Lyle speaks, “I found tracks! Looks like they go even deeper. They’re big too.”

  Akmenos stands and begins walking away. “Good. They’re going the opposite direction we were heading. Let’s get going before whatever it is comes back.”

  The group agrees and begins back on track to the temple.

  The trail is still silent but calm. The fog remains dense and the group stays on edge. Suddenly, they hear a voice in the distance behind them.

  "Hey! I find more info on Thornblood. I'll tell you."

  Lyle spins around, "That sounds like Kaelen, did he really follow us all the way out here to give us some more information?"

  Suddenly, another voice comes from the fog, "No! I need help!" Then, "Good luck," Kaelen's voice says.

  Garrek readies his sword, "The Hells is going on?"

  Akmenos readies his battleaxe. "Shit. I was afraid of this. Garrek, with me up front. Lyle and Bryn, stay behind."

  The voice speaks again, this time, coming from all around them as they hear movement rustling through the dense foliage to their sides.

  “I’m so hungry.”

  “What is that?”

  “How much further?”

  “Don’t worry, I know a shortcut.”

  Akmenos rests his hand on his axe and murmurs, “Is this… No. There’s no way…”

  The group gets in position as Akmenos ordered and a long silence fills the space as the tension grows. The whispers of the forest seem to get louder and louder until they come to a stop, replaced by another gruff and gravelly voice.

  "I'm not afraid of you. Die in Hell.”

  As the words from that voice are uttered, a blurred form comes soaring through the fog behind them and right into Bryn, pinning her to the ground. Bryn manages to raise her arm, holding her dagger, but not before the creature bites down on her forearm. Blood seeps and spurts as the creature thrashes the arm, its jagged teeth ripping and tearing the flesh. Black ooze trickles down her arm mixed in with her blood.

  Akmenos whips around and immediately charges the monster, bringing down his axe at a careful angle as to not hit Bryn should he miss or cut clean through.

  The creature lets out a horrifying cacophony of screams as the axe finds its mark as it digs in to the creature's shoulder. Akmenos rips the axe out and the creature stands, towering over even his tall frame before letting out a howl that sounds more like an off-tune choir of screams and cries before pouncing into the thick brush.

  "Bryn! Are you okay?" Garrek says, rushing to her side, shield raised.

  "Don't lose focus, that thing isn't done yet." Akmenos says readying his axe. Rustling leaves kicked up all around them. Branches creak above them.

  Lyle readies an arrow while Bryn scrambles to her feet, clutching her bleeding arm. Akmenos glances at her. She looks bad. Worse than she’s letting on.

  "There!" Lyle says as he looses an arrow. It flies upwards into the canopy of the trees and out of sight, but not out of earshot. A quick "thnk" signals it found it’s mark. And if the sound didn't make it clear, the sight of the creature barreling right toward Lyle from above, arrow sticking out of it’s chest is a pretty clear sign too.

  "Shit!" Lyle exclaims as he raises his bow, catching the creature's snarling mouth before turning the bow to the side and slamming the creature down. "What is that thing?!" Lyle says as he backs away in time for Bryn to close the distance.

  Her one arm is limp but the other holds a dagger poised to strike as she slips past Lyle and attempts to sink the dagger into the creature as it's down. The dagger finds its mark as its brought down into it's chest, black blood spurting out onto the ground as it squirms. Bryn removes the dagger and brings it down again but the creature manages to throw her off causing the strike to miss.

  Before the creature could finish getting to it's feet, she lunges again but the creature catches her arm with its twisted, clawed hands. Bryn looks at the creature, shock in her face as it brings up its other hand, long claws poised and ready. Before they can come down on her, Bryn twists and sends a kick to the creature's gnarly head causing it to loosen it's grip enough for her to wrench her arm free with an audible "pop". Bryn retreats to Garrek's side, both arms now limp at her side.

  Akmenos sees the direction the fight is going and plants his feet, letting out a guttural roar. Flames circle him again like before but this time, they're stronger, brighter, hotter. The rage burns in his eyes as he unleashes his fury and charges forward, axe ready. The creature sees Akmenos coming and braces about as much as one could brace for a freight train. Akmenos’ axe comes down with enough force to send the creature to it’s knees. The axe, now embedded into the creature's shoulder is suddenly ripped out and swung at a horizontal arc aimed for the creature's neck. The creature moves just in time to cause the axe to miss but Akmenos expected that. He leaves no defense, leaving himself wide open, he swings again.

  His attacks are raw instinct and primal fury taken form. Akmenos drops the axe to the dirt and swings upwards. The creature sees it coming and steps onto the axe handle, pinning it to the ground and letting out another roar of twisted screams.

  While the creature is letting out it's roar, Garrek swings from it’s side but finds no purchase. The creature just turns to face him, eyes, or the empty sockets where they should be, staring him down.

  "This thing isn't normal!" Garrek calls out.

  Another arrow flies past Garrek and sinks into the creature’s neck. The screams and voices the creature had been mimicking now spill out as if they’re drowning. "Keep at it, it looks like it's on it's last legs."

  During their struggle, Bryn manages to pop her shoulder back in place and just barely hold up one of her daggers. "You want last legs? I'll give you last legs." She says as she slips from behind Garrek to strike the creature at the side of its neck. With a loud "shunk" the dagger sinks deep. Bryn pulls the dagger down causing blood to come pouring out of the wound while the creature stumbles back, head down in exhaustion.

  Akmenos takes this time to raise his axe and with a wild fury, cuts its head clean off, body going limp on the forest floor.

  The forest and the whispers quiet save for the group's heavy breathing and pained breaths from Bryn. Akmenos stands over the body of the creature taking deep breaths. The flames start subsiding as his body eases it’s tension.

  Lyle drops his bow at his feet and sits against a tree. "Someone want to tell me what the Hells that was? It had Kaelen's voice as well as others."

  Bryn drops to a knee. "More importantly, we need to find a healer. My arm is shot and I've lost a lot of blood. We need to keep moving."

  Akmenos, having returned to normal walks over to Bryn. He rips off a strip of his tunic sleeve and wraps her wound.

  "Let me carry you, save your strength." Akmenos extends his hand and Bryn takes it. Akmenos pulls her to her feet and sweeps her up in his arms. "I can carry you like this or you can ride piggyback. Your call."

  "I'll take piggyback. Frees up your hands." The two get situated and the group continues their journey.

  “Alright. We need to get you to a healer immediately.”

  “I’m fine. I just might not be able to move my arm that well for a little bit.”

  “That’s not fine. You’ve lost a lot of blood and honestly, you’d run the risk of becoming a liability if another one of those things shows up.”

  As they walk, Akmenos speaks up. "I'm not certain exactly what that was. It might have been something called a Wendigo. I heard a little bit about them in my travels. From what I’ve heard, it's a horrific creature formed by necessity driven hunger gone mad. A spirit of cannibalism that possesses the weak of will. It's said, when someone is driven by desperation to commit to cannibalism, their soul is twisted and their bodies warped into one of those... things. We're lucky to be alive. It really got you good, Bryn. I'm sorry I couldn't stop it.”

  Bryn is quick to answer, "No, don't worry about it. After all, Garrek didn't stop it either. I knew the risks, this is just an occupational hazard."

  "Hey! I would have stopped it but that thing was unnaturally fast. It's surprising you all even got any hits on it, the way I see it."

  Akmenos shifts Bryn's weight, "We all did our part. We all had room for improvement but we're all alive and I'd say that's a victory enough. For now, we need to get Bryn looked at."

  The group refocuses and picks up their pace. The trees begin to thin slightly, and the faint outline of the Temple of Lathander appears in the distance, bathed in the soft glow of the rising sun. The temple looks weathered but steadfast, a beacon of light and hope amid the foreboding forest. The air feels warmer here, calmer, as if the forest itself dares not encroach too closely.

  "Eyes sharp, just because it's a temple doesn't mean we're safe. Let's go see if they'll help." Akmenos says as he shifts Bryn again and heads toward the temple.

  The group nods, each member falling into step behind Akmenos as he leads the way toward the temple. The atmosphere is deceptively calm, but his instincts tell him not to trust it. The forest may have stopped whispering, but the silence feels too deliberate, too heavy.

  As he approaches the temple, he notices the intricate carvings etched into the stone walls. Sun motifs and symbols of Lathander's light radiate outward, though some of the carvings are weathered and faint, as if time itself has dimmed their glow. The large wooden doors stand slightly ajar, creaking softly as the wind moves them. From inside, faint murmurs can be heard, prayers, perhaps, or the quiet movement of someone going about their duties.

  Garrek grips his sword tightly, his muscles taut. Lyle nocks an arrow, ready but not aiming it yet, and Bryn uses her good arm to pull her hood down.

  Akmenos steps to the doorway, his voice calm but commanding. "Greetings! My name is Akmenos, and these are my companions, Garrek, Lyle, and Bryn. We come seeking aid and guidance. Is anyone here?"

  The murmurs inside grow quiet, and for a moment, there's only silence. Then, soft footsteps echo from within the temple. A figure emerges from the shadows, a middle-aged human man in priestly robes, carrying a staff topped with a faintly glowing sun emblem. His face is kind but weary, and his eyes flick over the group with a mix of curiosity and caution.

  "I am Brother Emon," he says, his voice steady but low. "This is a place of peace, travelers, though I sense the weight of your purpose and see the urgency in your situation. Bring your friend inside. We must see to her wounds."