The Fireball Gazette

Bear or Deva?
Their mission led them to the Cliffside where Wilot’s father was being held, but the journey took a rather chaotic turn when they were ambushed by what appeared to be a ferocious bear - a most unwelcome interruption. As tensions rose (and everyone waited quite patiently for it to blow over), the bear transformed into Deva, revealing the ambush to be a bit of a trick. With Deva’s shapeshifting abilities, the party formulated a plan to slip into the camp unnoticed. In her spider form, Deva crept past the guards and scouted the layout. She spotted some Fort Murray uniforms, providing an opportunity for a rather daring ruse.

Mad Matt’s Rather Eccentric Plan
Mad Matt, ever the unconventional fellow, seized upon Deva’s discovery. He dispatched Sir Spencer, his monkey companion, to retrieve the uniforms - a very brave little chap. Once dressed, Mad Matt devised an absolutely absurd plan to pose as a wounded soldier. To ensure the performance was convincing, he insisted that Havi punch him - repeatedly - until he looked quite battered indeed. With his injuries looking properly authentic, Matt limpered toward the guards, claiming to be Sergeant Matthew from the Fourth Cavalry with vital intelligence. A bit of vomiting on a guard added a rather unpleasant but effective touch; the guards, clearly taken in by the drama, rushed him to the infirmary.

A Most Intriguing Tale
After the doctor had patched up Matt’s more grievous wounds - a bit of a bother, that - Matt insisted that he be taken to Commander Stein to report on the intelligence he had supposedly gathered on the front lines. Once in the commander’s tent, Matt began an elaborate tale regarding the secret plans of Lysander von Trümmbach, claiming that the Fort Murray government was secretly building a fleet that would end the war in mere days if left undisturbed. Matt became so caught up in his performance that he quite forgot that his own crew were actually on the opposing side - they had been sent from Fairview specifically to recover prisoners held in a Fort Murray camp. In other as much as, the commander he was addressing was a direct subordinate of Lysander von Trümmbach and was not at all amused. Luckily, Commander Stein chalked it up to a concussion and politely sent Matt back to the infirmary.

Dealing with the Guards
While Mad Matt's performance unfolded, Mabel and Havi handled the guards in their own understated way. Using magic to create a bit of a distraction, Mabel lured a guard away, allowing Havi to sneak up and swiftly finish him off. Havi, ever resourceful, used vomit to mask the blood - a rather grim solution, but it worked for maintaining stealth. Deva, still in her spider form, accompanied Tiyana as they found more uniforms to blend in with the crowd.

Matt Unleashes Tentacles
Back in the infirmary, Mad Matt decided that his cover shouldn't stop him from causing a bit of a scene. Drawing on his connection to the dark entity Nalzagoth, Matt summoned shadowy tentacles that quite subdued the doctor. With the doctor tied down by these rather eldritch forces, Matt created a most grim spectacle beneath the infirmary tent. When a guard arrived to check on him, the rest of the party acted with great efficiency; Havi launched a ballista bolt that dispatched the unsuspecting soldier. Mabel promptly grabbed the guard’s uniform as they prepared to move on.

Prisoners Freed
With Deva’s scouting revealing the location of the prisoners, the team pressed forward. After freeing the captives, they had to navigate their way back through the camp with great care - one mustn't cause a scene. Mad Matt, still yearning for more carnage, nearly blew their cover. Havi saved the day with another bit of quick thinking, pretending to be quite intoxicated as he carried Matt in his arms. This ruse worked just long enough for the group to slip past the guards without being noticed.

The Final Scuffle
As they neared their exit, one of the guards recognised Mad Matt and attempted to send him back to the infirmary - rather rude of him. Havi’s drunken antics swayed the guard, who led them to a secluded area. Seizing the opportunity, Havi used Matt as a makeshift weapon, smashing into the guard with both Matt and his battleaxe. The ensuing struggle ended with the guard’s rather messy demise; however, since there was no vomit left to use, Havi covered the remains with some leftover soup. A bit of a mess, but they slipped away, leaving the camp behind.

Wilma’s Reward
Returning to Fairview victorious, the adventurers were greeted by a relieved and quite grateful Wilma. True to her word, she handed over 80 gold, including the stolen amount plus interest - a very fair deal indeed. She had also managed to recruit 12 eager interns for their ship - though only 9 stayed after hearing the full terms of the deal, particularly once Matt mentioned pledging loyalty to Nalzagoth (hardly a pleasant prospect). With new allies and a fresh batch of recruits, the party left Fairview, ready for their next adventure - perhaps with a nice cup of tea in hand.