The adventurers boarded the train and headed east, accompanied by Uncle John and Professor Erix Wrighten. Their destination was Vathirond, located on the northeastern edge of Breland. The town had suffered heavily since the Mournland’s emergence, with many residents fleeing as strange and dangerous creatures appeared from the ever-present mist.
At Vathirond, the group was transferred beyond the barricade to a shortened rail line with a single cargo and passenger carriage. They met their engineers, Tabin and Isti, who would operate the train between the barricade and the Mournland’s interior. Their goal was to reach Talastart, a central hub within the mist-shrouded region. The team also encountered three mechanics—Talina (a gnome), Elun (a goblin), and Snacko (a kobold)—who had been maintaining the lightning rail for years. Sabrina learned that these three were seasoned and knowledgeable, invaluable to the expedition’s success.
Zita recommended the party set up four-hour shifts for vigilance and rest, with shifts assigned to Dahl, Zita, Sabrina, Audrey Rose, Bosley, and London.
Before departure, Uncle John gifted Zita two potions of Shield of Faith. Dahl and Bosley joined the technicians at the front of the train to learn how to monitor the tracks and systems.
While on watch, Bosley overheard a chilling tale of a trio of creatures—eight-legged, hyena-like beasts—that had once charged from the mists, emitting thunderous roars that shook the ground and caused widespread destruction.
Uncle John handed Audrey Rose a Type 2 bag of holding, capable of carrying 500 pounds and 70 cubic feet of gear. London cast Consecration on the passenger car, a protective ward that would last fourteen hours. The train was moving steadily at top speed—about 140 feet per minute.
During the first watch, Dahl noticed ghostly faces drifting outside the windows. “Souls of the lost ones,” Tweetie Bear murmured. Zita observed the fog thickening and the temperature dropping. Sabrina passed the time reading a paper.
Suddenly, the train slowed. Isti knocked on their cabin door to report they had reached their first stop for repairs—five conductor stones needed replacement, a task expected to take a few hours.
Audrey Rose, London, Dahl, Bosley, and Uncle John headed outside to guard the engineers during repairs.
Out in the mist, London and Bosley heard metallic clattering. Animated barrels rolled toward them. Uncle John and Audrey Rose threw bombs at the advancing threat. Then, fiery tendrils surged over a nearby hill, engulfing Tweetie Bear and Dahl with electrical damage.
The barrels barreled forward—one struck Bosley, another clipped Uncle John, and a third missed Audrey Rose. Uncle John destroyed a barrel, and Audrey Rose threw a frost bomb at the tendrils-creature, which retaliated by spitting out Dahl and attacking London with an electrocution blast. Dahl quickly cast Haste, while Tweetie Bear attacked the ooze-like entity.
Erix Wrighten fired an acid arrow, but it seemed ineffective against the creature’s magical resistance. The battle continued fiercely until the ooze exploded, scattering the barrels, which then abruptly stopped rolling.
Later, Bosley and London spotted a glowing draconic rune suspended in the air. Bosley recalled stories of creatures capable of manifesting such runes on expeditions in Xen’drik.
That night, Bosley kept watch while others ate. He noticed strange, rune-covered creatures—about the size of great Danes—with large faces like dinner plates, running alongside the train. Fortunately, nothing further happened during London’s watch.
The next morning, Dahl kept watch while London cast Consecrate on the train again. London spotted a massive, menacing structure just off the rail line. Audrey Rose guessed it was a former lightning rail workshop—where carts and carriages were built and added to the line.
Around noon, the train slowed once more. Tabin informed the group that more conductor stones required repair, but a rail car was blocking the track and had to be moved.
Uncle John proposed investigating the contents of the obstructing rail car first. Zita picked the lock, and London pushed open the door. Upon inspection, Uncle John shouted, “Great Scotts!” and summoned Erix. The professors quickly identified the cargo: components for crafting magical staffs and wands—dragon scales, black powder, and other arcane materials. While valuable, it would take significant effort to move and reattach the car to the train.
Taking their time, the group carefully lifted and secured the cart back on the rails. Thankfully, the conductor stones under it remained functional.
While the engineers continued repairs, Sabrina, Zita, and Bosley explored an abandoned station nearby. Inside, they found benches and seats pushed aside, forming a large blood circle in the center of one room. Uneasy, they avoided stepping inside.
Sabrina tossed a clump of dirt into the circle. Suddenly, disembodied voices calling “Mommy! Daddy!” echoed around them. Five small figures emerged from the blood pool, each with an animal skull for a face.
The group backed away cautiously as one figure approached Bosley, asking where his father had gone. Bosley’s bluff failed to convince the spectral child, and the others advanced. Sabrina called for Audrey Rose, who came quickly. Though these were undead children clutching stuffed rabbits, Audrey Rose refused to attack unless provoked and instead withdrew along with the others. The figures did not follow.
London sniffed the air, suddenly sure he had been there before. Memories flooded back of a sunny day on the platform, his master’s presence nearby. Exploring the station further, London found the ticket booth, where a skeleton lay—familiar by scent. He recalled the ticket master telling him he was a good boy and his master praising him as the best boy.
With the cart reattached, the group boarded the train and resumed their journey. London’s somber mood weighed on the team, and they did their best to lift his spirits as the train carried them deeper into the mysterious Mournland.
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