Iawa and Alroc set off for Redhearth by themselves while the rest of the party defaults to Sharn to go do whatever they need to. While riding in the elemental cart with Falen, three shadow dire wolves attack and trip Alroc a lot as he soaks most of the attacks, eventually dropping to below half hit points!
Once a single wolf remained, it let out a howl as another wolf and a premature lycanthrope joined the fray.
We then took the lightning rail. No antics there.
We then set out on foot and encountered back-to-back encounters with manticores. Iawa illustrates the usefulness of counters and initiating maneuvers with unarmed strikes while Alroc skewers the spine lizard with an old-fashioned greatsword. We then find a mysterious inn filled with the usual Eldeen crowd: naturalists and shifters. Iawa almost resembles a manticore's tail by insuating the innkeep is a liar after some questions but the topic of Redheart simmers him down. Alroc then talks with the keep about The Last War after a performance of his skill in a drill. They share war stories and he's above "shoot the robed guy" status with the party. He slips a note saying he has intel on The Emerald Claw and to meet him there after midnight. After setting up a fake campsite a half mile down the road, they meet back up with the innkeep.
Turns out The Emerald Claw got ahead of us, but he has a faster way. Alroc reveals his sketchiness of elementally propelled transportation, but is relieved to see a druid will be assisting them. She takes them through a tree and to the shaft that leads into Redhearth. Alroc and Iawa figure The Emerald Claw group will take 2-3 days to reach the location and begins preparations on some traps and defenses.
