Session 23

Heroes: Meghera, Jade, Vaako, Sarvaas

The Heroes arrive in the Land of the Hunt, Malar's realm in Colothys, a forested valley surrounded by a ring of jagged mountains. They're "welcomed" by a dozen red-furred hunters, fellow tribesmen of the barbarian they released a few days prior. The huntsmen escort the Heroes to their den, delivering them to Guilder Starkad, their leader.

Starkad commands the biggest den in the Land of the Hunt, and he's a devout follower of Malar. He explains to the Heroes that they may have a common enemy. The clan leader of the green-furred hunters, Garond, is planning to "move" the god Malar to the Beastlands, hoping that in this way he will be the favorite of the god. To achieve this, he has poisoned the dreams of the creatures of the Beastlands with the help of a dream-hunter, as to prepare the way for the arrival of his god. While the Beastlands are "primed" to the savage essence of Malar, he captures Beastlands petitioners with his spiritbowls, and feeds them to Malar, to attune him to the Beastlands.

Starkad does not wish this plan to succeed, and enlists the Heroes to kill Garond, since he rather not be involved in the assassination; Garond has aquired heroic status among the malarites, and he does not want to be blamed for his fall. 

The Heroes will need to cross the valley to reach Garond's den. On their way, they face the dangerous beasts of the Land, among them a fiendish vaath, and a ferocious bear stolen from the Beastlands. They also have a chance encounter with a group of green-skinned hunters. They spot them hunting an elephant, and then gathering his petitioner soul into a spiritbowl. The Heroes follow the hunters stealthily, tracking them to a cave. 

Inside the cave, they find a shrine of Malar, and a dark pit. The hunters throw the spiritbowl into the pit, and all in the cave can feel the savage presence of Malar feeding! When the madness fades, the Heroes assault the hunters and kill them. As they're about to leave, Jade decides to impart one final lesson to Malar and his cult. He approaches the statue of Malar, and topples it into the pit, desecrating the temple.

But Malar will not bear offense in his own home. A dark beast springs out of the pit, its claws and muzzle red with blood. Its roar fills Jade with fear, but still he fights the creature. Recognizing the will of Malar, Vaako and Meghera flee the cave, while Sarvaas stays behind to help Jade. When the beast rends Jade's body apart, Sarvaas tries to escape, but the monster is too fast. Two more souls feed the savage hunger of the Beastlord.