The cold air bites at your lungs as you take a deep breath. For two days you have waited at the Bright Tower, biding your time as the garrison of city guards made brief skirmishes into The Point trying to clear the streets and alleyways of the rampant undead swarming the district. Food and drink was being provided from a few arcane sources but the Hazard of Haemil had immediately disappeared into the highest levels of the tower and hadn’t been seen since.

Prior to the refugees’ arrival, Toraim has been helping the dwarves keep the road between Eastgate and the Bright Tower clear of undead. While mercenaries and a few survivors from the City Watch have been keeping the path clear right up to the tower, the dwarves had been charged with patrols from Eastgate ot the Bright Gate, a gatehouse separating Oldtown and The Point along the Dragon Road.

One week ago, on the 10th of Selefis, Toraim and a group of dwarves were escorting a group consisting of Ysildaë, her two elven companions, a tiefling and several humans, to the Tower Gate. As they made their way down the Dragon Road towards the gatehouse, a low rumbling of voices could be heard. Swelling out from the alleys, a horde of undead ambled after the group who escaped through the Bright Gate before it was shut and barricaded. There, they met Marcusic, a skald from Haemil that had traveled to Talanor before the storm that broke the world.

Since the 15th of Selefis, the City Guard of Earthenwork have coordinated with the Bright Tower to begin clearing The Point for the refugees to inhabit. However, things haven’t gone smoothly as undead have been found most everywhere. This morning, the 17th of Selefis, a call has gone out to all able bodied persons to report to the Bridge to assist. Marcusic, coordinating with the City Guard, began to assemble several teams under his command. His first recruit was Toraim. He knew the dwarf was resolute and determined to help reestablish control of the Vale. Besides, he had been offered assistance from Akula, and who better than a fellow devotee to Valthyra to pair with the noblewoman. Toraim also turned to Ysildaë for aide. The elf had been aching to get back into the city and away from the Tower since she had arrived.

Heading to the end of the bridge, the trio spotted several other hopefuls standing in line waiting to be selected. A hulking human warrior is inspecting the recruits, accepting those capable of defending themselves and rejecting the others. A smallish young female with unruly blonde hair that the warrior had dismissed, sulked through the crowd and made her way into the piazza where the groups were mustering. She glances about nervously, unsure where to head, when Toraim takes her by the arm just as Marcusic approaches them.

”Toraim… Ysildaë… glad to see you’ve recovered from the rough journey from Eastgate,” he says with a slight nod of his head. Turning to the half-orc, he continues with a more formal tone, ”Lady Akula. We’re thankful to have you with us.” Only then does he notice Maria. ”And you are?” he inquires looking a bit confused and passing a quick glance to the dwarf.

The constable hands Toraim a map of The Point.

“We’ve taken control of The Tired Flame Inn. Just to the northeast,” he says pointing to the two story tavern just beyond the end of the bridge. “Sir Cássyon and the City Guard are going to concentrate their efforts on securing the buildings along the Lake Road. Hopefully, they will clear the area all the way to the Estate’s gatehouse. We need to stop the flow of undead coming from that district. We’d like you to secure the Happy Giant Bakery… yea, yea, I know, nothing happy about that place now… but the ovens there will certainly help with food production! Once you clear the bakery, send word to me at the inn, and I’ll send someone to occupy it while you hit another target. Questions?”

Inside the tower, Kayin had set up a small general store in one of the guest chambers. Although a capable fighter, he had excelled these past, dark days as a master trader. Procuring items from one source, only to trade it quickly for a profit to a waiting buyer. During this time, before the portal opened and the tower filled with the homeless highlanders, Sautekh and Titan had accompanied Marcusic into the Point to ferry supplies and news back from Eastgate. Kayin had joined them on occasion, trying to scavenge what he could from the city before any wandering dead found them. Randall had also joined them once or twice, as the tiefling was eager to reestablish a connection to the paladin. Marcusic also called upon this foursome to lend a hand. Knowing that the everyone must pull together and that the spoils of what they found in the city would be theirs to keep as Kayin had eagerly reminded them, all of them heeded the call. Waiting at the mustering point on the far edge of the bridge, the group spotted Marcusic making his way slowly through the throngs of people. The constable stopped and looked to be talking to a half-elven female with an oversized axe. She nods and stands, towering over Marcusic. The pair walks straight over to the group.

”Sautekh… Titan… Kayin and Randall… I’d like you to meet Muraisa of the First Lands. That is, if you haven’t already had the pleasure,” he says with a large grin. ”The day is sure to be long, and strong axes shouldn’t be overlooked. If you run into trouble, just fall back to the bridge.” Marcusic turns and waves a hand at another group. ”Excuse me for a minute. I’ll come back by after making an announcement.”