Mar’Khabazza is suddenly in a big hurry to get on with the business of making money, so the Troupe plans to leave Edmond’s Crossing after resupplying and acquiring trade goods. He spends the day sourcing craftsman-grade exotic woods on the open market, hoping to score big wth a load in Opal.
July 22, 7761
After gathering supplies and cargo, the troupe lines up passage with a departing merchan caravan. After a day’s travel, they leave the forest and at the edge of the woods, on the far bank, they see a woman in stained leathers holding a shortbow, regarding the convoy impassively. Figuring the individual for the Rogue Knight, Magnus gives a wave, and she replies with a wan smile.
For the next two weeks, the caravan proceeds steadily northwards on the Great Road. Mar’Khabazza get selp with a broken wagon wheel and pass two recently broken and burned wagons, presumably sacked by roaming nomads. But August 1 finds the caravan speaking with the trio of guards at the crossroads. There is another group of wagons heading to Beryl and Mar’Khabazza recognizes them as merchants he had overheard in Edmond’s Crossing collecting iron ore for a smuggler’s run to Beryl. He considers informing on them as they could be potentially cutting into his profit when he himself sells his load in Beryl, but thinks better of it.
Two days later the caravan reaches Opal. On the way south to Opal they spot the ghost leopard sitting on its perch on a carved block of metamorphic rock that juts out of the scree field like the prow of a ship. It regards them coolly as it grooms itself, basking in the rare sunshine of North Brilend.
August 2, 7761
The Troupe arrives into Opal in peak summer spleandor and immediately sets about running errands: Mar’Khabazza heads to the Merchant’s Guild to sell is load of construction grade timber and storing his exotic wood for later sale. He also meets with a caravan master who is leaving Opal for Edmond’s Crossing with eight wagons of processed ore. Magnus sends his gift of forest scents and essential oils to Lady Catriona at her estate and tends to the horses and wagon while Ravenna heads straight to the Crow Club to start drinking. Eventually Mar’Khabazza catches up with her and has a successful night gambling.
Late in the night, under the midnight sun, the trio eventually makes its way back to their house in the craftsman district and finds everythingneat and dust-free.
Ravenna assumes that Savinia Loresong has stopped by to neaten up, but Magnus suspect that the house itself is haunted and is tending to itself.
Deep in the night, five hoods attempt a home invasion but the house wakes everyone up again with soft bolts of air that feel like getting struck with a down pillow. As the hoods break in, the house strikes back- slamming the door shut violently on one, bruising his shin and knocking him to the floor. Magnus charges into the fray and begins knocking hoods about with bare hands. Mar’Khabazza attacks from ambush, sending them to painful and lingering deaths with Hasp and Thorn. At the end there are three dead and two prisoners.
They question the prisoners and learn that the Slenderman has urged the hoods to recapture Ravenna “during his sermons”.
While discussing the future fate of the prisoners, the blood of the slain is absorbed into the wood floor itself and animates. It communicates to Mar’Khabazza and Magnus by opening and shutting doors and windows in response to questions asked. The house wants the two prisoners killed, and the five corpses placed in the basement for some reason but Mar’Khabazza “wants no part of a blood cult.”
Instead, Magnus douses the house in oil and sets it alight. They burn down the house and turn the prisoners free to tell the Slenderman that they are coming after him.
They retrieve the horses and wagon and leave the city, leaving instructions at the Merchants Guild for the merchant caravan to catch up at the crossroads.