Episode 7, "Pawns"

Having completed most of the menial tasks that Dugan set the heroes out to do, there was one final ceremony to complete... the funeral pyre for the dead. Night was rapidly closing in and they decided to begin preparations. Vyreth and Doc headed out to grab some fuel, but soon realized they didn't know where it was being stored so turned back to ask Dugan for directions. On the way to the militia house, Doc realized he'd be more valuable out with Talos chopping wood for the fire and split from Vyreth. Fhasys, meanwhile, headed over to the Golden Coin to assemble the remaining townsfolk. The people huddled in the tavern were tired and traumatized and not entirely receptive to direction, so the barkeep tried his hand at garnering their attention. Finally, Talos conjured his mage hand to snap its fingers loudly and this combination was enough to shake the villagers into action.

The townsfolk slowly gathered around the old wagon, piled high with the bodies of departed friends and loved ones, as the heroes piled chopped wood beneath, poured fuel on the wood, and lit the fire (courtesy of a dazzling light display from Talos). Doc, relatively new to the whole "funeral rights" thing, stepped up to the plate and spoke for the dead. At the end of his speech, an old woman made her way through the crowd and gave the heroes a parting gift--a magical sword passed on throughout the generations. Apollo then made an appearance, soothing the crowd with his warm aura, and offered advice to the heroes on their coming role in a larger drama. His speech, however, was quickly interrupted by a foul visitor.

A huge, ancient undead dragon descended upon the scene, putting out the pyre and kicking up a major dust storm. The dragon had come to see what the huge bonfire was all about, but upon discovering the heroes in his midst he realized what role they were to play in his plans. Instead of disintegrating the entire lot right then and there, he took flight and left the heroes a going-away present. The pile of corpses wriggled and writhed forming a giant flesh golem. Combat ensued. The fight with the golem was brutal and slow, and it took a while for the heroes to realize that their normal attacks weren't having any effect. Finally, the golem went down and the party turned in for the night.

In the morning, after an extended discussion regarding the sword and Doc's fears of visiting Quanlo, the crew headed out for the long journey on foot. After 6hrs of walking in the hot, arid foothills, they crossed paths with a badly injured rancher and his horse. Talos and Doc managed to bring him back from the brink and the man began babbling about an attack by "strange creatures", his horses being slaughtered, and his wife and daughter having gone missing during the chaos. The group, being kind of heart (and seeing an opportunity to finally get mounts), headed South into the foothills toward the ranch to investigate. What they found was a grisly scene involving three giant centipedes happily munching away at horse corpses in the corral. Using a sphere of invisibility, Vyreth stealthed the entire party and they made quick work of the bugs. They managed to save three horses from the attached barn, but it was too late for the mother and daughter who had been dragged behind an outcropping and eaten alive. The bad news was relayed to the rancher back at the crossroads, and the party continued their journey to Quanlo.