We choose a strategic retreat by slip-and-sliding down the north face of the ziggurat. Ral and Randal both encounter shell failure whilst descending the ziggurat. We make it into the forest and get back to the Red Jaw camp. Go back to see Kiz. He isn’t sure what’s coming next, but he suspects that the jagged claw army is going to attack the town. He’s not happy. Pliaj volunteers us to get Zisra, if they counterattack. Ral gives Pliaj a pep talk first, and their combined persuasiveness and smooth translation skills allow Kiz to agree to vouch for us to chieftan.

Pliaj races back (in many quiet circles) to Thornhill, about an hour ahead of the rest of the party. Goes to Elfgar Wimer’s house, the “top cop”. Same house Riccola was taken from earlier. Pliaj finds out that Elfgar is at the Thirsty/Drunken Lizard. Otacaric the barkeep gets seriously intimidated when Pliaj busts out with thaumaturgy to warn him to either fight or “get the f*** out”. Thaumaturgy also invoked to get Elfgar to get to collecting the guard. Pliaj rounds out his time calling the town to arms. The rest of the party arrives and we take a short rest to collect ourselves for the coming battle.

Serru comes running up, learns that the fire problem is gone, but the invasion problem has emerged. Straff goes to see Zissra, explains that we broke the Jagged Claws’ machine, and the Red Jaws are coming to help.

We set up a defensive perimeter in the town. Pliaj will roam to rally the town. Ral and Straff stick together near the bridge and dock. Tholir and Randall watch the southwest, and Pliaj the southeast. The battle starts with a skirmish on the northeast that the Red Jaws handle. Then the big lizard charges the gate.

We hear a booming voice: “Defilers of the tomb of Shrik, you will now burn!”

The lizard and its attendants crash through the town gate, leaving it in splinters. Ral leaves it Thunderstruck. Pliaj cleans up a couple of the attendants. 4 Jagged Claw Soldiers and the High Priest march on the bridge. Randal slays a lizard in the water. The battle pauses while mayhem ensues on the bridge.