Adam grants a quest

"Ooh, it's so... alive! Enileve's realm is nothing like this, and we only ever got summoned to dead swamps and such!" Mariel positively beams at her first trip outside of the dungeon. "Sera, have you ever seen anything like this?"

"Ssh. We're in enemy territory: we need to be quiet or we'll be ambushed," her sister's head darts from side to side, her sword held out in anticipation of combat.

"Oh, relax! There's nobody here. Besides, we can take care of ourselves!" The two sisters may look similar, but they couldn't be more different. The other three of you are happy to walk in silence, having been this way a number of times before in the past few months. The rocky mountain path gives way to the forest, and then the forest to meadow. Finally, after about two hours of walking, Seramiel sheathes her sword and walks alongside her enthusiastic twin as the latter admires the changing scenery.

"Okay, we're nearing the city. You three stay in the grove out of there: try to keep out of sight. Ari and I will go in to the town and see who we can find." Tlax and Sera have to jog to keep up with Mariel's enthusiastic pace, and a minute later the three have vanished into the foliage. You shift into adventurer form and step out on the road, passing the occasional traveller alongside your warlock champion as the two of you walk the familiar road to Broadbridge. You can't help but slow as your body stiffens a bit the closer you get to the city: the world of adventurers is still fundamentally alien to you, and probably always will be.

"Oh, come on, they won't bite," Ari takes your hand and laughs at the tension you display. "Maybe we'll find another cult that you can recruit? They might even have a dismal basement somewhere that you can hang out in?"

"Pfft, I'm not afraid of some adventurer city," you boast, more to yourself than her.

"Right, and I'm not an elf. Come on, let's go, we don't have all month." Her enthusiasm is infectious, and a moment you're once again moving at a brisk pace towards the city.

A half hour later, the familiar gates of Broadbridge rise up in front of you. To your credit, this time you manage to stride through the gates without pause, and although you wince as you pass through the opening nothing comes of it.

"Now come, there's this food stall I saw last time in the main square which I still want to try," your more metropolitan companion immediately starts tugging you in a direction opposite the adventurer's guild. "Oh, come on, I know you're about to say something about being recognized and about the mission. Live a little! You never take me anywhere! Besides, you still need to drop off that book."

You relent and allow yourself to be led to the large square, the bustle of people no more comfortable than it was last time you were here. Along the way you slide the duke of magma's cult teachings under a random bench, and see a curious passerby pick it up and begin to read it as you retreat. Well, that's at least one errand done. Surrendering yourself to your warlock's care, you squeeze into the crowd in the square just before a familiar, nasal voice catches your ear.

"Look Jared, I don't like the imp any more than you do, but attacking his lair just seems like a waste of time right now. Like it or not he's beaten us every time, and we won't even get anything much for killing him. Besides, that traitorous paladin bitch still owes me head. She's over with some new friends in the adventurer's guild right now. I say we jump her and teach her a lesson as she leaves the city, then go level over in Shadowthorn Vale until we're ready to take on the imp." The familiar silhouettes of the rogue and warrior work through the crowd ahead of you, and you tug on your companion's hand.

"What, getting second thoughts? You really need to—" you pull her out of the crowd and clap a hand over her mouth. She glares at you before she catches your eyes and sees the two adventurers heading your way. "Fine," she whispers in resignation after you remove your hand, "let's just go meet the adventurers and get out of here, but you owe me a trip some other time when we aren't out on a quest." The two of you duck into a back alley and take a roundabout path towards the adventurer's guild. One thankfully uneventful journey later, a carved wooden sign depicting a burning torch announces your destination. You step in to the sounds of yelling, cheering, fists banging on tables, off-key singing, and all sorts of general merriment and debauchery at the hybrid guild/bar.

The two of you duck from table to table, looking for a suitable group, when several familiar voices reach your ears. The two of you discreetly sit down at a nearby table facing away from them and order a pair of beers.

"So, ehm, what are you three doing here? Last time we met you seemed like you could take care of yourselves. I figured you'd be the type to always be off raiding some dungeon or other." The melodic voice of Ari's creator reaches your ears from the table behind you.

"Aye, that be our usual gig, but Kiedan and Sam took time off for that bounty a few days gone by. Ach, what a mess that ended up bein'. And now 'ere we are, no good quests and two members short. What about you lasses? Where's your tree hugger pal?"

"Ugh, don't remind me. Why does it seem like my brother ruins everything I try to do? Some... stuff happened, and we won't be working with him any more. Say, what say we run a dungeon or two together, just something easy to kill time? Tash can sort of fill in for your cleric."

"Yeah, I wouldn't mind that myself," it's almost strange to hear the huge barbarian speak in a normal tone of voice: you're used to her expressing herself exclusively via shouts and grunts. "Screw it, let's go beat up some goblins or something?"

Now seems like as good a time as any to speak up. "If you're looking for something to do, I might have a job for you." The five adventurers across from you glance over, confused, then the ring of metal fills the tavern as they draw their weapons. "Easy there, we just want to talk." They glance skeptically at one another until you see popups appear in front of their vision.

New Quest: Overhill and Underhill
Follow Azazel and listen to what he has to say.
Reward: 1000xp

Their eyes widen: this is probably the first time any of them have seen a monster grant a quest. At least, that's what it presumably looks like to them: you're as surprised as they are, although you do an admirable job of not showing it. After a pause, they sheathe their swords and stow their arrows. "Fine, what do you want?" The barbarian speaks for the group.

"Follow me out of town: we can speak more freely there, and I'd like to meet up with my other companions. In short, I plan on visiting a dungeon, and for once I wouldn't mind you being there too. Oh, and thanks by the way," you nod to the paladin, and the other four adventurers look at her in confusion. "Thought you'd like to know, we ran into Shadowdagger and his pals and it sounds like they're setting up some sort of ambush for you outside the city. Seems they're still unhappy about the other day."

"Serves them right," she laughs, pleased at the revelation. Seeing her companions' continued confusion, she elaborates. "The daemon and I had a... temporary alliance the other day during our predicament. I'll fill you in some other time." With that, the seven of you file out of the bar, hands still resting on weapons as you uneasily make your way out of the city. The group walks in silence until you step off the road, at which point five familiar adventurers rise from the bushes and stand in your way.

"Going somewhere?" Shadowdagger the rogue stands confidently in the front, flipping a dagger in his hand as he glares at Tashila.

"Look, Shadowdagger, maybe we should let bygones be bygones?" The elven mage's alto voice wavers at the sight of your group. "There are a lot of them, and... wait a minute." She mutters an incantation and a blue light surrounds you, revealing your true form.

"Really, sis? One character wasn't enough, you're going for seconds?" To his credit, Shadowdagger manages to contain any surprise he might feel at your transformation. "Fine, but this isn't over." The group turns and walks away into the bushes, and none of you feel the need to go after them. Tensions are even higher now that you're walking in your true form, and it's a miracle you make it back to the grove where your companions await without a fight breaking out.

"My lord, welcome back! And... oh, why are they with you?" Mariel looks uncomfortable at the presence of her recent foes, while Sera wordlessly holds her hand on her sword's hilt. Tlax slithers around the latter angel's feet and hisses occasionally at the adventurers.

"Okay, I know that you probably have a lot of questions, and I don't much care to answer them. For... reasons, I plan on invading another monster's lair south of here, and it wouldn't hurt if some adventurers joined me. I can't say exactly what we'll find, since I've never actually been there or even heard about it until recently, but I'm told there'll be danger and loot aplenty."

"And... you just expect us to work with you? Even if we trusted you—which we don't, by the way—we have no experience partying with monsters. Not to mention ten is a bit large for a group." The barbarian crosses her arms and cocks her eyebrow at your proposal.

"Who said anything about a party? I just want to attack the dungeon." Laughter erupts from the five adventurers and your warlock companion, only heightening the confusion you feel; you look to your angels but they're just as puzzled as you are. That being said, the laughter seems to ease the tension, and for the first time since you met them a fight doesn't feel imminent. "Anyways, whatever that was about aside, the answer to both of your other points is simple. We'll be working independently, so just treat it like any other dungeon with a rival group racing you to the loot and you'll be fine."

"Right, and... uh, since when do monsters fight monsters? Especially since this isn't even the first time. Remember when I squashed you at the crypt?" The barbarian smirks as she recalls the event.

"I try not to. And all sorts of reasons." You shrug. "Why do players fight players? Anyways, let's make our way there: we can split up once we arrive. Remember, as long as we don't fight directly, take whatever loot you want and enjoy yourselves."

Quest updated: Overhill and Underhill
Reward gained: 1000xp
New objectives
Follow Azazel's party to the Lost Forge of Aethane, then invade the dungeon.
Special requirements: Do not attack the imp's party.
Rewards: 5000xp, 1 class-specific unique item

The adventurers' eyes widen at the rewards, and any hesitation they have seems gone. "Aight laddies, last one there buys tha victory round!" With that, your improbable group makes for the south, and you puzzle the quest's bizarre wording as you go.

"A party is just an adventurer word for a group," Ari whispers in your ear between giggles at your perplexed expression.

"Then why not just call it a group? Adventurers and their need to come up with new names for every damn thing..." You take a break from grumbling over vocabulary to enjoy the least stressful hike you've had out of your dungeon, bizarre as the circumstances might be.

"So, um, if you don't mind me asking, you are—erm, were—angels of Enileve?" The paladin seems to have worked up the nerve to speak to the angelic sisters.

"Yes."

"Yep! Up until we joined master! Enileve doesn't approve of our lifestyle choices, and we took some time to come around to the idea, but things are much more exciting than they were in here domain! Oh, and don't mind my sister, she's just shy."

"I am not shy," Sera grunts and kicks a stone into a nearby clump of tall grass.

"So is it true that Enileve doesn't let you get laid at all?" You're a bit surprised at how open this paladin seems to be about sex, given the attitudes of the clergy you've met so far. Evidently Enileve's philosophy is not the only one.

"Yeah, it's still a bit embarrassing, but Enileve is a... conservative goddess. In retrospect I'm not sure how I put up with it. I feel so free now!" The paladin looks somewhat concerned, yet also interested, in the fallen angel's carefree attitude towards her fall. You tune out the conversation as the two of them start to discuss the differences in their respective (ex) faiths, and look beside you to see Celestina silently walking on the other side of your warlock. Ari keeps stealing glances at her creator, and you eventually give her a nudge.

"So, erm, sorry about lying to you about Adam and... stuff. I know we maybe didn't get off on the right foot before—erm, several times really—but I really do appreciate you making me and all... I mean, although I'm sorry you had to leave!" You aren't used to Ari stumbling over her words at all, yet it seems like she can barely string together a sentence.

"No... I'm sorry as well, I guess. I, uh, hope things worked out for you in the end."

"Yep, things are great! We still go on tons of adventures. Not to mention we have a good time at home, as you learned!" Ari sticks her tongue out and Celestina blushes.

"Do you really like... with a daemon?"

"Well, I came around to the idea... and there are some advantages. That tail can be used for more than just fighting, after all!" Celestina's cheeks darken further and she goes silent, but you catch her stealing occasional glances your way afterwards.

A mountain range rises in the distance, thick snow falling near the top unlike the warm slopes of Mt. Imporne. A few more hours of chatting between your groups slowly eases the tension further, and by the time that you feel the chill wind at the base of the mountains ahead you've built up a rapport with your oftentimes enemies. It doesn't take much travel up the mountain before the first snowdrifts appear on the path, and a half hour later you shiver as your step through ankle-deep snow, crunches accompanying every step. Mariel and Seramiel somehow walk on top of the snow as effortlessly as if it were solid ground, occasionally turning to tease you about having to wade through it. The snowfall grows thicker and the wind harsher until your group has to stop talking since you have to shout to hear the person next to you. Every so often the wind seems to form shouts of its own: the first few times you looked around, only to see the others just as confused, and no one else visible on the trail. Only the twins seem unfazed by the weather, the rest of you shivering in the bone-biting chill. Finally, the wind abates and the snowfall parts to reveal a massive glacier ahead which looms over you, kilometres thick.

Your party makes for a small cave in the base. Once you step inside, you produce a magical flame in your hand. The small cave fills with a pleasant warmth, at least relative to the frigid air outside. Although the cave is shallow and largely featureless, two stone elven statues on the far side flank a runed door, one holding a huge glaive and the other a longsword and shield. Selena the invoker walks over and runs her hand across the runes in a zigzag pattern. The door parts with a slow scrape to reveal steps carved into the glacier, a flight to the left leading up while another to the right sinks down into the depths of the earth.

Elite Dungeon: Lost Forge of Aethane
Legends say that Queen Aethane of the Winter Court was once summoned by the Frost Elves to this place, to teach them the art of forging manasilver mined deep below the glacier. Aethane was slain by a powerful mage lord who invaded the forge, but he and his followers never emerged and the fortress soon fell into obscurity. Legends speak of powerful items left by the elves below the ice, but few have found their way and fewer still have ever been heard from again...
Rewards: No clear condition, but monsters and containers in this dungeon provide unusually powerful loot.

"Well, I suppose this is where we part. Happy hunting." You have no particular reason to choose one direction over the other, so when Amara leads her group up the stairs to the left you begin the long descent into the dark.