With Corben on the mend, the Torchbearers decided to conduct a patrol along the West Road. Slowly moving along the old, worn stonework they came across the remnants of what looked like an old temple. Hissing and barking alerted them. A pack of dust vermin scurried towards the company.

Teller fells one of the beasts while Karl seizes the imitative to rush another group. The creature snarls and snaps its jaws with ferocity and the ponderous swings of Karl’s warhammer result each breaking off the melee. Another closes in and quickly drops Karl. Tamari runs forward in an attempt to drive off the vermin.

Tamari screams a battle cry and slays one beast, only to have another lunge at her. Tamari and the monster circle each other and Druuna joins the fight. However neither of them can land a blow. They face off against each other while Teller and Zane try to strike the creature from afar.

Tamari throws caution to the wind and hurls herself at the dust vermin, killing it. However another unseen monster scurries forward from the woods.

Teller takes careful aim as the breast runs towards his companions and lets a fatal arrow fly. The creature dropped lifeless. The Torchbearers hold the field.

Fortunately Karl appeared to have just been bruised and bloodied,. However his armor was rended and scored, appearing heavily damaged. The company took stock of the situation and decided to press on towards Lake Crest by the end of the following day. The road seemed to grow more dangerous.