The group leaves for Linowa in the beginning of Descending Earth.
The four Dragon-Bloods board a Pelops ship for Linowa along with their retinue and troop reinforcements for the Satrapy and Immaculate Monks. There is some conversation amongst them during the trip, but it is capped off when Omni catches fresh fish for the Dragon-Bloods to enjoy at a feast.
The ship arrives at Rubylak, a rudimentary city on either side of the river with an island at the center that contains the official structures of the government. Mostly made of stone that includes a 2 story palace for the Linowan Royal Family, an ambassador estate for The Realm, and two others of unknown use. We are greeted by Peleps Kaizoku Atarove, Satrap of Linowa and given private rooms on the estate, before being taken to be introduced to The Queen of Linowa, Queen Arkasi.
Afterwards, Kya and Mawitogan go to the Immaculate Temple and meet Abbot Tepet Sentos. The new monks and Mawitogan's acolyte's will stay in the temple and all work to expand The Immaculate Temple, Mawitogan summons his Huraka to come and assist in the construction. Kya and Mawitogan both pledge to help the Immaculate Order expand their influence. While Mawitogan communes with the local spirits, Kya heads back towards the Realm Ambassador's Complex.
Omni and Tata Ba explore the island and discover the other two buildings on the island are the Linowan Government Complex and The Linowan Royal Family's estate. Discovering no place to partake, they head to the south shore and fine a makeshift bar with bad mead. Tata Ba is deeply offended and returns to his room to return with a cask of his much better mead, he meets Kya along the way and they both return to the bar, but Omni has gone hunting for local garb. Tata Ba decides he is going to start a business of his own, part brewery, part bar, and part pawn shop. After extensive negotiations some of the local drunks agree to partake if Tata Ba brings them good booze to sell. Meanwhile, Omni expertly hunts and slays local game to turn into furs and leather cloaks in the style of the locals. That night when Omni returns he discusses with Mawitogan and Omni agrees to accompany and guide them in their journey east to the Field of Woe. Kya and Mawitogan convince Tata Ba to join on the pretense of finding wine to the East he can bring back and use to start his business.
The next day Mawitogan summons another Huraka to accompany him on their journey in the center of the courtyard in a whirlwind of hemp smoke. Kya goes to the Immaculate Temple for prayer morning breakfast and training. Omni goes to The Palace in an attempt to get a local map but is turned away by Gildamear Captain of The Band of the Shattered Blade - The Linowan Elite Soldiers, however he catches a glimpse of a map and memorizes it while also drawing a rudimentary copy which he give to Mawitogan.
At the request of Mawitogan, Kya seeks a meeting with Satrap Peleps Kaizoku Atarove to ask for her support in making the expansion of The Immaculate Temple more grand to support the future festival that will bolster The Order. The Satrap agrees to speak on their behalf to The Abbot, financially supporting the Temple Expansion and Festival which completes the first obstacle of their recruitment venture.
Tata Ba goes back to the makeshift bar and recruits Praq, a local drunk, to join us on our quest despite protest and Tata Ba agrees to keep him safe and take care of his wife and twelve children if Praq dies. Tata Ba pays Praq half of a unknown sum ahead of time and promises the rest on return. The rest of the group is appalled that he would invite this man, but allows it.
Mawitogan stays up all night summoning a Rothhopper water elemental to tow their longboat to their destination, and they prepare to depart first thing in the morning.
The group of Mawitogan, Kya, Omni, Tata Ba, Praq, and Aderyn depart by boat north along the main river heading towards the Fields of Woe. Approximately 12 hours into their journey they search for and discover a small village to stop and rest, but as they approach they notice a lack of activity and decide to investigate before landing. Omni sends his monkey and Tata Ba sends his crab, but neither finds anything and they return. The group splits up, with Omni and Tata Ba sneaking in on foot and the rest of the party approaching by boat. Tata Ba arrives first and enters a home to discover a dead body inside, he tries to signal Omni who remains hidden. Mawitogan and Kya enter a home near the shore and also see a dead body inside, but Mawitogan is able to see 10 dematerial war ghosts inside.
Seeing the reaction, the war ghosts materialize but Mawitogan is able to convince the ones directly in front of them to stand down. Meanwhile, as the alarm is raised more and more war ghosts materialized and a swirling thunderstorm starts to bombard the village and anyone outside. Seeing the trap the group starts to retreat towards shore and the boat, while being rushed by a large group of war ghosts and a smaller group of ghost possessed armor. The ghosts attack as the Dragon-Blood's retreat, as they're boarding the boat Mawitogan blasts the army with lightning destroying many of them, before he leaps onto the ship and the Huraka lifts Tata Ba onto the ship and they start to escape. A menacing necromancer emerges who was clearly commanding the ghosts, and he gathers will before disappearing in a ball of darkness that Mawitogan identifies Travel Without Distance, a Celestial Circle Spell, which he tells the group.
The group continues to retreat and Omni senses a nearby wellspring of water essence that the group decides to investigate before deciding their longterm plans. Omni guides the boat overnight while the others sleep, centering it over the mysterious essence which is deep underwater. Kya goes down with Tata's crab and the water elemental to investigate, with little initial luck Mawitogan and Omni decide to ride the water elemental down to help. They are able to locate a spirit sanctum deep under the river, which Mawitogan identifies as belonging to Sudale of the Flowing Grasp and he is able to enter it. After entering, he finds himself in a dark, wet cave with the Terrestrial God Sudale whom he asks to bring his companions inside as well.
The trio of Dragon-Bloods confronts Sudale, with Mawitogan taking the lead in discussions. After some probing about their situation she seems reluctant to offer much help, and Mawitogan turns to intimidation and threats to get what he wants. Sudale clearly does not appreciate the threat, but does acquiesce his request and agree to help them with the anathema and undead threat in the region. She then quickly ejects them out of her sanctum.
After some discussion on their next steps, they decide to head directly to The Fields of Woe and send message via Mawitogans Huraka to the Satrap about the village and anathema. The group travels the rest of the way towards the Fields of Woe by boat until the swamplands become too thick to continue and they make a hidden camp for the night. During the night they hear a distant howl from what sounds like an unnatural source but are not attacked during the night. The next morning as the group prepares to enter The Fields of Woe they attempt to convince Tata Ba to leave Praq behind, which Tata resists. Eventually Praq punctures his own ear drums out of terror, and Mawitogan sends him downstream on the boat to attempt to return home on his own.
As the group heads into The Fields of Woe they realize they are being followed by the howling creatures. Deciding to confront them sooner than later they attempt to set up a surprise attack, however Omni is spotted in his elevated hiding place immediately and he yells the code word for help... BEANS!
