After agreeing to work with the formerly main villain, Moraelia, Felix, Yevelda and Popo set off from the town of Phandalin toward the Desserain River Valley, the locus of strange weather and ill-tidings they've been receiving. While passing the stables at the edge of town, they found a mysterious dwarf arguing with the mute owner of the stalls, Beebop the Gnome, for a horse. After some inquiry by the party and more arguing, the dwarf reveals himself to be Rurick Braunanvil, a bounty hunter chasing a 2000gp quarry. When Felix asks to see what he looks like, Rurick shows him the wanted poster, with big lettering that says WANTED FOR ARSON AND MURDER: Amon Warren REWARD: 3000gp. They're off to a great start. Rurick says he could honestly use some help with this one, and would split the bounty with the party for their aid.
They buy horses and ride through snow to the town of Triboar, where Amon had last been sighted. After some investigation, they found a room he had stayed in as well as some unusual tracks in the snow leading south. The room, though appearing normal at first glance, hid a burned mattress beneath fresh sheets. Armed with his direction as well as some other rumors surrounding a missing delegation from Mirabar, they made their way South to Helvenblade House. The guy playing Felix is really drunk by now because I did an Irish Car Bomb with him. They fight some horrible bug monsters along the way. Rurick tries to run at one point like a bitch.
The snow picks up to a blizzard, and they hurry to Helvenblade house before they freeze to death. Upon arriving at the splendid manor, they are met by Mr. Peepers, the family butler who is 100% aped from the Comedy Central show Another Period. He escorts the travelers to the guest quarters, where he talks extensively about how great the windows are. He tells them they look dirty and poor. The adventures ask if Mr. Peepers has seen the man on the wanted poster and Mr. Peepers tells them yes, he's in the common room by the fire. They tell him he's wanted for murder and arson, and he is duly shocked. He warns them that if they must take him, they must NOT use violence in the house.
The party waits upstairs until the dead of night. The two stealthiest people, Rurick and Morealia, sneak down to capture Amon. As they sneak up to a collection of high backed chairs facing a roaring fire, his face becomes visible. He's no older than 16, and wearing rags without a coat in sight. Before Rurick can stab him through the chair, a stately Golden Retriever named Fluffy intervenes. He stands between the chair and the party members. Rurick tries to snap the dogs neck, but Morealia stops him. Morealia, a ranger, can talk to animals semi-telepathically, and tries to get Fluffy out of the way. He talks back, instructing them to have a seat over there. He's basically canine Chris Hanson. Fluffy sits by the fire and forces them to have a conversation with the now-awoken Amon. Other non-D&D party people stop what they were doing to look at what's going on with D&D, because it's uncharacteristically intense. He is startled, visibly frightened, and moves toward the aforementioned super-nice window. The rest of the party, cued by Popo's steed, arrives. Popo tries to detect good and evil, but gets a distinct whiff of both. Amon reveals he just got these powers recently, after a series of shocking dreams. He is pulled by an unknown force to the south, and every moment he delays is physically painful. He says his victim was a former employer who abused him, and does not regret the murder. Moraelia successfully convinces him (critical roll) to let them accompany him. The DM is disappointed because he really wanted to do a chase through that window.
Amon placated, Fluffy reveals that he isn't actually a dog but rather... Mr. Peepers? Or, more accurately, they're both a shape-shifting guardian Bronze Dragon named Umsheroth. Rurick would have been so fucked if he attacked him. He's intrigued by these events and eager to join in, but he can't leave the house for fear of an ancient green dragon razing it. If the party dispenses of Old Gnawbone in the Kryptgarden Forest somehow, Umsheroth will happily join the fight against the elemental evil plaguing the land. The session ends with Rurick and Amon uneasily playing cards as the party rests in the common room of Helvenblade house. Umsheroth takes his leave to attend to the rest of the house.