At the house, Silver discovered a mechanical canary lamp in the trash, though River insisted it stay behind. After River departed following a tense phone call, she narrowly escaped a gathering of Mantees in her truck. Eden and Silver secured a white Camaro, returning to the house just before police activity was spotted nearby. The pair eventually set out for Cander Hill, with Eden driving and Silver navigating. Their journey was interrupted by a road-blocking group of Mantees that merged into a singular, reanimated mass of vines and twigs. As the creature pursued their vehicle, Eden accelerated, leaving the outcome of their escape uncertain.
The party regrouped at Sparrow’s Kitchen after securing data on Project Flowerbed from beneath the Rusty Inn. Akiva provided chilling context regarding the Hat Man’s role as judge and executioner for Apex’s test subjects, pointing the group toward Valrondian territory. Tomasi Rhaug, a snow-leopard tabaxi scout, joined the group’s ranks. After navigating a tense city atmosphere filled with monstrosity hunts and an uptick in zombified creatures, the party returned home to find a grim delivery: a dead weasel labeled as a 'Valrondian’s gift.' River arrived with a matching package, successfully convincing the group to prioritize reconnaissance over a direct assault on CanderHill. The session concluded with plans to secure a vehicle for a three-hour drive to investigate the site.
