Partway up the mountain was the Eisenstein Mining Compound and the recently established Steaming Steps Hot Springs and Spa. The Carnies met the owner of the inn, the owner of the mine, a wealthy family who were interested in purchasing the mine, and several academic explorers who were here to investigate strange occurrences in the iron & silver mine.
The Carnies agreed to check out the mine. They found some weird creatures that seemed demonic but were not a serious challenge. Deeper within the mine they found an opened room with magical runes but no monsters.
Academics, led by Lysander Peloton
They returned to the Steaming Steps and reported their findings. One of the academics had gone missing, and the Carnies were able to track him to the hot spring pools. They found his body in the water, it looked like something had exploded out his back. Soon enough, the Carnies were fighting a giant Oni with a magic glaive, and a horribly mutated human woman. When the epic battle came to an end, the Carnies took the magic glaive and found another polished iron tooth on a leather thong hanging around the giant Oni’s neck. When attempting to speak through the tooth, it cracked and went silent.
Eisenstein was able to give the party more information about Kincade, saying that he remembered the “weird little halfling” who planned on riding a horse to the top of the mountain. That was three years ago, and he hasn’t been seen since.
