Shroudbearer greets you and immediately gets down to business.  “First, back to the Thay menace. Now we've lost contact with Wyvern Company 1, I fear that both Wyvern Companies 1 & 9 are gone. In addition, there have been reports of undead amassing on the border near the Ganathwood. We're sending in a few troops of the Vengeance Taker army. The Retribute Masters for 1 & 9, The Grinder and The Mud Man are personally leading these troops. Hopefully, they will be able to take care of this threat.

“Next, The Redscale Orcs and their chimera pets. Hargrove is still missing. It is always a dark day when we have to question the loyalty of one of our own, but at this time we have no choice. It is even worse when we have to rely upon hunches and limited intelligence.

“The Redwing Guard Leader of the Ironwing base has not come home, his command badge and sash were found at the base like an announcement of his leaving, and not one soldier stationed at Ironwing has checked in. Now we don't know what exactly happened. We have to assume the worst; that Hargrove has deserted and is working for the enemy.

“The Sidereal Society have already spent long hours tracking his location down to a large area in the Plains of Purple Dust. It is a rather extensive section somewhere near the southern portion of this plateau (points to area on map and describes a few landmarks). This will not be a pleasant or simple journey.

"With chimeras about, it’s too dangerous to send in the Redwing Guard. Fortunately, the Agents were able to locate an ancient Imaskari teleportation circle that the desert winds have recently uncovered.”

Shroudbearer turns his head slightly and says, “Janine, come in.”  A previously unknown door opens and in steps Janine. “Janine is going to prepare a Linked Portal ritual that will teleport you to that teleportation circle.” In her usual nasally voice, Janine greets the group and than talks out a scroll and piece of chalk. She begins to draw out the teleportation circle on the floor.

“Sidereal Society Agents believe Hargrove and possibly some of the soldiers went to a cave somewhere in this area . Locate the cave, enter it, find Hargrove and get him out of there. Once you find him, call Janine on your Omnilens. Try to make you way back to the teleportation circle, but keep in mind that the desert sands may cover it back up – which means you might have to hoof it out. Whether or not Hargrove is a traitor, he needs to come back here – dead or alive.

"You are working in unknown territory and beyond our borders. Take some extra water (points to some waterskins in the corner of the room). Do not get sloppy and do not get captured. Leave nothing behind that can link you back to High Imaskar and most of all… get Hargrove.

It only takes Janine 10 minutes to finish the ritual. Uttering the last arcane syllable, Janine creates a glowing circle of sigils on the floor. A portal opens up and you begin to see a hazy vision its twin, etched in a rack slab. The teleportation circle is surrounded by a breezy purple desert.

As soon as everybody steps through, they find out that "Breezy" is an understatement. The winds seem to be a lot stronger on this side of the portal. The purple sands whip about the face and enters the various openings in everybody's apparel. It seems to give off a certain type of low level energy. Up ahead in the blurry distance you can see some rock outcroppings. The group decides that is a good place to get some shelter from the wind and regain their bearings.

Using his arcane knowledge, Bephf tells everybody that they are in a Blast Cloud and that it makes bursts or blast of fire, force, lightning, psychic, or thunder larger.  In addition, the the area is slightly obscured and vision limited due to the blowing purple sands.

As soon as the party moves out of the teleportation circle they are assaulted by 4 Shardstorm Vortexes.  The funnel cloud shaped elementals descend down upon the party, surprising everybody, and forcing them to fight in self defense.