June 23, Sunday, continued - The party explores the last few chambers in the dungeon, and then decides to head back to civilization for some training for Badric and Niam (who both level up to 4). The journey back through the gate is uneventful, and the group travels from the Ranatayza ruins down along the Perla Stream to Fulcher's Hold.
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| Ranatayza Ruins to Fulcher's Hold (in Hexographer) |
When they reach the crossing of the Perla Stream, they notice that there is a new boundary stone marking the lands east of the Perla Stream and north of the Meeran Brook as claimed by Fulcher. At the castle site, where construction continues to proceed quickly, there are now 10 or 12 soldiers in blue and white livery with a yellow sun badge emblazoned on their tunics. They meet Graciela Eldavai for the first time. She is a paladin and a member of Fulcher's Band who the characters had not met yet. She has recently arrived at the castle, bringing the soldiers with her, and is in charge of security.
In the fields around the castle, there is a lot of activity clearing farmland and building farmsteads. There are more people in the area than have been here previously.
June 24, Monday - Resting at Fulcher's Hold. Training and studying.
June 25, Tuesday - Resting at Fulcher's Hold. Training and studying.
June 26, Wednesday - Fulcher invites the group to lunch, and proceeds to tell them some information he had not shared before. The castle that he is building is located at the site of a ruined keep from the Elder days. Beneath the old keep there is a series of dungeons. The dungeons beneath the castle connect to the Underdark. This is one of the reasons that Fulcher and his band has elected to settle here. They are interested in exploring the ruins from the Elder days, but are even more interested in exploring the Underdark. he confesses that his band is not retired from adventuring.
Fulcher shares some of what they have been able to learn and map thus far. This information is somewhat limited given that much of their time needs to be spent in supervising construction of the castle and patrolling the lands around it. He provides information and maps of what they do know, and asks if the party is interested in helping them explore. When they indicate that they are, he provides the blessing of Alaron, and asks that they prepare themselves for the Underdark.
With a full load of supplies and gear, Fulcher and Damron (the warrior) lead the party through the dungeons below the castle and far down into the depths of the earth. After a solid half day's journey, they arrive at a location Fulcher calls the Back Door - a secret magically warded door leading into a huge natural cavern on the shores of an underground lake. He indicates the way for them to go, and bids them good luck.
The group sets off into the Underdark, and begins to get used to the alien environment...
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| Spider attack in the Underdark |
Next time - More Underdark!
GM Commentary - This was a long session on the Monday between Christmas and New Years. Pretty much everybody was on vacation, and we decided to do a 3pm to whenever session with dinner in the middle. We ended up playing until 11pm.
