Raz took two weeks to train, then another two weeks was spent while he trained Beth and Aldarin.
Meanwhile, Ayazin also completed his training, too.
Beth spent several days identifying items that you found in the pyramid:
It costs her 300gp in material components to identify these items.
During your stay in Sandas, you catch up on the political situation on Earth. As you recall, in late October news reached the city that the Empire of Mestom to the south had beseiged the city state of Stoink, on the east coast of the Central Amrican peninsula. At about the same time a party of adventurers successfully finished clearing an evil temple in the Borderlands north of Sandas. The castellan of Borderland Keep and his son were found to be in cahoots with the high priestess of the evil temple, and fled. However, the previous castellan's son and rightful heir was tracked down, and he was appointed to the castellanship. In addition, it appears that there was a link between the temple in the Borderlands and the Temple of the Gods of Trouble in Sandas (which, some of you will recall, was located behind the haunted house where you first cut your adventuring teeth). That temple was destroyed last spring.
Things have not been entirely quiet in the Borderlands, since, however. A large band of humanoid mercenaries - evidently hired by the temple before it was destroyed - descended on the village of Valam and sacked the place, before melting back into the north woods whence they came. This occured in mid-November.
At the end of November news arrived from the south. Stoink had fallen to Mestom, and the victor's armies were consolidating and marching south. Some weeks later, the southern states of Uumph and Samarind were attacked, along with several free cities and towns as well. The Duke of Marmador and the Baron of Sandas and the Borderlands finally started sending troops south, though at the time it did not seem like an urgent matter, as Mestom seemed to be focusing all of its attentions on the lands to the south. That impression turned out to be badly mistaken, as on the morning of December 30th, 1371, the people of the city of Marmador in extreme southern Nlad awoke to see tens upon tens of thousands of Mestom soldiers swarming over the barren desert lands towards the city. Marmador was rapidly surrounded and beseiged, and Nlad was at war for the first time in many a generation.
Right now, Sandas is a tense place. While people are confident that Marmador will not fall - after all, it is guarded by one of the Great Towers that was built by the Empire of Saltar with the last of its high technological prowess, and is impervious to magic - people are not used to seeing their sons and daughters marching off to war in distant lands.
And finally. rumours out of the eastern lands hint at dire political activities which may even have an impact here. The stories say that the Emporer of what remains of Saltar has been assassinated by parties unknown. People in Sandas do not know what to make of this. Many of them had not even been aware that Saltar still existed.
And so, on an overcast but mild January morning, all of you assemble in the study of Ray Jay the Arch-mage. Even here, things have changed, for facing you is not the gossamer-clad elf maiden whom you had delt with before, but rather a middle-aged grey elven male. However, the expressions, body language and cigar are still the same, and you know who you are dealing with.
"It was the high heels," he says by way of explanation. "I never could get the hang of them. Finally, Corellon took pity on me. Now, on to more important matters. I have a task for you...one of great import. You know that Nlad is threatened from the south. Well, there are other threats as well to the civilised lands of Men, Elves and Dwarves, too. The one I want you to deal with lies in the North. The drow are becoming interested in affairs on the surface again. I want them made disinterested. Are you up to it?"
"Tsk," Beth says, concerning high heels, "I never did like those things myself, so I just don't wear them. Of course, it irritates my mother that I won't. But, Ray Jay, we love you no matter what you look like."
"Thank you, Beth."
"Yipes," Beth says. "How many Drow are we talking about here?"
"I do not know."
She looks around at her companions.
Raz raises an eyebrow, but remains silent.
Aldarin pipes up, "If its drow, I'm there. I have no love for the race or their evil ways."
"Idun has no love for Lolth and her vile followers, so if you please I too would like to make the journey to under world to foil their plans," offers Sharone, grasping her holy symbol tightly.
"Lolth is dead, at least for the present," corrects Ray Jay, "Though her followers are still many in the drow population. It is for that reason that she will eventually return. As for Eclavdra, it does not seem that she ever served Lolth. The party led by Stiff, Rockchin and Yuri found a temple devoted to an 'eldar elemental god', in the dungeons of Snurre's hall. I do not know who that god may be, but I wonder if he is playing a role in the current situation here on the surface of Earth."
"I mean, what specifically did you have in mind?" Beth continues, having decided that numerical superiority is not going to be one of our advantages. "Somehow, I don't think a head-to-head battle is going to accomplish much other than freeing up a few rooms to be rented in Sandas."
"Here is the background information," says Ray Jay. "Nearly 30 years ago there was an uprising of giants in the northern mountains, which threatened several small kingdoms in the region. A party of adventurers went north to deal with them. Accompanying the party were Yuri the Incredible, a ranger lord named Jo-owrn, Lord Valdar of Dorian, and a young dwarf prince named Gimlet, son of Groin. They battled hill giants, frost giants, and finally fire giants. In the dungeons of the lair of the fire giant King Snurre, though, they encountered drow led by the high priestess Eclavdra. She actually killed Yuri...and that does not happen too often!
"Anyway, it turned out that the dark elves were behind the giant uprising. The party pursued them into the Underdark - there was an entrance to it from these same dungeons - and eventually made their way to Erelhei-Cinlu, a drow city. There, they found a portal to the Abyss, and eventually went on to slay Lolth, the spider goddess and patroness of many of the drow.
"But Eclavdra survived the upheaveal that followed. Little has been heard of her for several decades...until this last autumn. Then, the same party that destroyed Lolth - though with many new people in the group, now - discovered evidence that Eclavdra is starting to try to extend her influence into the upper world, again. On top of that, I have heard from my friends in the north that the giants are again getting restive."
Ray Jay puffs on his cigar.
"The last thing that Nlad and the other civilised lands need right now is another threat...from the rear. Perhaps the drow are acting in concert with our enemies in Mestom. Perhaps they are just opportunists. Perhaps it is just a coincidence. Whatever. I would like you to find out what you can about the drow situation. Indeed, find out whatever you can about the entire situation in the Underdark, if you can. If it is within your power, I ask that you attempt to neutralise the threat. If it is not, then collect as much intelligence as you can."
The arch-mage produces a map, which he gives to you. It shows many lines...some solid, some dashed. It also shows the lines converging on a number of nexuses. Strange glyphs and sigils adorn the map.
"This is a copy of a map that the other party found, and that they used to guide them to the drow city. The entrance to the underdark is in the lower right corner - that's the southeast - and the drow city is in the upper left...the northwest. But note all of the passages that lead off into unexplored areas. They never ventured into those. I would like them explored, if possible. I would also like to know what the situation is in Erelhei-Cinlu. At the time that the other party was there, the situation was disorganised, with many powerful families feuding amongst themselves for power. That party was able to move about the city with ease."
Beth gives a low whistle, as she looks at the map. "Sounds important. Do you think we're up to it?" She looks around at her compnaions. "I also wonder if we're too big a party for this... this sounds like the sort of thing you want a few thieves and a few stealthy mages to sneak in and do, moving quietly, learning what we can, getting into as little trouble as possible, and making as little noise as possible. We do have a few armor-laden bruisers amongst us, who really clank around quite a bit."
"That is up to you," replies Ray Jay. "The other party encountered all manner of creatures and beings down there. Many were not associated with the dark elves at all, but were pursuing their own agendas. It is best to be prepared for anything."
"Well," Beth says, standing up and straightening her robes in her own personal version of the Picard Maneuver, "I'll give it a try, with whatever of my companions are up for this."
Beth looks around expectantly at the others to see who wants to go along on this mission.
"Hell, it sounds like fun...why not?" replies Raz uncharacteristicly.
"Well, I am no lover of the Drow race and even Less of Lolth, But Raz said it all when he said It sounds like fun, so you can count me in." Britan looks over at a couple of tables and then back at Raz. "Hey when we get done here you want to see if we can clean up on a card game there Raz?"
Raz returns Britan's smile. "That sounds great...seems like forever since we've had a chance to just sit back and relax," he replies joyfully.
Farad nods. "Of course I will come. You will undoubtably need my magic, sword and healing abilities to fully complement the force. I know only a little about the drow, but if they are evil then of course they must be vanquished!"
Farad turns to Ray Jay. "But one thing worries me. If Eclavadra is powerful enough to slay Yuri, then she is likely far more powerful than any of us, unless Yuri was quite young then. Can you tell us anything about her skills and abilities that you know of?"
"Yuri was quite young back then...perhaps only slightly more powerful than you are now. Also, I believe that she surprised him, and slew him with a rod of great power. Eclavdra, I think, is a high priestess who also has the abilities of a warrior. As for killing her, while that would be a very good thing, I can only ask you to do what is within your power to do. Gaining knowledge and surviving to bring it back to the surface is the most important aspect of this mission."
Raz nods and then turns to Farad. "Got that?...Our mission is NOT to kill everything we encounter..it is to gather information," he says with a slight grin.
"Can we keep the map? Or do you need me to make a copy?" Beth asks Ray Jay.
"You may keep it."
"So, that is the task I have for you, if you are interested. Go into the Underdark and assess the threat...if there is one. If possible, I would like you to do something about it, but only if it is within your power. I have arranged for a guide to accompany you, namely Lord Jo-owrn. He is a powerful Ranger, and has been into the underworld before."
Ray Jay awaits your questions and comments.
Beth nods. "Good, it will nice to have somebody with some experience at the place along."
Beth thinks about asking for some air support but decides not to push her luck.
Ayazin boggles at the amount of time and conversation that appears to zoom by when he is deep in thought. "As much as I cringe at the thought of spending more time underground, I am eager to try out my new skills, and will accompany the party on this mission."
"Forgive me, Ray Jay, and my limited knowledge of the world, but you mentioned that the giants may be getting restless. Will we be encountering these giants as well? And how are we to travel to this entrance -- overland, or will you whisk us there as you did to Oerth?"
"You may well be encountering giants. Snurre's old stronghold is on the border of a place called The Land of the Giants (an Irving Allen Production)...so it is quite likely that new residents have moved in during the last two decades. Jo-owrn will be able to tell you more.
"As for the journey...to be honest I am not exactly sure of the exact location of either the halls...or Jo-owrn. He is a ranger, and so he wanders around a lot. I do not want to expend a wish to send you to his current locale...not in these times. I do know that he was journeying south to Nlad to see me about recruiting a party to help him. Now that you have agreed, his journey is no longer necessary. So, I will send you to Adford, and you can travel north from there. I am sure that you will meet him along the way. Have you any more business to attend to here in Sandas? The sooner you start, the sooner you will finish."
Raz turns to Farad, Aldarin and Beth and says, "Ahh that reminds me...Are any of you cabaple of learning higher level spells? In the interest of this party's survival I am willing to share any that I have."
"Through fourth level," Beth says. "I've spent some time in the Guild library."
Rubbing her hands together gleefully, Beth says, "I can't wait to turn somebody into a frog!"
Ray Jay smiles benevolently.
"Kids," he says.
Farad shakes his head. "I can still only cast spells of the third order. I am only just recovering from the loss of strength caused by my run in with a vampiress."
When all is set, you leave Ray Jay's tower to attend to any last minute business before setting off on another adventure.