Two weeks pass.
For the first week the weather was mostly mild and wet...then on July 25th a sudden and extreme cold spell hit. Temperatures plummeted...by afternoon it was 29F, and still dropping. It did turn clear, though.
"I know we're few hundred miles north of Sandas, now," says McTavish the next morning, regarding the frost on the ground, trees and bushes, "But this should not be happening."
The weather remained like this for the next three days...then on the 30th it got even colder. The temperature dropped to 12F that night.
This morning, you awaken to find that it is snowing heavily. A cruel wind is blowing out of the north...making the temperature feel like it is only 2F.
"This must be an omen..." mutters the dwarf, stoking up the fire and shivering. "Something has happened...somewhere... Could be that Imrimil knows that we are coming...he is a weather specialist. When ye get back to Sandas, Farad, ask questions."
Today, Raz completes training Farad and Aldarin.
"I think that I like this amulet"
Kelar lays calim to the amulet with the doves on it.
Humphrey: "Well Farad you can make more than one trip. I'll just go on the second trip. Also, might I point out that when it comes to doing shopping in Sandas, I am the only one not wanted by the thieves guild. Plus my father rules there. I assume that the soonest that you could make the travel the 2nd time would be two days later. I do not know how long it takes to recover ones energy."
"Ok, that is sensible enough...that way one other person who wanted to go can go also if they wished."
"Good enough then Humphrey will travel with Farad on his second trip to Sandas. Raz do you need to train for one level or two. If only one, then why not let me go first, since I will have to train for two."
Raz shakes his head..."I am only training for one level, but I am also going to learn as many new spells as I can..this might take some additional time. I'd like to go first."
"Well we can also sell a magic item in Sandas after everyone has trained a level. Then we would get exp from selling the magic item and then those that needed that experiance could train again. Like myself and the Cavalier," adds Humphrey.
McTavish completes training Kelar as a fighter.
Any food which people aquire whether it was alive at first or not, Illyana attempts to cook.
"Hmmm..." Pillar frowns at the pile, and casts detect magic, then says "Um as you might have guessed I have just advanced a level and now have to do something in the name of my god. Namely slay a vampire Lord, should be easy really"
Pillar grins at that last statement and continues "Um this and that are magical, and I wouldn't mind a share of the items."
Looking over the magical items, Raz says, "I'd be interested in the ring and the earing."..picking them up he takes a closer look at them...
Farad has discovered that the ring is one of feather falling. The earring is not magical.
Farad tells all of you what little he knows about the Astral plane.
"McTavish, let me know if you can add anything. I don't know much, only the basics of what I've read."
"First, time is slower there. You don't have to worry about eating, drinking, or anything like that while you are there. Poisoning won't kill you, at least while you remain on the astral."
"Second, movement is by simply thinking. Forget your strength or natural dexterity. Its one's brains that offer you movement and strength there. The perfect atmosphere for mages and clerics, for they will have the most movement ability. A dumb fighter with a sword won't be able to hit beans because he can't maneuver to strike."
"Third, our magic weapons will be weaker. Some of them will probably not function magically at all. The same for any armor. If its not strongly magical, you might as well not be wearing it at all."
"That brings me to my final point. Anyone we see there is likely to be stronger than any of us. Most travellers do not use the method of travel I am using, and have to rely upon much more powerful mage and clerical spells. Thus it will only be much more powerful mages and clerics and powerful fighters that we might see. Not to mention any of a number of otherworldly creatures. I suggest we do our best to avoid any contact, using invisibility before we go, not that that will help much."
"The astral plane itself is basically a large void, sparcely filled with a few pockets of various things. Mostly people only use it to get from one place to another. But there are a few races that live there. Most notably the githyanki. I'd avoid them also, for I'm told they hold grudges like no other race."
"Thats pretty much all I know about the place, other than what I told you about the color pools. Anything you want to add McTavish?"
"You know more about it than I do," he says. "An old friend of mine has the same talent...every time he uses it to go into the Astral Plane...something kills him..."
"If you are going to Sandas, could you get that flail identified, as well as that ringmail?" looking around Pillar says warily "Anyone know where I can find a vampire lord and how tough they are?"
Farad...looking more and more like this was not such a great idea of his, grasps Raz's and Kelar's hands...closes his eyes...concentrates...takes a step forward...
...and they all vanish.
"I hope they make it back." comments Illyana.