The last day of September is warm...but still wet.
Again you pass an uneventful day struggling eastward through the mud...covering perhaps 25 miles in all.
"I have a scroll of teleportation. But I believe after a day or so of meditation that I shall again be able to travel to the planes and take some of you back to Sandas via that method. Probably best to try that first and save the scroll." says Farad that night.
Ayazin speaks up. "If you don't mind, I would like to accompany you as well. I have never seen Sandas, and I could benefit from some training besides."
"If there is a Temple to Idun in Sandas then I too would like to accompany you but would need quite some time to bring my skills up to date. Its been a long time since I did any training and hanging around with this group has taught me quite a bit" Sharone turns to Farad.
"Aye, there's a temple to Idun in Sandas," says McTavish. "And one devoted to Mielikki, as well."
Illyana yawns. "I would like to head back and visit my father, but magical travel is a bit too expensive. I am advocating teleporting back once we've got McTavish here back to his home."
"Its not that expensive. Three thousand gold for each scroll. I think thats quite a savings when we consider that otherwise all of us will have to train here at twice the cost and twice the time."
"Doesn't someone have to stay behind? We wouldn't want McTavish to sit here by himself as we all go off." asks Illyana.
Farad shrugs. "I don't actually have to train, so I can help guard the treasure once everyone is in Sandas. Besides, I'm the only one here who can get back and forth easily."
Farad hands the scroll to Raz. "I've had one fail when I used it. Best you invoke it. When everyone is ready, all of us can teleport back to Sandas to train. Then we can teleport back here in two weeks or a month and continue our journey."
Kelar says, "Well I guess some of us need to train...who exactly and remeber Farad can only make so many trips. And it is also possibly dangerous. I don't need any training at this time but if I could borrow some peoples spell books if they wouldn't mind I would like to possibly get a couple of new spells to play with."
Ayazin takes a deep breath and stands up straight. "My friends, I must thank you for teaching me so much during the battle in Shruddup. I gained so much ... experience ... just by watching. But I feel that I have not contributed much to the party thus far, so I will give up my place on the trip back to Sandas. I will train at the next opportunity, and simply train twice as much."
Farad scoffs. "Nonsense. That would simply be wasting your time and ours. Best train together with the others. The teleport scroll should be able to take most of us. Those it can't I can take myself."
Ayazin shrugs and bows. "Very well, I will train with the rest. But if for some reason there are too many who want to leave, I will be the first to stay behind."
Humphrey says, "Well I for one need training and I would like to see how things are going back in Sandas and see if things have gotten worse."
One way or another, Farad and Raz get whoever wants to go back to Sandas...back to Sandas.
Illyana, Ayazin, Sharone, Humphrey, Banquo, Raz, Aldarin and Britan go to Sandas.
It is late afternoon in Sandas when you arrive...in the main square of the city.
Banquo, Sharone and Ayazin have never been here before. Sandas is a small city located on the south bank of a large river. To the west looms a range of tall mountains, snow capped. It seems to be crowded with people...after Nolthen.
"Since I am going to visit my father, that winds up needing an explanation to Yuri. Any complaints?" asks Illyana.
"He might not let you even in, since our mission is not yet complete. But should you do see him you may as well detail what we have accomplished so far."
"My father lives there. If not, I can find one of my friends in town, they are there often enough."
Britan says" I need to train for 5th level then find a need orc and then train for 6th at which point i will not have to train again and can only do it so far in Sandas."
Aldarin wants to train.
Farad wants to go to Ray Jay's.
"We should head to Ray Jay's together, I am curious as to what has been happening." says Illyana.
Ayazin is startled by the sheer number of people here. "Great Mielikki, this place is crowded! And it goes as far as I can see ... sorry, my first time in such a big city. I am not ashamed to ask for your help in getting around and staying out of trouble. I will gladly accompany you to meet the renowned Ray Jay and Yuri if someone will help me get to a temple of Mielikki afterward."
"That can be arranged. I am uncertain as to what I actually will be doing, considering that I don't need to train. Maybe a two week vacation?"
Before parting ways, then, you head for the magic user's quarter of the city.
Across the road from the Guild you knock on the door of a small stone tower. A sign above your heads reads -
"Ray Jay. Master of the Arcane Arts. Fortunes Told, Pots Mended."
The door is answered by Ming, his half-elven assistant.
"Well hello, Illyana," he says warmly to the girl, then he sees Sharone. "And hello to you, priestess. To what do I owe this pleasure?"
"Hello Ming. I believe Farad said that he wanted to say something to you. As for me, I am just passing though. Anything interesting happen while we've been gone?" asks Illyana.
"That depends," he replies. "How long have you been gone for, now? Oh yes, I think Ray Jay would like to speak with you."
He invites you in.
You note that Banquo has slunk off somewhere...and is no longer with you.
"Wonderful. How are we supposed to search for that idiot now in this city?" says Illyana.
After the introductions have been made, Farad begins. "Mostly we are here at my bidding. I'd like to purchase two more scrolls of teleportation. Without them we'd be stuck in the wilds in the middle of nowhere for months when the time came for training."
"Yes...that can be done," says Ming. "3000gp per teleport spell."
Farad pays for two, using party funds
Farad quickly details what has progressed since he killed the Vampire Baron, including the war for power it seemed to have sparked in Barach Pol.
"So we'll be in the area for quite a while while we train. Do you happen to know if Yuri is at his home? Illyana wishes to visit her father, although I think I'll not accompany her."
"No...Yuri is in the northlands. He was here briefly a few months ago, but returned immediately thereafter. I imagine he'll be back before the snow flies, though."
Illyana is downcast at the news. "Wonderful. I drop by to say hello and he isn't even home."
"Also, do you have any news of the world? So far we do not seem to have attracted the attention of Immiril , although it would not be much of an effort for him to follow our movements. Perhaps that is due to his attention being drawn elsewhere?"
Ming shrugs.
"Could be...there are many troubles these days..."
He tells you the following (may have told you some of this before)...
A party of adventurers - once dedicated to the cause of Good - turned to Evil and began working for the evil temple of Tyaa in the Borderlands. A warrant was issued for their arrest.
"Do you have a description on any of them?"
"I think you met them once...the party led by Kadlian the ranger..?" Illyana pauses for a while before speaking. "I was hoping it would not be them. Damn, I wonder what caused that to happen?"
Ming just shakes his head.
Farad has more definite views, though.
"A shame that. But I guess not everyone has the moral strength to withstand the temptations of evil. Should we meet them again, we will indeed try and slay them and rid the world of such easily tempted souls. They have many magic items that we might be able to use, and should not be in the hands of evil men."
A horde of undead was turned loose in the streets of Sandas in early June. It is now thought to have been the work of the temple of the Gods of Trouble (located behind the infamous old house that your party was once charged with clearing).
"Ick. Stupid house."
Soon after that a mighty mage purchased the old haunted house, and set to clearing the dungeons that you know so well, with his party. They moved into the temple and literally blew it up.
"Should have taken the house with it."
At about the same time a temple of Good - devoted to Votishal - was destroyed in the city.
"Oh boy, I hope that doesn't start a war."
A dragon started terrorizing the Borderlands in June. In July, Yuri returned and slew it.
The Baron moved large numbers of troops into the Borderlands at the same time, and started sweeping the area for the evil party. The Duke sent troops to Sandas to keep order in the meantime.
In early August, news of raids all along the periphery of Nlad started to filter in. Apparently the raids from the Temple of Tyaa are not isolated. These are in turn tying down large numbers of troops that would have otherwise been sent south...
"Sounds like it is getting worse. Oh well. I would have liked to say hello to my father, but I suppose I can visit my friends in the mean time."
You go up to Ray Jay's study and report.
"How long are you going to be with that dwarf?" she asks.
"As long as it takes I guess. He seems insistent on travelling by foot home, and Yuri charged us with accompanying him. But we are making quick time, not counting stops for training. But such can't really be helped."
Farad gives Ray Jay their current position. "I'm not certain of the terrain, but perhaps knowing where we currently are will let you judge the time needed to finish."
Ray Jay shakes her head.
"You're somewhere north of Lac Olith, I daresay," she dares to say.
"Of course if you need us for something important, perhaps McTavish would be willing to listen to you and give up this foolish adventure he has and just teleport home. But we gave our word to Yuri, and I'll not break that, and will thus stick by Lord McTavish as long as he wishes."
"I always have tasks for people if they are interested," Ray Jay replies. "But this little trip of McTavish's IS important, I think. He will one day inherit the throne of the most powerful dwarf-nation in the Eastern lands...and the only land that currently dares to stand up to Imrimil. If Kludar were overrun then all of the small kingdoms of men that cower behind it would soon fall...and then Saltar itself would again find itself in dire straits.
"So McTavish's holiday is not foolish. He is learning the lay of his enemy's land...and such knowledge will be invaluble...sooner rather than later, I suspect."
She pauses.
"If Mraan does not find any odd jobs for you after you have returned his son home, though, come and see me."
A short time later you are back in the street. Farad has a scroll with two teleport spells on it. It is evening.
Farad gives one scroll to Raz. "The rest of you meet with Raz when you are done training, and he'll teleport you all home. I'll find my own way back using my powers, and will be at the campsite."
Ayazin, who up until now has been too goggle-eyed to say much, says, "If someone will please direct me to a temple of Mielikki, I will begin training and finish in two weeks."
"I can take you there on my way to the Magic User's guild", replies Raz, "Just be sure to meet me in front of the Magic User's guild when your ready to leave."
"So where are we meeting, Raz?" asks Illyana. "Since my father isn't around, I will probably look up some friends. If anyone needs to be shown around, I can do it since I am in no hurry."
Farad turns to Raz. "If you can, can you also see if you can find a spell that slows our enemies? And one that allows someone to act with great haste also. That might be a useful combination."
Raz, still invisible..takes the scroll and says, "I'm going to visit some old friends at the magic users guild. Meet me outside of the front entrance when you are ready."
Britan speaks up before Farad departs and says "I am not sure how long I will be Once I have trained for fifth level I will need to go out and find an orc or some thing then come back and train for sixth so I might be looking at a month so we may want to figure out what the group would like to do."
Farad nods. "Perhaps if we sell a potion or something you'll find that you can train further. But otherwise, I will just plan on coming and getting you in two weeks. I'm sure we'll have something near the camp that might pose some small threat."
Ayazin says, "Indeed, Britan, I am in the same position. May I suggest this: we will all meet back in front of the mage's guild in two weeks, and Farad can return as well to let us know if we are needed back in Nolthen. If so, we will return. If not, Britan and I and whoever else wants to can gain a little more experience and train again. Agreed?"
As the group steps back into the street Sharone asks " Can someone more familiar with the layout of this town show me how to find the Temple of Idun. And from there how to get to the Magic Users Guild ? "
Raz points to the Magic User's Guild. It is right across the street from Ray Jay's tower.
Illyana and Raz, who are familiar with the city, make tracks to the Temple if Idun, and drop off Sharone there.
Humphrey heads home to the Baron's Keep.
Aldarin heads for the Fighter's Guild, and Britan heads for the Paladin's and Cavalier's Guild.
Farad waits until everyone departs, and then fades away into the ethereal.