The party easily finds the elf gate at the statue-guarded room of columns of the Black Earth. Stepping through to the Quastarte supply basement, the party finds a candle lit path through the crates arranged to guide the party up to the quartermaster’s exchange with a minimum of confusion and shrinkage. At the ground level they are met by Corporal Sorliss Phanq who diligently refers to his standard operating procedure. Phanq visually authenticates the one-two-three-purple-five party members and upgrades Theridan’s record from MIA to just IA. Phanq seems very accommodating so Bromsby requisitions six healing potions which Phanq records in his ledger.
The party heads for Ardak’s manor house, eager to rid themselves of the responsibility for Windvane, the late Ahtayir’s implement of evil. Just when it seems that knocking on Ardak’s door will never be answered, regent Ardalia, Ardak’s daughter, approaches from the street. She grows concerned by Ardak’s unexpectedly prolonged absence and takes some comfort that Theridan so recently received a sending from him. She allows them into the manor and Theren retrieves Windvane for her inspection. Ardalia magically shrouds the evil artifact to conceal it from divination and then stuffs it into a table leg of holding for safekeeping. She mentions that there are reports of militia skirmishes in Dessarin Valley, possibly suggesting open hostilities among the elemental cults.
Ardalia offers the manor for respite and excuses herself. Haerelben requests that Theren acquire some arrows of lawful evil manufacture for him while he makes a quick visit to the local temple of Sehanine to anchor his recently acquired word of recall spell. Theren, accompanied by Theridan, returns to Phanq and fills out a requisition for 20 arrows of lawful evil construction plus one each of every bowstring type in stock, preferably of chaotic good origin. Phanq assures Theren that supplies arrive without any such documentation and that quality is consistent independent of the creed of the manufactory. He does bring up an armful of bowstrings, one each of all stocked types including a ropey arbalest string. Phanq records the requisition and refers Theren to the university arcane tower for his shady inquiries of lawful evil equipment. Theridan, irritated at the ridiculously prolonged quest for lawful evil arrows, transforms to a wasp and attacks Theren with negatively reinforcing stings. Theren persists through the pain until detained by spellguards at the arcane tower who also halt Theridan’s attempted bird escape. Theren and Theridan are released into the custody of regent Ardalia who admonishes Theren to be wary of pranks. Meanwhile, Lefty has knitted a pair of socks.
The party elf gates back to the earth cult and returns to the statue-filled chambers of Marlos Urnrayle. There is no sign of activity since their encounter with the medusa. Bromsby’s passage-blocking piles of erupted earth remain undisturbed. The party retraces the path of pursuit through the escape crack in Urnrayle’s bedroom. Flute floating Theren explores the 50’ drop into the chasm below and follows it around to a bridge from a second entrance where they have not yet explored and from which Bromsby overhears voices speaking common and undercommon. Theridan solves the challenge of rounding the chasm to the bridge by transforming into an earth elemental, melding into the rock wall save for one mighty arm used to convey the party’s more pedestrian members. Theren covers the movement without a trace so that not even the three sentry gargoyles Haerelben spots notice them. Lefty, with feline independence, shadow steps around.
The party readies a surprise assault on the squad of hobgoblins across the prepared defensive kill zone set up to repel intruders. Bromsby kicks off the action with a high level eruption of earth that kills a few surprised hobgoblins. Projectiles from Haerelben and Theren find the unfortunate hobgoblin caught in front of the eruption. Hearelben blesses up the violence. Theren takes out a cultist with heavy crossbow. Meega and Rock Theridan leap into action and bottle up the gathering opposition which now includes a few giant dwarves and a charging mounted bulette who topples Rock Theridan. A hobgoblin steps to Meega’s waiting axe, and she cuts it down. Bromsby reprises erupting earth crushing a giant dwarf. Lefty and Meega finish the last hobgoblin as Theren’s bolt volley rains down. Rock Theridan squares off with the bulette and uses his sentinel skills to keep it engaged. With a final eruption of earth Bromsby claims a cultist and a giant dwarf. Lefty slays the bulette leaving only the rider who quickly succumbs to the violent attentions of the focussed party.
Haerelben emerges from the safety of a barricade of barrels and bumps into an invisible something with a beard. Theren finds it as well. Meega finds a second one. Rock Theridan, with tremor sense, punches unto death and visibility a duergar. The other duergar enlarges to a state of visibility and Theren quickly kills it as well.
Theren loots the wealthy bulette rider [15gp, 5pp, 5 citrines @ 40gpea] and collects up extra crossbow strings. Surrounding rooms, mostly barracks, are searched but there are no survivors found. Bromsby leads the party into an unexplored corner of the area where they find a dark, deep chasm and stairs encircling a sinister black column down. The party descends into darkness and also walks down the dark stairs.
