Adventure Journal #6: Return to the Lost City

Upon her return to  Fort Laskor, Aleanor Pathsteader wasted no time in summoning the heroes to an audience. There, she confirmed that she had spoken with others in her order, and that a decision had been made. Whatever plots the shadar-kai might be hatching against the civilized folk of Umber would have to wait. All the signs and prophecies pointed to some important event that had occurred--or was yet to occur--in the mountains beyond the Lost City of Giustenal, and learning what secrets lay hidden in those peaks was of the highest priority.

Thus, with the scholar-sorcerer Felix in tow, the heroes Anaxachorus, Godefroi, Ront, and Zelaran set off in the direction of the Lost City for a second time. They also enlisted the aid of a guide, Grayson, and Zelaran called in the favor owed him by the warrior Sommet. Together, these seven travelers (along with Zelaran's trusted war dog, Mug) strode bravely forth from the safety of Fort Laskor into the deadly wilderness.

Not far from Riad's Vale--the last bastion of civilization before plunging into the trackless wild--the heroes ambushed a group of shifty-looking warriors spying on the village. After defeating these agents, the characters learned that they were only an advance force working for the Final Eclipse, a cult dedicated bent on wiping out the last vestiges of civilization in the world. Godefroi, Zelaran, and Sommet had come upon the handiwork of this cult before, and knew that the village was in serious danger.

Using contacts made during their previous visits to Riad's Vale, the characters managed to get word to those in the village that could prepare the townsfolk for a possible attack. As much as they wanted to help the locals, the heroes knew that their mission could very well be of far greater importance. Reluctantly, they moved on.

After a grueling but familiar trek across the Parched Plain, the characters beheld the Lost City rising up like a mirage. Needing succor from the desolate environment, they entered the city with the hopes of replenishing supplies from the dragonblood encampment within.

But to their surprise, the camp was empty of inhabitants. Tents, supplies, and personal effects remained in place, but no living thing could be found. Grayson discovered a trail that confirmed that a large number of dragonbloods had moved from the camp to the ruined palace in the center of the city.

Leaving Ront and Godefroi to further explore the camp (and guard the characters' remaining supplies), the rest of the band of travelers followed the trail. Perhaps unsurprisingly, it led directly to the site that had so mystified the heroes in their last visit: the seemingly bottomless pit concealed beneath the palace. As best as Grayson could determine, the dragonbloods had simply walked right up to the edge and stepped over the side!

An argument soon broke out over what to do next. Some favored leaving the city immediately, fearing that foul play was to blame and wishing to avoid the same. Others insisted that the dragonbloods' presence was part of the larger mystery and had to be investigated further. Suddenly, to the horror of all standing in the cavern, Sommet walked up to the edge of the pit...and stepped in! Before the heroes could act, Sommet disappeared from sight. He uttered no cry as he fell into the black depths, leaving his comrades in stunned silence.

But then...a sound. A voice, coming from far below, echoing faintly up the shaft. Sommet? Alive? How? The characters quickly reassessed their options. With no visible method of scaling the shaft, Sommet was trapped, alone in the darkness. They couldn't just leave him there, could they? But what if the journey was a one-way trip--the mission for Aleanor couldn't just be ignored.

Eventually, they reached a compromise. Anaxachorus, Grayson, Felix, and Zelaran would brave the depths beneath Giustenal. Ront and Godefroi would remain above, checking back periodically to see if their comrades had returned to the bottom of the shaft with news. If two weeks went by without word from below, the two paladins would continue the journey on their own, hoping to recruit additional help along the way.

With the decision made, there was only one thing to be done. One at a time, the four heroes strode bravely up to the abyss...and stepped in.

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