Toward the Surface
The heroes spent the night in Nekar and set out early the next morning, escorting a caravan. Alongside them traveled twelve freed slaves and a dwarven guide. Before departure, the dwarves gave a clear warning: do not act without necessity and do not speak to anyone unless required.
After a day of travel, the caravan stopped to rest near the Serades Rift. As some slept and others sat around the campfire, one of the freedmen wandered from the group and was swallowed by the shadows. The guide, standing motionless, stared into the darkness and muttered:
“The storm has begun…”
Trouble in Karai Ara
The following evening, the caravan reached the goblin settlement of Karai Ara. That night, another of the rescued slaves went out to “take a walk”, ate a local fruit, and was killed by a goblin. The guide quickly resolved the situation with a few gold coins, keeping things from escalating.
Confrontation in Goramai
At the next stop — Goramai, a mining village known for its diamond extraction — the local chief was displeased with the size of the group. He demanded that one of the freedmen be left behind. Broter managed to defuse the situation by offering a strength-enhancing potion in exchange for the man’s safety.
However, tension lingered. One of the locals — a dwarf covered in old burn scars — became agitated and began pointing at the travelers, trying to draw attention. His warnings were ignored.
Passing the Freed to the League
Eventually, the caravan reached one of the known exits from the Underdark. There, the rescued were handed over to representatives of the League of Free Knowledge, who were waiting at the surface.
The party was ready to move on toward the city — but they realized traveling without a local guide would be dangerous.
Flesh Cubes and Strange Magic
Not far from the exit, they encountered a group of Underdark dwellers. The strange hunters were skinning wild cats and cutting their flesh into perfect cube-shaped chunks. One of them, grim-faced and reserved, agreed to escort the party to the city.
Along the way, he demonstrated the bizarre magical property of the cubes: when held properly, they teleport the user several dozen feet in an instant.
Arrival at the City Gates
At the city gates, the guards offered no resistance or questions. They simply let the group through, offering a short warning:
“Wear the collar. No spellcasting.”
The rules were clear. What lay beyond the gates was a new chapter — and a different kind of danger.
