The news from Doridian Mythlord was not good.  Dark Elves had broken into the Temple of Phoeboul, taken the Cask of Frozen Dreams, and kidnapped Avalia and Miklos while they were there.  Before the day was out, you would be in pursuit.

The morning was taken up by the funeral of Dorian Kath, the aged patriarch of that noble house, who was killed in the attack on their estate just days ago.  Carric’s attendance with Devina Kath was expected, and the rest of the Storm Guard paid their respects as well.  Though the rules of Valien’s Cathedral gave you pause (no weapons or armor allowed), you obliged.  The event was somber, moving, and thankfully without incident.  You caught a glimpse of Aliaster Vladaam in the crowd, attempting to restore his house’s reputation, despite rumors swirling in the city.

Immediately after the funeral, Carric was approached by Jevicca Norr, who returned to him an enhanced tracking stone.  After weeks of work, this one had been enchanted: when powered by arcane energy, it could detect any Slaad-stone, both active and inactive. 

You made a quick trip to store the Demon Possessed Watch and Black Grail in the vaults, and then resupplied yourselves with potions and were on your way.  The tunnel the dark elves had dug into the Temple of Phoeboul led to the sewers and eventually deeper below the city.

After about an hour of travel, you emerged in a grand cavern, almost a thousand feet per side.  The dark, sandy cave wasn’t empty: you found a small clan of Assari (lizardfolk) living there.  They were refugees from the slave trade in the city above.  One of their number, Ssalsan, had actually been freed by you two years ago.  The lizardfolk knew the passage the so-called dusk elves used, but asked for your help in exchange.  They had recently been attacked by a creature lurking in the cave that killed anyone who ventured too far from their village.   You accepted this task, and headed out into the darkness.

Less than ten minute’s walk away, you found the creature, or rather, it found you.  A large purple worm emerged beneath Phen, who was able to dodge away just in time.  Ebrahim, however, was not so lucky and with the beast's next attack, was swallowed whole!  The party proceeded to hit the creature with the largest attacks you had, as it circled and tried to claim another victim.  Ebrahim, for his part, did his best to stay alive and strike from within.  The worm submerged temporarily, but when it surfaced Raelen was able to deflect its maw, and moments later used his blade to open its side, spilling its blood, guts, and Ebrahim out onto the sand.

You returned the lizardfolk as heroes, for which they offered you a “feast” of barely palatable food (save for Carric, who magically enhanced the flavor of his meal).  After a night’s rest, you were off again.  The lizardfolk pointed you south to what they called a great underground sea, and offered you the use of their meager fishing boats.

Making your way in two boats, you began rowing toward an island you couldn’t yet see.  A few minutes into your trek, however, you all began hearing a voice in your head.  It identified itself only as “the gods of the Umbral Lake”.  It knew of the dusk elves that had passed this way, and seemed to know their purpose and their service to the Galchutt.  

The entity, or entities, probed your mind and asked each of you pointed questions or offered cryptic warnings:

- to Carric, it suggested that he wielded power he knew was corrupt

- to Ebrahim, he asked if he had doubts of his motivations, or if his will was his own

- to Phen, he slightly derisively said the young half-elf wasn’t even asking the right questions of origins or history

- and to Raelen, the being commented that he was on the verge of a great power and responsibility without even realizing it

Though for a time your progress across the lake was slowed, apparently you either passed a test or entertained this being enough that they let you continue.  They also offered that the Dusk Elves had larger secrets than you suspected, and that one should not stop simply with finding the Cask and kidnap victims.

Eventually you came to the island, and easily found a cavern and tunnels which led still deeper.  Ebrahim used the drow map which you acquired months ago and eventually located your position on it.  

Coming to a crossroads of sorts, you were confronted by a dusk elf outpost.  Though Ebrahim attempted to use the Hat of Disguise to buy some time, eventually your inability to speak their language became too much to overcome and a battle ensued.  These drow, however, were no match for your skills as you eliminated one after the other.  With Phen, Carric, and Raelen on one side of an underground river, you took out a contingent of fighters, while Ebrahim, alone on the other bank, assassinated dark elves one by one.

The drow force eliminated, you began to catch your breath - but the battle wasn’t over.  From across an adjoining river a drow mage threw a fireball into your midst.  The battle here was not done, and stronger foes awaited…