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Two nights and one day pass and the ship arrives safely and docks at the floating wharf at Sea Rune. Up the cliffs into the little town, the Camp Evil party go. Sea Rune has no Malechai temple, nor Nuke temple, nor even IMAG temple (just a shrine). But the Wizards' Guild building is palatial. Enquiries reveal that when the forces of evil started to flood down from the Wastes (Klibwards) ten or so years ago, the whole town got a refit. Sea Rune became a major base for the Forces of Light. (Thought, despite its impressive defences, Sea Rune was still overrun).
The Guild Gnome tells Metro that a group of adventurers had suffered greatly during a trip to Orc Pass three weeks ago. They were a group of eight, and only four returned. One died and "rotted away before the Militia's eyes", the other three were in the town's jail and were gibbering mad. Squawking like chickens. Mad as march hares.
The Camp Evil party interview these wretches and can ascertain nothing. They decide that there is nothing else to do but to venture klibwards to orc pass. The Guild Gnome furnishes Metro with a magic ring. If the cover is lifted and the ruby touched, Metro and whoever is touching his bare skin, will be instantly teleported back to the Sea Rune Guild.
The first day's travel is pretty uneventful. They cross the last of the Zibrost plains and enter the foothills. There is a major road here heading klibwards. Smooth and sealed - made from numerous castings of the Stone Shape spell. They guess that it is about fifteen years old or so and was built by the Forces of Darkness for their incursions. They also pass over some impressive bridges; one over a canyon that would have taken a whole day just to climb down and up again.
The night passes uneventfully and the next day is spent climbing. The smooth road starts climbing the tall mountain range, switching backwards and forwards, higher and higher.
Off to one side a plume of smoke is spotted, and Helen Back goes to check it out. She spots a group of Gnolls, and wisely decides to to disturb them.
Up and up they go. They find a fresh body and a fresh horse (about three weeks dead is the guess). Still short of the saddle, it suddenly goes dark, so they make camp. During the night, orcs are spotted during the last watch. The party is only saved by the morning light.
Orcs burn in REAL's light, so need to stay hidden during the day. Out on the road was a 40 metre half sphere of darkness. The party guesses that it contains many orcs, so wisely decide not to approach it - even with the safety of light.
With a few hours of the day left, they arrive at the saddle, and can see over into the Wastes of Z (not good luck to say or write this fearsome word). It is entirely white and would be glaringly bright if it wasn't shaded by a thick pall of cloud overhead. Small black structures are scattered randomly over the plain, and occasionally, something big and black and flying could be seen a way in the distance.
Off to the left and right of the saddle, were two tall thin stone towers: "The Sentinels". The Camp Evil party skulk up to the one of the left and survey it with wary eyes. The stone is ancient, but has been repaired recently. There are no doors at ground level. Five storeys up are some arrow slits. Ten storeys are small windows, and large windows fifteen storeys up near the top.
Helen climbs the wall. In the tenth storey she peeks inside. A gnoll! She rushes down.
Having felt that they had reconnoitred enough, the party decide to head back to Sea Rune to report. Everyone places their hands on Metro. He pushes the ring. And nothing happens!
Getting a little worried, they scurry away from the vicinity of the tower and try again. Success this time. And they materialize in the foyer of the Guild building in Sea Rune.
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