Book 1 Chapter 4

They head through the door, bidding Melzar farewell, and head down a long passageway, towards the ocean. After a mile of walking, they reach the end of the tunnel, where the sewage goes into the ocean. There is a ladder that goes down a hundred feet to the rocks below, and it appears to be the only way to progress, so the party heads down. Everything goes well for everyone except Venkra, who is the last one to descend. As he climbs down, one of the rungs on the ladder breaks, and he starts falling down the remaining 70 feet. Vore, with lightning fast reflexes, dives underneath the falling barbarian, managing to cushion his fall. Although he survives, Venkra is not unscathed. His left leg has been severely injured, and Riswin determines the bone is shattered. With no alternative, the party agrees to amputate his leg, and Esiel heals the severed leg, so that Venkra has a smooth nub at his knee, where the rest of his foot used to be. The party heads east, and then cross the road to begin the journey to The Fort, where Feyaro says the resistance base is. They follow the road as long as possible, but have to head east when the road goes in the opposite direction that they need. Along the way, some of the party members seem to be a little bit more tired than they would expect, but after they rest during the afternoon, everyone seems fine. They head off towards The Fort again, and when they get close smoke is rising, which has Feyaro troubled.

The party arrives at The Fort to discover that the Padashan Army is already there, and the smoke is from a bonfire where they are burning bodies. Venkra and Gulfnarqwa wait outside of the fort because of Venkra's injury. The rest of the party kills all of the guards, and head towards the building where Feyaro says there is a trapdoor to the base below. Feyaro kills three sleeping guards, which sparks an argument about honor. They all agree to disagree and head towards the trapdoor...