Session 36: Those Lost and Found Report

General Summary

Welcome to the Underrock

The party, having arrived in Underrock, gathered towards the edge of the large open central chamber. Tarvy broke off to speak with a couple of people he recognised before speaking to Lusar and promptly leaving, telling everyone he would keep the engines warm on the Sparrow Squall.   The party, standing awkwardly were approached by a small halfling boy, looking like he was about 12 or so. He was followed by a disinterested looking teenage girl. He introduced himself as Barfire or Barf and her as Unayra or Una.   He went around the group prodding and talking to all of them before offering a tour of the sanctuary.   He first took them to the library, located deep inside the rock, where Hal and Gortan broke away to see what they could extract from Horace, the elder Halfling librarian. They spent much of the afternoon extracting various nuggets of interesting information.   Meanwhile, Rukk and Blaise were given the full tour by Barf, and he simultaneously introduced them to most of the people around the sanctuary.   First they went up to the sleeping area where little hollows in the wall doubled as bedding areas, and Lusar's office was. As they were looking in, Lusar came up at speed, seemingly upset. Blaise successfully used sleight of hand to put a handkerchief into her hand without her noticing.   They then were taken out into the main courtyard and met Paupu and Vunu sparring (well, attempting to spar - it was clearly not Vunu's speciality. The Loxodon informed you that she had only relatively recently come to the sanctuary and wasn't really cut out for the physical training part of it, instead preferring books and study. Blaise gave her some booze. She appreciated it and downed a full 3 pints.   Paupu made her way over, the 6'5'' Goliath towering over Blaise, making it clear she did not approve of the alcohol. While Goliaths are known to be fairly tough, stoic people, she takes this to an almost literal degree, seemingly almost carved from a granite or marble block. Her face betrayed no emotion whatsoever. After greeting the pair she returned her attention to Vunu and continued her training.   After this, they almost disturbed a meditating Elf-Blood - Orifinas - who seemed entirely oblivious of them, or at least chose not to acknowledge them.   Barf then dragged them over to the other side of the wide room where a heavily muscled orc who introduced himself as Brotrud (Bro), he had the tattoos of the Tyrant's Chosen, a huge dragon over his back and an aegis on his chest. They moved when he flexed, something he appeared very proud of. He told them he had left because of the warmongering ways of the Chosen.   The final couple of people who Barf introduced them to seemed very out of place, a Githyanki and Kalashtar, from distant Rashana. They had come in search of various people who had gone missing over the last 6 months or so. They showed the pictures, and took descriptions of Rukk's children Elmor and Andrick who had gone missing too, and said they would keep their eyes out for them, if they would do the same. Blaise took down details of the other missing people.

Dinner in Underrock

As they were having this conversation, the dinner bell was rung and everyone began making their way in to the dining room.   The room was quickly filled with the varied inhabitants of the sanctuary. Gortan, Rukk and Blaise were sat near to the silent human who had watch them closely, and in particular Tarvy, since they came in and a very red faced hobgoblin who, as it turned out was incredibly loud, louder than anyone else at the table. Rhulvan, the hobgoblin's name, seemed to be almost overcompensating with the amount of faith he was displaying. After having Rukk turn into a lizard at the table, he seemed satisfied and turned his attention to Vunu on his other side.   The party then spoke with the quiet human, who, after a little gentle persuasion, told them that he recognised Tarvy's gait, his upright posture, and it had reminded him of the Inquisition which he guessed Tarvy was at least part of at one point. He knew it because he had been a member too, years ago, before being shunned and punished for reasons he did not explain, but he did show his right arm, a mangled mess, with just two working fingers, it almost still looked painful to this day.   Shortly after this, the meal closed, but not before Blaise sent a message to the other halfling at the table, one who bore some slight similarities to Blaise, the elderly Horace.   Horace, who, was also Ghostwise, spoke to him telepathically, asking him to meet in his quarters later.   Blaise obediently did, making his way into Horace's Hobbit Hole, where he had a small desk. They talked, and, after some Horace told Blaise that he was, in fact, his father's brother or his Uncle, exiled over 100 years before. They spoke of old times and reminisced about the clan. Before he left, Blaise was given a scroll, which Gortan had asked about earlier, talking of the Father and providing a few other pieces of information on the god and his worship.   This all done, the group remained in the sanctuary and slept overnight.

Departure from Underrock

The following morning, the group prepared to leave the Underrock. They said their farewells to those in residence as well as Hugo, who was very sad to see them leave, even Blaise who he had met much more recently.   He told them that they have to return and that he hoped they would write and that they would see him again.   The remainder of the sanctuary's denizens waved them off as they set off, heading back to their airship.   They followed the ravine out, into the bright morning sun, meeting Captain Oz once again, and taking the journey back to Bittergorge.   The four days passed relatively uneventfully, and they were able to reach the city without significant incident.