While the group is making preparations for their forthcoming journey into the Vast Swamp, Panjur returns from following Kasera’s carriage. He reports that he followed the carriage all the way to Pitchfield. Once at the city gates, Panjur was unable to follow further as the guards at the city gate allowed Kasera’s carriage to pass without stopping, while all others attempting to enter had to stop and answer a series of questions. He tried to ask the guards why the carriage was not stopped, but they simply refused to address his queries. Once he had answered the required questions and entered the city, the carriage was long gone and he had no chance of tracking it on such heavily traveled streets.

Nori has given the group a rough map showing approximately where in the Vast Swamp the city should be. While he is using fairly detailed information from the journal, he cannot be exact, so all he can do is give the group a rough idea of the area where the entrance to the city should be found. Luckily, for the group, the entrance is near a fairly well traveled section of the swamp, which should make getting in and out much safer. He’s not sure what Kasera and her followers were able to retrieve from the Glorioles City of the Black Caverns, so he suggests the group get going as soon as possible to make sure they get what they can from the city before she does.

The journey is relatively uneventful, at least until the group runs across two lizardfolk being chased by a group of froglike humanoids. Suddenly the group finds themselves part of the conflict as the froglike creatures, which the group later finds out are called Sivs, attack them as well as the lizardfolk. Despite the Sivs apparent ability to walk upon water, the battle begins to turn in the group’s favor, at least until a huge creature the lizardfolk refer to as a chuul joins the fray. The chuul cares not who it is attacking, obviously taking this opportunity to grab a meal. The group manages to win out in the end, and the thankful lizardfold tell the group that the Sivs have their tribe pinned in an underground city. At least that’s what the group can gleam from the broken common spoken by the lizardfolk.

Once back at the lizardfolk village, which is located at the mouth of a cave, possibly the entrance to the underground city according to Nori’s map, they are told the chief will see them. Out of the mouth of the cave struts a huge lizardman, who speaks much better common than those the group rescued from the Siv. He explains that the Siv attacked their village some time ago demanding a bracelet that the lizardfolk do not have. Allowed to investigate further the group finds that the cave does lead to an underground complex, just not the one they were hoping for. Apparently the lizardfolk picked the hidden entrance to an ancient temple of Tharizdun to make their home. Once the group finds the secret entrance, they descend hoping to find a temple filled with undead, which immediately attack. The group manages to fight off the abominations and actually retrieve a bracelet from what must have been the high priest of the temple.

While inspecting the bracelet the group notices an inscription on it. One side depicts a lock, while the other depicts a key. In between the two the word Acererak is engraved in elaborate script. They instantly recognize the name of the infamous demilich, supposed to be trapped in a tomb somewhere in the Vast Swamp. The bracelet may be the key to releasing this ancient evil, but if that is the case, why would the Siv want such an item. They can’t be crazy enough to release such a being, could they? Suddenly the air above their heads reverberates with what sounds like the crack of a large whip. Looking up, their hearts pounding, the group realizes that a black dragon is flying overhead. Panic instantly overwhelms the entire village with lizardfolk and party members alike scrambling for cover. Luckily, the drake doesn’t appear to be interested in them, and continues about its business, flying off to the south.

It determined that the Sivs actually live in the cave entrance to the underground city, but from what the lizardfolk describe, there are far too many to try a direct approach. The group manages to sneak in closer to take a look and spots a number of smaller caverns on the mountain face surrounding the main cave, which is 200 feet wide and 125 feet high. They make one of these smaller caves their temporary base of operations so Lirrim can attempt to call his familiar, hoping to use it to further scout the area. The rest of the group decides to try a few of the other caves to see if any of them may connect with the larger caverns deeper in the hill. Xif is the best climber, so he’s elected to head up the side to check out the caves. The first one hooks up with an underground river, but there was no way to proceed further. He checks the one found directly above the large cave and finds a large square block in the floor that may be moved, allowing access into the lower cave, however, the block is much too large for just one person to move.

While Sione and Isach avoided a patrol down below, Xif negotiated the hillside further. Unfortunately, he loses his footing and comes tumbling down the hill alerting the Sivs inside the cave to the group’s presence. A scuffle ensues and the group is forced to flee with a large number of Sivs behind them. Soon, the Sivs are in full-scale search and destroy mode, and discover Flain and Lirrim’s hiding place. Forced to negotiate with the Sivs, the group trades the bracelet for an amulet, a bottle of some strange dust, and a few books the Siv have found in the City of the Black Caverns. The group is allowed to leave peacefully, and they head back to Malwander.

Upon reaching the town, the group finds that they have a couple of letters awaiting them. is from Ashila, telling the group to head to Naerie to retrieve and item from a man named Duras. Apparently the item may be able to help the group find out what happened to Lirrim’s village. The other letter is from Xif’s uncle Bel. He has an important delivery for the group to make right away. Deciding that Naerie and Duras can wait, the group travels to New Keep to get the details on the delivery they are to make.

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Chapters - Find out what's happened so far.

Chapter One – Shapeshifters in Our Midst

Chapter Two – A Prophecy Fulfilled?

Chapter Three – The City of Black Crystal

Chapter Four – Poachers? No, Murderers!

Chapter Five – The Vast Swamp

Chapter Six – Delivery for Quarion

Chapter Seven – Evil Afoot in the Menowood

Chapter Eight – An Item in Naerie

Chapter Nine – Back in Malwander…

Chapter Ten – A Journey Into Madness

Chapter Eleven - Serpent Isle

Chapter Twelve – The Return of Maj

Chapter Thirteen – The Hestmark Highlands

Chapter Fourteen – A Spy Among Us?

Chapter Fifteen – The Bonewood

Chapter Sixteen – Return to Rook's Roost