Knights of Anduria

7 March, 596

After breaking camp the next morning the group continues onward. As the landscape gets more mountainous they pass a family of gorillas, which do not give them any trouble. However, a few hours later, they quickly take hiding places before a giant comes jogging down the path. The giant stops on the trail and kills one of the abandoned horses, then looks around for a trap. It discovers Alfir and Gunleif hiding behind a rock and starts to attack. However, Baxtor puts it to sleep, giving the rest of the group precious time to hammer the giant with its full arsenal. The giant is slain before it can even land a blow. The group debates whether or not to look for its lair, but in the end, it is decided to press onward toward the location of the Underdark entrance.

Toward the end of the day, the party spots a bright flash over a hill, and arrive in time to see a red dragon burning down a straw hut with its fiery breath. A wide-eyed old man sees the heroes and runs toward them, encouraging them to defend him, shouting, "Onward, my knights of Anduria!" Then man is clearly demented but Sonja bravely moves in front to protect him. The red dragon turns its attention to the party and rains fiery death down upon Gunleif, who departs this world as a pile of ashes. After sensing a threat from Alastriel, it bears down upon her, scratching its claws in her face. The rest of the group does everything it can to bring down the wyrm, and Alastriel in desperation casts darkness on the creature. This seems to do the trick, and the dragon flies away in retreat. But not before it lets out one final blast of fire, which hits Sonja squarely. When the fight is over Sonja's body is burned; intact, but clearly dead.

The insane man is known as Crazy Jared and babbles on about how he is going to rebuild his "castle." But, he does seem to know how to get to the Underdark entrance, and even draws a map for the group.