The Cearlian, laid Waste

I was considering the low-level exploration mission northwest of the shadow elf core. It struck me that finding a disused largish cavern is one thing; taming it is quite another. And resources attract rivals. Especially in the Underdark.

I propose that the party (and patsy) can discover the muddy passage to the Cearlian Vault - when it's not all that bad. When they discover it, the "waste" is just fallow dirt fit for cultivation. The Efreet's Claw - which does not lead to the surface, luckily for Glantri - has certainly helped keep the phosphates replenished. The Darkleaf Bastion is here but whatever critters are in it now, aren't a problem for 4th level adventurers - so, no âfrît. The patsy will end up with The Credit, as the underworld equivalent to Lief Erikson. Gee, I wonder if the old colonists ever found any trouble here . . . NAAH IT'LL BE FINE.

Over the next year, Porador and Gelbalf second-sons migrate to the Vault hoping to make it farmland, like Thulingard by the Fairbrow. The Lethowan canal is dredged; Darkleaf is rebuilt, new tunneling is commenced to the Sojourner. The player characters find something else to do, someWHERE else, to level up.

Then comes the âfrît, then comes the Waste, and the new farmers need help. High-Expert help; with or without Droopy Ear. And certainly the City Of The Stars can't tolerate a minion of al-Shaytân commandeering trade on the Sojourner.

The High Expert player characters can fix this. NOW they get the credit.