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Message: <blockquote data-quote="MerricB" data-source="post: 2644868" data-attributes="member: 3586">Part Two: From Here to ThereThis section of the adventure is 8 pages long, and deals with the first part of following the Emerald Claw. It seems that they've made their way to the continent of Xen'drik. Luckily for everyone, Elaydren can call in a few favours and has a new submersible that can take them there...Maps for the undersea ship are inside the front cover, and there are details on its contents and the personality of its gnome captain and his motivations. This is all good to see. The adventure is flowing quite nicely at present.As one may expect, no undersea voyage can go without a little trouble. In this case, it's the sahuagin who have been blockading Xen'drik. This is a nice touch that shows the PCs some of the interactions between the races and nations of Eberron. The encounter is EL 9, and quite challenging. Interestingly, it has been cut down from the original, which Bruce Cordell has posted on his site. (<a href="http://homepage.mac.com/macbrucecordell/B1283663648/C608165187/E1610916623/" target="_blank">see here</a>)Assuming that is successfully navigated (and my group did, although they had an advantage with 6 PCs), then Xen'drik is the next stop. About three pages deals with the trading port of Stormreach and what the PCs find there. I must pause and mention the excellent artwork that Steve Prescott uses to depict Stormreach - it's one of my favourite pieces of D&D art.This is an investigative part of the adventure. The Emerald Claw have headed off into the jungle, and the PCs must first find that out, find which direction they've taken, then hire transport of their own - all without drawing attention to themselves.One of the few real blunders of the adventure happens here. Bruce Cordell places a Bodak, of all things, as the threat that they face when they attract attention. Bodaks are superbly deadly, and the way this one is introduced is very likely to kill most of the party. I know it did mine, (and I had 6 PCs!) before I basically neutered its death gaze to a "comatose" gaze.Apart from that, the investigation is well presented. You have an expedition from Morgave University that can be interacted with, as well as enclaves for House Cannith and House Lyrander. We found this fun.There's also a NPC who will join the group in Stormreach: Muroni, a half-elf scholar who is seeking out revelations about the Draconic Prophecy, and thinks the PCs would be a good group to tag along with. There's no problem faced if the PCs leave her behind, but if, as my group did, they take her with them, she's likely to prove quite helpful.Eventually will come the need for the PCs to leave. This will occur by riverboat - it's almost impossible for the PCs to find and airship, and by foot would take too long. They've got the documentation from Lady Elaydren to hire one, but the PCs need to convince the riverboat's captain. So, quite a bit of roleplaying, some undersea travel, and some combats. Things have shaped up quite well so far - except for the Bodak.</blockquote>

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