II. "Made Guys"

Amalla proposed that the party return to Darksea to check up on their various properties and set up their followers in their duties. The rest of the party agreed, and spent the next week putting together a caravan--after all, Amalla and Edward between them now had over 40 followers and cohorts.  

Edward also observed, "We need a rogue!" and spoke to the owner of the Ill 'Lithid tavern, where the party had been staying, about recruiting one for the party.

In the meantime, Lou, a halfling bard who had previously been referred to the party by Choor, provided a series of exceptionally fine musical performances to keep the locals occupied and distract them from the caravan's supply efforts. Firiona, the party's wizard, also recently referred by Choor, took this time to learn some new spells. The party also was introduced by the tavern owner to Arnold "Butcher" Baggins, a halfling rogue of impeccable reputation (according to the tavern owner!). He was invited to join the party.

After a week, the caravan set off for Darksea, following the original route via the Pool of Ivrin and the tunnel to Silverhold. They found that the entrance to the tunnel was now restored and occupied by guards in the service of the Enterprise. The guards allowed the caravan to pass after Edward gave them the correct password, which also opened the gates. After an uneventful journey down the tunnel, which also showed signs of renewed activity, the party entered Silverhold. Again they met with agents of the Enterprise, who briefed them on local conditions.

Next day the party continued down the road to Darksea, reaching the underground city by day's end without serious difficulty. The mephits and paraelementals that had attempted to block their earlier passage had apparently been banished, and the mud pots and lava pools had been substantially eliminated. In town, the party members retired to their various estates.

On the following day, Amalla attended to her own followers. Edward set up his followers in his mansion and instructed them in their duties. Firiona located the abandoned magic academy near Government Center, and the party duly explored it, finding the burned and dismembered corpse of a drider in the basement and solving the mystery of its demise (apparently at the hands of a summoned balor who had freed itself due to the drider's carelessness).

On leaving the magic academy, the party was greeted by Miae, who had also taken up residence in Darksea and was intent on reopening the city brewery. She flirted brazenly with Edward (who proved strangely unresponsive), and promised to pay him a visit with some of her special brew once it was ready. Back at Edward's home, the party found that Amalla had decided to leave the group (at least temporarily) to attend to matters of urgency to her.

The party called it a day after that, but next morning a messenger from Choor paid a call, inviting the group to visit with Choor at their convenience (i.e., ASAP). Back at Choor's headquarters, the party met with Choor and discussed their various activities, informing him of Amalla's absence as well.

Choor then inquired whether Edward and Green Arrow desired to advance within "the Enterprise," the organization to which he belonged. After some questioning, the two agreed. Shortly thereafter, in a ceremony attended by Choor and two other men, Edward and Green Arrow were inducted into the Enterprise, and were provided with recognition signals and an initial explanation of its goals and organization.

The Enterprise, Choor explained, is an organization devoted to "battling the forces of darkness." It had members in many parts of the world, both above and below the surface, as well as throughout the planes of the multiverse. The Enterprise recruits widely, and seeks those hardy souls who appear to have within them the ability to defeat the enemies of the Enterprise.

The Enterprise has many sections, Choor continued, including Exploration, Recruiting (Choor's own section), Intelligence and Operations, Trade and Finance, Research, and Armed Forces. Enterprise members may be called on to assist with operations by any of the sections of the Enterprise, as well as by individual members in need of aid. Conversely, Enterprise members may freely call upon other members for assistance as needed.

"As you may have noticed, the Enterprise rewards its faithful members richly, both in wealth and in business opportunities," said Choor. "However, the Enterprise relentlessly pursues its enemies, and especially traitors."

Choor also introduced the two other men with him as his immediate superior, Iarwain, Sub-Director of Recruiting for the Prime Material Plane, and Jacobus Catena, Sub-Director of Intelligence.

Lou, Firiona and Arnold, who were witnesses to the induction ceremony, were revealed to be previously initiated members themselves.

Choor advised the party that, having become "made guys," they were no longer responsible to him directly, and that they were free to act subject to their responsibilities to the Enterprise. Eventually they may be assigned to a section of the Enterprise; their further advancement within the organization would depend on their performance, and would be accompanied by further instruction regarding the activities and goals of the Enterprise.

As a final note, he informed them that their long-lost companion, Dune, had returned after a long and complex journey among the planes, most recently the City of Doors, also known as Sigil. Choor suggested that the party pay a visit to Sigil, for it was a place from which all other planes could eventually be accessed and such knowledge would prove useful to them in the future. The party agreed to go, and, using information provided to them by Choor's secretary, located a portal to Sigil.

Once in Sigil, the party soon located an inn ("The Simple Jug") which bore the hidden symbol of the Enterprise, the sign of the spider-eater. A barmaid in the tavern, named Lily, proved to be a member, and took them aside to set them up in the inn and provide some initial information about Sigil. The party then retired to its quarters.

However, once the party drifted off to sleep, they began to have visions: a floating image of an apparently female humanoid face surrounded by sharp blades; sounds and sights of battle. The party then found themselves actually participating in the battle!