We talked to Pippi (always a good source of info). He told us about a retired adventurer named Belkin who might be able to tell us more about the Underdark. Apparently, there's a neutral citi named Gaelvas down there, and if we can just reach it, we could trade profitably between there and our world. We're pretty much one step away from becoming a gang of bank robbers, so trade sounds like a worthy occupation. We visited Belkin, who counseled us to go through the Lizardmen's territory to get to Gaelvas.

We did this. After some travel, snuggled up for the night in our nice comfy rope trick, we get dumped unceremoniously to the ground (Dispel Magic on the rope trick, we later surmise) and jumped by a group of treants. We kick their asses (not without difficulty); one escapes. High point for me: I stun one of them (stunning a tree! Wheeeeeee!) with my bare fist (also, ouch! these things are harder than that stone golem!).

What to do now? It looks like we might have to fight. We search for a nice place to do so. Level, visibility for miles, not too many innocent villagers (though a few of us nominate our less favorite villages as battlegrounds...).