The six newcomers to Cothon-Under-Star, flush with selling off their findings from the Necropolis during their flight from the Kzinti, all pay the dues for membership in the tavern's associated Confraternity of Alchemists and Bacta-Makers (100 gold per level per month). They then ago about purchasing for themselves arms, armor, and the various gear that adventurers delving into the Tel might find useful, and so seem to have taken a liking to the rush of danger.
Meanwhile, Torkol, one of the six, attempted to further his knowledge of the complicated Klackon language by conversing with those of the mantis-folk that associate themselves with the tavern's confraternity. Though the language is impossible for any human to fully grasp--it involves intricate combinations of chirps, clicks, sign language, and pheremonal signals--nevertheless Torkol was able to glean some information from the Klackon-patrons which he proudly related to his fellows:
Within the Great Spire of the Klackons that rises from the north slope of the Tel al-Safina, one of the Houses within has been abandoned, as a great evil has come over it. It is said that the palace-structure itself, inside the Spire, is blocked off, and that those who dwell within the Spire nevertheless now refuse to enter the palace, and that it was abandoned with much in the way of stores, wealth, etc. still held inside--so swift was the doom that befell it! A prime target for adventurers looking to make it big by defying death!
Only three would be able to venture forth at this time, and so they looked to bolster their number by hiring some of those who drift between the Four Taverns, offering service for coin. So it was that a party of seven ultimately set forth from Cothon-Under-Star, taking the Gate of the Dyers from the harbor to make their way up the beach, past the stinking vats under the Migdol of the Dyers and Fish-Fermenters and then up the headland and around the face of the Tel toward the Great Spire ...
- Sesel (fighing-man 1)
accompanied by Harrava Rrl (Mrrshan 1) and Slith Sly (Sakkra 1) - Ravna (magic-user 1)
accompanied by "Ix" (Thri-Kreen 1) - Avin (magic-user 1)
accompanied by Vlana the Bard (magic-user 1)
All seven returned, with only Ix somewhat injured by what appeared to be the mandibles of some insect cracking the carapace of one of her legs. Their bags bulged with some kind of return of treasure, claimed to have come indeed from the very 6th House palace within the Great Spire that has been closed off by the Klackons within. They are chary for the moment about just how they entered either the Spire, or the palace, but are keen to turn their loot into lucre.
After the items are sold off in the Souk--a couple of Klackon instruments, and a pair of fine silken tapestries--and the money is shared out, Ix returns to her tribe's camp to heal, while Harrava Rrl, Slith Sly, and Vlana go their separate ways to eagerly spend their earnings ...
While the other two get into carousing mischief--Slith Sly becomes an ibn haram of the Confraternity of Issa for vandalism, and Harrava Rrl works off some of her lioness-hunter's instincts by getting involved in a street brawl--Vlana the Bard meanwhile uses her oratory to good effect through all the taverns, telling of how the company sneaked into the Spire by secret means, climbed a stair down into the top of the palace inside the Spire--one of many palaces of a city of Klackons within the heart of that artificial mountain!--and battled creatures hatched from slain Klackons inside the sealed-off 6th House.
Treasure
- a finely made, long-necked erhu (60 gp)
- a lacquered, lap-sized dulcimer, to be hammered by a Klackon's four arms (130 gp)
- silk tapestry with whorled designs (400 gp)
- silk tapestry depicting the Council of Accord in stylized fashion (500 gp)
- the remains of pallid insectile creature, sold "internally" to Master Alchemist Aljadd of Cothon-Under-Star (550 gp)
Experience Earned
- 1640 from treasure
- 431 from Scribs x4 (100 +hp ea.)
- 100 to each character for exploration of a new upper-level area
The Cut
- 790 xp per character (395 xp per hireling)
- 234 gp, 28 sp per character (117 gp, 14 sp per hireling)
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