Session #8: To the Birds

 At Cothon-Under-Star, the tavern in the Mother Whelk, recent efforts by Razo (of the Survivors of the Tel) to understand the mechanical kyni-bird Nassr have come to some fruition in the last week. He had discovered certain of the bird's commands, and by commanding it to fly, but allowing it to remain free of any other constraint, observed that it seemed to "want" to lead him north through the city streets toward the Gate of Fishermen and thence northeast along the coast past the Migdol of the Dyers and Fish Fermenters.

Unwilling to make such a trek alone, Razo gathered to his side certain other of the Survivors who were not otherwise occupied, and the company selected their favored companions from among those who frequent the taverns looking for mercenary work: Ix and Vlana.

Before the company had quite set out, however, a sixth individual appeared, interested in the proposed quest. Hry-Haya Yehat, an Alkari metic in the city, approached Sesel directly with inquiries about the nature of Nassr. Given his "keen interest" in ancient artefacts, the raptor-man was invited into the party to make six who ventured forth from the city to pass the stinking vats of fermenting fish guts and decomposing sea-snail shells on the beach under the Migdol:

• Razo (magic-user 1)
  accompanied by Vlana the Bard (magic-user 1)
• Ravna (magic-user 1)
  accompanied by Ix (Thri-Kreen 1)
• Sesel (fighting-man 2)
  accompanied by Hry-Haya Yehat (Alkari 1)

The trek lasted longer than other expeditions to the Tel al Safina typically have, with the adventurers returning late into the afternoon. And yet they were in good mood, uninjured, but furtive in quickly returning to the tavern Under-Star with filled packs.

Nevertheless, excitement betrayed certain secrets: a sack of gemstones to be sold, a harness of strange dark leather and with a great central "buckle" unwrapped from within a sack, and an ancient codex, its pages yellowed from age--such items were not to be missed by the wondering eyes of curious patrons, though their meanings remain mere guesswork.

While Hry-Haya is retained at the tavern by Razo because of the Alkari's interest in ancient artefacts--of which both Nassr and the strange old codex are examples--Ix and Vlana both take their shares from the sale of the gemstones to enjoy a night on the town (but both starting at Cothon-Under-Star) ... and their nights couldn't be more different. Loaded on molded beer, Ix staggers out to paint the town and wagers her earnings at tonk. Through the traders' sign language, she drunkenly tells of encounters with Sakkra and Alkari in sea-caves, and of specters coming forth from a magic bird, but further nuance is beyond the signed pidgin.

Meanwhile, Vlana spends the evening sipping black wine Under-Star and attempting to persuade Avin to take her on as a direct retainer, rather than seeking her out as an ad hoc hireling when adventure arises. "The pay will be more secure for me, and my loyalty to you will be more secure."

Treasure

• sack of 24 gems (100 gp each) = 2400 gp
• ancient yellowed codex
• strange harness of belt and crossed bandoliers, all dark leather, joined by a central "buckle"
• small crystal vial containing a clear liquid

Experience

• 2400 from treasure
• 448 from Sakkra x4 (100 + hp ea.)
• 315 from Alkari x6 (50 + hp ea.)
• 200 to each character for exploring the "distant" Sea Caves

The Cut

• 524 gp, 6 sp, 6 cp per character (292 gp, 6 sp, 7 cp for Vlana, 266 gp, 6 sp, 7 cp for Ix and Hry-Haya)
• 1254 xp per character (627 for Vlana, Ix, and Hry-Haya)
• the codex
• the harness
• the vial

Player reports or other in-character representations of what transpired during the session will provide the reporting player-character 100 xp per level and be posted to the blog publicly for all to read or see.