Session #14: In the Footsteps of Teucer

 Not himself so keen on adventure as his companions, nevertheless Gan of the Survivors of the Tel uncovered some information concerning the demise of a former alchemist-apprentice associated with Cothon-Under-Star--a demise that suggested a possible avenue for Gan's more adventurous fellow-Survivors.

The account of one torchbearer Kalb, written down by the scribes Under-Star some years ago, relates an expedition gone wrong, with Kalb's master Teucer Ultho leading his men-at-arms and torchbearers into the dark deeps of the Weirding Caves and ultimately coming to a fiery death in the face of great treasure ...

Taking up this account, the other, more adventurous, Survivors gathered after their successful venture on the ships of Telman, to plan their own expedition into the Weirding Caves; flush with success, they hoped to prove the old adage that "bold success engenders further success!"

But in the midst of their planning they were interrupted! A party of slaves wearing the sign of the House al Rashid entered the tavern Under-Star and asked for the "so-called" Survivors of the Tel, whom their mistress Zendaya al Rashid had "a great interest" in granting an audience to them ... Whatever negotiations ensued, it was well-noted that the Survivors agreed to follow the slaves and presumably to pass through the Gates of the Long Walls and thence to enter Gadeed itself to attend Zendaya in her own house; they returned later that afternoon whispering amongst themselves, clearly excited.

But, regardless of the results of their negotiations with Zendaya al Rashid, the Survivors maintained their own plans, and after hiring certain of their favorite hirelings, they were seen to set out from the Gate of Mourners to make their way around the east slope of the Tel al Safina seeking the Weirding Caves ...

• Avin (magic-user 4)
  accompanied by Vlana the Bard (magic-user 2)
• Sesel (fighter 4)
  accompanied by Barabajagal (psychic)
• Ravna (magic-user 3)
  accompanied by Ix (thri-kreen 1)

The same party returned through the Gate of Mourners later in the afternoon, not much weighted down by treasure, but bearing a bloody sack ultimately revealed  at the Old Herm & Stone to be full of the apish hands of chnelh, worth 5 gp per hand.

Nevertheless, the light of success shone in their eyes, and though not willing to give away all the secrets they discovered, still they were happy to relate their success in following Kalb's account and in recovering the artefacts they had sought ...

The lack of hard coin dissuades the hirelings from any wish to wildly carouse, but neveretheless they relate a few details. Obviously, there was a battle against a large number of chnelh ape-men, easily won because of the weird psychical powers of Sesel and Barabajagal combined. Then, past the ape-colony, a corridor with a strange crystalline growth led to the juncture where grew a strange fleshy mushroom-thing, and that was where the final odd artefacts were discovered. The possibility of further exploration lay beyond the thing, but it was uncertain how best to cut away the roots and fronds of the thing that blocked the way ...

Treasure

• 160 gp for 16 pairs of chnelh hands x5 gp ea.
• 250 gp for a sackful of sagh fungus
• 94 gp, 49 ep
• a heavy metal hilts, flared at one end with a lens
• an ornate sword, marked with runes

Experience

• 528 xp from treasure
• 452 xp from chnelh x16 (25 + hp ea.)
• 117 xp from chenlh silverback x1 (100 + hp)
• 300 xp to each character for exploration deep into the Weirding Caves (~approximately the 3rd level)

The Cut

• 105 gp per character (50 gp to Vlana and Ix, 12 gp to Barabajagal)
• 574 xp per character (287 to Vlana and Ix)
• the items to be claimed