About halfway between the Great Taverns of Cothon-Under-Star and the Kantor Kabljauhof stands a much humbler establishment, found at the end of a narrow alley up from the quays: Fahra's Hole-in-the-Wall. Little more than a taproom for the sale of cheap ale to sailors and oarsmen, the place now finds itself as an occasional haunt for the new adventuring element in the city, due to its convenient central location.
So it was that just such a mixed group assembled at Fahra's the other day, some from the Kantor, or from Under-Star, or even still unassociated with any tavern. For though the taverns stand as institutional rivals, nevertheless their individual members remain on friendly and mutually helpful terms. And once again they had gathered to swap leads on potential adventure within the Tel al Safina, or in the nearby sea caves of the Ocean's Throat.
Talk turned here and there, from the possibility of seeking a rogue alchemist, or of raiding the pirates known to haunt the sea caves; Bartholomew inquired if any of the magic-users in the knew of any way to magically create cold; but finally it was agreed that a simple goal of further exploration in the Weirding Caves would be useful to all, either in discovering fantastic new treasures, or at least finding some leads. Securing the services of certain favored hirelings, this is the party that departed through the Gate of Mourners to seek the east slope of the Tel:
- Bartholomew Pettibone (magic-user 4)
accompanied by Gan ad Din - Durham (fighter 4)
accompanied by renyu-servant Pako - Zet Frin (magic-user 1)
- Heijo (magic-user 3)
- Persephone (fighter 4)
accompanied by renyu Finbar and likely lass Warda the Rose
Several hours later, the majority of the party were seen to enter through the Fishermen's Gate, and to be moving with a sense of purpose west, toward Cothon-Under-Star. Two among their number were certainly missing--Bartholomew and his inseparable companion, Gan ad Din!
Now, earlier in the day, Durham and Persephone had started a scene at the tavern Under-Star when Durham had come seeking the aid of the Guild of Alchemists in analyzing a pair of sakkra-blood potions. Disturbed from his work by this request, master Aljadd refused, pointing out that the Kantor Kabljauhof maintained a legal monopoly over such potions, and that his analysis would be an infringement of the Hanse's rights. On hearing this, Persephone had offered remuneration of a handful of coin if the master alchemist would only acquiesce, to which (paltry!) bribe Aljadd replied in outrage by having the two thrown out.
So it was with great surprise that the bartender and patrons Under-Star witnessed the return of Durham and Persephone, with others in tow, later that same day! The expected sparks burned almost immediately, as Aljadd was once again called away from his work to see the very two he had put to the ban returned--but the old man's ire evaporated almost immediately as he listened to their claim: that they had been tasked by the Princess of the Fifth House to come and put to Aljadd himself the Klackons' request that he cease his researches into the nature of the plague that had destroyed the Sixth House.
"Damn those incurious insects!" Aljadd began, but Durham forestalled him with a further proposal--"Why not return with us yourself, and put forth your own argument as to why you should continue your researches, and how you expect the knowledge you gain to help defeat the menace?" Immediately hearing this, Aljadd's eyes burned with a new determination, and he called for an apprentice and several servants to gather his notes. Durham, meanwhile, ever crafty, collected a staff and the shell of a whelk and a length of colored cloth and put together a kind of standard for the tavern, while he himself would carry it as a kind of lictor for Aljadd's entourage.
With everything finally gathered, the entire company then set out, the adventurers escorting Aljadd and his apprentice and servants. As the great red sun began its long slide into the sea to the west, they stepped out from the Fishermen's Gate to climb up to the terraced slopes around the Great Spire. Later, even as the stars shone above, careering swiftly in their courses, a smaller party was seen once again entering the eastern gate--the original group of adventurers who had set out that morning.
As to Aljadd and his entourage--they remain missing! Much to the consternation of the Alchemists' Guild, and much to the interest of the rumor mill, which now abounds with endless speculation as to his fate in the hands of the Attines.
The scene illustrated below is of Zet Frin casting the illusion of a "dragon" behind three carrion-crustaceans that were threatening the party. See Bartholomew's journal for details on the encounter:
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The Lucre
Nothing was recovered from the Tel by this expedition.
The Learning
- 647 xp from "leaking" crustaceans x3 (200 + hp each)
- 1003 xp from Klackon guards x9 (100 + hp each; this xp is granted as a synecdoche of the entire interaction with the Fifth House)
- 300 xp to each character for being the first party to enter the lower levels of the Great Spire
- 200 xp to each character for being the first party to traverse a connection between the Weirding Caves and the Great Spire
- 830 xp per player-character
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