Session #21: Dark for Dark Business

While elsewhere in the city Althis and Zet Frin were hiring workmen, a meeting of a different kind took place at the Hole-in-the-Wall between members of the Kantor and the tavern Under-Star. Fighting-woman Persephone, still intent on finding the mysterious Zoq-Fot-Pik once again, had managed to talk certain some-time companions from Under-Star to agree to another joint-venture into the depths of the Weirding Caverns--for Persephone had once again sought out Akin the Beautiful for information, and claimed to have received intelligence from him and his companions as to a way into the deeper caverns where the elusive creatures must surely dwell.

Unable to hire Warda the Rose--who, at the time, was accompanying Althis and Zet Frin--Persephone instead secured the service of the Kzin Hero Riit Rakir, while Bartholomew Pettibone once more sought out the loyal Gan ad Din. After purchasing certain other useful supplies, the group advanced through the Gate of Mourners seeking the Weirding Caverns on the northeastern slopes of the Tel al Safina:

• Persephone (fighting-woman 4)
  accompanied by Finbar (renyu) and Riit Rakir (Kzin)
• Bartholomew Pettibone (magic-user 4)
  accompanied by Gan ad Din (footman)
• Heijo (magic-user)

Smelling of the musty earth, loamy fungus, and a distinctly fishy odor, these six returned in the late afternoon accompanied by one other, a raggedy, dirt-covered creature. After bathing at the tavern Under-Star to dispel the grime and odors, it was discovered that the seventh figure was actually a human, perhaps still half-crazed by too long a time alone in the perfect darkness of the caves. His name was a confused issue--Fred? Elfo? Fred al Fo'? Alfredo?

Other than the person of this tatterdemalion, the only material gains recovered from the caverns was a sackful of the psychoactive sagh fungus, which was easily sold to the tavern Under-Star. Mention was heard of a planned "moot", and questions were bandied about as to what best to acquire for it--cheaply scribed scrolls and pamphlets seemed of chief interest to Heijo in this regard. It seems certain that contact was made with the strange creatures called Zoq-Fot-Pik, and that some kind of deal was made, perhaps for a trade of information.

Rakir departed unceremoniously--with but a pocketful of gold, and denied even a taste of the flesh of the cavern denizens, he seemed rather put out, and spoke little of what transpired. Meanwhile, Bartholomew and Gan sought out Sesel of the Survivors of the Tel, and arranged for Gan to receive martial training from the warrior so that he might begin on the path of a fighting-man, rather than remain a mere footman.

The Lucre

• 250 gold from a sack of sagh

The Learning

• 250 xp from gold
• 641 xp from worm (600 + hp)
• 300 to each character for traversing "worm tunnels" and being the first group to enter the Long Caverns (the scribes may yet, hopefully, find a better name for this cave-network in their documents)

The Cut

• 62 gold, 5 silver to each player-character
  31 gold, 2 silver, 5 copper to Riit Rakir and Gan ad Din
• 597 xp to each player-character
  299 xp to Riit Rakier and Gan ad Din

Play reports, artwork, etc. that represents the goings-on of this expedition will earn the character of the player producing it 100 xp per level