Session #26: Hunting Pirates, with Sesel's Account and Durham's Report

Two new gibbets are swinging from the walls of the Kantor Kabljauhof, over the quays and the ships of the Hanse's merchant-fleet. One contains a Kzin Hero, the other an accused human pirate, captured by a recent expedition against the Luwian pirates inside the underworld of the Tel al Safina--so close to the city!

Organized by Durham of the Ringing Anvil, a not-small party set out from the Kantor and the Gate of Fishermen to pass under the watchful Migdol of the Dyers--where an unusual encounter took place with representatives of the Migdol claiming a tax for the use of the shore. We will let the adventurers explain the fallout from that below, but suffice it to say that the same party ultimately returned to the city by roundabout way, up the eastern Pallbearers' Way, approximately doubled in number.

• Durham (fighting-man 5)
  accompanied by Pako (renyu), Ly Mantok (Sakkra), and Bridne Murcada (likely lass)
• Bartholomew Pettibone (magic-user 4)
  accompanied by Gan ad Din (fighting-man 1)
  
• Sesel (fighting-man 5)
  accompanied by Barabajagal (psychic) and the Grey Gadhar (magic-user 1)
• Heijo (magic-user 4)

Back at Cothon-Under-Star, Sesel regales the other patrons with a tale of what trasnpired:

Another tale of shenanigans, Survived! This time with pirates!

As I’m sure you’ve all heard there are dastardly pirates roaming the waters of Dirac's Sea, wreaking havoc on the trading routes of the Hanse as well as those of our beloved mother of cities! And so we took it upon ourselves to seek out and hunt those pirates who thought themselves so brazen as to settle within striking distance of Cothon.

We began our journey North, with some politicking with the Attines that I’m sure none here need listen to, so I’ll skip past that to the adventures!

Our very own Bartholomew, as well as good friend Durham, had both previously visited some caves along the coast and discovered a lair of sorts for some number of these villanous pirates. And so it was that they led us through the winding twisting caverns until we reached a massive open cavern. Such a size as one might fit two fully galleys within, and still have room to camp!

It was here that we did find our quarry, but on the wrong side of the water. Those depths, dark and murky, did seem to be swarming with life. Being resplendent in my full-plate, I strongly voted against any attempts to cross this way. Besides, there seemed to be some kind of lights in the distant ceiling, implying an alternative (and far less sinkable) route to our objective.

It was here that Barbajagle and I took pause to speak of psionic matters, and partake some of his wonderful cup of truth. Of which, I strongly recommend for anyone interested in expanding their understanding of this great universe. But I digress. While Barabajagle and I took counsel the others scouted a guard tower on our side of the water.

Finding it to only contain a handful of guards they valiantly assaulted and secured the place without any significant disturbance. So much so that Barabajagle and I only noticed once our discussion had completed!

Using this tower we were able to discover the access to the roof, and make our way on towards our destination.

Here, dear listeners, is where it  gets, shall we say “interesting”? For, during our trek across we were discovered by a lady in some state of undress, and her consort. Whom we quickly learned was the lady captain of the ship! What luck!

While she was initially stand offish, well you all know me. We became quick friends, shared some of the finest beverage offered by our very own Cothon-Under-Star, and in gratitude she offered to show us her great ship! And so we made our way through the corridors and steps, including a whole mess-hall of carousing pirates. We had some tense moments before they moved on to their daily distractions.

Finally we came upon the ship, a great black painted galley, a truly wonderful looking ship. The first mate, on duty managing the laborers maintaining the ship while in dock, was happy to chat with us, but as the conversation progressed we discovered the captain was fully unable to hold her liquor.

So, naturally, we offered to guide the captain back to her quarters, to which they offered us generous compensation, and us being adventurers we naturally accepted. But as we escorted the poor captain to her quarters we realized she was in no shape to be left alone. So we brought her with us, as well as a number of poor souls who wandered up to join us in returning to Cothon. Though, feeling the hot sand would be too much for those late comers, we did make a small detour, granting them more shade and softer ground, returning through the gate of mourners.

And once again to this great Mother Whelk, and her fine drinks!

Durham also provided a report to the leaders at the Kantor:

Durham's log, entry 11

I will skip the normal formalities of my normal log entry and get right to the heart of the matter. Discovering a conspiracy between pirates and the great house Barcidae of Gadeed. How do I know this? With a simple note, a visit to a secret base and a small confession from the pirate captain in a very relaxed state of mind.

What I planned to be a simple raid on some unsuspecting pirates, turned into the uncovering of a greater plot. It all began with a cryptic note delivered to my quarters, "Beware the thunderbolt" the message read and was unsigned. Strange to be sure. I did not think much of it, since I could not recall seeing a thunderbolt in any shape or form.

Later on as we left through the gates of the fisherman, our party ran across another group of armed men. They claimed to be of the house of the Barcidae and they were marked with a sigil… a thunderbolt.

I told Sesel these men were not to be trusted. They ask us for a tax to travel to their land, even though we never had to pay such a fee before. We made a reasonable excuse of having an urgent meeting with the 5th house and bring payment on our return. They agreed and allowed us to pass.

Later when our raid on the pirates began we found a door set in the bottom of a stone column with a staircase leading up. What we found above was a base carved above the roof of the cave. My architecturally trained eyes were able to see that this was no fort slapped together with wood and nails. The supports were expertly joined and the rock precisely craved, no pirates did this.

A moment later Bartholomew granted me invisibility allowing me to scout the rest of the base. I found a research room with writings and rubbing of the same green doors I had been looking into and it looked like they were much further along than I was.

So many questions fill my head now. Who sent me the note? Why are the Barcidae and pirates in league with each other? Do they seek the legendary ship of Taharqu and his hall below the sea or just riches?

The Lucre

• 3500 gold and 2000 electrum
• a case of 12 of the "rogue alchemist's" dark Sakkra blood potions (find the "right buyers" to sell these, or they can be kept and used by adventurers
• a set of carved coral pieces (800 gp)
• tafl board and game pieces carved of dindin teeth (400 gp)
• two bundles of fine dindin-skin leather (900 gp)
• a collection of various ivories (1000 gp)
• a gold and silver miniature of a galley (1600 gp)
• an ebony incantation bowl with silvered letters (1300 gp)
• a smaller etched iron incantation bowl, which exudes a magic aura
• a case of 8 small ceramics containing what resembles kohl or another cosmetic (uncertain value)
• taken from Amma, a battleaxe, the axe-head of black iron fashioned to resemble a sro's dark wing (magic)
• also from Amma, a buckler with a kind of phylactery or amulet tied into the boss (magic)
• from the Kantor, a bounty of 1150 gold (1000 for Amma, 100 for the Kzin, 50 for Zaroum)
• from the Bani al Luz a reward of 500 gold for the safe return of a scion of theirs who had been held prisoner by the pirates

The Learning

• 10500 xp from treasure (not including bounties or reward)
• 200 xp to each character for exploring the pirate's lair
• 343 xp from marines x6, including Zaroum (50 + hp ea.)
• 221 xp from Kzin x1 (200 +hp)
• 443 xp from Amma (400 + hp)
• 500 xp each to Durham and Sesel for their accounts

The Cut

• 3077 xp per player-character
  1538 xp to Ly Mantok, Gan ad Din, and the Grey Gadhar
• 2109 gp to each player-character
  1104 gp to Ly Mantok, Gan ad Din, and the Grey Gadhar
  200 gp each to Bridne Murcada and Barabajagal
• case of 12 Sakkra blood potions
• box of 8 ceramic "doses" of a dark paste
• iron incantation bowl
• the sro-battleaxe
• the phylactery-buckler
• the goodwill of all the freed prisoners, especially the merchants of Bani al Luz