Whatever it was that Bartholomew Pettibone reported to Sesel and the other Survivors of the Tel, the following week saw an agitation of excitement amongst that company as they made preparations for their next expedition. Like the atmosphere outside, pregnant with storms and lightning, the air inside the tavern of Cothon-Under-Star was alight with energy.
Finally, all the preparations were complete, and the Survivors gathered in the common room. Some of their member were to set out on whatever goal Bart had revealed; meanwhile, Torkol, Gan, and Razo would remain in town to be representatives of the Survivors available should the Courts need to contact them.
The company set out, first dropping by the Ringing Anvil--for after all, Durham had been on the last expedition, and it would only be appropriate to include him in this next adventure. But he demurred, claiming uneasiness with the prospect of approaching the Green Doors yet again--too often, he had found himself the victim of weird pyschical attacks in their presence! Therefore, without Durham, the party of the Survivors set out through the Gate of Mourners, seeking to avoid the Migdol of the Barcidae even as thunder rolled in the sky above:
- Avin (magic-user 5)
accompanied by Vlana the Bard (magic-user 3) - Bartholomew Pettibone (magic-user 5)
accompanied by Gan ad-Din (fighting-man 1) - Ravna (magic-user 5)
accompanied by Ix (Klackon 2) - Sesel (fighting-man 5)
accompanied by Raoden (magic-user 1)
When the great red sun had set, and the dark wings of night settled over the world, and the greenish light of the Fortress Moon shone fitfully from behind the rolling stormclouds, the company had not yet been seen to return to Cothon. Their quarters were empty the next morning; and the next evening and night, too, they remained unaccounted for.
Rarely have adventurers not returned to the city on the very day that they set out to invade the underworld of the Tel al Safina; after several days, the company was presumed dead or lost, and talk circled around what would become of the Survivors, given their recent legal troubles, and the loss of at least half their members. Banu al Rashid, noble patrons of the mercenary company, continued aiding Torkol and the others in developing their court defense, but even as the weather remained grey and drear, so the attitude of the Rashids seemed muted.
Then, after a week had passed with no word, a pair of figures appeared on the Pallbearers' Way--Sesel, much bruised and limping, and accompanied by Bart, both dusty and foot-weary! Escorted into town by a pair of the Poor Brothers of the Dead in their brown armor, the two made their way to Cothon-Under-Star to assure their comrades of their survival--theire mere survival! For the company had met with great difficulties and terrible enemies--one in particular, which seemed like a living column of armor, armed with a pair of evil eyes.
They secured a passel of supplies to be borne back to their still-injured comrades where Avin had been left to guard their camp. While Bart made ready to return, Sesel inquired after the suit by the Barcidae, and hearing that the trial was to be on the morrow, he elected to remain behind as the Voice and face of the Survivors, while Bart set out again to return to the injured remainder of the party. Poor Brothers escorted Bart as far as they were able, but then had to return to their patrols of the Pallbearers' Way; meanwhile, Sesel was called into Gadeed to meet with his noble patrons and finalize their strategy for the morrow's arguments ...
The Lucre
- nothing has yet been returned to the city!
- 656 xp for ru'un x1 (500 + hp + special)
- 360 xp for "mnggal al akhdar" (300 + hp + special)
- 300 xp to each player-character for traversing the labyrinthine Sea Caves
The Cut
- 554 xp per player-character
277 xp to Vlana, Ix, Gan, and Raoden - additional gold or xp will be awarded according to any lucre returned to town and sold
Durham worried by his friends absence, has Pako keep vigil at the Gate of the mourners. Upon Bartholomew and Sesel return, Durham helps Bart by donating 200gp to aid in the resupply and instructs Pako to see to sesel comfort for the next few days to aid in his recovery.
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