Return from the Unknown: Expedition #44 Recap *Updated with Art*

It has already been noted by certain residents of Cothon that those Survivors of the Tel who had ventured forth on some overseas adventure have already returned to the harbor--for Bartholomew Pettibone, who was one of that number, has delivered his liege-man's note to Istrid at the Kantor Kabljauhof, and given his own account of things at the great tavern Cothon-Under-Star. Returned, and yet without any sign of a ship or galley that might have carried them ... For they came in through the Gate of Fishermen, leading a handcart laden with the remains of monsters--of dreaded tentacular akhos!

Strangely, according to Bartholomew's tale, both Sesel and Durham had some part to play in the expedition, and yet both were clearly engaged in the city during the last weeks--Sesel, preparing for his suit for citizenship, and Durham in running the Ringing Anvil. Curiouser and curiouser! Heijo's presence, at least, is easily explained--quite sea-sick on the journey out, he was unable to participate in the first foray at the destination.

All told, these adventurers all took at least some part in the expedition:

• Raoden (magic-user 3)
• Bartholomew Pettibone (magic-user 5)
  accompanied by Gan ad-Din (fighting-man 5)
• Ravna (magic-user 5)
• Heijo (magic-user 4)
• Avin (magic-user 6)
• Sesel (fighting-man 6)
• Durham (fighting-man 6)
  accompanied by Pako (renyu)

Also aboard, though remaining mostly as on-watch:

• Vlana the Bard (magic-user 3?)
• Razo (magic-user 2)

Some details have already emerged, between Gan and Bart; the general thrust of the expedition was a voyage north along the chain of the Denyan Islands seeking a rumored treasure of "energy crystals" or some such sorcerery.

Arriving at their island-destination, the intrepid band elected to investigate the stony ruins of one of the nuraghes that dot the Denyan Islands, and discovered in its depths a strange complex defended by a terrible ru'un--the very one that ruined Gan's hand, and left him sickly and nearly dead!

In a desperate bid against the local Denyali tribe, Sakkra guardians, and even a mighty sro, the company managed to break into the complex, find what they sought, and escape again, all with only Gan as the major casualty--and fortunately, Gan is said to be on the mend, though he has not yet reappeared in town.

A self-portrait of Bart offering the sro fine Misrian wine, per his account
(and worth 100 xp per level, as noted below)

Meanwhile, on their return, the crew witnessed another vessel fight off three(!) akho, helped deliver survivors of the attack from the reddened seas, and then claimed the corpses of the creatures for themselves.

And so the company, returned to civilization, now divest themselves of certain of their plunder--while retaining others for their own purposes ...

The Lucre

• 800 gold dinars from 16 Sakkra heads, turned in for the bounty
• 3800 gp from jewelry from akho gullet (2000 for a pair of sapphire-eyed platinum earrings in the form of lithe six-legged ngekka of questing-legend; 1000 for a ghar-nacre bracelet set with amethysts; 800 for a ring of zortrium set with a sparkling green emerald)
• 3 ingot-like sections of akho carapace (100 gp ea.)
• 28 steely tentacles (15 gp ea.)
• 7 vials of acidic fronds (50 gp ea.)
• a barrelful of "poisonous" ore
• two clay pots with envenomed wax
• a magnificent helm shaped like a Sakkra with spiny crests

The Learning

• 800 xp from Sakkra bounties
• 1070 xp from akho carcasses
• 3800 xp from the gullet-jewelry 
• 1223 xp from Sakkra x22 (50 + hp ea.)
• 538 xp from ru'un (500 + hp)
• 270 xp from Denyali x5 (50 + hp ea.)
• 278 xp from sro (250 + hp)
• 443 xp from Denyali champion (400 + hp)
• 278 xp from "undead" Sakkra (250 + hp)
• 300 xp to certain characters for initial exploration of the island and nuraghe

The Cut

This expedition is being divided differently than typical, given that the entire expedition was spread across four sessions, three weeks, and an encounter played out via Discord. Therefore, I've "prorated" xp according to who partook during which session; and those aboard the ship for the return voyage will receive the payout from the akho carcasses.

• 85 gold dinars and 7 silver dirhams to Sesel and Durham ea. from 12 Sakkra bounties claimed during the session they took part in
• 785 gold dinars (gp) and 5 silver dirhams (sp) to Avin, Heijo, Raoden, Ravna, Bart, and Razo
  392 dinars (gp), 7 dirhams (sp), and 5 copper fals (cp) to Gan ad-Din and Vlana the Bard
• 362 xp to Durham and Sesel ea.
• 1171 xp to Avin and Heijo ea.
• 1401 xp to Raoden
• 610 xp to Gan ad-Din
• 1579 xp to Ravna and Bart ea.
• 348 xp to Vlana
• 696 xp to Razo
• the barrel of strange ore
• the Sakkra-helm
• two clay pots of poison-wax

Characters who wish to retain any parts of the akho carcasses can "buy them out" of the Lucre by spending their own gold. Regarding the carapace sections, one would be suitable for fashioning a shield, but a suit of armor would require all three.

And, as always, those who provide in-character reports or artwork, etc., regarding the events of the expedition can earn 100 xp per level for the corresponding player-character.