[written by Phil, player of Bartholomew Pettibone, but also of Bart's employee Gan ad-Din when the former is otherwise indisposed; in this case, Gan ventured on his own, and these are his recollections of the adventure, earning him 100 xp per level]
The Chronicles of Gan
Bearer of All Things!
Chapter 3 – Into the Dark for Dark Business
My benefactor, Bartholomew Pettibone, has been busy of late reading from some ancient tomes. I suspect he is attempting to learn new forms of magical manipulation. I do not understand his fixation on such things, but I admire his tenacity – and his ability to transform his knowledge into cold hard cash. My simple life as a water bearer has been forever changed and broadened, thanks to his patronage. In recent days, Bartholomew has even paid annual taxes in the city for both myself and my love, Istrid, so that we may be known throughout as well-to-do personages. Bartholomew has odd ways, but I believe his base intent is to be a force for good.
As Bartholomew was distracted in his studies, I decided to join my acquaintance, Najm the fisherman, for a lark in the musty realm of the Undercity Halls. We enlisted the assistance of Hry-Haya (an Alkari illusonist), our good friend Durham (with his faithful renyu companion Pako), Arngeir of the Green Gleam, and Dark Avin to accompany us on this expedition. Najm wished to enjoin the Undercity pirates in a parlay, as it seems they have a common dislike for the pirates' mortal enemies – the bandits of the crossed scimitars. So, with supplies procured, and a glimmer of a plan, we entered the Undercity Halls to locate and approach the pirates and their leader, Lady Ferat.
We first traveled west from the central hub, and soon came upon two groups fighting each other: what appeared to be 6 pirates against 3 massive bandit brutes. The pirates were being badly beaten, they did not apear to be able to maintain their opposition for much longer. The bandits did not appear normal; their stature was massive, their eyes were glazed over, they laid waste as if in a berserk rage, and they were far too strong for mere humans. Durham, Avin, Arngeir, and I wade into the fray and attacked the bandit brutes. We give much damage, but noted that their wounds began rapidly healing! We maintained our composure and pressed harder, and the bandits were finally vanquished, kind of. While beheading appeared to slow their regeneration, it did not stop it. We found that even after trying to burn the berserkers' bodies, this would not destroy them. Before our eyes, and even being hacked unto death, their wounds began to heal and they began to recover vigor! What weird magic is this?! However, Durham learned that muagh acid seemed to do permanent damage – he succeeded in melting off one arm of a bandit, and it did not regenerate. In an attempt to be jocular, as we discussed possible means for besting these monsters, I suggested that perhaps eating the berserk bandits might prove to be a way to defeat them. My companions eyed me suspiciously, failing to see the humor in my jest, and I fear I may now become the butt of a running joke. Ah, well, such is the life of one who bears all things. I should note here that these berserk bandits seemed to be mindless in their rampage, and they appeared to be under a spell or the effects of some strange drug.
We returned with the pirates to their lair and were introduced to the Lady Ferat, their noble-born leader. She explained how the bandits were becoming stronger, and more of their number were becoming brutish and berserk in temperament, while the pirates' numbers were dwindling. She expressed that her faction would welcome any who were enemies of the bandits. Najm and Durham pledged to assist. Directions were provided to us, as to where we could locate the bandit camp, and so we set off in search of further adventure.
We returned to the central hub, and then followed Lady Ferat's directions, making our way to the north and east-ish. The bandit camp was located with little difficulty, thanks mostly to Pako's keen renyu sneses. We conducted a quick recon and discovered that perhaps as many as 50 – 60 bandits were present, including about 7 or so who appeared to be massive and brutish. Too many for us to even think of besting. We decided to collect information, and perhaps attempt to capture one of the berserk brutes.
Najm, Hry-Haya, Arngeir, Durham, and Pako remained hidden in the shadows, while Avin and I boldly strolled out toward the bandit encampment, loudly joking and jostling each other – well, I was joking and jostling (hamming up our entrance), while Avin remained rather stoic and brooding. As we approached their group we noted that the three brutes we had earlier defeated were now present with these scum (one still missing their arm); however, they seemed to be more lucid, their eyes clear, and were not so single-mindedly enraged. Avin and I taunted them all, claiming that it was easy enough to beat their champions into submission once, and that we could easily do so again – but that was not our purpose here. We intended to GAMBLE and CAROUSE! I introduced myself as Barracho, we passed wine around, and I proclaimed that my friend (who I referred to as Gustavette) could best any of their champions in any feat of strength they could imagine. While Avin and I began to entertain and distract these fellows, Durham and Pako quietly entered their main holding to gather intelligence.
A table was brought forth, the bandits gathered around, and they chose their most burly brute to arm-wrestle Avin. I hammed up the excitement, and produced a pouch with 10 platinum coins as a wager to anyone that Avin could take any of their challengers. A few bandits produced their own coin, and the contest was on. Avin used some form of magic to induce great strength, and toyed with the brute for some time – seeming to be losing, then suddenly winning, then losing again. As Avin kept the ruse going, and I continued to act out loudly and harshly, more coins were produced, and the betting became more feverish. Suddenly, a small commotion began just out on the edge of the crowd, and Avin decided to end the contest spectacularly by crushing the hand of their opponent, while smashing it down onto the table hard enough to produce cracks and send out a shower of splinters.
As Avin defeated their opponent, we became aware that the commotion was due to a bizarre creature shambling toward our gathering. One of the dreaded, bloated, corpse beasts whose gaze paralyzes their prey was moving toward us all! While Najm, Hry-Haya, and Arngeir battled their own opponent in the shadows, the bandits began attacking the one that had approached our party. As confusion and melee erupted, I scooped all of the coins I could into a sack; then Avin and I decided to depart quickly. As we made haste in leaving, I made a bold move to snatch the small belt-pouch from one of the brutes as we ran past. It seemed to us that these fellows carried something of importance within their pouches, perhaps their drug(?), as they were the only ones to have them, and the ones we found on the first three were empty when we searched them.
By the time we arrived back to the company of our comrades in the shadows, we found that the bloated beast Najm and company had been attacked by had been duped through Hry-Hala's illusions into chasing shadows into the fray with the bandits. Durham and Pako had returned, but unluckily for us, the brute I had stolen the pouch from had decided to chase us down – and so another skirmish ensued. The berserker and I stood toe to toe, meting out considerable damage to each other. I have been laid low in previous battles, and I feared that this time would be no exception! However, after several of my sword cuts and thrusts struck home hard and deep, we ultimately defeated the fellow. I took serious damage during the process, but was able to remain standing. Even as the Red Sword of Arslan cut deep wounds, and hacked off great gobbets of flesh, the brute still began to slowly regenerate – without their drug, these 'men' could still regenerate – but more slowly, it seemed. It was finally subdued, and Durham and Pako trussed the bandit up firmly, with the intent of returning it alive to researchers in Cothon.
We had a captive, we had a pouch containing one of their enhancing tablets, and we had information about a hidden portion of their lair (thanks to Durham and Pako). We decided it would be best to return to Cothon-Gadeed with our finds, and call the adventure a smashing success! And I needed a large, cool tankard of ale, and a gallon of sakkra-blood potion!
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