[written by Phil, who ran the session--thanks, Dad!]
Word has circulated lately in the
streets of Cothon-Gadeed, spread by a small group of battered
survivors, concerning the loss of a major caravan. They told of being
taken unaware during their last night camping, only a day's travel
south of the dual cities, and attacked by a large band of brigands,
composed of K'Zin and humans. They described the chaos of being
overrun while sleeping, many killed, and their caravan destroyed and
looted. During the fight and confusion, they escaped, but also
witnessed several friends and companions being taken prisoner,
ostensibly to be used as slaves – or worse. One common thread in
each survivor's tale is the recollection of hearing the marauders
yelling praises to Red Cloud.
Their tales fell upon the ears of
General Dalinar, of House al Khalid, who surmised that the K'Zin
warlord, Red Cloud, was behind this raid. Worse yet was that a
certain merchant captain, Ilasha, had been one of those taken
captive. Rumors have it that she was acting as a diplomatic envoy for
the General, and may have been carrying vital information with
respect to the General's campaign against Red Cloud. However, due to
local politics, quick action from the city seemed hobbled, and
General Dalinar sent word out to various local entities, via his
steward Teleb, requesting their assistance in locating and dealing
with this band of brigands. While Teleb seemed to favor annihilation
of this raiding party, the General had suggested that the primary
objective should be liberating the captives (especially Ilasha), and
retrieving any diplomatic materials in her possession.
This call to action was quickly
answered by a small group of jaunty, well known, barbarian
adventurers. And so, this motley crew was observed to set out from
Cothon-Gadeed one early morning with hopes of an easy rescue playing
in their minds, with perhaps some reconnaissance tossed in, and
certainly the promise of reward in the mix!
Citizen Sesel, from the northern Iqta
al Saahil (fighter 8)
Durham, of the Ringing Anvil (fighter
7)
(accompanied by his stalwart renyu
companion, Pako)
Heijo of the Ink-Stained Hands
(spellcaster 6)
Raoden (spellcaster 5)
Revna the Odd (spellcaster 5)
Najm the fisherman (spellcaster 5)
Arngeir of the Green Gleam (fighter 5)
This band of eight adventurers departed
early on a sunny morning, heading south, their spirits high. By
nightfall they had not returned, and the worst was feared. At dawn of
the following day, a rag-tag group of individuals arrived at the
gates of the cities, claiming to be survivors of the waylaid caravan
– taken captive by a band of K'Zin and human brigands. They were
bruised, battered, and bloodied, and recounted to the authorities a
tale of being set free during the night by a handful of mercenaries
(our stalwart heroes?!). They initially fled east through the forest,
while a forest fire began raging to their west, yet their saviors did
not immediately follow. However, not long after reaching the caravan
track, they were joined by the mercenaries, and a quick pow-wow was
held. Their group of merchants was gathered under the leadership of
Ilasha (she survived!), given weapons, and ordered to quick-march to
safety. And as they departed north toward the city, the barbarians
melted once more into the darkness of the forest – back in the
direction of the conflagration and the band of brigands. Of their
fate, these survivors knew no more.
Yet lo! By sunset of that same day the
adventuring band had all returned to the city as well! They did not
return all at once, but straggled in by degrees. First came Durham
and Pako, somewhat disheveled and beaten, asking about Ilasha and the
fate of those who had been released. Arngeir followed a few hours
later, telling of a grisly skirmish early during the night previous
(with a handful humans and a certain K'Zin calling itself
“Firstborn”). Finally, the remaining fellowship dragged
themselves through the city gate late in the day, making their way to
the common room of Cothon-Understar. But even as they told of
performing a daring rescue, their countenance was grim, and they
spoke of a horror that surpassed anything they had yet encountered.
Under order from General Dalinar, Teleb
was dispatched to hear their tale, and as they spoke, a new respect
for these barbarians crept over him. He, as well as a large crowd of
hangers-on, listened as they told of the skirmish, the ferocity of
the K'Zin, freeing the captives, and then tracking the remaining
brigands through the darkness, toward the east.
Tracking during the night was
difficult, and they feared being caught in an ambush. But as the sun
rose anew they found themselves at the edge of the forest, just
outside of iqta al Zaytun, still not having overtaken the brigands.
And it was here where the true horror fell upon them. They gazed out
across a massive vineyard (one that was once well kept and
productive), toward the iqta that sprawled along a river's edge. But
the vineyard was no more – all was ravaged, burned, and razed –
with rotting bodies of humans and ranch-beasts [hmelas and hmas especially ~the Scribes], sprinkled haphazardly
among the churned up fields. Carrion creatures [winged gerednya and giriku, as well as packs of lupine gadhars, no doubt ~the Scribes] feasted quietly upon
the carcasses, but other signs of life were lacking.
A reconnaissance
of the iqta itself revealed several hundred corpses in varying states
of decay – many disemboweled and hacked to pieces, some hung by the
feet from nearby trees, and even a few crucified to doors and walls.
Most disturbingly, every head had been severed from the bodies, and
were found stacked in a large pile in the center of the iqta. Many
good, fine, hard-working people had been slaughtered here and
literally left to rot. The dwellings of the iqta also lay in ruins –
most of the buildings pillaged and left now as empty, burnt shells.
No sign of the raiding party could be discerned. But Sesel was
certain that while the small band of brigands must have come through
here, it had to have taken an army of many hundreds (if not
thousands!) to have rained this destruction down upon iqta Zaytun.
Indeed, if this was the work of Red Cloud, then his force was
overwhelming, and his might was daunting! War was not looming as a
threat – it was here, now, and close.
The Lucre:
While there was not a large amount of
loot/baubles recovered, there were some items of note -
2 finely forged and crafted hand
axes (each +1 to dam, 200 dinars each)
1 finely forged and crafted great
sword (taken from Firstborn, +1 to dam, 1000 dinars)
Items found by the party while
scavenging the caravan
A small, uniquely marked (with a
rose inlaid with silver), and well-made chest containing:
83 mithqals (pp), 1288 dinars (gp), 820
dirhams (sp), and 523 fals (cp)
A small pouch made of fine silk,
with an embroidered purple rose design (10 dinars) containing:
A gold necklace hung with 7
star garnets (1210 dinars)
A heavy gold ring set with a
single star garnet (470 dinars)
Items found by the party while
scavenging iqta al Zaytun
Small pouch containing 12 dinars,
52 dirhams, and 20 fals
Small pouch containing 92 dinars,
55 dirhams, and 27 fals
Small pouch containing 4 uncut
gemstones (484 dinars, 245 dinars, 51 dinars, 20 dinars)
5 long swords (5 dinars each –
damaged, but Ringing Anvil can repair for full value)
3 chain shirts (20 dinars each –
damaged, but Ringing Anvil can repair for full value)
The Learning:
From discovering the remains of the
caravan – 1000 XP
From tracking the K'Zin raiding party –
1000 XP
From treasure – 8500 XP
From freeing Ilasha – 5000 XP
From recovering other captives alive –
12000 XP
From battling the K'Zin raiding party –
3500 XP
From discovering the destruction of
iqta Zaytun – 2500 XP
From use of spells and skills – 5000
XP
Total = 38500 XP
The Cut:
Some items will be difficult for the DM
to parcel out. The monetary value of gems and jewels is dependent on
whether they are sold or kept (again – this must be decided upon by
the group, and a buyer will have to be found). The small chest, in
particular, stands out, having a unique design/crest of a rose inlaid
with silver – the question is, what will the party do with this
chest and its contents? Hmm? Please let either myself or Cullen know
what you intend to do with the following items:
the chest and all of its contents
(party needs to come to a consensus)
the uniquely crafted hand axes and
great sword
Outside of those items, the split will
be:
210 gold dinar per character (including
Pako and Raoden)
13 silver dirhams per character
(including Pako and Raoden)
13 copper fals per character (including
Pako and Raoden)
Concerning XP:
5000 XP to Durham, Sesel, Heijo, and
Revna
4500 XP to Arngeir and Najm (for
joining the expedition late)
2500 XP to Raoden
None of the items recovered are
magical.
