[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.
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