Session #81: Of Alkari and Sakkra

 It has been some time since the denouement of the Sixth House affair, at the end of which the Alkari of the northern sea-cliffs approached the Survivors of the Tel seeking some help from the barbarian-adventurers in their own affairs.

It has been some time, but not forgotten; and finally, Citizen Sesel and his comrades have responded by seeking out the Alkari to see what help they might desire. To this end, Sesel came down to Cothon in his coastal vessel the Silver Qaqtla, picked up his comrades, and thence set forth for the strange cliffside abode of the north-coastal Alkari.

The Alkari north of the city have been intensively active these last few months, even such that it is common rumor in the fishermens' and seamen's taverns that something is afoot there, and in the Denyan Isles north and east as the sea-currents go. The best attested rumors suggest that the Sakkra in the sea-caves are swarming forth again--despite it being "too soon" for another generation to swarm forth!--but there are other rumors, say that the Alkari will finally push their weak claim to the Denyan Islands, and that the Ten Cities' League better be prepared to fight a campaign against the Alkari, just as the Hanse fights against the Luwian Pirates.

With that backdrop in mind, a certain company set out north on the decks of the Silver Qaqtla:

• Bartholomew Pettibone (magic-user 8)
  accompanied by Gan ad-Din (fighting-man 5)
• Barlow (magic-user 4)
  accompanied by Vlana the Bard (magic-user 3)
• Heijo (magic-user 6)
• Sesel (fighting-man 8)
  accompanied by Raoden (magic-user 5)

This expedition lasted longer than many another, and the company did not return to Cothon for several days. When they returned, the adventurers bore little in the way of lucre, other than some baubles gifted them by their Alkari hosts, and a prayer flag for them to display when they wish to visit again with the Alkari of Kheir al Sabal, the cliffside monastery overlooking Dirac's Sea. They spoke of continued strife between Sakkra and Alkari in the caves riddling the headland, and of a harrowing skirmish in the depths of the caverns against strange creatures--what seemed to be long-legged ilwraths attached to the backs of weak-looking Sakkra.

These apparent parasites seemed to be in league in some way with the Ergas who claim rulership over much that lies beneath the Tel ... another sign perhaps of the underworld overlords' growing designs ...

The Lucre

• 450 dinars (gp) from minor baubles gifted by the Alkari in appreciation
• a prayer flag granted to the Survivors to fly or display if they wish to visit or parley
• a carcass of one of the parasites

The Learning

• 7292 xp from 19 Sakkra-parasites (400 +hp ea.)
• 2747 xp from 19 Sakkra hosts (150 +hp ea.)
• 1700 xp from 17 freed Sakkra slaves
• 300 xp to each player-character for negotiations with Alkari and Sakkra

The Cut

• 81 dinars (gp) and 8 dirhams (sp) per player-character
  40 dinars and 9 dirhams each to Gan ad-Din, Vlana, and Raoden
• 3235 xp per player-character
  1617 xp each to Gan ad-Din, Vlana, and Raoden
• the carcass of one of the strange parasites
• the prayer flag