[a session that occurred toward the end of September]
Durham of the Ringing Anvil was at his haunt, the Gatehouse of the Kantor, and was heard to ask about the Colossian Oracle--what really goes on there? Why is it called an oracle? He received answers that piqued his interest--that the priesthood there truly are oracles, that they can perceive across the veils of reality and answer truth to questions posed to them (though the truths may seem oblique when observed from the present).
Upon listening to suggestions of appropriate sacrifices to offer to the Oracle, Durham set out to gather a company to venture with him to the Necropolis of the Tel to engage the Oracle. Fortunately for him, Bartholomew Pettibone was also looking for a company to venture to the Necropolis, himself interested in venerating at the tombs of certain heroes he has taken especial interest in.
Thus, with a couple of other friends and preparations for both sacrifice and veneration, the company set out toward the Necropolis of the Tel and the Colossian Oracle ...
- Durham (fighting-man 8)
accompanied by Pako (renyu) - Lord Althis (magic-user 5)
- Bartholomew Pettibone (magic-user 8)
accompanied by Gan ad-Din (fighting-man 6) - Heijo (magic-user 6)
Rumor goes through the city that something exceedingly strange must have transpired during this expedition. Bartholomew, normally a somewhat boisterous regular in the great tavern of Cothon-Under-Star, now has a new companion who follows him around--a woman of striking and singular beauty, her hair a wondrous copper-red, her eyes a strange pale blue, her skin a foreign milky white--and she calls herself Hanaïs.
Gan's girlfriend Istrid and fellow dancing-girl Clothildi are seen taking this Hanaïs through the city's souk, seeking fine dresses and robes of the current fashion. There is a strange air to the woman and her bearing--poised and graceful in all her moves. But something even stranger has come over Bart himself, whose aspect has changed. He often seems to be completely distracted, gazing off into the distance as if lost in memory; and there are times when he speaks and it seems the voice of someone else, even despite retaining the same timbre.
Well, surely whatever occurred will be shaken out or revealed at some time. In the meantime, the expedition was apparently quite fruitful--and it is said that they visited the Oracle as well, and received something of the wisdom there. Durham himself asked of how the Red Cloud, a kzin warlord threatening the Dual-Cities and all the realm around, might be defeated, and was told to, "Remember the helm of the furious star."
The Lucre
- dzor-blood, given to Durham by the priests of the Oracle✝
- an amulet in the shape of a gull, its wings spread (magic) *given to Althis
- a ring of gold and white gold twisted together, called by Bart "Ring of the Qomman Tong" (magic) *given to Heijo
- a lyre, built around a juvenile ghar shell, needs new strings (non-magic) *given to Gan ad-Din
- a cloak pin in the shape of a gilded intertwining serudla-dragon (non-magic) *given to Durham
- a cloak of fine grey thread that appears to melt away in the light, called by Bart a "Cloak of the Wealda" (magic) *given to Pako
- a collection of scrolls and codices *claimed by Bart
- an apparent hoard of treasure to be apportioned by Bart
- 4000 dinars (gp) and 4000 nufdinars (ep) divided with the party
- 6000 xp from distributed treasure
- 1131 from 5 biridlu (60 +hp ea.)
- 1000 from the recovery of Hanaïs
- 1000 dinars (gp) and 1000 nufdinars (ep) each to Durham, Heijo, Althis, and Gan ad-Din
- 2710 xp per player-character*
1355 xp to Gan ad-Din
*special--Bartholomew Pettibone gains no xp normally from this session, but rather directly receives enough xp to put him at level 9 - dzor blood (Durham)✝
- the gifts (detailed above)
- a collection of writings (Bart)
- additional treasure that needs to be inventoried**
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