Sessiono #110: Another Door Opens

 [run and written up by Max--thanks for the game, especially on such short notice!]

A group gathered together in The Herm & Stone library, with a hmela in tow.

The Herm & Stone

Najm magic-user
Alianor, fighter
Bart, magic-user
Gan, fighter
Heijo, magic-user

They later left the library, sans hmela. Rumors abound of another strange door that leads to even stranger places have started to spread in another of the four great taverns.

The Lucre

1000 nisab (platinum worth 10 dn each)
1262 dinars
427 dirhams
Coat, red with magic runes inlaid in gold thread inside
67 candles (worth 167 gp for experience)
17 cigars
Scroll of Message Morokar
Scrimshawed human teeth and knucklebones to be used as dice
Snuff-box, made of a hard bone with a glittery powder inside

The Learning

Paper Bees 10 xp +9 hp
Floating Brains 3,250 xp +20 hp
Ogre Spider 50 xp +12hp
Die of Torment 200 xp +6hp

The Cut

4190 xp to Najm, Bart, and Heijo
    2095 xp to Alianor, Gan
250 nb, 157 dn, 113 dr to Najm, Bart, and Heijo
    125nb, 78 dn, 62 dr to Alianor, Gan
Coat, red with magic runes inlaid in gold thread inside (magic)
67 candles
17 cigars
Scroll of Message Morokar
Scrimshawed teeth and bone dice
Snuff-box of hard bone, filled with glittery powder

Session #109: Pirates-At-Arms - The Old Outpost

 Quite a while ago at this point, Iqtadar Sesel offered haven to a portion of the crew of the Darkwing pirate galley when that ship and its crew were captured. The deal was that they would serve him as men-at-arms most leal, and if they did so, they would be spared the fate for pirates in Cothon--hanging in the gibbets for the gulls and korakes to peck at their carcasses.

As such, Sesel equipped them in bulk as men-at-arms and gave them orders to assist in the survey of his demesne and the clearing of that demesne of monsters and the location of any treasures that might be hidden about.

This will be a series of parallel games to the main characters, allowing some refreshing low-level play at times, or a chance to bring newcomers into the setting and game, or a way to run something while main characters are off doing something else. There are also other options for these sorts of games--Bob Hall, Fort Doghouse, Fort Stormbreak, and the Was'go all provide opportunities for similar play of men-at-arms. Because its being run separately, I'm going to experiment with some different xp rewards, especially if certain non-human characters are played.

There is a plan in place that eventually, the events of this series of adventures will line up in "real time" with the events of the main game.

All that aside, the first object of interest for Sesel to send his "pirates-at-arms" to investigate was an old outpost he had observed on the western extent of his domain, and thence a portion of his ten (10) total pirates went exploring:

• Beanie (Luwian fighting-man 1)
• Ishak (Ismiirli magic-user 1)
• Ulf Catil Skardy Rolafson (?) (Hansemann fighting-man 1)
• Nit (Misrian fighting-man 1), deceased
• "Denny" (Denyan fighting-man 1)
• and later, Yaro (Leaguer fighting-man 1)

Exploration of the place took two attempts. The first involved sneaking around a huge crustacean, further sneaking past some terrible and strange flying worm-things, and ultimately the collapse of the upper works of the outpost's dilapidated tower. Nit was killed in the collapse, though at least the flying worms' lair was destroyed; but the company felt like they needed to return to Sesel's iqta' to regroup and beg some Sakkra blood potions of their patron.

The return expedition was much more successful. They fought off some leaping lizard monsters, and also dealt with some kind of hypnotic serpent that nearly drowned Beanie and left Yaro badly poisoned and ill for the next week. But they recovered quite a decent haul of loot for being a company of less powerful adventurers.

As the Scribes understand, Beanie was the record keeper to provide a report to Sesel, and so we may receive more details as to the happenings when he has turned in his report.

The Lucre

• 200 dinars (gp), 800 dirhams (sp), 400 fals (cp)
• alexandrite gem (500 dn)
• alkari shanu'u head amulet, with gem eyes (1800 dn)
• twelve chests containing ten (10) weeks of iron rations each (1800 dn total)
• three amphorae of good Luwian wine (600 dn total)
• silver-and-bronze braided torc (200 dn)
• alkari feather amulet with an eye-against-evil (amulet of protection +1)
• aspis -type shield with coiled-serudla ensign (shield +1)
• strange mace ("tech")

The Learning (6861 xp total)

• 5184 xp from treasure
• 449 xp from krua
• 530 xp from x4 naghli
• 395 xp from x5 'ulasta
• 303 xp from hysnaton
• 100 bonus xp to Ulf and Denny for exploration
  238 bonus xp to Beanie for exploration, report, and slaying one 'ulasta and the hysnaton
  130 bonus xp to Ishak for exploration and sleeping the other 'ulasta

The Cut

• 1472 xp to Ulf and Denny
  1502 xp to Ishak
  1610 xp to Beanie
• 1372 patron xp to Sesel
• 540 dinars, 160 dirhams, and 80 fals to each pirate (from coinage and sale of gem, amulet, and torc ... if any pirate especially wants something, they can "buy it out" of the pot with their earned coinage ... though the 1800 dn amulet would take some special negotiation)
• the other items are held by Sesel; if he wishes to sell the iron rations and wine, he can split that coinage how he wishes (or keep it), and the special items are to be held in reserve at his iqta', able to be "rented" by men-at-arms for expeditions according to his own terms

Public Mourning for the Dead: Nit

Session #108: Babilar Expedition Continued

 [run and written up by Jacob--thanks for running this game!]

This adventure took place on/around 1/13/24, about 5 days after the initial expedition to Babilar. Occupied with some trade and negotiations, Durham and Pako were unable to join the rest of the crew in their explorations, and so the following crew set forth into Babilar once again, in search of adventure.

Najm (MU7)
Bart (MU9)
Gan (F7)
Fa Min (E4)
Demitrytus (F2)
Heijo (MU7)

Finally returning 1/27/24, nearly four weeks after their initial departure from the docks of Cothon-Gadeed, after unloading several new crates of goods the crew made their way to their own beds, and their favored watering holes. It was there that Pako and Fa Mei found themselves at the bottom of several cups, regaling the patrons there with stories of a strange city made of stone spires jutting straight up out of the water, no proper land in sight! With strange, friendly, folk who seem to just sort of live life day to day, not keeping many possessions, and dangerous depths. Noting especially that the adventuring crew’s last foray into the depths returned with several of the party barely able to stand, much less help with the sailing, for several days! Even still, they were all smiles and excitement when they returned.

The Lucre

(note that the gp/ep/sp are foreign currency and would need to be changed to dinars/etc if they are to be used in Cothon-Gadeed)

• 120 shiny platinum coins
• A fairly large set of surgical tools, well maintained but certainly not new (worth ~50 dn)
• The Adventurer's Guide to Traversal  (a spellbook)
• A partial water bending scroll (taken by Fa Min)
• Two heavens as one, the lesser forms (a fechtbuch)
• A lizard skin gourd full of a slick, oil like, substance (magical)
• A set of lockpicks, a small file, small mirror, narrow-bladed scissors, and a small pair of pliers; ie: thieves tools (magical)
• A fairly ornate bottle of a murky, reddish color. The cap is in the shape of the head of Kir (magical)

The Learning

Note: This includes learning from the previous session, and is not cumulative with what was recorded before. The scribes got distracted while writing up that report and forgot to include everything.

• 1000 xp each for explorations and discovery throughout the city
• 660 xp from the transparent water creature turned falcon
• 330 xp from several defeated sharks
• 2331 xp from the “definitely just a new pet frog”
• 500 xp each for returning to the Kirists:
• The strange healing device + cube
• The large vase-shaped device + cube
• The ornate gilded scroll
• 3481 xp from treasure

The Cut

• 26 platinum coins, to Najm, Bart, Fa Min, and Heijo from this expedition
• 13 platinum coins to Gan and Demitrytus
• 30 gold coins, 10 electrum coins, and 10 silver coins to Najm, Durham, Barty, and Fa Min from the previous expedition
• 15 gold coins, 5 electrum coins, and 5 silver coins to Fa Mei, Pako, Gan, and Demitrytus from the previous expedition
• 6512 xp to Najm, Bart, Fa Min, and Heijo
• 3256 xp to Gan and Demitrytus
• 206 xp to Durham
• 103 xp to Pako
• The aquamarine gem
• The quartz gem
• The water bending scroll
• The Adventurer's Guide to Traversal  (spellbook, detailed seperately)
• Two heavens as one, the lesser forms (fechtbuch, detailed seperately)
• The thieves tools
• The bottle of reddish liquid
• The set of surgical tools
• 1 barrel of wine flavored salt
• 1 large crate of blumes
• 1 large crate of babyas

.

Session #107: Expedition to Babilar

[written up by Jacob, who refereed this expedition--thanks, Jacob!]

Having heard tales of a mystical place called Babilar, a group of adventurers captained by Najm started asking questions around Cothon, to hear more about this strange place. They met one Adelaid Mistsplitter, an old sailor woman who was, in fact, offloading goods traded for from Babilar! They learned several things from the salty woman, and ultimately the following crew set out towards the Denyan Isles in search of the city on 12/28/23.

Najm (captain, MU7)
Fa Mei (1st mate, F4)
Durham (F8)
Pako (R5)
Bart (MU9)
Gan (F7)
Fa Min (E4)
Demitrytus (F2)
Heijo (MU7)

While the expedition has yet to return some 2 weeks later, the party has been exploring and adventuring in Babilar, so the chroniclers have yet to hear any specific word as to the current status of the crew, the crew themselves have received the following.

The crew made several trades for goods, including:

1 barrel of wine-salt
1 4x4x4 crate of blumes (these small, deep blue colored fruit which glow with about the brightness of a small candle, and are very, very sweet)
1 4x4x4 create of babyas (these are oblong-ish, with a wide base, a bright orange color; also glowing, but bright enough for a single one to be about 2/3 that of a fresh lit torch, these are very juicy with an almost bitter taste to the flesh)

The Lucre from this session (note that the gp/ep/sp are foreign currency and would need to be changed to dinars/etc if they are to be used in Cothon-Gadeed):

• 180 gp, 70 ep 60 sp
• An aquamarine gem worth 500 dn
• A quartz gem worth 10 dn
  

The Learning

• 500 xp

The Cut from this session is yet to be determined; it will be apportioned after the conclusion of the second session in Babilar, which was played 13 January, with Jacob as referee again. The company will be returning to Cothon-Gadeed thereafter.

Session #106: Masters of the Zihuitlani Games

The new solar year began at about the beginning of this lunar year. At about the same time, Gan ad-Din introduced Cothon-Gadeed to the new song and dance performing troupe, the Chroniclers. After playing  their way through the taverns of Cothon, Gan had hopes to tour Ittiyqa in the same way, and perhaps Baldashmun as well, and then have the Chroniclers work their way back to the Dual Cities overland.

To this end, he chartered Najm's ship, Saint Iskameen for transport to Ittiyqa. But there was more to Gan's plans. He also harbored hopes of enrolling in the Games there--the Zihuitlani Games, which are the major Games of that city, in the way that the Tripartite Games are the major Games for Cothon-Gadeed. Others were interested, either to participate with  Gan, or to watch and support him from the stands: Bartholomew Pettibone, of course, accompanied by his friend Hanaïs; Sesel and his wife Zaida al Rashid, as well as their captain of the guard Rand al Marashi to act as Gan's squire; and Fa Min and her own squire Demitrytus, who was interested in debuting in the Arena herself to introduce her new fighting school; and Heijo and Raoden also came.

In Ittiyqa, the company rented out an entire small inn for themselves and proceeded to present themselves to the quastors (gamesmasters) for permission to present a team of fighters for the Games. For the paltry sum of 5000 dinars, Gan ad-Din, Rand al Marashi, Fa Min, and Demitrytus were duly entered into the rolls of fighters and scheduled to take part in the Games as gladiators.

The Fighters:

• Gan ad-Din
• Rand al Marashi
• Fa Min
• Demitrytus

These fighters engaged in several fights, broken up in different kinds of duels. Fa Min with Demitrytus as squire were matched against Oleg and Grimr; Gan ad-Din and Rand battled Black Pietr and his squire Amaya; and then, after their success in both battles, the entire group was matched against another team in a an objective-based battle where they were tasked with taking a torch from a pit with a feshenga serpent to use to light their own bonfire, while defending or attacking against the other team.

Given that Fa Min is an elementalist--some kind of strange magic-user from a far away land--she was matched against the magic-user Oleg. While Demitrytus fenced with the horn-helmed barbarian Grimr, Fa Min sank Oleg into the earth to his waist and pinned him to the ground, and Oleg ultimately submitted--and the crowd acclaimed mercy.

Meanwhile, Gan ad-Din made an ostentatious entrance into the arena through magic and fire in his match against Pietr. He gave a great speech introducing himself as the Bearer of All Things, Right Hand of the Istrid, Princess of Flames, Renyu-friend and bathed in the fires of ru'un, and many other pretentious things. After this glorious speech, Black Pietr answered simply:

"I'll kill you just the same."

Well, Black Pietr's confidence was misplaced. He never even landed a blow on Gan. Meanwhile, Gan landed stroke after stroke against Pietr and finally laid him low. Meanwhile, Rand battled Amaya, fencing spear against sword; but when Pietr was laid out in the dirt and Gan turned to assist his squire and called for Amaya to yield, she did so, laying down her own arms, and she went forth from the gate of death, defeated but not slain.

The last match was fought against a team of three humans and a pair of semi-canine gadhars under the control of the Beastmaster, one of those opponents. There was a pit opened in the middle of the Arena for this, and a wooden bridge laid across the top for passage back and forth. Gan advanced onto the bridge and fought the enemy captain, a female duelist with a fine sword; meanwhile, the rest of the other team rushed for the stairs to get the torch in the pit to be taken back to their own bonfire to light it. The gadhars engaged the feshenga, but the humans were ultimately bogged down in battling Fa Min and Demitrytus and would be cut down. And Gan, on the bridge, would also fell his opponent.

But in an heroic show that played to the mood of the crowd, Gan and his team allowed mercy for the other team and had them healed of any fatal wounds, and then escorted them as captives to Gan's own bonfire, where the torch lit the great fire to the riotous acclaim of the crowds.

Any accounts by the player-characters who took part in these matches, or who observed them from the stands, will earn that player-character 100 xp per level if posted to this chronicle.

The Lucre

• 5400 dinars (that's at 100 dn per hd, doubled for captains like Pietr, Oleg, and "the Kensai") from ransoms of the slain and the surrendered back to their families or societies (ransom money does not affect xp)
• the Torch of Zihuitle, a great torch of silver and gold; would be worth an extraordinary 10,000 dinars if sold, but as a trophy of victory it is incomparable
• Pietr's equipment:
• masterwork mail (+1 AC but non-magical) (4000 dinars)
• shield +2
• helm of protection (+1 AC/saving throws)
• masterwork sword (+1 to hit, non-magical) (1000 dinars)
• Amaya's equipment:
• fine plate armor (600 dinars)
• shield +1
• spear +1
• Boots of Foundation (+1 to hit in melee; if the wearer takes a round to steady their footwork without attacking, attack at +3 to hit next round)
• Oleg's equipment:
• warhammer +1
• masterwork linnothorax (+1 to AC, non-magical) (2000 dinars)
• fine shield (100 dinars)
• Grimr's equipment:
• mail +1
• fine shield (100 dinars)
• masterwork axe (+1 to hit, non-magical) (700 dinars)

The Learning

• 10,000 xp for winning the matches and earning the Torch of Zihuitle
• x amount of xp, where x is the number of dinars earned by sale of any of the equipment taken by the victors--at the moment 0 (the total value of non-magical equipment is 8500 dn; magical equipment doesn't normally have a price on the open market, but could also be sold)
• 391 xp from Pietr
• 171 xp from Amaya
• 271 xp from Oleg
• 113 xp from Grimr
• 389 xp from "the Kensai"
• 170 xp from "the Peltast"
• 216 xp from "the Beastmaster"
• 223 xp from two gadhars (100 + hp ea.)
• 278 xp from the feshenga (250 = hp)

The Cut

• 3492 xp each to Gan ad-Din, Rand al Marashi, and Fa Min (Rand was a squire to Gan, but was played independently by another player, earning him a full share)
• 1746 xp to Demitrytus
• 1080 dinars each to Gan ad-Din, Sesel, Fa Min, Heijo, and Najm, who all went in together as "investors" in the team, to split the proceeds evenly. Sesel and Fa Min are expected to share their split with Rand and Demitrytus, respectively, at mutually agreeable fractions
• the Torch of Zihuitle
• the equipment from the defeated
• victors have first refusal of any equipment they wish to keep for themselves
• investors may then be allowed to take equipment they are interested in
• dinars from sale of leftover items will be split five ways, like the split in dinars above, while the fighters will earn xp according to the selling price

 

Session #105: Return to the Denyan Isles

[this session happened on 9 September, taking about two weeks from then to be completed. The Scribes have been remiss, busy writing other things ...]

There was talk among the crowd of now-familiar barbarians of taking a return to the Denyan Isles, northeast of Cothon-Gadeed across the Sea of Dirac.

Fortunately, they knew a certain individual with a ship, which he has offered to be chartered by those who need a ride across the waves--Najm ibn Marwan and his ship, Saint Iskameen.

Supplies were laid in; trade goods were purchased in the Souk, to provide trading clout in dealings with the Denyans. In the end, it was Sesel, Gan ad-Din, Fa Min, and Demitrytus who took ship with Najm; though on their return, it seems that others were indeed involved.

To whit:

• Sesel (fighting-man)
  accompanied by Raoden (magic-user)
  and Ord (grey psionicist)
• Bartholomew Pettibone (magic-user)
  accompanied by Gan ad-Din (fighting-man)
  and Hanaïs (weird woman)
• Heijo (magic-user)
• Fa Min (elementalist)
  accompanied by Demitrytus (fighting-man)

As mentioned, the entire trip took just over two weeks. The Saint Iskameen returned to the harbor and offloaded new goods destined for the market--good wools, sea sponges, and some fine corals fit for carving into jewelry.

Meanwhile, the adventurers were seen talking excitedly to each other in their haunt of the private drinking-room of the tavern Cothon-Under-Star, and quietly talking about some personage called Kirsis, and someone else called Srilorian.

The Lucre

• net profit of 1196 dinars (gp) from sale of goods in the Souk on return
• a hold with fuel for Bob for the next year
• any dindin parts a player-character may have retained after the barbecue

The Learning

• 441 xp from a larger dindin that was ultimately barbecued (400 + hp)
• 229 xp from a mid-sized dindin that fled rather than being barbecued (200 + hp)
• 500 xp to each player-character for exploration

The Cut

• 199 dinars (gp), 3 dirhams, and 3 fals to each player-character
  99 dinars, 6 dirhams, and 6 fals to Raoden, Ord, Gan, and Demitrytus
• 668 xp to each player-character
  334 xp to Raoden, Ord, Gan, and Demitrytus
• enough fuel for Bob for one lunar year
• any dindin parts people may have saved

[as always, in-character reports, art, or maps will earn a character 100 xp per level; the Scribes would be grateful if anyone with clearer memory of this voyage would provide a report]

Session #104: Battle at the Hastati Gate

 

Emboldened by their recent success in Tsurr al’Qadim and concerned by the undead’s seizing of the Hastati Gate, a company of adventurers raised a small military force to retake the Hastati Gate and marched forth toward Tsurr al'Qadim.

[This session was run by Max--thanks again for the game!]

Bart, magic-user 9
    Gan, fighter 7
Sesel, fighter 8
    Raoden, magic-user 7
Heijo, magic-user 7
Durham, fighter 8
    Pako, thief 5
Najm, magic-user 7
    Fa Mei, fighter 4
    Alianor, fighter 5

The force the company raised comprised of:

200 light foot/archers
70 human heavy foot (mail, shield, spear)
80 Klackon heavy foot (2 HD, shield, 2 spears each)
2 Knights Pyllaea (4 HD) -- Odafin ibn Amos and Uthman ibn Naissa
2 Klackon "Heroines" (4 HD, 2 attacks) -- Tzintle and Iska'ath
30 Barcidae human heavy foot (mail, shield, spear)
1 Barcidae Bulrathi (8 HD) +8 0 1 Injured 0 Dead -- Urgrosh al Barraqi
10 Bob Hall light foot/archers 10 Injured 0 Dead
5 Bob Hall heavy foot 0 Injured 0 Dead
1 Ra’it Rakir (Kzin mridha of Bob Hall)

The force returned carrying many dead and wounded, but they were victorious, having managed to defeat a force of around 300 undead soldiers. The entire undead force was defeated, while the company’s forces suffered:

101 injured, 37 dead light foot/archers
53 injured human heavy foot
19 injured, 7 dead Klackon heavy foot
1 injured Knights Pyllaea
30 dead Barcidae heavy foot
1 injured Barcidae Bulrathi
10 injured Bob Hall light foot/archers
1 injured Ra’it Rakir

The Lucre

400 dinars
560 dinars from gems -- Alexandrite (300 gp), Moonstone (70 gp), Red Spinel (150 gp), Sardonyx (40 gp)
Wand, fine wood with runic carvings
Sickle A (magic)
Sickle B (magic)
Corpsewing claws x6
Corpsewing eyes x2
Stygian ashes

The Learning (6,533 xp total)

Stygian 2,790 xp (2,700 + hp)
Cultist, Forgemaster 1,766 xp (1,750 + hp)
Cultist, Ritual Caster x5 731 xp (125 + hp ea)
Zombie x13 286 xp (20 + hp ea)
960 from treasure

The Cut

1,307 xp to Bart, Sesel, Durham, Heijo, & Najm
653 xp to Gan, Raoden, Pako, Alianor, Fa Mei
128 gp to Bart, Sesel, Durham, Heijo, & Najm
64 gp to Gan, Raoden, Pako, Alianor, Fa Mei
Wand, fine wood with runic carvings
Sickle A (magic)
Sickle B (magic)
Corpsewing claws x6
Corpsewing eyes x2
Stygian ashes

Session #103: A Brush with Death

[put together with info from Max, who ran the session--thanks, Max!]

The threat of the restless dead in Tsurrr al Qadim has continued to grow, unchecked by any attacks of or efforts against them, though held at bay by the brave and thankless road- and tomb-guards of the Poor Brothers of the Dead. Of much greater concern has been the rise in power of the Red Cloud and his Kzinti horde.

But with the threat of Fort Bugeater totally removed, the eyes of those in the Dual-Cities turned to the ruins of Old Tsurr with fresh concern--and a company of adventurers decided to take the matter of dealing with the restless dead into their own hands. Though wary of battling the Stygian--the undead giant rumored to be marshalling the forces of the dead--without Iqtadar Sesel, the group nevertheless hoped to discover some useful information while also doing whatever damage they could to the forces of the undead in the process.

And so they ventured forth into along the Pallbearers' Way into Tsurr al Qadim with spirits high after their recent successes.

• Bart, magic-user 9
• Gan, fighter 7
• Heijo, magic-user 7
• Najm, magic-user 7
• Alianor, fighter 4
• Fa Mei, fighter 3
• Durham, fighter 8
• Pako, thief 5

the horn of the creature

A dark thunderstorm was seen over Tsurr al Qadim while they were venturing there, black clouds hanging low over the city like a pall of death. A short time later, the party returned to Cothon, battered and beaten (Alianor looked particularly pale and weak), but nevertheless carrying tokens suggestive of success in their endeavor--chiefly, the hacked-off body-parts of some terrible undead sro, as well as many gems and other items.

However, news followed their return of the fall of the Hastati Gate--the closest the ruins come to the Pallbearers' Way, and which had been used as a bastion by the Poor Brothers in their defense against the undead--and that traffic to the Necropolis would thenceforth be cut off until that gate, at least, could be retaken.

the heart of the creature

The Lucre

• 800 fals (cp), 7000 dirhams (sp), 2600 dinars (gp), 40 mithqals (pp worth 5 gp), 110 nisab (pp worth 10 gp)
• 550 dinars from gems
• bloodstone x2 (50 ea.), chalcedony (50), chrysoprase (50), citrine (50), jasper x2 (50 ea.), onyx (50), quartz (50), star rose quartz (50), zircon (50)
• a sapphire shaped like a tooth (magic)
• rotting finger wand (magic)
• dice set (magic)
• cultist tools (magic)
• potion (magic)
• rod (magic)
• corpsewing horn, heart, pair of wings, 12 teeth, and 6 claws (magic)

The Learning

• 5158 xp from treasure
• 35 from 5 deer-skulled penguin bats (6 + hp ea)
• 1210 xp from 55 zombies (20 + hp ea)
• 4408 xp from 3 collectors (type A) (1450 + hp ea)
• 2964 xp from collector (type B) (2900 = hp)
• 1776 xp from Necromancer (1750 + hp)
• 114 xp from 2 (lesser) necromancers (50 + hp ea)
• 8512 xp from Corpsewing (8400 + hp)

The Cut

• 133 fals, 1167 dirhams, 433 dinars, 7 mithqals, and 18 nisabs each to Bart, Heijo, Najm, and Durham
• 67 fals, 583 dirhams, 217 dinars, 3 mithqals, 9 nisab to Gan and Pako
• 67 fals, 583 dirhams, 217 dinars, 3 mithqals, 8 nisab to Alianor and Fa Mei
• 6044 xp each to Bart, Heijo, Najm, and Durham
• 3022 xp each to Gan, Alianor, Fa Mei, and Pako
• the tooth-shaped sapphire (magic)
• dice set (magic)
• rotting finger wand (magic)
• cultist tools (magic)
• unknown potion (magic)
• rod (magic)
• corpsewing horn (magic, claimed by Durham)
• corpsewing heart (magic, claimed by Najm)
• 2 corpsewing wings (magic, claimed by Najm)
• 4 corpsewing teeth each to Bart, Durham, and Heijo (magic)
• 3 corpsewing claws each to Durham and Bart (magic)

As always, art, maps, reports, &c. provided to the scribes will earn 100 xp per level for the presenting character

Canopic Jar Rewards

This is an update following the decision of the company to turn certain jars over to Farhat of the Medina al Taht (the undercity), after a series of adventures and expeditions run by Jacob.

 

As a reminder for the party:

Farhat is willing to pay 1000 dinars per sealed canopic jar. She is willing to grant a single selection of some of their finest jewelry (the cheapest of which is likely worth at least several thousand dinars) for at least 10 jars, and another selection for a “green metal” Zortirum jar. This would be similar to “finding the right buyer” for an item, and so any dinar value recovered here will count as XP to be divided amongst the various participants in the expeditions.

You all have:

14 ‘plain’ canopic jars

-No life is detected within 3 of these

-1 of the lifeless ones has been opened, the seal broken

2 Zortrium canopic jars

-Being Zortrium it is not possible to scan for life in these jars

The party turns in:

10 live jars

2 sealed but dead jars

1 Zortrium jar

The Rewards:

13,000 dinars

Talisman (worth more than 20,000 dinars as per Gan’s appraisal)

The surface is adorned with shimmering gemstones, each representing a different branch of knowledge - the emerald for science, the sapphire for literature, the ruby for philosophy, and the diamond for mathematics. As the light catches these precious gems, they sparkle and dance, reflecting the vast spectrum of knowledge that exists in the world. There is a series of ancient runes etched around the talisman, reminiscent of constellations.

Medallion (worth 15000)

The ornate jeweled medallion in the style of a crescent fortress-moon. The medallion is made of exquisite gold, intricately carved and adorned with an array of dazzling jade gemstones. The outer edge of the medallion is shaped like a crescent moon, with delicate filigree work that adds a touch of elegance.

The center of the medallion features a large, radiant gemstone that captures the light and sparkles with every movement.

The medallion is suspended from a delicate gold chain, allowing it to be worn as a necklace. The chain itself is adorned with smaller gemstones.

The cut (calculated by times joined in the expedition):

Bart (4): 4572 dinars and xp

Gan (2): 2286 dinars and xp

Heijo (4): 4572 dinars and xp

Najm (4): 4572 dinars and xp

Alianor (2): 2286 dinars and xp

Durham (3): 3429 dinars and xp

Pako (1): 1143 dinars and xp

Lars (.5): 571 dinars and xp

Fa Min (1): 1143 dinars and xp

Arngier (3): 3429 dinars and xp

Session #102: Mystery at Fort Bugeater

 Known players:

Sesel (Ftr 8)
Durham (Ftr 8)
Najm (MU 7)
Fa Min (Elm 3)

Hidden reserves:

Raoden (MU 6)
Heijo (MU 7)
Pako (Thf 5)
Mai (Ftr 3)
Demitrytus (Ftr 1)

With House Othmani taking a lead role in local politics, the threat of attack and mayhem from the Red Cloud has become a rather more serious issue. Case in point, the Souffets, recognizing a rising problem in the eastern forests – namely, the upstart K'Zin Eater of Bugs, and his eponymous Fort – recently advertised significant rewards for proven actions taken against Eater of Bugs. In response, citizen Sesel, and several of his barbarian compatriots, undertook an expedition to accomplish certain of those tasks. Interestingly, it was also noted that Durham, of the Ringing Anvil, was approached by a member of the Confraternity of Saint Inistas who asked a boon of him … to seek out and rescue a member of their order who mysteriously disappeared during the sacking of Iqta' al Zaytun, believed to be held captive by Eater of Bugs.

And so Sesel and Durham, accompanied by Najm (the Wyrm), and the mendicant Fa Min, girded themselves for combat, and were observed heading in the direction of Fort Bugeater, in hopes of glory and gold! In short order, Wasgo runners, known associates of Durham, returned breathless to the dual cities, and petitioned House Othmani to send warriors to garrison the local watch tower. Not long after that, Sesel's wife, Zaida al Rashid, was observed escorting the mad wizard, Bartholomew Pettibone into the upper city, and attending an audience with Lord General Dalinar of House Khalid. Within hours of their meeting, a small force of men-at-arms from House Othmani, together with a rather large contingent of seasoned warriors wearing the livery of House Khalid, departed in the direction of Fort Bugeater. Whispers immediately began making the rounds, wondering what might be in the works! Had the hornet's nest been kicked? Had war begun in earnest?!

Early the following day, Sesel and his compatriots returned to Cothon-Gadeed, and tales of their expedition began circulating throughout the common houses of the city. As well, conflicting rumors began to be gossiped and bantered about within the major and minor Houses of the political elite. Of particular note, Sesel claimed great deeds were accomplished, indeed, the pesky watch tower, as well as Fort Bugeater had been successfully assailed and commandeered! Both martial posts had been routed and control ceded to House Othmani and House Khalid – who now garrisoned said positions, respectively. As well, two bedraggled, and beaten individuals, who had apparently been held as prisoners by Eater of Bugs, were returned to the city. One of these was Sister Kyssa, the initiate from the Confraternity of St. Inistas, who was met with great joy after Durham's rescue.

But something seemed amiss. This small band of barbarians, who were claiming great deeds, appeared to be entirely unscathed … whole, hale, and hearty … oddly perky and unperturbed for coming fresh from some adventuresome skirmish or hard-fought battle. What was observed to be a small group of four barbarians, seen heading out to the environs of Fort Bugeater, were claiming to have infiltrated and conquered a well-fortified military structure, garrisoned by a force of what was believed to be well over 150 highly trained and equipped K'zin warriors, men, and giants! And curiously, unconfirmed rumors suggested that the watch tower and fort had been found abandoned, with eerie tales of piles of headless, burned bodies within the confines of the fort's walls; the severed heads being found weighted down within the river, below the fort.

While there was some small comfort in knowing that the fort and its supporting watch tower were now under local control (no matter the cause), there have also been questions raised. What happened to cause Eater of Bugs and his force to be routed? Were they actually routed? Are disease and plague running rampant? Perhaps a new, unknown enemy is on the prowl? Is there an expanding presence of undead from Tsur al'Qadim? Was Eater of Bugs recalled to Red Cloud's main war group in preparation for a new, major offensive? The mystery is on the lips of many. And with these questions swirling about, the Souffets have sent for citizen Sesel and his compatriots to bring themselves before their most imminent persons, to provide a full and accurate account of their expedition, answer pertinent questions, and to perhaps receive promised rewards.

The Learning (as of now):

2500 xp per main character
500 xp per minions

The Lucre

4 dinars (gp), 1298 dirhams (sp), and 606 fals (cp) each to Sesel, Durham, Fa Min, Najm, and Heijo
2 dinars (gp), 649 dirhams (sp), and 303 fals (cp) each to Raoden, Pako, Mei, and Demitrytus

5 50-gallon barrels of fine wine
8 50-gallon barrels of good ale
2 50-gallon barrels of hard cider
3 5-gallon casks of prime liquor

1 brick-ingot of chromium
2 brick-ingots of zortrium
6 brick-ingots of pure iron

1 large wall-map of the territory around Cothon-Gadeed, including south into al Zaytun

As always, players who write an in-character report, or produce maps or art representing the session may gain 100 xp per level.

Session #101: A Pleasure Cruise with Dindins

With a quick uptake on Telman of Tsipa's suggestion, Durham gathered together a company to venture forth with the Hanseatic hero on the decks of the Darkwing. Their mission? To hunt dindins that were said to be attacking fishermen and pearl divers in the bay to the west, somewhat between Cothon, Ittiyqa, and the island town of Baldashmun.

As part of their organization for this expedition, Telman helped the company select some fine garum and delicate wines destined for Ittiyqa and Baldashmun, to make a little extra cash (and allow the scribes to test the trading system in a certain ruleset again). The company was further surprised to find as they were boarding and stowing their gear that Mai'in Khoresha, Telman's pretty dancing-girl catch, was also boarding with all of her toiletries, and that she would continue to hang on Telman's arms throughout.

• Bartholomew Pettibone (magic-user 9)
  accompanied by Gan ad'Din (fighting-man 7)
• Durham (fighting-man 8)
  accompanied by Lars Ghar-rider (magic-user 5)
• Fa Min (elementalist 3)
  accompanied by Demitrytus (fighting-man 1)
• Heijo (magic-user 6)
• Telman of Tsipa (fighting-man 6)
  accompanied by Mai'in Khoresha (dancing girl)

The group returned ten days later after what they tell as quite a voyage for such a comparatively short trip. After selling their garum in Baldashmun, the ship was caught by a squall just out of port which drove them north several days before the wind finally shifted and allowed them to tack southwest and make Ittiyqa. Offloading the wine there, they continued south to the village of Isfax, where they picked up the fisherwoman Muneera as a kind of guide. This Muneera was able to guide the ship to a length of reefs that is both rich in the large katru shellfish that provide pearls, but also in the deadly-toothed dindins, great bone-armored predator fishes. And lo! A number appeared, the very quarry the company had set out to hunt--yet after a sharp battle, the dindins fled, leaving the party injured and Muneera's body in literal tatters.

Bart made sure to preserve what he could of Muneera, and on their return to Cothon, he was able to revive her with certain rites that he has learned, so that she may eventually return to her village with her life, even if still badly scarred.

Two accounts are available, one in song by Gan ad-Din and the Chroniclers, the other by Bartholomew Pettibone which goes into greater detail.

Bart's charts for the voyage

the Lucre

• 2507 dinars (gp) in net profits from trade goods sold in Baldashmun and Ittiyqa

the Learning

• 2507 from net profits
• 322 xp from x1 mu'agh (300 + hp)
• 162 xp from x1 krua (150 + hp)
• 1073 xp from x5 "boat-eaters" (200 + hp ea.)
• 463 xp from x3 large dindins (800 + hp ea., but halved because the encounter was cut short)
• 300 xp to each character for exploration

the Cut

• 314 dinars each to Bart, Durham, Fa Min, and Heijo
  characters may apportion to retainers as they desire, but the original agreement for cargo was between those four
• 1432 xp each to Bart, Durham, Fa Min, and Heijo
  716 xp each to Gan, Lars, and Demitrytus

As always, players may write up or draw an in-character report or depiction of events during this expedition for 100 xp per level.

Session #100: Peshyk's Hidey-Hole and Other Fun Finds

Arngeir wanted to follow up on the success of the last expedition to deal with the Old Pale Worm. There was more to be discovered in the lair, and not everything had been explored.

To this end, he gathered a company of stalwart adventurers to join him in this secondary expedition:

• Arngeir (fighting-man)
• Fa Min (elementalist 2)
• Lord Althis (magic-user 5)
  accompanied by Hry-Haya Yehat (Alkari 1)
• Heijo (magic-user 6)
• Durham (fighting-man 8)
  accompanied by Lars Ghar-Rider (magic-user 5)

Almost everyone returned looking rather worse for wear, with singed clothing and burnt eyebrows and hair and soot-blackened armor. Heijo and Althis were curiously unscathed in this regard.

Nevertheless (and despite certain dirty looks cast at Heijo) there was a fair amount of rejoicing for what had been retrieved from the twisting passages of the Weirding Caverns--not least of which was Lars' new prize, the head of a serudla! Surely more fine treasures were uncovered--but could they rival the hoard that was retrieved during the last expedition against such worms? Sadly, no; though they were certainly no meager pickings either!

The Lucre

• 250 ithnayan (worth 2 gp ea.), 500 dinars (gp), 1000 nufdinars (ep), 10,000 dirhams (sp)
• 8 gems worth 1720 dn (dinars)
• two @ 60 dn
• two @ 200 dn
• four @ 300 dn
• "raw" silver ore in two chests worth approximately 5000 dinars
• a legal claim to certain silver veins, signed over from one "Peshyk" to "the Company" and undersigned by those present on this expedition ... worth perhaps 20,000 dn if it were to be sold
• a collection of aged maps of locations within the Weirding Caverns, poorly preserved (worth perhaps 5000 dn if sold)
• an amulet--a silver broadhead arrowhead depending from a silver chain marked with magic signs (magic)
• a curious metal box, intricately ornamented, with a lens on one side and a touch-stud on the other ("tech")
• a tulwar, matching the one Arngeir formerly claimed from the serudla-lair (magic, claimed by Arngeir)
• the head of a (smaller) serudla (claimed by Lars)
• the heart of the same serudla (claimed by Arngeir)
• a dagger of excellent make (magic)
• a warpick marked in archaic script naming it "Deep Children's Foe" (magic)
• 2 pints of serudla-acid (one to Durham, one to Althis)
• unfertilized serudla-roe (Althis)
• the skin of a serudla which could be used to create perhaps two suits of serudla-leather armor, or the equivalent

The Learning

• 9220 xp from realized treasure (not counting the deed or map-collection)*
• 328 xp from a serudla (300 + hp)
• 390 xp from Peshyk (350 + hp)
• 754 xp from 2 others (700 + hp)
• 337 xp from 6 restless dead porters (50 + hp ea)
• 650 xp from 13 bypassed flying octopoids (50 xp ea)
• 200 xp to each player-character for following up on further explorations in two places

The Cut

• 50 ithnayan, 444 dinars, 200 nufdinars, and 2,000 dirhams per player-character
  25 itn, 222 dn, 100 nf, and 1,000 dr to Lars and Hry-Haya
• 2576 xp to each player-character
  1288 xp to Lars and Hry-Haya
• claim to the silver-veins
• collection of maps
• arrowhead amulet
• curious box
• the tulwar claimed by Arngeir
• the serudla head claimed by Lars
• the serudla heart claimed by Arngeir
• the serudla roe claimed by Althis
• magic dagger
• magic warpick
• one pint of serudla acid each to Durham and Althis
• serudla skins

*if the deed or the maps were sold, gp and xp shares would increase accordingly, but if they are being retained for the use of the company (and other associates), then their value is counted in their usefulness rather than in their price

Session #99: Among the Ruins

[recap of a session run by Max--thanks, Max!--and an expedition into Tsurr al Qadeem]

 A company was seen assembling at Cothon-Under-Star. They proceeded to buy up silvered arrows and set out the Pall-Bearer's Way towards Old Tsurr.

Sesel fighter 8
    Raoden magic-user 5
Durham fighter 8
    Pako thief 4
Najm magic-user 7
    Fa Mei fighter 3
Heijo magic-user 6
Arngeir fighter 5

They returned beaten and battered, but in high spirits. Comments were overheard that finally progress has been made on the restless dead threat.

The Lucre

• 1804 gold
• 10 platnium
• A small, mummified, yellow hand with sharp claws on a loop of rope
• A knife carved from a human bone
• A dagger with a rat's skull set into the pommel
• An 8-inch-diameter varnished orb made from a large eye
• An aspergillum carved from bone
• A folded cloak made from stitched ghoul skin
• A desiccated frog lashed to a stick
• A bag full of bat guano
• A hag's severed finger
• A 6-inch-tall wooden figurine of a mummy, its arms crossed over its chest
• An iron pendant adorned with a devil's face
• The shrunken, shriveled head of a human
• A small wooden coffer containing withered animal tongue
• A stick of charred wood with streaks of flame running along its length

The Learning: 13,164xp

• Undead Grick 45xp +7hp
• Cult-touched Ghouls x8 1600xp +68hp
• Cultist Ghosts x4 76xp +19hp
• Flameskull 4,400xp +29hp
• Apostle Tree 5000xp +16hp
• 1904 xp from treasure

The Cut

• 317dn (gp) 3dr (sp) 3f (cp) to each player-character
• 15dn 6dr 6f dinars to Pako, Raoden, Fa
• 2,633 xp to each player-character
• 1,316 xp to Pako, Raoden, Fa
• A small, mummified, yellow hand with sharp claws on a loop of rope
• A knife carved from a human bone
• A dagger with a rat's skull set into the pommel
• An 8-inch-diameter varnished orb made from a large eye
• An aspergillum carved from bone
• A folded cloak made from stitched ghoul skin
• A desiccated frog lashed to a stick
• A bag full of bat guano
• A hag's severed finger
• A 6-inch-tall wooden figurine of a mummy, its arms crossed over its chest
• An iron pendant adorned with a devil's face
• The shrunken, shriveled head of a human
• A small wooden coffer containing withered animal tongue
• Wand, a stick of charred wood with streaks of flame running along its length

Session #98: The Doom of the Old Pale Worm

 Arngeir had finally convinced a company of the viability of hunting down the Old Pale Worm in the Weirding Caverns. He had held onto a map purporting to lead to its lair for over a year, purchased from an auction at the Ringing Anvil, and had tried to get others interested for some time; but they had always demurred, citing concern that a serudla would be quite a challenge.

Quoth Arngeir in response:
"Better is heart than a mighty blade For him who shall fiercely fight; The brave man well shall fight and win, Though dull his blade may be. Brave men better than cowards be, When the clash of battle comes; And better the glad than the gloomy man Shall face what before him lies. Thy rede it was that I should ride Hither o'er mountains high; The glittering worm would have wealth and life If thou hadst not mocked at my might."

But now, finally, a group of barbarians was seriously discussing going after the Old Worm, and Durham among them was a proponent for seeking answers from the Colossian Oracle as to how their goal might best be achieved. After successfully seeking the oracle out, the group returned to Cothon, partied the night away, and left early the next morning, spirits high:

• Arngeir (fighting-man 5)
• Sesel (fighting-man 8)
  accompanied by Raoden (magic-user 6)
• Fa Min (elementalist 1)
• Bartholomew Pettibone (magic-user 9)
  accompanied by Gan ad-Din (fighting-man 6)
• Durham (fighting-man 8)
  accompanied by Lars Ghar-Rider (magic-user 4)
• Heijo (magic-user 6)

If one thought their spirits were high going out, their spirits coming back into the city reached up to the Fortress Moon and beyond. Lofting two serudla heads before them like lictors, the company returned to the Herm & Stone (Arngeir's tavern-of-choice) to boast of mighty exploits and deeds of derring-do. For they encountered not only the Old Pale Worm, but another serudla as well! And slew both in terrible combat--and Arngeir and Gan, among others, certainly bear the scars of those contests! But their reward was vast, as they count out gem after gem after jewel after gem, and wondrous arms and armor to boot.

Truly was this latest expedition one of great deeds for the chronicles!

The Lucre

• 600 mithqals (pp worth 5 gp), 12,000 dinars (gp), 3000 ithnayan (an unusual mint, gold pieces worth 2 gp ea.), 6000 nufdinars (ep worth 1/2 gp)
• 73 gems (worth a total of 27,390 dinars)
• 8 worth 40 gp (320 total gp)
• 17 worth 50 gp (850)
• 20 worth 100 gp (2000)
• 6 worth 120 gp (720)
• 13 worth 500 gp (6500)
• 5 worth 600 gp (3000)
• 2 worth 2000 gp (4000)*
• 2 worth 5000 gp (10,000)*
• 16 pieces of jewelry (worth a total of 35,600 dinars)
• 7100 from 9 pieces of "normal" jewelry--beautiful torcs, carcanets, cloak-pins, bejewelled sets of earrings, &c.
• 2500 -- a beautiful belt, its buckle fashioned as the face of a grinning Mrrshan or Kzin
• 2500 -- a circlet of braided gold and silver, winking with fine gems
• 2500 -- an ornate make-up box filled with rare and still-viable rouges, kohls, &c.
• 3000* -- a woman's face veil of intricately fine gold mail
• 5000* -- a shirt of scale armor and matching helm implying the features of a serudla--not magical, but certainly enchantable
• 5000* -- an illuminated tome of the epic story of Manas, an heroic warrior of the west
• 8000* -- a curious coral idol, carved into the shape of an alluring chashkeri water-maiden, and beautified with pearl and nacre
• two serudla heads
• two serudla hides
• a magic battleaxe
• a magic spear
• a magic dagger
• 4 magic swords
• one of obvious foreign make, a straight short sword with two edges
• a sabre with a bell-guard designed in the shape of a fist closed around the wielding hand
• a kopis-type cutting sword
• a beautiful tulwar with serpent motifs
• 3 magic shields
• a gilt buckler
• a fairly typical round shield; a broken black arrow is bound into and part of the central grip
• a bronze-faced aspis
• one suit of magical vringalu-leather armor
• a quiver of 40 magic arrows
• a spell-scroll (3 spells)
• two magical books
• one bound in featureless black leather
• the other a slim folio of maps

The Learning

• 86,990 xp from treasure
• 775 xp from the Old Pale Worm (700 +hp)
• 446 xp from serudla (400 +hp)
• 1253 xp from 23 flying octopoids (50 +hp ea.)
• 400 xp to each character for exploring the lair of the Old Pale Worm

The Cut

• 18,393 xp per player-character
  9196 xp to Raoden, Gan, and Lars
• except Fa Min, who can only earn enough xp to put her at 1 point shy of level 3
• if any other character would go up two (2) levels from xp awards from this session, they may only earn as Fa Min did, putting them 1 xp shy of the second level they would advance to
• 80 mithqals, 400 ithnayan, 5332 dinars, and 800 nufdinars per player-character*
  40 mithqals, 200 ithnayan, 2666 dinars, and 400 nufdinars to Raoden, Gan, and Lars*
• two serudla heads
• two serudla hides
• battleaxe
• spear
• dagger
• 4 swords
• 3 shields
• suit of vringalu-leather armor
• 40 magic arrows
• spell scroll
• 2 magic books

* marked items must be sold to the right buyer because of their higher value. Their value has not been included in the money-totals awarded to player-characters and hench-people, but will have to be divided out if/when such items are sold.

As always, characters may "buy out" valued items by forfeiting a share of gold (and possibly adding to the pot for others) equal to the value of the gem or jewelry-piece.

Magic items must be divvied however the company feels fair, which could include surrendering money-awards to companions for a particular piece, or they could be diced for, or however the co. feels is fair.

Session #97: Riddle Me This ...

[numbers provided by Max, who ran the session--thanks Max! The Scribes interpolated the description of the company's preparations and return]

A company was seen assembling at Cothon-Under-Star with the apparent intent of an expedition. The destination was not outside of the Dual-Cities, however--or, not exactly outside in one sense, but entirely outside in another. For they had purchased a hmelu to be sacrificed for their esoteric purposes--the carcass delivered over to Althalos for carving up and roasting to serve to the company and other guests later--and with the hmelu entered into the library where a strange door has lately been remarked upon by those allowed to enter there. From there--who knows what happened?

• Bart magic-user 9
• Gan fighter 6
• Durham fighter 8
• Pako thief 4
• Sesel fighter 8
• Raoden magic-user 5
• Najm magic-user 7
• Alianor fighter 2
• Heijo magic-user 6
• Arngeir fighter 5

The group returned to the common room some time later, and gladly partook of the roasted hmelu they had supplied. Other patrons heard them muttering to themselves, something about "A thousand bottles of wine, poison, and ten slaves ... how to figure out the one poisoned bottle?" Perhaps a riddle they had encountered on whatever strange "trip" they had engaged in? There was also mention that, "someone else had been there!" It may be surmised that the company ventured into the mysterious "library" that has been rumored to project at some magic angle out of the guild-library of Cothon-Under-Star.

They also had strange orbs somewhat like this

The Lucre

• 60d (gp) in gems
• 42d in coins
• Lapis Luzili Lantern (80d), magic
• 7 Occultium (worth 10000d a sphere), extremely magical*
• 1 Shattered Magic Mirror in an ornate box

The Learning

• 30 xp from Obsidian Marmosets x4 (+14hp)
• 70,182 xp from treasure

The Cut

• 14 dinars to each player-character
• 7 dinars to Gan, Pako, Raoden, Alianor
• 11,702 xp to each player-character
• 5851 xp to Gan, Pako, Raoden, Alianor
• 1 Occultium to Bart, Durham, Sesel, Raoden, Najm, Heijo, & Arngeir*
• the magic lapis lazuli lantern
• the shattered magic mirror

*It isn't clear what an Occultium may be, or what its value might mean, exactly--could the "right buyer" be found to realize that 10,000 gp valuation? Are they magic items that should be used, rather than sold? They definitely need to be researched!

Session #96: The Glowing Eyes

[written up by Jacob, who ran this session--thanks, Jacob!]

Barbarians gathered again to set forth into the Medina al Taht, with plans to continue their previous investigations. Setting forth from Cothon-Under-Star, their number this time included a newcomer to Cothon-Gadeed, arrived only recently on one of few ships visiting the city, one Fa Min. A stranger, with an odd ability to manipulate the ground under their feet.

• Bart (Magic User 9)
• Gan (Fighter 6)
• Heijo (Magic User 6)
• Najm (Magic User 7)
• Alianor (Fighter 2)
• Durham (Fighter 8)
• Pako (Renyu 4)
• Fa Min (Elementalist 1)
• Arngier (Fighter 5)

The group returned several hours past in high spirits as they retired to the private rooms of Cothon-Under-Star to review the treasures they recovered. Later that evening, after the party has broken up, Gan was seen in the Kantor drinking and working up new verses to songs celebrating their victories over an odd human down in the dungeon, trying to figure out phrases that would rhyme well with “and his eyes glowed”.

The Lucre

• A strange hand device of thin silvery metal, caps for each finger connected by thin wire to a central red gem in the palm, and then spiraling up the arm.
• A Zortrium green-metal canopic jar, the stop of which is shaped into a sort of Kzin like head.
• A silver choker with tapered cut emerald stones within a star-shaped charm (1000 dinars)
• A necklace with a silver beetle pendant at the end (600 dinars)
  
  
  
• A gold talisman with a central tree, a symbol to the left of the trunk depicting the fortress moon, and a symbol to the right of an open book (800 dinars)
• An ornate silvery buckle depicting the fortress moon with several small inlaid gems (1100 dinars)
• A silvery pin in the shape of a foreign looking spear, the tip more cone shaped than arrowhead shaped, with a hooked V shaped blade projecting back down along the pole (800 dinars)

The Learning

• 4300 xp from treasure
• 2333 xp from Chimera
• 1640 xp from Mobar

The Cut

• 1379 xp to each main character
• 689 xp to each hirelings
• 574 dinars to each main character
• 287 dinars to each hireling
• The Zotrium canopic jar
• The hand device

Session #95: Why Buy Armor When You Can Just Take It?

 [written up by Jacob, who ran this session--thanks, Jacob!]

Part 3 of an ongoing quest. This adventure set out after many interrogations of their new captive, with plans to “finish” their question once and for all. The group collecting in Cothon-Under-Star before heading forth into Cothon-Under-City:

Alkari-helm taken this expedition

• Bart (magic-user 9)
• Gan (fighter 6)
• Avinnia (magic-user 6)
• Heijo (magic-user 6)
• Najm (magic-user 7)
• Alianor (fighter 2)
• Durham (fighter 8)
• Lars (magic-user 4)
• Arngeir (fighter 5)

Avinnia's map of an
interior complex

Many hours later the group returns, in two parts. First Durham and Lars make their way back to the city, a coffle of barely clothed prisoners carrying armfuls of armor between them. And then a while later the remaining adventurers, excitedly discussing something about jars and scrolls.

The Lucre

• 6 dinars (gp)
• 3 plain canopic jars
• a strange dark wood "stick" with a vein of a bright red crystal running in a spiral pattern from end to end
• 2 bolts of thick spider silk
• 2 strange metal orbs about the size of a palm

  

  One of the orbs

• 3 staff weapons
• 22 sets of armor that functions as plate, and is fundamentally similar to the Renyu plate, though with certain differentiations that would make it obvious to one who is familiar with either set to recognize at a glance that the wearer is not of their group
• Note: these do not include the helms
• 2 zats
• 1 helmet similar in function to those previously found to look like Renyu, but in this case it has more of an Alkari appearance (claimed by Alianor)
• 1 small powercell (claimed by Gan)
• a large number of scrolls, all written in a strange pictographic language
• a spell scroll
• 6 prisoners

The Learning

Najm's updated map

• 31 xp from a glowing blue/red magical creature
• 39 xp from some big spiders
• 195 xp from defeating the armored warriors
• 100 xp to each player-character for actually exploring into a new "floor"
• 6 xp from treasure

The Cut

• 1 dinar to each player-character
  Any dinars to hirelings will have to be paid by the players
• 136 xp to each player-character
  118 xp to Gan, Alianor, and Lars
  an additional 100 xp per level to Avinnia and Najm each for provided maps (as always, this is also available for others who draw art, maps, or write in-character accounts of the expedition)