Malta Session 40: 06/07/2018 We Don’t Need Babylonian Badges, Halfings of Dogtown, and Strange Bedfellows Too

We start this week’s session as our characters arrive early morning at Bugibba, under a Bugibba banner and with the Bonded Mind under the name of the Black Rose. Here we see half dozen tugs and scuttle craft ready to receive ships as we are duly hailed- everything seems normal in the bay. Closer to these helpful craft we see the symbol of Bugibba has changed with a Babylonian mark of Tiamat added. Our crew begins their tasks of preparing cargo gained from the Boxers to sell, while Sven, Evagara, Lermang, Stright, and Ahumm attend to docking duties. Beyond we see a large structure being built the ‘great dock’, a long pier to service larger ships.

Our characters inquire about trade to some local folk and are directed to an individual named Adoli, who sits under the symbol of the Babylonian faith. Carlo gains some insight in the people around us and gets the general feeling of ‘going along to get along’ between the dock hands and the new Babylonian occupiers.

Bugibba

Making our way we find a structure guarded by two guards outfitted in dragon styled armor as we find and then enter the establishment in question. Inside we find a businessman toiling at a desk accpmpanied with a six and a half foot tall brass task master construct with a clear marking of Tiamat upon it. Behind this brass automaton the businessman, Adoli endlessly stamps papers with a dragon-headed stamp with the word Ripae upon it. Our characters overhear some haggling over preferred trade that end results in an officially stamped document.

Our characters are next to speak with the brass construct who asks if we will be using the Bank of Tiamat and how long are we staying. We mention staying at the Gypsy’s Heart and learn that unfortunately it is closed for repairs. Adoli asks more questions about our purpose for visiting but with some sly talk from Jabari, Adoli suggests a two day stay with ‘special considerations’. Adoli suggests an old barracks to stay at and if we are truly visitors a half price writ should do. 250 in gold, 200 in gems was negotiated and after payment our characters are each given a dragon-scale badge.

Outside Adoli’s office Marco and Evagara stroll the dock sampling seafood along the way; while folk before were talkative, they do not seem so much these days. Lete however looks for individuals that perhaps are watching our group and notes there doesn’t seem to be any sense of urgency to the Babylonian occupation.

We head back to the ship to discuss our next course of action and decide to check out the Gypsy’s Heart. Along the way we find the Floating Death dock bustling with gnoll mercenaries as well as large rafts out on the water working on the bay to make it useable. Here we see Inquisitors supervising as well.

Heading into town, some of us under disguise we avoid harassing merchants with street carts and find that with the scale badges we are seen as part of the occupation. In sight of the Gypsy’s Heart we see all the outlying buildings are occupied by hostile forces and on the streets, barricades prevent a clear path to the Gypsy’s Heart. We don’t linger and head over to Dogtown to find a couple of Babylonian guards patrons as well as some familiar Halfling face. The Halflings don’t indicate they recognize us but eventually find a purpose to get close to us. While the races are being ran our characters over hear sailors complain on how this city used to be great.

The Apartments (That's Garamaldi)

Marco draws attention away from the information gathering characters with Evagara at his side and Lete at his back. Meanwhile Jabari finds a note on his person: ‘Beware Rayit. Do not stay at the barracks,’ then an address all written in King’s Tongue (to circumvent accidental reading). Our characters stay for a few more races then proceed to the address.

About an hour later we arrive at the address the halfings provided, the first thing we notice is that it’s an old apartment building once with a rooftop garden, it is walled with a courtyard. We go to a first floor apartment and are met by Metas who is surprised to see us. After proving who we are and disavowing our badges. We learn the basement of this structure is being used by a small resistance force; furthermore our characters learn that Garamaldi is in fact on the second floor and has been an asset to Metas.

We learn the High priestess Kakakombi has been converted to the Babylonian faith and Ripae has become the temple to the ‘new hoard.’ However our characters know the high priestess has in fact been replaced with a facsimile. We learn that Rayit was the betrayer; Zimol has been elevated and the Battalion has been officially disbanded and whose members are with the Fire Captain in the outskirts of Buigibba. News of Boienhiest says he has been officially bought out and relocated, but it likely he is dead. And Inquisitors have taken over the bank at Ripae and now uses Babylonian coinage.

Marcus asks if there are any open Tengu in Bugibba and learn there are none out in the open. Lex asks about people we know in the basement, we learn Img and the Flowers of Rebellion operate there. An apartment is arranged for the next few days. Lex asks if there is a plan to take the city back. Metas says there is a lot of danger in that because Inquisitors operate with ultimate authority.

Next our characters go to visit Garamaldi and we find we are not alone, there are others here too. Here, food and equipment are being traded in a small marketplace. Jabari and Lermang head to the roof top, Carlo goes to the apartment as Marco, Lete, Lex speak with Garamaldi and after some qualifying questions to assure we are all who we say we are; he is naturally happy to see us. We tell him of our capture, the trial and events that followed. We eventually bring up Ta’Tabibu when eventually Garamaldi states he does not know where Ta’Tabibu is but knows how to get communications to him. We learn Garamaldi is experiencing a number of difficulties and is being actively hunted by the Inquisitors. There is a lot of paranoia in the area these days and he believes the Babylonians may be too over confident. And if victory is to be had for Bugibba surely the Inquisitors should be dealt with along with proving the High priestess is a fraud. But Garamaldi admits he has no master plan we ask how best to save Bugibba. Lex expresses interest in contacting Ta’Tabibu with a message stating our deal is still on. Our characters decide to hunker down and wait for a response from Ta’Tabibu.

From here we all adjourn to the rooftop garden and a row of carrots where the message can be left. Eventually Jabari finds that the badges we are wearing hold some minor divination magic. Later that night Garamaldi knocks and says a representative for Ta’Tabibu has agreed to meet with one of our group at the old church of Dispater a mile and a half outside of Bugibba at midnight.

At midnight our characters head to the edge of the city; Jabari supplies Lex with a mount to carry him the rest of the way to the old Dispater church. Along with way, while there is no official curfew there is noticeably an absence of city activity. However when we reach the edge we see other groups also leaving town.

Old Church of Dispater

After making some preparations, Lex approaches and sees the church had been damaged in the past as he makes his way to the holy water basin. Eventually Lex spots an invisible person who examines Lex before searching the immediate area before another individual presents himself: from a passage behind a old pipe organ Unt'wory, a tiefling introduces himself.

Lex asks him if he was given instructions for this meeting, the tiefling indicates yes. Lex states our first run was due to Rayit’s betrayal, this news seemed well reviewed. Lex asks if Ta’Tabibu has any interest in a second meeting: yes he wants to establish connections. It is at this time Ta’Tabibu will step out from behind the pipe organ and take over the meeting.

Now that Ta’Tabibu knows it is Lex he speaks frankly. He suggests taking the meeting to an upper loft where there is a better vantage of the surrounding area. Here, Lex explains we had just arrived today and are interested in taking the city back. Ta’Tabibu concurs because as the tiefling states: nothing is the same after the arrival of the enemy.

Lex tells him of what our characters witnessed including the high priestess being copied with aid from Brudiphan. Lex believes freeing the priestess from Ripae is the best way to get the uprising started. Ta’Tabibu believes there to be 12 to 24 at Ripae and mercenaries, but admits loyalty only goes so far, they will break at a show of a strong force against the leadership. Ta’Tabibu believes the Fire Captain would serve as a fine leader should the Priestess be too far gone and is without her mind.

Lex’s request: Ta’Tabibu was compensated for three Egyptian statues? We need those. He says they are in Ripae. And after a few more questions Ta’Tabibu believes Boheheist is dead after giving up his secrets. Lex has another request of making an upside distraction in Rapae as our characters go in below. Ta’Tabibu asks for 24 hours; he is in contact with members of the battalion and with coordinated effort Ta’Tabibu can offer many diversions to draw attention away from our endeavors. Ta’Tabibu asks for his items in Ripae as well as vault #3 and would not claim any more. Ta’Tabibu will proved darkvision potions for our characters and a distraction for our characters.

If we should fail leave word in Qala on Gozo; however if we are successful the meeting place be at the docks and the Bonded Mind. There we will see what resources remain to take the fight directly to the enemy who are hunkered down at the Gypsy’s Heart.

Ta’Tabibu will plan on creating the diversions about an hour before our time to enter and hopefully draw enough attention for our characters to make the assault. Unt'wory will be Ta’Tabibu’s liaison.

Lex inquires about Hatkim and learns two nights ago two inquisitors discovered Hatkim’s hidden mansion but Ta’Tabibu doesn’t know the fate of the man; since its discovery the Babylonians have been active in the East Bay.

When Lex returns to the group we return to the apartment building Lex relays all the information of the plan with Ta’Tabibu via bonded mind so that no part of the plan is spoken in the presence of the dragon scale badge. 

The next day our Halfling contact wake us with a recounting of information we had mostly learned over the past 24 hours but offer themselves for questions; they also come with a small request for our ship. They would like a particular breed of greyhounds from a Carthaginian merchant name Bluath at a sea-moot NW of gozo (C2) or ‘monster island’. They are willing to spend up to 5,000 but don’t wish to spend more than 1,200 per pair of mated pups.

Eventually Unt'wory arrives to tell us the Battalion is interested in helping us but wants their own meeting with our characters as soon as possible. Eventually we meet with Lyeadaldbelo who admits that strange times call for strange bedfellows and he wants to verify the plan before he commits his help. Lete is reunited with friend Deled. Lyeadaldbelo offers our characters full members of the Fire Battalion and a parcel of land. Our orientation into the Battalion is a blood-brother ceremony that includes citizenship of Bugibba. After inquiring Lyeadaldbelo speaks highly of Hatkim. We also dictate instructions should we fall in battle we could declare services.

Lete informs Lyeadaldbelo that Inquisitors may have found Hatkims invisible mansion but once he hears where the Babylonians are looking Lyeadaldbelo doesn’t become concerned.

Lex asks Lyeadaldbelo about Rysywe of who tells us Rysywe operates a tug boat named the Hammerhead; Tazed, while recovering has been also been inducted into the brotherhood of the Battalion. Before departing Lete gives Lyeadaldbelo a belt of giant strength +2, a ring of protection +1, and a ring of rat fangs for his Battalion Brothers; Jabari gives a +1 short sword, and from Lermang a +1 chain shirt; Marco loans two +1 rapiers to the Battalion as well as 10 sunrods, 2 fuse granades and 7 Composite long bows +3 str from the ship.

We begin next session at dinner the next night as we receive Unt’wory’s darkvision potions.

Malta Session 39: 05/10/2018 Aulus Makes a Stand, Maven, and Gold in the Coffers of Paola

We begin this week’s session the next morning after the defeat of the undead warlord, a battle that many Boxer agents witnessed. We warn the Boxer agents that typically negotiations, ie honorable combat, with undead are not advised. However before that, Wally arrived sometime in the night and expressed interest in the great sword left behind by Para Sebek-Em-Of. Wally indicates that blades of antiquity, can sometimes be changed to other like weapons in the sword family. Furthermore the sword style surely originates from Africa. Our characters eventually ask that Wally examine at the Egyptian statuary of Sobeck and Apep for the rest of the morning.

Eventually that morning as our characters prepare to repay the sarcophagus a visit Wally emerges and while not for sure, he believes these two statues are either of a necromancer or dark priest magic that can sequester important religious people or individuals of power- old souls and store them in these Egyptian statues for later reincarnation.

Aulus

Our characters head toward the Bard’s College and note a change in the city as Paola deals with the plague rats also learning that three bard’s met their end over the night. Upon inquiring our characters learn that Cian is resting after a long night but we do encounter Aulus who seems anxious to speak to our group and keen on proving himself. Aulus was also interested in speaking about the deep water Jail and the events beyond the Portal at the End of the Plank. We palaver for about an hour until our characters ultimately speak of Maven- the ghost sorcerer we are intent on destroying. He quickly offers to help and begins to gather his belongings.

About another hour later we find ourselves standing in front of a scorched ruin, formerly the Egyptian warehouse. From within the ruin we hear a metallic tapping/clicking sound; it is about this time our characters see that the intense heat from the fire melted some of the metal slag and has molded the sarcophagus to the stone floor. 

Carlo approaches the open trap door in the floor and flings a sunrod down below to see several flying metal insects. Lex detects magic while Aulus is certain that evil lies below. Carlo decides to descend first and is immediately beset by a construct swarm of adamantine insects. While down there Carlo did notice barrow mounds; Okpara Sebek-Em-Of’s armor of antiquity (+3 half plate); several Egyptian funerary items; and an area of impregnable magical darkness. Jabari sends a few fireballs down the passage; however the swarm has a high magic resistance. Finally after Carlo’s TK blasts the droning clicking sound eventually stops.

Below, despite the fire attacks there is an aura of coldness; Aulus begins raining holy water on the mounds when the sarcophagus above is suddenly moved over the opening above our position trapping us. Our characters turn our attacks at the area of darkness where we believe Maven to be hiding. When Lex finally lands the fatal blow against Maven Lex experiences a memory flash of the great sword’s former owner and that in the sarcophagus above contains one of the crusading paladins. The great sword changes in Lex’s hands to a rapier where he immediately tosses the sword to Marco.

Maven’s last action was to release the creature in the sarcophagus... above our characters a mummy awaited its destruction. However when we do finally destroy the mummy our characters sermise to truly destroy the mummy there are extra steps needed: spells must be cast in on the burial mounds below to finalize the destruction. This process advances our characters 24 hours before we make it back to the Boxers and later the Bonded Mind the following afternoon. When at the Boxers Lex speaks to Paulie about who purchased the Gold statue of Tefnut as well as two others one being a Egyptian statue of Anubis and after some discussion Paulie indicates that it was agents of Ta’Tabibu.

Recovered on the mummy was a mythril breastplate (worth 4,200 gp), +1 spear, headband of inspired wis +2, ring of protection +1, antiquity scrolls of spiritual weapon and summon monster 3 as well as 20,000 gp in busted up sarcophagus gold debris: half for the Boxers guild and the other half for Paola restoration with Aulus being shown as great help in getting Paola this much needed gold and that he is an asset to the city- in an effort to restore his reputation.

We take the rest of the day to make preparations on the Bonded Mind to leave Paola. Our characters inform Cian and Aulus that we are leaving for Bugibba. Sven expresses interest of being a crew member and is welcomed aboard after the formality of the crew voting Sven in.

Aboard the Bonded Mind are the crew members as well as Sven, Evagara, Lermang, Stright, Ahumm...

About an hour into our ocean journey, along the eastern coast of Malta, Jabari receives a magical message from Naxxar that the Egyptian fleet has been seen close to Ghallis Rock and he fears that their security is at risk.

We pick up next week near or at Bugibba with the following goals: free the princess, retrieve the Egyptian statues. 

Okpara Sebek-Em-Of

Okpara Sebek-Em-Of was unaccustomed to loss.  The arrangement he had brokered had been torn apart by a strange group of adventurers from Malta. The deal Okpara had made with Rudjek would have provided The Servants of Decay two of the golden statuettes to study, the fallen Paladin now a Mummy Lord, and control over both the ghost and his ancestor The Undead Warlord Para Sebek-Em-Of who was cursed in his undead existence guarding the ghost sorcerer Maven.   Okpara doubted that Rudjek knew of his relation to the Undead Warlord, nor did he believe the slaver priest understood enough of ancient True Name magic to realize the full extent that Okpara would control the ghostly sorcerer.  In return The Servants of Decay were to have provided the slaver priest with a boat load of talents, children marked by unique magic and powers.  Now his trade and leadership was shattered across the burnt husk of the Deep Falcon and its two sister ships.  The Maltese hero’s reasons for interfering in his trade were unclear but the damage they had done to Okpara was substantial and unforgivable.  Their interference would not go unanswered.  

Malta Session 38: Investigating the Sarcophagus, Plague Rats, and the Honor of Para Sebek-Em-Of

We catch up with our characters around midnight to get a full nights rest with the goal of scouting out the sarcophagus we learned last game session remained at the Egyptian warehouse which lies relatively close to the bard’s college campus. Once in sight of the warehouse our characters see the building is being watched warily by the people of Paola and is guarded by former dock- now city guards.

Jabari steps up and addresses one of the guards, we promptly learn that Cian is inside. Our characters are allowed entrance to find Cian and Sven Jarlsson studying the sarcophagus. There is a light suppressing effect in the warehouse. Divination reveals there is a great danger within and woe would befall the individual or individuals who open or moves the Ancient Sarcophagus.

Lex explains to the Finnish clerics our battle against the warrior skeleton and that it was looking for something, Lex omits the details of the Egyptian statuary.

Lete looks up at the structure of the warehouse and suggests having natural sunlight bath the darkened room; while Carlo measures the sarcophagus as 12’ long 4.5’ wide and 4.5’ tall comprised of stonework and valuable metals and finds symbols for every Egyptian god with none holding dominance in its artistry. Towards the bottom of the sarcophagus are latches on each side. We determine the object has likely been over the past year but not more than five years and it is the only thing in the building. Ancient arcane and divine symbols predate any modern identification. Noted the sarcophagus' head points east, in the general direction of Egypt.

Jabari detects magic to find remnants of Cian’s magic; including residual conjuration magic, abjuration, all relatively recent castings as well as older negative energy magic. For the duration of Jabari’s efforts finds an impression of an evocation in a radius around the sarcophagus signifies a desecration spell casting each day.

At last our characters decide to take over sarcophagus watch for a few hours to give Cian a chance to prepare for consecrating these grounds as we hope to use Nogamon’s gift of a greater dispel magic shortly after lunch.

Jabari and Lex will wait and patrol outside, Lete will walk circles around the object, while Marco, Evagara, and Carlo also remain inside watching the sarcophagus. When suddenly the latches are found undone; we come together when after a few attempts to reattach the latches Carlo uses his telekinesis to clasp the sarcophagus secure once again. A few moments later the sarcophagus comes unsecured once again seemingly on its own accord. Does anyone read these reviews? Lex proposes there maybe someone or something in a dimensional space about the building interfering but doesn’t discover any noticeable effects. Ticks are noticed escaping from under the sarcophagus. 

Having run out of patience Carlo uses his telekinesis to move the sarcophagus to find a trap door where all the tick-like bugs are coming up from. Modern magic symbols surrounds the newly discovered trap door. Our characters surmise these magics are part of the reason the darkness is so permeating as well as symbols pertaining to what lies below the trap door. A minute goes by before the stone trap door springs out, as well as a tick swarm presents itself along with an impossibly large swarm of plague rats as well as the ghost Maven.

Our characters flee the warehouse with our lives and begin to heal ourselves after securing the door behind us; the plague rats swarms growing larger by the second. After about  a minuet plague rats begin to eat their way out of the building. Jabari and Evagara attack the rats with fire as Lete realizes they too fast heal. A solid minuet of fireballs after which we realize that these were mythic plague rats, there is still the ghost Maven, as well as whatever is in the Ancient sarcophagus.

Eventually Cian arrives to cure Jabari and Carlo’s lycanthropy contracted from the plague rats and looks at the smoldering warehouse. He naturally has concern for the people of Paola. (Those who contracted the disease are immune to the black plague.)

We return to the Bonded Mind and inform them of recent events before we eventually head to the Boxers Safehouse for a brief respite. Here Lex learns there has been a courier looking for Carlo. A meeting is arranged for the Golden Horn in the morning where Carlo eventually learns the message was from the Borg House: 'Broken Moon Monastery has been found' and a map of the Mediterranean and a 'rock' the Monastery is located. 

We catch up with our characters later that night and the dual with the skeleton warrior who expresses a desire to be released form Maven servitude. Marco fearlessly accepts the challenge and in the end defeats the undead Egyptian warrior Para Sebek-Em-Of who thanks Marco for an honorable fight; the shadows creatures perish around us and as the dust settles an old +3 keen ghost touch great sword is left behind. 

We are awarded our 8^th character level and pick up next game session the next morning meeting up with Cian and Sven for an attack on Maven.

ORIGINAL

Malta Session 37: Paola's Most Wanted, Egyptian Statuary, and The Stake Out

On our return to Paola from Zebbug we pass through the Halfling Village and meet up with the folks we saved a short time ago from the Black Druid's honey confinement, as well as displaced folk from Paola. Marco, familiar with a couple from Paola- met at last month’s Opera ball- folks known for doing business with the Egyptians. Our characters learn that this practice of trading with Egypt is frowned upon as of late and these people were thus are shamed into leaving their homes.

Lete inquiries about any rise to power or anything else that could have washed into the city when the Portal At The End Of The Plank collapsed. A woman named Afar indicated to Lete that Dom Mintoff has risen to popularity with his generous donations to the Bard College. Furthermore there are rumors of what’s called light eaters in Paola due to the fact that some magical lights have gone out in advance of some unseen horror. Additionally, further looting in Paola has been blamed on these unseen mysterious creatures. It is suspected that it is likely thieves taking advantage of the chaos in Paola.

Apep

Continuing on our way to Paola we decide to make a brief detour to the first tengu cache. When we get within sight of the tree marking the spot we see several armed and armored nondescript individuals. In an awakening action Jabari’s bonded cloak warns him through mental communication and visual means that these creatures are actually tengu of the Cold Clutch. However our characters are low on resources and decide to press on to Paola.

Arriving outside Paola as night draws near, as we pass a number of outlying ranch houses that look to now contain extended family and friends in residence; folk displaced from Paola. At the third ranch house our characters are hailed by a group of what look like dock hands who tell us they are searching the houses for escapees from the Bard College: Kasok, Rudjek and one of the Aulus- likely the doppleganger.

As disheartening as this news was we press on to Paola to eventually find a construction crew dismantling one of the iconic archways. We inquire as to who ordered this and soon learn that it was Endhin issued the order. Lex casts a detect magic and learns that while the archway is not magical it is capable of holding spells longer than normal. Marco and Lex convinces the workers to take the rest of the night off before we head off to look for End'hin.

Sobek

At the Bard’s College we see an increase in security and a change in the campus lights from magical to oil lit lanterns. Eventually we are recognized and as we are directed towards the main campus we see magical detections in use and in a short time are met by Melissa and her mother Professor Mintha who usher us to a converted war room.

Here our characters learn there was an attack on the Bard’s College inciting the escape of several individuals. Cian was badly wounded and Endhin was neutralized and magically transported out to sea but survived. They have also found Rujek’s warehouse has been cleared out as well. There has also been a lot of strange unexplained occurrences throughout Paola but the attack was made by primarily Egyptians including a large number of gray warriors. 

As far as the archways are concerned the various resistance leaders agreed that archways were magical and as old as the Portal At The End Of The Plank and after long discussions they decided to dismantle the archways for future study. There was much distrust about the archway but it was Cian that suspected there was ways to track and identify folk who pass through the archway.

We eventually find End'hin using magics to question dead Egyptians, when he sees us he seems rather embarrassed. He explains he was at the Finnish church when the attack came, he felt a tug and suddenly he was falling from an impossible height into the ocean; flashes of the jailer still playing on his fears. He was eventually picked up by a ship called the Apple Baron and was taken back to Paola where he finds that the Finnish, the Egyptian and the Babylonian churches had been looted; holy symbols, logs, and religious items of value both high and mundane were taken- everything one would need to practice one's faith was gone. This was two nights ago.

Our characters inquire as to the identity of the dead priests End'hin have been speaking with. One was a priest of Apep, an Egyptian god sometimes called the snake god of darkness; and the other was a Thrall of Sobek, another Egyptian god but with a crocodile head. Both indicate under interrogation there is a ‘bomb’ or a ‘final revenge’ that has not yet been utilized in Paola.

It was getting late and our characters take rest at the Bards College. During this time Carlo has a vivid dream of being inside IL-Kataniz estate in Zebbug. Carlo clearly sees Chomson living a real nightmare; struggling as blood rolls from his eyes and nose, then suddenly a sucker lined tentacle appears and invades Chomson's head trying to farm information from the merchant about our characters. Carlo sees Chomson resisting but in the end survives the encounter but loses the fight. It is then Carlo wakes.

The next morning we learn that, for the most part, the People’s Trail has been continued since the major names have escaped. Marco, Jabari, Lermang, and Evagara head to the Bonded Mind to look over the ship and be ready to sail in a few days. Carlo and Lete make a visit to Cian and find him recovering from a negative energy attack but is relieved to see us. We brief the Finnish priest of our recent trip to Zebbug; this was followed by his first hand retelling of the attack on the Bard’s College. They came in an overwhelming force and he was unprepared. Carlo asked Cian’s feelings on End'hin and by all accounts what happened to End'hin was unfortunate but plausible. After some additional questions and sharing what we learned from End'hin we find out Cian had heard of the Thrall of Sobek but thought he operated out of Hagar Qim.

Meanwhile Lex would find his way to the Boxer Safehouse that morning disguised as usual and about a block from his destination he is spotted by local sneaks Kiley and Riley. Lex notices both attempts at pickpockets but after an attempt at a complement Lex is funally recognized and before long Lex is holding palaver with the Boxers. Here Wally tells Lex that it was in fact the Boxers who cleared out Rudjek’s warehouse and not the Egyptians. There has been attempts at recovering the items by what looks like a skeletal knight with supernatural help. Some of the items taken are a book of names of ships; personal names as well as books of renderings of people likely enemies of the Egyptians. Lex tells them about the Final Revenge and immediately Wally indicates that what Lex is referring to is a sarcophagus that remains in the warehouse. They have separated some of the loot they did obtain in a dry room and in a couple of bags of holding.

Besides the skeletal knight there was seen what is described as a dread wight gargoyle. J  Lex takes time to look through some of the stolen Egyptian items. A variety of Egyptian bibles for the different gods and were the Egyptians planned on placing priests. A dread tome detailing mummification processes; a book of monsters native to Egypt; as well as ledgers and logs, and finally information on valuables kept in Birzebbuga, an Egyptian holding town that avoided entering Malta through Paola and the Seven Churches. Finally, the book with the rendering of Naxxar also contains a rendering of Loshe and many others in Naxxar’s inner circle. Eventually Lex finds a letter detailing an entire ships hold of items they are seeking, a ship we are familiar with containing the funerary times and something highly valuable contained in each gold statuary akin to a phylactery or soul receptacle. Paulie had sold three in Bugibba and Lex learns there are two others in the safe house dry room. Lex tells Wally that some of the leaders of Bugibba are now tengu.

In the dry room there is little room for maneuvering but eventually Wally produces a statue that looks like a snake headed god *Apep and the other with a crocodile head *Sobek, a direct correlation to the dead priests Endhin was questioning. We intuit there are 13 gold statues in all one for each egyptian god in the pantheon. Besides the two statues there are other commodities that can easily be traded off; weapons, spices and minor magic.

Meanwhile Marco, Jabari, Lermang, and Evagara arrive at the docks to find some of our crew talking to the crew of the Apple Baron. Here our characters find that there was an attempt to mark the Bonded Mind with an Egyptian mark. This also occurred during the attack that saw the Apple Baron taking on survivors from the Bailiwick. The captain of the Bailiwick had a similar instance as End'hin, disappearing from the deck, and was falling from a great height into the water. The Apple Barron first found the Captain of the Bailiwick and, on its return to Paola began picking up its crew members and eventually when they were coming back- happened across End'hin.

Searching below the water line Jabari and Marco find some minor damage on the Bonded Mind but nothing major, the crew doesn’t believe the Bonded Mind was not singled out because most ships in Paola experienced similar events. After some thorough searching Jabari gives each crew member a 10 gold wartime bonus.

Elsewhere in Paola Carlo and Lete arrive at Borg house to find it broken and empty; it is clear that there was a battle here. A local citizen named Stright indicates there was a battle here the night of the attack and does not know the ware bouts of the past occupants. Carlo scans the area mentally looking for survivors. We find most personal belongs have been collected but we also find the bodies of Maas and Cral; killed by unknown energy draining. Carlo believes they may have headed to Dingli Cliffs. We decide to take the bodies to the Bard’s College before Stright offers to help as a former skilled combatant for Dom Mintoff. He takes interest in Carlo’s mental disciplines as a first level monk.

Carlo, Lete and Stright  take the bodies of Maas and Cral to Cian and learn their souls have been corrupted by negative energy drain and all that’s left is to burn their bodies. From there we head to the Golden Horn.

Para Sebek-Em-Of

Around four in the afternoon our characters reunite at the Golden Horn when Lex informs the rest of us about the Egyptian statues, the dooms day device and the skeletal knight attacking the safehouse. Our characters decide to stake out the safehouse and lie in wait for this skeletal knight that we assume is coming for the two Egyptian statues of Apep and Sobek.

At the safehouse we learn that each time the skeletal knight was preceded by a mist that settles in the area and that it just appears. While our characters wait Wally is going to relocate some individuals to other safehouses.

At around half past ten when a rolling mist begins to settle on the city block as well as several pockets of magical darkness begin to form. It dosent take long to defeat the skeletal warrior but we learn the creature must be dealt with one on one.

Malta Session 36: 05/10/2018 Return to Zebbug, A Feeble Minded Gamon, and Chomson's Deal

We begin this week’s session outside Zebbug at dusk; the taint of the Black Druid still fresh in our memories. Here our characters find Gamon’s grove is lush with olives; it reminds us of how Gammon gave Jabari seeds to spread around Malta and surrounding islands. When we arrive our characters find evidence of combat with dragon-armored troops, a trail of fallen foes leading to Nogamon who is tending over his son Gamon who seems distant and in an as yet unknown state.

Gamon

Nogamon calls for Jabari and after investigating Gamon’s condition realizes the centaur is feebleminded; a condition Nogamon can remedy. Jabari volunteers to aid in the ceremony while Lete, Lex, and Carlo begin to move dead foes from the grove. Here among the fallen everyone finds an upgraded cloak of resistance, amulet of armor, or magical ring of protection (up to a +2). Lermang will keep an eye on Zebbug that had just set off pyrotechnics moments ago. Marco and Evagara set a patrol, wary of an attack. Our horses were hidden elsewhere in grove.

The healing ceremony takes about an hour, restoring Gamon's intelligence. However he does not have much information to shed on what happened. Nevertheless with the grove and the druid restored our characters decide to investigate Zebbug and help where we can.

A short time later our characters see obstacles have been strategically placed; disabled wagons and crates stood around the walls of Zebbug. When we get closer still we see a decomposing dwarf female impaled upside down on a pike atop the city walls. From between the spaces of wagons and obstacles comes a well armored orc and an ogre who immediately spot us. Each of us notices the two glancing frequently at the area above the walls behind them. “Zebbug is closed until the morning.”

Lex, “We saw the flares and have come to help.” Marco however answers to no one, but Dino and Rock are the BEST at their jobs and what followed next was a rant that ends with a story of how Dino knocked out IL-Kataniz’s champion before IL-Kataniz was turned over. The ogre however is intent on human flesh and greedily looks over Evagara.

Before our characters lay into these two, Jabari spots a Gribbon and a Derhii flying about over Zebbug invisibility. We defeat Dino and Rock just as Jabari sees the fliers break off, flying generally towards IL-Kataniz estate

Inside Zebbug the city looks as if it was conquered by Carthage, complete with a large amount of mercenaries around. Some buildings have the mark of the dragon but not a lot of dragon followers can be seen. We decide to fly towards IL-Kataniz estate; Lete using his cloak and the rest potions and spells to fly. Our characters keep below the top floor of the cities buildings to stay undetected as long as possible. 

Along the way we see magical rings of fire springing forth and archers gathering readying bows for the flame. The rings give off a lot of light. As this happens groups of Gribbon and a Derhii fly in the direction of Gamon's grove. Several voices call out as some individuals notice our passage; nevertheless we make haste to IL-Kataniz. Behind us olive trees in the grove burst into flames as mists and fog rise up around IL-Kataniz’s manor. The ‘dinner bell’ we came to recognize during our last visit is rung, a signal. We then head to the barn that once held our private dealings.

We hear sounds of prisoners inside the barn and a see an abomination on the rooftop- a chimera with a lion, goat and a red dragon’s head. As we combat the beast a dark elf armed with kukris, levitates to the top of the barn. We kill the chimera but the drow got away. In the barn our characters find farmstead women and children while, we eventually learn, the trained soldiers were traded to the Carthaginians. Lex sneaks toward the estate and before long Chomson could be heard, he did not seem surprised we were there. An otherworldly voice reminds Chomson of his ‘deal’.  

Outside Jabari summons mounts to rig to wagons to get out the women and children out of Zebbug while fliers could be heard in the air. Lex is able to find and access IL-Kataniz to get the papers.

In the barn the voice of Chomson calls out to Marco and asks him to leave because if we stay then everyone has problems. This as Carlo gives the women and children instructions and to wait for a signal while Jabari casts haste on the horses as several Carthaginians charge towards the barn and begin to burn it. Meanwhile Carlo intuits the unseen mind flayer is trained and with class levels. Our characters delay our escape until Lex returns but eventually we retreat to Gamon’s grove.

Checking what Lex retrieved we find information on the shipwreck on Ta’fraben island as well as map with Ta’fraben island circled and confirmation that Chomson sold this information to the Carthaginians. A group of Carthaginian ‘Children of Baal’ (Hammon) slavers; they would recover the Monger warship over the next six weeks for Chomson. Meanwhile IL-Kataniz is being held until the warship is recovered and a possibility of six locations for an exchange, so he is likely being held on a ship with the first location occuring in ten days. We hope to try to identify the ship holding IL-Kataniz.

Chomson

At the grove we explain what we faced and learned in our recent battles including the appearance of the dark elf who Nogamon warns us of. When our characters mention Ta’fraben island Nogamon warns us of ancient creatures and the swarms of insect creatures as well as the Trox and Thri-Kreen. There is rumored to be savage mind flayers there as well. A portal to hell is rumored to be located there and even the plants can consume an individual.

Nogamon offers to help us in our impending trip to Ta’fraben with improved antitoxins for each of us as well as scrolls for the return of IL-Kataniz and the men from the slavers, approximately 500 to 1000 individuals.

We begin next week's session making plans for what's next; heading to Paola and then off to Ta’fraben.

Malta Session 35: 05/03/2018 Babylonian Dreamin', Heckle and Jeckle, and Slag Giants

Ancient Nogamon

We begin this week’s session three days after our character’s teamwork battle against the Black Druid Tree and two other druids, a gnome and a troll; as well as a tribe of gnolls, a tribe of ogres and five trolls. Each defeated over the coarse of the days.

Our characters are successful in freeing Nogamon and five others we later learn are refugees from Bugibba; a couple of tengu; as well as two Babylonian Dreamin' inquisitors, each from their honeyed prisons.

During this time we learn of other dangers during our battle with the mentioned ogre tribe who feared a ‘brain sucker’ and a ‘black elf’ somewhere nearby. That's when our characters realize the Black Druid's roots go very deep and into the underdark and likely the source of the tree’s taint.

For an hour after freeing Nogamon, the centaur rambles openly in a dream-state, answering truthfully any questions put to him in long form. Jabari tests the truth drug-like effect of the honey prison: Why are evil dragons barred from the Evening Isles? After a broad meandering answer, Jabari comes away with a great Dragon’s name and a date in ancient history.

Eventually Nogamon eventually awakens from his dreamlike euphoria and will confirm the Black Druid does come from the under dark and further explains that Malta, once apart of, did in fact break off from the Evening Isles ages ago and that Sundering cut off previous access to the Underdark, save for Malta. The centaur suspects the Black Druid's spirit had achieved a state whereby he/she could store their soul into a phylactery, which was this tree until our characters came along. Overtime the blighted tree began to awaken and influenced the immediate area and attract followers and monsters.

It was not long after when our characters turn our attention to the Babylonians, where we learn that one of them: Osch is actually a servant of Queic, a ranking 'Blue Scale'; most of the following information comes from a euphoric Queic...

We learn Queic's commanding officer is an inquisitor in Bugibba and Queic's assignment was to locate Nogamon because the Green Faith was the only faith they couldn’t infiltrate. Queic hoped to expose Nogamon to various poisons in order to weaken the centaur so that it would appear Nogamon had died of old age. Queic explains the tengu are utilized to take the place of priests and ranking clergy throughout Malta. In Bugibba their plan is to convert the priestess but in all situations tengu infiltration is only temporary until a dragon agent can rise to popularity. They had trouble however with infiltrating the Finnish and Norse faiths as they proved difficult to impersonate.

Their endgame: overtime the people of Malta would recognize that Tiamat is the true faith and eventually Malta itself would be converted. Queic reveals to us a series of phrases to indicate hidden and disguised tengu, but our characters do not invest much faith in the phrases because they likely are changed frequently. It is apparent these men and their kind do not trust the tengu either. Personally, Queic doesn’t care for Kassok, two rival individuals in his unit but he shows open disdain for and mistrust for Chomson because of Chomson's casual nature of business dealings with no regard for a higher cause. We learn Chomson has also offered IL-Kataniz's trade routes to the highest bidder and the chance at the Monger Warship on Ta' Fraben Island.

Brudiphan

Lete brings up the individual known as Brudiphan, this causes a reaction from Queic followed by a warning and comfirmation on Brudiphan’s hatred for Naxxar.

Brudiphan is in control of a couple of Murders of tengu and is known to have under dark connections. We learn Brudiphan has likely has taken on a permanent alias and is suspected to be one of the leaders in Cirkewwa as well as one of the Crime Lords of Hagar Qim. Zallas is in fact a fabrication of Brudiphan and his group. Brudiphan and his minions are in fact a resource for the dragon collaborators.

Eventually we uncover Queic's equipment: cloak of resistance +1, a ring of protection +1, and a blue scale amulet of electricity resistance, poisoner’s gloves, a master work weapon and poison components.

We leave it to Nogamon to decide the fates of the two inquisitors who then decides to reincarnate these Babylonians into trees- but he refuses to end their current lives. That responsibility was welcomed by Jabari who kills them. The same courtesy however will not be extended to the tengu,  and at that Nogamon will depart our company in search for his son at Gamon’s grove outside of Zebbug.

Turning our attention to the tengu we refer to as Heckle and Jeckle. Our characters learn that Heckle was stung by the bees of unusual size and was helplessly grounded while Jeckle was captured in honey mistaking it for amber. We learn these two are part of Brudiphan’s Murder called the Cold Clutch: a group of three tengu generations, distinguished by their blue/grey tipped claws and toes.

The other Murder's name is called the Colony: a large group consisting of twelve tengu generations distinguished by a triangular mark on their beaks. We learn tengu can live to be 120 to 150 years; with some venerable members upwards of 300 years old; or so Brudiphan says.

The tengu maintain a respect for Brudiphan’s affinity for infiltration and magical disguises as well as Brudiphan’s way of seeing through all tengu disguises- thanks to his magical eyes. The tengu seem to be loyal to a point however because tengu have been known to abandon missions for other more exotic discoveries. Lex learns the tengu are masters of magical disguise and gains insight on other tengu murder's disguises: they can be identified by their hands or feet, or the clumsy way a person in question utilizes a weapon or handles a mug of ale. Another way is to look for inaccuracies in the rear of disguises, areas of the body and face that are unseen or cannot be properly reached by the disguised. Tengu also struggle with images from drawings as well as animal forms and sizes that do not conform their own general stature. The hardest change Heckle had attempted was a cat folk, while Jeckle attempted a firbolg once. They outright call the creature impersonating Aulus Daquaretti a doppelganger. Our characters also learn there are six other murders perusing our characters vying for the Egyptians; Brudiphan however sells his services to the Babylonians.

From Heckle and Jeckle we learn our characters attracted Brudiphan's attention 'day one' and these two tengu were ordered to steal our artwork from Garamaldi’s. Brudiphan's individual interest in our characters came after our trip to Hagar Qim. It was also at the same time other groups showed interest in our characters and it expanded from there. Sakar operates in Hagar Qim, is also one of Brudiphan's identities. These two tengu also know to call upon Davos if needed in Hagar Qim.

Lete produces the map found at the cashe and learn half the population of Rebet are tengu but it is noted Brudiphan’s Murders do not use these tunnels as indicated on the map as much as the other groups do as most of them are clumsy fliers and not as good as Brudiphan’s group in the air. We also learn of a Cold Clutch cashe close by. 

Content with what we learned Lete snaps the necks of both Heckle and Jeckle and sets their bird bodies to the torch before we turn our attention to the other five common folk. This is when we learn they are escapees from Bugibba who were looking for Nogamon for help. We give them a choice but eventually direct them to the Halfling village before heading to Zebbug ourselves.

But first, the cashe of equipment Heckle and Jeckle told us about...

As we approach we see a half dozen slag giants exiting opposite cave entrances about fifty feet away who immediately toss boulders in our general direction. Our characters do not advance, choosing to stay together and fight as a team. The battle was tough but with some great teamwork our characters eventually fell each giant one by one. In the caves we find several dead and twisted tengu as well as 5 chests each containing 10k in various amounts of gemstones and coinage.

We pick up next session at the grove of Gamon the green outside Zebbug.

Malta Session 34: 04/25/2018 Tunnel to Otherwhere, Releasing the Mythic, and the Black Druid

We begin this week’s session at the Boxer’s safe house after our looting of the Church of Otherwhere, at around 2 in the afternoon ready to make steps toward our next objective: looking to ensure the safely or discover the status of Nogamon. Before we depart Paola our characters visit the Bonded Mind to have Ahumm channel sweet divine energy to heal the injured from the battle earlier in the day.

Jabari tables the idea that our characters travel by horseback. Towards this end the first ranch our characters visit finds the ranch with a surplus of horses and the ranch manager offers to sell us each an equipped horse for 25 g. each. With that task completed we exit Paola bound for the Black Druid’s grove.

Dragon Stylized Armor

A short time later our characters are hailed by individual with a few words of warning. He tells of some individuals he and his spotted earlier. At the time they didn’t think was odd at first, until he was off the path where, in a copse of trees, encounters a posed (laid out) suit of dragon stylized armor affixed with an obvious officer marking on it. He goes on to explain this were spooked their group and decided to just leave the area- indicating back where the copse of trees and the armor was found. It was a passing conversation on the road; though we tell them briefly what has happened in Paola and to go to the Bard’s College for more information.

Intrigued about the discarded armor we follow the traveling man’s directions. Not long after Lermang, who is ranging about, finds a largish black feather confirming we are on the trail. Eventually we find the suit of armor in the shadows of the trees as well as numerous discarded feathers and varied tracks near what looks like a tunnel in the ground at the center of the copse of trees. Some of our group intuits that it must lead to the doors at the Church of Otherwhere.

Lex and Lermang slide down the opening to investigate further while the rest of us watch for a possible ambush. About 50 feet in Lex and Lermang find a spiral descent as well as some stored supplies (a barrel of gunpowder and a barrel of rum), a (fire-trapped) locked chest as well as map of the surface features of Malta (the map indicated a city circled in red with a tunnel line connecting: Rebet). The two heroes take steps to move the barrels and chest carefully out of the tunnel.

With everyone at a safe distance Lex bypasses the fire trap and discovers a brace of 8 potions of fly (markings indicated they are from IL-Kataniz) and several folded women’s dresses. Four coils of silk rope, a rope of Knots; 2 trade flags/banners from Birzebbuga and Xaghra; a ship captain’s diary written in a personal short hand of his attempts at looking for Ghallis rock (though not successful, it eliminated other rocks however in coordinates G1 & 2)); as well as a variety of six ID badges.

It was late afternoon when we continue on, Lermang hiding our tracks behind us as we take a direct route towards our destination. Along the way the terrain changes, taking on a blighted quality with breaks in the ground with wilted, chocked foliage. Eventually we come to a break between two hills and notice several breaks in the hills akin to cave openings. Here snake and scorpion hazards become more numerous. Our characters decide to dismount at this time and lead the horses in the event the horses get spooked.

The Black Druid

We are not surprised as a carpet of scorpions file out of caves in the hills while coming from over the top of one of the hills is an armed gnoll who howls out to others from the opposite hills. A 12 long creature moves out, like a dual action scorpion, an Ommoth. Then from the opposite hill- a bronze skinned scorpion-folk. But as the combat progressed swarms of scorpions come upon us; we eventually fight off the gnoll and kill the creatures.

Our characters continue on to find a gnoll encampment around the low mountain that contains ash trees- reminiscent of the Black Druid’s symbol. We learn later the tree is the Black Druid; it had help from several gnoll savages, giant wasps and bees, dire bats and a gnome and troll druid.  At the end of the session our characters were victorious.

We begin next session moments after the battle with the Black Druid and its minions.  

Malta Session 33: 04/19/2018 "Heroes of the Bonded Mind Have Returned to Restore Truth"

We begin this week’s session at the Boxer safehouse in Paola resting up after two hours of battelilng for our collective lives during a battle between Tiamat and the aboleth Jailer; then being expelled from the portal (now destroyed) at the Seven Churches district. Marco and Evagara, now even more connected, enjoy water breathing on their matching rings; Evagara now capable of Bonded Mind; and all of us mythic in status.

For the first few hours it is hard to completely relax when we learn of the steady flood of deep sea water that continues to threaten the low-lying areas of Paola; it was prudent to stay alert for a possible city wide evacuation. But after a couple hours the Boxers watch the water recede and finally it was time for our characters to rest. Carlo, while resting, feels a telepathic scream while the rest of us hear all manner of chaos outside.

When our characters, along with Ahumm, Lermang and Evagara, awaken about twelve hours later we our characters see the safe house is fuller with more people and equipment. It is about 8 in the morning. Some of these newcomers claim of have seen strange creatures: drauger, hippocampus, sea hags, disturbing descriptions of a winged man with a rictus wooden mask; they describe a battle with a gibbering mouther, several flying manticores, and finally three individuals people thought were injured people would then transform into warerats.

In regards to IL-Kataniz, Wally suspects Chomson betrayed IL-Kataniz explaining Chomson’s odd trade connection with the Black Druid. Nevertheless Tiamat Inquisitors were seen in Zebbug and assumes IL-Kataniz; Chomson was a known trader with tengu.

We leave about midmorning disguised, first heading toward Borg house. Along the way our characters see first-hand the damage and the looting that occurred throughout the night. We hear with delight the Bard College has reopened and have organized a relief effort.

We also hear how most people are angry with the Seven Churches. Lex takes this opportunity to cultivate this hatred and color our character as heroes. Cian has been restored status. And awating their fate there are callers for a People’s Trial captured are high priest Kassok, Rudjek. Two individuals that look like the Aldus; on that came through the portal and another that was captured later. Zallas is missing. An individual, who claims to be here by request for the Finnish church was known to have come back through the portal.

Cian

Most people in the city feel like they’ve been lied to their entire lives. Even people who were never on trial just sent through the portal had come back to fuel the insulted folk. These people are upset with the Dragon church, the Babylonian, and the church of Otherwere mostly. Closer to the docks we learn the rush of water from the portal created a break in the Egyptian ship blockade. Cian is well spoken for as he was not part of the Seven Church’s charade.

When we arrive at the Borg house our characters find it borded up and after a key knock at the right place we are led in. We find they are tending 4 individuals that were sent through the portal. Two of the individuals have horrible tentacle sucker wounds and unseen physiological wounds. They complain of the physic intrusions from the night before, but Carlo reassures them the jailer is dead. Initially they are overjoyed  and realize they don’t have to be as secretive in the future since they are no longer being hunted by the aboleth. The Borg do not have any news for us and have taken it upon themselves to care for these 4 survivors.

Carlo asks about the occupation and is told they came about two weeks ago; they shut down the Bard College while the inquisitors canvased the city looking for our characters and pirates. Many people believed what they were being told. There is concern for Nogamon as he has not been seen since before these events.

Our characters get to the docks and find many ships on fire, the Bonded Mind is docked and not on fire and hear that many around here boarded hastily and attempted to flee Paola. When the riots reached the docks the violence spread to two Egyptians ships as well as the prisoner transport ship. There are signs at certain berths that say ‘NO EGYPTIANS’, ‘No Crows’, or ‘Paola Only’. There is a universal outcry against the Seven Churches.

Our characters locate a longboat and row out to the Bonded Mind with news from Paola for the crew. Ahumm will remain on the ship to bring it in as our characters talk of finally dropping our disguises and going public at the Bard College. When we get to the Bard’s College we feel again the sensation of being watched and notice the crystal tower has a crack in it.

When our characters arrive we hear that Cian is here helping with the relief effort. When we drop the façade there is a general gladness as we are led to Cian and the severely injured. Along the way we see steps are being taken to see invisibility and foil any magical disguises. Cian, while exhausted, is glad to see us. He shares his experience and tells us the missing priest End'hin is looking over captured priests in a different building; and on a different subject he knows the Aulus that came through the portal is the real Alus. He admits he does not know what the other Aulus is. In the meantime our characters offer Cian some much needed rest.

End'hin

Checking on the captures priests are Lex, Lete, and Evagara and Marco while the reaming characters tend the wounded. Kassok, Rudjek and the two Aulus’ who are being kept unconscious with the aid of drugs; Kassok and Rudjek are kept unconscious with physical means. The area is kept secret for fear there would be folks trying to kill the captured priests. Besides these individuals there are other clerics and such including some Norse followers including the betraying Meeka, all told there are about 20 prisoners.

Our characters meet End’hin and some four or five rotating bards who are securing the prisoners and an alchemist named Linure who is keeping the prisoners drugged. All looked in order.

We advance eight hours of help at the Bards College Cian finally awakes with the intention of making our statement to the citizens of Paola. He gathered the callers and suggests something akin to the “Heroes of the bonded mind have returned to restore truth.”  We take sustenance as we make plans. Melissa seems excited to see Lete ;)

During the evening meal we are truthful and candid about our experience of the portal and how we were framed for piracy through the night.

We advance to the next morning after a night at the Bard’s College. We meet with Cian who states he wants a week before the people’s trial and second he suspects the churches are likely being looted. He cannot spare anyone but if we need anything it is up to us to seek out healing ourselves.

Our characters decide to head to the Seven Churches to find evidence of damage much of it from mass amounts of ocean water. The dead have been gathered in a pile, all of their valuables gone. The Babylonian temple has been completely looked and set to flame. The Egyptian church looks to be actively being looted with individuals surrounding the church. Some churches, like the green faith and Finnish have not been bothered; the Greek and Roman churches have taken some water damage and has suffered minimal looting. There is a bard guarding the entrance to the Finnish church; the Norse church took water damage as well but no looting. The Otherware temple has attracted a lot of attention but no one will go there, warning us of warerats and other strange creatures.

NEVERMORE

We decide this will be the church our characters will loot. As we approach we hear the screeches of the tengu as well as a couple of tengu bodies- killed by vicious claws. Our characters begin taking precautions.  That does not however get us out of battleing a murder of crows, an ogre, wererats and WWF. But it did not go well at first and we retreated after the first few seconds of combat, quickly overwhelmed by mythic foes: murders of crows an ogre, a couple of wererats and a werewolf hybrid. In the end it was Carlo and Evagara with the final killing attacks that earned our characters 7^th character level, 10,000 gp spending limit and the following random items: minor metamagic +1 spell level (Jabari), +1 shield (Lete), 5 javelins of lightning (Lermang), ring of the grasping grave (Cian), 2^nd level wand of CMW 5^th CL 50 CH, vest of surgery (Carlo), whip feather token (Jabari), cloak of the scuttling rat (Lermang), helm of comprehend languages and read magic (Evagara), featherstep slippers (Lex).  

An Enemy with Honor

Dyroso Casazza

During the vault battle the Inquisitor Dyroso Casazza first noticed the couples matched rings.  Had they not worn rings, the woman’s love of the Italian swashbuckler would have been obvious; she risked her life multiple times to spare his.  Dyroso was impressed with his opponents; these were not thieves, opportunists or murderers.  The group had found an unknown entrance into the vault and Dyroso suspected they were here attempting to save Bugibba’s leader the priestess Kakakombi.   

Outnumbered and outmatched the group of civic heroes was defeated but fought with honor.  The swashbuckler displayed a fighting style Dyroso hadn’t seen since leaving Perugia Agrippa, the Water Dance.  The half elven Inquisitor’s stomach tightened, wondering if it was possible that he was facing an Andrezi?  This changed everything.  Prince Reynaldo Andrezi had provided Dyroso’s family every opportunity.                                               

Bosin the Evoker

Dyroso inserted himself into the middle of the swashbuckler’s capture, hiding his concerns under a guise of greed.  The defeated group had been recognized by Dyroso’s companions as the “pirates” the Egyptians hunted and the Babylonians coveted.  Speaking with the Evoker Bosin, he proposed separating the captured heroes to prevent rescue attempts and assure their delivery to Paola where they would certainly be finely rewarded.  Bosin agreed with Dyroso’s plan, warning Dyroso that the couple was the half elf’s responsibility.   Dyrosos Casazza may not be able to spare them a trial in Paola but he would make sure the Swashbuckler and his mate’s honor were maintained and their valuable possessions returned to them before they faced their fate.