Session 7
| Property | Value |
|---|---|
| Beginning XP | TBD |
| Beginning gold | TBD |
| Ending XP | 220 |
| Ending gold | TBD |
6 Pharast 4710
Still at the Sootscale Cave, we noticed that the number of beds greatly outnumbered the kobolds present. Around 40 beds filled the cave, but only six kobolds were visible, including Mic-Mac and Nak-Pick. Djames and I asked the chief about the effects of the war, and Djames pointed out that the Sootscales could benefit from having allies. Despite this, Chief Sootscale was clear that his priority was for us to defeat the usurper, Tartuk, before discussing alliances.
Djames suggested raising a small feast to discuss our plans in the Stolen Lands and our goal of ruling them. While the chief was receptive, he kept steering the conversation back to Tartuk, stressing that we needed to eliminate him first. To regain focus, Kairos asked to share a meal with the chief, who agreed.
As we prepared for the encounter, we gathered more information from the chief. Tartuk had become the de facto leader, holding sway over the kobolds with his significant magical powers. He had also convinced two of the strongest warriors to join his cause, making them fanatically loyal. The room had a back entrance, but it was sealed off by a wooden door, which we would need to account for in our plans.
Lizzy used Detect Metal, excluding the metal in the mine and what we wore, to confirm the presence of metal in Tartuk’s chamber. Djames, using Humanoid Form, shapeshifted into a purple kobold to deceive Tartuk, claiming to be a kobold from the east. Our strategy was to lure the guards away by pretending we had captured a tall-man, which would allow us to face the guards first. We anticipated that some guards would defend the back entrance, so Kairos used invisibility to follow Djames into the throne room.
Djames announced to the Sootscales that he had important news from the west, and a kobold bodyguard escorted him to Lizzy, who pretended to have found a small statue. The guard questioned Lizzy and ordered a smaller kobold to retrieve the statue. Once inside, the smaller kobold frisked Lizzy, but Djames quickly intervened, commanding the kobold to hold Lizzy. Djames then persuaded the guard to enter the cell, and when the guard resisted, Lizzy pushed him in, silencing him with Veil of Dreams.
Meanwhile, Kairos observed Tartuk and noticed that the arcane runes around him were nonsensical. Casting Detect Magic confirmed that Tartuk either possessed magic far stronger than hers or was not magical at all.
Djames returned with the kobolds, ready for battle. Kairos and Djames began their assault, Djames using Lingering Composition and Courageous Anthem, amplified through Bullhorn. Chief Sootscale charged in from the back entrance, clubbing Tartuk’s bodyguard. The guard in the cage managed to break free, grabbing a spear and attacking Chief Sootscale. Kobolds loyal to the chief rushed in, delivering non-lethal damage to preserve the warriors, and quickly subdued the bodyguard.
As the kobolds attacked Tartuk, he responded with rage, demoralizing one by invoking the curse of Old Sharptooth. Another kobold attacked with a slingshot while Tartuk mocked them. Lizzy entered from the backline, casting Slashing Gust, and Kairos landed a critical spellstrike while still invisible, dealing massive damage.
Tartuk, now panicked, cursed at Kairos and Lizzy, shouting that he would one day get rid of them and questioning why they sided with “losers.” In a final act of defiance, Tartuk used a wand of Magic Missile on Lizzy and Kairos before succumbing to his injuries. As Tartuk bled out, he yelled, “For the glory of Pitax!” and transformed into his true form—Tartuccio. With his last breath, he declared, “Zozraeel will avenge me.” However, Lizzy stabilized him before he died, and we restrained him with manacles.
Looting Tartuk’s belongings, we found:
- Level 1 Wand of Force Barrage (claimed by Kairos)
- Shiny metal sickle (cold iron)
- Book written in Zakphrot
- Miscellaneous shiny but worthless objects
- Broken weapons and armor
- 320 copper, 42 silver, 12 gold
- 2 Sleep arrows
- +1 Weapon Potency Runestone
- Soiled leather bag
- 21 silver
- 9 gold
- 1 platinum (Lizzy)
- 1 dose of magic powder (Dust of Appearance, unidentified)
- Plain wedding ring, set with a single pearl
As we finished, the bodyguards regained consciousness. Chief Sootscale, overjoyed with our help, rewarded us with 40 gold. Lizzy also received a broken statue of Old Sharptooth from the Sootscales, with the promise that it would not be repaired. She left a piece with Chief Sootscale to ensure the statue would remain incomplete.
Djames negotiated with the Sootscales, securing their interest in becoming potential allies and part of our future kingdom. Chief Sootscale was pleased with the completion of the quests: defeating the mitflits, defeating Tartuk, and ending the curse of Old Sharptooth. We now have the option to use the “Pledge of Fealty” kingdom activity to formalize the alliance.
Tartuk/Tartuccio was arrested for working against the interests of the Stolen Lands expedition and Lady Jamandi Aldori, and we plan to deliver him to Brevoy. Lizzy, meanwhile, played with the local kobold children.
As we prepared to leave, Djames tasked Mic-Mac with starting a kobold militia. However, it will take months to train them and equip them with weapons and armor. The kobolds will also need time to recover their numbers and rebuild the Sootscale Cave, but they will eventually mine ore for us.
Summary
- We discuss strategy with Chief Sootscale at the Sootscale Cave over lunch
- We first mislead one of the guards away from Tartuk with a ruse by Djames and Lizzy. Djames disguises himself as a purple kobold, claiming to be from the west, while Lizzy lures the guard into a cell
- We fight Tartuk, and win
Loot:
From Tartuk’s loot pile:
- 12 gold, 42 silver, 320 copper
- Level 1 Wand of Force Barrage (claimed by Kairos).
- Cold Iron Sickle
- Book written in Zakphrot.
- Miscellaneous shiny objects (worthless).
- Broken weapons and armor (only useful for crafting level 0 and level 1 items).
- 2 Sleep arrows.
- +1 Weapon Potency Rune From soiled leather bag:
- 9 gold, 21 silver
- 1 platinum, which was claimed by Lizzy
- 1 dose of Dust of Appearance (unidentified) As a reward from Chief Sootscale:
- 40 gold
7 Pharast 4710
The party set out on their journey toward Oleg’s Trading Post. The day passed peacefully as the group navigated dense forest trails, taking time to map the region and avoid dangerous terrain. Camp was made under clear skies with high spirits.
8 Pharast 4710
Careful to stay on course, the party avoided lingering too long and pressed on towards Oleg’s Trading Post. Progress was steady, and the party used the evening hours to refine their plans and prepare for their return to Oleg’s.
9 Pharast 4710
The party reached familiar roads leading back to Oleg’s Trading Post. By evening, they were within a day’s travel of their destination, eager to report their progress and resupply for the challenges ahead.
10 Pharast 4710
Upon arriving at Oleg’s Trading Post, Kairos made sure we avoided notice while Lizzy foraged along the way, finding 11 special ingredients.
As we neared the post, we noticed a tent camp outside, displaying banners and crests from Brevoy, as well as a flag with a hammer, which Kairos suspected indicated the presence of dwarves. The camp was occupied by four armored mercenaries and a nobleman. After observing the camp, Kairos returned and described the scene. Djames recognized the nobleman as Kesten Garess, a disowned member of House Garess, ousted from Brevoy’s nobility due to a relationship with a lower noblewoman.
We passed through the mercenary camp, receiving sour looks from the mercenaries, particularly from Kesten, who seemed to glare at Leonardo. Lizzy, however, went straight to Oleg to check on the gifts she had ordered. The horses Lizzy had arranged for the party had arrived, as well as the messenger bird she had ordered for Djames. Oleg, slightly exasperated, mentioned he had kept the bird in the barn because its squawking had been driving him mad.
Oleg also handed out several rewards from Brevoy, recognizing our completed quests. These included a reward for dealing with the kobold threat and completing the “Wanted: Bandits” quest, earning us 30 gold. Kairos took charge of the bookkeeping and handled the rewards while Lizzy approached Svetlana, though Djames stopped her for a moment.
Lizzy visited the horses, checking on their condition. The horses, well cared for by Oleg, mentioned that a woman, blonde and dressed in light colors, had visited them daily to brush them. Lizzy realized it was Svetlana. Meanwhile, Lizzy retrieved the gift for Djames, a raven, and asked Kairos to distract Djames.
As this unfolded, Kesten entered the trading post and inquired about our ability to solve problems, mentioning that he had heard from Oleg about our successes. Kesten explained that one of his hirelings, Falgrim Sneeg, had deserted his mercenary band and joined the Stag Lord’s crew, stealing from Kesten in the process. He asked us to capture Sneeg alive, offering a reward of three common +1 Striking weapons or one if Sneeg was brought back dead. Kairos tried to negotiate for Sneeg to supply the kobolds with armor and weapons, but Kesten refused.
Lizzy then went to see Svetlana and gave her the moon radishes, also asking for a beautiful ribbon to present the raven as a gift for Djames. She returned Svetlana’s wedding ring, explaining where it had been found, and inquired about purple dye. Svetlana mentioned that Jhod Kavken sometimes passed through and might know of a temple nearby where purple flowers grew, though tracking him down would require finding his Druidic markers in the forest.
Lizzy then went to the animal pen to retrieve the raven, which squawked in protest at being confined in the barn. She tied a bright blue ribbon around the bird, promising that Djames would remove it if the raven didn’t like it. Svetlana was thrilled to have her ring returned and showed it to Oleg, giving credit to Lizzy for recovering it.
Lizzy brought the raven to Djames, and after it circled above him, it landed on his head, expecting to perch on his arm like a trained bird. Djames named the bird “Northern Mail Services,” shortened to “Noor,” and cleaned the raven, who seemed to appreciate the ribbon now that it was properly tied. Lizzy told Djames it was a gift, and after reading a message attached to the raven, Djames became emotional. Lizzy, confused by Djames’ feelings, hugged him as hard as they ever had before.
Afterward, Lizzy revealed that she had more gifts for the party. We headed to the horse pen, where four new horses awaited us:
- A white Tinker horse for Lizzy, named Cookie.
- A black Frisian horse for Djames, named Jet.
- A black Arabian horse for Kairos, named Tempo.
- A white Thoroughbred horse for Leonardo.
Oleg also rewarded us with 15 gold for the moon radishes and promised 50 gold in store credit for recovering Svetlana’s ring. We used the credit to purchase a Sterling Artisan’s Kit for Lizzy.
Summary
- We travel back to Oleg’s trading post
- We meet Kersten Garess and his mercenary band. He gives us a quest to return Falgrim Sneeg, preferably alive.
- We deliver the moon radishes and wedding ring to Svetlana
- We retrieve the horses we ordered on 3 Pharast 4710
- Lizzy hands Djames his new gift, a messenger raven named Noor
Loot:
From returning the moon radishes: