Session 45
Tyrian Conspiracy 4
Tyrian Conspiracy 4
As the elves and thri-kreen engaged in battle, the group found themselves facing off against Thaxos and his companions. Ashar Troika, the human warrior and head of House Troika, wielded a steel sword and shield while clutching a potion of fire breath. Cratek Skullsplitter, an imposing Mul gladiator, brandished a bloody carrikal. Derlan Watari, a deadly halfling assassin, remained hidden until striking with his bow. Nadar, the human caravan master, rushed in wielding his tortoise blade. T'Taka hurled his chatka, while Mario, the spore druid, utilized his healing word and summoned creatures to protect the group. Rexar positioned himself at the rear, firing arrows at the enemies, while Magnamus unleashed his fearsome mental powers to blast and stun their adversaries.
Throughout the battle, the group was periodically stunned by a mysterious mental power whenever they grouped together. It was a hard-fought conflict in which Cratek, Nadar, and Ashar were eventually incapacitated. Derlan seized the opportunity to flee, leaving Thaxos to surrender to the group's might.
Arrows soared through the air, slicing through the desert breeze with deadly accuracy. Chatkchas spun towards their intended targets, while those elves not engaged in melee combat with the thri-kreen unleashed volley upon volley of arrows at the mantis warriors. Everywhere around them, thri-kreen fell victim to the elven onslaught, their insectoid forms torn apart by the relentless barrage of arrows. Any elf unfortunate enough to come within reach of the kreen's melee range was ripped apart by the ferocious claws and gythkas of their enemies. The sand dunes had turned into a slaughter ground of elves and thri-kreen warriors, but the elves held the upper hand through their sheer strength in numbers.
Finally, the last thri-kreen fell as a dozen elven arrows pierced its chitin, and the mantis warrior sank to its knees before collapsing in the red-tainted sands. The elves cried out in triumph as victory was achieved.
Now, the attention of the elves turned to the group. They found themselves surrounded, with eager elven voices whispering on top of the dunes about the most interesting ways to dispatch them.
The elven leader gazed down upon them with discontent, her gaze shifting from the fallen comrades to the slaughtered kreen amidst which the group stood. Raising her hand, she silenced the murmurs of her warriors before addressing the group in a cold tone.
"I can order your deaths with a single word or motion of my wrist," she declared. "However, you have freed me from my debt to the one called Nadar. For that, I will spare your lives. Leave by the road you came. Take nothing with you from the fallen, for what they carry is compensation for my warriors who died today. Do not look back before the sun sets beyond the mountains to the west."
With a sense of relief, the group gathered the body of Tectilith and their prisoner Thaxos, and hastily made their escape along the road they had traveled, mindful not to take anything from the fallen as they departed, as instructed by the elven leader.
When they were far enough away, Thaxos spoke, his tone tinged with a casual calmness. "So, what is in it for you?" The aging trader asked, shifting his weight as he leaned on one leg. "How much are they offering, the Council and my treacherous cousin?" He paused, his gaze piercing. "I have not long to live. My dreams have been shattered. Let me go. I will pay you well. Or even better – come work for me. I will make you richer than beyond your wildest dreams. Steel, gold, gems, art, women, whatever you want at your disposal."
Thaxos had their attention now, his words weaving a tempting offer. "You can be senators, pampered nobles, templars, whatever you want. You can be as active or passive as you like. We can change Tyr for the better. The people know this. The Council and its members are desperately clinging to their power. Tyr needs a king – a strong king. A just king. One that listens to his subjects. Don’t you agree? Let me go now. Give me one of your mounts."
Unbeknownst to them, the last two sentences were part of a psionic manifestation. Thaxos employed psionic suggestion to influence the group into letting him go. However, once Thaxos disappeared from sight, they realized their mistake and set off after him, determined to rectify their error.
After a long chase with no rest, they finally caught up to their quarry. Both groups spotted each other from far away. Thaxos was with Derlan, the assassin who rained arrows down upon the group. Thaxos cowered, and Rexar fled briefly in panic. Meanwhile, the rest of the group closed the distance, determined to apprehend their targets.
Derlan attempted to flee, dropping his bow and a burlap sack in his haste. Mario paused to pick up the dropped bag, only to be attacked by four golden scorpions that emerged from within. Derlan managed to flee down a nearby canyon, utilizing his magical slippers to aid his escape. However, Magnamus quickly summoned his giant owl and gave chase, determined to catch the fleeing assassin.
As Derlan ran up the far side of the canyon, T'Taka hurled more chatka at him, aiming to impede his progress. Just as Derlan reached the top, a final well-aimed throw from T'Taka brought him down, permanently ending the pursuit.
Rexar found Thaxos hiding in the shrubs, cowering in fear, while the rest of the group pursued Derlan. Without hesitation, Rexar swiftly bound Thaxos and relieved him of his magical cloak, ring, steel short sword, and a small steel box adorned with runes.
Following a brief discussion with Thaxos, Rexar attempted to examine the runes on the box. However, to his surprise and dismay, the runes suddenly exploded in his face, obliterating the box and causing a minor commotion.
As the group returned, Hamur swiftly intervened, delivering a decisive blow that rendered Thaxos unconscious, ending the immediate threat he posed.
With troops looming on the horizon, the group wonders if the Vordon patriarch has somehow managed to summon his own forces. However, upon closer inspection, they realize that the approaching troops bear the flag of the city - it is the Tyrian guard, led by Captain Zalcor. A welcome sight amidst the desert wastes, Zalcor rides ahead of his troops and orders them to halt. He then advances to greet the group and inspect their quarry.
"I knew you would succeed, my brave friends," Zalcor declares, addressing the group. Turning his attention to Thaxos, he adds, "Tell me, Lord Thaxos, how does it feel to know your plans have been foiled as your life nears its end?" However, the wrinkled old man offers no reply, only meeting Zalcor's gaze with a stoic expression.
Suddenly, Zalcor's demeanor changes. With lightning-quick reflexes, he draws his sword and slashes across Thaxos's chest, leaving a red trail. "Don’t even think about using your telepathic powers on me, old man," Zalcor warns, his voice tinged with a steely resolve. He then orders his guards to restrain Thaxos and administer the punishment of the agony beetle, a fate that many of Thaxos's former enemies have endured.
Thaxos is quickly restrained by Zalcor's men, and a cage filled with numerous specimens of the infamous agony beetle is brought forth. The old tradelord's agonizing screams soon fill the air, echoing across the dunes as the group turns away, their task now completed. Thaxos Vordon will be brought back to Tyr and convicted in the courts of law.
A trial was conducted in the courts of Tyr, where Thaxos stood accused and was found guilty of conspiracy against the City of Tyr, along with charges of conspiracy to commit murder and several other crimes. The aging trader faced the consequences of his actions and was subsequently executed. As the truth about Tyr’s apparent savior unraveled, the group found themselves hailed as heroes by the public.
In recognition of their heroism, each member of the group received a token and proof in the form of a bronze scepter with an engraved obsidian ball mounted on the top. Additionally, they were rewarded with the real estate property that belonged to House Troika, including their headquarters, as the house had only leased its warehouses.
Furthermore, Talara Vordon assumed the role of the next head of House Vordon, becoming a powerful friend and ally to the group. As a gesture of gratitude, the group received a substantial reward consisting of privileges, magic items, and coin. Their actions had not only brought justice to the city but had also forged lasting connections and rewards for their future endeavors.