Session 67

Cromlin and Beyond

Chapter 1:Gidewei's Goodbye

As the first light of dawn broke over the horizon, the group stirred from their rest, only to find Gidewei standing apart, his gaze fixed on the distant east. The usual fire in his eyes was absent, replaced by a haunted, faraway look. They called out to him, their voices laced with concern, but he didn’t respond. It was as if he were trapped in some invisible trance.

Finally, with a sharp shake of his head, Gidewei seemed to snap back to the present. His eyes, now shadowed with a burden he didn’t share, met theirs. “I can’t go with you any further,” he said, his voice heavy with an unspoken sorrow. “I must return to Altaruk.”

The weight of his words hung in the air as he silently gathered his belongings. Without offering any explanation or farewells, Gidewei turned and walked away, leaving his companions behind, their minds filled with confusion and unspoken questions.

Chapter 2: Arrival to Cromlin

After their solemn departure with Gidewei, the group arrived safely and refreshed at Cromlin. The village, surrounded by a stone wall, concealed much from view, but the lively sounds within—traders hawking wares, arguments, laughter, the song of a drunk, and the calls of crodlu—hinted at the bustling life inside. As they reached the gates, a bored guard waved them through.

The village was alive with activity, a stark contrast to the desolation of the desert trail. They passed houses made of baked-silt bricks, noting the variety of people in the shadowy doorways: tall elves, wide-shouldered muls, stocky dwarves, and scruffy humans. All wore scarves across their faces, their eyes silently assessing the newcomers.

Shopkeepers struggled to sweep the endless silt from the streets, the wind constantly undoing their efforts. In the distance, the Sea of Silt loomed, its gray vastness barely visible beyond Cromlin’s pier. As they watched a skimmer roll up to the dock, they paused to get their bearings in this strange new place.

Chapter 3: Village Toughs

As they entered the bustling merchant square, a group of elves suddenly stepped into their path, their faces half-hidden by scarves. The leader of the group, his voice smooth but his eyes glinting with malice, greeted them, "What brings you to Cromlin, friends?" he inquired, his tone deceptively warm. "You've come at a bad time. The wells have run dry, and House Shom has closed them to everyone. But if you need water, I can get you all you need—for two silver per tun."

Karnos, eager to strike a deal, nodded in agreement, but the others felt a nagging sense of unease and decided against it. As they turned to leave, the elves dispersed into the crowd. It wasn't until moments later, when Shank instinctively checked his purse, that the full realization hit—his single gold coin was gone. The elves, with their feigned friendliness, had robbed them in plain sight.

Chapter 4: House Shom Warehouse

The group located the large walled warehouse with an oasis and approached cautiously. As they drew near, a sentry patrol of House Shom guards intercepted them, informing them that the area was off-limits. When they inquired about the status of the water, the guards confirmed that the well was indeed operational and that water could be purchased from the market, exposing the elves' deception.

Shank, indignant at the revelation, urged the guards to pursue the thieving elves. The guards, however, merely chuckled and shrugged. "Only if we catch them in the act, not on words alone," they replied dismissively. "You should know better than to trust in elves."

Chapter 5: In the Market

The group made their way to the bustling market, intent on resupplying and seeking out items of interest. Amid the throng of traders and wares, Shank decided to use his magical cap, summoning a rat in hopes of pilfering some small valuables. With a sly grin, he watched the first rat scurry off into the chaos, only for it to vanish without a trace. Undeterred, he summoned a second, but it too disappeared, leaving him empty-handed. Frustration simmered beneath his cool exterior as he realized his scheme had failed, the market’s chaos swallowing his efforts whole.

Chapter 6: Meeting with Hurdll Crost

Anvar, eager to sell his healing potions, approached Hurdll Crost, the stern master of House Shom. After a brief negotiation, Crost granted him a license on a clay tablet, but not without a catch—a 10% seller's fee on each sale. As they discussed business, Crost's eyes narrowed with a shrewd proposition. He revealed that silt pirates had been wreaking havoc on the skimmers between Break Shore and Cromlin, cutting into his profits. The silt shoals were always perilous, but now they were threatening his trade routes, making the village's very existence less worthwhile.

"I despise losing money," Crost declared, his voice edged with frustration. "Without the silt skimmer traffic, this trading village wouldn't be worth maintaining."

He then offered the group a job, a chance to turn the tides in his favor. They could serve as guards on Firewind, the flagship of House Shom’s silt skimmer fleet. "Five silver a day to protect Firewind on its next voyage," he proposed, his tone indicating it was more of a challenge than a request. "The trip along the shoals to Break Shore, drop off goods, pick up cargo, and bring it back here. Captain Gaff and his crew will manage the skimmer. Your job is to handle the pirates if they dare to attack. It’s a five-day journey to Break Shore, two days to wait, and five days back. Complete it, and you’ll each earn 60 silver pieces."

The offer was tempting but the group felt they could not take so much time away from their quest but that they might come back later.

Chapter 7: The Dirty Lizard

Anvar went to the market to sell his potions, while the rest of the group headed to The Dirty Lizard, a notorious local bar. As they entered, the adventurers were met with harsh glares, loud insults, and rough treatment. Despite their initial attempts to avoid confrontation, tensions quickly escalated. Shiv and Shank, unable to hold back, started a brawl. The room erupted into chaos as chairs flew, ceramic bottles shattered, and Shank knocked out a man with a series of powerful slaps. Safi scanned the scene for any signs of leadership but found none, while Karnos, trying to restore order, was met with laughter and more provocation before he too joined the fray.

Shiv grabbed a chair and, with a deft move involving Karnos, swung it at an opponent's head. Amidst the mayhem, bar maidens, accustomed to such rowdiness, handed out drinks to the fighters, trying to diffuse the situation. Between hearty backslaps from the patrons, the group learned some valuable gossip. House M’ke was rumored to have an interest in Cromlin, and if House Shom faltered, Cromlin might face severe changes. The bar’s patrons mentioned that both houses were hiring extra guards for trips across the silt shoals, hinting at undisclosed dangers.

The conversation turned to Hurdll Crost, the Master Trader of House Shom, who was reputed to hoard vast wealth in his warehouse, though the locals did not trust him. A drunken dwarf named Passk, once seen at the bar, had claimed to possess a map of Giustenal’s walls and had boasted about avoiding the tar pits. There were tales of the Caller, a malevolent entity associated with the ruins of Giustenal, said to be deadly to those who hear it. The drunken dwarf, a former pirate and possibly a member of Passk's crew, lived in a shack by the sea and might hold further clues.

Chapter 8: Finding Passk

The group, now without Anvar, located a dwarf in a ramshackle hut near the shore of the Silt Sea. The dwarf was profoundly intoxicated, making it a challenge to communicate with him. His most common responses were mumbled demands for a drink and disjointed questions about who they were and what they wanted. When the party mentioned the Veiled Alliance, Passk's recognition was immediate. “I’ve helped the Veil before,” he confessed.

If they pressed him about Passk, the dwarf responded with, “Oh, he’s not dead. Not yet, anyway. I’m Passk, pirate captain without a crew.” Mention of Giustenal sparked a flicker of recognition in his eyes, quickly shadowed by a pained expression. “Why dredge up that old wound?” he grumbled. When pressed further, Passk recounted his grim tale.

“Do you know what a focus is?” Passk slurred. “Mine’s a mekillot’s load and a half. We were sailing the shoals near Giustenal when the Caller’s cursed song began. I woke to find my first mate, Logi, slaughtering my crew. She had killed everyone except me, as she’d started at the other end of the skimmer. I fought her off, though she dropped her blade. She screamed at the ruins of Giustenal and dove into the silt, disappearing into the darkness. I vowed to return to destroy the Caller, but my skimmer was wrecked on the shore, and I never made it back to Cromlin. Now I drink to keep the madness at bay. Going to Giustenal? That’s suicide.”

As Passk’s tale concluded, Shallovar of the Veiled Alliance arrived. With renewed purpose, the group agreed to assist Passk in repairing his ship and set sail for Giustenal, driven by the promise of confronting the mysterious Caller and uncovering the secrets of the ruined city.

Chapter 9: In the Silt Sea

After four days of intensive repair and provisioning, the silt skimmer was finally ready to set sail. Anvar had been unsuccessful in selling his potions. As the skimmer approached the shore for the night, Karnos suddenly blanked out and spoke in an unfamiliar language. Passk, with a worried glance at Karnos, warned, “Watch that one. He’ll turn on us in our sleep because of the voices he hears. And he’ll be itching to head for Giustenal as soon as possible.”

Deciding to secure Karnos for safety, the group began tying him to Shiv when four undead kraglings burst from the silt sea and launched an attack. Two kraglings descended on Anvar, clawing and biting him savagely. Anvar attempted to heal himself and grapple a kragling but was unsuccessful. Shallovar struck one kragling with three magic missiles. Shiv swung his hammer, striking one kragling and knocking it back five feet, then knocked another prone and grappled it, pulling it away.

Safi, wildshaped into an Athasian sloth, clawed and killed one kragling. Shank took a strategic position, landing three successive hits, including a critical strike, to kill another kragling. Fearing a fire hazard, he switched to his fist and punched a kragling. Karnos used his blasting crystal to hit a kragling, sending it reeling.

The remaining kraglings attacked, landing three blows on Shank but missing Safi. Anvar used first aid on himself and grappled one of the kraglings. Shallovar extinguished the fires caused by Shank’s earlier attacks. Shiv continued his assault, hitting a kragling twice with his hammer. Safi, still in sloth form, clawed and bit another kragling. Shank grappled a kragling and shoved it back into the silt sea. Karnos blasted the final kragling on deck, killing it.

The kragling that had been shoved over attempted to reboard and attack Karnos, but Karnos used his insubstantial ability to evade it. Shallovar then finished off the last kragling with a final barrage of magic missiles.

Chapter 10: Silt Pirates

The sun beat down relentlessly on the deck of the silt skimmer, its heat piercing through the ever-present dust. The day had been uneventful, and even the crew seemed listless. Suddenly, Shallovar’s voice cut through the monotony: “Skimmers approaching!” The group rushed to the side of the craft, peering into the swirling gray powder. Out of the haze, a fast-moving skimmer emerged, hurtling toward them!

Shiv quickly drew his shield, while Anvar, Safi, and Karnos braced themselves for any incoming attacks. An iceball from a pirate defiler rolled over their skimmer, causing immediate chaos. Shank urged Passk to close the distance and, with his bow drawn, fired three arrows, two of which found their mark. Passk maneuvered the skimmer closer to the pirates, but four ballistae from the enemy struck, two hitting Shank directly.

Wounded by the iceball, Shallovar dropped prone. Shiv prepared to fend off boarders, and Anvar applied first aid to himself while gearing up to dodge. A spell struck both Shiv and Shank, but Shiv managed to resist its effects. Safi wildshaped into an Athasian Sloth, while Karnos attempted to use his mystic nomad ability but found it thwarted.

Shank fired three arrows, all missing, and went prone, suffering psychic damage from the previous spell. Passk navigated the skimmer closer to the pirates, while Shallovar drank a potion to recover. Shiv held a magic stone ready for the enemy’s approach. Anvar used first aid and a healing scroll on Safi and Shiv.

A poisonous cloud enveloped their skimmer, killing Shallovar. Safi quickly dispelled the cloud and Karnos used his psionic ability, Accelerate, on Shank, advising him strategically. Fueled by rage and empowered by his lava feet, Shank leaped from the skimmer and dashed across the silt sea, landing on one of the pirate ships. He swiftly slaughtered three pirates with his axe. Passk guided the skimmer closer, while the pirates’ four ballistae shots went astray.

Shiv used a potion on Safi, and Anvar applied first aid and a healing potion to Safi. Another cold fireball struck their skimmer from an unseen attacker. Safi conjured a wall of fire between their skimmer and the enemy ships. Shank finished off the remaining pirates on his ship before searching for the defiler in vain. He then summoned an ash cloud to obscure the area and retreated to the skimmer.

Passk brought the skimmer closer, and Shiv threw two magical stones, killing one pirate. Anvar drank a healing potion, and Safi attempted to revivify Shallovar but found that Shallovar’s soul could not be summoned back. He then hurled a magic stone at the pirates. Karnos blasted a pirate with his crystal.

The pirates, having sustained heavy damage, decided to flee in their faster vessel. Shank, emerging from his obscuring cloud, saw them retreating and gave chase. Dashing across the silt as if it were solid ground, he was struck by two ballistae but managed to board the fleeing pirate ship, killing two more pirates before using his pyroclastic flow to obscure his retreat. The group, seeing the dangerous defiler and the fleeing ship, chose not to pursue further.

Chapter 11: A Sad Farewell

That night, the group solemnly buried Shallovar in a shallow grave, their grief palpable as they spoke words of mourning over their fallen comrade. Safi, puzzled and frustrated, struggled to understand why such powerful magic had failed to revive Shallovar. The weight of their loss hung heavy in the air.

As they wrestled with their sorrow, Safi’s senses reached out and detected a large, distant natural oasis to the south. At the same time, Karnos, deep in concentration, felt the faint but undeniable presence of a powerful psionic artifact also located in the southern direction. The knowledge of these discoveries, however, did little to ease the aching void left by Shallovar’s death.

Chapter 12: Giants in the Sea

On their third day crossing the Silt Sea, Karnos was found gazing off into the distance, his demeanor unsettlingly calm. Safi used detect thoughts but could only sense a vague contentment from Karnos, leading them to tie him up once more. The silt, thick and choking, hung heavily in the simmering air as the great sail caught the ceaseless breeze and the skimmer continued its steady advance.

Suddenly, a booming voice cut through the gray clouds, harsh and commanding. “You travel through Lyto’s land,” the voice declared. “Lyto hungry. What you got to eat?” Emerging from the swirling silt, the group saw five colossal giants approaching from all directions. Each giant wielded a spear and a massive, spiked club, their intimidating presence threatening to close the distance quickly. Realizing the imminent danger, the group decided to lower their sails and offer a portion of their supplies to appease the giants.

When questioned about Giustenal, the giant named Lyto shook his head in warning. “Don’t go there,” he growled. “The Ravager’s domain that place is.” He refused to elaborate further, leaving the adventurers with a chilling sense of foreboding.

Chapter 13: Meeting Abdaleem

On the fourth day of their journey, the silt-choked air around the skimmer had been persistently gray, but suddenly, the wind shifted, clearing the area ahead while leaving the rest shrouded in gray clouds. The crew could see clearly to the front and sides of the skimmer.

As the surface of the silt sea began to churn, a figure emerged from the fine powder. Initially appearing to be made of silt, the form gradually revealed itself as a human male, who settled atop the silt as if it were solid ground.

After a friendly exchange, Abdaleem shared valuable information about a local weed called draxia. This weed, despised by silt horrors, could be rubbed on the skin to act as a repellent for up to two hours. Although it wouldn’t be effective against full-grown silt horrors, it would deter the spawn common in Giustenal.

Abdaleem offered to trade some scroll tablets that would allow the group to move freely in the silt, in exchange for the head of the krag from the Blasted Spire. The group agreed to the deal.

Chapter 14: The Blasted Spire

A solitary tower loomed out of the drifting silt, standing forlorn against the barren landscape. Its obsidian walls, weathered and battered by time, were scarred with gaping holes and crumbling rock. Balconies jutted from the uppermost level, casting dark shadows within the foreboding interior.

As Passk maneuvered the skimmer close to the tower, a sense of impending danger gripped the group. Before they could disembark, kraglings leaped aboard and launched a vicious attack with their claws and bites. The party quickly applied wexhia weed for protection.

Safi attempted to use thorn whip on a kragling but missed. Karnos activated his psionic accelerate ability on Shiv, who then went into a rage. Shiv struck a kragling twice, delivering a critical hit that killed it before switching with Anvar and attacking another kragling. Shiv's hammer swing knocked one back, and he pursued it to deliver a killing blow.

Anvar grappled a kragling and dragged it towards his allies while the kraglings continued their assault. Safi summoned goraks to assist, who bit and clawed at the kraglings. Karnos’s attempt with his blasting crystal missed its target. Shank, fueled by fury, went into a frenzy and eliminated three more kraglings, ultimately ending the threat.

Chapter 15: Inside the spire

Approaching the tower, the group forcefully broke down the door to find an ominous figure demanding to know their purpose. Without hesitation, Safi hurled one of his magic stones. As the goraks moved closer, one fell through the silt. The krag attempted a concussive blast but was thwarted by Karnos, who then flung bone ribs at the goraks, killing two.

Shank dashed toward the krag and landed a hit before grappling it, though he missed his follow-up attack. Karnos stayed in the back, while Shiv ran in and attempted to leap across what he thought was a silt pit but misjudged and fell below. Safi tied a rope around the remaining gorak, ordering it to leap after Shiv before retreating to safety near the door.

The krag struck at Shank with three sword attacks before magically disappearing. Shank grabbed the gorak’s rope, ready to pull it up if needed. Anvar administered first aid to himself before grabbing the rope left by the gorak. Karnos positioned himself near Safi. Shiv, trapped in the silt and blind, sensed the krag nearby and swung twice, scoring one hit. He then tugged on the rope, and Shank hauled him up.

Safi prepared to use thorn whip if he saw the krag. The krag summoned a silt storm in the room and then magically appeared next to Shank, landing three more sword strikes. The group raced up to the top floor, where they found four old ballistae and a weapons rack with ruined weapons. They saw Passk's dead body on the skimmer, realizing they had left him alone with the krag. They descended to confront the krag and aid Passk.

Safi attacked first but missed with his thorn whip. Karnos’s attempt with mind seize failed. Shank closed in and struck the krag twice. Shiv hit with his hammer, and as the krag attempted to flee, Shiv used action surge to deliver the final blow, finishing off the krag.

Chapter 16: Into the Silt Basement

Shiv, his face obscured by a wet cloth, fastened a rope tightly around his waist before plunging into the silt beneath the tower. Every breath was a labor as he descended the dark, choking mass. The silt clung to him like a living entity, threatening to engulf him completely. Groping through the murky darkness, he stumbled upon a grim pile of bones. With a mixture of dread and determination, he unearthed the lifeless body of Slinnasia, along with a trove of powerful magical items and a heap of glittering coins. His exploration led him to an ominous, hidden stairwell, hinting at even deeper secrets below.

Meanwhile, Safi performed the reincarnation ritual for Passk, a solemn and intricate process. As Passk's form took shape, he emerged as a gith, his frustration evident. The once-proud pirate was now faced with an unsettling new identity, his sense of loss and confusion palpable as he grappled with his new form.

Chapter 17: Rest and an Ally

As the ship drifted away from the ominous Blasted Spire, the skies slowly cleared, revealing a rare calm after the storm. Abdaleen appeared on the deck, his arrival as sudden as it was disquieting. His gaze, sharp and discerning, settled on the Gith with an unsettling curiosity.

"You’ve done well," Abdaleem's voice resonated with authority and ancient wisdom. He handed over ten clay spell scrolls, each etched with arcane symbols that seemed to pulse with hidden power. "But tell me, who is this new Gith among you? And where is the dwarf?"

Safi, feeling the weight of Abdaleem's penetrating stare, hesitated. The memory of the krag battle and the ensuing resurrection flickered in his mind. "The dwarf... he fell to the krag," Safi confessed, his voice tinged with sorrow. "I resurrected him, but the magic... it changed him. He returned as a Gith."

Abdaleem’s eyes narrowed, the weight of Safi’s revelation sinking in. After a moment of thoughtful silence, he nodded, his demeanor softening slightly. "Such is the nature of life and death in these lands," he mused. "Come, join me on my island. You’ve endured much, and a meal and rest will do you well before you continue your journey."

With that, Abdaleem led them across the vast Sea of Silt to his private island near the ancient ruins of Giustenal. The journey was eerily silent, punctuated only by the creaking of their skimmer and distant, haunting cries of unseen creatures. The air grew thick with anticipation and the weight of recent losses as they neared the island.

Upon docking and stepping onto the gritty shore, Abdaleem guided them to a modest shack hidden among twisted trees. The hut seemed out of place in the desolate surroundings, but inside, their surprise was palpable. Fazanna, their trusted ally, sat at a small wooden table, her expression a mix of relief and concern. She rose as they entered, her gaze locking onto Safi. "I wasn’t sure if I’d find you in one piece," she said, warmth and worry intertwining in her voice.

Fazanna quickly explained, "Gidewei contacted me, saying you might need help. I tracked you to Cromlin and heard you left with a dwarf. I ran into Abdaleem, who assured me he’d bring us together after you dealt with the Krag."

Abdaleem’s eyes twinkled with a hint of amusement. "I knew you’d manage," he said.

The group exchanged hopeful glances. With the familiar presence of Fazanna and Abdaleem’s guidance, their burdens seemed lighter. Abdaleem, with a brief, appreciative smile, gestured for them to sit. "Rest now. There is much to discuss, and the path to Giustenal is fraught with peril."

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