Rivals in the Under Crypt

The Half-Dead City

Session 4 Part 2

The Gunslinger Tabitha Gale
by bcpstudio

Roll Call:

Visceral, a broad-shouldered, half-orc Dark Knight who wields a wicked orcish double-ax
Tabitha Gale, a slight, young human Musket Master from across the sea
Katakama Iga-Ryu, an exiled Ninja from Tian Xia
Xavos Darksun, a half-elven Summoner from Varisia

Having surprised the Mighty Ebon Lions, the skeletal champions rushed forward, with their leader causing a grievous injury on the half-orc Visceral. Under threat of a heavy attack, the Lions retreated back down the hall to set up a defensive position. The skeletons followed, but their leader remained at the back magically sending his spear flying into continue the attack. After several rounds of tense combat, the Lions wore down their opponents and finished them off. Collecting the Skeletal Leader's magical spear, they continued on through the under halls.

After a little more searching, Katakama came across a group of adventurers looting the place - adventurers they recognized as the Scorched Hand, led by one Velriana Hypaxes. When Katakama was spotted sneaking around, he tired to engage in conversation and negotiate with the rival band. Unfortunately, Velriana was having none of it and demanded that the Lions turn over any loot they found, for she believed as followers of Nethys, it was their right to claim all that lie within the temple. As Katakama and Visceral stayed to negotiate and buy time, the rest of the group tried to sneak around behind the Scorched Hand and engage them from two sides.

Velriana Hypaxes
by bcpstudio

Combat was joined from two fronts and the battle was fierce. Aziz, the Scorched Hand's wizard magically greased the entrance that Sir Pounce, Xavos, and Tabitha were trying to enter and lit it on fire with a flaming sphere, causing massive damage to Sir Pounce. Idorri, the Scorched Hand's muscle, tripped Sir Pounce with her Khopesh which landed him further in the flames and forced Xavos to send him back to his home plane.

Meanwhile Katakama and Visceral entered from their side and began hacking into Khelru (the Hand's cleric) and Aziz. It wasn't long before Visceral's merciless pounding brought the cleric low. A couple of well placed shots from Tabitha soon felled Idorri as well. Xavos summoned a fire elemental which took to burning Velriana and Katakama took out Aziz after being hit with a shocking grasp spell. Velriana continued to fight on despite being the only one conscious and managed to fire off a couple of scorching rays before Tabitha put a bullet through her skull and dropped her dead.

The Lions bound the unconscious members of the Scorched Hand, looted their magic and prepared to leave the Sanctum. On their way out, they came across a secret room which housed a statue. The statue looked like it at one time wore a mask, but it had recently been removed. After consulting the tablet they had found earlier, it was guessed that the mask was the dangerous artefact alluded to therein. Upon questioning, the Scorched Hand admitted to no knowledge of the secret room or the mask. It appeared as though a third party had entered the Sanctum before everyone else and taken off with the artefact.

Not ones to be daunted, the Mighty Ebon Lions headed back to the living city of Wati to catalogue their finds and prepare for a princely haul at the auction to be held later that week. There were more than a few itchy fingers in the group that wanted to use their newly won gold to purchase items of powerful magic.

A Hot Night at the Hookah

The Half-Dead City

Session 2 Part 1

The Mighty Ebon Lions' Half-Elven Summoner
Xavos Darksun and his eidolon Sir Pounce.
by bcpstudio

Roll Call:

Visceral, a broad-shouldered, half-orc Dark Knight who wields a wicked orcish double-ax

Tabitha Gale, a slight, young human Musket Master from across the sea
Katakama Iga-Ryu, an exiled Ninja from Tian Xia
Xavos Darksun, a half-elven Summoner from Varisia
Rogan Josh, a frail, dark-skinned human Oracle of Time 

After returning to the City of the Living, the Mighty Ebon Lions stored their loot at the Tooth & Hookah, leaving Rogan Josh to guard over it. Rather than sell all their loot right away, they decided to hold off and try their luck at making more money on it in an upcoming auction they heard about. They then went their separate ways to purchase any new equipment and supplies they thought they might need for their next foray into the necropolis.

When night fell, they returned to the Tooth & Hookah, finding it filled with other adventuring bands sharing their exploits and victories, all trying to outdo one another in the tale spinning. A large board behind the bar could be seen through the haze of hookah smoke listing off the 20 adventuring bands who set out into the necropolis that morning. Three of the names had already been crossed off, having met nefarious ends inside the necropolis. One such group, the Hell Knights of Cheliax, were rumoured to have been torn apart by a pack of ghouls in the very streets.

Through their various interactions, the members of the Mighty Ebon Lions were able to figure out that Mad Murran the Halfling had found a magical longsword at the cost of several of his beloved war dogs, Velriana Hypaxes was asking all those who would listen if they had been assigned a place called The Sanctum of the Erudite Eye to investigate, the Linnorm bard Sigurn Firehair was only here to pen an epic tale of her group's triumphs, and that the Crypt Takers were all full of bluster about what they had actually done in the necropolis.

The morning came quickly, and some were quicker to rise than others after a hard night of drinking and carousing. When the Lions had finally gathered all their members (minus Rogan Josh, who once again stayed behind to guard their loot), they headed off to the Grand Mausoleum where the Pharismin clergy presented them with their next assignment: the investigation of a manor house of some unknown minor noble. Sebti the Crocodile asked if the group would find out as much as they could about who lived there and what happened to them and report back to the scribes at the Mausoleum.

The Mighty Ebon Lions once again approached the gates to the necropolis, yet this time they were only greeted by a handful of grim-faced Pharsamin guards. No fanfare accompanied their second journey, no crowds of people. The celebratory atmosphere of their first foray was nowhere to be seen. Only the grim-faced Voices of the Spire who nodded silently as they opened the gates and let the Lions pass.

A Gathering of Lions

The Half-Dead City

Session 1 Part 1

Roll Call:

Visceral, a broad-shouldered, half-orc Dark Knight who wields a wicked orcish double-ax

Tabitha Gale, a slight, young human Musket Master from across the sea
Katakama Iga-Ryu, an exiled Ninja from Tian Xia
Xavos Darksun, a half-elven Summoner from Varisia
Rogan Josh, a frail, dark-skinned human Oracle of Time 

The Mighty Ebon Lions
by bcpstudio

It was a dry, sun-soaked day in late Desnus when the Mighty Ebon Lions stepped off the merchant cog the Sunset Empires and into the bustling Osirion city of Wati. The ship's captain Eton Shadwicke, a short Varisian with a face like a bulldog led them through the throngs of people in the dusty streets of the Veins to the cool confines of the Tooth and Hookah, a local inn and watering hole.

When they arrived, Shadwicke quickly made himself comfortable on a soft satin pillow, wiped his sweaty jowls with a kerchief, and ordered a decanter of pomegranate wine from a dusky young woman in a white linen dress. Shadwicke then informed the group that they had the rest of the day to buy supplies and prepare for their descent into the necropolis the next morning. He also let slip that he would be much appreciative if they would allow him to purchase from them any Osirion artifacts of historical significance they might find on their expeditions.

The next morning, the Mighty Ebon Lions stood shoulder to shoulder beneath the rune-engraved walls of Wati’s necropolis with no less than 20 other bands of sellswords, mercenaries, and intrepid scholars looking to plumb its depths. Merchants, craftsmen, entertainers, and other city-dwellers had gathered in huge droves as well, giving the whole ceremony a festival-like atmosphere.

Beneath the walls, a wooden dais was erected with a wide awning above it. Sebti the Crocodile, a stern-looking high priestess of Pharasma with bluish lips and a purple-hooded robe sat on the dais. Flanking the high priestess were two servants in white linen dresses. At the front of the dais stood Ptemenib, another priest in the service of the Lady of Graves, sweat glistening off his shaven pate even at this early hour.

As the crowd watched in anticipation, Ptemenib drew a coin from a leather sack and called out “The Dog Soldiers”. After a brief bit of commotion, a drunken halfling parted the crowd and stumbled forward. Ptemenib drew another coin from a different sack and whispered the location the Dog Soldiers were given to investigate. The doors of the necropolis creaked open and The Dog Soldiers, a group of rowdy halflings with ill-tempered war dogs strode into the necropolis.

The process was repeated, and Velriana Hypaxes, the leader of a group called the Scorched Hand was called next. She was a dour, slender woman in a wide-brimmed hat, who wore a holy symbol of Nethys around her neck. She strode up to the dais and in turn was given the location of their first investigation. There was a brief argument on the dais – no one could tell about what – before Velrianna stormed down off the dais and led her company through the yawning gates into the necropolis.

Once again, Ptemenib reached into the leather sack and pulled out a coin. In his strong, clear voice he called out the Mighty Ebon Lions. Rogan Josh ascended the dais, leaning heavily on his staff, his weak legs wobbling feebly beneath him.

“A bit sickly to be entertaining a trip into the tombs, aren’t you?” asked Ptemenib.

“In time, we all grow weak and feeble. Those of us so cursed at an early age are free to contemplate the mysteries of life that are beyond the physical,” replied the oracle.

“As you wish,” Ptemenib responded. “Take your band to the Tomb of Akhentepi. It is clearly marked on the map. Whatever discoveries you should make, the church would be most grateful if you shared them with us. Particularly those of a historical nature.”

Rogan Josh nodded to indicate he understood, but did not respond. He gathered himself and re-joined the party. As the gates once again crept open, the Mighty Ebon Lions strode valiantly through and into the necropolis, leaving the world of the living behind.