Session 167 - Crab Meat

General Summary

7^th and 11^th of Nuzyael (First Month of Spring) 724TR

The story so far

Antin, art by Artbreeder

The heroes have rescued the merchant Antin Alveri from a pack of eye-eating monsters. One of his family's ships was lost at sea, sadly, with his brother on board.

He has recently received word that the wreck may have been found on the coast off Agrik's Cauldron, a large dangerous reef west of Sarkum. He has hired the party to recover his brother's remains and the family signet ring. This ring is enchanted, and he gives the heroes a magical wand of Detect Magic to help them find it.

This is the continuation of Session 165 - Auspicious Beginnings.

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Location - Castle of Sarkum in the Kingdom of Kanday.

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Part 1 - The Hanging Tree

The heroes enter the Barony of Sarkum. At a crossroads, they pass a small hill with a tall tree towering above any other in the area. Hanging from it are half a dozen rotting corpses. Speaking with a teamster hauling distinctive red granite blocks from the nearby quarry, the heroes learn that local lords have taken up hanging bandits and ship wreakers as a warning.

Not wanting to become similar examples, the heroes ask the merchant Antin for a letter permitting them to salvage from his lost ship.

Part 2 - The Looter

Troka, art by Attacus

At Sarkum the party stays at the Crooked Man Inn, named after its grotesquely shaped Hunchback owner Tokra Soltil. The Inn is of average quality; however, Tokra turns out to be a cheerful and excellent host.

Unfortunately, some drunk out-of-town roughs make fun of Tokra's appearance, and the locals come to his defenses then a barroom brawl quickly erupts. The party takes the side of the locals, and even the enraged and massively strong Tokra joins in. The ruffians are subdued and thrown out of the Inn. Remy takes this opportunity to pick their pockets, gaining enough coins to reinforce his thick leather jacket.

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Location - Wreckers Coast, west of Sarkum in the Kingdom of Kanday.

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Part 3 - Slimy Predators

A few days later, the heroes head off searching for the wreck of the Azurlan's Pride using directions provided by Antin. Odin navigates the heroes through the Turmale Hills, passing through heath and scrubland, skillfully avoiding various natural hazards. He notes three patches of darkened materials on the mat of vegetation they are walking over. Suddenly dark grey pseudopods emerge from patches striking at the heroes, especially those with metal armor and weapons. The heroes bash the Grey Oozes with their wooden weaponry, and they are soon splattered.

Part 4 - The Wreck

Eventually, the heroes locate the wreck. It has broken in two with the bow on the beach and the stern partially submerged. There is evidence that the wreck has already been looted. With only a couple of hours of sunlight, they start exploration. At dusk, they spot large crabs approaching. These feisty crustaceans, with one arm much larger than the other, attempt to clamp their large arm around the heroes. Nevertheless, these aggressive Garrotter Crabs are no match for the heroes and become dinner.

The next day the heroes continue their search, investigating the partially submerged ship's bow. Remy, who knows ships, locates the owner's cabin and detects a small glow of magic in the silt. Unfortunately, before he can investigate further hungry Reef Sharks have found them. The heroes make a rapid retreat and drive them off with well-placed arrow shots on the sharks that ventured too close to the surface. Returning to the ruined cabin, Remy finds the skeleton of Antin Alveri's brother, identified by his magic family signet ring still on his bony finger. The party recovers the bones and the ring and returns to their camp for the night.

Part 5 - Eaters of Fungi

Ringo, art by Attacus

On the way back to Sarkum, the heroes note bones near a rocky outcrop. Abbadon examines the closely finding they are relatively fresh and covered in traces of a strange fungal material. The earth beneath the heroes begins to vibrate, and bizarre starfish-like creatures emerge from the ground. Thrikra, the Bane of Fungi, are rare Ivashu, which create blasts of sound. The party is hard-pressed, narrowly win against the strangely aggressive creature. Thrika's are usually solitary and avoid human contact.

Odin discovers some footprints, one of a man and another giant-sized, similar to an ogre or troll. The trail is hard to follow, and curiously, the large "troll-like" creature tracks seem to disappear abruptly. Nevertheless, Odin is up to the challenge, and the heroes decide to follow the mysterious man's trail.

To be continued.

NPC Interactions

Antin Alveri - the merchant.

Tokra Soltil - the hunchback inn keeper.

Challenges Overcome

Barroom brawl with 4 Thugs.

3 Grey Oozes.

6 Garroter Crabs

4 Reef Sharks

3 Thrikra.

Created Content

Agrik's Cauldron.

The Crooked Man Inn.

Related Reports

Thrikra - the Bane of Fungi.

Player Character Status

Odin - Human - Level 2 Ranger.

Abaddon - Elf - Level 2 Monk.

Remy - Half-Elf - Level 2 Bladesinger.

Campaign

Games of the Gods - Campaign On Hold

Protagonists

Remy

Abaddon

Odin

Report Date

15 Aug 2021