Session 415 – The Insidious Phenomenon
General Summary
The Story So Far
Ash - An expert in the occult and a skilled monster hunter. Ash uses his talents and budding alchemical expertise to battle what people fear most for a price.
Ryobi - A monk of the embattled Order of the Warriors of Mameka. Ryobi is given an important mission: retrieve the holy blades containing the souls of his brother knights, which were lost in the recent Rethemi civil war.
They are joined by Vinzent, a bard with a morbid demeanor and a haunted past.
This is the continuation of Session 410 – A Simple Thievery Job.
20th to 30th Agrazhar (Summer) 728TR
Severan, though devious means, i.e., got the heroes to steal trade secrets, has learned that Zaraklisk's source of sponges is from the Arti Acki tribe in the eastern portion of the nearby Kingdom of Kolora. He wants to steal that business by offering the tribesman a far superior deal. However, he has learned that Zaraklisk may be offering tribute to a mysterious entity called the Insidious Phenomenon, who keeps the “Savages in line.”
The heroes have agreed to help Severan acquire this new enterprise in return for shares in his new business.
Part 1 – Angry Hippo
Severan and the trio travel by sea to the Kingdom of Kolura and the small coastal settlement of Il-Jawan. This is an administrative center for several large estates, but it has a small but thriving market. Here, the heroes ask about Zaraklisk’s business practices. They soon learn that the unscrupulous merchant purchases cheap or low-quality slaves. A local wagon driver tells them that Zaraklisk’s agents travel to a nearby Acki Bay, where they light a signal fire, which invites the Arti Acki tribes to arrive on boats and trade sponges for slaves.
The heroes and Severan travel along a rough jungle trail to the bay. Their journey is interrupted by an angry hippopotamus charging out of a water hole, which proves remarkably dangerous. However, the vicious, giant pig-like creature is killed and butchered for its meat.
Part 2 – The Tribesman
At Acki Bay, the heroes search along the coast and eventually find a huge fire pit, the remains of the signal fire. As they find dry wood, they are set upon by a swarm of dangerous army ants, but the annoying vermin are soon dispersed.
A signal fire is lit, and soon the heroes see canoes approaching. A dozen brightly clad but reserved Korlic natives arrive and are initially cautious, but Severan’s charming nature and Ash’s gift of some well-crafted custom-made hooked swords improve their mood. Severan’s negotiations go well, but the Arti Acki leader, a shifty warrior called Coffi, only wants to deal in slaves. When pressed, his response becomes almost mechanical. Vinzent is sure he and his fellow tribesmen are under a compulsion. Eventually, a deal is agreed upon, and the party will acquire two slaves and return in 5 days, much to Severan’s discomfort. The merchant, although somewhat of a rogue, disapproves of slavery and likely human sacrifice.
Part 3 – The Slave Market
The heroes return to Il-Jawan. On the way, as they pass a small river, they encounter an enormous, hungry crocodile. This ferocious reptile proves too dangerous, and the would-be snacks narrowly escape with their lives.
At the market, they purchase two sorry-looking characters: a grubby thief and a middle-aged former tradesman who had gone into debt due to drinking. Both could not pay their fines and were sold by the local magistrate. Severan asks the party that, whatever happened, the slaves be spared a horrible death, but Ryobi does not commit.
Part 4 - The Insidious Phenomenon
Back at Acki Bay at the appointed time, the Arti Acki tribesman appear with canoes filled with expensive sponges. They are more than happy to swap them for the two sorry-looking slaves. The heroes agree, but Ash wants to see what happens to them. All Coffi says is that they will meet their god in the water. After some hard negotiation, Ash agreed to provide them with another ten swords to observe whatever ceremony happens out in the bay.
The party and slaves pile onto the canoes, which are rowed out into the center of the bay where a wooden structure stands. It is a sturdy platform with a large brass gong. The panicking slaves are pushed to the edge while Coffi bangs the gong. The sound reverberates, and shortly after, bubbles slowly begin to form in the water in front of the platform, followed by lights; something deep down is rising. The Arti Acki begin chanting and staring at the water with frenetic reverence.
Out of the water, a huge terror emerges, looking like a massive combination of serpent and a slug with four great tentacles and four lesser ones glowing with orbs of murky light. It opens its huge maw, expelling foul water and exposing giant shark-like teeth. Greedily, its four dull fishlike eyes focus on the slaves. Without hesitation, Ash steps forward and throws three quickly prepared vials of Alchemist Fire onto the horrible sea creature, setting it alight. While the tribesmen look on in stunned silence, Ash, Severan, and Vinzent start pushing them into the water.
The abomination is far from finished. It looks at Ash and exerts its formidable will. Ash cannot resist and is now his slave, Dominated and ordered to attack his friends. Ryobi deals with two more tribesmen and attacks the horror while Severan keeps the remaining tribesmen occupied. The horror also attempts to Dominate Ryobi, but the monk is too strong-willed for such control. So instead, it swats him with its tentacles, which rot flesh, and its foul-smelling slimes slow the reflexes.
The horror orders Ash to attack Vinzent and Severan while it pummels Ryobi. Things are tense, and the heroes have appalling luck, hardly hitting. Then they abruptly change. Ryobi focuses his Ki and tears into the monster's side with his holy sword, creating a great bleeding wound. Then Ash finally breaks free from the mind control. He fakes that he is still a slave, utilizing surprise, then lobs his two last bombs into the horror's ghastly open wound, nearly killing the false god. Nevertheless, it is not finished. As it prepares to disappear into the deep reaches of the sea to heal up, Vinzent grabs his flute and plays a fiery melody. From the musical instrument, flames emerge and sear into the monstrosity's mouth, boiling its brain and killing it.
Part 5 – A Trade Deal is Concluded
As the rotting corpse floats on the ocean waves, the Arti Acki tribesman sense their god is dead, the psionic domination which has controlled them for generations is gone. The dazzled tribesmen eventually thank the heroes, reward them with a great feast back in their village, and agree to all of Severan's business proposals.
Severan, as promised, makes the heroes part-owners in his new business and pays for the heroes' voyage back to Isynen, taking responsibility for the two relieved slaves who are lucky to be alive. He offers them a term of indentured servitude, and if they perform adequately, he agrees to free them.
To be continued.
NPC Interactions
Created Content
Nothing this week.
Related Reports
Nothing this week.
Player Characters
Ryobi - Human - L10 Monk
Background - Temple Guard.
Archetypes - Barbarian/Fighter.
Ash - Human - L10 Thaumaturge
Background - Weaponcrafter.
Archetypes - Alchemist.
NPC Companion
Vinzent - Human - L10 Bard
Background - Cursed.
Archetypes - Blessed/Disciple of Thalia.
Next Session
NPC Companion
Vinzent
He is a skilled minstrel who is infamous for his depressing performances and bad luck.
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