Session 419 – Desert Assassins

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.

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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.

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They are joined by Vinzent, a bard with a morbid demeanor and a haunted past.

After a botched mission, the heroes become outlaws, wanted for mass murder, robbery, and blasphemy. They have fled the Kingdom of Rethem on a secret mission for the Agrikan Primate of Harn, intending to learn the fate of the Mamekan's (a holy Weaponsmith) family in the distant Hepekerian desert continent.

On the next stage of their lengthy voyage, they have arrived at the coastal City of Isynen and learned that the Mamaka’s mother, Thiri Aqah Sisloss, and sister, Zarerre, have travelled to the center of the desert, to the holy town of Pyateq.

During their travels in Hepekerian, the heroes make many enemies and ask too many dangerous questions. Someone wants revenge.

Part 1 - Assassins

by Columbia Games

The travellers visit the markets of Isynen seeking a trade caravan heading south, not noticing that shadowy figures are stalking them. As they pass through a narrow alleyway, what appears to be four vagrants shed their dirty robes, don skull-shaped masks, and ambush the heroes. The locals know of the dreaded assassins of Naveh and flee, lest they be caught, while the heroes scramble to defend themselves.

The assassin's razor-sharp daggers are poisoned, and they fight well, but have not planned for Ryobi’s skill with the blade and Ash’s arsenal of tricks. One makes a mistake by creating an opening that Ryobi deftly exploits and quickly kills him. Then, aided by Vinzent’s bardic encouragements, the remaining assassins are systematically slain. They do not attempt to escape, stoically dying in silence. From their perspective, it is a just reward for failure.

The heroes are unsure who sent these killers.

Part 2 – The Caravan

After some days, the heroes sign onto a trade caravan led by the gregarious Merchant Tazziem. They are assigned camels and join the guards at the caravan’s rear. The first part of the trip is uneventful; the travellers pass through verdant jungle and then into grasslands. During a rough patch, a massive clan of hyenas harass the caravan, but they retreat after a few are killed.

The desert section of the trip is particularly dangerous. Giant scorpions assault the caravan, but they are quickly driven off.

Part 3 – Death at the Oasis

At an oasis, the caravan stops, allowing the travellers some respite. But the huge clan of Hyenas encountered earlier has been tracking them, and a malevolent force leads them. They attack, some going for the camels, and others the guards, including the adventurers. Soon, it became apparent that several of the brutes are truly dangerous beasts possessing supernatural speed, strength, and a maniacal laughter which causes a sickening revulsion.

Ash senses something wrong with some of these hyenas and, using his knowledge of the occult, is convinced they are undead, more specifically, undead genies trapped in the world, only able to take on the physical shape of a beast. He creates a silver coating for his weapons and cuts the biggest hyena deeply. Hurt badly, it cannot keep its illusory form and transforms into a rotting, fiendish creature with stone-like skin covered with weeping cracks and ancient, unhealed injuries.

With their true form uncovered, the remaining undead also transform, but are soon dispatched. The remaining living Hyenas are cowards and flee once their unnatural leaders are slaughtered.

Part 4 – Madness

Tagi, art by Artflow

A few days later, the convoy enters the rough Durqudani Highlands, and soon the trading village of Asagez comes into view. This is where the heroes leave the caravan and continue their search for Thiri Aqah Sisloss.

Asking around the party finds the locals unfriendly and wary of foreigners, except the sleazy merchant Tagi the Pedler. Tagi is friendly and a little desperate, selling a broad range of trinkets and potions, some of which he asserts are magical. Ash purchases some of his elixirs, hoping to reverse-engineer the alchemical formulations.

But fortunately, Tagi knows of Zarerre, daughter of the venerated mother of the Mamaka, and sends his assistant Cassem out to find her. Cassem returns shortly after exuberantly declaring that Zarerre will be willing to meet with them. The assistant leads the party through a warren of low-built dwellings to one whose door is flanked by colourful banners. Ryobi recognizes them as the colours used by the Mamaka. They are allowed into the dwelling by a guard, a capable Numec warrior and nephew of the Thiri named Zharlac.

Xarerre, art by Artflow

Inside, they are warmly greeted by Zarerre speaking in Hârnic. Zarerre recognises Ryobi from when he spent time training at Bendenes Castle in Rethem. After the courtesies are observed, Zarerre tells the heroes of the tragic events of the last six months. Her mother Thiri has sadly gone insane. A rival curses her mother, summoning a Jinn of the hot desert wind to possess her. Although consumed by madness, she had a brief moment of rationality and travelled to the Holy Oasis of Opkara to meditate so as not to be a threat those around her.

Ash is well-versed in dealing with demonic possession and believes the principles of exorcism can be applied to genies. He is confident he can cure her.

To be continued.

NPC Interactions

Zarlac aq Sisloss, younger sister of the Mamekan.

Tagi the Pedler.

Related Reports

Nothing this week.

Player Characters

Ryobi - Human - L11 Monk

Background - Temple Guard.

Archetypes - Barbarian/Fighter.

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Ash - Human - L11 Thaumaturge

Background - Weaponcrafter.

Archetypes - Alchemist.

NPC Companion

Vinzent - Human - L11 Bard

Background - Cursed.

Archetypes - Blessed/Disciple of Thalia.

Next Session

Session 421 – Exorcism in the Sands.

Campaign

Monster Hunters

Protagonists

Ryobi

Ash

Report Date

07 May 2025

NPC Companion

Vinzent

He is a skilled minstrel who is infamous for his depressing performances and bad luck.

Vinzent, art by Artflow