Session 2
General Summary
Nex Pervenio began their time in Erelhei-Cinlu with what they knew best � as gladiators. It
seemed that all the top gladiator teams are drow and it�s very elitist. It will be very hard for nondrow to get involved in the Ceremonial Arena. However, there are also gladiatorial fighting pits in Ghetto of Performers, much lower key and humble. Maybe that would provide a route to generate
a reputation and eventually gain entry to the exclusively drow competition.
In particular, they were directed to the The Bloodied Minotaur in the Ghetto of Performers. This
vast den of gambling, drinking and fighting pits is owned by a goblin named King Don, with a
distinctive hairstyle and ostentatious clothes and jewellery. Combats in the fighting pits are to first
blood only, as most combatants are slaves owned by drow Houses who take a dim view of
�property destruction�. Troll security guards stood around the place. There were plenty of drow
present but all gamblers/patrons, considering the standard of fighting well beneath them.
Organising the bouts was a drow named Fightmaster Baloc, of House Aleval. The gladiators
approached him and introduced themselves as gladiator champions from the surface world. He
looked them over and clearly found their claims amusing, underestimating their abilities. He did at
least offer them chance to show their worth in one-on-one combat.
Shinobi stepped up first and found himself facing a fierce troll. When it charged him, he nimbly
stepped aside and stabbed it in the back. A ninja smoke bomb temporarily blinded it, though a
wild swing of claws still caught Shinobi sending him reeling. However it was then a formality for
Shinobi to end the fight.
Nex Pervenio had certainly caught Baloc�s attention and he admitted they had greatly surpassed
his expectations, also impressing the crowd. As the gladiators cast a seasoned eye over the other
fighting pits, they decided they should fear no foe in this place. The best fighters seemed to be
troglodytes owned by House Zhiq�nah.
They then saw the familiar face of Durin, a dwarf they had rescued from Lareth�s base in
Maelbrathyr. He was pleased to see them and bought a few rounds of drinks, purchased with
winnings from bets he had hastily placed on them. He explained he was working for House
Eilservs, trying to repair some structural damage in the Ghetto of the Dead caused by subsidence.
Unfortunately this subsidence seemed to have opened up routes for undead to reach the surface
and had caused delays to his work. Nex Pervenio offered to assist so Durin arranged to meet them
the next day at a House Eilservs office to discuss it further.
The gladiators were then approached by a female drow. She introduced herself as Kharis of House
Godeep. She had seen their fights earlier and recognised their potential. She described herself as
an entrepeneur. She was already involved in fighting sports, specifically dealing in fighting
spiders but business had dropped off recently due to a shortage of suitable spiders. She claimed
she could acclerate their progress and had some useful contacts and influence, though it would not
be a swift process to reach the Ceremonial Arena. She provided an address in the Ghetto of
Artisans and they agreed to meet again.
On the way back to the Hook Inn, Shinobi took a slight detour via the Temple of Zehir. Temple
was actually too grand a title, it was but a small chapel in reality. There was only one member of
clergy present, surprisingly this was a medusa! Her name was Sss�lik. Shinobi introduced
himself as a fellow worshipper of Zehir, including mention of the Scorpion Clan and Honshu. He
also mentioned the vision he�d had of Anathema, which greatly interested Sss�lik.
She explained that Mistress Verdaeth, matron of House Tormtor had been making grand plans for
the reconquest of Anathema. Whilst deeply engrossed in this, she had lost control of the House to
ambitious underlings, led by Nalva Dhaunel, who had caused the disgrace and exile after
becoming involved in the Cult of Elemental Evil. A recent rumour had mentioned that House Vae
are giving sanctuary to Mistress Verdaeth.
The next day, 4 September, Nex Pervenio headed for the offices of House Eilservs. They met with
Durin and Andalg, Overseer of the Necropolis. He explained the problem with undead causing
dangers and nuisance in the Ghetto of the Dead and neighbouring areas. It was explained that it
was a politically sensitive situation. House Eilservs couldn�t be seen to send in drow militia, it
would be a sign of weakness and failure to maintain control. A small group of outlanders on the
other hand should handle the problem much more discretely.
Around midday, large crowds were seen gathering on the main road in from the Great Gate and in
the main square in the very heart of the city. There was going to be a public execution of drow
recently caught worshipping Vecna. A long procession arrived from the Fane of Lolth, carried on
truly enormous spiders, so large they had wooden platforms on their backs. Riding in a prominent
position was Sister Valerius. In fact it was Valerius who made a speech, describing the crimes
committed and the sentence that awaited. Then, what had previously seemed a huge jet statue of
Lolth stood atop the Great Gate, animated and lumbered through the city, causing buildings to
shake at its passage. It must be some kind of incredibly powerful golem, perhaps animated by
divine spark. It served as executioner and messily inflicted justice on the drow traitors, before
returning to its position above the Gate.
Somewhat in awe at what they had just witnessed, the gladiators headed off to meet Durin in the
Ghetto of the Dead and get to work. After the crowds at the public execution, the place was
practically deserted. They headed for a low square where the mausoleums all showed signs of
damage � fallen masonry, cracks and gaps in the facades and misaligned stone work. There was
one particularly large gap forming a tunnel down to an underground chamber. Footprints
suggested ghouls had been coming and going this way. Shinobi and Dash snuck down and
reported back a room containing eight sarcophagi, which showed signs of disturbance, along with
piles of rubble. There were several exits, this necropolis being an underground labyrinthe of
mausoleums and burial chambers.
Argus took the lead and strode into the chamber, while the other gladiators took cover in the
tunnel. They soon had company, as a band of ghouls emerged from side passages, determined to
feast. Battle was joined!
Report Date
10 Apr 2024
Related Plots