The session started with the party traveling south on the Lion Trade Road, which loosely followed the Nuria River.
After a long day of travel, they arrived at a ravine near the river.
As they neared a well-maintained stone bridge over a 30-foot deep ravine with a fast-moving creek below, the party saw a demolished stone building, and heard the weak sound of a little boy coming from underneath the rubble. “Help me… I miss my dog…”
While some of the party members went to track down the little boy, an armed man climbed onto the bridge and announced that the Lion Road, and this particular bridge, were under the protection of the Jabaal tribe, and that they required a toll of 5 gold pieces per person to pass.
Zithgar took umbrage with this request and challenged the man, who offered to dual him one-on-one. If Zithgar won, the party could pass for free. If the guard won, Zithgar would pay 50. As the banter between the two continued, other armed men emerged from the bushes and stood behind their leader, who held firm on his demand for a toll.
Zithgar charged, and a melee between the two began. The other armed men drew crossbows and warned the rest of the party to stay off the bridge.
Nix cast Shadow Ribbons, which restrained some of the crossbowmen, and other party members did indeed walk onto the bridge. Crossbow bolts and spells flew as Zithgar and the Jabaal captain continued to battle.
At this time, Karwl and Belladonna, who were taking cover from the crossbow bolts on the west side of the bridge, heard the sounds of a beagle dog near their feet, but they saw no animal.
As the battle continued, Belladonna casts her exploding owls, which swarmed onto the crossbowmen. One of the men, thinking he was being attacked by the owls, swung his sword at one, hitting it and triggering a chain-reaction explosion that killed two of the four crossbowmen.
The Jabaal captain began the flee and was chopped down by the party. The two remaining men surrendered and were ultimately allowed to flee into the desert.
Following the combat, Nix explored the deep privy shaft and found only a pile of a child’s bones at the bottom. Kawrl pursed the sound of the barking dog and eventually found a pile of dog bones. She took the bones to the privy and dropped them down the well, and the boy’s pleading, saddened cries for help were replaced with squeals of delight and joy. The dog ceased barking and the party could hear the sounds of a dog licking a child’s face, as well as the sounds of a happy tail thumping again against the stone walls. Soon, the sounds of the happy boy and dog faded, and a warm, peaceful feeling washed over the party.
Lady Farsight again thanked the party for the protection and promised a boon from Yredisuis, her God.
The party took an uneventful long rest, and in the morning continued their journey towards Per-Bastet.
It took a week of traveling to get to Per-Bastet, and they met a few north-bound caravans along the way. The party learned that the trading caravans were grateful for the Jabaal war tribe’s protection of the Lion trade road. Although there were tolls, the protection afforded by the Jabaals kept the Lion Trade Road safe. After a week of uneventful travel, they arrived at the fabled City of Cats and entered through the Monument Gate.
There were huge crowds of adventurers, merchants, and others pouring into the city because the Queen Goddess Reborn, Meskhenit, had called for a “Great Hunt”. While waiting for their turn to register, the party met a merchant named Nore. Nore offered “citizen bracelets,” which, after much banter, the party learned were needed to keep safe from the vampires that lived within the City of Cats.
Nore explained that the High Priestess Nafrini (of Bastet and Queen Goddess Reborn Meskenit) had struck a truce with Lady Alashsara of the Pallid Court recently in advance of calling a “Great Hunt.” The truce involved not feeding on citizens of Per-Bastet, but but did not extend to non-citizens, who were in constant and immediate danger according to Nore. He further explained that one could become a citizen of Per-Bastet by pledging a binding oath to the Queen Reborn and receiving a citizen bracelet, or one could buy his, thus acquiring “protection” without the “commitment and annoyance” of being bound to the Queen Reborn. When pushed on how he came into these citizen bracelets, he was evasive and indicated that he had a source.
Nore tried to charge 5 gold, and then after negotiations, 2 gold, and finally down to 1 gold and the promise that if the party made the lottery for the Great Hunt, they would take him with them and cut him in on the loot. The party agreed.
Nore directed the party to the Shivering Mirage, the best inn in the Monument district, where legitimate adventurers hoping to make the lottery for the Great Hunt would be gathering. The party also learned that adventurers who were lucky enough to make the lottery for the Great Hunt could gain property within Per-Bastet, which in the Southlands was extremely valuable and would immediately make the new landowner a sheik (e.g., Lord of lands).
The party headed to the Shivering Mirage, and as they walked through the packed streets, they saw undead and zombies following behind what appeared to be the rich. These undead neither smelled nor were hostile and, in effect, acted as servants. The session ended as the party arrived at the front of the Shivering Mirage
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