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Message: <blockquote data-quote="Raunalyn" data-source="post: 5612534" data-attributes="member: 72670">Dark Sun: Session 7Another short session today. Between the last session and this one, the party and I did several emails so that I could hash out their plans. The group was extremely reluctant to travel to Fort Melidor, where they knew a House Shom stronghold was located (and was also where the Caravan appeared to be traveling before the group liberated it). They decide to question some of the freed Amketch slaves. Kwen, the master of provisions, is simply grateful that the party rescued him. During their journey, he provides them with extra portions of food and the best morsels he can find. Vasharra, the dwarven driver, also wants to return home. However, she is concerned about these beetles and the danger they pose. In fact, since she is a psion, she hopes that the party, after escorting the caravan back to South Ledopolis, will continue their research into the source of the beetles. Ekargga is again thankful that the party has freed her from slavery (twice). She echoes Vasharra, saying that the beetles are dangerous and should be destroyed. Another former slave, Aljira, tells the group that she overheard Bezrak and Agristes discussing a bad deal, and that they needed to head to Fort Melidor to replenish their beetle supply, and then head on to Tyr for a new sell. Four days later, the caravan arrives in South Ledopolis. After finding the Amketch shop, they pay to have a message sent to Marius Amketch in Nibenay (a Sending ritual) to request further instructions and to inform him of their progress. Marius's response asks them to find the source and destroy it, and they would receive a bonus. The group decides to head to Balic, where they know the Caravan started from, and where it was also loaded. After a little investigation (some well rolled Streetwise checks), they are able to locate a shop in the Market District of Balic that is owned by a House Shom agent. They are able to determine that this agent is able to get them items that are hard to find (i.e. illegal). Kratas, since he is the most diplomatic, and since he's a former noble, decides to play up to his strengths and pretend to be a well-to-do Noble looking for exotic merchandise. He enters Ridecia's Emporium dressed in expensive clothing. Dryder, Gundrek and Tor Val pretend to be his bodyguards/slaves, and Katrie shifts into the form of an exotic predatory cat, which Kratas pretends is his "pet." Dryder roams the emporium while Kratas and the shop-keeper talk, and Gundrek and Tor Val spend the time looking menacing. Katrie, since she's pretending to be a pet, roams the shop, finding a secret door in one section of the wall. Meanwhile, Kratas discusses business with Ridecia, rolling VERY well on his diplomacy and bluff skill challenge. Soon, he convinces Ridecia that he is serious, and Ridecia informs him that he will send someone to meet Kratas when he is able to obtain the "merchandise." The group leaves and discusses the next phase of their plan. The are certain that if they can break into Ridecia's home, they would be able to find something that could implicate House Shom in the beetle trade, as well as show proof that they are using other houses to smuggle the illegal merchandise. With this proof, they think that House Amketch could gain major support if a trade war were to arrise between Amketch and Shom. Katrie and Dryder break into the home, making sure that the rest of the party remains unseen. Moving around the house, they soon discover Ridecia's journal and ledgers, which fully incriminate House Shom. Thinking quickly, the party grabs a few other bits of expensive looking treasure and leaves Balic by the shortest route possible, heading for Nibenay. This was an extended skill challenge opposed by Ridecia and his wife. Not only did Dryder and Katrie roll well and their stealth and perception checks, but I rolled REALLY poorly for the opposed perception checks for Ridecia and his wife (yes, I understand that this was a passive perception to oppose, but I wanted a bit more of a challenge for them...didn't work out well at all, though). In fact, most of this session was me rolling really really poorly. After crossing the Silt Sea to North Ledopolis, the group begins the grueling journey across the open desert to Nibenay. Several days into their journey, they come upon an area of black, defiled sands. Wary, the group is soon surprised by a fierce and hungry Tembo. For those of you who have not seen Tembos, they are a delightfully annoying solo monster that resemble a reptilian cat. Not only do they have a necrotic aura, but they can drain party healing surges to increase the damage of that aura, have multiple powers that let them shift multiple squares, and can go invisible. While the party did quite well, and none of them dropped to zero hitpoints, they were all worried about the battle, and they thoroughly enjoyed the challenge. The Tembo attacks Gundrek first, popping out of Invisibility and missing. Then, shifting to the main party, he attacks Tor Val. The following round includes the party trying to surround the Tembo, and the Tembo slipping through their ranks and attacking. After a bite on Tor Val, he drains one of the Half-giant's healing surges and increases his necrotic aura to 10 damage per round. Katrie, worried, finally does a grasping claws to immobilize the Tembo, only to be horrified as it goes invisible and escapes. Eventually, the party corners the beast, immobilizing it and bringing it down. A few days later, they arrive at Nibenay. Tracking down Marius Amketch, they turn over the ledgers and journals from Ridecia. Marius is slightly disappointed that they didn't go after the source of the beetles, but is nevertheless pleased at the evidence they provided. He rewards them (not the full bonus), and the party gets their XP award for completing the main quest. The party makes a few purchases and decides that it's time to head back to Kiris Dahn and Treona so that they can receive their payment for the liberation of the city (several sessions back). The quest XP reward was enough to bring them up to 5th level. Some of you may notice that I've been leveling the party relatively quickly; this is deliberate. As a rule of thumb, I've been giving them a level about every other session. This is to fast-track them toward Paragon. The day is now the 18th day of Hoard in the Season of Sun Ascending, in the Year of Enemy's Vengeance, 190th King's Age. Next session; Black Spine!</blockquote>

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