Llamafodder

Beginning of session, wrenching sound and plume of reddish mist – in western salt.

Jess begins explaining that Annie held him at knife point, is tied to the local crime lord, Cethalos.

A round of drinks is delivered; under one glass is a note. “Look for the cavern that looks like teeth, but the frowning face leads to your demise.”

The Sultana’s pet got loose long ago; when it died, its body was preserved in salt, and it transformed into salt. Daelwyn recalled that it died near the northern edge of the district of salt.

As we walked, Daelwyn recited the following tale: “Long ago Geua the Harbinger feasted at the Sultanna’s table and tossed the bones of her meal to Qlax, the palace wolf hound. Unfortunately, the meat was salted with mystic seasoning from Sea of Eternity, and the beast was driven mad with thirst. Guea tracked the beast to the edge of the kingdom and finally killed Qlax with her mighty spear of fire. Qlax was driven into the ground and crystallized into salt.”

We head relatively directly to the wastes at the north end of the district; a cavern with stalactites of salt hang from the ceiling, then the tunnel pitches down into the dark. Jess leads the way, loses his footing and slides on the salty scree; Rao flies down the tunnel as a tucan and alights on Jess’s shoulder.  Thelian hops down, leaping gracefully from rock to stable rock, but Daelwyn loses his footing. Thelian snatches him, but overbalances and winces in pain. Daelwyn sings a song that heals Jess and Thelian a bit, while Rao flies ahead scouting.

One path has a lake of salt, perhaps as quicksand. The other leads into a large chamber with a moat of salt. On a raised rock platform is a sluglike beast with pseudopods that track his flight. It  may be trapped by the moat of salt.

Thelian wandered into the pit of lead salts, with a wet cloth over his face. As he scooped up the loot onto his shield, they recovered a great deal, including:

Small green vial, potion

179 silver

Pair of emerald earrings

The Salt Candle (glows)

After he waded out, Rao led us down the tunnel to the slime-monster. It flailed and slapped Rao with a pseudopod. Jess threw a dagger at it… but it pulled itself over the salt moat and glorped onto Rao. 

End of Session XP —

+1 Daelwyn bond intensification 

+1 XP (fulfill alignment)

+1 history, +1 slug monster defeat, +1 memorable treasure

Began w/ us ambushing the merchant; Thelian earned 40 coin.
Minkev had the idea of ambushing the merchant; I volunteered our group — I’ve bodyguarded her in the past.
(Other three offered to hidden shrine of Lamashtu hidden in our old suite before we left)

We leave and find a better place to live. [Expenses at the flesh rippers ~ 3 silver/day.]

We examine the job board and decide to track the dead thief (Lunk’s) secret stash in The Parish of Salt. Cethalos is the crime lord of Salt Parish. Cethalos has driven all non-criminals out.

We head to the Lute & Loot, where we’re to check in with the local crime lords.

Cethalos (the crime lord) was done dirty by Lunk, he’s the one who hired the wizard that killed Lunk. She (Annie), holding a knife to Jess, wants a cut of any loot from our finding Lunk’s Lair (repaying Lunk’s having stiffed her).

Meanwhile, Thelian faces off with Scorpion-Girl; after posturing and sizing up, Jess steps in and defuses it with a round of drinks. Ruau turns into a squid to deal with a pitcher full of salty water… that reveals alignments to all.

End of Session —
+2 XP — My bond with Ruaumoko (and his with me) evolved
+2 XP — End of session for all