The Bastards of Erebus - Session 7: Down with the Bastards!

Dramatis Personae

Alizander Carmelizzia - Human (Varisian) sorcerer – works and performs at Cayden’s Blessing
Carlos Santiago - Half-orc (Alkenstarian) wizard – works at Rhialto’s Tonics and Talismans
Nagiphax - Cyclops-kin rogue – works at the Beer Golem Tavern
Slavé – Tiefling (appears human) rogue – detective in dottari employ

Tavo Dechirent - Human cleric of Pharasma – employed as a mortician and coroner
Vaeden Corleone - Human rogue – former nobleman, often seen at Alfred’s Smithy

Oathday, 26 Rova, 4708 A.R. (continued)

Alizander jumps down the hole in pursuit of the escaping rogues. He misjudges the distance of the jump and lands heavily on a pile of crates and furniture that Dravano the Digger used to reach the ceiling and claw his way through the earth. Dazed and prone on the ground, Alizander is just able to register that he is deep within the secret hideout of the Bastards of Erebus, and that there are several more tiefling rogues and thugs nearby.

The battle against the Bastards of Erebus continues, and several more party members climb or jump into the hole leading to the Bastards’ lair. The leader of the Bastards, a cleric of Asmodeus named Palaveen, joins the skirmish from an adjoining chamber. He sends his two controlled wolf skeletons into the fray, hoping to create enough confusion among the party that his rogues can finish them off. Unfortunately for Palaveen, Tavo manages to wrest control of one of the undead wolves and pits it against the other one. Carlos is rendered unconscious early in the battle, but manages to come to his senses and, having exhausted the majority of his spells for the day, resorts to using his exotic, double-barreled wheel-lock pistol. The combatants are surprised and shaken by the weapon, never having experienced or seen such an unusual device before. Carlos uses this to his advantage and fires off several good shots, including one that fires clean through Palaveen’s hip. During the battle, the Bastards recognize that Vaeden is the most tactical-minded of the attackers and set upon him. Vaeden takes down several of the tiefling rogues before finally succumbing to his wounds and falling unconscious. Nagiphax, working tactically with Vaeden, also manages to bring down several Bastards.

Slavé, meanwhile, remains above-ground and rushes over to the tiefling thug that Tavo and Nagiphax left bound in the church. Slavé reveals his tiefling heritage to the thug and tricks him into believing he is a friend of the Bastards who wishes to join their group. He unties the thug, who urges Slavé to follow him through the church and into the Bastards’ underground lair to circle around and enter the battle from behind, hopefully to take the attacking party by surprise. Slavé agrees in order to see if he can learn anything about the Bastards and the hideout. The thug leads Slavé deeper into the lair, pausing in a hallway guarded by four of the Bastards’ hell dogs – fighting dogs that have been fed a steady diet of tiefling blood – and indicates to Slavé that there is a secret door here leading to Palaveen’s chamber. Not wishing to get into a situation that he can’t get himself out of, Slavé bluffs the thug into thinking the heated battle on the other side of the door is about to spill into the hallway, and the two retreat back into the church. Slavé decides the thug is of no more help to him, and fires a crossbow bolt through the poor sod’s neck.

The battle between the rest of the party and the Bastards finally comes to an end with the death of Palaveen, marking a major victory for the Returners against the criminal element that has been allowed to fester within Westcrown. Searching through the Bastards ill-gotten gains, the party finds many of the items that were reported stolen from various tradespeople in the city. In addition, they find a note among Palaveen’s things that suggests a connection between the Bastards of Erebus and another organization thought to have been eradicated over 200 years ago. The note reads:

“Palaveen – While we appreciate the work of your Bastards, the Council never intended this association to be anything more than that. We shouldn’t need to remind you that if your tiring applications continue, we’ll need to solve this problem in a manner less concerned with your continued good health.”

Several party members recall the tales of the legendary Council of Thieves, the most influential criminal organization to have graced the streets and halls of power of Westcrown. Said to have assembled in the late 4200s, the Council of Thieves was an amalgamation of numerous gangs and thieves’ guilds in Westcrown that came to dominate city’s underground element, so much so that at its height in the 4300s the at least half of Westcrown’s noble families were rumoured to hold ties to the Council. Many leaders of the Council of Thieves were said to have become wealthy enough to purchase land and titles for themselves, or blackmail others into bequeathing the same. In the end, the Council became too powerful for its own good, and is believed to have been eradicated in the late 4400s. Could it be that the Council of Thieves still exists, or is the Council alluded to in Palaveen’s letter an upstart organization capitalizing on the Council’s mythical status? The thought weighs heavily on the Returners’ minds.

Treasure

· Studded leather armour (4) – from tiefling rogues – 50 gp

· Light crossbow (4) - from tiefling rogues – 70 gp

· Crossbow bolts (40) - from tiefling rogues – 2 gp

· Short sword (4) – from tiefling rogues – 20 gp

· Thieves’ tools (4) – from tiefling rogues – 60 gp

· Potion of Disguise Self – from Palaveen

· Wand of Cure Light Wounds – from Palaveen

· +1 Breastplate – from Palaveen

· Morningstar +1 – from Palaveen

· 470 gp – from rogues and Palaveen

· Gems (stolen) – returned

· Pearl (stolen) – returned

· Masterwork dagger (stolen) – 151 gp

· Masterwork rapier (stolen) – 160 gp

· Masterwork jeweled short sword (stolen) – 600 gp

· Masterwork light mace (stolen) – 152 gp

Experience Awards

· Tiefling rogues (6) - 1200 xp

· Wolf skeletons (2) - 800 xp

· Palaveen - 800 xp

· Hell dogs (avoidance via bluffing the Bastards) - 440 xp

· Story Award (defeating the Bastards) - 3600 xp

· Story Awards (returning stolen gems) - 1800 xp

· Total - 8640 xp

· Per PC (6) - 1440 xp

· Fame Point (defeating the Bastards) - 1

· Fame Point (returning stolen gems) - 1

· Total Fame Points (Council of Thieves Part 1: The Bastards of Erebus) - 5

Current XP Totals Per PC (after session 7)

· Alizander, Carlos, Slavé, Vaeden – 5255 xp each (advance to level 3)

· Nagiphax – 4735 xp

· Tavo – 4595 xp

· Croso, Orem – 2875 xp

The Bastards of Erebus - Session 6: Taking it to the Bastards, Part 2

Dramatis Personae

Alizander - Human (Varisian) sorcerer – works and performs at Cayden’s Blessing
Carlos Santiago - Half-orc (Alkenstarian) wizard – works at Rhialto’s Tonics and Talismans
Nagiphax - Cyclops-kin rogue – works at the Beer Golem Tavern
Slavé – Tiefling (appears human) rogue – detective in dottari employ
Tavo - Human cleric of Pharasma – employed as a mortician and coroner
Vaeden Corleone - Human rogue – former nobleman, often seen at Alfred’s Smithy

Oathday, 26 Rova, 4708 A.R.

The Returners continue their assault on the Bastards of Erebus’ hideout within the former Church of Erastil. They follow the fleeing tiefling thugs downstairs to an underground crypt, where they meet more Bastards reinforcements. The Returners defeat the tieflings in the crypt after a long battle in the tight quarters of the crypt, but are hampered on moving further into the underground complex by the sound of rabid dogs on the other side of the north door, and a pair of what appear to be large dog or wolf skeletons on the other side of the east door.

Meanwhile, Slavé drags one of the unconscious tieflings from the initial assault into one of the abandoned shops near the church. Slavé binds the tiefling and interrogates him once he wakens, using violence and intimidation to learn something of the so-called Bastards of Erebus. Slavé’s prisoner reveals that the group consists of only tieflings, all of whom work for one who calls himself Palaveen, who is described as goatish in appearance, with large branching horns, pointed ears, and the icon of Asmodeus – an inverted pentacle – branded on his brow. The prisoner says Palaveen pays the members to enter the city at night to steal and cause mayhem. If citizens get in the way (like the weaponsmith, or the patrons sleeping at Quintos’ tavern) then it is their own fault for being in the wrong place at the wrong time. Slavé’s prisoner shows little remorse for his actions, and claims to know nothing of Palaveen’s motives, and cares only that he pays good coin. When pressed further, the prisoner reveals that several of the buildings in the area are connected through underground tunnels, and that Palaveen controls several wolf skeletons as guards and servants within the underground facility.

Soon Slavé notices the sound of digging outside the building. Several moments later a huge tiefling with massive, clawed hands roars out of the rubble just outside the building. Slavé slits the throat of his prisoner and rushes upstairs, while the other Returners, just returning above ground to regroup and consider their next move, rush in to face the clawed tiefling. A few tiefling rogues follow the digger from the hole and face down the party. One of the rogues and the clawed tiefling are taken down, and the other two jump back through the hole and into the underground complex in an effort to escape.

Treasure

· Studded leather armour (14) – from tiefling thugs and rogues

· Light mace (14) - from tiefling thugs and rogues

· Light crossbow (14) - from tiefling thugs and rogues

· Crossbow bolts (120) - from tiefling thugs and rogues

· Dagger (13) – from tiefling thugs and Ostengo

· Short sword (2) – from tiefling rogues

· Thieves’ tools (2) – from tiefling rogues

· Mithral shirt – from Ostengo

· Tanglefoot bag – from Ostengo

· Potion (unidentified) – from Ostengo

· Potion (unidentified) – Dravano the Digger

· Masterwork breastplate – Dravano the Digger

· 400 gp – from thugs, rogues, Ostengo, and Dravano

Experience Awards

· Tiefling thugs (9) 1220 xp

· Ostengo (tiefling sorcerer) 400 xp

· Dravano the Digger 400 xp

· Tiefling rogue 200 xp

· Total 2220 xp

· Per PC (6) 370 xp

Current XP Totals Per PC (after session 6)

· Alizander, Carlos, Slavé, Vaeden – 3815 xp each

· Nagiphax – 3295 xp

· Tavo – 3155 xp

· Croso, Orem – 2875 xp

The Bastards of Erebus - Session 5: Taking it to the Bastards

Dramatis Personae

Alizander - Human (Varisian) sorcerer – works and performs at Cayden’s Blessing
Carlos Santiago - Half-orc (Alkenstarian) wizard – works at Rhialto’s Tonics and Talismans
Nagiphax - Cyclops-kin rogue – works at the Beer Golem Tavern
Slavé – Tiefling (appears human) rogue – detective in dottari employ

Tavo - Human cleric of Pharasma – employed as a mortician and coroner
Vaeden Corleone - Human rogue – former nobleman, often seen at Alfred’s Smithy

Wealday, 11 Rova, to Oathday, 26 Rova, 4708 A.R.

The party members resume their daily lives for a time. During this period, the party members continue to meet with Janiven, Arael, and the other Returners, doing what they can to promote the group’s aims in the city. Slavé and Tavo are first to learn of the series of break-ins, robberies and murders that have occurred in the city in the last eight weeks. Slavé’s investigations and Tavo’s examination of several bodies associated with the robberies in question reveal clues that tie the break-ins and murders to a group of tiefling bandits called The Bastards of Erebus. In each case, the Bastards leave a calling card in the form of a wooden token featuring a devil’s head visage associated with the cult of Mammon.

On the morning of Wealday, 25 Rova, several party members return to the Adventurers’ Quarter from a meeting at the Returners’ safehouse to find a crowd of citizens and dottari amassed in front of the Beer Golem Tavern. Within the tavern are the bodies of three dead patrons who had stayed the night after missing curfew. Investigation of the scene points to the Bastards of Erebus as the culprits. On the following day, the party takes the fight to the Bastards of Erebus in their home turf, and tracks them down to an abandoned church of Erastil within the ruins and slums of the Rego Cader, the dead sector. The party approaches the church individually and in small groups of two. Alizander is spotted by a lookout in the church bell-tower and draws her crossbow fire while the rest of the group manages to approach the church undetected. Slavé attempts to bluff the tieflings in the church that he is there to purchase illicit goods but fails to convince those inside. A fight breaks out at this point, and the lookout rings the church bell as the size of the group around the church becomes apparent. The party does battle with two tiefling rogues who emerge from another building nearby the church; Nagiphax manages to break into the church through a boarded-up window and draws the attention of the four tiefling thugs within. Tavo breaks through the church’s front door with a makeshift ram, while Vaeden’s dog scuffles with the tiefling thugs’ mangy mutt. Several of the thugs fall under the party’s blades and spells, and the two remaining tieflings manage to escape down a stairway leading to a basement under the church.

Treasure

None – session ended mid-combat.

Experience Awards

· Story Award (investigating the Bastards) - 2415 xp

· Tiefling thugs (3) - 405 xp

· Tiefling rogues (2) - 400 xp

· Scabby (guard dog) - 200 xp

· Total - 3420 xp

· Per PC (6) - 570 xp

Current XP Totals Per PC (after session 5)

· Alizander, Carlos, Slavé, Vaeden – 3445 xp each

· Nagiphax – 2925 xp

· Croso, Orem – 2875 xp

· Tavo – 2785 xp

The Bastards of Erebus - Session 4: The Purloined Press

Dramatis Personae

Alizander - Human (Varisian) sorcerer
Carlos Santiago - Half-orc (Alkenstarian) wizard
Croso Galen - Human fighter
Nagiphax - Cyclops-kin rogue
Orem "The Ser" Galt - Human (Chelish/Kellid) fighter (formerly in the service of Iomedae)
Slavé – Tiefling (appears human) rogue
Vaeden Corleone - Human rogue

Moonday, 9 Rova, 4708 A.R.

Vaeden, Croso, and Oren strip the Hellknight Signifier of his full plate armour while the other party members race back towards Westcrown. Slavé speaks to Arael during the ride and asks how he came to form the revolutionary group. They eventually meet with Janiven and the other Returners on the road. At Gorvio’s insistence the party heads to Jacovo’s stables to return the horses upon reaching the city, while Arael and Janiven head straight for the Returners’ safehouse.

At the stables Alizander, Nagiphax, and Carlos have an altercation with Thesing Umbero Ulvauno, a moderately famous actor and tenor, who they find arguing with Jacovo over the horses the party borrowed earlier that morning. Carlos and Alizander flatter Thesing while Nagiphax apologizes for not returning the horses in time, which appears to mollify the egotistical actor. Nagiphax, in particular, receives special attention from the Thesing, who seems fascinated by the cyclops-kin unusual but fetching appearance. The three PCs attend Thesing’s performance of The Elopement of the Dowager Princess later that evening, which suffers a minor setback when one of Jacovo’s horses kicks an actor on stage and interrupts Thesing’s solo aria.

Meanwhile, Vaeden, Croso, and Oren return to Westcrown with the stolen Hellknight armour, which they decide to bury about a mile west of the city. The three PCs head to the safehouse and speak to Arael and the Returners. They are eventually joined by the rest of the party, including Slavé. The Returners celebrate Arael’s rescue and talk about what their next step might be. The rise in banditry both on the roads leading to the city and within Westcrown is discussed. Sclavo tells the group about an abandoned printing press that he has learned is stored in a dottari warehouse near Taranik House, the Order of the Rack compound. The printing press is said to be a former government press that includes the stamp of Aroden, marking anything printed as official government copy. Seeing an opportunity to spread Returner propaganda under an official guise, the party decides to mount an operation to retrieve the printing press the following night. Sclavo provides the party with a scroll of shrink item to facilitate removal of the press.

Carlos, Vaeden, and Alizander each fall ill during the evening. Arael examines them and asks them about their activities the day before, suggesting that they may have contracted some ill humours while escaping the Hellknights in the sewers. Carlos and Vaeden manage to fight off the worst effects of the illness, but Alizander’s fever worsens to the point of nausea and dizzy spells.

Toilday, 10 Rova, 4708 A.R.

Slavé returns to the dottari guardpost in the Adventurers’ Quarter in the morning and, using his dottari identification, performs reconnaissance at the warehouse containing the printing press. He convinces the guards to let him into the facility and takes account of the press’s location and the number of dottari that guard the warehouse during the day and night. Slavé feigns interest in another crate in the warehouse before leaving and heading to the safehouse to inform the rest of the group of the guard complement and building layout.

That night, the party mounts a stealth operation at the warehouse. Carlos and Alizander succeed in rendering two of the dottari and their guard dogs unconscious with sleep and colour spray spells, while Nagiphax and Vaeden use their saps to good effect on the other two dottari. Carlos successfully shrinks the press while Nagiphax breaks into several of the crates to make the break-in appear to be a random robbery. She examines some of the furniture held in the crate that Slavé showed interest in while scoping the place out earlier in the day and happens upon a pouch of 100 gp hidden within the upholstery of one of the chairs. The party returns to the Returners’ Safehouse with the invaluable printing press.

Treasure

· 100 gp

· De-commissioned printing press

Experience Awards

· Story Award (horse drama) - 1580 xp

· Dottari guards (4) - 540 xp

· Guard dogs (2) - 400 xp

· Story Award (the purloined press) - 2100 xp

· Total - 4620 xp

· Per PC (7) - 660 xp

· Fame Points (the purloined press) - 1 Fame Point

Current XP Totals Per PC (after session 4)

· Alizander, Carlos, Croso, Orem, Slavé, Vaeden – 2875 xp each

· Nagiphax – 2355 xp

· Tavo – 2215 xp

The Bastards of Erebus - Session 3: Arael's Rescue

Dramatis Personae

Alizander - Human (Varisian) sorcerer
Carlos Santiago - Half-orc (Alkenstarian) wizard
Croso Galen - Human fighter
Orem "The Ser" Galt - Human (Chelish/Kellid) fighter (formerly in the service of Iomedae)
Slavé - Tiefling (appears human) rogue
Tavo - Human cleric of Pharasma
Vaeden Corleone - Human rogue

Moonday, 9 Rova, 4708 A.R.

The party mounts a daring rescue of Arael as he is being transported from Westcrown to Citadel Ravid, the impenetrable headquarters of the Hellknight Order of the Rack. After discussing the rescue with Janiven and the Returners, the party decides to make their ambush at a small stone bridge crossing the river Athua about 12 miles west of the city. Janiven takes four volunteers from the Returners – Sclavo, Ermolos, and Gorvio – to mount a mock ambush on the bluff several hundred yards west of the bridge in order to draw away as many Hellknights as possible from the prison wagon. Gorvio borrows horses from his uncle Jacovo back in the Adventurers’ Quarter, and the group heads out for the ambush point

Slavé accompanies Janiven and the other Returners, while the rest of the party lies in wait at the bridge, hidden behind boulders and the main bridge supports. Alizander casts a spell to appear as a Hellknight recruit and waits at the old campsite on the east side of the bridge. The prison wagon approaches, flanked by 13 Hellknight armigers. Nine of the armigers are on foot, four are mounted, and one drives the two horses pulling the wagon. Their leader, a Hellknight Signifier named Shanwen (according to Pontia Runario) stands at attention behind a large crossbow mounted atop the wagon. Alizander plays the part of an armiger from Citadel Ravid who has been guarding the bridge against bandits as a penance for bad behaviour and is invited to join the transport for the journey back to the citadel. As the wagon crosses the river, Janiven and Slavé begin their false ambush atop the bluff, and are successful in drawing away the mounted armigers. Janiven and the other Returners scatter caltrops across before the mounted armigers reach them and flee into the surrounding bush and scrubland. Slavé heads the opposite way and steers his horse back towards the Athua.

Meanwhile, the party hiding near the bridge makes its attack as the armigers begin to cross the bridge. Croso is the first to show himself, taunting the armigers. Shanwen order the armigers attack while the wagon moves forward. Orem attempts to trip the attacking armigers with a crude trip line set up between the bridge supports, and a fierce battle ensues between the party and the Hellknight recruits. Alizander finds himself in a bad spot at the back of the wagon and is beaten down by the armigers, but is eventually aided by Slavé, who comes back around the east side of the bridge and avoids the main combat. The party is eventually successful in bringing the recruits and Shanwen into submission, and using a key found on Shanwen they rescue Arael, the half-elf cleric of Iomedae, from the prison wagon. Arael is suspicious of the party’s motives at first, but after hearing about Janiven’s involvement is satisfied the party is not a group of lawless bandits. Slavé bids Arael join him on his horse for the ride back to Westcrown.

Treasure

Potion of Cure Light Wounds (5)

Prison carriage key

Heavy mace, with Hellknight stamp

Full plate, Hellknight style

Light crossbows (10), and 120 bolts

Longswords (10)

Experience Awards

Hellknight Armigers (10): 1350 xp

Shanwen (Hellknight Signifier): 200 xp

Story Award (rescuing Arael): 2000 xp

Total: 3650

Per PC (7): 520

Fame Point (rescuing Arael) - 1

Fame Point (not killing any Hellknights) - 1

Current XP Totals per PC (after session 3)

Alizander, Carlos, Corso, Orem, Tavo, Slavé, Vaeden (2215 xp each)

Nagiphax (1695 xp)

The Bastards of Erebus - Session 2: Escape from the Sewers

Dramatis Personae

Alizander - Human (Varisian) sorcerer
Carlos Santiago - Half-orc (Alkenstarian) wizard
Croso Galen - Human fighter
Nagiphax - Cyclops-kin rogue
Orem "The Ser" Galt - Human (Chelish/Kellid) fighter (formerly in the service of Iomedae)
Slavé - Tiefling (appears human) rogue
Tavo - Human cleric of Pharasma
Vaeden Corleone - Human rogue

Sunday, 8 Rova, 4708 A.R.

The party continues through the sewers of Westcrown, following the faded path illuminated by the marks left by Janiven and Arael and moving in a generally southwest direction, according to Alizander’s wayfinder. A few hundred feet down the maze of passageways, the party enters a large junction with a number of tunnels and sewage channels running into it. Several members hear the telltale skittering legs of torbles before eight of the gelatinous, vermin-like creatures come into view. Nagiphax gives a fearsome shout and waves her arms at the torbles, stunning them into quivering uncertainty. Four of them scuttle away, while the other four are joined by more torbles from behind and merge into a rolling swarm of acidic ooze bugs. Meanwhile, three undead skeletons rise from the sewage and attack with rusty scimitars. A battle ensues, the skeletons mindlessly swinging their swords, the torble swarm rolling over everything in its path. Vaeden and Alesandre are overrun by the swarm and tumble into the sewage channel while trying to remove the biting, acidic creatures. Tavo commands one of the skeletons to attack the other undead, and Orem and Corso attack the uncontrolled skeletons. Carlos attempts to slow the swarm with a force missile, while Slavé and Janiven protect Morosino and manage to burn the torbles with a well-placed oil lantern and thrown torch. Alesandre, once out of the sewage, makes a desperate manoeuvre by jumping into the torbles and casting a shocking grasp spell, jolting the swarm and ending its attack.

The party quickly moves on, and Tavo sends the commanded skeleton to draw out any enemies ahead of the group. The party avoids an encounter with a mysterious creature in a side passage, something Vaeden believes might be something called a gibbering mouther from the faint muttering sounds echoing down the passage. Finally, the group arrives at the exit indicated by Janiven’s and Arael’s mark, and manage to escape the sewer. The party moves quickly down the alley, which grows dark as dusk turns to night, and enters an old temple to Aroden that appears to be abandoned. Slavé, however, takes his leave and heads back to the dottari guardpost in the Adventurers’ Quarter, staying to the lit streets in order to avoid the ever-present shadow beasts that stalk the streets of Westcrown.

Back at the dottari guardpost in the Adventurers’ Quarter, Slavé finds his contact in the Order of Scourge, Pontia Runario, and learns from her that Arael, the half-elf cleric of Iomedae, was captured by the dottari earlier that afternoon. The dottari have agreed to transfer Arael to the custody of the Hellknight Order of the Rack, who plan to move Arael in an armoured wagon from Westcrown to Citadel Ravid the following day. Pontia indicates that it is well-known that there are groups of bandits operating in greater numbers within and outside of Westcrown, and that she feels the criminal element within the city is becoming more brazen. Perhaps by infiltrating a group like the one led by Janiven and Arael, Slavé will be able to get closer to and be able to expose the more dangerous and organized criminals operating in the city. She tasks Slavé with continuing his investigation into Janiven’s and Arael’s organization, and then takes her leave.

Meanwhile, within the temple to Aroden (which has clearly been in use for some time, despite its decrepit exterior) is a group of people that Janiven introduces as the Children of Westcrown. At least, she explains, that is one of the names they have been calling themselves. Several of the members are familiar to the party from the Adventurers’ Quarter. The party talks to the Children of Westcrown for a time, most of whom are inexperienced citizens of Westcrown who seek to make changes for the better in the city. Arael’s capture by the dottari is discussed, and the party agrees to assist in rescuing him from the dottari. Meanwhile, the party becomes quite involved in the discussion of bringing about change in Westcrown and doing something about the tyranny of the House of Thrune and the local government. A new name is chosen for the group – The Returners – and the members agree to identify themselves with a white armband featuring a stylized ‘R’ in red.

Experience Awards

• Torbles (4): 200 xp
• Torble swarm: 600 xp
• Skeletons (3): 420 xp
• Story Awards (escaping the sewers): 1500 xp
• Total: 2720 xp
• Per PC: 340 xp

The Bastards of Erebus - Session 1: Into the Sewers

Dramatis Personae

Alizander - Human (Varisian) sorcerer
Carlos Santiago - Half-orc (Alkenstarian) wizard
Croso Galen - Human fighter
Nagiphax - Cyclops-kin rogue
Orem "The Ser" Galt - Human (Chelish/Kellid) fighter (formerly in the service of Iomedae)
Slavé - Tiefling (appears human) rogue
Tavo - Human cleric of Pharasma
Vaeden Corleone - Human rogue

Each party member is contacted by a woman named Janiven, or one of her associates, and is asked to meet at Vizio’s Tavern the following afternoon.

Sunday, 8 Rova (September), 4708 A.R.

The party members meet Janiven at Vizio’s Tavern (abandoned and unused for the last several months) and learn of her plans to bring about change in Westcrown by appealing to its people to protest against the government. Before they can react to her words, a young teenager (Morosino) enters the tavern on the run from Hellknights of the Rack, who he explains have captured their leader, a half-elf cleric of Iomadae named Arael.

Janiven opens a trap door in the floor, behind the bar, and she, Morosino and the rest of the group hustle into a tunnel underneath the tavern that leads to the Westcrown sewers. Janiven bars the door to the sewers behind her, and the party makes its way through the winding, twisting sewer system as fast as possible, following a series of barely visible marks left by Janiven and Arael weeks ago on a scouting trip through the sewers marking the path to another safehouse elsewhere in the city.

The party comes across a growth of strange, human-sized purple mushrooms in a larger cistern room. The mushrooms emit a loud shrieking noise as the party approaches. Carlos destroys the fungi with a ray of frost, and the party rushes out of the cistern room. Unfortunately, the noise attracts a group of four goblins, and a fierce skirmish ensues with the savage creatures. As the party fights the goblins, a small squad of Hellknight armigers (new recruits to the organization) catches up with the party, and the assault continues with enemies on either side. The goblins succumb to the spells, spears and swords of the group, and the Hellknight armigers are, at last, rendered unconscious. Loath to kill her enemies, Janiven urges mercy and hopes that the armigers did not get a good look at their faces in the dim torchlight and heat of battle. The party stabilizes the Hellknight recruits and binds them before continuing the race through the sewers, looking for the exit to the safehouse.

Treasure

• 24 vials of Cure Light Wounds potion (from Janiven's and Arael's stash)
• 4 vials of Cure Light Wounds potion (from the Hellknight armigers)

Experience Awards

• Story Awards: 1500 xp
• Goblins (4): 800 xp
• Hellknight Armigers (4): 540 xp
• Total: 2840 xp
• Per PC: 355 xp