Session 7

The group returned to their camp outside Karzin to recover from the fight against Jendrayana and Admar. Once they had recovered, Suna and Kana departed to find and retrieve the wagon from the main road, and the others descended back into the basement of the keep. Scavenging the bodies of their foes they found some coin, then headed onwards.

With Sassani taking the lead, scouting whilst invisible, the group moved into the tunnel. After only about 70 feet the tunnel ended, with Sassani waiting a few moments for everyone else to catch up. They entered a 40×40 foot chamber, with a sarcophagus on a raised dias in the centre, with a chest at the foot. The sarcophagus had been opened from the inside, spilling some weaponry that had been resting on top on to the floor. In the corner of the room was another undead; a worker and not a threat. The group secured it to transport back, before investigating the dias.

After checking for traps they identified a mechanism in the chest, and found two keys in the base of the sarcophagus. Ryo tried the keys in the chest and eventually found one that worked, then threw the chest open forgetting about the trap. A dagger sprang from the chest and stuck into his jaw, though not doing enough damage to kill him. The group looted the chest, gathered the equipment from the floor, and retreated back outside to identify and divide the loot.

Once the wagon arrived they loaded the bodies and treasure into it and headed back to Otgon Sum. On arrival they were confronted by Shava, who separated them from the wagon and questioned them on what had happened. She listened to the group's story, which was backed up by Gahr He and Mana, before revealing that a number of items implicating them as members of the Goto-Mei gang had been found in their quarters. Mana revealed that this had been a plan by her old teammates to frame the party. Shava separated Mana and Gahr from the party to question.

The party spotted that as Shava retreated a number of people were waiting in her pagoda for her, wearing gold and red robes.

Kathra cast Zone of Truth to aid Shava's questioning of the two prisoners, whilst Sassani loitered outside invisibly to listen to what happened. Shava used some of these red and gold wearing outsiders to guard the interrogation. Sassani heard Mana and Gahr backing up the party's story, but then also overheard Shava unnecessarily torturing Mana, venting some of her anger at losing control of the situation. Returning to the group, Shava revealed that she had decided to trust the party, and therefore needed to bring them further into the fold of what was happening.

Shava revealed that The Butterflies were part of a larger organisation, but that she needed to send them to Jiiwani to meet with someone else who could properly bring them in to the fold. She also revealed that she had a portal that could transport the group directly to Jiiwani, bringing them out in a secure area of Hebi Palace, the Serpent Clan's central compound. The party agreed to go, and split up temporarily to gather their belongings.

Sassani went to visit the prisoners, revealing to Mana that she had overheard her being tortured. She told Mana that the group were going to Jiiwani and would attempt to find her brother, but that they could not take her with them as Shava wanted to keep her for further interrogation. Sassani sympathised, and called for Kathra to come aid her and heal her wounds. Kathra healed Mana, and spent some time saying some prayers over her and marking her with Kazan's mark. Gahr He, not wanting to be left out, asked for a prayer as well, and has taken the first steps on a path to inner peace.

Whilst this was taking place, Mahra Mahmi approached Chae-rin-shen and asked if she could collect a number of reagents for her from the city, as she couldn't get them from local sources. Chae agreed, but extracted a promise of a later favour from her in exchange.

The group reconvened in the portal chamber, and watched as Shava drew a number of symbols in sand around the centre of the area. She lit each of the sand sigils on fire, and when the final one was lit a flash of energy pulsed through the markings, but this spluttered and died after just a second. Shava re-lit the sigils, yet the same thing happened. After a bit of discussion with two attendants, they surmised that for some reason the portal had been closed from the other end and would be inaccessible until the other side is opened.

The party were instead asked to travel to Jiiwani on foot. They set off in a new, wooden wagon, dropping some of Shava's recruits off at Fort Karzin to secure the territory, and made good progress towards the city. The night before they arrived they were attacked by a swarm of small lizards, which overran the camp during the night. Whilst Sassani was struck unconscious by one of the creatures the party were successful in their defence, killing most of the creatures and driving off those that remained.

As the party took stock of the damage a last lizard, smaller and fatter than the others, fell out of a tree into the midst of the party. Chae stopped the others from killing it, and with some assistance from Ryo and Sassani befriended the creature, naming her Minami. Minami is hanging around for the promise of free food and protection, whereas Chae just finds her cute.

The next morning the party embarked on the final leg of their journey, and will arrive at Jiiwani shortly.

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