Session #30 - Red Chains of Marg ca 1/4-30/4/2214 AR (lvl 7-10)

Finnris's date, Mistress of Histories Lady Tyarna Vorzin

Finnris 'courts' Tyarna Vorzin at Onther Tower; Aeridnis Vorzin accompanies Zerda Aeshma Finnris Vorstag & Ayilda on trip to Marg, where they rescue the dwarf Ironmaster Bron and Leafstag of the White Griffin Clan; eventually returning to Quodeth. Finnris is told he will be welcomed back into his clan and his mother's ring will be returned to him.

The nightmarish city of Marg

The Rescue Mission to Marg - by Aeshma

In Quodeth we meet with General Irmal Urugan ahead of our trip to Marg to rescue the kidnapped Ironmaster Bronn. We are told that Lady Aeridnis Vorzin is to accompany us to Marg to help in our mission. Zerda is given a bag containing 1000 Margish Krakens – gold coins that in Marg are fixed to the price of a healthy field slave – about 10gp.

We are told of a hidden cabal in Marg that stands against Margish slavery. Not far from the city is the Hidden Harbour of Asura through which escaped slaves may be taken to safety. In addition there is a sanctuary within the city. Our advice is to seek out a man called Noble Freeman, a former slave but now an astrologer. Also we may be able to contact the underground cult of Asura by seeking out a Nimothan woman called Uthlita Belyr. To identify ourselves as allies of Asura we are given a codeword – Klestain – but are warned that this code word is about ten years old so may no longer be in use.

Having purchased a few supplies we sail on Captain Aldus’ Xebec “Gold Lion” to Marg. The city is surrounded by bayou – a further barrier to escaping slaves. We have no problems with the dockside authorities – Zerda and Aeridnis pose as a wealthy Atlantean couple looking to purchase slaves. The rest of us pose as their advisors, servants and bodyguards.

Walking through the city Finnris is recognised by someone from his tribe, Besham Judicus, one of his few allies from the time his mother was burned as a witch. The Narthans settle down to catch up with news and it transpires that Leeston, the chief’s son, was kidnapped by Margish slavers. Judicus has identified the ship he was transported on as the “Tarhun’s Fury” and is searching for its crew.

In a nearby tavern Vorstag buys drinks for the room for the rest of the evening while Aeshma meets a sailor who, after a bit of prompting, recognises her as the daughter of the pirate captain Kashan, one of the Golden Sea corsair cabal known as the Lords of Dismay. He advises that if we’re interested in the Narthan prince, we speak to Nalfir, the dealer who bought the slave. Questioning him about dwarf slaves, he suggests seeing Dasab the Sorcerer – a man who has a sinister reputation even by Margish standards.

After several hours searching, Aeshma and Vorstag finally locate the shop of Noble Freeman and manage to convince him that we are intending to find and free Leeston and Bronn. For a way out of the city he tells us to go to the Slave Mortuary and seek out the priestess Uthlita Belyr. He tells us the password is Erdigast.

Some more investigation headed by Zerda and Aeridnis again points to Nalfir and Dasab. Eventually we hear that both prisoners are to be moved to the catacombs – a place according to Margish rumour that slaves never leave.

We soon identify a decent place for an ambush. Aeridnis throws down a Fog Cloud behind the escort so, while the fight can be heard, we can’t be identified. A Sorcerer, two cyclops and a number of guards form the escort. The sorcerer is our first target and is quickly dealt with. Aeridnis uses a couple of fireballs to some effect but as she moves to melee is struck down by one of the cyclops. Aeshma attempts to hit the cyclops with Eldritch Blasts but after several misses she too moves to melee.

Vorstag, Zerda and Finnris work their way through the guards and the cyclops with their usual efficiency, and before any guards can reach us in response to the noise of the fight we release Bronn and Leeston and head for the Slave Mortuary to rendezvous with Uthlita Belyr.

Our mission successfully accomplished, we return to Quodeth.

Margish Armoured Cyclops