Scourge of the Slave Lords III: Zoshai
I placed the ruined temple outside Highport in the module in the southern Changshai city of Zoshai for my purposes. The trip to this temple is supposed to be the moment where the players are captured, but this is not something I wanted to force on them...
Campaign Narrative
Knowing that the sorcerer Hazzard has probably contacted his masters in the slave lords' organisation, the group of three adventurers leaves immediately on horseback for Zoshai. On the way, they manage to avoid a serious-looking ambush including pit traps, priests or sorcerers with some sort of Chaos affiliation, and troops hidden in the forest to either side of the main trackway [critical See rolls by Marion and Sir Blanque]. While they give this lot a wide berth, Destiny realises that the whole situation is being further reinforced by the use of some sort of silence effect around the pits that have been dug in the road, presumably with the intention of forestalling any sorcerous commands - and this gives her an idea for later use [critical Listen roll - their dice were hot at this point].
The group realises that these preparations were probably aimed at them as a result of their encounter in the inn beforehand, and that the slave lords are not to be taken lightly as an organisation. Therefore they take even more care in their approach to Zoshai itself, moving through the forest to one side of the track roadway leading to the city so as to avoid any further possible unpleasantness. They also take the further precaution of changing their disguises.
The characters arrive at their destination in the evening light, but even so they can clearly see a fair few galleys in the town's harbour - and the largest sports the purple sails associated with the raid on Lady Aurea's estate. They easily gain access to the town by the simple expedient of walking straight through the main gates; there are guards around the place, but they are not doing their duties at all seriously, apart perhaps from the odd opportunity to take bribes. Not only is Changshai obviously a lawless country, there is no evidence of any form of military discipline. This is something that could be of great advantage to Eshmir.
Leaving their horses at one of the largest inns in the town - and one that has obviously seen better days - they pay an exorbitant fee to make sure that their mounts are safe. Marion adds some judicious threats, which always helps. The group then saunters down to the docks as near as possible to the large galley they saw earlier, and, hearing a great deal of carousing from the closest tavern, they make their way in to join in the fun. Here they fall in with a bunch of lively thugs who are all sporting the fish tattoo they have come to love, and proceed pretty much to drink the lot under the table. Those few who are still able to stand stagger to their feet, and start to head off to the galley. The players have already ascertained which ones are part of its crew, and surprise their new drinking buddies by asking if they can maybe join up as part of the crew. This suggestion is greeted with a hearty cheer, and the drunks weave their way back to the shop with the three adventurers in two, all best friends together.
Even they are surprised, however, when their new pals present them to the captain of the Sea Ghoul - a Dharzi. Fortunately, he does not see through their disguises, and they have obviously made it here before news of their escapades in the capital has arrived. Conversation with the Dharzi impresses the man so much that he is willing to offer them places as high-ranking members of his crew. They keep the discussion going as long as they think they can without making him suspicious, and glean some useful information. First of all, there is a major temple complex in some hills south of town that houses the headquarters of the slave lords' operations in Zoshai. Apparently it looks mostly ruined, but has in fact been taken over by cultists of Xiombarg. Secondly, there is more than a hint of some dissension among the ranks of the slavers; the Dharzi spits and says something especially nasty under his breath about Stalman Klim when talking about the Chaos goddess - it would seem that there is no love lost between the Lolth-supporting Dharzi and Chaos. This is looking more and more like an alliance of convenience, and Klim is clearly a high-ranking cultist of Xiombarg. Managing to conceal the importance of this news to them, the players thank the Dharzi for his hospitality and slip off into the night "To collect our belongings and rejoin you at dawn." Honest.
Campaign Narrative
Knowing that the sorcerer Hazzard has probably contacted his masters in the slave lords' organisation, the group of three adventurers leaves immediately on horseback for Zoshai. On the way, they manage to avoid a serious-looking ambush including pit traps, priests or sorcerers with some sort of Chaos affiliation, and troops hidden in the forest to either side of the main trackway [critical See rolls by Marion and Sir Blanque]. While they give this lot a wide berth, Destiny realises that the whole situation is being further reinforced by the use of some sort of silence effect around the pits that have been dug in the road, presumably with the intention of forestalling any sorcerous commands - and this gives her an idea for later use [critical Listen roll - their dice were hot at this point].
The group realises that these preparations were probably aimed at them as a result of their encounter in the inn beforehand, and that the slave lords are not to be taken lightly as an organisation. Therefore they take even more care in their approach to Zoshai itself, moving through the forest to one side of the track roadway leading to the city so as to avoid any further possible unpleasantness. They also take the further precaution of changing their disguises.
The characters arrive at their destination in the evening light, but even so they can clearly see a fair few galleys in the town's harbour - and the largest sports the purple sails associated with the raid on Lady Aurea's estate. They easily gain access to the town by the simple expedient of walking straight through the main gates; there are guards around the place, but they are not doing their duties at all seriously, apart perhaps from the odd opportunity to take bribes. Not only is Changshai obviously a lawless country, there is no evidence of any form of military discipline. This is something that could be of great advantage to Eshmir.
Leaving their horses at one of the largest inns in the town - and one that has obviously seen better days - they pay an exorbitant fee to make sure that their mounts are safe. Marion adds some judicious threats, which always helps. The group then saunters down to the docks as near as possible to the large galley they saw earlier, and, hearing a great deal of carousing from the closest tavern, they make their way in to join in the fun. Here they fall in with a bunch of lively thugs who are all sporting the fish tattoo they have come to love, and proceed pretty much to drink the lot under the table. Those few who are still able to stand stagger to their feet, and start to head off to the galley. The players have already ascertained which ones are part of its crew, and surprise their new drinking buddies by asking if they can maybe join up as part of the crew. This suggestion is greeted with a hearty cheer, and the drunks weave their way back to the shop with the three adventurers in two, all best friends together.
Even they are surprised, however, when their new pals present them to the captain of the Sea Ghoul - a Dharzi. Fortunately, he does not see through their disguises, and they have obviously made it here before news of their escapades in the capital has arrived. Conversation with the Dharzi impresses the man so much that he is willing to offer them places as high-ranking members of his crew. They keep the discussion going as long as they think they can without making him suspicious, and glean some useful information. First of all, there is a major temple complex in some hills south of town that houses the headquarters of the slave lords' operations in Zoshai. Apparently it looks mostly ruined, but has in fact been taken over by cultists of Xiombarg. Secondly, there is more than a hint of some dissension among the ranks of the slavers; the Dharzi spits and says something especially nasty under his breath about Stalman Klim when talking about the Chaos goddess - it would seem that there is no love lost between the Lolth-supporting Dharzi and Chaos. This is looking more and more like an alliance of convenience, and Klim is clearly a high-ranking cultist of Xiombarg. Managing to conceal the importance of this news to them, the players thank the Dharzi for his hospitality and slip off into the night "To collect our belongings and rejoin you at dawn." Honest.
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