Sellswords of Punjar, Session 4: An Occurance at Beggar Creek Bridge

In the next room the party found a dirty barracks lit by a large firepit that had something cooking over it that smelled vaguely of meat. Obvious signs of hurried packing and looting were visible. A few coins were scattered on the floor near a loose pair of flagstones that covered a pit large enough for two large coffers. A passage led around the corner to the east and the sounds of rushing water could be heard from that direction. The party split up at this point. Jym, Regnor, and Aletha continued after the fleeing slavers down the passage while Vismund and Mina stayed behind to thoroughly search the room for anything they may have left behind.

Mina discovered a loose brick in the wall, which was weakly plastered in place by what appeared to be dung. Choking back bile, she removed the stone and discovered an amulet of protection +1 in the secret niche behind the brick. Vismund found a suspicious section of wall in one of the corners, and a set of what looked like finger holes along the floor. Vismund used the finger holds to easily lift a false section of the wall. Behind was a small secret chamber with a large chest at the back of the room. Suspecting a trap he brought forth a light and found suspicious marks on the floor and the ceiling. A set of hollow spears were poised to skewer anyone walking underneath them and then deliver a fatal dose of acid through their tubular innards. Vismund cautiously skirted the room to get to the chest and then brought it out into the larger area to examine. Inside were a handful of coins. Apparently it had been mostly empty sometime beforehand. Mina discovered a false bottom on the chest but was unable to unlock it. Vismund crushed it with his hammer and he heard the muffled sound of glass breaking beneath his blow. When they removed the splinters of wood they found a folded damp tapestry of black and gold thread and shards of broken glass tightly wrapped inside it. Whatever potions the vials once held were ruined. They took the damp tapestry, the coins, and the amulet and then quickly chased after the rest of their party.

At the end of the passage Regnor, Jym, and Aletha saw it open up over another part of the underground river which rushed rapidly below them. A narrow wooden bridge extended out over it and to the other side where another dark passage was carved into the cavern wall. Below it on the other side of the river was short sandy beach. Currently a small raft was moored there and a group of figures was hurriedly loading it with ill-gotten goods. Standing on the raft giving orders was Vermouth an eladrin wizard. A pair of burly gnoll overseers, Raiko and Wrix, worked side-by-side with four remaining goblins to haul chests and coffers onto the raft. Riako was easily carrying the largest chest under one arm while liberally apply a whip to the backs of the four goblins who were struggling together to lift a smaller chest onto the raft. Wrix was holding a maul with both hands and scanning the bridge for anyone coming up behind them.

Not wasting any time, Regnor charged across the bridge and dove off of it into Wrix before he got a chance to bring the bridge down under him. Aletha sent forth her scorching burst to engulf the goblins, three of whom died and dropped the chest on the foot of the remaining goblin. Riako tossed his chest onto the raft and then turned to heave the last one on board. Vermouth struck Aletha with a burst of force. Vismund and Mina joined the fight and began to cross the bridge. A pair of crossbow bolts came shooting out of the darkened passage across the river from an unseen assailant which struck Mina. Angered, Mina went in search of her attacker in the darkness. Aletha used her curse of the dark dream to throw Vermouth off of the raft and into the rushing river. The river carried him downstream for a bit before he was able to fey step back onto the safety of the sandy shore. Meanwhile Regnor, Jym, and Vismund were able to defeat Wrix and the remaining goblin before engaging Raiko who stepped off the raft and lashed them with his whip, dragging Regnor's feet out from under him. Vermouth struck Vismund with another force blast, so Vismund charged him and crushed his skull with his warhammer. Raiko was blasted to death by Aletha. Mina was unable to locate the secretive attacker so she came back to join the party.

On the raft were three large chests and two coffers. After disabling the traps and unlocking the locks they found the slavers loot consisting of coins, uncut gems, silver ingots, and a set of stolen equipment bearing the mark of Vadicion Cainnae, an assassin of no small renown. Mina claimed these as hers.