You have learned of the plan of the Necromancer Maghiel to collect relics and artifacts belonging to the titans and, in performing a necromantic ritual, be elevated to the power of a titan. You have decided that, rather than following after the Necromancer, you should try to jump ahead of her, getting to several of the necessary items first to secure them and thwart the evil scheme. These relics and artifacts are, in and of themselves, extremely dangerous, and valuable to titan cultists as a rallying point to recruit more followers and perhaps even start the Titanswar all over again. Many in Ghelspad would see this prevented and would pay handsomely to have these relics found and secured out of the titan cultists’ reach.

The ultimate goal is to get the artifacts to Lokil for safekeeping, and to perhaps learn more about what they are and how to destroy or neutralize them. Lokil is one of the few places the titans couldn’t reach; for some reason, though the city surrounding the mountain was razed to the ground, the library and most of the city’s inhabitants survived, hidden in the vaults and mines underneath Lokil. A vast treasure-trove of knowledge, many rare and ancient tomes and scrolls may be found in the great library of Lokil.

One of the relics to be found is a large hunk of flesh from one of the titans. This flesh is from the titan Mesos, the Sire of Sorcery. Infused with magic and the fallen titan’s essence, this flesh is not only still alive, but seeking to merge with other remnants of the titan. With this and a few other items, Mesos’ spirit could be called back and reunited with the remains of his body and favored items. It would take many years for Mesos to return to the power he once wielded, but that’s a minor obstacle compared with reforming his body from a few spare parts. Since the power and the life-force of each titan springs not from its worshipers but from Scarn itself, the threat of the titans reforming is an ever-present danger to be guarded against.

Maghiel seeks to subvert this process, draining off the power of Mesos — or any titan’s essence — to create a ritual that will transfer a titan’s power to herself instead. Keeping these items out of the hands of the Shunned is of paramount importance. The titans’ servants will be looking for their former masters’ remains as well, and their zeal for this mission is a powerful compulsion that they dare not refuse.

You hear rumors that artifacts of interest to the Drendali rebel and relating to one of the titans can be found in a lost outpost deep in the Ukrudan Desert. With the help of an overworked and inattentive scribe in the city of Shelzar, the party acquires a map showing the outpost and area around it — all you need do is locate several prominent topographical features of the landscape and the map should lead to the lost outpost. In Shelzar, the party can assemble the provisions needed for an extended expedition into the deep desert, including mounts that can carry heavy loads and move through the desert for long periods without rest.

The fortress is two weeks travel to the north of Shelzar; everything the characters would need for the trip can be acquired in that fabled city of vice. The most expensive items are likely to be their desert-worthy mounts: dune crawlers are not commonly found outside of deserts and can be difficult to maintain outside of their preferred environment. The cost of one of these durable beasts is 400 gp, though that sum at least includes all the tack and harness anyone would need to secure goods and/or riders to the dune crawler’s back. See p.xx for the full stats on dune crawlers.

OCC I am t’ be guessin’ the above ar’ initiative?

Vor introduces himself to Tella and Osso, “Oi bes o’ th’ name Vor”

Vor is a slim young man, tall with dark brown hair and pale green eyes. He has the weathered appearance of one who has spent time in the out of doors. Wearing studded leather armor, over which a rapier hangs from a balderic on his left side, too, he has generously tucked daggers about his person.

”On ‘re last wee jaunt Oi coomed away wi’ this Rod o’ Rulership ‘n Oi was wantin’ t’ trade th’ thin’. Oi’d in moind a gould ring maybes.”

OCC This place we are gathering at seem to be a place where rather unusual items can be found, yes?

Tella looks around at the size this group has grown to: ten people. Then goes out to meet those she hasn't, starting with Lia "Hi, Tella, nice to meet ya" 

Hallanann reaches a hand out to Osso, "Nice to meet you. My name is Hallanann."

He is a moderately tall (6'-2") half-elf with copper tan skin, golden hair, and blue eyes with golden fleks. He is wearing a cloak that seems to subtly change colors (the hood is currently down resting on his shoulders and back). He's not wearing any armor - just travelers clothes and his weapons: two daggers strapped one to each leg, a crossbow slung over his back with a quiver of bolts hanging at his side, and a staff with a gnarled head in his hands. His demeanor is pleasant even if a little quiet, at first.

"I do have some things I need to attend to in town before we get going," Hallanann says to the group. "If anyone needs to sell some things before buying new gear, you're welcome to come along with me."

((Hallanann would want to look for a jeweler or someone that deals with rare artifacts in order to sell the jade skull worth 450gp. Would he need to roll investigation for that?))

"Oh," Hallanann says as almost an afterthought, giving Tella a knowing glance, "there's a rumor out there that a powerful necromancer is calling all undead to her. She’s building an army with which to conquer all of Ghelspad." He pauses in thought for a moment. "I have no idea if it's true, but it does sound like our gal."

“I heard a rumor that the Calastian Hegemony is hiring mercenaries, and they seem pretty urgent about it,” says the hulking figure of a large half-orc. He introduces himself as Krusk. He is pretty tall (6’10”), with jet black hair and pale grey skin. He has a pike and a sword on his back, and he seems exited to meet the new adventurers.

Shelzar, the City of Sin, is known throughout Ghelspad as the most decadent place on the continent. Vice is welcomed, even openly encouraged, within its walls, and the Shelzari people are for the most part carefree and without inhibition. Curiously, it is technically illegal to be drunk in Shelzar, or to drink in public outside of a restaurant or tavern, although these laws are rarely enforced outside of the upscale portions of the city.

Although Enkili is the officially recognized deity of Shelzar — and both she and Idra visit the city often, it is said — the true religion here is money and pleasure. A person can find whatever she’s looking for in Shelzar if she has the coin, or if she can make good on promises to the right people. The Shelzari are a hedonistic people through and through, and they enjoy their pleasures largely without prejudice regarding race, sex, or creed. Everyone is welcome in Shelzar (though those with the most money are usually the most welcome).

Among outsiders, Shelzar is perhaps best known for the annual Night of Masks, a festival they actually borrowed from Hollowfaust. On the Night of Masks, the normally uninhibited Shelzari attitude toward sex reaches dizzying heights, with a citywide festival of food, drinking, and orgiastic intercourse. It is said that many a bastard scion of Ghelspad’s nobility, especially those of Calastian parentage, can be traced back to Shelzar during the Night of Masks. A thriving port city, Shelzar has a strong naval presence, a necessity for keeping its many wealthy merchant vessels protected against pirates and other enemies roaming the seas

OCC Where do we find the particulars of dune crawlers?

Since the party is going to need supplies, Vor will join Hallanann and seek a buyer for the Jeweled Dagger (300gp).

OCC Does anyone have a total value for the treasure we ‘acquired’?

Just added the Dune Crawler to my Home Brew.

(Lets assume you can find a place to sell any item you have for book value.  If you want to sell something else that doesn't have a price, let me know what you think it is worth and I'll play an NPC to barter with)

Quote from CelticSurfer >>

"Oh," Hallanann says as almost an afterthought, giving Tella a knowing glance, "there's a rumor out there that a powerful necromancer is calling all undead to her. She’s building an army with which to conquer all of Ghelspad." He pauses in thought for a moment. "I have no idea if it's true, but it does sound like our gal."

 She gets a look of shock "Oh my! I thought I was the only one who knew, but this sure does sound like Maghiel who is behind all this." She looks around to make sure no one is paying attention "Perhaps we should discuss this in private. We shouldn't strike fear in the hearts of others."

"Ha!" Chikra says, clapping Hallanann on the back. "That sounds more useful than the tripe they're spouting over by the sledges. Someone tried to convince me that creatures from another world have secretly been infiltrating ours." She crosses her arms. "Probably trying to see how gullible newcomers are." Chikra is Slitherin, ratfolk. Well shy of 5 feet, her white fur is clean and neat, but missing or grown in slightly askew in places where there are obvious scars. She has several weapons on her, including a tail blade, and a shield, but no visible armor. She turns to the group. "Drinks?"

Osso

"Drinks? Now talk Osso talk!!" His enthusiasm is catching. "Me, Osso Greyclaw. Friend to Tella. Make good friends before, but looks like they not make it, but Tella does" his Common is broken almost like it's a second language. He stands just under four and a half feet with hair the colour of sandstone in a low cut mowhawk and matching beard in three even plaits. His well tanned skin covered in tattoos that no doubt tell a story of his people. A gleaming Greataxe sits in a scabbard across his back with matching hand axes hanging off each hip. He wears only loose brown chaps with a black sash as a belt. 

"I think I'll pass on the drinks, this time, Chikra," Hallanann responds to his diminutive friend's offer. "I would like to get started on selling one or two items so I can start to prepare for our journey into the desert."

“I shall also pass on the drinks, unless it is water. Man, it’s hot out here. How do people survive like this?” Krusk asks. He also says, “I will accompany Hallanann just to make sure he doesn’t get in any trouble,” as he pats the weapons on his back.

"I don't drink, so I'll pass as well." Tella has long, dark-purple hair that goes down to half her waste. Her eyes are hazel all around with the snake-like pupil in their center, wearing a set of traveler's clothes consisting of a loose white shirt and a light purple wool skirt.

"A frosty tank'rd do bes soundin' good 'bout now," Vor say agreeably.  He'll hoist one with Chikra and Ossa if their still interested.

"Waters for whoever doesn't want ale, and we can exchange notes on this mess somewhere other than the street," Chikra says.