Session 1: Glory begets glory

21st day of Rest in Sun Descending, Year of Priest's Defiance

As our heroes are entering the Stadium, Aram quickly looks over his shoulder and tells them he has knowledge of what is waiting and how they fight. Once the knowledge has been shared, they all enter the Stadium to the cheering of the people.

Inside they face off 3 Silt Runners, small aggressive reptile people from the desert. But they are not match to the trio and after a few seconds, they have made very short work of the reptile people. The spectators seem happy enough, and after the fight, Farbo (one of the arena-masters) comes up and says:

You did reasonably well out there, quite a few in the crowd seemed to like you. You should come back for more fights. Remember, gladiatorial fights run here at the Stadium the last 10 days of every month. We are quickly filling up, but I can surely find room for you, if you have the entrance fee and wish to come back.

Following that, our (yet unnamed) heroes sign up for another match, later the same night.

Heading out from the Stadium, they mow their way through crowds of people everywhere, towards the Warrens and their home inn, the Fallen Dragon.

On the way through the streets of Tyr, the PC’s watch a woman get dragged out in the street by some guards. A Templar is overseeing. The woman is screaming.

In the name of King Tithian, first of his name, you have been found guilty of treason against the great city of Tyr. Your punishment will be exile for eternity. Guards, send her away.

Treason? TREASON??? I refused to sleep with you, you disgusting kank-lover.

The woman spits in the face of the templar, much to the delight to a great number of people in the crowd. At least amongst those standing in the back.

On second hand, exile might be too lenient. You there, cut off her head.

The templar says. The guard spoken to hesitates.

Now, or it will be your head rolling on the street soon enough.

The guards force her to her knees and are about to decapitates her, when the PC's intervene. With quick tongues and good knowledge of the rules, they "convince" Templar Horation that it is not in his best interest to execute the woman right now. She must pass before neutral 3 judges. Knowing he had no case against her, he sets her free. The woman, a half-elf named Tina, is very grateful, although not as much as Aram would like.

The PC's arrive at the inn of the Fallen Dragon, and there they meet Argul, a dwarf merchant with some odd tribal? tattoos on his head.

Hello there, good sirs, a pleasure to meet with you in person. I saw you at the Stadium today, and you seem like just the type of men who could do a job for me. How do you feel about exploring Under-Tyr?

I am glad that you are interested in my proposition. I have recently come into a map that shows were a treasure it buried in Under-Tyr. I am however not much for risking my own hide at these things; wife and kids, you know. So I am looking for some enterprising and courageous young souls to do it for me. I will pay you, of course. 

Unfortunately, as you might know, entrances to Under-Tyr are few and far between. And I do not know of one. So your first job would be to find out how to access Under-Tyr, preferably around the Caravan District. Then, once you have that information, you will need to enter Under-Tyr, find a specific location and extract the treasure.
I am willing to share with you, 50-50, although if there are any things with a seashell upon, they are mine by default. 50-50 seems fair. I know the location, and you can go there.

After the deal is done, they agree that they will first find an access-point to Under-Tyr, then get the placement of the crypt from Argul.

They spend the rest of the afternoon looking for such a place down in the Caravan District, but with no luck. Then they head back to the Stadium, to fight the second fight of the day. This time they face some human psions, so the match is not to the death. Just as the first fight, this one is quickly done, with Aram downing all foes in quick succession.

As the fight is done, Aram, Dante and Erevan hear that King Tithian has announced he will be speaking to the city later on, so they stay at the Stadium, waiting for the speech. Slowly the great Stadium fills up with the inhabitants of Tyr, and finally King Tithian arrives on the Great Pyramid, flanked by two of his templars.

Greetings fellow citizens of Tyr. I have called upon you today, because we are facing a most grave decision, and I want everyone to think about how we can solve our problem.
In two months minus two days, the Dragon is coming to Tyr in order to collect. Previously, under Kalak, it was always slaves that were given to the Dragon. But slaves are no more in Tyr (lots of cheering) and now we must face this together. From now and for the next month, I will be accepting ideas and suggestions as to how deal with the problem. Any idea you may have, pass on along one of my templars on scroll or by word of mouth, and they will pass the ideas on to me. The best idea will then be used. Lets hope someone comes up with something. Needless to say, there is little need to suggest that we might fight the Dragon. Let me make this clear. The Dragon can’t be vanquished.

It demands 200 adults.

Good luck, and my your collective wisdom shine upon Tyr.

After the speech, the PC's return to the Fallen Dragon Inn, and get a good night's rest.

22nd day of Rest in Sun Descending, Year of Priest's Defiance

The PC's head back towards the Caravan District, where they look for someone who can help them get to Under-Tyr. After about 4 hours of asking, bribing and cajoling people, they find an old woman called Gherra in a small room in a small house, laying on a divan, smoking something from a glass pipe.

There is such a place, that I know off. Down in the Caravan District, there is an abandoned pawn-shop called “Karlen’s Eye”. Down in the cellar, there is a trapdoor, which opens up to a tunnel that leads down to Under-Tyr. But beware, Karlen is very skilled with a sword, even for a half-giant, and should you get past him, you might also run into members of the Toothcutters, one of Tyr’s many thieves guilds. Allegedly, they pay Karlen to use the trapdoor.

Before heading down to Karlen's, they swing by Argul and get the instructions and map on how to find the crypt. Then they go procure some water. Dante and Erevan buy it, while Aram intimates some beggars to give up their water for cheap.

At Karlen's they quickly negotiate a deal. He even offers to cut the prize in half, if he and Amar can take a fight out in the backyard. The fight is very quickly done. Aram is allowed to go first, and misses. Karlen quickly busts Amar's knee, forcing him to the ground and proceeds to knock him unconscious before he can get up.

A little later, with Amar back on his feet, Amar, Dante and Erevan head down into Under-Tyr. There they quickly stumble over some Toothcutters guarding the entrance. One by one, they are lured into the darkness, away from their light, where Dante strangles them with his garrote.

Moving on, the PC's start navigating what can only be described as a maze of tunnels, but due to their combined efforts, they quickly and fairly easily find the crypt.

After Dante picks the locks of the stone door, a beautiful spectral girl rises from the floor.

You are trespassing, good lords. You must turn around now, I beg you. You must not disturb this Tomb.

The PC's try to find out more about her, but she only tells them that she is the guardian and that they must not enter. When Dante does so anyway, she transforms to a hideous looking spectral hag and attacks. The combat is quick but lethal, and more than one feels quiet "drained" after it. But they have little choice but to carry on.

They enter the crypt, and find a sarcophagus. As they open it, it sets off several things. The outer door closes, poisonous gas starts to fill up the room, and a magical construct of obsidian and bone come up from the floor. The battle is one, and very hard. As the magical guardian die, most of the PC's are almost dead, and only quick thinking from Aram and Dante save their lives as they get out of the room quickly.

In the sarcophagus, there is 4 potions, 7 (real) gold pieces (each worth 100 gold bits) and a stone plaque with the seashell rune and some sort of symbol on.