SESSION 2
OOC DATE: 03/07/26
IC DATE: 8th Jadewind 1500 AF
PLAYERS: DUGGOR, GRACK, SARYA & VANDREN
SUMMARY
Following their earlier adventures in Kemet, the party were introduced to Elias Harcourt, a junior factor of the Green Harbor Trading Company, through Duggor’s bardic ally Faelora Starlute. Faelora described Elias as an ambitious up-and-comer within the company, looking for capable allies who might aid his rise through the ranks.
The party travelled to Green Harbor House, a vast trading fortress on the outskirts of Sarendib. The building mixed Rohalian trading-house architecture with Khemeti fortress elements, its public hall filled with merchants, caravan masters, petitioners, clerks, servants, trade records, shouting voices and the constant bustle of commerce. Elias met the party there and took them to a private smoking room to explain the matter he wished them to investigate.
Elias explained that a Green Harbor merchant named Farzad Nassour had recently been murdered. Rumours claimed he had been killed with black lotus poison, a method associated with the Ras-Godai, the demon-faced assassins. Elias had no proof that they were responsible, but Farzad’s death was troubling. Farzad had recently returned from Samarkand, the City of Thieves, and there was almost no official paper trail explaining what he had been doing there.
Elias asked the party to travel to Samarkand on his behalf, discover why Farzad had gone there, learn who he had met, recover any missing documents, and determine whether Farzad’s activities had placed the Green Harbor Trading Company at risk. In return, Elias offered to pay for river passage north, promised a reward of 300 gp if the matter was resolved, and suggested that success might allow him to sponsor the party for Green Harbor membership.
Before leaving, the party searched Farzad’s locked quarters in Green Harbor House. They found a Green Harbor caravan seal with a unique caravan number, a scrap of parchment reading “Silvered Cup - second bell,” traces of strange black powder, a hidden empty compartment beneath a floor tile, and a brass disc marked with a black triangle. Elias later confirmed that the caravan seal belonged to a caravan officially listed as destroyed by desert raiders, though the paperwork around the caravan was suspiciously sparse. The caravan had also been travelling to Samarkand.
The party set out by river, travelling along the Kamar and then the Black Euphrate. During the journey, Azita Shariati pointed out several important landmarks. They passed the Screaming Pillars, said to be haunted by the Crimson Reavers, and later saw distant lands associated with the Blue Dune Tribes, the Scorpion’s Spine, the Ras-Godai stronghold known as the House of a Thousand Masks, the floating sky city of Zul, and the City of Shade ruled by the Zul Priests.
After several days, the party arrived in Samarkand, a mountain city of thieves, smugglers, merchants, gang bosses and criminals. They learned that the city was ruled by the Council of Forty Keys, whose members wore ornate keys as symbols of office and supposedly met within the Palace of Forty Doors. In Samarkand, bribery, theft, blackmail and murder were accepted parts of political life, provided the stability of the city itself was not threatened.
Following Farzad’s clue, the party located the Silvered Cup at the second bell. They took rooms, drank wine, smoked shisha, and observed the tavern. Later, a wealthy veiled woman entered and questioned the proprietor, Jamshi Desh, about Farzad. Sarya overheard the conversation and approached her. The woman introduced herself as Zuleikha Al-Nasir, a broker who had planned to help Farzad sell a ledger and other documents.
Zuleikha revealed that Farzad’s documents included Green Harbor caravan numbers, lists of payments to Green Harbor officials and people in Samarkand, older paperwork, descriptions of ancient relics, and references to something called the Hollow Crown. She had only seen a small sample of the documents before Farzad disappeared. When shown the black powder from Farzad’s room, Zuleikha identified it as dust from the Black Stair, a wealthy road in Samarkand built from dark stone said to have been dredged from the lost pyramids of ancient Kemet.
The party accompanied Zuleikha to her estate on the Black Stair, where she offered hospitality. During discussions, they concluded that Farzad had likely uncovered compromising information involving Green Harbor caravans, bribes and illicit activity, then attempted to sell the evidence. Zayid Al-Marid identified the Hollow Crown as an ancient pharaonic symbol of authority, suggesting Farzad’s documents may also have contained information about lost Khemeti relics.
Zuleikha advised that the Bazaar of Lost Things would be the best place to search if the ledger or related documents had been sold or fenced within Samarkand. The party visited the bazaar that evening. There they found a suspicious crate of fine silks bearing a hastily painted-over Green Harbor mark, suggesting stolen or diverted company goods were being sold. Sarya examined several unidentified wands and, after some haggling and deception, bought a Wand of Invisibility for 30 gp. Vandren haggled over fake antiquities and purchased a small obsidian statue of Shu the Vile.
While returning through the bazaar, Vandren was seized in an alley by a cloaked female assassin. She held a poisoned dagger to his throat and demanded to know where the ledger was. She showed him a note in Farzad’s handwriting reading, “Where 40 doors stand, seek the one which casts no shadow.” The rest of the party intervened. Sarya used her new Wand of Invisibility to get behind the assassin, while Duggor charged in and smashed her into a wall, knocking her unconscious.
When questioned, the assassin revealed herself as Layla Saffar. She had been hired by Jamal Veyr of the Green Harbor Trading Company to kill Farzad and recover the ledger. Jamal believed the ledger contained compromising information that would threaten his position within the company. Layla confirmed that she had killed Farzad with black lotus poison but had failed to recover the ledger. She believed Farzad had hidden it somewhere in Samarkand, probably near the Palace of Forty Doors.
The party debated whether Layla could be allowed to live. Duggor was wary of letting a dangerous assassin walk free, while Vandren and the others considered whether her contract-bound nature could be used to their advantage. Vandren briefly revealed his demonic possession, taking on a jackal-headed aspect in an attempt to intimidate her, but Layla remained composed and revealed she had already slipped free of her bonds.
Rather than killing her, the party negotiated a temporary alliance with Layla. She agreed to meet them at the Bazaar of Lost Things the following morning so they could search for the door that casts no shadow. After reclaiming most of her poisoned daggers, Layla threw down a glass vial that filled the alley with thick smoke and vanished into the night. The session ended with the party planning to meet Layla at dawn and continue the search for Farzad’s hidden ledger.
NPCS
Faelora Starlute
Elven bard ally of Duggor.
Arranged the party’s introduction to Elias Harcourt.
Described Elias as ambitious and useful, but not yet powerful within Green Harbor.
Elias Harcourt
Junior factor of the Green Harbor Trading Company.
Ambitious and keen to improve his position within the company.
Asked the party to investigate Farzad Nassour’s death and missing paper trail.
Offered to pay for passage to Samarkand.
Promised 300 gp if the investigation was successful.
Suggested he might sponsor the party for Green Harbor membership if the matter advanced his career.
Farzad Nassour
Deceased Green Harbor merchant.
Recently murdered after returning from Samarkand.
Rumoured to have been killed with black lotus poison.
Had discovered or gathered compromising documents involving Green Harbor caravans, payments and officials.
Planned to sell a ledger and other documents through Zuleikha Al-Nasir.
Left a clue reading:
“Where 40 doors stand, seek the one which casts no shadow.”
Green Harbor Steward
Polite servant who escorted the party to Farzad’s quarters.
Remained outside the room while they searched.
Confirmed that private chambers could not normally be entered by staff.
Suggested the black powder looked like unusual ancient stone dust.
Azita Shariati
Young woman aboard the river boat to Samarkand.
Shared local legends and geographical knowledge.
Warned the party about the Crimson Reavers near the Screaming Pillars.
Pointed out the Scorpion’s Spine, the House of a Thousand Masks, Zul and the City of Shade.
Jamshi Desh
Proprietor of the Silvered Cup.
Provided the party with rooms, wine, food and shisha.
Confirmed that Farzad had stayed at the Silvered Cup but had left abruptly.
Was questioned by Zuleikha Al-Nasir about Farzad’s whereabouts.
Zuleikha Al-Nasir
Wealthy noblewoman and broker in Samarkand.
Lives on the Black Stair.
Specialises in connecting buyers and sellers.
Had planned to help Farzad sell his ledger and documents.
Possessed a sample of Farzad’s records for authentication.
Identified the black dust as dust from the Black Stair.
Hosted the party at her estate under the laws of hospitality.
Asked that, if the party found Farzad’s documents and chose to sell them, they bring them to her first.
Zayid Al-Marid
Sarya’s apprentice.
Identified the Hollow Crown as an ancient pharaonic symbol of authority.
Warned the party that the Ras-Godai are greatly feared and known to follow their own code.
Grimvar
Valkonnen thug associated with the party.
Offered blunt advice during the investigation.
Suggested Farzad may simply have angered the wrong person.
Remained uncomfortable in Zuleikha’s luxurious estate.
Layla Saffar
Professional assassin.
Hired by Jamal Veyr to kill Farzad and recover the ledger.
Uses black lotus poison on her blades.
Killed Farzad but failed to recover the ledger.
Believes Farzad hid the ledger somewhere in Samarkand.
Temporarily allied with the party after being captured.
Agreed to meet the party at the Bazaar of Lost Things the following morning.
Escaped using a smoke vial.
Jamal Veyr
Green Harbor Company member.
Hired Layla Saffar to kill Farzad and recover the ledger.
Paid half of Layla’s 1,000 gp fee in advance.
Wanted the ledger because it contained compromising information that could damage his position.
Appears to be involved in Green Harbor corruption.
Unknown Wand Merchant
Trader in the Bazaar of Lost Things.
Sold several unidentified wands.
Was tricked by Sarya into selling the Wand of Invisibility cheaply.
Old Hamed Turock
Bazaar merchant known for dubious “ancient” swords.
Tried to sell Vandren a fake ancient Khemeti bastard sword.
Sold Vandren an obsidian statue of Shune the Vile.
LOCATIONS
Sarendib
Oasis city and main base of the campaign.
Green Harbor House is located on its outskirts.
Farzad was killed after returning here from Samarkand.
Green Harbor House
Headquarters of the Green Harbor Trading Company in Kemet.
Built like a mixture of trading house, bazaar and fortress.
Where the party met Elias Harcourt.
Contains private chambers for trusted traders.
Elias Harcourt’s Smoking Room
Private room within Green Harbor House.
Draped with green silks and furnished with cushions and a shisha pipe.
Elias briefed the party here.
Farzad’s Quarters
Locked private rooms within Green Harbor House.
Preserved after Farzad’s death.
Contained the caravan seal, Silvered Cup note, black powder, hidden empty compartment and black triangle token.
River Qamar
River route used to travel north from Green Harbor.
Elias paid for the party’s passage along it.
Black Euphrate River
River joined after the Kamar.
Took the party toward the mountains and Samarkand.
Screaming Pillars
Desert mesas surrounded by a permanent sandstorm.
Said to be home to the Crimson Reavers.
Passed during the river journey.
Scorpion’s Spine
Mountain range associated with the Blue Dune Tribes.
Rumoured location of the Ras-Godai stronghold.
House of a Thousand Masks
Legendary stronghold of the Ras-Godai.
Said to lie deep within the Scorpion’s Spine.
Discussed as a possible but extremely dangerous future lead.
Zul
The last of the sky cities.
A floating island high above the desert.
Considered sacred by the Zul Priests.
City of Shade
City beneath Zul.
Stronghold of the Zul Priests.
Samarkand
Mountain city known as the City of Thieves.
Built among steep slopes, narrow ravines, crooked streets, rope bridges and red sandstone towers.
Ruled by the Council of Forty Keys.
Welcomes anyone with coin to spend.
Theft, bribery, blackmail and murder are accepted parts of political life.
The Silvered Cup
Tavern and smoking house in Samarkand.
Identified by the clue “Silvered Cup - second bell.”
Run by Jamshi Desh.
Where the party met Zuleikha Al-Nasir.
The party rented rooms here.
The Black Stair
Wealthy road and district in Samarkand.
Built from dark blue-black stone.
Said to have been made from stones dredged from lost pyramids of ancient Kemet.
Source of the black dust found in Farzad’s room.
Zuleikha Al-Nasir’s Estate
Luxurious walled estate on the Black Stair.
Protected by guards and served by numerous staff.
The party were hosted here as guests.
Site of key discussions about Farzad’s documents, the Hollow Crown and the ledger.
Bazaar of Lost Things
Vast market in Samarkand.
Open at all hours.
Sells almost anything, including stolen goods, forged papers, weapons, wands, relics, narcotics and supposed antiquities.
It is considered rude to ask where goods came from.
The party found suspicious Green Harbor goods here.
Palace of Forty Doors
Seat of the Council of Forty Keys.
Believed to be connected to Farzad’s clue.
The next major lead in the search for the ledger.
TREASURE
Green Harbor caravan seal:
Marked with a unique caravan ID.
Belonged to a caravan officially listed as destroyed by desert raiders.
Scrap of parchment:
“Silvered Cup - second bell.”
Strange black powder:
Found in Farzad’s room.
Identified as dust from the Black Stair.
Brass disc marked with a black triangle.
Sample of Farzad’s documents:
Held by Zuleikha Al-Nasir.
Lists caravan numbers and payments to Green Harbor officials and people in Samarkand.
Wand of Invisibility:
Bought by Sarya for 30 gp.
Identified after examining several unidentified wands.
Other wands identified but not purchased:
Wand of Alarm.
Wand of Cloudkill.
Obsidian statue of Shu the Vile:
Bought by Vandren for 16 gp.
Worth approximately 15 gp.
One poisoned dagger retained from Layla Saffar.
Potential future reward:
300 gp from Elias Harcourt if the investigation is successfully resolved.
Possible sponsorship into the Green Harbor Trading Company.
OPEN THREADS
Where is Farzad’s hidden ledger?
What does “Where 40 doors stand, seek the one which casts no shadow” mean?
Which door at the Palace of Forty Doors casts no shadow?
Can Layla Saffar be trusted?
Will Layla betray the party once the ledger is found?
What exactly is in the ledger?
Which Green Harbor officials were receiving payments?
Which Samarkand figures were involved in the payments?
How deeply is Jamal Veyr involved in Green Harbor corruption?
Is Jamal acting alone or as part of a wider conspiracy?
What was the destroyed Green Harbor caravan really carrying?
Was the caravan actually destroyed by desert raiders?
What is the significance of the brass disc marked with a black triangle?
What is the Hollow Crown?
Where is the Hollow Crown now?
Why was Farzad gathering information about ancient relics?
Were the Ras-Godai truly involved, or was black lotus used to frame them?
Will the House of a Thousand Masks become relevant later?
Can Elias Harcourt be trusted?
Is Green Harbor membership worth pursuing?
What will Zuleikha Al-Nasir do if the party recovers the ledger?
Will Vandren seek out the smoke shapers of Samarkand?
NEXT SESSION
Planned Destination
The Bazaar of Lost Things.
The Palace of Forty Doors.
Party Status
Farzad Nassour’s murder investigated.
Farzad’s quarters searched.
The Silvered Cup clue followed.
The party travelled to Samarkand.
Zuleikha Al-Nasir contacted.
The black dust traced to the Black Stair.
The Hollow Crown identified as an ancient pharaonic symbol of authority.
Suspicious Green Harbor goods discovered in the Bazaar of Lost Things.
Sarya acquired a Wand of Invisibility.
Vandren acquired an obsidian statue of Shu the Vile.
Layla Saffar captured, questioned and temporarily allied with the party.
No XP or carousing resolved yet; this was deferred until the end of the next session.
Objectives
Meet Layla Saffar in the Bazaar of Lost Things at 8:00 a.m.
Travel to the Palace of Forty Doors.
Search for the door that casts no shadow.
Recover Farzad’s hidden ledger.
Determine how Jamal Veyr and Green Harbor are implicated.
Decide whether to return the ledger to Elias, sell it through Zuleikha, use it as leverage, or pursue another option.