SESSION 4
OOC DATE: 31/07/2026
IC DATE: 25th Jadewind 1500 AF
IC TIME PASSED: Approximately 7-8 days, including Greenharbour induction, Jamal Veyr’s execution, the Sula river mission, return to Sarendib, and downtime
PLAYERS: DUGGOR, VANDREN & GRACK
SUMMARY
The session began after the party returned to Sarendib with the evidence recovered from Sarmarkesh. With the aid of Layla Saffar, they had uncovered Farzad Nassour’s ledger, proving that Jamal Veyr, a senior member of the Greenharbour Company, had been siphoning company profits and diverting resources to the Cult of the Black Pyramid.
The party presented the ledger and supporting evidence to Elias Harcourt at Greenharbour House. Elias thanked them and explained that the company had friends in high places who would ensure Jamal was dealt with. Impressed by their resourcefulness, he offered the party full membership in the Greenharbour Company.
The party discussed the offer. They noted that the company was wealthy, influential, useful and mercantile, though not morally spotless. They also acknowledged that some elements within the company had already proved willing to use assassination and illegal dealings, but decided that membership would give them contacts, resources and opportunities. They accepted the offer for the time being.
The party swore the Merchant’s Oath before the company’s ledger of founding accounts. The oath required them to protect company property and assets, deliver contracted goods and services faithfully, share newly discovered trade opportunities with the company, avoid damaging the company’s reputation, and obey lawful instructions issued by company superiors.
Their names were entered into the company records. Each received an emerald green sash marked with the Greenharbour Company logo and a round brass trade token engraved with their name, membership number and the Greenharbour symbol. As a group, their combined standing unlocked Greenharbour contacts in major settlements and access to mundane equipment on company credit.
A couple of days later, the party were invited to attend the high-profile public execution of Jamal Veyr. Heavy sandstorms had blanketed Sarendib and the surrounding region, but the execution drew a major crowd. Elias Harcourt arranged a raised box for the party at the place of execution.
The party saw Sultan Hashim Sassan, the Blue Sultan, seated in a royal box with bronze-masked palace guards. He was tall, slender, blue-skinned and wore a golden mask over his face. Rumours circulated among the crowd: some claimed his face had been disfigured in battle, while others believed he hid his identity so he could walk among the people unnoticed.
Jamal Veyr was led out, bound and dishevelled, accompanied by guards and a hooded executioner. The charges of sedition against the Sultanate and aiding a forbidden cult were read aloud. When asked for final words, Jamal declared that the Black Pyramid had already begun its work, that the Dark Pharaoh would sweep away the Sultan’s empire, and that ancient Kemet would be restored.
The Sultan calmly replied that perhaps the Sultanate would fall, but if it did, Jamal would not live to see it. He gave the signal, and Jamal was beheaded.
Vandren reflected that Jamal had been a wealthy and important man, not the sort of desperate beggar easily tempted by promises of a better life. Elias suggested that men who already possess great wealth sometimes seek stranger and more unnatural pleasures. He also said that Jamal’s associates within the company were being investigated and that further, less public executions might follow as Greenharbour purged itself of compromised elements.
The Sultan then addressed Elias and the party directly, acknowledging that the party had helped bring Jamal’s treachery to light. He granted the party one favour each, warning them with some amusement not to be greedy.
Duggor asked for plate armour so he could better continue his duty. The Sultan ordered that he be provided with a fine suit of plate. Vandren asked for access to the Sultan’s library, saying he prized knowledge. The Sultan granted him permission to study there. Grack asked for nothing, which amused the Sultan, who remarked that perhaps he was the wisest of them all. Sarya’s favour was left to be resolved later, as her player was absent.
After the execution, the party returned to Greenharbour House. Elias, now rising in company status thanks to the party’s success, offered them paid work. A Greenharbour vessel was travelling up the Saffron Serpent River to the oasis town of Sula to trade for its prized silver camels. Recent sandstorms had delayed the shipment, and the company wanted capable guards to escort the cargo safely back to Sarendib.
The vessel was the Whispering Sands, captained by Rasheed Al-Bashir. The Greenharbour trader in charge of the commercial side of the expedition was Uran Yagmi. The party accepted the job, gathered supplies and prepared for the journey. Vandren used Greenharbour credit to help purchase mithril chainmail and sold his old leather armour. The party stocked up on rations, torches, oil and rope, and left excess gear in their new rooms at Greenharbour House.
The next day, the party travelled one day to Mourner’s Rock, where they met Captain Rasheed Al-Bashir and Uran Yagmi. The ship was loaded with trade goods, including spices, cloth and other cargo intended to be exchanged for Sula’s silver camels. Rasheed was jovial, confident and proud of his vessel, assuring Uran that his crew could safely reach Sula and return with the valuable cargo.
The party boarded the Whispering Sands. The crew were experienced river-sailors, moving confidently through the rigging and deck. The ship cast off and began travelling along the Saffron Serpent River. To the west lay desert dunes, purple worm territory and the distant Scorpion Spine Mountains, where the House of a Thousand Masks, home of the feared Ras-Godai demon-masked assassins, was rumoured to stand.
During the journey, the party saw a small encampment of blue-skinned desert nomads near the river. The sailors whispered that seeing the Blue Dune Tribe so close to civilisation was a bad omen. The Sultan himself is one of the blue-skinned desert folk, though most of their people live as nomads in the deep desert and avoid large cities.
Later, the ship passed two large dolmen-like standing stones covered in ancient Kemetian hieroglyphics. Vandren and Duggor briefly saw two black-clad figures wearing grotesque black demonic masks near the stones. They vanished into the dunes. When the party alerted the crew, a strong smell of brimstone and sulphur filled the deck.
A black-robed, demon-masked Ras-Godai appeared in a burst of sulphurous smoke. He asked the ship’s destination. When told they were bound for Sula, he commanded them to keep to their course, then vanished in another burst of smoke. The crew were deeply unsettled, but Captain Rasheed argued that if the Ras-Godai had meant harm, they could have attacked without announcing themselves. The party suspected the assassin’s appearance was a warning not to stray too near Ras-Godai territory.
As the voyage continued, Captain Rasheed appeared to spot something through a brass spyglass in the western desert. Vandren tried to listen in on his conversation with Hassan, the first mate, and heard enough to learn that Rasheed believed a map had proven accurate. Hassan and Rasheed discussed completing the current job, returning the camels safely to Sarendib, and then gathering men to investigate a necropolis in the desert.
Duggor later found Rasheed’s dropped spyglass and used it to look west. He spotted what appeared to be the top of a buried structure, perhaps a steeple or similar architectural feature, protruding from the dunes about a day’s travel away. The party marked the possible necropolis on their map but agreed that their first duty was to complete the Greenharbour contract.
That night, the party decided to keep watch aboard the ship. During Duggor’s watch, a dark-clad figure crept from the shadows below deck and moved toward Vandren’s hammock with a curved dagger. Duggor tried to grab him, waking Vandren and Grack just as the attacker shouted, “Thus perish all who defy the Black Pyramid!”
Vandren rolled from his hammock just in time, avoiding the dagger. Grack tried to smash the attacker’s hand with his mace, while Vandren drew his tomb sword from the floor and slashed at the attacker’s ankle, badly wounding him. Duggor then kicked the attacker unconscious. When the figure cried out, the party recognised his voice as Hassan, the first mate.
Captain Rasheed arrived, shocked and ashamed that one of his trusted officers had attacked guests aboard his ship. Hassan was taken to the captain’s cabin, tied to a chair and revived with smelling spices. Under questioning, he revealed that he served the Black Pyramid. The Black Pharaoh had ordered that all those who interfered with his plans must die.
Vandren showed Hassan the Black Pyramid medallion he had taken from a previous cultist, pretending to be a fellow cult member. Hassan believed him and begged forgiveness, claiming he had not known Vandren had joined the brotherhood. He said the Vizier, second-in-command to the Pharaoh, had sent the party’s descriptions to cult members and ordered their deaths. The Vizier did not use ordinary messengers but sent dreams: terrible, wonderful dreams of dark cities rising from the sand and armies of ancient Kemet marching forth.
Hassan began slipping back into cultic fervour and was knocked unconscious again. Captain Rasheed apologised to the party and realised that Hassan’s corruption explained the map he had recently brought him. The map showed the buried necropolis Duggor had spotted earlier. Hassan had apparently encouraged Rasheed to investigate it, claiming it was a tomb-city full of ancient wealth and artefacts.
The party agreed that the necropolis was probably connected to the Black Pyramid and that they should investigate it after completing their current contract. Rasheed asked if they would accompany such an expedition, and the party agreed, hoping to prevent the Black Pyramid from recovering whatever lay there.
Rasheed then carried out shipboard justice. He gathered the crew, declared that Hassan had betrayed the ship’s hospitality and attacked guests aboard the vessel, and had him revived so he would not die unconscious. Hassan began to speak again of the Black Pyramid, but Rasheed cut his throat before he could continue and had his body thrown into the river. To steady the shaken crew, Rasheed opened a barrel of wine and toasted the health of his brothers of the river.
The ship reached Sula a few hours later. Sula was a wealthy oasis town known for breeding rare silver-furred two-humped camels. Each camel was said to be worth around 200 gp, and they were prized as war mounts because they were much more disciplined and battle-ready than ordinary camels. Though Sula was small, its buildings were well maintained and its merchants displayed considerable wealth in the form of jewellery and fine clothing.
While the silver camels were loaded onto the Whispering Sands, much of the crew went ashore to drink and relax. Duggor went to bathe in the clear oasis waters. Grack remained aboard, watching the docks. Vandren stayed near the cargo to make sure the camels were properly secured and to make a good impression on the company’s first mission.
The same merchant who sold the camels also arranged for several huge barrels of wine to be loaded aboard for Captain Rasheed. While watching the cargo, Vandren heard movement from inside one of the barrels. He knocked on it and asked who was inside. The barrel burst open and a black-clad Crimson Reaver in a crimson turban leapt out, attacking him with a sword.
Vandren raised the alarm. The crew surrounded the attacker, but he let out a high-pitched war cry. From below deck came the sound of smashing barrels as more Crimson Reavers burst free. Some of the crew rushed below to fight them, while others stayed on deck. Duggor, interrupted mid-bath, hurried back toward the ship.
A brief battle broke out on deck. Vandren fought the Reaver who had emerged from the barrel. Grack engaged another with his mace. The crew battled the remaining Reavers. Vandren cut down one Reaver after rushing to Grack’s aid, while Duggor climbed aboard and killed the Reaver trying to escape over the side by cutting him down as he leapt into the water. Captain Rasheed and his men finished off the remaining attackers.
Furious, Rasheed realised the Reavers had been hidden in the wine barrels loaded by the merchant. He and his crew stormed back onto the docks and seized the merchant. Under threat, the merchant confessed that he had a deal with the Crimson Reavers: he sold valuable goods to travellers, tipped off the Reavers, and after the travellers were attacked and killed, the goods were returned to him so he could sell them again.
Rasheed asked whether the merchant should be killed on the spot or taken back to face the Sultan’s justice. The party decided that a public judgement by the Sultan would serve better. The merchant was bound and guarded aboard the ship.
With the camels safely stowed and the ship checked for further hidden attackers, the Whispering Sands began the return journey. The party passed the dolmens and the Blue Dune Tribe encampment again. After a day and a half, they reached Mourner’s Rock, then returned to Sarendib. The treacherous merchant was handed over to the Sapphire Guard and forced to confess before being thrown into the deep jails beneath the palace.
The silver camels were delivered safely to Greenharbour House. The party received 200 gp each as reward for the successful contract. Grack also received the 200 gp share that had been set aside for him from the previous session’s treasure.
During downtime, Vandren repaid his 50 gp Greenharbour credit. The party learned more about the Crimson Reavers: they are not merely bandits, but a confederation of desert raiders, escaped criminals, soldiers and nomads who prey on caravans, pilgrims, tomb expeditions and isolated oases. They use spies and informants in settlements, and their red veils and banners are dyed with ochre, rust and sometimes blood.
The party then undertook individual downtime activities. Grack performed martial training and successfully gained +1 to hit and damage with his mace. Duggor attempted martial training to increase a weapon’s damage die, but failed; his next attempt at the same training will be easier. Vandren continued his longsword training and succeeded, gaining +1 to hit and damage with longswords. Grack also undertook spiritual fortification from a previous missed downtime opportunity and gained 2 XP.
Each character gained 3 XP from the session. With more coin than they could comfortably carry, the party pooled money to purchase a modest private building in one of the poorer quarters of Sarendib for 500 gp. Though they had rooms at Greenharbour House, the party wanted somewhere independent of the company.
The session ended with the party planning to investigate the buried necropolis next. They expect Black Pyramid involvement, possible undead, ancient treasures, buried dangers and perhaps something too powerful for anyone to safely possess.
NPCS
Elias Harcourt
Greenharbour Company contact and patron.
Received the evidence against Jamal Veyr.
Offered the party full Greenharbour Company membership.
Arranged for them to attend Jamal’s execution.
Benefited politically from the party exposing Jamal.
Assigned the party to guard the Sula silver-camel shipment.
Jamal Veyr
Former senior Greenharbour Company member.
Exposed as a traitor and Black Pyramid collaborator.
Executed publicly for sedition and aiding a forbidden cult.
Died proclaiming that the Dark Pharaoh would restore ancient Kemet.
Sultan Hashim Sassan
The Blue Sultan of Kemet.
Tall, blue-skinned ruler wearing a golden mask.
Presided over Jamal Veyr’s execution.
Granted the party one favour each for exposing Jamal.
Gave Duggor plate armour.
Granted Vandren access to the Sultan’s library.
Considered Grack wise for asking nothing.
Captain Rasheed Al-Bashir
Captain of the Whispering Sands.
Confident, jovial and popular with his crew.
Hired to transport Greenharbour goods to Sula and return with silver camels.
Proud of his ship and his crew.
Shocked by Hassan’s betrayal.
Executed Hassan according to shipboard justice.
Asked the party to join a future expedition to the buried necropolis.
Hassan
First mate of the Whispering Sands.
Secret member of the Cult of the Black Pyramid.
Attempted to assassinate Vandren during the night.
Revealed that the Vizier sends cult orders through dreams.
Had provided Captain Rasheed with the necropolis map.
Executed by Rasheed and thrown into the river.
Uran Yagmi
Greenharbour Company trader.
Oversaw the commercial side of the Sula mission.
Responsible for trading Greenharbour goods for silver camels.
Nervous about the safety of the cargo.
Ras-Godai Assassin
Black-robed demon-masked assassin.
Appeared on the Whispering Sands in sulphurous smoke.
Asked the ship’s destination.
Warned the party and crew to keep to their course.
Vanished as suddenly as he appeared.
Likely connected to the House of a Thousand Masks near the Scorpion Spine Mountains.
Blue Dune Tribe
Blue-skinned desert nomads.
Seen camped unusually close to the Saffron Serpent River.
Their presence near civilisation was considered a bad omen by some sailors.
The Sultan is also one of the blue-skinned desert folk, though he is unusual in ruling from a city.
Crimson Reavers
Desert raider confederation.
Hid inside wine barrels loaded onto the Whispering Sands.
Attacked the party and crew in Sula.
Connected to a corrupt Sula merchant.
Known to prey on caravans, pilgrims, tomb expeditions and isolated oases.
Use spies and informants in settlements.
Red veils and banners are dyed with ochre, rust and sometimes blood.
Corrupt Sula Merchant
Sold the silver camels to the Greenharbour Company.
Also arranged for “wine barrels” to be loaded aboard the Whispering Sands.
Hid Crimson Reavers inside the barrels.
Confessed to selling goods, informing the Reavers, then reselling recovered merchandise after victims were killed.
Taken back to Sarendib to face the Sultan’s justice.
Imprisoned in the deep jails beneath the palace.
The Vizier
Second-in-command to the Dark Pharaoh.
Sends orders to Black Pyramid agents through dreams.
Distributed the party’s descriptions to cult members.
Ordered their deaths for interfering with the Black Pyramid’s plans.
The Dark Pharaoh
Leader or figurehead of the Cult of the Black Pyramid.
Jamal Veyr died proclaiming his coming victory.
His cult seeks to restore ancient Kemet.
His followers speak of dark cities rising from the sand and ancient armies marching again.
LOCATIONS
Sarendib
Blue Jewel of the Dunes.
Starting and ending city of the session.
Site of Greenharbour House and the Sultan’s palace.
Jamal Veyr was publicly executed here.
The party bought a modest private building in one of its poorer quarters.
Greenharbour House
Greenharbour Company compound in Sarendib.
The party joined the company here.
The party now each has a basic room here.
The silver camels were delivered here after the mission.
Sultan’s Place of Execution
Public execution site in Sarendib.
Jamal Veyr was beheaded here.
Sultan Hashim Sassan recognised the party’s service here.
Sultan’s Library
Prestigious library belonging to Sultan Hashim Sassan.
Vandren was granted access as his favour from the Sultan.
May be useful for future research into ancient Kemet, the Black Pyramid, the Hollow Crown or other occult matters.
Mourner’s Rock
Stop between Sarendib and the Saffron Serpent River route.
The party travelled here to meet the Whispering Sands.
Later used as the return point before heading back to Sarendib.
The future necropolis expedition is expected to begin from here.
Whispering Sands
River vessel captained by Rasheed Al-Bashir.
Carried Greenharbour goods to Sula.
Transported the silver camels back toward Sarendib.
Site of Hassan’s attempted assassination of Vandren.
Site of Hassan’s execution.
Site of the Crimson Reaver barrel ambush.
Saffron Serpent River
Major river route used by the Whispering Sands.
Runs past desert dunes, purple worm territory and the distant Scorpion Spine Mountains.
The party saw Blue Dune nomads, ancient dolmens and Ras-Godai activity along this route.
Ancient Dolmens
Standing stones covered in old Kemetian hieroglyphics.
Located west of the Saffron Serpent River.
Two Ras-Godai figures were seen near them.
Their presence may mark territory, a boundary or an ancient site.
Scorpion Spine Mountains
Distant mountain range beyond the western dunes.
Rumoured location of the House of a Thousand Masks.
Associated with the Ras-Godai demon-masked assassins.
House of a Thousand Masks
Rumoured Ras-Godai base.
Believed to lie somewhere near or within the Scorpion Spine Mountains.
The party suspect the Ras-Godai seen near the dolmens may have been protecting their territory.
Sula
Wealthy oasis town.
Known for breeding rare silver-furred two-humped camels.
Its camels are prized as war mounts and worth around 200 gp each.
Site of the Crimson Reaver barrel ambush.
The corrupt merchant operated here.
Buried Necropolis
Partially buried ancient site west of the Saffron Serpent River.
Spotted through Captain Rasheed’s spyglass.
Marked on a map brought by Hassan.
Believed to be a tomb-city from ancient Kemet.
Likely connected to the Black Pyramid.
Planned destination for the next session.
TREASURE
Greenharbour Company membership:
Emerald green company sash.
Brass trade token with name, membership number and Greenharbour logo.
Access to company contacts in major settlements.
Access to mundane equipment on credit up to 25 gp per character level.
Duggor’s Sultan-granted plate armour:
Gift from Sultan Hashim Sassan.
Awarded for exposing Jamal Veyr.
Vandren’s access to the Sultan’s library:
Granted as a royal favour.
Useful for future research.
Mithril chainmail:
Purchased by Vandren using Greenharbour contacts and credit.
200 gp each:
Reward for safely returning the silver camels to Sarendib.
200 gp for Grack:
His reserved share from the previous session’s treasure.
Modest house in Sarendib:
Purchased by the party for 500 gp.
Located in one of the poorer quarters.
Independent of Greenharbour House.
MAGIC ITEMS
Tomb Sword
Vandren’s sword.
Used to wound Hassan during the assassination attempt.
Whispered, “Bring me the heads of my enemies,” while Vandren manipulated Hassan with the Black Pyramid medallion.
May possess an agenda or bloodthirsty personality.
Black Pyramid Medallion
Taken from a previous Black Pyramid cultist.
Used by Vandren to trick Hassan into thinking he was a fellow cult member.
Helped reveal the existence of the Vizier and dream-sent cult orders.
DOWNTIME
XP
Each character gained 3 XP from the session.
Grack also gained 2 XP from spiritual fortification for a previous missed downtime opportunity.
Grack’s Downtime
Undertook martial training.
Successfully gained +1 to hit and damage with his mace.
Also performed spiritual fortification.
Gained 2 XP from the spiritual downtime.
Duggor’s Downtime
Attempted martial training to increase a weapon’s damage die.
Failed the check.
Spent 50 gp.
Future attempt at the same training is easier.
Vandren’s Downtime
Continued martial training with longswords.
Succeeded after a previous failed attempt.
Gained +1 to hit and damage with longswords.
Repaid his 50 gp Greenharbour Company credit.
Party Property
The party pooled funds to buy a modest private building in Sarendib.
Cost: 500 gp.
Located in one of the poorer districts.
Bought because the party wanted somewhere independent of Greenharbour House.
OPEN THREADS
What is the buried necropolis?
What does the Black Pyramid want from the necropolis?
What did Hassan’s map truly reveal?
Who is the Vizier?
How many Black Pyramid agents are hidden in respectable positions?
Can the Vizier influence anyone through dreams?
What did Hassan mean by dark cities rising from the sand?
What is the true goal of the Dark Pharaoh?
Are the Ras-Godai guarding territory, warning trespassers, or pursuing their own agenda?
What is the significance of the ancient dolmens?
Why were the Blue Dune Tribe camped so near civilisation?
Will the Crimson Reavers retaliate for the failed barrel ambush?
How extensive is the Crimson Reaver spy network?
Will the corrupt Sula merchant reveal more under interrogation?
How will Greenharbour Company use the party now that they are members?
Will the company remain a useful patron or become a liability?
What can Vandren learn from the Sultan’s library?
What is the nature of Vandren’s tomb sword?
Will Sarya accept Greenharbour membership and claim a Sultan’s favour later?
What will the party do with their new house in Sarendib?
NEXT SESSION
Immediate Issues
Prepare for the expedition to the buried necropolis.
Decide what supplies to bring for a desert tomb-city expedition.
Coordinate with Captain Rasheed and any crew he intends to bring.
Decide how much to tell Greenharbour Company about the necropolis.
Consider researching the necropolis, ancient Kemet, the Black Pyramid or the Ras-Godai before departure.
Possible Future Directions
Explore the buried necropolis.
Interfere further with the Cult of the Black Pyramid.
Hunt or identify the Vizier.
Research Black Pyramid dream-magic.
Investigate the Ras-Godai and the House of a Thousand Masks.
Follow up on the Blue Dune Tribe’s unusual movement.
Deal with the Crimson Reavers and their spy network.
Develop the party’s new Sarendib house as a base.
Use the Sultan’s library for occult or historical research.
Likely Planned Destination
The buried necropolis west of the Saffron Serpent River.
Party Status
The party are now members of the Greenharbour Company.
The party have Greenharbour sashes and brass trade tokens.
Greenharbour contacts and credit are available in major settlements.
Jamal Veyr is dead.
The Cult of the Black Pyramid knows the party and wants them dead.
Hassan is dead.
Captain Rasheed is now aware of the Black Pyramid threat.
The silver camels were safely delivered.
The corrupt Sula merchant is imprisoned beneath the Sultan’s palace.
Duggor has Sultan-granted plate armour.
Vandren has access to the Sultan’s library.
Grack has improved his mace training.
Vandren has improved his longsword training.
The party own a modest house in Sarendib.
The next planned expedition is the buried necropolis.