Freeport Campaign

Rewards Earned

• Experience Points: A few
• Treasure: Various Anpurian masterwork weapons

The group made its way quietly to the most notable local landmark in the surrounding waste, a small watering hole sheltered among several dunes. Chow snuck over one of the dunes, carefully avoiding several patches of caltrops that had been arrayed as a warning device. When he had verified that the figures lounging around a small campfire were indeed humans, the rest of the party made themselves known.

The party shared water and stories with the desert nomads for a few hours, getting a feel for the surrounding area. After the fellows wished them good luck and departed, the group checked the outskirts of the watering hole for tracks. They found what looked like numerous paw prints heading off to the northeast, so they packed up the camels and followed the tracks.

A couple of hours later, the party discovered a wide plain encircled by dunes. Several low mounds rose from the plain, and one of the central mounds was surrounded by fresh piles of sand. Girish, the brass dragon accompanying the party, volunteered to reconnoiter the area while the party remained hidden behind one of the dunes. He reported that another hole had been dug into a mound on the southwest corner of the plain, and that there were a few inert humanoid forms scattered around each entrance. He also mentioned seeing a few gnolls who seemed to be patrolling around the central excavation.

The group formulated a quick plan and went into action. Girish herded the party’s camels (with whom he had been conversing amiably for the last few hours) a couple of dunes back, while most of the party hid themselves just behind the ridge of the dune overlooking the plain. When they were in position, Chow took off over the dune, acting as though he were lost and injured. Almost immediately, two pairs of hyenas raced from the central excavation to intercept the rogue. Most of the gnolls followed at a distance, while one descended into the hole. With the trap baited, Chow “fled” back over the ridge, where the party made short work of the hyenas and the gnolls.

With the guards dispatched, the group quickly checked the two entrances. At the closer hole in the southwestern corner of the plain, they found the remains of several gnolls, along with what looked like numerous other arrow-riddled humanoid forms wrapped in linen shrouds, which Richard confirmed were mummies. At the other excavation, the party discovered a pair of ropes descending into a chamber beneath the sands. As they investigated, Chow heard the sounds of combat coming from below. Figuring that the “great evil” they had been hired to track was probably involved with the noisy combat, they rigged up another rope and lowered themselves into the buried city.

They descended to the floor of what appeared to be a former granary with exits to the east and west. A quick peek showed that the passages led to other empty granaries, but the sounds of battle seemed to come from the eastern passage. The granary floors were littered with recently deceased gnolls and mummies, but were otherwise unoccupied.

Chow took the lead once more, stealthily scouting into what looked like a noble villa. The sounds of nearby combat intensified, but the group continued unmolested through the complex. In one of the individual bedrooms, they eventually found a small opening leading into a narrow, rough-hewn tunnel dug through the sand into another building, where the fighting seemed to be occurring. The group hung back for a few minutes, gathering their strength and discussing strategies for dealing with gnolls and with the undead.

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