Tears in Dust Part 1
Tears in Dust Part 1
Player DM: Xenarchy
The Party
Sophia - Human - Cleric 9
Chiddle - Gnome - Wizard 10
Boshter - Hobgoblin - Monk 9
Ionus - Human - Cleric 7
Myrana - Half-elf - Sorcerer 10
Encounters
Ghost of the Desert (Custom Ghost) - CR 7
2x Huge Sandstorm Elementals (Tweaked Air Elementals) - CR 7 ea.
Purchases
Chiddle - 5 scrolls of endure elements, 125 gp total. 3 used during scene.
Boshter - 5 scrolls of endure elements, 125 gp total.
The Scene Begins
The party has arrived in Veyshan on the trail of this mysterious disappearance. After a brief stop in Tashraan for supplies and camels, they depart for the desert, toward the last known location of Rajput Rawal's wife. The Rajput is a local merchant prince, a stern figure that tolerates no nonsense. Naturally, there are all kinds of rumours that she was a desert hag in disguise or that bandits attacked her caravan. Searches have been called off, but the mystery still lures a certain few (that's you guys).
Mystery... and of course the promise of reward. Chiddle has volounteered and he's... really into the part. He's gotten himself a Keffiyeh and a camel and everything. The gnome is not too fond of the desert heat, though, it seems so he's picked up a bundle of scrolls- the endure elements spell, a very popular purchase in Tashraan given the high number of visitors from other lands that pass through.
Sophia dresses in a mix of white and light blue, the robes actually just her glamered armor, but why quibble over details. In any event, she has her camel, a fairly distracted look, and nods over towards the gnome, "This should hopefully be a fruitful diversion, at least."
Hidden from the glare of the sun by fluttering, dark gauzes in the fashion of Veyshanti women, her viel wieghted with beaten copper coins and glittering chips of blue glass, Myrana glares up (once again) at the horrifying prospect... of /camels/. "You know, it wouldn't be so troublesome if they weren't so damn -high- up there," she mutters as her garments chime musically around her.
Chiddle nods at Myrana, as he peers at the camel himself. "Hrm... Just need a little hand up." He comments, and then he drags over a crate. He then spends several minutes struggling up onto the beast. Not the most dignified man.
Myrana, horribly, does only marginally better than the shorter gnome.
"I am very happy to see all of you!" Boshter is pleased, of course, to be here in the desert. The heat, especially with the help of magical protection that he's provided scrolls to be cast upon him for, is bearable. And besides, he's nearly as orange as the sun already, so he can't really get sunburned. Much. Can he?
"Hooray!" He promptly gives Myra a hug.
Ionus has traded in his normal robes for armor and weapons. A white tabbard with the sunburst of Daeus hangs over an otherwise shiny breastplate. His weapons rest on the belt at his hip, a shiny new sword on one side...and a rather battered and bent ladle on the other side. Guess who this Daesite wound up taking instruction from! He smiles as he finds that he's recognizing most of the assembled crew, "It is very good to see you too Boshter!"
Sophia does rather well, but then, she's used to riding horses... and a camel is pretty close. Right? At least, for getting ON it's not terribly different. However, anything beyond that... let's not get too optimistic.
Myrana lets out a somewhat undignified sound somewhere in the area of Boshter's orange armpit. And when she's released, climbs up onto her camel, just radiating unspoken swear words.
Once the party has arranged themselves appropriately for the desert trek, the adventure begins. Out of Tashraan, the environment slowly gets more dusty and bleak as the party gets further from civilisation. It may be a while before they reach their destination, and someone will have to find the way.
The party attempts to track down the target. GAME: Ionus rolls survival: (17)+6: 23 GAME: Boshter rolls Survival: (14)+3: 17 GAME: Myrana rolls survival: (13)+3: 16
The party uses one day of supplies traveling through the desert. GAME: Sophia casts endure elements. GAME: Ionus casts Endure Elements.
The trail is a hard one to find, so old and swept by the wind. Sand is not a good surface to track on. Eventually, with Ionus' keen skill (or good luck) and the help of the others, the adventurers crest a dune and see a promising sight. There! In a bowl between dunes is a half-buried, dessicated camel and all manner of rags and stuff lying around. Okay, so it's not so promising, but some sign of activity is better than none.
"I have found the trail!" says Boshter, loudly. "Wait, no, that's not it. That is a snail trail."
A little while later.
"I have found the trail! No, no.. wait. That's not it. It loosk like this is where a giant snake went! Snakes are funny. They don't have any hands. But that is not the trail."
A little while later.
"I have found the trail!" Boshter looks down at his feet, "wait! This is our own path! I am very confused!"
Eventually, someone else will actually find the trail, and Boshter will be very relieved.
Ionus quietly finds the occasional sign and waves the group over, well everyone save Boshter because the hob is so intently studying the sands that the signal is missed. Instead a mischievious grin comes over the young priest, "Good work Boshter! Please keep those keen eyes peeled!"
Myrana rocks gently up in the saddle as she guides her camel after Ionus. The dark blue eyes peeking out over the edge of her veil twinkle with a hidden smile. "I didn't know you knew how to track people, Ionus," she says, and looks down at the dessicated corpse. After all the trouble of getting -up- there, she's not eager to get down off the camel again. And this way she's fairly safe from hobhugs. Twisting 'round, she glances back at Chiddle. Not-so-subtly checking up on the Gnome.
Chiddle has been struggling. The humps are bigger than him, and the camel he got seems to be of ill temperment, constantly baring it's teeth, making odd noises, and spitting. Not to mention trying to dislodge the pest on its back. When Myrana looks back, Chiddle is clinging onto saddle for dear life, and appears to be in the process of slowly falling off the camel.
Sophia doesn't seem terribly ill at ease, though she looks over at Chiddle with a surprised expression, "Did you need a hand, Chiddle?" The cleric tilts her head towards the gnome, then looks over towards Ionus, giving the other priest a nod.
There is a basic core of wickedness in Myra. And usually it's pretty well buried. But, other times, it's basically at skin level. She sees Chiddle slipping out of the saddle and actually leans slowly sideways, one braid slipping out from her many layers and swaying out as she peers at him. "Dooon't faaaalll," she advises. "Doooon't FAAALLL."
Chiddle says, "No no, quite alright!" Lies Chiddle. And then he looses his grip and drops from the camel with a soft thud in the sand. He's now laying on his back looking up at the goading Myrana. "I'll, ah, just go down and take a look. Yes." That was totally a deliberate dismount. Definitely."
"Good idea." Myrana says, and it's really probably good that she's wearing that coin-layered viel to cover the lower half of her face. The grin keeps crinkling the bridge of her nose though and the corners of her eyes. "If you say so, master Chiddle." Straightening, she shifts in the saddle and glances out over the burning hot sands, scanning the distance and coughing quietly.
Ionus blinks as he looks to the gnome, "Are you ok?" There's a pause as the priest tries to remember the man's name...Even though it's a gnome, he knows it's not Trouble becaues...well that's a cat! He nods as Chiddle finds his feet and starts a little towards the camel.
There may be more than just the camel there, partly covered by the sands. It has obviously been dead several weeks, dried by the desert air and worn by the caress of the dunes. There is something more in there. Movement? It's subtle at first but...
Party's perception checks to spot the ghost before it manifests. GAME: Boshter rolls Perception: (7)+15: 22 GAME: Ionus rolls Perception: (12)+9: 21 GAME: Sophia rolls Perception: (18)+12: 30 GAME: Chiddle rolls perception: (2)+12: 14 GAME: Myrana rolls perception: (6)+6: 12
The movement is not of the rags or the camel. It's the sand itself. It whirls around, taking form. Up from the sand around the fallen beast comes a ghastly figure of ethereal white and shrouded in a whirlwind of sand. Vague features of a woman forms, mouth open in a silent scream. The desert shakes and the dunes around erupt into a pair of tornadoes of scouring grit. The apparition's voice echoes painfully, "Rawal, you murdered me! You will die a thousand deaths before I can rest!"
Initiative
The whirling sandstorms approach, one coming near to Sophia and the other approaching Ionus on the other side. There is a vague sense of unthinking malice beneath the shapeless storm.
Boshter is affected by corrupting gaze. GAME: Boshter rolls Fort: (4)+11: 15 GAME: Xenarchy rolls 2d10: (13): 13 GAME: Xenarchy rolls 1d4: (1): 1 GAME: Xenarchy damaged Boshter for 13 points. 75 remaining. GAME: Xenarchy damaged Boshter's charisma for 1 points. 1 total damage.
Boshter attacks Ayesha. GAME: Boshter rolls 1d20+8: (13)+8: 21
"Augh! It's looking at us!"
Boshter flings a single shuriken at it while putting his hand over his eyes and looking away. "Ow, ow! Did I hit it?!" The shuriken just sort of..went..through it. Mind you, he seems to be going fast now. Very fast. "ORANGEGLO," was the command word for the boots. Really.
Ayesha directs her gaze on Chiddle. GAME: Chiddle rolls fort: (4)+9: 13 GAME: Xenarchy rolls 2d10: (12): 12 GAME: Xenarchy damaged Chiddle for 12 points. 65 remaining. GAME: Xenarchy rolls 1d4: (2): 2 GAME: Xenarchy damaged Chiddle's charisma for 2 points. 2 total damage.
"You murdered me!" The apparition repeats, staring down at Chiddle. Those hollow eyes burn with rage, piercing into the gnome's very soul. Life is slowly leeched out of him. This is one crazy ghost of a prince's murdered wife.
Chiddle acks as the ghost appears, and accuses him of murdering her. "I didn't see that coming..." from the tone of his voice, he totally did see that coming. He's been in this line of work too long.
Sophia is affected by corrupting gaze. GAME: Sophia rolls Fort: (11)+8: 19 GAME: Xenarchy rolls 2d10: (16): 16 GAME: Xenarchy damaged Sophia for 16 points. 61 remaining.
Sophia channels energy to harm undead. GAME: Sophia rolls 5d6: (15): 15 GAME: Xenarchy rolls 1d20+7: (5)+7: 12
Sophia meets the gaze of the ghost, and doesn't flinch even as it seeks to drain her. The cleric then reveals the holy symbol of Althea, shouting in a loud voice, "BACK! BACK TO THE LANDS OF THE DEAD WHERE YOU BELONG!" There's a flash of azure blue light, and the ghost seems to shrivel before the faith of the priestess.
Ionus is affected by corrupting gaze. GAME: Ionus rolls fort: (15)+8: 23 GAME: Xenarchy rolls 2d10: (17): 17 GAME: Xenarchy damaged Ionus for 17 points. 43 remaining.
Ionus channels energy to harm undead. GAME: Ionus rolls 4d6+7: (17)+7: 24 GAME: Xenarchy rolls 1d20+7: (8)+7: 15
Ionus frowns and gasps as he physically feels the effects of the wrathful specter's flare. THe priest takes a deep breath, "There is no Rawal here." And with that the priest shields his eyes and bows his head, "Oh Great Father, shine your light upon us and send this restless soul to her well deserved slumber!"
Chiddle attempts to avert his gaze and is affected by corrupting gaze. GAME: Chiddle rolls 1d100: (77): 77 GAME: Chiddle rolls fort: (11)+9: 20 GAME: Xenarchy rolls 2d10: (12): 12 GAME: Xenarchy damaged Chiddle for 12 points. 53 remaining.
GAME: Chiddle casts Protection from Evil.
Chiddle acks as the creatures gaze drills right into his soul. He stumbles back a bit, and tries to cover his eyes, but he finds it too late, pain wracking his body. He holds his gauntletted hand up, and yells some eldritch word which echoes on the wind, and slips from thoughts as soon as it enters ear, drawing a sigil against evil in the air which spreads to cover his form before fading.
The sand elementals take whirlwind form and move over Ionus and Sophia. GAME: Sophia rolls Reflex: (13)+4: 17 GAME: Ionus rolls reflex: (18)+5: 23 GAME: Xenarchy rolls 2d6+6: (10)+6: 16 GAME: Xenarchy damaged Sophia for 16 points. 45 remaining. GAME: Sophia rolls Reflex: (1)+4: 5
The two animate sandstorms close in on Ionus and Sophia, whirling dangerously. Ionus is quick enough to evade the funnel of one of them but the other grips Sophia in its biting tornado of dust and whisks her up into its winds. The cleric is suspended in the air, twirled in circles above.
Boshter averts his gaze. GAME: Boshter rolls 1d100: (35): 35
Boshter attacks a sand elemental. GAME: Boshter rolls 1d20+8: (13)+8: 21 GAME: Boshter rolls 1d20+8: (5)+8: 13 GAME: Boshter rolls 1d20+8: (16)+8: 24 GAME: Boshter rolls 1d20+8: (7)+8: 15 GAME: Boshter rolls 1d20+3: (6)+3: 9 GAME: Boshter rolls 1d20+3: (18)+3: 21 GAME: Boshter rolls 1d2+9: (2)+9: 11 GAME: Boshter rolls 1d2+9: (1)+9: 10
"HEY! YOU! LET HER GO!" Boshter is moving with lightning speed now, actually, hopping up and down in place with a puff of sand going up with every motion. Bits of metal are hurled directly through the creature as he does his bes tto look away from the ghostly apparition..thingy. "Let her go! Let her go!" The metal bits rip through the sandstorm, doing some amount of harm.. but.. well.. it's sandy.
Ayesha attempts to touch Chiddle. GAME: Xenarchy rolls 1d20+6: (4)+6: 10
"I will make you suffer, my husband!" The ghost reaches down toward Chiddle and goes completely awry. Apparently being dead doesn't do well for your perception of the material world.
Sophia channels energy to heal. GAME: Sophia rolls 5d6: (20): 20 GAME: Xenarchy damaged Sophia for -20 points. 65 remaining. GAME: Xenarchy damaged Boshter for -20 points. 88 remaining. GAME: Xenarchy damaged Chiddle for -20 points. 73 remaining. GAME: Xenarchy damaged Ionus for -20 points. 60 remaining.
Myrana averts her gaze. GAME: Myrana rolls 1d100: (25): 25
GAME: Myrana casts Charm Monster. GAME: Xenarchy rolls 1d20+10: (9)+10: 19
A flash and a hiss like burning oil comes to life in Myrana's hands. Bright purple electricity snarls in her fingers, then flows up her arms and ripples over her clothes. Her eyes glow with it, filling the shadows of her concealing garments with amythest hues. Lifting her arms, she gestures openly toward the sand elemental, radiating a scent like singed roses. She doesn't know any elemental languages, but a harsh command slips from her, entreating the elemental to, most likely, reconsider tearing them apart.
Ionus channels energy to harm undead. GAME: Ionus rolls 4d6+7: (12)+7: 19 GAME: Xenarchy rolls 1d20+7: (7)+7: 14
Ionus keeps his head bowed, though the wooshing sound of a whirling mess of hot, sandy wind draws his attention as he calls out, "Great Father let thy light shine!"
GAME: Chiddle casts haste.
Chiddle closes his eyes to block out the horrible burning the creature is casing in his very psyche, and he murmurs a few more words in that occult tongue. He holds up his gauntlet, and runes glow on its surface, as interlocked bands rotate in opposing directions. Light surges fourth and bathes the group, who find their minds and bodies quickened.
A sand elemental attacks Ionus. GAME: Ionus rolls reflex+1: (5)+5+1: 11 GAME: Xenarchy rolls 2d6+6: (4)+6: 10 GAME: Xenarchy damaged Ionus for 10 points. 50 remaining. GAME: Ionus rolls reflex+1: (3)+5+1: 9
The whirlwind of sand holding Sophia aloft lets go of her and collapses down into a more solid form on the ground. This sandy elemental has taken the form of an enormous camel made of sand and just sits down there to watch the battle. It make a camel's bleat. The one assaulting Ionus, however, is not interested in sitting on the sidelines. It slams into him with a barrage of grit and swings him into its whirling form.
Boshter attacks a sand elemental. GAME: Boshter rolls 1d20+9: (13)+9: 22 GAME: Boshter rolls 1d20+9: (3)+9: 12 GAME: Boshter rolls 1d20+9: (10)+9: 19 GAME: Boshter rolls 1d20+9: (10)+9: 19 GAME: Boshter rolls 1d20+4: (17)+4: 21 GAME: Boshter rolls 1d20+4: (11)+4: 15 GAME: Boshter rolls 1d2+9: (1)+9: 10
"Hey! You! Big sandy thing!" Boshter yells at it, "I am paying attention to you!" He's keeping his eyes averted. You know. Just in case. He hasn't quite realized about anything else. Another shuriken is totally thrown at it, though. Several shurikens. Most of them go wide. Have YOU tried throwing into a sandstorm? It's not easy! Anyways, only one nicks it. He takes a big step forward, getting ready to charge right on it.
Ayesha attacks Chiddle. GAME: Xenarchy rolls 1d20+8: (16)+8: 24 GAME: Xenarchy rolls 7d6: (27): 27 GAME: Chiddle rolls fort: (2)+9: 11 GAME: Xenarchy damaged Chiddle for 27 points. 46 remaining.
The ghost shifts forward and grips Chiddle on the back of his neck. "Rawal! Don't ignore me! You will die here with me!" Where the apparition touches him, the flesh turns grey and wrinkled. His skin dries up and creaks, cracks forming from the dessicating attack.
Sophia channels energy to harm undead. GAME: Sophia rolls 5d6: (14): 14 GAME: Xenarchy rolls 1d20+7: (18)+7: 25
Sophia carefully edges away from the sand... camel, and shakes her head. She then closes her eyes, focusing as she again channels the divine, searing the ghost with a wave of energy. Sadly, this doesn't seem terribly effective in disrupting the unholy abomination.
Myrana averts her gaze. GAME: Myrana rolls 1d100: (48): 48
GAME: Myrana casts magic missile. GAME: Myrana rolls 5d4+5: (11)+5: 16
Still glowing with that monstrous, terrible charisma, Myrana gathers the arcing energy of amythest and black and forces it to sing and hum violently between her hands. The sleeves of her robes burn away into ash, baring her white arms. Spitting more of those tangled, thorny words, she hurls bolts of the purple energy at the elemental, letting them fly from her fingertips.
The bolts slam into the ghost with full force, tearing away an outer layer of desert rage and turmoil. Sand blasts out in all directions and a much subtler, calmer figure slumps to the ground. A wispy image of a veyshanti woman - free from the hollow-eyed horror - weeps on the sand. The elemental holding Ionus sets him down (more carefully than the one that dropped Sophia) and turns into another camel.
Boshter, about to charge at the second sand-creature, stops when it turns into a camel. He stops and looks at it. Then he reaches out to pat it on the nose. Gently. He turns towarsd the sound of the weeping, wispy woman and his expression turns somber. Gone is the jester-like countenance at the moment. He turns and walks towards the image, kneeling on the sand before her.
"Spirit," he calls to her, "why do you weep here in the desert? The sands will ever nurture itself upon your sorrow. I will help free you."
The ghost looks up, ethereal tears flowing from her eyes. "My name is Ayesha. I am - was - the wife of Rajput Rawal. He took me here to die so he could inherit my fortune and marry another, and my sorrow and rage became bound into the desert sand. I implore you, good travelers, take my body and my journal and confront Rawal in Tashraan. Only once I am avenged can I rest."