Drunk and stupid in the desert

[Kilmore]

I have a little party that had a little party. They were out in the desert. They have a a good day's walk ahead of them. Actually eight out of the eighteen people with the group got plastered. Nine of the group are actually female concubine slaves of the others given to them by their host... even though the party and the country they represent strongly disapproves of slavery.

As concubines, the slave girls aren't really used to haul intoxicated characters across the desert.

The party has two 8th level priestess NPC's, one of whom got hammered. The other is far more sensible, but strongly annoyed by stupidity. Fortunately, three brawny fighters for the first time ever missed the party and are sober enough to help.

A similar diplomatic party from a decidedly hostile nation is making the trek by their sides.

And the desert is like the Egyptian Sahara.

How does the desert kill the drunk and stupid? And what should the others do to help them survive?

 

[DanMcS]

Alcohol makes you dehydrated. if they have plenty of water, they'll probably be ok, though I'd consider them fatigued for a day after their little episode of insanity. If they don't, look at the rules for "Starvation and Thirst Dangers" in the DMG on p 86, and halve the times involved.

 

[Angcuru]

Pull one of them classic Loony-Toons style "Oh, look! An oasis!" jokes where the fighters run forward and try to dive into the water, and end up bashing their heads on rocks. In terms of survival, though, they should remind themselves to travel during the night and rest during the day.

 

[Thresher]

How does the desert kill the drunk and stupid? And what should the others do to help them survive?

The other should take their water and leg it for help...
(personally I wouldnt come back )
By the time the others get back with some type of help then maybe some of the weaker ones will have died and the others will be in a right mess which may educate through natural selection, who lives and who dies.

 

[Dr. Strangemonkey]

Yeah, being drunk and hot isn't helpful even discounting the tremendous problems of dehydration they have already aggravated.

Those two things alone are going to destroy them.

But the impaired judgement, agility, and senses when dealing with limited resources and vast dangers should also weight the odds against them.

There are reasons there are strict taboos against drinking in a lot of desert cultures.

 

[Robbert Raets]

There are reasons there are strict taboos against drinking in a lot of desert cultures.

...Unless it's to counter the effects of Klatchian Coffee

 

[Zappo]

...Unless it's to counter the effects of Klatchian Coffee

Mmm... orakh...