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Message: <blockquote data-quote="Insight" data-source="post: 3748764" data-attributes="member: 11437">PRELUDEHe who dazzles shines bright in the blowing, staggering heat of the Blasted Desert.  His arms raised in pride, no perhaps warning, at the coming of his glory.  Slowly, but with a certainly, He Who Shines gains strength, passing through the Blasted Desert with an alien potency.  They whisper his name at Ombos, and at Esserit, and the nomads who dare blaspheme to breathe the name of the Lord of the Desert soon become one with the sands, never again to raise a hand against He Who Shines.His coming a portent of things to come, foretold by recent events in the shining jewel of the coast, the port city of Majoor.  Our heroes will be the first to learn of his coming.  But that would have to wait.  For now, our heroes are blissfully unaware of the coming storm, their hands full with other, more pressing tasks...Group 1: Droban, Isphet, and AvardisThis crew has been involved in Majoor, mostly revolving around Isphet the Moneylender's efforts to recoup his gambling debt. Droban's been looking for work, and responded to Isphet's post on the wall of the Twin Scimitars Guild (the local "adventurers' guild"). Isphet and Droban were briefly hired to assist the local militia in tracking down some camel thieves who were hiding in the desert. On that mission, Droban and Isphet met Avardis, who was stranded at an oasis (and briefly captured by the camel thieves). The three returned to Majoor following the completion of that mission, and have struck up a conversation regarding future endeavors.[sblock=Group 1]Whispers in town seem to reinforce what you have seen.  People are getting sick at an alarming rate.  Thyrite priests see this as a sign of the coming of a great evil.  They point to their scriptures of great plagues blighting those unworthy of Thyr and his glory.  Others are concerned that the water supply may be tainted.  Whatever the reason, the people of Majoor are definitely getting sick, and the rate of infection is rapidly glowing to epidemic status.  The locals call this illness "The Crimson Curse".  Its symptoms include painful boils and sores.  As the curse/disease progresses, the boils erupt, oozing blood, pus, and other fluids.  Eventually, the subject dies, normally in a macabre display that leaves the corpse little more than a bloodied pulp.Since many of the town guards have fallen ill (or become cursed, depending on who you ask), Majoor's defenses are weakened.  Many fear that an invasion is imminent.  Among the more conspiracy-minded, some believe the events to be tied together.  It is possible that the town guards may be recruiting new guards to replace the sick and dead.Another related problem is that, with the word spreading of Majoor's sickness/curse, caravans are no longer all that interested in trading with the city's merchants.  This has had a chilling effect on Majoor's economy, and town officials are wrestling with ways to deal with this downturn in trade.A crazed local named Hasan the Blind has been seen around Majoor's bazaar, spouting diatribes against Majoor's sins.  Rumor has it that Hasan was once an honored priest at the Temple of the Sun.  Hasan claims that he alone holds the key to curing the town of the Crimson Curse, but of course, no one pays heed to the words of a madman.You are all currently in Majoor and with no employment at the moment.  What do you wish to do?[/sblock]Group 2: Asad, Dirk, and G'SharnDirk and G'Sharn met recently while fighting the same group of scorpitaurs in the Blasted Desert. These scorpitaurs had threatened caravans passing through the desert to the northern tradepost of Hale. In dispatching the scorpitaurs, G'Sharn and Dirk discovered that the foul beastmen had also intended to attack the nearby monastery, so the heroes traveled to said monastery to warn the monks (in case other scorpitaurs were also in on the future attack). The monks told G'Sharn and Dirk of one of Asad, a member of their order who had gone into the desert, and asked that G'Sharn and Dirk find Asad and give him aid if possible. Dirk and G'Sharn have just located Asad near an abandoned oasis, where he found evidence that a cult dedicated to Set may have made the oasis their home for a time.[sblock=Group 2]Having made each others' acquaintence, and having searched the abandoned oasis for clues left behind, you learn that a group calling itself the Ophidian Hand used this oasis for a base until probably a week ago.  The other clues you find are charred firepits, some dead livestock, the bones of probably three or four humanoids (you are not certain of the exact origin), and the scraps and ruins of a dozen or more meals.  Based on the clues you've found, between 20 and 30 men used this place as a base of operations as recently as a week ago.You have heard rumors among nomads and merchants passing through the Blasted Desert that the Ophidian Hand is a cult dedicated to the evil god Set.  None in civilized lands would dare openly worship such a creature, but it is not all that uncommon for outcast groups to find solace in the piercing winds and coarse, hot sands of the desert.  Thyrite clerics and Muirite paladins wouldn't dare scour the desert, endlessly seeking such bases, when Majoor offers such fine comforts.Tracks of the Ophidian Hands exodus from the abandoned oasis are old, and likely unreliable.  Still, it would benefit everyone to at least track down these evildoers and if nothing more, warn Majoor of their existence.As you are readying to head out, Asad stops among the skeletal remains, a sparkling glint in the blistering heat of the sun's caress catching the monk's eye.  A ring!  Asad crouched down to pick it up, matching it with the ring in his possession.  What could this mean?As Asad considers the ramifications of this discovery, Dirk warns that a sandstorm is coming from the north.  Better to find shelter soon.  G'Sharn points out that the sandstorm might well wipe out the cultists' tracks.  What do you wish to do?[/sblock]All right.  You all have a number of possible threads to follow.  I'd appreciate it if the two groups could keep each other somewhat in the dark for now (hence the sblocks).  I promise this separation won't last forever.Threads - <a href="http://www.enworld.org/showthread.php?t=205578" target="_blank">OOC</a> - <a href="http://www.enworld.org/showthread.php?t=206229" target="_blank">IC</a> - <a href="http://www.enworld.org/showthread.php?t=206230" target="_blank">RG</a></blockquote>

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