X4: Master of the Desert Nomads - IC

[renau1g]

Rajah spurs Bones forward and follows the others, his mind elsewhere as he considers the now-dead creature, and wonders what else they'll encounter out here in the wastes.

Looking at Skelete carrying the greataxe, Rajah can't help but think that such a useful magical device is meant for more. Perhaps they'll find somewhere to pawn if for something better, but until that time, better with it than in Aram's sack.

 

[kinem]

(ooc: I assume that the party is honoring Lamshar's request and looking around the area.

Do you take camels (or horses) as mounts?)

After searching all morning you take the usually mid-day rest, and resume in the afternoon.

You don't find much of interest until the early evening. You have circled around the area, mostly headed back, and are only maybe a mile north of the oasis. This area is indeed a sandy desert, not just stony as the area where you first entered the desert.

Half buried under the sands is the remains of a what appears to have once been a temple, but it is now collapsed into ruin. It is built from red sandstone and pink marble. The pillars are carved with unknown symbols and the remaining walls show signs of once having pictures painted on them, but these decorations have been erased almost totally by the blowing sand. Now, mounds of sand pile around their bases. The ruin seems to smell of rot, and buzzards perch on the standing walls.

Leading up to the temple a narrow ramp with crumbling pillars rises up out of the sand. As the ramp reaches the top, the columns are taller and more complete. Propped against the six uppermost pillars (@) are six skeletons, wearing ragged bits of clothing and armor and holding various weapons.

[sblock=Rhun]The crystal hilt is glowing brighter here. Aram can almost feel it throbbing now.[/sblock]

[sblock=buried temple]

,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,
,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,
,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,
,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,
,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,
,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,O....,,,
,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,....XXXX
,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,....X
,,gN,@.@.@.@.@.O....X
,,RB,..........H..P...
,SSA,@.@.@.@.@.O....X
,SS,,,,,,,,,,,,,....X
,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,....XXXX
,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,O....,,,
,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,
,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,
,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,
,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,
,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,

, = sand	. = platform or floor
@ = broken column, O = column, H = stairs
X = wall
P = sandy stone pit / dry pool

A = Aram (+ camel?)
B = Bevin (+ camel?)
g = Girgal + Ripclaw
N = Nargon (+ camel?)
R = Rajah + Bones + Razor
SS
SS = Skelete

[/sblock]

 

[Leif]

Mount, etc.

Bevin will NOT ride a camel! ("Bahh, Nasty, unsanitary, spitting creatures!") He prefers a pony if one is available. If not, will someone (Aram?) permit him to ride double with them? (His legs are probably too short to reach the stirrups!)

Bevin is, however, quite intrigued by the temple that appears to have sunk beneath (at least partially?) the desert's surface.

 

[Rhun]

Aram reigns in his camel as he spies the sunken temple, quite comfortable with riding one of the desert beasts. In fact, the dervish was reminded of home as he rode the camel through the sandy desert. He had never stumbled across any buried ruins in Ylaruam, though. Dismounting, the warrior drops easily to the ground, noting the bright glow from the crystal hilt as he does so.

"Well, my friends, this thing is glowing brighter than ever. It glowed when the monkey-beast was nearby, and even more brightly now. I'm thinking it is a good bet that its master resides within."

 

[Walking Dad]

Girgal, AC 23 (T15, FF20), HP 59/59, F +11,R+8,W+13

Although Girgal was silent along the ride (as ever riding Ripclaw) he is quiet tensed by the situation. The food he received remained him more on poison and this new mission to kill a wizard doesn't sound really like him.

After seeing the half-forgotten temple and the crystals reaction, Girgal finally speaks again:

"Perhaps perhaps your hilt just detects hostile or scrying magic. Maybe the wizard scryed on the familiar the last time, and know he watches us arriving."

 

[Rhun]

Aram considers Girgal's words, and then shrugs. Drawing one of his blades, the dervish starts making his way cautiously between the two rows of pillars. "Whatever the case, I plan on getting some answers."



Spot +6, Listen +6
Kinem, I believe Aram should be at full hit points now with the night's rest...can you confirm?

 

[Leif]

Bevin Rockhammer Dwarf Rogue2/Enchanter6, AC20 FF17 T15, HP38/44, F+4,R+6,W+5

"That is a disturbing possibility, Girgal. Or, perhaps the hilt is a part of some unholy relic that glows with power as it nears the place of its creation?"

 

[renau1g]

"That is a good possibility, it might have a connection to this place. However, we won't find out much by sitting here discussing, let's follow Aram's lead and continue." Rajah says as he dismounts, orders Bones to guard the other horses, and motions for Skelete and Razor to follow.

As he spies the skeletons, Rajah raises his hand to stop the others from continuing further. "Do you think those skeletons could be guardians of this place? I know that undead make great sentries. Allow me a moment to determine their nature."
Rajah says as he casts a minor detection spell, that allows him to detect undead, which he concentrates on.

[sblock=OOC]
Casting Detect Undead, 60 foot cone, concentrate for 3 rounds to determine their location, focusing on the skeletons ahead.

http://www.d20srd.org/srd/spells/detectUndead.htm
[/sblock]

[sblock=Stats]
*Note: Fatigued - fatigued character can neither run nor charge and takes a -2 penalty to Strength and Dexterity (-1 to attack rolls)

50/50hp
20 AC
F/R/W: +6/+6/+8

Spells Remaining:
1 - 6
2 - 7
3 - 4 (Cast Ray of Exhaustion & Speak with Dead Yesterday)
4 - 4
[/sblock]

 

[kinem]

(ooc: Girgal and Rajah no longer feel sickened. However, as they couldn't sleep, they are fatigued (-2 to Str and Dex) and did not regain spells since yesterday.

Girgal is 8 hp below max; the rest of the party is at full.)

Rajah does not detect any undead within the range of his spell.

On closer examination, the skeletons are held upright by nails driven into the rock pillars. Their weapons and armor are old and corroded beyond use.

Beyond the ramp is a large open area is almost completely free of sand. In its center is a stone pool, now dry and clogged with sand. Beyond that, the doorway to the building is dark.

 

[Leif]

Bevin Rockhammer Dwarf Rogue2/Enchanter6, AC20 FF17 T15, HP38/44, F+4,R+6,W+5

Bevin, having learned the hard way to let his more puissant friends take the brunt of melee, hangs back toward the middle of the group, feeling snug and cozy when protected on all sides.