Session 6: River Crocodile's Feast and Desert Woes
The desert wind whispers tales to those who listen, and I, a solitary wanderer, have made it my trade to listen intently. From a distance, I watch the fools and heroes who brave these sands, then carry their stories to the taverns, where ale flows as freely as courage. Lately, the talk has been of a particular group, nineteen days out from Tanis, now on day 20, entangled in a saga of thirst, a mysterious dwarven chest, and encounters that would make even the hardiest adventurer shiver.
Here’s what I've pieced together about their latest trials:
The Predicament: Thirst, Hunger, and a Chest of Riches
When I first caught sight of them, they were dangerously low on water. Their dwarven companion, Stripes, had managed to open a spooky dwarven chest using a prayer incantation, finding valuables that surely made him a wanted man back in Tanis. But treasures don't quench thirst. They were down to a single pinch of sugar, an ingredient needed for some of their water purification spells.
Their cleric eventually managed to purify seven gallons of water with one spell using a holy symbol as a material component. This was enough for their six waterskins, though it required a trip to the river, which winds 500 to 2,000 yards from the road.
Food, however, remained a critical issue. One of their members, Jaylen, had not brought any food, relying on the ranger, who had been "spotting him food this whole time". This meant rations were dwindling fast, forcing them to consider skipping meals.
The chest itself presented another problem: how to transport it. The group considered burying it, hiding it, or building a litter. With ruined wagons nearby, they ultimately decided to craft a sled from the caravan wreckage. Stripes, with his battle-axe, helped cut wood, and with rope from another member, they were able to fashion a makeshift sledge. Given the strength of two of their members (Strength 18+), they calculated it would add "one extra day" to their journey back, making it three and a half days instead of two and a half.
The Weary Road Back to Tanis
Their return journey was arduous. Most of them opted to skip lunch to conserve rations. By midday on the first day, they felt faint, and by the second day of skipping lunch, they were feeling "a bit weak," with some even facing minus one strength penalties. One member, Will, was "close to passing out" due to his strength dropping so low.
Nights brought little comfort. The group often chose not to build a fire, fearing they were being followed by goblins. Sleeping arrangements varied from sleeping on sand, to cloaks, to collected thorny brush for a barrier, which, while offering protection, made for an uncomfortable night. The cumulative lack of good sleep resulted in agitation and soreness, leading to further penalties.
On day 21, as they journeyed, mysterious figures were spotted darting behind dunes ahead. Simultaneously, the unsettling sound of bells and voices drifted from the trail behind them. Two party members cautiously investigated the figures ahead, only to encounter a "dust devil" scurrying off. No one in the group seemed to know the significance of such phenomena in the desert.
They passed a "twisted fig tree," a rare landmark they had evidently missed on their way out, further highlighting the disorienting nature of the desert. Some managed to find a few dried figs, a small, albeit not particularly filling, supplement to their meager diet.
The River of Blood: A Fateful Encounter
The most chilling tale from their journey back occurred on day 22, when it was time to collect water again. One member, Lowell, went to the river alone, despite the ranger watching from a distance. As he approached, a crocodile burst from the water, attacking him.
The combat was swift and brutal. Lowell fired his light crossbow, hitting the large creature for four points of damage. However, the crocodile retaliated with two attacks – its jaws and its tail. It struck with both, dealing a maximum of 16 points of damage with its bite alone, instantly knocking Lol unconscious. The creature then dragged Lol's body into the river before anyone could react, leaving the party in shock.
"I warned you guys about that," the Dungeon Master (DM) apparently said, recalling his earlier caution that "crocodiles are fierce opponents" and probably their "biggest issue". Indeed, it seemed the crocodile had rolled perfectly to kill him.
The group, now down to four, debated revenge and their dwindling water supply. Jaylen, cautiously approaching, observed that the water skins had been dropped by the shore, allowing them to be retrieved, though unfilled. Lowell's other possessions, however, were lost to the depths with him, as crocodiles are known to drown their prey and consume the decaying flesh later. The creature was deemed a "max size... 15-footer".
Another Night, Another Threat
Later that night, during Jaylen's watch, a "faint scratching noise" gave way to a skeletal figure menacingly approaching the camp. Jaylen's initial quarter staff attack missed, and the skeleton, wielding a broadsword, struck, knocking him unconscious.
Yells and aggressive taps eventually woke Stripes and another comrade. Remembering the rumor that skeletons "don't take much damage from bladed weapons", Stripes wisely attacked with his footman's mace, a blunt weapon. His mace attack, combined with an arrow shot from another party member, destroyed the skeleton, leaving Jaylen to be healed by a cleric's "cure light wounds" spell, bringing him back to three out of four hit points. The skeleton's rusted sword was deemed worthless and tossed away.
Return to Safety, and a New Beginning
Finally, on the last day, the landscape grew familiar. Thorn groves thickened, palm trees lined the horizon, and the smell of distant cook fires promised respite. As the sun set, Tanis rose from the dust "like a painted mirage," its adobe walls glowing. The adventurers paid a silver piece each to cross the river and finally reached the safety of the city.
But the cost of their journey was steep. Lowell was gone, his character "dead," and the group now had to create a new adventurer to join them. The desert, as always, claims its dues, but also forges new legends. I'll be here, listening, ready to share the next chapter of their inevitable return to the wild.
Comments
Post a Comment