Fury of the Wastewalker Journal - Session Two (1-2)

As the group flees the silt runners, they are now many miles off-track from the road to Tyr. Eventually the silt runners are out of sight, but a shardstorm seems to be eerily pursuing the party further and further north. As Barcan surveys the dangerous storm of sand and obsidian, his keen understanding of magic tells him that the shardstorm that is tracking and pushing the party was summoned by a primal wizard.

Even worse, the party is now being stalked by groups of Ssuran. Ssuran are lizard-like creatures that dwell in the desert. Between the Ssuran and the shardstorm, the party has no choice but to continue to flee through the desert. The harsh conditions of the desert wear away at the brave adventurers. By using skills such as nature knowledge, athletics, and endurance, the party is able to continue its flight to the north and keep the ravaging effects of the desert to a minimum. Whenever the party thinks they may have finally evaded the Ssuran, a scavenger bird called a kes’trekel flies overhead, reporting the group’s location back to the Ssuran.

As the pursuit drags on, the party finds itself in a valley covered in bones and petrified trees. It looks like the trees were killed long ago when defiling arcane magic ravaged the land. Then suddenly, a flame spirit appears in the desert. The spirit does not appear as a threat, and it attempts to commune with the adventures. The spirit communicates with gestures and by shooting fire out of its fingers, which burns messages into the sand. The spirit writes that a Ssuran called the “Wastewalker” is hunting the group. The wastewalker wishes to destroy all arcane magic users. Barcan explains to the flame spirit that he uses his arcane abilities as a preserver, not a defiler of the earth. The spirit responds that the Wastewalker sees all arcane magic as evil. The spirit then tells the group to flee and avoid the Wastewalker and his minions and to strike on another day when the adventurers have the advantage.

As the spirit disappears, the party is attacked by four kanks. Kanks are huge insect like beasts. Battle breaks out! The two large kanks attempt to grab and bite Yuka and Shikirr. The two smaller kanks attack the other party members by spitting poisonous fluid from their mouths. The adventurers fight bravely and effectively against the kanks. Shikirr exclaims that he will turn one of the large kanks into a mount before the battle ends. After taking some damage, the party defeats the foes with a final blow from Shikirr. Shikirr then immediately begins gnawing on the kank corpse, apparently preferring the taste of the flesh to the survival rations. While Shikirr feasts away, Barcan, Castri, Jarvix, Phye, and Yuka notice that the bones scattered on the valley floor have a strange glimmer. The bones are from long-forgotten creatures that have been infused with primal energy. By crushing the ancient bones into a powder and boiling with water, they make a magic tea that can be imbibed to provide extra vitality (temporary hit points.) When the rest of the party members observe Shikirr enjoying the kank meat so much, they each eat some as well, and in doing so regain some healing ability.

After a short rest, Barcan admits what all in the party are thinking. It is because of Barcan and his arcane power that the wastewalker seeks to destroy the group. Barcan has put his companions in mortal danger. Barcan offers to leave the party for the safety of the others, but the adventurers agree they have formed a bond of trust through battle and will remain together no matter the odds.