Fury of the Wastewalker Journal - Session Three (1-3)

Character insight for this chapter: Jarvix

As the party takes a short break, the filet of kank begins to rot. Although nourishing, kank meat spoils very quickly in the hot desert sun. The party gathers up the few provisions that remain and again set off across the desert. The shardstorm continues its relentless push giving the adventurers no choice but to travel north without rest. Every time the party spots the evil kes’trekel flying far above, they know the pursuing Ssuran are not far behind.

The hot desert sun continues to boil the scorched earth as the party is forced to stay on the move. Again, a series of skills are utilized to stay alive. Some party members use endurance to keep on their feet. Others try to observe the features of the storm and use the information to their advantage. But the ravages of the desert are too much for Jarvix. He collapses from the heat, his face as red as a dragon’s eye. The other party members quickly rush to his aid. They feed him food and caringly pour water into his mouth. Jarvix is able to get back up thanks to the aid of his companions, but he realizes the party has expended some of the precious food and water for his recovery.

Toward the end of the day, the party spots a cactus like plant with delicious looking fruit. Being careful to avoid the sharp cactus spikes, the party manages to extract the fruit from the plant. Suddenly a net drops from above and drags the fruit away. The party notices it is surrounded by greenish goblin-like creatures, and they have just stolen the fruit from the hungry adventurers. The creatures have taken advantageous positions above the vulnerable adventurers. The leader of the creatures then orders the party to hand over any supplies they have or be killed. The party pauses to consider its options. They are not in a good strategic position to attack, but turning over provisions would result in certain eventual death. As they consider the option of fleeing, the party attempts to bluff and trick the creatures into letting them keep their supplies. The creatures eventually begin to withdraw into the desert, seeming to understand there is a stand-off, and knowing they have already captured the fruit the adventurers had managed to pick. The adventurers decide to quietly follow the creatures, hoping to at least get the fruit back, and perhaps stealing additional supplies.

As darkness slowly sets in, the adventurers are shocked to find the fresh corpses of the creatures they were pursuing. The party was only a few minutes behind the creatures when someone- or something- apparently slaughtered the creatures just minutes before, leaving the bodies and supplies strewn across the desert floor. The adventurers ready themselves for combat, knowing that something very dangerous is nearby. Suddenly a swirling mass of bones and debris rushes across the desert floor, smashing into Shikirr and knocking him down. The adventurers fight back, unleashing attack after attack into the swirling mass. Although the party is effective overall, the desert heat must have gotten to Castri. He cannot manage to hit the enemy with any effect. The vicious fight rages on. The bone mass is eventually blasted to nothing as Jarvix unleashes a lethal mind attack.

As the party recovers its breath, they notice the supplies and weapons of the goblin-like creatures are now available for gathering. The fruit, supplies, and common weapons are collected up and handed out. The party also finds a magic weapon. From a distance it looks like a spear, but as the party pulls it from the sand, it is actually a magic sword. It has an eerie greenish tint that deals acid damage to the target. Shikirr claims the sword after playing rock-scissors-paper with Castri and Yuka. The party also finds a magical amulet made of a tiny head with a string that can be tied around one’s neck. The amulet has magical protective qualities that allow the wearer a bonus to certain defenses as well as the opportunity to be saved from certain types of damage before the damage sets in. Jarvix and Barcan engage in a game of chance and Jarvix successfully claims the amulet. But as Jarvix puts the amulet on, he notices the Kes’trekel again circling above the party. He slumps a bit, realizing that despite his exhaustion, there will be no sleep tonight.