Fury of the Wastewalker Journal - Session Twelve (3-2)

After running from the Halflings through the night, the adventurers find themselves in a clearing in the jungle. A strange ripple appears in the middle of the open area. Barcan, Phye, and Jarvix recognize it as a portal to the Feywild – an alternate plane. Just before getting a chance to examine the portal further, the party is surrounded by several lizard-like beasts called zairtails. The zairtails immediately attack the party. The small zairtails band together in swarms and the larger creatures have deadly biting or gazing attacks.

The beasts manage to weaken the party quickly. Although he battles bravely, Yuka is knocked unconscious by a particularly nasty attack. Barcan rushes to his downed friend and squeezes a magical healing fruit into Yuka’s bloody mouth. Energized by the fruit, Yuka jumps back into battle and kills one of the zairtails.

Suddenly a panther jumps into the clearing and attacks Jarvix. Fortunately Jarvix is able to dodge the first couple swipes from the beast’s sharp claws. Frustrated and feeling vulnerable, the panther flees into the jungle.

Even Phye is knocked unconscious during the brutal combat. Just as she goes down, however, the last zairtail is killed.

The party takes a moment to tend to the many wounds and searches the clearing. They find three blades in a nearby tree. Yuka claims the blades and begins fashioning them into a deadly weapon. Although safe for the moment, Castri realizes his endurance is exhausted. As the sun climbs higher into the sky, the party pauses to discuss what to do next.

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

The Halflings seize all the weapons, armor, and supplies from the adventurers. Then the captors tie up the party members and march them through a hot, humid forest toward the Halfling camp. Fortunately, the captives are given water to drink and are allowed to eat some of their food, so the party is able to journey safely. Upon reaching the camp, the party members are locked in wooden cages in an old building. Again, food and water are shared, so the party recovers from the many injuries of the previous battle.

The Halfling Chief Olab then summons the adventurers. Olab seeks amusement, so he questions the adventurers about their past trials. Phye and Barcan relate their story, nervously watching a large pot of boiling water setting on a fire. As the adventurers recount their story, Olab comments about how delicious they will taste for dinner.

Nervous about becoming supper for the hungry Halflings, Phye and Barcan decide to end the story trying to amuse Olab and convince him to let them go free. Phye and Barcan attempt to twist facts and explain…

“And then, Mighty Olab, your scouts, whom you so wisely sent out, found us and came to our rescue. They escorted us safely to your camp. We are so thankful for your hospitality, O Great One. But now, it is time for us to be on our way. We do not wish to wear out our welcome. Show us to our weapons and gear, so that we may no longer be a disruption at your camp. Know that we will forever be thankful for the kindness you have shown us.”

Olab, knowing that he could throw the adventurers in the cooking pot at any time, appears to be pleased. He tells the adventurers, “You make me laugh. I shall let you live. Take them out back and set them free. But their weapons and supplies stay with the camp.”

When the adventurers are set free, they discuss their next course of action. Knowing that they cannot survive without weapons and supplies, they decide to return to the cages where they were held, thinking their possessions are somewhere in the structure. Castri enters the ancient building first, attempting to sneak around and locate the gear. Phye follows him, but steps on a twig and alerts the guards of her presence. One guard run towards a bell mounted on the wall and rings it loudly. The party knows that the remainder of the camp has been alerted, so they rush into the structure attempting to grab the gear and go.

Three Halfling guards are blocking the entrance to the room with the gear, so the party attacks the guards. Without weapons or armor, the warriors are not as effective. But Barcan and Phye still have powerful attacks in their arsenal even without weapons. Yuka, even unarmed, is able to smash through the guards to provide access to the room with the gear. Yuka even grabs one of the Halflings and heroically drags him across the floor of the cell! One by one, the party members take turns engaging the guards and running to grab their gear. After a couple guards are killed, the party decides to make a dash for the exit, knowing that reinforcements are on the way. They leave one or two of the surviving guards and hurriedly exit. On the way out, they grab a pair of exotic looking boots.

After running away from the camp for a distance, the party feels safe they have evaded the Halflings. The boots, which Castri claims, are magical and allow him to walk on sand silt or water for a brief time. Mostly healed and reunited with their armor, weapons, and gear, the adventurers pause to consider their next course of action.

Fury of the Wastewalker Journal - Session Ten (2-5)

A figure surrounded by fog appears next to the sarcophagus. It is an elemental demon – a dreaded creature called a “mourning haunt.” The demon speaks to the party, “You should not have come here. Come forth minions, and destroy them!” When the demon speaks, the adventurers can’t help but notice a certain similarity between the mourning haunt and the flame spirit they encountered in the desert.

Two wisp wraiths and three tomb motes follow the instructions of the demon and proceed to attack the party. It is the mourning haunt, though, that poses the most danger to the group. It has a tremendous stamina and a vicious attack. Ghostly mouths fly out from the demon and envelope the warriors. Even though the adventurers unleash their most powerful attacks on the demon, it remains standing and continues to attack the party. After taking many punishing blows, the demon becomes surrounded by a red fog. The fog bursts out dealing damage to the adventurers surrounding it.

Eventually the brave party is able to weaken the demon to the brink of death. Castri makes a final blow, killing the demon with a lethal strike. After the mourning haunt is destroyed, the party proceeds to kill the minion wraiths and motes. As soon as the last minion is killed, the atmosphere in the tomb lightens.

Suddenly a glowing form appears and materializes into two beings. The first being is a beautiful woman with blue hair. Next to her appears a man seemingly made of stone. The astute party members recognize that the woman represents the water element and the man represents the earth element. The two beings begin a conversation – first talking to each other, and then addressing the party. “Not all arcansists are defilers” says one. The other responds, “take these gifts and spread that message.” Finally, the beings reveal “the one who hunts you can be reformed.” Each adventurer is handed a textured belt-like sash. After the gifts are distributed, the elements vanish.

The only way out of the tomb is through a large crack in the floor. The adventurers crawl into the opening and travel some distance underground. Eventually the passage opens up into a valley. The adventurers are relieved to once again see the sky, having escaped from the deadly cave. But just after pulling themselves to the surface, the party members observe they are surrounded by wild-looking Halflings. Each Halfling is pointing a spear at the group. One of the Halflings speaks up and orders the party “Surrender now! You are our prisoners.” Barcan drops his staff in disbelief. Will they ever find safety in this cruel desert?

Fury of the Wastewalker Journal - Session Nine (2-4)

Sure enough, the metal gadgets that Phye identified as pieces of a puzzle join together to form a key that opens the iron gate. After putting the key into the slot, Yuka and Barcan are able to raise the gate high enough for the other party members to slip underneath. After everyone else is through, Yuka and Barcan jump underneath the gate into the passageway on the far side. The gate slams shut just after the adventurers pass underneath, yet again sealing off an escape route.

As the party proceeds down the passage, they see light coming from up ahead, and they hear what sounds like bickering in a language none of them have ever heard. Moving slowly and carefully, the party approaches the voices. The passage opens up into a dimly lit room. As the adventurers enter the room, they see several hejkins. Hejkins are small, furry, humanoid creatures with sharp claws. The evil hejkins spot the adventurers, and combat breaks out.

The party fights bravely against the nasty little hejkins. The beasts make a variety of attacks including clawing and electric shocking attacks. The first couple hejkins are killed quickly, but the remaining hejkins have very powerful bursting/shocking attacks that knock the party members down. Even worse, the hejkins are able to burrow through the floor and move about the battle area undetected. Things get desperate as Phye does what she can to keep the warriors from going down. The wicked attacks are too much for Barcan and Jarvix, though. A blasting attack sends them both unconscious and dying. Fortunately for Barcan, Phye is able to quickly heal him just in time for the enraged Barcan to make a mighty arcane attack on the remaining hejkin. Finally the last hejkin decides to flee by burrowing into the floor, giving the party a moment to recover and heal Jarvix.

The adventurers search the room and find treasure, some healing fruit, and several food rations. As they look around the room, they realize they are exhausted and badly in need of a long rest. But that won’t be happening. Each member of the party is suddenly drawn to the sarcophagus at the far side of the room. Unable to resist the overpowering urge, they are forced to walk toward the tomb. As they approach, the room begins to get blurry…