The approaching shardstorm once again pushes the adventurers across the desert. This time, though, the storm leads the party to the Wastewalker himself. In a dry patch of desert just a short distance from Tyr, the final showdown begins with the Wastewalker yelling “ALL DEFILERS WILL DIE. COME AND MEET YOUR END!”
The Wastewalker is a larger ssuran with small pieces of obsidian shards embedded in his black scales. There are obsidian shards swirling around him, too, dealing damage to any foe. Accompanying the Wastewalker are four ssurans – two with clubs and two with spears. There are also two storm shards. Storm shards are masses of swirling chunks of obsidian.
The battle gets off to a difficult start for the adventurers. The storm shards unleash a series of lethal attacks against the weary heroes. Yuka is able to occupy two of the ssurans, but he takes a decent amount of damage in the process, eventually knocking him unconscious. Jarvix also gets knocked unconscious from multiple attacks. But gradually the heroes focus their fire on the Wastewalker, and he is injured badly.
Barcan remembers that the earth and water spirits told the group that the Wastewalker could be converted. So in between attacks, Barcan screams to the Wastewalker, pleading with him that not all arcanists are defilers. At one point Barcan yells “See the green plants below me? I do not destroy the life from the land!” But the embattled ssuran doesn’t heed Barcan’s message.
Knowing that their lives hang in the balance, Phye is able to heal several of the adventurers. Castri and Shikirr fight valiantly as well. Eventually, a mighty blast from Barcan’s staff drops the Wastewalker to the ground, unconscious. After killing the rest of his companions, the adventurers tie the Wastewalker up and splash water on his face to wake him.
Barcan explains to the captive that not all arcane spell-casters are defilers. An organization known as the Veiled Alliance is dedicated to protecting the world from the ravages of defiling magic. The Wastewalker hesitantly agrees there may be the possibility that not all arcane spell-casters defile the land. The party then tells the Wastewalker he can either be set free if he promises not to attack, or he can be killed. The Wastewalker, surprised to hear his life will be spared, agrees to a peaceful release.
The adventurers then continue on toward Tyr, their will nearly exhausted from the battle. As they travel the final distance, the kes’trekel again flies overhead. But this time the bird gently lands on Barcan’s arm. Perhaps a new alliance has been formed? Time will tell.
Approaching the city gates, a guard commands the beleaguered party to stop. The guard demands a payment to enter Tyr. The exhausted party, knowing they deserve a hero’s welcome, cannot believe the guard is ordering them to part with coin after all they have been through. Yuka steps forward, his hand resting on his weapon…
The End.
Thursday, September 16, 2010
Friday, September 10, 2010
Fury of the Wastewalker Journal - Session Fourteen (3-4)
As the party continues its journey through the mountainous jungle, the group is able to look down across the approaching desert and spot Tyr in the distance. Descending from the mountains, the terrain returns to the familiar dry desert. The adventurers continue carefully across the hot, dry sand, knowing their destination is close. A chilling screech from above cuts the silence, and the party members look up and see the familiar kes’trekel circling in the sky. The Wastewalker must be near.
Just after passing around a patch of mysterious and dangerous looking silt-like sand, the party is suddenly attacked by four draconians. Draconians are dangerous lizard-like creatures with partially developed wings. The area has been blasted by the power of the sun, as if some arcane defiling has taken place. The draconians appear to by warped by the intensity of the searing sun. Two of the reptiles are armed with longswords, and the others wield two shortswords each. Combat quickly breaks out as the adventurers fight for their lives. Just as the action begins, a deadly dust devil whips around the battlefield, knocking several warriors prone.
The party fights bravely against the draconians, and although several member are injured badly, the reptiles are ganged up on and killed off one by one. There are two types of draconians. One type instantly turns to stone when killed, sealing the attacker's weapon in the creature. The other type explodes when killed, dealing blast damage to all those nearby.
Castri is twice pushed by the enemy into the mysterious sand patch. The patch functions similar to a trap, injuring the victim. However, Castri is wearing his magic silt-runner boots stolen from the halflings, so he is able to avoid taking damage in the silt.
As the battle rages on, Phye is injured and is running low on healing abilities. Knowing that one of the exploding monsters is about to die, Barcan moves away from the impending blast zone. Just before the beast is killed, though, Phye magically dimension swaps with Barcan. This places Phye in safety but puts Barcan right next to the blast. Barcan curses under his breath and makes a mental note to talk to his sister about the importance of courage and valor. Fortunately, Barcan dodges out of the way when the inevitable blast shoots outward. Shortly after, Shikirr strikes another beast and kills it, but his weapon is temporarily stuck in the stone corpse.
After all the draconians are killed, the party focuses on dispatching the dust devil. It proves difficult to kill, but eventually is brought down by a blast aided by Barcan’s magic staff. Barcan, seeing that his sister is barely alive, realizes her dimension swap was for the survival of the party.
The party uses whatever healing resources remain and prepares to set off again toward Tyr. But as they spot an orange shard-storm cloud moving toward them, they know they have one last battle before reaching safety. Jarvix stands up proudly and proclaims, “We started this battle as free man and slave. But we finish it now as friends. Come forth! Let us show our enemy we will run from him no longer!” Yuka says nothing, but slowly nods in agreement as he draws his weapon.
Just after passing around a patch of mysterious and dangerous looking silt-like sand, the party is suddenly attacked by four draconians. Draconians are dangerous lizard-like creatures with partially developed wings. The area has been blasted by the power of the sun, as if some arcane defiling has taken place. The draconians appear to by warped by the intensity of the searing sun. Two of the reptiles are armed with longswords, and the others wield two shortswords each. Combat quickly breaks out as the adventurers fight for their lives. Just as the action begins, a deadly dust devil whips around the battlefield, knocking several warriors prone.
The party fights bravely against the draconians, and although several member are injured badly, the reptiles are ganged up on and killed off one by one. There are two types of draconians. One type instantly turns to stone when killed, sealing the attacker's weapon in the creature. The other type explodes when killed, dealing blast damage to all those nearby.
Castri is twice pushed by the enemy into the mysterious sand patch. The patch functions similar to a trap, injuring the victim. However, Castri is wearing his magic silt-runner boots stolen from the halflings, so he is able to avoid taking damage in the silt.
As the battle rages on, Phye is injured and is running low on healing abilities. Knowing that one of the exploding monsters is about to die, Barcan moves away from the impending blast zone. Just before the beast is killed, though, Phye magically dimension swaps with Barcan. This places Phye in safety but puts Barcan right next to the blast. Barcan curses under his breath and makes a mental note to talk to his sister about the importance of courage and valor. Fortunately, Barcan dodges out of the way when the inevitable blast shoots outward. Shortly after, Shikirr strikes another beast and kills it, but his weapon is temporarily stuck in the stone corpse.
After all the draconians are killed, the party focuses on dispatching the dust devil. It proves difficult to kill, but eventually is brought down by a blast aided by Barcan’s magic staff. Barcan, seeing that his sister is barely alive, realizes her dimension swap was for the survival of the party.
The party uses whatever healing resources remain and prepares to set off again toward Tyr. But as they spot an orange shard-storm cloud moving toward them, they know they have one last battle before reaching safety. Jarvix stands up proudly and proclaims, “We started this battle as free man and slave. But we finish it now as friends. Come forth! Let us show our enemy we will run from him no longer!” Yuka says nothing, but slowly nods in agreement as he draws his weapon.
Friday, September 3, 2010
Fury of the Wastewalker Journal - Session Thirteen (3-3)
The party continues journeying through the jungle toward Tyr. Tyr is, after all, the intended destination of the ill-fated caravan. In the distance the weary travelers see the geography returning to desert.
Just before reaching the desert, the adventurers approach a chasm blocking their path. On the far side of the chasm is a cliff with several people crawling up the side. Suddenly, there is a flash of light and the cliff face collapses! The adventurers watch in horror as the victims fall to their death in the deep chasm. The collapse, however, causes a slab of rock to fall, forming a bridge across the chasm. The newly-formed bridge allows the heroes to cross to the far side.
On the far side of the bridge are some ancient ruins. The heroes spot several giths in the ruins. Giths are blue-skinned goblin-like creatures with psionic powers. The creatures are angrily shaking spears and yelling in a gibberish language the heroes cannot understand. The giths look ready to attack, and Yuka jumps into action first. Yuka runs across the bridge and engages the first gith, hoping to set an example of the party’s strength and resolve. While running across the bridge, though, there is another flash of light. The stones on the bridge are called “bolt stones” and they hold the power of a lightning strike. When touched, there is a chance the electricity is released. The bolt stones explain the earlier explosion causing the other adventurers to fall to their deaths.
As combat breaks out, the party members develop a lethal strategy for dealing with the giths. Castri and Shikirr rush forward across the newly formed bridge to engage the enemy with Yuka. Barcan and Jarvix stay back on the far side of the chasm, unleashing powerful ranged attacks on the foes. Phye, knowing that the giths will surely be a tough battle, tries to stay in between the party members, dispatching healing as necessary. Although the giths are powerful, they are no match for the tactics of the group. One by one, the giths begin to fall. In a brilliant moment, Jarvix uses his mental powers to force one of the giths to move and attack another gith. This sets up four giths in a small area. Barcan realizes his comrade has moved the enemy to give him the chance to blast several giths at once. Barcan takes the queue and unleashes a powerful blazing star arcane attack on the giths. The attack hits all four beasts! Three are weak and are killed instantly by the searing stars. The fourth takes damage but remains fighting. After this wickedly effective attack, the rest of the party is able to dominate the battle. The last gith standing manages to touch a bolt stone and gets fried to a crisp by the electricity.
The party members examine the ruins and search the bodies of the adventurers that fell down the chasm. Several valuable jewels are found and pocketed. But Barcan forgets about the jewels as he stares in wonder at a magical staff he discovers next to one of the dead climbers. The powerful staff grants bonuses to arcane attacks and allows the holder to speak supernal, the language of the gods. Everyone in the party now has a magical weapon. Invigorated, the brave adventurers set off again for Tyr, knowing they will be safe soon. Or does the Wastewalker have other plans?
Just before reaching the desert, the adventurers approach a chasm blocking their path. On the far side of the chasm is a cliff with several people crawling up the side. Suddenly, there is a flash of light and the cliff face collapses! The adventurers watch in horror as the victims fall to their death in the deep chasm. The collapse, however, causes a slab of rock to fall, forming a bridge across the chasm. The newly-formed bridge allows the heroes to cross to the far side.
On the far side of the bridge are some ancient ruins. The heroes spot several giths in the ruins. Giths are blue-skinned goblin-like creatures with psionic powers. The creatures are angrily shaking spears and yelling in a gibberish language the heroes cannot understand. The giths look ready to attack, and Yuka jumps into action first. Yuka runs across the bridge and engages the first gith, hoping to set an example of the party’s strength and resolve. While running across the bridge, though, there is another flash of light. The stones on the bridge are called “bolt stones” and they hold the power of a lightning strike. When touched, there is a chance the electricity is released. The bolt stones explain the earlier explosion causing the other adventurers to fall to their deaths.
As combat breaks out, the party members develop a lethal strategy for dealing with the giths. Castri and Shikirr rush forward across the newly formed bridge to engage the enemy with Yuka. Barcan and Jarvix stay back on the far side of the chasm, unleashing powerful ranged attacks on the foes. Phye, knowing that the giths will surely be a tough battle, tries to stay in between the party members, dispatching healing as necessary. Although the giths are powerful, they are no match for the tactics of the group. One by one, the giths begin to fall. In a brilliant moment, Jarvix uses his mental powers to force one of the giths to move and attack another gith. This sets up four giths in a small area. Barcan realizes his comrade has moved the enemy to give him the chance to blast several giths at once. Barcan takes the queue and unleashes a powerful blazing star arcane attack on the giths. The attack hits all four beasts! Three are weak and are killed instantly by the searing stars. The fourth takes damage but remains fighting. After this wickedly effective attack, the rest of the party is able to dominate the battle. The last gith standing manages to touch a bolt stone and gets fried to a crisp by the electricity.
The party members examine the ruins and search the bodies of the adventurers that fell down the chasm. Several valuable jewels are found and pocketed. But Barcan forgets about the jewels as he stares in wonder at a magical staff he discovers next to one of the dead climbers. The powerful staff grants bonuses to arcane attacks and allows the holder to speak supernal, the language of the gods. Everyone in the party now has a magical weapon. Invigorated, the brave adventurers set off again for Tyr, knowing they will be safe soon. Or does the Wastewalker have other plans?
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