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.