"Although I trust your ability to find water, I think that we should buy some water just in case things get substantially worse. If nothing else, we can sell it later"
I think we should go forward.
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Kuruk looks uncomfortable for a moment, his gaze meets each of yours a moment, Zaranna's a bit longer than the others. He clears his throat for attention if need be, his posture defensive as he struggles to find the words.
"I did not think I would actually come to care for you people, or anyone."
Great start by being abrasive.
"What I mean is I was willing to do the work, but I figured it was just a job to me when we started. It's not just a job to me anymore.
Crap, am I losing them.
"We have fought and bled together. Saved people together. Watched over each other as we slept. I did not expect that to mean as much to me as it does.
I sometimes think you talk too much when it is time for action and I know some of you might find me standoffish and rude but..."
Why do I have to be so bad at this.
"...know this, you can rely on me. We trust Angus to speak for us when we meet strangers...
Kuruk gestures from Angus to Guujaaw
...or how we all rely on Guujaaw's education and knowledge."
Kuruk gestures to himself and to Zaranna
"...this what I do and what Zaranna does. We ask for that same trust. If we turn back now it will have a cost in innocent blood.
Kuruk looks down for a bit before continuing.
"I did some hard things in the war that I am not proud of, I scouted for men who had let the war take the mercy from their hearts. The men we track are sick in that same way. I am not a hero. But I will not turn back.
Perhaps in facing these men and helping preserve the lives of these elves. I can reclaim a part of myself I thought lost in the war. I'd like to do that with you all at my side, I'd like to kill these villains as a family but if that is not to be it has been my honor to find you as companions.
For what it is worth, I would turn back if this region was unpassable. I cannot make you trust, but I feel that I have to move forward. Our destiny lies ahead not behind."
Zaranna nods at Kuruk's words, and when Angus moves, she pulls her horse in beside him, sending Vala up to scout, and keeping an eye out herself as they move on.
"Kuruk, well spoken. I too value all of you as comrades. Not to mention owing all of you a life debt that I WILL pay or die trying. If you all want to proceed, that is fine with me. Note that I DO trust your skills. In fact, I'm quite willing to bet my life on it.
I'd mistakenly thought there was water nearby. I was wrong. Lets continue"
John Thomas simply nods and smiles as the dwarf speaks.
Since I am willing to bleed for them they should know I will go whatever rout they wish. Not much for me to say to that.
roger roger
The party goes onward into the desert. A few days wear on and the heat becomes more intense as the sun beats down on the party. Most are able to resist it, but Zaranna and Guujaw feel weaker, as if the heat was getting to them.
Time to camp guys, I am exhausted.
"I'm very tired too. Hopefully I'll get my second wind tomorrow"
uses guidance on self fro all rolls
Attending Zarana
to notice any flaws in her set up
Gruujaaw
to notice any flaws in his set up
When people go to pee I'll use create water... I mean waste not want not. Same with excess sweating, cooking ect. I'll make sure to not only use our feed on the animals but gather scrub grass where available. Cacti are good for moisture. Lizards and snakes are good for meat as are birds and if we are lucky Coyote. Since it is hot during the day and cool at night Kuruk recommends traveling in the dark and using shelter from the sun sleeping off the hottest parts of the day. He has paints for under the eye to reduce glare. Frequent stops when walking in the sun. He will gather aloe for sunburns.
The days go on and despite water and food, Zaranna and Guujaw remain exhausted. Angus, John Thomas, and Kuruk are still able to resist the harsh weather. Kuruk thinks that the two are suffering from heat exhaustion, which will let up once prolonged exposure to heat is over. A few days after identifying Zaranna and Guujaw's malady, Angus and John Thomas fall victim to it as well. Water is a bit short, but there is enough food to last a while.
"I really hope we get out of these badlands soon. If we don't get out soon, I'm thinking that I'm likely to die here. Still, there are worse deaths than to die trying to get home while surrounded by friends. I'm ok with whatever happens"
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The party travels onward under the brutal sun. Two days out, food begins to run a bit thin, and water is even scarcer. Zaranna and Guujaw become more tired, making walking difficult. The next day, Kuruk is unable to conjure any water, and Angus and John Thomas begin suffering like Zaranna and Guujaw. It seems like the desert will never end, that the heat will claim the party. Two days later, all but Kuruk lapse into unconsciousness. Kuruk soldiers on, spying a cactus far in the distance. However, before he reaches it, his eyes grow heavy and he falls to his knees. Before his eyes close, he sees the cactus, closer than before, seemingly moving toward him. All goes dark.
John Thomas’ eyes open. He stands by a stream near his childhood house in Ireland. His brother stands next to him and says, ”Well brother, you’ve come a ways. Bit longer to go through.” He picks up the walking stick that he got from their granddad. Handing it to John Thomas he says, ”This’ll help you along the way. Now awaken.”
The party wakes up in a cave, the dim light from a fire at the far end of the cave. illuminating sandstone walls, banded in shades of red and orange. A figure stands at the fire, stirring something while singing wordlessly in a deep, coarse voice. While humanoid, that is where the similarities mostly end. It seems to be a moving cactus, complete with spikes and hard, green skin. It has the vague shape of a human, though with a third, smaller arm. It turns around and sees the party awake. It gives something almost resembling a smile and says with the dame deep voice in oddly accented English, ”This old rooted one is glad that the unrooted are awake.” He moves to grab a few rough clay bowls, full of water while saying, ”Drink. You have not drunk well for many suns.” He sets the bowls in front of the party members and takes a seat near them.
Zaranna drinks it all, and because the dream seemed so real, she looks in her quiver to see if the arrow from her dream is actually there.
John Thomas awakes with a start swinging wildly at... wait there is no one there.
Messing with my head where am I? Cave? Who?
One of the hardest things John Thomas has ever done is not to simply grab for the bowl of water. He regards the... whatever for a moment and then takes the water and drinks more greedily then he would like. Color rises in his cheeks as he speaks.
"Thank... cactus man. Your real right?"
"But you are dead. Perhaps I am dead too?"
Above was knowledge nature. My profile has other knowledge checks.
I most care about its ecology, general personality and motivations. Then game mechanical stuff :-)
"Thank you very much for saving us. My name is Guujaaw. How may we address you?"
Looking into her quiver, the arrow is indeed there, along with the feather in Angus’ bag, the tooth in Guujaw’s spell component pouch and the shillelagh in John’s rucksack. The cactus man nods at John Thomas, ”This old rooted one does indeed live. My name. It has been a long time since I had a name that was spoken. I suppose you may call me Tuolok. It is the closest that I can say. You have been asleep for a sun. I had been worried that you may not awaken. It is good to see my worries were not fulfilled.” Guujaw, while not knowing what exactly the creature is, knows it is some type of living plant, closely related to the cactus. The growth of a third arm, paired with tthe longevity of cacti, suggests this creature is quite old. However, he isn’t sure of anything more. However, based on the taste of the water, it seems that it came from the cactus being itself.
Zaranna, amazed, pulls the arrow out of her quiver and stares at it.
... How...?
She looks up at the cactus creature. Did you do this? she asks, gesturing with the arrow.
Tuolok’s eyes widen before he shakes his head says, ”No young ones, I did not do that. Ancient powers, older than names to give linger in these deserts, where new ones do not tread. I believe that it was them. This has happened a few times before. I remember a shaman of the Zuni that wandered these lands received the spirit’s blessings most recently, though in a different form. Count yourself honored to be among the recipients.”
"My people worship ancient powers, older and even more powerful than the Gods. But they appear only in legends and myths, ancient stories for ancient times. I count myself as more than honoured, I count myself as blessed."
In a singsong voice, clear and loud but NOT shouting. Also in his native tongue that presumably nobody knows.
"Oh great spirits that granted me this vision, my humble thanks.
Oh great spirits who granted me this gift, my humble thanks.
Oh great spirits who brought us succor in our time of travail, my humble thanks.
Oh great spirits who brought me wisdom, my humble thanks.
Oh great spirits, I owe you a life debt. Ask of me what you will and I will do it or die in the trying"
Guujaw will then take out his tooth and study it closely, seeing if he can discern any runes or other writing upon his surface.
I failed to keep my promise to you my friends, I am ashamed.
Tuolok nods at Kuruk and says, ”Your beasts live. They are hardy. Do not be ashamed, the deep desert has claimed many. It is an achievement to have made it as far as you did.” He turns to Guujaw and notes, ”Then I suppose you see the importance in your gifts. It is good.” Kuruk is able to find the coal in his bag, still pulsing with an inner warmth. The whale tooth has no writing on it, but when Guujaw touches it, it seems to hum slightly with an arcane resonance.
"Thank you for letting us know the fate of our animal companions. We are pursuing men who wish to do harm to the five branch people. We thought we had pursued them to here but either they use greater magic than we or they took a safer path."
John Thomas finds the shillelagh and is clearly confused by its presence.
"From the dream of my brother. We had a parting of the ways so this is a surprise."
He examines it more closely wondering if there is significance to it beyond that.
Zaranna brings her arrow over to Kuruk.
Kuruk, do you have the ability to detect what manner of magic has been laid upon me through this holy item?
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Detect magic to examine the aura
All of the items are magical, and the arrow specifically is +1 returning.
"A magic shillelagh, well that is pretty cool. Wonder what it does, not really my wheelhouse."
He looks at it for a moment considering. Maybe it will make an unending supply of whiskey for traveling. he grins Probably not, that would not make sense or be useful.
Guujaw will attempt to identify all the items (at least, all that people wish him to identify).
Take 10 on Spellcraft for 23 on all of them
Thank you, Kuruk. I look forward to meeting the people who could craft such a wonder. This magic is not known elsewhere. From my dream, I believe they are the Elves in the West. Likely the same ones that we have heard called the Elves of the Five Branches.
In my dream he said that the arrow would give me strength. But if there is no other enchantment on it, perhaps he meant mental strength... hope to continue to go forward and find the people that made this and who can turn dreams into reality. Surely that is a people worthy of our help.
For the first time, Zaranna considers whether she will even want to go home. She thought she would get some land and maybe set up a new Elven Colony somewhere, but these elves... maybe she would rather join them. She makes no premature decisions, but needless to say she is very impressed.
Kuruk’s coal will grant him and Huera constant endure elements and fire resistance 5, his animal focus will also be counted as four levels higher for the purpose of determining duration. John Thomas’ shillelagh functions as a club under the effects of shillelagh. Angus’ feather, which Guujaw is able to figure out originiates from a Lillend Azata, grants him a +1 on saves and an additional +3 against mind-affecting effects. Guujaw’s whale tooth allows him to cast one spell scribed on it with the Maximize Spell metamagic feat once per day.
"The ancient ones have been very generous to us"
Tuorok says to Angus, ”This cave has been a home, one of many. I have wandered far, from the lands of Flamebringers to the homes of the cliff people. The Five Branches you speak of, I have not met. You might seek the cliff people, they have travelled beyond the deserts. There is a great canyon, towards the setting sun, that I know they live in.” Looking out the mouth of the cave, it is midday. Huera and Marion stand around, and upon seeing Angus up and moving, Marion whinnies excitedly. Zaranna’s hawk perches on a tree. Arrayed around the cave’s mouth are small cairns of red stone, each rock carved with elaborate whorls and spiralling patterns.
As he learns what the new shillelagh is a huge smile spreads on John Thomas face.
I am going to hit like one of those beserkers with this thing. Quite the gift to get, might need to work to live up to it.
Lost in thought John Thomas leaves the planning to the others though seeing some cliff people sounds pretty interesting.