Understood, Jarva. Perhaps this is a task made more dignified by the labor anyway.
The vultures wake and with Kyra banging her sword and shield, you scare them away. You then take turns digging in the hot sun. You make one big hole for the 4 bodies that takes you about 2 hours.
Once the proper depth is reached, Eli will start to move the bodies into it. "Brebork, would you be willing to say some parting words for these poor men so the gods will receive them well?"
Brebork wonders aloud as he works. Does the oxidized shard look like it necessarily came from a weapon? Maybe it needs closer examination. Maybe the merchants encountered Gnolls with rusted weapons earlier and then fled in escape, only to meet their fate here against a different kind of foe. ?
Once the bodies have been properly interred in the earth, Brebork lights a lamp by the grave, and springles a few drops of holy water on the mound. As he works he calls out to his goddess in a long, keening voice. He sings a small Lament for the Fallen as well as a brief Prayer for the safe passage of their souls. The sun gleams on the Holy Symbol in his hands as he performs and then completes the sacred ritual in accordance with the most ancient tenets of his Faith.
Garavel looks at Eli in bewilderment. "I did not believe I would ever see the day where such a fancy noble would stoop and have his fingernails covered in dirt and grime and his clothes all sweaty for some common merchant he never even met? Where you raised, my lad? You act like no noble I have ever met!"
Garavel looks at Eli in bewilderment. "I did not believe I would ever see the day where such a fancy noble would stoop and have his fingernails covered in dirt and grime and his clothes all sweaty for some common merchant he never even met? Where you raised, my lad? You act like no noble I have ever met!"
"Noble. " Brebork chuckles darkly to himself. "Garavel, The Light of Heaven shines one soul as it shines on the other. The rites are the same for all as each soul is prescious. They rite may be lengthened or shortened as time or resources permit. Perhaps if you volunteer some of your prescious time one day in one of our missions you would understand, but I know you are a busy and important man. When was the last time you visited the poorest quarter in your town. The lowest of the low. That is where I come from."
Garavel smiles. "Ahhhhh Brebork, much more dedicated and might I add, better looking, people than you have tried to show me the Path of Enlightenment and failed. Don't feel bad kid, I'm a lost cause. Nice speech, though."
With the burial ceremony over and the vultures gone, you stop to rest a little while and gather your thoughts. As you ponder the situation....
Knowledge Nature
Garavel looks at Eli in bewilderment. "I did not believe I would ever see the day where such a fancy noble would stoop and have his fingernails covered in dirt and grime and his clothes all sweaty for some common merchant he never even met? Where you raised, my lad? You act like no noble I have ever met!"
"Well lets just say my mum would be none to proud of her fourth born this day."
Well, unless we have nothing further to look at I say we contunue on our way to Kelmarane. Whatever attacked these men used curved blades. What kind of creature or attacker in this place would be the kind to use curved blades in an attack, but not also loot their victims afterwards? It does not seem like a natural thing. This is troubling...murderous intentions....
Garavel has a hearty laugh upon hearing Eli's comments. "Well, it seems the desert is full of dangers, not just gnolls. Keep your guard up. Well, if we hurry, we can travel for 2-3 more hours today before it gets dark and we have to camp. So when ready, mount up."
Quzman is quiet during the cleanup period, taking his turn with the shovel and other work that needs be done. After the ceremony is over, he goes up to Brebork firmly grips his forearm and shakes arm solemnly. "Well said. No one could ask for more in seeing them onto to the hereafter."
Glancing after Eli, "Your mum may not take pride in your actions this day, but you should. Out here, all folk learn to rely on one another just to get by, regardless of where they come from. You've earned some respect from me anyways, for what it's worth to you."
After cleaning up, and checking over the camels, Quzman mounts his camel and says to Garavel, "You are quite right Garavel. These sands hide many dangers to those who travel them."
Absolutely. Let's push on as quickly as we can.
Though obviously saddened, Dumah seems just a little relieved as well.
The party mounts up and continues its expedition NE for the next hours, mulling the thoughts of the day's past events. You all can't wait till you rest as you are sure to sleep well tonight. As the sun nears its daily downward trek (15 minutes to sunset), Garavel calls the caravan to a halt as you come over a hill and he spots something on the horizon, struggling to see it. Jarva also feels very uneasy.
Perception
Perception
Knowledge Nature
Survival
Quzman looks grim at the advancing storm. He takes a quick glance around to see if he can see any possible appropriate shelter to ride out the storm.
Your Survival skill tells you that you cannot outrun it. It appears to be traveling 60 miles per hour and your camel's max running speed is 30 mph. The best thing to do in a sandstorm is find some type of shelter that will protect you against the wind and bunker down.
Seeing the storm flying in the direction of the party, the only thing that Jarva could think of was what he yelled..."We need to find cover now! There is no way to outrun that storm and our only option to to hole up and ride it out!"
Garavel looks around, pulling his hood off, and wiping the sweat from his brow as the massive sandstorm apparent to all now advances in the distance. "Ok, good, good thinking there Jarva! C'mon people, think! We still have time, no need to panic, eveything's going to be fine." That last part didn't sound very convincing, even to Garavel himself, as he looks around in vain for any type of shelter.
Perception
Brebork makes an effort to appear brave in the face of looming danger, but can be seen swallowing hard and praying fervently.
Are there any features in the landscape..if no cover? Is there higher ground or lower ground? Is there any lightening in the storm?
He looks to Javra.
"Can we settle in behind the camels? I'll make sure everyone has water!"
Know. Geo.
"I don't know of any shelter in the area. If we can't find shelter, we could have the camels kneel and get on the leeward side, as you said Brebork. If we keep our eyes closed and our nose and mouth covered with a damp rag, we might be able to suffer through it. That's our best shot if we can't find a nook or cave," Jarva grimly stated. This could be ugly."
Are there any features in the landscape..if no cover? Is there higher ground or lower ground? Is there any lightening in the storm?
If we have one camel as the main wind break I can cast mage armor on it. I have a minor spell that creates a freezing ray that I can use over and over. Perhaps I can use that during the storm to stiffen a blanket or tent cast over the wind-side?
While the graves are dug, Kyra stands guard.
Looking at the surrounding desert for any threat.
Listening in on Quzman talking to Eli, she nods in appreciation.
"Indeed Jarva ... there is no way to outrun the storm."
"But we're not wearing loose desert clothes for nothing right ?"
"Also, let's quickly tie up the camels together so they won't run away."
Kyra starts to unmount and tie up the camels to each other.
Patting each on the side and saying a little prayer to Sarenrae.
"Khasht guzbl 'nankh!" swears Brebork impressively in Orcish as he watches the storm approach. "If there are hills at all we should place ourselves on higher ground, no? I don't fancy performing my own burial rites! I have performed one too many already today! Sarenrae protect us! Garavel, keep that shovel handy -and don't expect to keep your hands clean today!"
Once a suitable location is found, Brebork will assist
Dumah in erecting a frost-stiffened shelter around the camels. That sounded like a good idea.
Call the The Dawnflower's touch on anyone who will be handling or calming the animals. Kyra, Garavel and Quzman all seem skilled with animals.
As the storm approaches and threatens to engulf you with its raging winds and suffocating sand, you see flocks of birds fleeing to the south, making you wish you could fly as they can. Garavel stands up and addresses the party. "Really, a frost covered tent?? That's what we came up with? And the hurricane type winds, that are propelling that sand? What are we going to do with that?" He pauses. "I'm sorry, excuse my sarcasm. This is literally our lives here." He looks at Jarva, "The Sand Whisperer, engulfed by a sandstorm??? If that isn't irony?" He manages a chuckle. He looks down at the floor and after a few seconds, suddenly grasps Jarva by the shoulders. "Shelter! Yes, that's what we need. There must be something around here!" He looks in vain at Jarva, hoping he will remember something but he does not. "Damn it people, I brought you together because of your unique knowledge skills...and because I am a good judge of character. Don't let me down. Rangers, you know this desert better than most, is there any shelter???. Noble, maybe you read something in a book?? Cleric, perhaps you traveled on some mission to convert the natives? Wizard, you are supposed to be highly educated. I don't care who, does anyone have a better idea than lying on the ground with a rag on my face and praying??" The frustration and fear on Garavel's face is apparent, as he looks in vain to the party, hoping someone can remember something.
"Thank you Quzman, that means a lot," Eli says as they leave the impromptu funeral and once again head out across the desert. Tired and sore from the days labors he is eager to get some sleep and he hasn't mentioned playing cards since the buried the merchants. "By the gods!" The fear in his voice betrays that Eli has never seen such a natural threat before. "It's going to bury us alive, we must get under something!"
Kura frantically searches her mind for any known locations close by ... but fails to remember anything. The thought of being buried alive isn't helping either ...
Dumah will scan his memory for all that he's read about this part of the desert. Any stories, any legends any past events that might be relevant to nearby shelters. He scans the horizon for any landmarks that might trigger a memory of lost outposts of civilization that might help.
Knowledge History
Perception
Dumah wracks his brain but nothing comes to mind, although he finds it hard to concentrate with the approaching sandstorm, the squawks of nature as animals flee for their lives, and thoughts of death that are distracting him.
Quzman's thoughts are also scrambled but this area does ring familiar in his memory, although he is trying to remember exactly how.
Dumah will signal to the group to gather in the storm shadow created by one or more of the camels. Once everyone is there, Dumah will speak.
Let us pool our efforts to think this through. I am not an experienced desert traveller, but something about this area seems different. Such a large stretch without anything to be used for minimal shelter? I know by Garavel's example that panic may seem the appropriate course of action, but we need to take this moment to talk among ourselves in case the thoughts of one triggers the thoughts of another. Think of the towns and landmarks that are nearby. Speak aloud of what your are thinking regarding legends, outposts of civilization both current and past, news of travellers that have been through here. If you see something through the growing storm, ask others about it so that perhaps keener eyes may make out what you cannot. If we cannot come up with something in the next couple of minutes, we will go back to Garavel's plan.
Untrained Knowledge
Brebork is momentarily stung by Garavel's sarcasm. He stands looking down fiercely at the little man, resisting the violent, youthful orcish impulses inside of him. He stares for a moment with eyes ablaze and then breaks into a wide grin.
"Hahaha!" he bellows "Just a wee breeze, friend! Have a little faith! We'll get through it!
Unable to think of anything else he continues in a voice to rival the screaming winds."Get ready for a **storm, fellows!"
Garavel looks confused as he hears Eli's words. "To what plan of mine do you refer? I have come up with no plan!", he says angrily.
Dumah watches Brebork's reaction and tries to keep the focus of the rest. Very well, Brebork's suggestion for a course of action is dully noted. However, I'm not convinced that we cannot come up with an even better alternative. I'm not ready to cede this desert to the gnolls just yet. No matter how unlikely or how irrelevant, offer it now.
Dumah looks longingly to the blowing sand, certain that if Haleen were here, she could handle it better, and hoping that if this did happen, that she did handle it better.
With that thought of Haleen, Dumah adds My mentor, Haleen, came to this desert some months ago. While she may have just been looking to drive back the gnoll menace, she may have also been looking for something of value. Is there anything below the sands in this area, known or just legendary, that she may have been after?
"The longer we stay put the quicker the sands will engulf us. If we backtrack away from the storm we will gain time to find shelter, albeit only a small bit of time based on how fast the storm is coming. If we stay we are going to have to dig in and hope to ride it out, if we move that may still be the case but we might find shelter in the meantime. Cayden Cailean guide us now." Eli shouts to be heard over the approaching storm but the last part is said mostly to himself.
Could there be a connection to the slaying of the Merchant and his sons? We found their remains half buried in sand...maybe they were caught in such a storm when they were attacked?
"Oh!" (fingers snapping) "Maybe the cart is close enough behind us and can be used in the construction of a more solid makeshift shelter. If it is - lets go there now!"
"NO WAIT!" Eli suddenly drops his pack and start rummaging through it to the bottom and pulls out a small leather bound book. Flipping through the pages he finds what he is looking for. "Quzman...Badawi Ruins....here look." Eli excitedly shows the native a rough sketch of some ruins with some notes to there general location in the area. They appear to be NW of the place the group is at now in the direction of the storm. If we ride hard NOW we might be able to beat the storm to them, can you show us the way?"
Not a moment to lose! Well done Eli. Rangers and Druids - take our bearings! Let's go! RIDE LIKE THE WIND! Yeehah!
Not waiting for Quzman to check the book and notes, he'll tell Garavel
We need rope now to link the camels together so that no one is separated in the storm. If there is enough rope, we should also tie each person to the train should they lose their place in the saddle. In a very stern voice he will add Now, while Eli and Quzman determine our direction of travel. Not waiting for an answer, turns and scans to rest of the group to make sure everyone is accounted for as the caravan gets ready for its sprint.
After quickly skimming the entry in the book, Quzman ponders the described ruins, trying to think if he can place where the party is in relation to the old place.
"Nice one Eli ... Let's go go go ..."
Kyra was already busy with roping the mounts together, so that should be done quickly.
She then mounts her dromedary and rides the animal with a vengeance.
"Blessed book, noble, why didn't you pull that thing out before? No matter, yes, let's rope the camels together so we do not get lost. Now which way are we headed?" When Eli points North and West, towards the oncoming sandstorm, Garavel's eyes bulge a little, but then he composes himself. "Yes, fine, this way we have a chance, better than doing nothing. Lead the way ranger!"