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“Looks like we might have beaten the opposition to this oasis. What does everyone make of it? Should we set up an ambush?”
"Those finches are a good sign there is no predator here, I would think. Is this where we camp or do we press on?" The Dragon scans the oasis, then the surrounding desert. "Let me check the water before we let the animals drink."
As I approach:
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Hadassah is relieved to find an oasis, but is not overly trustful of the apparent peace and tranquility. "I don't trust it. Oasis are the breath of life in the desert. They should never be this calm and peaceful," she whispers to Lhug.
The assumer sets about helping set up camp, always keeping an eye out for trouble.
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As the young lady helps with camp, she can't help but notice every different rare desert species she had promised they would find, "Look there! A seven toed gheco! They are so pretty, and swift. Watch what happens when you sneak up on one!" Although her perceptive abilities appear to be keen, they clearly distract her from any possibility of being helpful in setting up the camp.
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Lhug flies over the sand like dust in a storm. The first gnoll he meets dies to the end of his blade. The creature bays as it slumps to the ground.
Lore's bolt sails wide and hits a tree, sending thin whips of smoke up into the air.
Eadie starts her charge across the oasis, but her heavy armor and short stubby legs prevent her from reaching the gnolls in time. Her heavy breathing and grunting prevent her from hearing the screams of warning from Fleetwood and Hadassah. They see large starfish-like creature emerge from the sand. It has five "arms" that surround a maw made of sharp teeth.
But Eadie's armor protects her from the worst of the desert demon.
The two remaining gnolls fire their weapons upon Lhug-
But the young Barbarian easily dodges their clumsy throws.
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The thing emerging from the desert floor causes Eadie to change her focus instantly, taking this unexpected turn of events in her *ahem* stride.
Eadie will then back 20’ away from the creature ensuring that she keeps herself between the creature and the others.
Whoa! This thing reminds me of that massive desert creature in the third part of that Distant Worlds play I saw as a teen: "Return of the Red Eye Knight!" Now what was it called ..?
"Everyone, don't let this thing full attack you! Let it come after me."
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Lore sends out a cone of fire and the dust monster tries to avoid being crisp'd .
Eadie strikes the monster, creating a huge gash across one of it's arms. As she tries to move away, it tries to bite her.
As Eadie moves out, Hadassah moves in. The monster is unable to keep up with constant flow of the combat and can't avoid her dangerous strike. Hadasah knows this creature as a Dust Digger. It prefers to ambush people in the sand and likes its meals swallowed whole.
Fleetwood casts a spell...
Meanwhile Lhug strikes the Gnoll that hit him with a spear, ending its life.
The remaining Gnoll runs away from the combat, wishing to try its luck in the desert rather than the unforgiving blade of Lhug.
The dust digger focuses its attacks on Hadassah.
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Seeing Lhug slash at the retreating gnoll, Eadie realizes what the Dragon's next target will be, and tries to beat him to the Dust Digger to draw the creature's attack of opportunity, if it has reach.
Eadie feels her biceps swell from Woody's spell as she moves 20' to attack, though she only cleaves air.
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Hadassah takes one last swing a the swirling star of dust and sends it back into the hot desert. The monster slinks to the ground and after a few moments its hard to define what is sand and what was once part of this monster.
Lhug gives a half-hearted chase on the gnoll for a few moments but he ends up letting the walking dog fend on its own in the desert.
The party takes a look around the oasis and replenishes its water supply. The gnolls left a poorly hidden cash of "treasure" behind. They have a purse filled with some coin, an alchemy crafting kit, a vial of antitoxin, (2) flasks of alchemist fire, (2) potions of liquid ice, and a potion of haste. Obviously these are the left over of the gnoll conquest.
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The remainder of the journey through the desert proceeds uneventfully, with only the rise and fall of the dunes to break the monotony. A low, uneven hill of granite appears on the horizon to the northwest, presenting the only shelter for miles around. Although the crag appears solid from a distance, on closer examination there is a wide fissure in the rock sealed by a heavily weathered stone wall fitted with a large iron door.
Once you get closer to the you see it is made of iron. The gate that seals the entrance is heavy and partially buried by sand, yet it is unbarred.
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Hmm … antitoxin, alchemist’s fire and liquid ice, huh?
Eadie helps pathfinder the gnolls’ corpses. “I guess we could share the splash weapons around – but we do have Lore as our secret anti-swarm weapon, don’t we my dear?”
“Lhug, do you want the potion of haste? I’m thinking I could hold the line for a few seconds while you drink it. Please let me know what you thin … Hey! Did one of the gnolls hit you? You never said!!”
Use my wand of CLW if you want to save channels.”
☤☤☤☤
As our heroes approach the sealed gate, Eadie will again dismount and hobble Drandle, before checking the general area for sentries and the door for traps.
She will then activate her Wayfinder, clip it to her belt try to open the door.
She will call over her shoulder to the Dragon. “Uhh ... do you want to have a go, Lhug? I think I loosened it for you.”
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Eadie helps pathfinder the gnolls’ corpses. “I guess we could share the splash weapons around – but we do have Lore as our secret anti-swarm weapon, don’t we my dear?”
"I have acid already, but that's just so I don't have to stand there with my... Pathfinder ...in my hand while i'm devoured by a swarm of whatever. It might be better for Woody."
“Lhug, do you want the potion of haste? I’m thinking I could hold the line for a few seconds while you drink it. Please let me know what you thin … Hey! Did one of the gnolls hit you? You never said!!”
"Yeah, that's a little more my speed," pausing a moment to let that one sink in. Sticking his finger through a hole in his robe, "In my experience this is more of a miss than a hit. And we have 3 healers, do you think they are trying to tell us something Eadie?"
"This is good for hangovers, also."
She will call over her shoulder to the Dragon. [b] “Uhh ... do you want to have a go, Lhug? I think I loosened it for you.”
Lhug pulls out a rusted crowbar from his pack and applies some finesse to the job.
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"Yeah, that's a little more my speed," pausing a moment to let that one sink in.
Eadie starts laughing hysterically. “Ha, ha, ha … ‘little more’ when he's so big! I agree, Lore. That’s the funniest thing I’ve heard in ages!” Eadie slaps the Dragon on the back.
"And we have 3 healers, do you think they are trying to tell us something Eadie?"
Eadie taps the side of her nose before she says knowingly. “They certainly are, Lhug! As Archbanker Tuttle always says … when all the healers go into the field, dump all your hospital stock.”
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As Eadie checks the light from her Wayfinder in preparation for their trip underground, she tries to recall some of the details of the party's mission plan.
"Didn't the dude that sold us Drandle say something about a Bronze Aspis agent also being inter...
"AND you did a great job dropping that Dust Digger. Lhug probably learnt something just by watching you."
Eadie's face shows genuine concern. "Are you able to heal yourself? I have an unused CLW wand if you need one."
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This is the site marked on Grand Master Torch's map. The Pathfinders find a place to die down the camels.
Lhug and Eadie work as a team, but really its just Lhug doing the bulk of the work. The door starts to slide easily in dirt and opens.
Hadassah sees that once the dirt is moved away, that there is an ancient inscprition on the door. It appears to be written in old Osiriani.
The door opens into a small sentry area that once protected this mountainside fort. Just inside the sentry area are two wooden doors on either side before opening up to a courtyard.
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Eadie enters with the others having a quick check around first; the beam from her Wayfinder picking out the hieroglyphics on the door.
“So these little pictures of people with animals heads and stuff are like the olden days peoples’ alphabet, Dassah?” The fighter looks sceptically at the dervish. “Yeah, right.”
Eadie turns her mind to something she can better understand. I’m thinking swarm for some reason.
She draws alchemist’s fire and makes sure Lore has a clear “blasting” lane in front of her before searching the room for traps and threats.
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Lore breaks into a fit of laughter and falls on the floor giggling uncontrollably. Tears start to roll from her eyes and she continues laughing for some time. Finally she gains some control of herself, though the giggles continue in little fits and starts for some time. She wipes the tears from her eyes, then looks at Lugh and starts laughing again... and the tears begin again and she has to wipe them away while the laughter subsides. She pointedly doesn't look in Lugh's direction for some time until the giggle fits are completely gone.
"Oh, my... excuse me all... but I couldn't help myself... Lugh... with .... a book!" she manages to stammer out, the giggles coming back and interrupting her speech as she just manages to get out the words before reduced to another fit of laughter.
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Eadie blurts out. “Oh, I can believe it. Assuming it only had pictures.”
After seeing the Dragon’s face, Eadie backpedals a bit.
“If you are really into literature though Lhug, you are welcome to join the Osirion faction’s book club. We’ve got a Numeria theme happening next month, when we review I, Gearsman by Anne Droid.”
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Hadassah and Lhug are able to make out the inscription. It is a welcome message, offering safety from the winds.
The Pathfinders look into the two rooms of the Sentry Post and find a stone cabinet that once served as a weapons locker. Inside are five magical bolts.
As Eadie walks into the courtyard, the wind starts gusts about, filling the air with fine grit. Corpses litter the area, little more than bone and desiccated, leathery skin. A dry well occupies the center, surrounded by the remnants of an outdoor market, though even the best tent is tattered and leans precariously. To the east, a set of low steps rise to a set of stone doors surrounded by symmetrical wall carvings of pharaohs. Stairs to the south ascend to the outer wall.