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A new day dawns in Eto. After meeting late with Grandmaster Torch last night, it was thought prudent to get at least a partial night's rest and refresh yourselves before setting out to the destination marked on the maps.
You were told to stick to the path through the desert, though it is plain that there is a more direct way to the destination, though without any sort of trail, path, or landmarks.
How do you wish to proceed? Someone else already has a head start on you.
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If told by a Venture-Captain:
"We were told to stick to the path through the desert. I think we should listen to those instructions."
If told by some helpful native:
"Even though we were adviced to not leave the path well traveled it seems more expedient to take a more direct approach to catch up to those who are ahead of us."
(using enhanced diplomacy)
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Though frustrated that he could not come up with a way to get back at Torch, Mikhaere is nevertheless glad to finally drag the proffered information out of his filthy, grubby hands. Before going to bed the night before, he prays to whatever spirits or gods may be listening that something terrible happens to his archenemy while he and the others are off trekking out across the desert.
In the morning, he spends an hour in prayer near a body of water. This likely turns out to be a bathtub somewhere, or possibly a bucket of water that he dumps over his head before kneeling in meditation. Mikhaere communes with the spirits of the desert, imploring their aid in the adventure ahead.
0 (4)
- Create Water
- Detect Magic
- Guidance
- Light
1st (4+1)
- Jump (D)
- Calm Animals
- Frostbite
- Produce Flame
- open slot
2nd (3+1)
- Delay Poison (D)
- Barkskin
- Burst of Radiance
- open slot
Later, he takes the map and studies it closely, using what he knows about terrain to get a general idea of what problems might await them on the road less taken, as well as whether it's truly feasible to travel that way. He also considers any extra preparations the party might need to take on the road, and then heads outside to taste the air and determine the upcoming weather.
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Asking around nets you some information about the desert and this path. The route described in Grandmaster Torch’s map is rarely used, though the caravan masters are familiar with the oasis and the terrain surrounding it. They provide some advice about how to equip properly and avoid common
desert hazards, granting the PCs a +1 bonus on any Survival checks made while traveling from Eto to Seeker’s Folly.
Secondly, the gnoll clans have grown increasingly bold, and abductions along the common trade routes are becoming increasingly common.
Finally, a pair of travelers asked questions about the same oasis a few days ago. One flashed a bronze badge bearing a snake emblem when questioned by customs agents.
Mikhaere recalls that the terrain mentioned on the map is completely barren of landmarks or recognizable topography. It is possible to cut across the barren sands of Osirion, but it would take some survival instinct to get through and make the shortcut actually faster. In regards to weather, skies will be clear with a high of "oh-my-gods-why-is-it-so-fracking-hot" and a low dipping down to "it's-still-so-hot!!!", with a zero percent chance of precipitation.
You are armed with knowledge, now how do you make use of it? Still leaning towards the "shortcut"?
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Mikhaere spends some time explaining the risks to the party, basking in the praise and confidence of his companions.
"I've got a tonne of scrolls of endure elements," he says, rummaging through his backpack and withdrawing some dog-eared sheets of parchment. "Got enough for the lot of us for a day, in a pinch! Might be worth buyin' a few more, save your own magic for a few pieces of gold."
"I can make us a lotta water for the trip, but we'll need to bring some food, 'cuz I can't promise you humans will much like scorpions and cactuses for dinner." Mikhaere caws in amusement. "Oh, and I suggest ya' bring a keffiyeh or something. Desert storms can be a real pain in the tail feathers."
"Lastly, we'll make better time if we get some camels. Shouldn't be too hard to get our claws on some 'round these parts for sure. What do you think?"
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You can indeed prepare spells according to the knowledge that you will be going through the desert.
Mikhaere, it would seem the scenario does not deem it necessary to state how long the journey will be. Best guess is about 5 days following the map. 4 if you speed it up with mounts, 3 if you take the shortcut and don't get lost.
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"Only forests we're likely to see are cactus fields," Mikhaere mutters with a shake of his head at Roland's commentary. Maybe the strange-speaking man had his brain addled as a child? That'd explain the accent, at least?
"Between the two of us we shouldn't have much trouble getting there and back by the shortcut route, I don't think," he adds.
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The journey to the destination is an uneventful one. Mikhaere keeps everyone on track with his astute senses. Perhaps it is because something is drawing him forward. Indeed, around midday on the third day, an oasis shimmers like a sapphire in the midday heat. Life clings around its edges tenaciously, with only a few hardy plants nestled amid the rocks managing to survive in patches around the area. Finches bathe in the water, resting on an abandoned harness. Trash and castoffs from travelers litter the area, and a small brick hearth is the only permanent fixture.
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Mikhaere is ecstatic to be out of the city. The blasted heat isn't exactly his idea of fun either, and he complains bitterly about it, but the feeling of being in wide open spaces away from the hustle and bustle of the city is nothing short of amazing for him.
Arrival at the oasis makes him doubly happy (after all, he needed to roll around in the mud for a while to replenish himself), and short of any danger waiting for them there, he's quick to head towards it.
Nothing can hide from Mikhaere's keen senses!
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Mikhaere is ecstatic to head toward the pool, but he quickly sees that that is exactly what someone wants him to do. To the north, behind some large rocks, you see some creatures lying in wait, the glint of their weapons almost fully concealed behind the shimmer of the water.
Seeing that they've been made, three creatures emerge from behind the rocks. They point and holler in your direction and you know the game is afoot!
Also, map.
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"Oh, look," Mikhaere drawls with a roll of his eyes, "as expected, people keeping me away from the blissful experience of lazing about in the water." He glowers at the hyena-men. "You'll pay for this, jerks!" Tellingly, he doesn't know or care what the hell these stupid things are, just that heads were going to roll for the offence.
"Oh yeah," he adds as an afterthought, "and there's something in the sand over there, just by the oasis. Something's coming this way. Watch out for that, eh?"
Ditching the position of up-front, he ducks behind a nearby half-submerged rock and calls out to the blistering sun no doubt doing nasty things to the more pale-skinned members of the group. A tiny, roiling ball of heat appears in his claws, and he caws quietly in delight, awaiting the beasts to charge forward.
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Indeed they are humanoids. They look like bipedal hyenas. Yes, they are gnolls. Not to be anticlimactic, but there is little special about them other than the fact that they seem tougher than other gnolls (advanced template). They are armed with spears, so they'll likely take a peck at you from a distance before closing into melee.
That said, another also sprints across the sands, taking some cover behind a small stand of trees near the pool of water.
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"Whoa, whoa, whoa!" Mikhaere calls out, actually reasonably concerned at that speed increase. "Whatever's down there's just about on you all! Get outta the way, ya fools! It's right there!" He starts gesturing wildly at the desert in front of the group, hoping these idiotic humans were at least self-serving enough to understand that when he said danger, he wasn't kidding! "It's right near you, Elena, and not far off Guilford either! GET YOUR ASSES MOVIN'!"