You hike up to the top of the trench, hoping to spot some sign of the fleeing thief. You've seen no tracks so far, but hopefully the higher elevation will bring things into focus.
The trail winds along the top of the trench. As you walk, wind blows sand into your face, and you can taste the grit of the desert in your mouth.
Suddenly, the wind picks up! Pushing in every direction, at some points it is blustering hard enough to make the narrow ledge a deadly peril.
Most of you detect the sudden gust in time to shy away from the edge. Sunlight Under Stone, the wind catches you off guard. Please attempt a Reflex save to prevent yourself from being blown over the brink!
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Menarul's eyes widen as Robbyn mentions the overall design of the odd formations. Fosting his notebook off on the wind tossed man, he points at the preliminary sketches, before commenting. "Can you draw it? I'd love to have a record of what the overall design looks like!"
He nods at everyone's suggestions for the high path, either path was probably going to be dangerous, but if they kept their eyes peeled they might be able to survive. He's more than happy to see almost everyone kept their wits about them and grabbed onto something at the first sign of a gust of wind. "Sunlight, take hold of something before you get.... Nevermind!"
As the group gets a move on, Menarul takes a good look at the path they are on, curious if there is any sign of the passage of their thief.
Still no sign of Jamila's passage, unfortunately, but as you are checking the area you notice that the whipping are winds dieing down, and they quickly coalesce into numerous small gaseous shapes. They appear as birds, flying humanoids, and amorphous clouds, totaling a dozen in all.
A larger elemental descends until it almost touches the ground. The
creature has a humanlike head and torso, but its lower body forms a bilious cloud from which wispy tendrils emerge in all directions.
“Well, well—land creatures,” it says in a breathy voice. "Foolish or brave—or perhaps knowing we seek you. Yes, yes. You are the prophets, are you not?”
The creature hovers expectantly before you.
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Menarul, nods at Toral when the dwarf starts assisting him with looking for tracks. "Thank-you, uhhh, Toral, was it? I am no expert, though, I just do things methodically. You mentioned something about a 'Chaldira'... I don't think I've heard the name, before."
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Surprised by the birds of air taking flight, Menarul takes a quick memo of the things, mumbling, "Hope those things don't mind fireworks, 'cause I don't think I could keep from accidentally blowing one up if it popped into a fireworks display..."
He then realizes that someone else is talking and focuses back on the elemental hovering near the group, catching the last bit of it's words. He violently shakes his head, responding, "We are definitely not the people you are searching for. We're not prophets, at least I'm not one. In fact we're here searching for someone, and we have no clue where they have gone, except maybe in this general direction. You would not happen to know of a 'Jamila' or seen a Janni pass by, would you?"
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Big questions marks on Toral’s face!
”Oh wait a minute! You do not know Chaldira? Don’t you let any of those halflings and elves fool you... they always start pretending that Chaldira is 'their' goddess! She is through and through a dwarf, she has always been a dwarf and she will forever remain a dwarf! And she is the goddess of luck! Luck! Business luck!“
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"Wow! You are a beautiful creature! Of course I am a prophet! Since my early childhood I have dreamed of the heavens and the air ... imagining to fly! One day I was truly blessed by the 'Heaven spirit' and stand before you wanting to learn. Please ... I want to be your prophet!" Toral says with true awe.
Iyasset chuckles at Menarul and Sunlight Under Stone's objections.
"Oh, you are just being modest! You should follow the lead of your stocky friend; you are obviously favored by the elements."
The elemental looks over your group approvingly.
[b]“You seek the janni who fled through these dunes,” says the elemental. “Jamila al-Shafah. She passed through not long ago, though only the leader of my tribe knows where she was bound. She rightly fears the power of the prophets, while we respect it. My leader can tell you where this Jamila has gone, provided that you are the ones we seek. Will you prove yourselves to us?”
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Toral chuckles and claps his hands.
"Oh well of course we are modest! And that Jamila is the one we are looking for. So let us make haste and talk to your chief and after all this is over and Jamila, the thief, is caught ... your tribe and I have to talk about business! Business! You have been hiding for far too long ... import, export is my specialty and do not worry ... I know exactly what you guys need ... Toral says and starts to explain his credentials and why it would be most beneficial for all parties to start trading!
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Menarul works his jaw up and down as if chewing on something large and very hard. After a moment, he gives a shrug and resettles the scarf on his shoulders, his bottles and vials tinkling softly. "Okay, fine, if you insist we are you're prophets then I guess we are." After a second he switches to Auran, speaking very clearly and making sure the woman understands his words, "ఏమైనప్పటికీ, మనం మనం మారినట్లయితే మీరు మా వద్దకి పోయినట్లయితే, మనలో చాలామంది మనం కాదు అని గుర్తుంచుకోవాలి! నేను నిన్ను పరీక్షిస్తున్న వాళ్ళకు ఈ విషయాన్ని వివరించాను, లేదా మర్యాదగా తగ్గుతాను."
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Robyyn looks at the elemental in awe. Knowing his own aerial heritage, the gears in his mind begin cranking. "Prophets? Never thought I was one, but you never really know, do you? If you say we must be they, I'm willing to accept that it might just be true. What do you need from us; how do we prove ourselves to you?"
To Menarul, the elemental replies, "అయితే, మీరు ఇంకా మీ విధిని గ్రహించలేదు! ప్రవచనార్థక సంవత్సరాలు గడిచిపోయాయి, కాని తెలిసినది ఇంకా తెలియదు. Khamsin తుఫానులు ఒక కొత్త ఘర్షణ సమీపంలో డ్రా, మరియు గోరాన్ మరియు ఐన్సీ దీవెన యొక్క సైన్ కోసం వాచ్. సరిగ్గా అంచనా వేయలేదని మాకు తెలియదు, కాని సరైన సమయం మరియు మీరు ఇక్కడ ఉన్నారు."
Smiling at Robyyn's reply, he adds, "మీరు వారి నియమిత విధికి భూనివాసుల ఈ సన్నని సమూహాన్ని నడిపించడానికి వచ్చినందుకు నేను సంతోషంగా ఉన్నాను. మీరు పంపిన గాలులు ధన్యులు!"
Wisps of fog break off the elemental as they gesture excitedly while speaking.
"Come, my prophets! We will travel to the holy Sandflow Source, where you can prove your worth to the tribe. After that, my chief will reward you with the knowledge you seek."
Iyasset claps their hands and the smaller elementals disappear. As long as no one objects, the elemental will lead you to the Sandflow Source--whatever that is!--immediately.
Iyasset quickly leads you out of the dangerously windy area and into a region of steep canyons and sandy cliffs.
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Menarul gladly adds the notes that Vaylin is asking for in both the original Auran, a transliteration of the words into Taldane and then even a rough translation. He also notes the notes on the previous page of the notepad. "My that is extremely detailed note you have there! You must run through so many pens and notebooks! Is there a reason you keep this level of detailed notes?"
Menarul gives a silent eye roll at Iyasset's breezy assurance, but inevitably follows the rest of the group. As the group moves along, Meanrul pulls out his notebook again before asking, "Excuse me if this is rude of me, but what is the Sandflow Source? Is there any importance to the name?"
He takes memos of the answers, before asking, "And why do you need prophets?"
More scribbles, "Do you know anything about the unusual erosion around here? The ones that form a series of circles and arrows pointing to something? Do you know what that something is?"
He finishes writing the answer to the last question, before closing his notebook and look at the figure, "And finally, I don't believe I ever got your name! I am Menarul."
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Robyyn is grateful that Menarul was willing to provide the translations that Vaylin was looking for. He had no time for sharing notes; this was an elemental, and his own person was being seen as a prophet for their tribe!
Am I crazy if I let myself believe that it could be true? Is this a destiny that I've lived this long life for? All that training, and travel with the Society... was it all for this?
He stays close to the elemental, listening intently to his companions' questions but offering none of his own. Speaking could only screw this up!
Iyasset answers your questions with a chatty ease as you trek through the desert.
"I am Iyasset, and I'm particularly pleased to have been the one to find you. No doubt the elements are smiling upon me. The desert tribes have been searching for the prophets because a khamsin storm is imminent. During the storms, the tribes will clash, and your arrival is the sign of blessings upon the Ainsi."
"You are astute to notice the contours of our home. The features have been carved by the tribes over the years, and the lead to the hidden city, which soon shall be reclaimed for the glory of the tribe! But of that, I cannot speak more to those who are uninitiated."
When speaking of the Sandflow Source, the creature's voice takes on a slightly reverential tone.
"The Sandflow Source is sacred ground to the tribes. From the Sandflow Source many of us came, and to the Source we periodically return,” says the elemental. “If you pass through this holy site, you too will be welcomed into our tribe, and you too shall earn the secrets you seek.”
Just as the elemental finishes their description of the area, your party reaches the edge of a 15-foot-deep trench. Looking down into it, you see a river, approximately 15 feet wide, that tosses and heaves with waves of fine yellow-brown sand, rather than water. The rapid flow ends at a ledge, where it crashes downward just like a waterfall.
"To complete the first trial, you must get inside and make your way to solid ground. Best of luck, prophets!"
Iyasset points out a path that will lead you to the edge of the river, then flies out over the waterfall, evidently content to watch your progress from above. At the base of the falls, you see a pool of the flowing sand has gathered before the entrance to a temple complex of some sort.
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Menarul looks over at Iyasset, and then at the ground below. "Can we use tools as well, or do we need to accomplish this under our own power? It won't matter too much to me, but my friends might want the assistance."
Menarul then takes off his back pack, fishes out his winter blanket and ties it to the bag before dropping the whole thing off the side of the cliff. After making sure it landed safely and hoefully not to hard, the half-elf pulls out a small vial, pops the lid and downs the contents. After a second, he grows two times larger, nearing 12 feet tall. After that it's just a simple matter of crawling down the cliff face.
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Sunlight Under Stone is fascinated by the sandfall. They concentrate, and a few seconds later a small pterodactyl made of sand particles bursts from the river, wheeling and soaring before diving back into the stream, emerging periodically to chatter excitedly.
After a few minutes of this, the sand-dactyl flops lazily on the surface before suddenly dissolving back into the stream. "Now," Sunlight Under Stone says briskly, "what might the earth be hiding here, hmm?" They return to studying the river intently, with patches of sand bursting every so often as if moved by an invisible hand.
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Robyyn whispers to all, with a clear tinge of awe to his voice. "These flowing sands, I've seen them before. The Society sent me once to the Plane of Earth.... I saw these kinds of sands there before! It's unique to that place." Turning to Iyasset, hopefully before the elemental flies off, he prods. "This is fascinating; how is this here?"
After getting his answer, Robyyn looks into the fall, and then over the cliff's edge to the left of it. He knows he could simply float down and avoid the fall entirely.
But Iyasset stated specifically to 'get inside' - I don't want to cheat this test.
He calls on arcane power to center himself and increase his focus and steps to the edge of the flowing sands, allowing himself to gently float down into the flowing sands. He does his best to maintain his control and composure inside the flow, and flows over the edge into the waterfall, where he again floats gently down to the sands at the bottom.
He then tries to then make his way to Iyasset at the "shore" of the shifting sands.
[Dice= kn planes ]d20+ 6
”I just have one question dear air elemental Iyasset! We heard that there is another tribe somewhere
here. Do you belong together?!“
"The Goanron Triumvirate? Ha! I would never work with those hind-bound obstructionists. The have no vision and no ambition."
Sunlight Under Stone is fascinated by the sandfall. They concentrate, and a few seconds later a small pterodactyl made of sand particles bursts from the river, wheeling and soaring before diving back into the stream, emerging periodically to chatter excitedly.
After a few minutes of this, the sand-dactyl flops lazily on the surface before suddenly dissolving back into the stream. "Now," Sunlight Under Stone says briskly, "what might the earth be hiding here, hmm?" They return to studying the river intently, with patches of sand bursting every so often as if moved by an invisible hand.
[dice=Perception, take 20, Sift]20+9-5
Ancient Stone Glider eagerly plunges through the sand. Feels just like home!
By studying the material, you get some insight into its composition. The lightly packed sand flows like water, and Swim checks are required to move through it.
For the river itself, you must succeed on a DC 15 Swim check or be swept over the waterfall and fall 10 feet to the pool of flowing sand below. Due to the aerated nature of that sand pool, falling from the river only causes 1d6 nonlethal damage.
In the lower pool, Ancient Stone Glider notices a current that gently pulls toward the bottom of the sand. Those who enter it must succeed on a DC 5 Swim check to stay above the sand without moving, while a successful DC 10 Swim check is required to move at up to half the normal speed in any direction. Failing these checks by 5 or more means you will be sucked beneath the sand.
[dice=Knowledge (planes) DC 15]1d20+11
Robyyn whispers to all, with a clear tinge of awe to his voice. "These flowing sands, I've seen them before. The Society sent me once to the Plane of Earth.... I saw these kinds of sands there before! It's unique to that place." Turning to Iyasset, hopefully before the elemental flies off, he prods. "This is fascinating; how is this here?"
After getting his answer, Robyyn looks into the fall, and then over the cliff's edge to the left of it. He knows he could simply float down and avoid the fall entirely.
But Iyasset stated specifically to 'get inside' - I don't want to cheat this test.
He calls on arcane power to center himself and increase his focus and steps to the edge of the flowing sands, allowing himself to gently float down into the flowing sands. He does his best to maintain his control and composure inside the flow, and flows over the edge into the waterfall, where he again floats gently down to the sands at the bottom.
He then tries to then make his way to Iyasset at the "shore" of the shifting sands.
[dice=Swim?, guidance]1d20+3+1
Iyasset calls back to you, "In this place the elements mix and form exciting new possibilities!"
Menarul looks over at Iyasset, and then at the ground below. "Can we use tools as well, or do we need to accomplish this under our own power? It won't matter too much to me, but my friends might want the assistance."
Menarul then takes off his back pack, fishes out his winter blanket and ties it to the bag before dropping the whole thing off the side of the cliff. After making sure it landed safely and hoefully not to hard, the half-elf pulls out a small vial, pops the lid and downs the contents. After a second, he grows two times larger, nearing 12 feet tall. After that it's just a simple matter of crawling down the cliff face.
[dice=Climb, ACP, Enlarged]1d20+2-2+1
Ilyasset calls to you, "I'm sure you prophets are very resourceful. Use whatever tools are at your disposal."
You successfully climb the first 20 feet down the cliff face, but the last 10 feet are worn smooth and slippery by the spray of sands that blows up from the pool below. You fall the last 10 feet, but it does not do any damage to you.
Sunlight Under Stone follows Menarul down the cliff face, then tries to swim to the shore.
Youch! Luckily the sand is almost watery. Take .
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Seeing Toral drink the potion triggers a memory in Vaylin. He looks in his notebook, flips a few pages, and then opens a pouch on his bag. He pulls out a similar looking potion which is labeled in a neat script on the front. Strapping his shield to his back Vaylin just about makes the swim with magical assistance, his armour isn't made with floating in mind.
Touch of the sea and taking ten for eleven.
The gigantic half-elf swims his way over to the shore:
Takes 10 for an 11.
"Excellent work, prophets! That gave you no trouble at all. Now, proceed inside to continue your test!"
Looking meaningfully at everyone (except Robyyn), the elemental adds: "How honored you groundlings must feel to tread these sacred spaces!"
On the far side of the sand pool, the natural slope of the trench combines with several artificial elements. The curved southern wall bears a slight polish and is reddish in color. An opening to the north gives way to a sandy-floored corridor. A wide frieze carved with numerous hieroglyphics flanks each side of the northern exit.
Iyasset recommends that you catch your breath and study the hieroglyphics to "learn more of the history that has led to you being chosen as prophets."
It appears the hieroglyphics are accompanied by a script in various languages that you might be able to decipher.
The wall tells of Ini-Kherit, the leader of the Goanron tribe, and his attempts to reshape the physical structure of the desert in conjunction with the khamsin storms, thus slowly bringing Osirion back to its original sacred shape. However, conflicting messages within the writing suggest that Ini-Kherit acts selfishly and seeks to keep the lost city of Tumen concealed because he fears some hidden power within.
Additionally, you may notice:
The wall shows an inconsistent level of wear, suggesting that somebody has altered the hieroglyphics multiple times.
Ancient Stone Glider squawks inside Sunlight Under Stone's mind, but is unable to communicate much more besides excitement and a little bit of outrage.
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In a different notebook Vaylin starts making notes in pencil. After a period of crossing out and rewriting he nods his head. The psychic then copies the final draft into his first notebook in pen. He offers the book to the team and the team only.
Under today's date and location in fine and neat common script you read:
"The wall tells of Ini-Kherit, the leader of the Goanron tribe, and his attempts to reshape the physical structure of the desert in conjunction with the khamsin storms, thus slowly bringing Osirion back to its original sacred shape. However, conflicting messages within the writing suggest that Ini-Kherit acts selfishly and seeks to keep the lost city of Tumen concealed because he fears some hidden power within.
This text appears to have been adjusted over time. It may not all be true. Confirm what is true."
"You are very clever to decipher our history without any help! Tumen is a city, lost years ago to the desert sands of Osiron. If it were to be uncovered, the true glory of this area would be realized. Perhaps this cycle of storms will accomplish that!"
Before you walk through the entrance to the rest of the complex, Iyasset gives you an overview of what lies ahead.
"Prophets, you will need to pass three challenges inside to prove your worth. First, just inside the entrance to the sacred space, a degenerate earth creature has invaded and settled in to pester visitors. Be wary of it. It can collapse into a swirling cloud of sand, and you will need bludgeoning weapons to deal with it effectively. Are you equipped appropriately? I could fetch you some clubs."
"After you dispatch that pest, you will have the chance to experience the joy of the plane of air. It will be more of a romp than a challenge, really. Just pass through the chamber and out the other side."
"Finally, a nuisance has made her way into the Sandflow Source and she must be removed--preferably violently. She Qiarah, an oread sorceress, who is pursuing a truly unnatural process: She seeks to turn herself into an earth elemental! It is an abomination, of course, to tie yourself so to earth and stone. She must be removed from the Sandflow Source."