The harsh desert sun beats down on you, just as it has every day for the past week, you thought this was going to be an adventure but so far it's just been boring and hot.
A man called Garavel employs you and he has the personality of a stone. He is the major domo for a merchant princess who awaits you ahead.
The big half-orc, a rare but not unheard of sight in Katapesh, rides quietly toward the caravans destination. During the trip those who speak with Ugh find him to be kinder and gentler than he appears. It seems this trip is a homecoming for Ugh. Kelmerane was where an adolescent Ugh was abducted by raiding gnolls to be sold into slavery. It is where he hopes to be reunited with his mother.
Always with Ugh is his greataxe. This axe is as much a work of art as it is a useful weapon. The intricate steel blades form a demons countenance where it meets the decoratively carved hilt. Anyone who speaks with Ugh at any length quickly learns that this was his fathers axe and is his most prized possession. His father died using this axe to free Ugh from slavery.
Ugh is always on the lookout, scanning the horizon for any sign of trouble, often moving to the rear to check behind. When camp is made, he always offers to take first watch.
Anala spends her time riding on the different wagons and listening to the stories the merchants and other travellers have to tell of the region and more specifically the area to which they travel. She rarely asks questions of them, content to let them ramble and trying to glean what knowledge she can from this.
She will answer any questions put to her, but generally does not start conversations other than to get someone going enough to listen.
Throughout the journey you can see her occasionaly pull a fancy compass from her pack and check it, replacing it after nodding to herself.
Even with her tolerence for heat, the sun still beats down on her and she is glad for dusk when it begins to cool slightly, but is not yet cold enough to give her discomfort.
Aixa wears the loose silken robes of a desert nomad and a traditional turban over her helmet. Beneath her eyes are dark blue tattoos for protection against the desert sun. She openly wears the angelic ankh holy symbol of Sarenrae on her breast, marking her as a priestess of Sarenrae. Every morning at dawn, Aixa prays to the rising sun, and eagerly invites anyone else to join her small daily service, filled with joyous song, and if others are present, short readings from The Birth of Light and Truth. In the evening, Aixa dances as the sun sets, a private devotion to the end of the day and the promise of the next, whirling her scimitar and spinning until the last rays of light disappear.
During the day, Aixa is eager to learn of other people and their histories and homelands. You get the impression that she has not traveled widely and is perhaps somewhat naive to the ways of the larger world. She will happily inform anyone that she is going to Kelmarane to reclaim and reconsecrate the Temple of Sarenrae there, in the hopes that the Dawnflower's light will shine truth and honesty upon the town's new settlers.
Lucius walks alongside the caravan, a sinister figure with a reddish cast to his skin, tiny nubs of horns, and a well-trimmed, dark goatee, bundled up in a black-and-red cassock.
He attempts to look unbothered by the heat, but it becomes clear to anyone watching him that he refills his waterskin more often than any other member of the group. During the day, he talks little, as he struggles against both the heat and the load supported by his frail frame.
Once night falls, he becomes much more comfortable, falling into theological debates with Aixa (in which he tries to convince her how similar their respective deities really are), trying to embroil other in Chelish politics, or meditates.
Like Aixa, it seems, he has been sent to open a temple. However, rather than reconsecrating a deserted building, he is to found a new one. (This he appears quite proud of. You see, while the cult of the dawnflower is seeking to merely reclaim past glories, Asmodeus's court expands its reach every day.)
Thoradin or as he likes to be called Thor maintains his march in the front of the caravan. Marching in his full bandedmail armor, though much like some of the other travelors refills his waterskin more often to keep hydrated. Though the heat is strong, Thor is used to the endurance test of the heat from working as a miner and in the armor forge in his village. Though at only 4'5,Thor, holding his shield and axe at the ready looks formidable and ready to take on anything. During the day he keeps to himself taking his job as armed escort very seriously. But at night when the sun goes down, Thor sits and shares past glories and triumphs, past conquests women and otherwise while passing his flask of favored spirits around. Thor likes to take his watch second. The peacfullness of night helps to settle his nerves from the light of travel.
Savrah spends some of her time basking in the sun on one of the wagons but she usualy likes walking along the side with her magnificent Leopard padding along next to her,she enjoys listening to the stories and tales and ocasionly asks a question.
after noticing Anala's wayfinder she rides on the same wagon one day,and attempt's to engage her in conversation...
Anala
Umm hi my names Savrah, you can call me Sav. i noticed your wayfinder, i have one too she pulls her one out of her clothing with a smile.
When did you hear of the society? what persuaded you to join?
she tosses her hair back over her shoulder grining.
her leopard attempts to climb into the wagon as well,
oh this is Ophase she says smiling at the beautiful big cat.
After another day of slogging through the sand and dust of the desert your final destination the Sultan's Claw is finally in sight. A single large tree stands at the crest of a hill on the next ridge, it's 5 leafless 5 branches look like a giant skeletal hand reaching from the ground grasping in the air.
A caravan is camped there and a small plume of smoke rises in a column above the camp in the still early evening air.
Aixa, Anala, Lucius:
Aixa points ahead to the plume of smoke. "Something is on fire ahead. Garavel, is that the caravan we are joining?"
Fort Save (1d20=20)Survival (1d20=9)
Squinting in the sunlight Thor notices the smoke and though hot grips his weapons tight and says "Aye. Keep 'uor eyes opens and 'our wits about" Thor then begins to make his way towards where the smoke is emanating
Perception (1d20=12)
I should have mentioned, failure means you take 1d4 non-lethal damage and are fatigued.
Aixa - you can make a survival check to help others in the party if you want.
Heat rules:
Since we are likely to run into this again I wanted to summarize the relevant heat rules.
Survival DC 15:
Gain a +2 bonus on all Fortitude saves against severe weather while moving up to one-half your overland speed, or gain a +4 bonus if you remain stationary. You may grant the same bonus to one other character for every 1 point by which your Survival check result exceeds 15.
Heat Dangers: (P 330)
A character in very hot conditions (above 90° F) must make a Fortitude saving throw each hour (DC 15, +1 for each previous check) or take 1d4 points of nonlethal damage. Characters wearing heavy clothing or armor of any sort take a –4 penalty on their saves. A character with the Survival
skill may receive a bonus on this saving throw and might be able to apply this bonus to other characters as well (see the skill description). Characters reduced to unconsciousness begin taking lethal damage (1d4 points per hour).
Just to simplify things I just had you make one check for the day.
Roll
Lucius takes 2 points of nonlethal.
Also, the strength penalty from the fatigue means his speed drops to 20 feet.
"Ugh no like heat."
Survival Check. (1d20+2=15)
Fortitude Save. (1d20+3+2=24)
Anala takes an interest in Savrah's Wayfinder, explaining that a formaer Master of her Monastery indicateed to her that joining the Pathfinders would be advantageous for her. Obviously respecting his opinion, she became a mamber and was sent here to ascertain whether it would be worth mounting a full Society expedition to Kelmarane.
She is interested to know why they sent another agent without informing her.
Seeing their destination in sight, Anala wonders if the smoke means trouble or if it is just from campfires. She walks up next to Garavel and asks him if they should be on their guard.
Garavel shows little reaction to at Aixa's comment but gestures at the 6 of you "Come with me, let's see what the trouble is."
As you get close to the main caravan the scene before you is raw chaos come to life. About a dozen people are scrambling around the camp chasing animals or scrambling with buckets of water. A clutch of goats and other confused looking animals wander the grounds and the camels in the pen are clearly excited and look like they are about to burst out of their pen. The center of all the chaos is a wooden wagon decorated with garish moons and stars. Bright orange flames cover one side of the wagon and are rapidly growing to engulf the entire wagon and threatens to spread to other wagons.
Just as you come to the edge of the campsite a freak gust of wind blows, fanning the flames and catching up some colorful harrow which were just catching fire. One of the cards gets picked up in an eddy and blows directly at your group striking Lucius directly in the chest. You are momentarily stunned by the freakish gust and the flaming card which is still burning on Lucius' robe. The card is the cyclone, which portends war, arson, and destructive plans.
The central flap of an elaborate tent flips open and a regal woman who is most likely Almah steps out. Surveying the scene she gestures to some men towards the fire then her eyes light on Garavel and her eyes flash with anger.
"Garavel, as usual too late to be of much use." She looks past Garavel and from her expression she is not impressed by the ragtag road worn group she sees. Looking directly at you she says "Find some way to help clean up this mess."
Aixa rushes towards the burned guards to see if she can aid them.
"My name is Aixa bint'Al-Majid," she tells the halfling. "I am a priestess of Sarenrae. Tell me what happened." She inspects the guards to identify their injuries.
Heal (1d20+7=18)
Anala spends a moment caught up in the majesty of the blaze burning before her. She quickly snaps out of it and attempts to help the men pulling the wagon out of the way of the flames.
Savrah quickly runs towards the livestock and attempts to soothe them Handle Animal
Lucius, like Aixa, makes a beeline for the wounded (shuffling, overburdened, through the sand.)
Rather than introduce himself, however, he grips his iron pentagram in one hand, an Infernal prayer in his throat, and lays his other hand across one of the guard's wounds.
"Great Gorum" Thor mutters as he watches the the carnage from the fire. Making a face as if he had a bad taste in his mouth, Thor heads quickly over to the wagon and begins to help move it with Anala.Strength check to help move wagon (1d20+2=17)
Seeing as how Anala and Thor are helping with the wagon, Ugh will help those trying to put out the fire. If those pushing the wagon call for more help he will go help push it.
Anala gets behind the wagon and pushes with all her might, trying to shift it quickly.
Flames continue to leap and throw sparks and bits of burning debris into the afternoon air. After the gust that fanned the flames when you arrived the wind died almost completely and the smoke from the blaze settles over the campsite filling your nostrils with acrid smoke. Ugh integrates himself smoothly with the bucket brigade to try and quench the flames.
Thor and Anala rush over to the wagon nearest the blaze and pull on the hitch as the mercenaries push it from behind. The wagon rocks in it's tracks but then one of the mercenaries slips and the wagon rolls back into the groove it was in. Burning debris continues to fall on the wagon threatening to ignite it but nothing is starting to catch yet.
Aixa bandages the unconscious Kallien, a female mercenary who was badly burned trying to pull the fortune teller out of his burning wagon. Nearby a more able Trevvis who eyes Lucius suspiciously. The devil touched Lucius is chanting in a sinister voice and with a flourish presses his palm to Trevis' forehead and shouts "In the name of Asmodeos be healed." A look of revulsion briefly crosses the guards face then relief as the infernal healing begins to take effect.
The animals largely ignore Savrah's attempts to sooth them and the camel driver is running around shouting "Rombard, Rombard!"
Ugh continues to help the bucket brigade put out the fire. He fights the urge to dump a bucketful of water on himself to find some relief from the heat.
"Dats it, throw yer back into it!" he yells encouragement to those pushing the wagon away from the fire.
Anala grabs the man and helps him back to his feet, then throws herself back at the Wagon trying desperately to shift it, but losing her own footing in the process.
Strength Check. (1d20+1=8)
As the wagon rolls back into the groove, Thor takes a step back and takes a quick breath, then getting a determine look and upon hearing the words of encouragement he steps back up and takes Ugh's advice and throws his back into it and begins to dig his feet into the ground to gain a foot hold to push off against.
Str check to move wagon (1d20+2=16)
Aixa:
I assumed were attending the one the halfling wasn't attending to, also happened to be the most injured. The one you are tending is in bad shape and rebuking touch would def help. The other is awake and alert.
Lucius looks to the halfling and asks "What in the Hells is going on here?"
As the bucket brigade pours bucket after bucket of (your precious drinking) water the fires growth slows a bit but it continues to burn fiercely. Steam and ash fill the air along with burning embers from the fire. Ugh takes dunks his head in one bucket as it passes by him, near the flames it's even hotter.
Savrah () is able to calm a few of the camels and leads a goat back into it's pen. The camel driver is helping but he is somewhat distracted. "Rombard!" he cries as he looks under a wagon.
The wagon Anala and Thor are working on seems to have sunk into a rut and isn't moving much at all. One of the mercenaries stops pushing for a moment and takes a few seconds to try and push some sand out from under the wheel. "Let try again now, maybe that will make it roll better."
Aixa's patient is still unconscious but is looking signicantly better and her breath much less labored. Trevvis stands up and eyes Lucius suspiciously and looks at his burned arm again which is mending before his eyes and says "I think I'll help with the bucket brigade" and wanders over to help with putting the fire out.
Zastoran looks at Lucius, shrugs "It is a bit like the hells here isn't it. I'm not sure what to tell you. I was just leaving the firepit," he gestures at the now neglected cook fire some distance away, "when I heard a bit of commotion from the charlatan's wagon."
Just then a timber in the wagon collapses sending another cascade of flaming debris into the desert air.
When Trevvis approaches the bucket brigade, Ugh offers him his place in the line. Then Ugh moves to the front of the line and tells the one in front "You go to back of line for while or you get crispy. Ugh take turn in front."
He then shouts to the line behind him "Is starting to work, need to go faster!"
Thor takes his axe and helps in digging out the wagon tires using the weapon like a spade. Once finished he places the weapon back in its holster and gathers his strength and lunges on the back of the wagon
STR (1d20+2=14)
as Savrah helps the animals she glaces under the wagon What wrong?
Once the burned guard is conscious and no longer in danger of passing away, Aixa jumps up to add her own meager strength to the crew trying to move the wagon.
Strength (1d20+1=9(
Savrah:
The camel driver says "It's Rombard, my price goat. He's gone missing. But we need to get thse animals under control before they all scatter."
Aixa: Can you roll for rebuke death twice then? She was at -6.
Savrah nods at him and trys to calm more animals 11+4=15
"when I heard a bit of commotion from the charlatan's wagon."
"The Charlatan?", asks Lucius. Lucius is going to examine the wounds on any remaining wounded. Mostly for show, since he has no real skill at mundane healing.
"The Charlatan?", asks Lucius. Lucius is going to examine the wounds on any remaining wounded. Mostly for show, since he has no real skill at mundane healing.
Anala struggles to move the wagon with the rest of them. She waits until Thoradin is finished and then once again throws her shoulder back into it, feeling it budge slightly, she renews her efforts.
Rebuke Death (1d4=4, 1d4=1)
Aixa's attempts to rebuke death still not enough to save the guard, she prays again to the Dawnflower, sending a bright burst of positive energy in all directions.
Channel energy (1d6=1)
Lucius appreciates allieving some of his non-lethal damage, though.
With a herculean grunt the wagon Anala and Thor are pushing slowly starts rolling and once it gets out of the rut it gains a little momentum and is easily rolled a safe distance away from the burning wagon.
Savrah continues making headway with the livestock but is struggling with a sheep who runs funny and doesn't want anything to do with the camel driver.
Ugh: Something highly flamable in the wagon catches sending big gouts of flame up from the wagon. Ugh smells something like candlewax briefly then he smells burning hair. Realizes it's his hair that's burning and pats it out. Someone behind him points him to the back of the bucket line.
Lucius: The halfling cleric looks at you and points at the burning wagon. "Eloais, the fortune teller, it's his wagon that burns and him with it. I think he was a fake but Almah picked him up and trusted his council and his Harrow Cards."
Aixa: your patient stirs, conscious barely conscious. She looks dazed and in pain, she tries to talk but her voice is raspy and hoarse.
Finally thankful that the wagon is out of danger, Anala turns her attention back to the burning wagon.
Catching the last part of the Halfling Cleric's statement to Lucius, she quickly rushes over to see if she can see anyone inside the wagaon.
Perception Check. (1d20+6=20)
"Aaahh!" Ugh cries out as he pats the flames down on the few tufts of hair that encircle his mostly bald head. He then makes a bee-line for the vessel containing the water that the buckets are being filled with and dunks his head in it. After his head comes back out he considers the vessel...
Lucius reaches over to Aixa's patient, with something of a knowing smirk. He mutters briefly in Infernal.
Anala: If the fire were put out instantly it would be hard to find an something identifiable as human...
Ugh: One of the mercenaries gives you a nasty look as you dunk your head into the primary source of drinking water for the caravan. You think you could carry it if in prime shape but right now you are so beat from the heat it seems unlikely.
"Uh, sorry, Ugh head on fire." Ugh says to the mercenary giving him a nasty look. Then Ugh finds a place back in the bucket brigade and continues to help put out the fire muttering curses to the heat that has sapped him of his strength.