Anyone who grew up in these parts understands the vastness of the desert and its wind blown wastelands. Those who recently traveled to Yithorium had to learn these hardships along their journey. Either way, one good rule of thumb to remember is that the desert is always trying to kill you, always wishing to envelop you into itself.
The monthly caravan from Yithorium to Xambaala is a standard route of travel, and probably the most oft used trail across the wastelands, though it is definitely not without its dangers. Wild animals that can survive the harsh conditions are always on the look-out for an easy meal, while bands of desert nomads can cause trouble throughout the area as well.
Hiring on as guard duty at the Caravanserai in Yithorium gives any budding adventurers a free ride to the outer world, but the work is hard and the provisions meagre. Any spellcasters are required to try sleeping during the day, while the caravan is in motion, so they can be ready to defend the train from anything dangerous that comes out of the dark nights. Fighter types are split more evenly, some of them being allowed to sleep at night so they remain alert for any dangerous daytime occurrences.
As you sit around your camel dung campfire in your makeshift tents, listening to the wind whip anything not tied down outside, you get a chance to hear the stories and reasons for exploration from the others around you. It is the third evening since the train left the city, the night before you are scheduled to arrive in Xambaala. Other than wild jackals howling and a few other unexplainable noises, the trip so far has been rather unexciting. The eerie feeling on the winds might be an early indication that things are about to change.....
Actions?
