Tracks In The Desert

[shaidar]

Xenos

Being careful not to touch them, Xenos examines both the wand and amulets for symbols or writing.

I sort of assumed we would dig shallow graves on the side of the dune and at least cover them lightly with sand.

I agree with Rex's suggestion for the other bodies, although we could take a snake man head back as proof and see if it can be identified.

If we're not sure about the wand and amulets we should bag them without touching them and take them back to be examined. Xenos will carry them if nobody else will.

[OGRE MAGE]

how long do we think it would take to drag the dead to a different sand dune?

A pretty good while at least.

There are about 20 or so bodies, so even dragging them out the front doors would take a good deal of time and effort.

Don't forget there are still unexplored areas on the map.

[OGRE MAGE]

Xenos
Being careful not to touch them, Xenos examines both the wand and amulets for symbols or writing.

Neither have any markings on them.

The wand appears to be a dark, twisted root of some kind.

Slipping the matching amulets off the odd looking priests changes their already strange appearance even more so.

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There is another item in the room you are forgetting about as well.

(If you need a hint, just reflect on the answer for a minute.)

[shaidar]

Xenos

"Some kind of magical disguise, I wonder if the result is fixed or there if is some control available. I don't fancy experimenting out here. Let's collect this all up, get our friends buried, and return to Xambaala to recover. I can only assume there must be lower levels to this place, maybe those we met at the Inn will be interested in joining us to explore further. If we come back we'll certainly need reinforcements."

[Rex]

Drest

Who took the square piece of glass/mirror? Was it Val?

"Disguise magic, Would be handy if we could control it."

[Karaunios]

Akhilleus

"I'd suggest we cut the hands, feet and heads of the dead. I know it sounds gruesome, but if they turn into undead they won't be able to move or attack.

Before we go back to Xambaala, we could take a deeper look to all the places we've explored already. Maybe we'll find something useful. Something tells me these priests were the ones controlling the slaves, so maybe we won't find any more resistance and their treasure is free for the taking.

Once in Xambaala we could look for henchmen to hire if the people we met at the tavern aren't available."

[shaidar]

Xenos

"I guess we could have a bit of a look around. The smell of these bodies is going to attract scavengers, it will travel far in the desert. If we do look around we ought to consider using that healing Cyril offered so we are at our strongest. Exploring means we will be staying here until it starts to cool in the afternoon, so we could set ourselves that limit on our investigations."

Xenos will memorise Command.

[Rex]

Drest

"Agreed to both ideas. Gruesome but necessary work. And healing before we start looking deeper is necessary too."

[shaidar]

Xenos

"We can use Snorri's great axe to deal with the dead, that should speed up the process, and we should take it back and sell it too."

[Rex]

Drest

"It sounds like we have a plan, now we just need to carry it out."

[The_Wanderer]

Cyril
"I would be happy to inspect that wand." When handed the dark, twisted root he immediately inspects it in the dim light and then closes his eyes, trying to remember how he always imagined one of these would work.

"And yes, healing. Who is of immediate need?"

[The_Wanderer]

Cyril
"Akhilleus, my savior. Surely you could use some reviving...?" He places his hand on the warrior's shoulder.
Azathoth provides [1d8]=6 points of healing

Akhilleus feels something akin to spiders crawling up his right leg. The healing energy starts there before spreading through the rest of his body.

"Excellent. I can do that once more if any of you require immediate attention. Else we can save it for later."

[Rex]

Drest

"Save the last one for now, we are not in very good shape if we are forced to fight though."

[Karaunios]

Akhilleus

"Thank you, Cyril. That was a weird sensation. Not the first today. By the way, if another mob of enemies comes our way, you should use your prayer to make them run in fear. We're not in the best fighting condition now.

Alright. Let's begin with our friends and then with the priests and the slaves. Again, we should put the priests' heads in front of the kitchen. That whatever comes from the kitchen basement knows that we're not to be trifled with."

[shaidar]

Xenos

"Sounds good to me."

[OGRE MAGE]

The Ruined Warlords Palace
The Aftermath, Morning

A kingly gift is given to Akhilleus for saving the lives of his friends. Xenos offers the fighter the chance to keep both of the magic floating stones for himself. As they orbit the mans armored helmet, he believes it was the magic in one of those stones that prevented him from breathing in the potent sleeping drug gas that was nearly the demise of the entire party.

It takes some time and a good deal of effort, but the dead party members are buried in the desert once their belongings are collected, including the 8" x 8" pane of glass that Valkrina had on her. Marking their graves in some way or no?

After Cyril heals the groups savior, they get down to the dirty work of dismembering all the dead and bloated bodies of enemies they amassed since coming here. The snake-men priests, if that's really what they were, are beheaded and hung in the morbid kitchen where most of the damage was done. Sadly, when they are making their rounds, the dead body of one of the humans rescued from the cannibals is found. Apparently not all of them made it out alive either. The narrow set of stairs in the corner remains dark, quiet, and unexplored.

Looking over the matching snake-men amulets, nobody in the group is willing to don one of the unwholesome devices. The wand however, is eagerly inspected by the groups resident priest, who finds the thing to be a little disturbing to behold, but suffers no ill effect from touching the twisted stick. Again, no markings are found, but at least one of you has seen the thing put to use, making it a little easier to ascertain its function.

It is decided that the group will wait out the day here, then head back to Xambaala a little later when the desert winds are more forgiving. That gives them ample time to search around in the areas they skipped over yesterday. And with no other threats showing themselves yet, they might even find something without having to kill something else first.

Action?

Xenos AC:6 5/12 1st:2/2
Akhilleus AC:4 19/32 (2 Ioun stones)
Drest AC:7 7/16
Cyril AC:8 5/5 1st:2/3

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[Rex]

Drest

Searches all the areas while they wait.

Rolls?

[shaidar]

Xenos suggests we start with the room opposite the one we stayed in and then go through the kitchen and check those on the other side after.


I'd vote no to marking the graves.

[Rex]

Xenos suggests we start with the room opposite the one we stayed in and then go through the kitchen and check those on the other side after.


I'd vote no to marking the graves.

Agreed

[The_Wanderer]

Cyril
"I do not believe marking their graves will help their bodies decompose any faster." He says this as he finished inspecting the wand and secures it in his pack. He readies his quarterstaff and follows the more sturdy party members on their search of this part of the fortress.

"I will also hold onto these amulets."