Chapter 1: Shunet El Zebib

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Feb 28, 2020 4:36 pm
Akh, one of your finds is a scrap of papyrus inscribed with a fragment of a spell to dominate a person and bend them to your will. There isn't enough here for you to learn to cast the spell, but with time and research you may one day manage it.

Also, there is a black, stone orb that fits comfortably in your palm. It feels warm to the touch, and produces dancing points of multi-colored light just under its surface as it is handled. At first you are unsure what it does, but you feel a quickening in the magical energies around you.
OOC:
Scintillating Orb (1 weight, dangerous.)
* When you Prepare Spells while possessing the Orb, count your Level as 1 greater than it is.
* When you Cast a Spell while holding the Orb, you can draw on its power to take +1 forward. When you do, the Orb takes +1 Stress. After you resolve the spell, roll+Stress. On a 10+, the Orb releases its Stress in a burst of magical energy, and the GM will describe what happens. The Orb resets its Stress back to 0 naturally while you sleep.
Jana, you determine that there is enough water for five days for everyone that needs it. Unfortunately, barring delays, it's a six-day journey back to Sietch Jalmud. You could all make for your home, the Golden Sky Oasis, and make it there in four, perhaps five days. You'd have to blindfold your friends for the last leg, or you could leave them a couple of days out, get supplies, and return to them. The easiest way yet might be to head home alone and either come back for them here, or rendezvous at Sakhra Crag. Or one of them might have better ideas.

What do you do?
Feb 28, 2020 9:36 pm
We do not have enough water to get to the next oasis. We could try and push through, but you all would be at least one day with no water. More if we encounter trouble. That is cutting it very close.

You could stay here, and I will go to my home oasis and bring back extra water skins for the journey.

Since I don't need water, I will let you make the final decision.
Feb 29, 2020 4:33 am
OOC:
If you ever find yourself unable to remember a person or place, refer to the World Almanac.
Mar 3, 2020 2:54 am
I think we should all go together to the next oasis. One day without water shoudn't kill us.
Mar 3, 2020 4:15 pm
One day without water will leave us perilously close to calamity. It might be possible for Jei'nine and I to find water outside of the oasis. Soro tries to remember any tales for folk lore about the region that might lead us to even a small source of water that could help us complete our journey without splitting up...
OOC:
I know spout lore is an intelligence based roll but this is kind of in Soro's wheelhouse. Any chance I could get a bonus to the roll.
I won't roll right away so it doesn't look like I'm asking for a bonus after my roll is garbage.
Mar 3, 2020 4:33 pm
"We could return to the Golden Sky Oasis." Offers the Swordsman.
Mar 3, 2020 8:35 pm
We could, and if it is the only way, we will. However, my people are very protective of the location. The last two days would require all of you to wear blindfolds while I lead you.

If you trust me to get you through, then it is an option.
Mar 3, 2020 8:41 pm
The Swordsman shrugs, a blindfold is better than dying of thirst
Mar 4, 2020 5:30 am
No roll necessary, Soro. You know well enough about the area. Your Waterseeker clan are among the very few people the Dunestriders trust. There is no water to be found any nearer than Golden Sky Oasis, or Sietch Jalmud.
Mar 4, 2020 3:29 pm
OOC:
Would I know the location of the Golden Sky Oasis? Could I help Jana lead the others?
I agree with the Swordsman, we should head to the Golden Sky with whatever restrictions would be needed.
Mar 4, 2020 3:31 pm
OOC:
The extent of the trust given to the Waterseekers, and whether that includes access to the oasis, I leave that up to Jana.
Mar 4, 2020 4:36 pm
Then let us go that way. Soro will only have to cover their eyes for the very end. Close enough to call for help, but not the final path through the traps.

Everyone else will have to be blindfolded for the last two days.


Jana looks to her new allies.

Understand, this is not that I don't trust you...but my people have kept safe for generations by protecting our secret.
Mar 4, 2020 4:41 pm
"Just don't let me walk off of a dune." grumbles the Swordsman.
Mar 6, 2020 1:18 am
Akh carefully puts the papers back into his backpack, keeping the orb in his pouch. Well then, let's get on the road. Sooner we leave, sooner we get there...

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