Chapter 1: Shunet El Zebib

Akh gets his books back. One out of the four is completely soaked in myrmeleon goo and beyond saving.

The pit seems safe enough, even though Soro is aware that all that stands between him and the dead myrmeleon's neighbor is a few dozen yards of loose sand. There's not a whole lot of debris here, but there are a few curiosities mixed in with the animal bones -- a coin here and there (8 in all), a mallet and a pair of rusted but serviceable picks, a cast iron pan, a brass key, a disk of lapiz lazuli. Might there be more valuable items buried deeper? A tempting thought, but Soro doubts it would be safe to dig around -- every moevement here causes a small sand slide risking a bigger one, and might attract the neighbors. Best to get scarce.

What do you do?

You quickly put the myrmeleon pits behind you. By Jana's reckoning, you should reach your destination the next morning -- that is, unless you keep marching through the night, in which case you would arrive before dawn.

By Akh's count, your food and water will only last two more days. If you spend any significant mount of time delving into the ruins, there won't be enough provisions to make it back to Sietch Jalmud. Jana knows of a small oasis near the ruins -- there will be water, perhaps dates to eat, but not much else.

Music

As the sun is westering, you come to an area marked by turmeric-yellow sands dotted with chalk-white stone formations. You hear faint whispers, but it could just be the wind against the rocks. Your footfalls echo dully as if the ground beneath your feet is hollow.

You still have an hour, maybe two, before sunset. What do you do?

These chalky rock formations might lend some measure of shelter. Jana knows you could keep going another hour and camp amongst the last few formations. Beyond that, it's open desert again all the way to the oasis.

An hour later, as the sun sets, you arrive at the last of the rock formations. You find a suitable spot, and prepare to make camp.

You spend the night on the fringe of the chalk formations. Before you stretches the last expanse of open desert. You can almost imagine your destination just beyond that rise on the horizon. It's a clear night; three moons are waxing full, the fourth waning gibbous. The other two are barely-discernible crescents.

Music

Swordsman: The white rocks creak, as if speaking to each other in an ancient tongue man has forgotten. You've been taught this is just the change in temperature, but it's hard to shake off old myths. A falling star streaks across the sky just before it's time for you to wake Soro.

Soro: With the moons this bright, the constellation of The Veil is no longer visible. Instead, The Sword arcs slowly across the firmament. You sill surely see blood spilt again this day.

Jana: The sky lightens during your watch. In the grey of morning, you hear a droning overhead, as if from a giant insect flying by. There's not enough light to see, but before it fades from your hearing, it heads in the direction of Shunet el Zebib.As soon as there's enough light, you break your fast and break camp. You are on your way before dawn comes. A couple of hours later, you crest the rise and see the ruins in the valley before you a short distance away is the oasis.

Where do you go first?