Chapter 2: Dunestriders

Soro and the Swordsman are still ill from the swarm, but they'll never recover if they don't get food, shelter, and water. You'll find all of that at Golden Sky Oasis. Hopefully, they won't take a turn for the worse before you get there. The first two days of the journey go without a hitch. You manage your water, and don't tire yourselves unnecessarily.

But now it's time to blindfold Akh and the Swordsman. It's going to be tricky because up ahead is Alwadi al-Sab'atayn, a raging river flowing not with water, but stone, sand, and flame. And it lies in the bottom of a deep canyon. It's a treacherous trek down, across, and up the other side.

What do you do?

This isn't venom, but something else. Antivenom will not help them. You know of insects that lay eggs in animals or even people so their larvae can grow fat within, to later burst out of their host to become adult vermin. You're unsure, but you suspect that is what is ailing these men. They are strong, but will need your people's healing waters to truly recover. If they can get past the Sab'atayn.

Though Akh's first casting goes somewhat wrong, no harmful effect is readily apparent. He tries again, and successfully conjures the unseen servant. Helping each other down narrow switchback paths only Jana knows, you all make it safely down to the bottom. You now face the river of churning, burning stone. The druids normally just fly over this canyon.

How do you get across the river?

Even the myrmeleon would be crushed and burned by these churning, grinding, flaming rocks! It's about 70 feet to the opposite bank.

Akh knows a story. Tell the story, Akh.

It's not a river of lava, guys. These are solid rocks ranging from grapefruit-sized to man-sized, like a rockslide on flat ground. Except the rocks are on fire.

There are no trees about, but let's say you find anchor points on each canyon wall to secure your rope stretched 8 feet above the rock flow.

What now? Not attempting to walk a tightrope, I hope? You'll need at least 2 ropes to make a "bridge."

The blindfolded swordsman goes first, trusting his instincts as he pulls himself along the rope. The heat is intense, and he's continuously peppered with burning gravel as the rocks clash underneath him. Suddenly, he fumbles, and both hands and ankles find nothing but air! Only the safety harness saves him as he dangles underneath the makeshift bridge! Pulling himself up, he resets and keeps going. In time, he makes it to the other side. Singed and sore, but otherwise alright. Checking his gear, he finds that he has lost something to the river of burning stone...