Session 2: Tomb of the Necrodancer

Yilzyss gives Valrakas a shrug.

"Maybe one of the rocks can put up a good fight."

As Qiora starts to play, Yilzyss stops playing with the sand and listens intently. Afterwards she becomes animated again, whips out a small notebook, and jots something down.

"What a curious instrument, is that music from your homeland? It reminded me of a staircase, or a journey. Step into my carriage, I've got something for someone on a journey."

As she finishes speaking, the door to her purple carriage opens up. Yilzyss steps in, and beckons Qiora to follow.

The inside of the carriage is filled with the fragrance of incense, and there's cushions all over the ground. Yilzyss is seated behind a low table, so Qiora seats herself on the opposite side. On the table is a flat metal tray, and a ornate looking jar. Once Qiora is comfortably seated, Yilzyss grabs the jar and pours out the contents onto the tray.

"This sand comes from ancient tombs under the Kamatayan, a witch taught me how to use it when I was very young."

As the sand is poured, it beings to shift as if it has a life of its own! The grains of sand being to form the shape of an exquisite rose covered in thorns.

"It reacts differently for each person, you see? By reading the sand I can tell your fortune."

Yilzyss adjusts her head wrap in order to get a better look at the sand, and Qiora catches a glimpse of her eyes. They looked almost reptilian.

"So, you're the youngest of the four, I see. You are like a locust, jumping from one opportunity to the next, it's very impressive. It seems that nature will be your enemy, for the time being. I would avoid any strange weather, and I would not trust the trees. The result of your current quest will lead to both destruction and creation on a large scale, so take care in the choices you make."

After she finishes, the sand looses it's vigor and collapses. Yilzyss cleans up the table, and gives Qiora a bow. From outside, Rhograx begins to play.

"That's all for now, hopefully my performance suited your tastes as you have mine. Sounds like the next performance is starting, let's go see!"

Both Qiora and Yilzyss exit the carriage, and the carriage door snaps shut.

After hearing Rhograx play, Yilzyss claps enthusiastically, Nalu happily joins in, and even the large lizard opened an eye to pay attention to the music. Yilzyss abruptly starts to take notes in her book before giving him more praise.

"Amazing! That song put me in the mood for a great feast, it was so festive! I've got just the thing..."

The carriage shakes a bit, and one side opens up to reveal a sort of food cart. The inside is now furnished with a small stove and other cooking utensils. The carriage side functions as a sort of counter top to serve and eat food on.

"When I was up north, a monk taught me how to cook this noodle dish. Only those who his god deemed worthy could cook it correctly, and I think your performance earned you the right!"

It takes about 30 minutes for Yilzyss to teach Ghograx how to make the noodles, and there's plenty of food for everyone at the oasis to enjoy.

Rhograx gains the ability to cook 'Happy Monk's Noodles'. Anyone who eats the dish becomes more receptive to bardic songs (IE: They gain 1d8 from bardic inspiration instead of 1d6, etc). The food's effect only lasts a few hours after consumption, and only those with the blessing of the monk's god is able to cook it correctly (so it can't be taught).

Kyros watches everyone perform for yilzyss. He enjoys the music of rhograx and the noodles but is still a little weary of the traveler.

Valrakas manages to juggle the sharp objects without puncturing any eyes or lungs, and puts on a good display. Yilzyss seems to enjoy the show, as minotaurs aren’t especially known for their dexterity.

"What fun you are, I think I might start hiring some bulls in my establishments if they have skills like yours."

She turns back and rummages through a section of her wagon again, and emerges with a hunk of wood and an extremely sharp looking knife. She starts cutting off a few small slivers of the wood, but her speed quickly accelerates. Soon the hunk of wood is a blur of shavings and glints of light from the knife. When all is said and done, she reveals a fearsome looking mask. She offers the mask to Valrakas as a reward.

"Picked this up from vendor from the southeastern islands. It’s said that the warriors there wear masks like these and inject colored venom in their bodies to frighten their enemies. Pretty convincing, if you ask me."



The mask gives the wearer +2 to any intimidation or animal handling check if the target is a smaller size than the user. IE: Valrakas gets +2 to scare children, but no bonus if he tries to scare an orc who’s the same size.Rhograx takes a closer look at the lady, but can’t quite figure out what she is or where she is from. He does discern that she has a seemingly endless supply of talents and stories about traveling.

At the first signs of morning, Yilzyss is already packed and ready to go. She hopped onto her carriage, told whoever was awake "I'm headed back home, maybe we'll see each other again some time!", and the large lizard hauled her off into the desert.

Nalu gave a sigh of relief after Yilzyss departed.

"I never did like lizards... We should get moving as well. I doubt the next few legs of the trip will be as peaceful."

Once everyone packed up their campsites and refilled their water supplies, the party prepared to depart the oasis. At the mouth of the cave, everyone was promptly greeted by a gust of wind that could shred skin. Nalu hastily wrapped cloth around himself and made sure he was tied down to his beetle. If he got blown off there would be almost impossible to find him again. On the bright side, the winds aren't bad enough to cause a sandstorm yet.

Nalu shouts over the gust gust of wind, his voice slightly muffled.

"This is what I faced making the trip to your keep! Peat knows the way, just just stick with us!"

Having been one of the first awake and packed up Kyros is all set to go. The heat of the day doesn't really bother him