Id: 41dbb830-1542-4b0b-ae79-78dcf07cfb85
SessionDate: 2024-10-20
GameDate:
{
	Day: 9
	Month: Istenarum
	Year: 3322
}
Author: Logan
Title: Into the Ember Sands
Text: "After settling the Pebble situation and saying their good byes, the party (consisting of Xedra, Saxon+Kit, Cassian, and Dheir) began making their way across the remaining savanna between them and the Ember Sands. For the most part it was an uneventful journey, but the travelers did come across a a large figure (larger than Saxon by far). The figure was sitting on the ground sobbing, as the group got close they noticed the only one to understand them through their sobs was Saxon. A back and forth began as they all tried to soothe the poor Giant. The Giant spoke of how they fought a \"sparkle man\" and ended up way out here, they continued to speak, learning the Giant was from a place called \"Nerowin\", someplace they deduced is on Alathel. After discussing the Giant's (named Laga) options, either directing them towards the Straight of Stones to find a boat across or circumnavigate the Ember Sands to find the people of Vrin, and then the Druids of Star's Light beyond in the hopes one of them could send poor Laga back home. The Giant opted for the second choice, Cassian provided a note to give anyone in Vrin (and Star's Light), Saxon wrote a translation on the back of it for Laga to understand. Cassian took a mental note to try and reach out to the both places and tell  them of the traveling Giant. While he didn't think they would be hostile to the poor thing on sight, it may be better if they are at least informed. He hoped with Laga traveling around the northern edge of the sands and the party traveling through it they would get close enough to send an Animal Messenger that would reach them before Laga did. 

They continued to walk the rest of the day as Laga went north, Saxon found them a decent camping spot and they rested for the night, continuing their journey on the 8th of Istenarum. Within the day, the party crossed into the Ember Sands, the magically blackened sand beneath their feet as they reach a tent city not far into the desert. Two Sand Dwarf guards stopped them from going further until Cass passed them the letter of introduction from Aelloria. One of them then walked the party to a large tent made of lavender fabrics. There they were introduced to the elderly leader of the settlement, Irschin. He welcomed the party and agreed to let them traverse the Sands with them as long as they pulled their weight. The party agreed and then went off to explore the multicolored tent city. 

Dheir went and found someone to dye her own tent, they all looked over some of the obsidian weaponry that is more common in the Sands, eventually the party all settled at a tent tavern, enjoying the Dwarven Ale a little bit too much, as the drinks were a bit stronger than the party was used to. Cassian hated the feeling, using Lesser Restoration to purge the drunkeness from himself. He then went with Dheir to refill the group's waterskins, planning to use Create Water if the stockpile the Dwarves had was too low ( but none of it was). They refilled the skins, brought them to the group, and one by one they went on to their own things. Dheir finds an inn to sleep in, Xedran passes out at the table he's at, Saxon sleeps outside with their animal menagerie, and Cassian finds a place outside to ponder the stars before sleep. His mind drifting between the visions of a night sky engulfed by the empty darkness of the Void, his blood relations in Vrin, his mentors in Star's Light, and the friends he travels with. A dread settles within him, the feeling of something coming but unsure of what he can do to stop it. As he drifts off to sleep he hopes he can find someway to contact the High Arch-Druid, or any of his other mentors, knowing such a thing is frowned upon while on his Pilgrimage but feeling the path lit by starlight may bring him close enough to do it for a reason. 

The morning on the 9th of Istenarum came, Cass as the only one not hungover woke up and began to help the Sand Dwarves take down the tents, one by one the others also awoke and began assisting them. Soon it was almost like the city was never there, and the party joined the dwarves in their journey across the sands."