Id: e0fad144-511f-4e94-ae54-c34b2e074520
SessionDate: 2024-12-15
GameDate:
{
	Day: 15
	Month: Istenarum
	Year: 3322
}
Author: Logan
Title: A People Cursed
Text: "On the 13th of Istenarum, after the party found Dheir on a slab recovering from her injuries, the monk that was her opponent arrived, introducing herself as Bokrylla (Bo for short). A pleasant but short conversation followed, the first the party really had after arriving in Darseem as she could conversate in a language known to them. Bo gave the group directions to a local inn and bid her farewells. As Saxon lifted Dheir to bring her to the inn, a piece of paper and compass fell out of Dheir's hand. Reading the note revealed a meeting request late at night. The group agreed they would go, hoping Dheir would wake up by the time specified. 

They made their way to the inn, using rough signing to talk with the innkeeper, they managed to get rooms and put Dheir in a bed. They further discussed the meeting that night as well as their impressions of the city they've found themselves in, and as Cassian was writing a note to inform Dheir of what was going on, she woke, still hurt but well enough to walk. They all followed the enchanted compass, the point it was facing earlier now changed to a new position. They wandered the dark city streets, winding through the various paths until they came to a home near the city walls.

There, Bo greeted them and explained the cloak and dagger, stating she fears she's under watch and this home has an enchantment preventing the anti-magic protections the city has to harm casters. She also believed it was the only place none would hear what she had to tell them. She believes the clerics of the city have cursed her people, the Sha'rea, as any that leave the city are said to turn into undead, wandering the Ember Sands for the rest of their existence. She requests the group traverse the sands to the tomb of their founder to the NE of the city to find an artifact she believes will bring down the ruling powers and lead to her people being free to leave the city and do what they wish. She warned them that any of the turned Sha'rea seem to be drawn to places such as the tomb, and many other dangers exist in the sands. Nevertheless, The party agreed to take on her request, making use of the enchantments to cast a few healing spells before leaving. 

The party returned to the inn, staying the night, awakening on the 14th of Istenarum and heading out the city gates (picking up their gear before leaving) off in the direction they were given for the tomb. They crossed the sands for hours, discussing various things, such as what to do with Saxon's menagerie in the unfortunate event of them passing away. After the hours of travel, a sandstorm blew in, the individual grains striking the party hard as it flew over. Cassian used the Wind Wall spell in an attempt to lessen the impact, but two 1-minute long spells did little to assist them against the onslaught of sand pelting them. It soon passed and they were on their way for a short while before hunkering down for a rest. 

The night went by without issue, they rose with the dawning of the 15th of Istenarum Cass used his druidic magics to predict if another sandstorm would be on the horizon, luckily there was none. The party then set out for another day of walking, traveling some hours before spotting what appeared to be Sha'rea zombie shuffling in the same direction the party traveled, unfortunately they weren't very stealthy when it came to it and the undead began turning towards them. They prepared themselves for a fight but then the zombie was consumed by a creature from beneath the sands, terrifying at least some of the adventurers. While they could not see the creature, they worked hard to try and determine where it was and where it would go, Dheir used her archery skills to attempt distracting it, but seemingly drew the attention of reptilian creature that they again could not stealth well enough to avoid., but will they actually fight the creature....?"