Session 2021-10-15
In this session, the characters began by facing a Balor and his Nalfeshee minions; Garazhan (Martin's cleric) used Divine Intervention to remove the Balor, and the group then slew the Nalfeshnee.
The characters then proceeded through the rest of the tunnel and came to the Sea of Dust. Investigating the ruined city nearby, they realised they had to still go further: to the old capital of the Suel Imperium. But how to cross the desert?
Remembering the lore I’d given them about the Sea of Dust, they looked for tracks, and found some of the tribes that live in the mountains. Following them, they found a small village. Along the way, Nil (Adam's Paladin) mentioned he was riding his celestial Pegasus. So, when they reached the tribe, they assumed he was a celestial being. Which, I guess, isn’t so far from the truth at this level! He is a favoured servant of St Cuthbert!
They learnt that the tribesmen have sand skiffs that ride over the desiccating dunes, and were given one to use, along with basic training to use one. They could *not* persuade anyone to come along and pilot it!
As they travelled in the skiff, they were attacked by a Sandworm. Because, Dune, right? The Barbarian jumped off the skiff to fight it. But the desiccating dunes had a harsh effect: a Con save or the gain of a level of exhaustion, plus 20 fire damage at the end of each turn. After the first exchange of blows, the worm disappeared beneath the surface, and the barbarian returned to the skiff.
During the worm’s attack, it failed to hit the barbarian because Greg's bard used cutting words. But then the worm used its sting against the bard due to the sound. (Players start making more Dune references).
The worm returned and swallowed the bard. Everyone else hit it until it died and the bard could get out. Bard crawled out onto the sand and got hit by the desiccating effect. Bard is exhausted, and really just wants a lie down!
The session ended with the ruins of the old capital visible on the horizon!
Notes
The “sand worm” is a reskinned purple worm with resistance to radiant and immunity to fire.
