Out of the oasis and into the Ashspire Ravines…
“Three days through a spine of stone and shadow. The sand gives way to cliffs and crags—like the earth grew claws and tried to tear open the sky. There are pillars there, some natural, some… not. Some say the gods shattered the land here during the War of Eternal Twilight. Others say the land was cursed long before that war began.”
– Hamedh Sil-Kavari
Legend has it that Kathgar erected an ash colored tower in this area during the war of eternal twilight as a forward base… it was later leveled by the power of Ilyndra Noctis and the ravines were created as collateral damage.
AREA MAP:
Here’s a small map of the area where the party is currently operating:
Koios
Journal Entry No. 02:
There are two possibilities for what has happened to us through our travels. Either we are facing great magics, the likes of which I have never read about and this journey will be fraught will terrible trials and tribulations or whatever Hamedh Sil-Kavari gave us is some potent stuff that knocked me onto my butt.
Thalia, Kragg and myself came upon a stone outcropping, naturally and clearly the only correct response to finding a stone outcropping in the middle of a mystical canyon, I threw acid onto it. We were immediately teleported to a battle out of the stories. Devils fighting against the undead on a scale of epic proportions. The only thing we could do is defend ourselves. Somehow Xander and Socrates managed to pull us out.
Sadly, the teleportation into the End Days pales in comparison to learning that Xander can control Giant Worms. We were ambushed as we were making it out of the desert by a Giant Worm. As we were guiding him away Xander stepped up and told the Worm to go away… and he did. Baffling.
After all of that, the arrival to the City seems rather mundane. We went through the gate without a problem and now we need to continue searching for these shards. We must continue on, hopefully I can start making things right.
Socrates
It’s been an eventful couple of days in the ravine. The caravan was attacked by some huge worms. We were in a tough spot, but then Xander talked to the worms and the worm ran away. Maybe he asked it nicely.
Then that same night, Koios tried to destroy some evil god’s artifact which pulled him, Thalia, and Kragg into some other dimension. While I was laughing at their frozen-ness, Xander dispelled the aura and pulled them back into our world. But at what cost! Xander looks like he’s aged 100 years! Perhaps using too much magic in one day tends to age a person unnaturally. I made a note to be careful, if it happened to me, I might have lost a life.
we finally made it through the creepy black desert to civilization, on the other side of Ahraman’s Vigil. I don’t know what the caravan guide made such a big deal about passing through into the city, it seemed like a fairly simple affair for all of us to walk straight through.
Our contact in the city asked for a favor to attend a meeting, well, we did make it through the ravine safe, it is only right for us to pay our due before continuing to look for the shard.
Xander/Tatiana
Xander
This trip has been more draining than I imagined. I feel like I’ve aged 20 years during our sojourn. I have learned more about this ancient scroll and the riddles it speaks in. I’ve also learned that some magic circles are not to be engaged lightly. The potion the apothecary presented me has given me a greater sense of control over Tatiana. Just in time too since she has consistently put my body in great peril due to her carelessness. I fear I am stuck with her though and it would take great magics to undo whatever has bound us together. I am afraid Solis himself is behind it.
Tatiana
I made another new friend this week named Sunflower. She is a very charming sandworm. I’m afraid Xander has been more grumpy lately. He needs to get more rest poor dear.
Kragf
Every day is good. Friends like stories and me learn more every day. Place we end up is dark. Feel bad. Bad things here. Bad things happen here.
Then giant worm come. Me think this end of story but friend talk to worm. Make worm go away.
Stop in place. Bad place. We touch statue.it take us to big battle. Devils and undead everywhere. Kragg have to fight. Chose to fight devils….undead were friends? At least not enemies right then? Me not sure. Must choose best of bad choice.
Nick
Giant worms that would have squished us? Demons or devils through a teleportation portal? Massive sundered rifts in the desert? All in the day of a traveling caravan. The limit of my comprehension of the world is unaltered by such matters easily explained by charlatans, tricks of light and sleight of hand.
The shred I threw though? That is messing with my mind. My skepticism is being challaned. Maybe there is more beyond the here and now.