{SoC} Survivors of Cascadia • View topic - Desert of Desolation: Pharoah

A lonely group of horsemen stands huddled at the foot of a pass through a range of craggy, dry mountains, the red light of a dawning day casting long shadows behind them.A strengthening breeze, carrying the night's chill, rustles their desert robes over their leather armor. The horsemen have formed a circle astride their steeds and hunch down sadly against the gusts.

It is your party that stands within the circle of grizzled soldiers. The last thing you recall is enjoying the richness of this land, to which you had been taken abruptly. You had been tempted by the exotic food, drink, and people, perhaps to excess while absorbing the strange tales of wealth and greatness. Now, however, you are awake, amid these heavily shadowed faces under a mountain sunrise.

The weathered face of the commander turns toward you, leather-brown skin setting off his steel-blue eyes. He pulls from his saddle pouch an elegant scroll and reads loudly over the rustling wind its flowing, formal message.

[i:e345930f35]Know ye, by order of his Excellency, Alham Pasha Burak, Hetmann of Bralizzar and Trustee of Durpar,

Whereas it hath been reported of late to us that certain dark and vile desert raiders have crossed The Dustwall over long-forgotten paths, thence to raid and pillage our caravans and hamlets, and thence disappearinginto those same forbidding mountains;

And, whereas our valiant Lancers have tracked these same vile creatures through the very teeth of that awesome range to the very borders of the most accursed land, known to the wise as the Desert of Desolation, and being knowledgeable as to the curses of that dead and haunted land did our host of brave Lancers wiselyhalt their pursuit;

And furthermore, whereas certain foreigners, whose descriptions match those of the very group here assembled at my request, were seen in the vicinity of the home of Aman Al-Raqib, wizard of the court, in the latter part of the evening;

And, whereas those persons did attain entry to said residence and did short-sheet the wizards bed and do all manner of petty pranks and did leave for the wizard a certain maid for an alleged date with said wizard;

And, whereas said wizard did return to said residence with yet another wench, whereupon both the first and the second did begin a loud commotion and disturbance the like of which has never before shaken this stately court and upset the wizard to no end,

Therefore be it decreed that said persons be appointed special force under our eminence to track the course of the raiders from the Desert of Desolation, where surely even the raiders could not survive, to search their hiding place, and to bring us back proof that they have found that hidden fortress in the desert.

We further decree that they may choose instead to undertake the quest proposed to them by said wizard, the most noble and wise Aman Al-Raqib, the details of such quest too numerous to mention at this time, but which being transcribed by that selfsame wizard will be retained among the records of this administration for all to see at some later date, such details not refraining from mention that the party here assembled may retain all that they they bring forth with them for their own use from that fabled land of treasure and death whilst on the quest proposed by said wizard.

Be it further decreed that should these miscreants prefer neither of these quests, they may choose instead from death by hanging, death by fireball, death by polymorph, death by flamestrike, death by lightning. . .[/i:e345930f35]

Rolling the scroll back up with his calloused hands, the commander leans down toward you. [i:e345930f35]"What this means, you poor foreigners, is that you have been chosen to enter the cursed dead land north of here. It means that it doesn't matter whether you were in the wizards house that night or not,
because you are easy to get rid of without ruffling any feathers."

"And it also means,"[/i:e345930f35] speaks the aged, though rugged, Lancer beside the commander, [i:e345930f35]"that these here raiders has caused the Hetmann a good deal of trouble with the Sheiks. You're his proof that he is doing something about them."[/i:e345930f35] His laugh rolls through the hills.

The commander silences him with a sharp look, then continues. [i:e345930f35]"We have brought you certain supplies and mounts from which you may choose. After you crest the pass, there is little or no water within two weeks' tortured ride. Furthermore, The Dustwall here is full of cutthroat barbarians that kill for the sheer joy of it. Without a heavily armed escort, it would be suicide to attempt passage through them. Your only hope, for what it may be worth, will be to follow this pass and whatever tracks you may find on the other side, and hope that they lead to water."[/i:e345930f35] His lifted arm points northward, and all eyes follow its direction upward into the forbidding mountains.

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