A lonely group of 500 horsemen stands huddled at the base of a range of craggy, dry mountains, the red light of a dying day casting long shadows behind them. A parched wind, still alive with the desert heat, rustles their capes over their sweat soaked leather armor. The horsemen have formed a circle astride their steeds and hunch down sadly against the sandy wind.

It is you, and a ragtag group of others that stands within this circle of grizzled soldiers, upon some sort of stone platform (20'x20') no more than a foot above the surrounding sands. The platform is marked with a large arcane Glyph chiseled into it's surface.

The last thing you recall is enjoying the richness of the capital city "Azir" of Rahadoum and absorbing all of its strange tales of wealth and greatness, or wallowing in a cell of said city awaiting judgement for your crimes. But now you are awake, confused amid these heavily shadowed faces under a deep red sunset.

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:

"Know ye! By order of his majesty the Sultan, ruler and trustee of the realm.

Whereas it hath been reported of late to our majesty that certain dark and vile desert raiders have crossed the terrible mountain wastes of the south, over long forgotten paths, thence disappearing into those same forbidding hills.

And whereas our valiant troops 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 haunted land, did our host of brave knights wisely halt their pursuit.

Now some of you have come here in the knowledge you have been sentenced to death or exile, for breaking the laws of this mighty empire, but in your wretchedness you will be given the final opportunity to serve the sultan who is majestic wise and merciful.

Furthermore, certain foreign characters, whose descriptions match those of the rest of you gathered here amongst this very group whom have been assembled at my most honored and revered request, were seen in the vicinity of the tent of Wan-doo the wonderous, wizard of the court, in the later part of the evening,

And whereas those persons did attain entry to said tent and did short-sheet the wizard's 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 tent with yet another wench whereupon both the first maid and the second wench 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 all persons here be appointed a special force under our majesty to track the course of the raiders from the desert of desolation, where surely even the raiders could not survive, search out their hiding place and bring us back proof that they have found that hidden fortress in the desert. We further decree that they may retain all that they bring forth with them for their own use from that fabled land of treasure and death and their crimes will be forgiven in whole under the condition they hence forth follow the laws of the land recanting their wicked ways.

Be it yet further decreed that if they prefer not this quest they may choose death by hanging, death by fireball, death by polymorph, death by flame strike, death by lightning.."

Rolling the scroll back up with his calloused hands, the commander leans down toward you.

"What this means, you poor scum, is that you have been chosen to enter that cursed dead land south of here. It means that it doesn't matter whether you were in the tent that night or not, because you are easy to get rid of without ruffling any feathers."

"And it also means,"

speaks the aged, though rugged, form beside the commander,

"that these here raiders have caused his majesty a good deal of trouble with the Barons. You're his proof that he is doing something about them.

Mawhahahahahaaaa"

His laugh rolls through the hills. The commander silences him with a sharp look, then continues.

"We have brought you certain supplies and mounts from which you may choose. There is no water within two weeks tortured ride over the mountains from this spot, and those hills are full of cutthroat barbarians that kill for the sheer joy of it. Without this armed escort, it would be suicide to attempt crossing back from whence we have come. Your only hope, for what it may be worth, will be to follow those tracks and hope that they lead to water or the bandits dead under the desert sun. You may prepare your selves as we will be camping here for while we perform our duties. "

His lifted arm points southward, and all eyes follow its direction. There in the desert sands, a confused trail mars the surface and leads straight into the heart of the burning land. Looking south across the barren wastes, lifeless dunes roll in an endless succession away from the mountains to the south, east and west.

You have heard tales of this place, none of them good.

"ALRIGHT MEN CAMP UP!"

Shouts the commander and his men begin to scurry about setting up tents a temporary forge and other facilities.
This message was last edited by the GM at 22:44, Fri 21 May 2021.

As the soldiers work you are left to your own devices the 10 other scum and foreigners standing on the platform begin to disperse you see a few go to the horse handler one points out one of the spare horses this small army brings with them he is given a tac and harness and saddle for the beast which he leads away to another area of the camp as it is getting unpacked and mobilized. A foreigner goes to a tent that has been erected as a smith for equipment and arms maintenance he gets a shield. Each time you see one of the condemned collect something from a soldier, the soldier takes out a note book noting it down.

The camp is soon setup and the efficiency and organization of these troops is apparent. They setout pickets and guards and even have some men repairing a low wall that secures one side of the camp. obviously this is a regular camp site for these hardened well trained troop that patrol these mountains hunting for barbarians and religious zealots.

Soon there are only 5 of you left on the platform. Two dwarfs, an elf, a half-orc, a goblin, and 2 humans
This message was last edited by the GM at 21:22, Sat 22 May 2021.

"By golly what a pickle this is. Well friends I am going to see what these guards can provide us as to venture into the desert with out equipment or supplies is foolhardy and most likely death."

Raising his hand to the brim of his hat Dr Rajeed heads off into the camp looking for an alchemical lab if the camp has one.
This message was last edited by the player at 20:38, Sun 23 May 2021.

You move through the camp seeing how efficient these soldiers are, talking to a few soldiers you soon acquire a backpack and some other materials you know you will need. Eventually you come to a tent that looks like all the rest, the only differentiation is a plume of green smoke that whaffs palely from the tent. Sticking your head inside you see beakers and tubes with an old soldier working on what seems to be an antidote. He looks up form his work and sees Dr Rajeed in the tent opening. He says

"Yearssse? What is iiittt? Has someone else played wit a scorpion? I am getting tired of making these antidotes for your gambling games."

He squints against the light at you.

In reply to Dungeon Master (msg # 4):

"Namaste, I am seeking tools and equipment for venturing into the wastes. Do you have vials and healers tools I could have and use?"

Says Dr Rajeed politely.

"Ahh one off the condemned, come come you may use my lab I will see what I have spare that you could take with you."

He invites you in opening a number of satchels a taking various healing objects for you. He gives you whatever you need noting this all down in a small book.

---

OOC: you get what you need to craft those items that you have marked down on your sheet for weapons and armor others will also supply these. I have noted you are one skill short on your character sheet?
This message was last edited by the GM at 22:20, Sun 23 May 2021.

Vander follows the good Doctor, mostly to make sure no one bothers him. It seemed unlikely, especially as they where already 'condemned', but better safe than sorry. He does glare at the soldiers as they leave, no having much love for them or their ruler. The man who was the author of the Doctor's and Vander's fate.

Was Vander a criminal? Yes. Did he steal for poor folk? Generally not...and not just because they had nothing worth stealing. Besides, it was hard for a goblin to make a legit living among non goblins. Of course, Vander did not often get along with his Goblin kin either.

"Do they have quartroot? Running low on quartroot..." Vander said in his odd sing song voice, popping out out of nowhere behind the Dwarven physician. He had the habit of doing that quite often, as Goblins where very sneaky. Besides, the plant's poison treating abilities where much prized among his people.

In reply to Vander of Clan Fivetail (msg # 7):

"Huh.. there are 2 of you. Yes I have some quartroot.. Do you need anyting else?"

He removes a small pouch from a different Satchel it contains some dried roots that Vander is looking for. Again noting it down in a pad..
This message was last edited by the GM at 00:52, Mon 24 May 2021.

In reply to Dungeon Master (msg # 8):

“Yes, may I use your lab for a few days?”

Says the doctor. If given consent he spends his time
Making the antidotes and antiplagues I have listed in my inventory inc the hat with continual flame on the inside of it, so I can turn it inside out and have a torch on my head for those with poor night vision.
This message was last edited by the player at 04:08, Mon 24 May 2021.

"Yes you may share my facilities for a short time, I see you have no formula book take this blank one and I will let you copy a couple of my notes while you are here."

The guard is most helpful, at the moment...

10 days pass as you gather materials and craft items you think you may need for the journey into the desert. By this time all of the other condemned have left the camp and for those that remain the soldiers are no longer so amiable. They are becoming tired of your existence snapping at you whenever you’re underfoot. Numerous patrols have been sent out and returned. But there’s no word of those that have already ventured into the desert. Only your group remain and you have taken to camping together rather than risk the ire of the soldiers. The captain approaches your camp on the 12th night and speaks plainly to you.

“We move in the morning and any of you that remain will be put to death. Sleep well and I hope not to see you in the morning.”

Just threat is clear. You had best start your track into the shifting sands tonight or you will be killed upon the rise of the sun tomorrow...

Among those standing on that stony platform, surrounded by the hundreds of horsemen, is a Elven lady dressed in local atire, quite obviously a local, from Rahadoum.
She looks Mid-20's but you can never tell with an elf, wearing ochre weather-beaten desert robes & sandals, he is both muscular and lithe.
Slung over her shoulder, he has an old, well-used, military field-medic's kit.
she carries a strong but slender staff, tapered at the ends and well balanced.
Those who can recognize this, know the staff is made of acacia wood, and is engraved with Pahmet, or Sand-Dwarf, runes.

Listening to the long-winded explanation, Oro shrugs, thinking that they could've just asked for people to go hunt those raiders.
She frowns when him being a criminal is mentioned, and she mumbles:
"I don't remember no crime. Just enjoying Azir..."
Aeris just shrugs, and looks down at the large arcane Glyph chiseled into the rock.
she tries to see what it is.
Arcane check or something?

Then, looking around to the others near her, she nods, speaking in Osiriani:
"I am Aeris. Greetings."
Then in Common:
"Or are you the foreign characters they speak of? I am Aeris."
She bows deep before the two Dwarves, and addresses them in Dwarven - well, you understand she thinks she speak Dwarven, but actually it is all garbled and makes little sense:
"Breatings boh plicked bones! Eeh arm Aeris!"
This message was last edited by the GM at 00:02, Thu 03 June 2021.

To someone who habitually spent extended stretches in stark desert, the camp was a veritable treasure trove.

With more time than he was used to, Lupine had scoured the camp for bits of tools and discarded articles.  His colorful garments, voluminous as they were, made him look like a rainbow cloud on narrow feet when he was about during daylight hours.  He favored the night more, especially when it came to any work beyond rummaging through gear.

"The time comes to leave every oasis.  Let us leave while the night still shelters us; traveling under the sun's hateful stare will be far less enjoyable."  He mentioned to his new companions, which was currently the longest conversation he had had with any one individual in the past two weeks.

Obviously more Orc than human the large Orcish man though thinner than the stereotypical Orc style carried an imposing frame of toned muscle and obvious agility and athletic ability. He was brought with only garments to cover himself, all his gear taken. There was no need to wonder about the life the Half-orc lived, his body was covered in scars from claws, stabs, and slashes, nearly all the marks from the beasts he has hunted all his life. His tusks grow tall and strong except broken from a claw mark across the right side of his face the topmost having broken the tusk, the middle talons nearly taking his whole right ear off, and the bottom slicing just below his jawline. His skin stood out dark against the sand, not black, and not grey his skin tone falls somewhere between. And finally, the only adornment on him and the only thing he cares about for appearances is his hair. Shaved bold on either side a mohawk runs the middle of his head, the hair has been turned into long deadlocks that are braid reaching down to his lower back. Weaved in his hair are bones, sticks, teeth, and claws.

Each day he was given went testing the bows, each fletcher's arrow, and the temper and sharpness of the blades. Whenever a military man would regard him the only answer he gave a cold killing stare. Each morning the half-Orc rises early and travels just over a dune to pray to Gozreh, not in a typical way normally seen, but rather the way his tribe has worshiped him for hundreds of years. And each morning a tiger visits him, her body larger than is normal for her species her face and forearms scared. Her color is also strange she is a light golden orange with white strips and belly. "Hello, Shiva my friend, only a few more days and we will continue our journey. I do not know how my captures will react to your presence, so remain hidden and hunt, we will be united on a hunt soon." The companionship, and love obvious between the two friends.

Finally, on the last day, he chooses the composite longbow and shortbow, and the bastard sword he approves of. Also, he took many arrows, each hand-picked, and a horse on which he packed the arrows and a standard adventuring kit, also the rations that were given to him packed on the horse.

Dr Rajeed grunts as he gets to his feet gathering his things,

“Well guess it will be best to travel at night. Being the desert and all. Come friends we should be away.”

He packs a camel with one of the pavilion tents rations some wood and then mounts the beast. Riding to his companions he nods before turning to the desert.

Gathering your things the party of 5 head into the desert. the rolling sands become monotonous by midnight even the mountains that were rising up behind you can no longer be seen. The only thing guiding you are the tracks left by the first group of the condemned and the raiders luckily there has been little wind covering these. A slight wind blows but it is barely enough to lift the sands from where they lay as for sound only the sounds of your equipment clinking and animals permeate the silence of the desert.

It is early in the morning (2 am) and you are moving by the light of the moon. You have been riding for six  hours when rising out of the gloom ahead you see 2 monolithic obelisks that stand 50' apart. As you approach you can see writing upon them. But you would need to approach closer to read what is written. The tracks continue between them on into the desert.

---

This is where we begin guys please post and I will move things as quick as I can.

 Each player gets your choice of a camel, or a draft horse these are large creatures and 10 bulk = 1 Large bulk for them and they can carry 15 large bulk each or 150 of medium bulk.

- 3 large tents 10 feet x 20 feet in size totaling 150 bulk (50 bulk each), and take 40 min to set up

- 7 days of water for the entire party. (50 bulk)

- 1 x writ of authority to be in the desert

- 10 bundles of firewood (8 bulk each) 1 bundle give 1 nights fire totaling 80 bulk

- Food for the party (1 week of dried meat, and 1 week of dried fruit nuts and leaven bread) totaling 15 bulk

please let me know what you are riding.
Berethor - Horse
Dr Rajeed - Camel
This message was last edited by the GM at 00:44, Wed 26 May 2021.

In reply to Dungeon Master (msg # 16):

ooc : Dr Rajeed also gave 1x antidode to Oro, vander, and Sakinah
and 1 x antiplague to Berethor, oro, and Lupine
This message was last edited by the player at 01:31, Wed 26 May 2021.