You have been sent into the desert to track down bandits, at least that was the first thing the rugged commander of the horse men told you. The truth he reveals is that you and the others gathered at the edge of the desert are nothing more than a sacrifice made by the sultan to appease the other nobles. you were at least given food, water and basic equipment, before being sent to your doom on the burning sands of the desert.

You traveled with a group of others convicted to the same fate it was not long before the desert claimed the first of you. The very sands swallowing them up as they sunk to their demise in quick sand. They chose not to enter the desert through the gates of Sule and thus fell prey to the curse of the desert.

On ward you trekked until you came upon an obelisk, the tracks you were following split here and half your group headed left. You and the rest went right perhaps this was the wrong choice for that evening as you approached a statue rising out of the sands, giant spiders rose from whence they had burrowed in the sands. They took another soul as the rest of you fled.

Making camp a distance away you awake in the evening with more of your group gone while you slept, taking with them your water given little choice you must face the spiders for what little water they took with your companion. Returning to the statue by night you see others, condemned like you have arrived and are battling the spiders. They defeat them and move to explore an underground cave they have found.

This finds you both watching a few camels staked around a hole at the base of a statue the group of condemned you left behind now under the desert sands doing only god knows what.

Watching the circle of camels gave Joanna Little to work with. But one has to work with what one has at hand, which its... not much. 'I hate bugs.' She count help but curse in barely a whisper.

"I will go take a look. Wait for me here." It goes without saying: Watch my back.

Taking slow steps She makes her way to the hole, sword in hand, trusty elven boots on her feet and tries not to disturb the sand as she makes her way to the hole to take a peek.


OOC:
00:05, Today: Joanna Durst rolled 25 using 1d20+15.  stealth.
00:05, Today: Joanna Durst rolled 24 using 1d20+13.  perception.

" Indeed. Aeronon agrees. Then adds under his breath, " Not just bugs...spiders. " He shudders and subconsciously lays his hand on the pommel of his sword.

He nods in response to her request, both spoken and unspoken. The knight knows his scale armor would betray her efforts at stealth and contents himself with vigilance as he waits.

He watches as Joanna pads softly away, thankful for her expertise; so different and complementary to his own.

As she approaches the hole, he slides his sword quietly from its sheath and crouches, expecting the worst.


OOC:
01:44, Today: Sir Aeronon Blackgem rolled 26 using 1d20+13.  Perception.

with a stealthful approach to the statue, Joanna sees a rope around the base of the statue it falls down into a hole  that has opened up in the sands before the statue. You carefully approach and peer into the darkness below. With your low light vision you are able to identify some sort of underground ruin buildings long berried by the desert sands. The statue would have once stood atop the panicle of a giant dome for all to see. Below you see the carcasses of giant spiders butchered and  lying discarded upon the sands. to the west you see stairs rising to an entrance to some ruins giant 5' pillars supporting the roof. It is from this entrance you can see the lights of the other party in these ruins.

At the spider comment she made a sour look of agreement. Worms where good for fishing, but she drew her line on anything that considered her food/prey.

Her good vision allowed her to spot the others inside the tunnel. In a better mood since... 'this' all began she signaled Sir Aeronon to come closer. "Its part of the split group." Turning down she shouted down. "AHOY!! How are you down there?"

Aeronon's heart is buoyed by the news that others may have survived and moves to join her after taking another quick look around. He perpetually expects a new attack and listens hard for the tell-tale swish of sand that announces the spiders' arrival. As he nears her, he turns to watch behind them as he slowly backs up to her, his sword held protectively before him.

"Any response?" he asks over his shoulder. "Maybe we should go down there. They could be hurt." He suggests. He has had enough of this "spider sand" and would prefer enemies that he could see coming. Anything to get out of this damnable sand.
This message was last edited by the player at 17:18, Mon 12 July 2021.

She turns to look at Sir Aeronon afther checking the rope. "Well, they say they are good and best of all; No horse sized spiders." With one twist and pull of the rope around her left hand she jumped down as she told him. "Don't worry, I will catch ya!." When she was a few feets from the ground she let go and landed on her feet.

"Glad to see more people here!" Sir Aeronon heard from the hole.

OOC:
13:10, Today: Joanna Durst rolled 25 using 1d20+16.  Athletics. clim down the rope.

Aeronon watches her deftly navigate the rope as he impatiently waits his turn to escape the sand. In a moment she disappears into the hole and gives him the good news. Survivors.

He says a quick prayer of thanks as he sheaths his weapon and prepares to clamber down, smiling at her offer to catch him. He grasps the rope and hopes she will not have to.

OOC: 21:34, Today: Sir Aeronon Blackgem rolled 21 using 1d20+11.  Athletics, climbing.

Both of you please move to into the wastes