Days ago, your group of adventurers joined a desert caravan. Halfway across the desert, a terrible sandstorm struck, separating your party from the rest of the caravan. When the storm died down, you found you were alone. The caravan was nowhere in sight. The desert was unrecognizable, as the dunes had been blown into new patterns. You were lost.

You headed east, the same way the caravan was headed before the storm. Days passed. Your mounts died from exhaustion. The end of the desert was not in sight.

The day after your water would have run out if not for your druid, you stumbled upon a number of stone blocks sticking out of a sand dune. Investigation showed that the sand covered the remains of a tall stone wall. On the other side of the stone wall was a ruined city.

The stone blocks of the city had toppled and cracked with the passing of time. Sand had covered most of the buildings. The stones that remained uncovered had been scoured smooth by the blowing sands.

In the center of the city towered a step-pyramid. It had five step-like tiers, each 20' high. The bottom-most tier was almost completely covered with sand. On top of the highest tier were three 30' tall statues.

The statue on the left was of a strong, bearded man holding a balance in one hand and a lightning bolt in the other. The middle statue was of a winged child with two snakes twined about its body. The child held a wand in one hand and a handful of coins in the other. The statue on the right was of a beautiful woman. In her hands she held a sheaf of wheat and a sword.

On the south side of the pyramid, a ramp with stairs led from the ground to the top of the highest tier.



Remove all food from your sheets.
This message was last edited by the GM at 14:42, Mon 27 June 2022.

Before climbing the pyramid, or alternatively choosing some other course of action, l'Atreq knelt in the clean, white sand and offered sincere prayers to Ptah that He would guide them on their way.  Only when it became clear that Ptah did not plan to offer any signs in favour of some other course of action did l'Atreq raise up from a kneeling position, saying, "Are we ready to ascend?"

"I think if we don't, we're certainly doomed staying out here!  I agree our best bet is to go," says the halfling druid.

Orum glances expectantly from Vixl to L'Atreq, then to the stairs. Nervously clutching his staff he steps back to ensure that they have a clear path to the stairs.

Aremis rejoins the group after briefly examining the exposed length of the remains of the stone wall in front of them, the full extent of which presumably surrounded this city in the sand in days gone by.  He turns to the halfling and cleric, who just spoke up.

"I agree.  We need to find some shelter from this oppressive heat, as soon as we can.  And we need to find food, if possible.  There might be other buildings or entrances to this 'lost city,' at ground level, but we can look for those when it gets cooler out.  Looks like the steps up to the top of the pyramid are our best bet.

I'll be happy to take the lead."
This message was last edited by the player at 20:18, Wed 15 June 2022.

"Wouldn't it be better if Orum takes the lead?" asks l'Atreq.  "I imagine he might have a better chance of spotting any traps."

Orum darted behind Aremis. "Oh, no," he stammered. "You tallies have a way of absorbing damage...er...um...by which I mean, with time and wind and sandstorms and wandering lizards I am sure all traps outside have long been tripped."

OOC: Charisma is my dump stat!

Behind the mask, there is no expression on l'Atreq's face.  "Orum MAY have a point, but with someone so skilled, shouldn't we let him exercise his skill."

OOC charisma is Orum's dump skill ;)

In reply to l'Atreq (msg # 6 & 8):

“Very good point, l’Atreq!  I had forgotten about our stealthy Gnome companion.  I certainly did not mean to step on anyone’s toes or feelings.  Yes, Orum is most definitely much better suited to lead the way and look for hidden traps on the stairs. Please forgive me, Orum!” Artemis says with a flowing bow. “I did not mean to prevent you from providing your expertise to our little band of weary and sand-laden travelers.

If you like, we can tie a rope around your waste and connect it to one or more of us larger folk - to keep you from falling - in case any trap door opens unexpectedly beneath you.  Do you want us to tie you off or do you prefer handling the trap doors on your own?”

But you are probably correct.  The sand, the elements, and any desert dwellers have probably long since triggered any traps that may have been on the steps in the years since this city was overtaken by the desert.”
This message was last edited by the player at 21:55, Wed 15 June 2022.

19:28, Today: Orum Copsetwinkle rolled 82 using 1d100.  Find traps, 25%, . I am assuming I roll and roleplay the results.

"It's a tallie conspiracy!" Orum muttered in a barely audible whisper.

He trudged up the stairs, poking here and there with his staff and scrutinizing the many cracks carefully.

Vaask falls in line just behind Aremis.  "I've got your back, my friend."

"Ah, Vaask!  Good to see you again. I thought we lost you in that last sand storm.  Glad you finally found us!  Hopefully, we can find respite and sanctuary within the buildings of this 'lost city.'

"I'm trying to keep up with and stay close to our intrepid little gnome trap finder.  I'm also keeping an eye out for any concealed or secret doors.

We need another fighter up here with me and one at rear guard - not sure whether that's you or Vixl.  We need to protect our spell casters - they are currently our only source of fresh (and recycled) water.". Aremis chuckles at the thought of all the warm, but purified, yellow water the party has had to drink the last few days.

OOC: "I miss my handy stillsuit that I left back in storage with the caravan..."

OOC: 22:45, Today: Aremis rolled 5 d6s with rolls of: 5,4,4,2,3.  Various detect secret/concealed doors - needs 1-2/d6 to detect secret; 1-3/d6 for concealed.
This message was last edited by the player at 03:20, Thu 16 June 2022.

Feeling a little out of place where they are, Tarrahn will say, "I'm a little out of place in here.  Shall I watch our back?"

A quick search of the ruins revealed no source of food or water, so you decided to climb the pyramid. In the side of the ramp, level with the floor of the top tier, you found a secret door.

The slab of stone that hid the secret entrance to the pyramid is now held open by the dead body of a hobgoblin. The body has a large crossbow bolt sunk deep in its chest. The hobgoblin has been dead several weeks.

Putrescent with decay, the cadaver has just now begun to lure forth the scavengers of the desert, their black silhouettes visible in the distant sky.


This message was lightly edited by the GM at 14:43, Mon 27 June 2022.

l'Atreq moved close to the corpse with closed eyes, sniffing the scent of decay and wondering why if the corpse was so long dead, the scavengers had only just arrived.  A holy symbol in hand, l'Atreq checked that the hobgoblin was indeed dead and not undead.

Orum pulled out some darts and turned to Terrahn.

"You be careful," he said. "People in masks cannot be trusted."

"I'll do what I must Orum," says the halfling as he readies a sling bullet as his first attack if needed. "I will have a different outlook in the morning of my spells to where I may be more use other than a rear guard!"

Víxl had been quite for most of the discussion- the most pertinent points had been covered by everyone else. Stil, she did have two responses to Aremis.




"It is not just the heat- a desert will freeze at night. With activity and this equipment, we could be fine, but it will no be any more pleasant."





"While I am not creating water, the front is not the place for me. Th water craton and purification can be done at leisure, so there is no concern of spells being spoiled in combat. But if we encounter anything that needs to be dealt with martially, they could very well disrupt my sleep spell were I to be in the lead. So, I will take rear guard. If my spell is used in the course of action, I can then replace someone less armored in the front."


When the hobgoblin was discovered, she wrinkled her nose in disgust. "l'Atreq, besides his state of death, perhaps you should see if he has a key or other item of use."

She had her bow ready in case a carrion bird decided to get too excited, but would switch to her sword if/when they entered the door.
This message was last edited by the player at 19:05, Thu 16 June 2022.

Orum sidled forward.

"Before you go a looting, maybe let me take a listen on the off chance that there's more unsavorys inside?"

Not waiting for an answer he put his head near the opening, somehow looking like he was poised to jump back, possibly even down a level of the pyramid.

OOC, can I get a Hear Noise roll, 15% please?

"It is possible," Víxl acknowledged with a tinge of doubt, "But if there was, then they probably would have removed the body from the door if intelligent, or fed upon it if not."
Still, she then lapsed into silence and tried to remain still so Orum would not have distractions as he listened.

l'Atreq obediently searched the hobgoblin's body for keys or anything else that might be of any use.

Aremis stands ready, as Orum listens at the door and l’Atreq examines the cadaver.  He is prepared to enter the room atop the pyramid when the time comes.  For now, we wait to see what Orum and l’Atreq find.

The corpse of the hobgoblin has nothing to offer but revulsion and foreboding, its studded leather having already begun to merge with its liquescent flesh. It has been stripped of equipment, save for the short sword.

With no shelter from the sun, the members of the party sweat while Orum first waits for the requisite silence for listening then pricks his ears for minutes more as the sweat continues to run down various channels along the party's fronts and backs.

There is nothing to be heard but the whipping of the desert winds and the ever approaching flapping of the scavengers' wings.

Beyond the stone slab is a 10' wide passage, leading into the pyramid. The passage floor is covered with dust. Several pairs of footprints can be seen leading inward. In a niche in the wall opposite the secret door, a large, unloaded crossbow points at where the hobgoblin had once stood. The passage runs for 30' before turning north.

"Looks like the crossbow was automatic", suggests l'Atreq, leaning slightly as if to sniff their own armpit.  This is confirmed by the addition of, "Nothing like half decayed hobgoblin to make one appreciate the scent of one's own sweat."

"As long as it's not one of us.  I'll not cry over the loss of one of those things," Terrahn adds to l'Atreq's comment.

Aremis will examine the footprints in the dust to try to determine as much information as possible.  Shoes vs. bare feet prints? Type of creature?  Were these other hobgoblins that continued on, leaving their dead companion behind or perhaps inhabitants of the pyramid here to examine or strip the dead hobgoblin of its possessions?  Or something else? Size, speed? Were they walking or running?

Aremis surmises that these prints were not from inhabitants since the door remained open and the crossbow trap was not reset.

“If we slide or throw the cadaver off the pyramid, can we close the door and reset the crossbow trap behind us?  To protect our rear flank.” Aremis asks the group.
This message was last edited by the player at 19:23, Fri 17 June 2022.