Session 58

Dust to Dust I

Chapter 1: On the Sea of Silt

Their silt ship skimmed across the surface of the fine sand, the surprisingly smooth ride occasionally jarring them when the vessel encountered a ripple. The deck of the ship moved with very subtle undulations beneath their feet, which had a much more disconcerting effect on their balance than they had imagined.

Slowly, as the minutes passed into hours, their balance improved, and they felt surer of their footing. The crew smiled and nodded, approving of their progress in getting what they called their “silt legs.”

The psion who piloted the vessel did not join in the crew’s camaraderie. She stood, lips slightly parted, watching the horizon as if staring at something riveting, definitely not the endless sand. When the pilot realized she had their attention, they heard a voice cracked with disuse. “If you want to see the past, join me.” At this, some of the crew smiled and nodded encouragingly, while others made superstitious signs and backed away. They all decided to view.

Their minds swam in a swirl of whirling colors. Their stomachs lurched, but their vision returned quickly. The expansive silt was gone. In its place was water: thousands of miles and millions of gallons of nothing but blue-green mystery. What did it taste like? What lived within it? Was there ever land, and where did the water come from? Some of them mastered the truth of the vision, while others were haunted by it, unable to shake it from their minds.

Chapter 2: Crew Overboard

On the Veiled Vanguard, while sailing, a sudden cry of "Man overboard!" pierced the air. The crew immediately sprang into action, tossing a rope toward the figure floundering in the treacherous Sea of Silt. Panic surged through the crew as they rushed to help haul him in, the rope straining under the desperate weight.

One of the players, eyes glowing with intense concentration, extended a hand and used psionics to lift the struggling man back on board. The power surged, wrapping the man in an invisible, comforting grip and drawing him steadily to safety.

As the rescued crew member collapsed onto the deck, gasping for breath, a collective cheer erupted. The crew’s morale soared, buoyed by the swift and heroic actions of the players. The tension that had gripped the ship dissipated, replaced by a newfound camaraderie and respect for the heroes who had saved their comrade from a perilous fate.

Chapter 3: Shard Spray

On the Sunderer, while sailing the Sea of Silt, the ship suddenly struck something submerged beneath the sands. The impact sent a flurry of obsidian shards hurtling across the deck. A crew member was hit in the face, sending him reeling backward, perilously close to the edge of the ship.

Before he could topple overboard, one of the players darted forward with lightning reflexes, grabbing him by the arm. At the same moment, another player, eyes narrowing with intense focus, used psionics to conjure an invisible wall. The shimmering barrier materialized just in time, halting the crew member’s fall and saving him from plunging into the deadly silt.

The crew, momentarily stunned by the sudden attack and swift rescue, erupted into cheers. Their morale surged, hearts swelling with gratitude and admiration for the players' quick thinking and heroic actions. The shared danger and the subsequent rescue bound the crew closer together, their spirits lifted by the bravery and resourcefulness of their newfound protectors.

Chapter 4: Broken Rigging

While sailing the Sea of Silt, a sudden snap echoed through the air as some of the rigging aboard The Ringer gave way. The ropes lashed wildly, threatening to cause chaos and disaster. The sails flapped uncontrollably, the ship veering off course, endangering the entire crew.

In a flash of quick thinking, the players sprang into action. One player leapt forward, grabbing the rigging before it could cause further damage. Others joined in, hauling in the sails with all their might, muscles straining against the immense force of the wind and silt.

With grit and determination, they wrestled the sails back under control, securing the rigging with expert precision. Their swift actions not only saved several crew members from potential injury but also prevented the ship from capsizing.

As the immediate danger passed, the crew let out a collective breath of relief, their eyes shining with newfound respect and admiration for the players. The heroics of the players, their quick reflexes and decisive actions, raised the morale of everyone on board. The crew, now more united and confident than ever, continued their journey with renewed vigor, inspired by the bravery and skill of their saviors.

Chapter 5: Psion Down

While sailing the Sea of Silt, the psion pilot on The Glorybound suddenly collapsed from exertion, her body crumpling to the deck with a thud. The crew gasped in alarm, the ship beginning to veer wildly without her guidance.

In an instant, Khthag sprang into action. He rushed to the helm, his mind focusing intently as he seized control. Waves of psionic energy emanated from him, steadying the ship and keeping it on course. Meanwhile, Anvar hurried to the fallen pilot's side, his hands moving with practiced precision as he applied first aid.

The crew watched anxiously as Anvar worked, his calm demeanor instilling a sense of hope. Moments later, the pilot's eyes fluttered open, her breathing steadying as she regained consciousness. Anvar's quick and efficient care had brought her back from the brink.

The immediate crisis averted, the crew erupted into cheers, their spirits lifted by the swift and decisive actions of Khthag and Anvar. Their combined efforts had saved the entire ship from disaster, averting what could have been a catastrophic situation.

With their morale boosted, the crew resumed their duties with renewed determination, inspired by the heroism and competence of their comrades. The Glorybound sailed on through the Sea of Silt, the bond among its crew stronger than ever.

Chapter 6: Storm Ho!

A wall of silt bore down upon the ship, its mouth opening wide to swallow it into the storm. The crew struggled desperately to prevent capsizing or colliding with other Alliance ships. Frequently, the sounds of splintering wood and sinking vessels filled the air as silt poured in like water.

The crew responded to the captain’s commands with urgency, securing rigging and bailing out accumulating silt. Time seemed to blur, with moments of despair where the end felt imminent.

Then, a light appeared ahead. The wall of silt began to thin, and they knew the rest of the Veiled Alliance fleet should be waiting.

Upon emerging from the storm, the fleet was indeed there, but not alone. A massive ship-to-ship battle was underway. Catapults and ballistae fired, splintering wood. Enemy ships bore the flags of the Broken Builders, while others carried humanoids made of lava and silt or vile gith.

The ship sped toward the battle, identifying particularly dangerous enemy vessels. It was time for the captains to confer and select their targets.

Chapter 7: Captains' Decisions

The captains convened psionically to assess their options amidst the chaos of battle. Their minds linked, they quickly reviewed four critical tasks:

Option 1: Rescue the Alliance!
An important Veiled Alliance ship was under attack by several small ships. Gith, degenerate humanoids with psionic powers, were in the process of sinking the vessel. The PCs needed to rescue the Alliance members before the ship went down.

Option 2: Disrupt the Defilers!
Defilers aboard a ship were conducting a ritual that empowered their allies and blasted Alliance ships with deadly magic. The PCs had to stop the ritual, which would weaken with each defiler they defeated.

Option 3: Stop the Siege Fire!
A ship bristling with siege engines was firing upon the entire fleet. The PCs needed to stop these siege weapons before more ships were lost.

Option 4: Save the Pilots!
A line of enemy ships protected a vessel armed with a psionic resonator, which was disrupting the Alliance ships. The PCs had to break through the line and eliminate the resonators.

After a brief but intense discussion, the captains made their decisions. Oak and The Glorybound chose to save the pilots, recognizing the critical role the psionic resonators played in disrupting their fleet. Rexar and The Ringer took on the task of stopping the siege fire, aiming to neutralize the devastating siege engines. Wario and the Sunderer focused on rescuing the Alliance members, determined to save their comrades from the attacking Gith. Finally, Fazanna and the Veiled Vanguard set out to disrupt the defilers, seeking to end the deadly ritual that threatened to turn the tide of battle against them.

Chapter 8: Fazanna's Choice - Disrupt the Defilers

Ahead, they saw a towering wall of mist over 100 feet tall, forming a circle around a single point on the silt sea. Their information indicated that the ritual empowering their enemies was being generated from within. As their silt skimmer broke through the mist, the skimmer carrying the defilers came into view, just 40 feet away. Elemental creatures in humanoid form operated ballistae, preparing to attack. The group was alone, and everyone depended on their success.

The enemy fired their ballista, and the group retaliated with flaming pitch and their own ballista. Fazanna initiated the assault with her flame-jitsu fireball, targeting the defilers and their ritual. However, the genasi warded off the attack. Undeterred, Fazanna commanded her crew to teleport some of the heroes onto the enemy’s deck.

Hamra summoned four goraks to attack and distract the elemental creatures. Karnos used his psionic abilities to curse many of the visible enemies, causing several to flee randomly in fright. The defilers were forced to break off their ritual. One defiler teleported to the players' ship and unleashed a thunderclap, stunning everyone aboard.

The battle was in full swing, each side fighting fiercely. The heroes’ quick actions disrupted the enemy's plans, and the outcome of the skirmish hung in the balance as they continued to clash amid the swirling mist and shifting sands of the silt sea.

Chapter 9: The Messenger

Gliby noticed a half-giant woman standing near the mast, a place where nobody had been moments before. She wore the skins of unknown creatures and was adorned with tattoos. As she gazed at him, holding out her hand, it felt as though time had frozen for everyone else but them.

Intrigued, Gliby approached her cautiously. Without a word, she dropped a purple gemstone into his hand. Her voice, when she spoke, seemed to resonate with an otherworldly wisdom.

“Take this to your leader, the woman Mahlanda. I can help her, if she desires, to tame her dragon. For the benefit of Athas, so the green may rise,” she said before disappearing into thin air.

Chapter 10: Battle Continues

With a decisive command, Gliby directed the crew of Tyrian Veiled Alliance members to teleport the heroes onto the ship. As they materialized, he unleashed a powerful Thunderwave, sending shockwaves rippling through the air and knocking the defiler on their ship to the ground.

Meanwhile, Hamra, now aboard the enemy vessel, called upon his divine powers. With a burst of holy energy, he unleashed the Radiance of the Dawn, illuminating the darkness with his righteous fury and damaging his adversaries.

Undeterred by the obstacles before him, Shank charged forward, recklessly navigating through the spikegrowth conjured by Mario. Though he sustained minor wounds, he swiftly dispatched two of the defilers, clearing a path for his allies.

However, Mario's bravery came at a cost, as he succumbed to the onslaught of deadly spearmen shortly thereafter. Yet, with Hamra's swift intervention, he was quickly restored to fighting condition, ready to join the fray once more.

Together, the heroes fought with valor and determination, their blades and spells cutting through the enemy ranks like a scythe through wheat. Despite the odds stacked against them, they emerged victorious, their triumph echoing across the silt sea.

Page updated

Google Sites

Report abuse