Time seemed to all but stand still in the desert regions, and not much was left to entertain our heroes save for bits and pieces of conversation shared between the traveling adventurers. Rykasha had her hands full micro managing the daily events of the caravan travel, but was able to find time between tasks to speak to Killian about her culture and a bit of her language; songs were shared between the two while they worked away.
Reverend Alton had much to do with his new converts and taught them much about the worship of Pelor. Gizur and Eyestein sat with open minds and soaked up all the teachings of the newly discovered Reverend.
Elwyn attempted to write into his spell book, but was unable to find the type of required tranquil peace denied him by the bumping carriage and singing bard. Pleased to be away on an adventure, our Ranger leisurely tracked ahead in the distance making sure to keep the trailing caravan in sight at all times while Tai merely helped with the odd duties and kept to herself throughout the journey.
At night, our heroes would converse about thoughts of the future: Killian would mention his unknown son back in Sales, Tai her beloved monastery, and others would talk of the lands that they had left behind in their impatience for a life of adventuring. Time seemed to all but stand still during the travel through the desert regions.
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After about three weeks, one morning while scouting up ahead, the Ranger came back to the party and said that she had seen a pool of shadow up on the horizon’s end. Not really understanding what she meant they preceded further until they all saw the spectacle that the ranger was referring to.
In both directions on the horizon, they saw a moving black shadow that seemed to buzz in the morning air. As they approached the area, the sound of their moving caravan caused the thousands of buzzards, rats, and some other scavenger creatures to scatter in all directions. In a matter of moments, it became quite clear what had caused all these animals to come together to create the shadow on the horizon – hundreds of strung out lifeless bodies baking in the pre-noon sun.
The scavenger creatures had picked most the bones clean, but many were still roughly distinguishable, but obviously dead. Our heroes stood with mouth agape trying to take in the carnage they held witness to. The hundreds of human lives wasted for no apparent reason. Left to die by the heat of the sun or the bite of a desert scavenger. Loud lurching sounds were heard from the party as their stomachs could not take the scene before them. Swallowing back the bile, they proceeded further into the mass to try to save anyone who may still live, and to get a better idea of what had caused this to happen. Alton used his limited holy powers to search out the mess for any signs of life, but found none. Each body had been tied up while still alive, spread-eagle without weapons, boots or jewelry and left to die in the sun. Our heroes proceeded through the cadavers completely silent.
Halfway to the end, they spotted a sign in the middle of the gap they had been traveling through. The sign read “This is a warning to those who would choose to break the law: You are not welcome in LoBan any longer. The people have spoken, and the law will be upheld.” Enraged by the sign and it’s meaning, Alton raised his mace and pummeled the bleached wood from it’s post. They proceeded towards the town of LoBan, which was visible in the distance, with a feeling of dread at the pit of their stomachs.
As they approached the town, the smell of fires cooking food, and the scents of fresh water reached their noses. They proceeded towards the guards at the gate, and saw the all too familiar sign off to their right. It read “Welcome to LoBan. No fighting after dark, no magic indoors.” The welcome sign, the same as in Williamsburg, was written in the same script as the one amidst the bodies outside of town.
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