Session #53: Dungeon in the Dunes

 [written by Joel, who ran this adventure--thanks Joel!]

The Call to Adventure

Many things pass in the mother city that are not given much attention. And at first glance the old man with his walking staff is no exception. But when he places an emerald the size of an egg on the tavern bar everyone takes notice. Pulling back the hood of his robes reveals long copper colored hair, the unmistakable mark of the Fremen. His eyes are glossy and completely white, blinded by old age, his skin tan and wrinkled.

He seeks adventurers looking to enter a place buried beneath the sand dunes near the Garden River to retrieve an artifact. Offering the large emerald as payment and a Fremen blessing to aid in the quest. Adventurers will face tests of courage, strength and wisdom, in order to retrieve the artifact. So assemble your party, go and seek out the old shaman camped outside the city!

The Dungeon in the Sands

Many had been wondering who would take on the adventure of the Shaman Kynes. The answer has finally come as a group of adventurers meets the old man at his campsite outside the city. There Kynes gave them a description of the stone he seeks, ten inches long with three sides. He has had visions where the stone is, underground, moving sand, trials of of courage, strength and wisdom. After a blessing from the shaman and preparations in the city, the party was seen leaving the western gate guided by Lars Fangripper, the Infamous Ghar-Rider.

an image of Frith, the spirit-guardian bequeathed to Najm
by Chris

• Bartholomew Pettibone (magic-user 6)

  

Accompanied by Gan ad-din (fighting-man 5)

• Mara (magic-user 3)

• Althis (magic-user 4)

Accompanied by al Rabb (renyu)

• Arngeir of the Green Sheen (fighting-man 4)

• Najm (magic-user 4)

A sekeker, by Chris

The party was later seen at the castle of lqta’al Tolowani where a great feast was held to celebrate success and the noble honor of our heroes. Certain details of the adventure came to be heard: a dungeon of moving sand that tested the party, a summoning of spirit guides, noble warriors laid to rest and a giant worm! The dungeon in the dunes no longer exists after collapsing into the sand. However, a new opening now sits in its place and a terrible screech can be heard sometimes. Kynes will also be staying in the area for a little while before his visions take him on another quest.

A sekeker, by me

This adventure did end with a carousing at Iqta’al Tolowani, players may spend up to 100 gp per level to earn additional xp. Below is what has been recorded so far.

• Bart spends 100 gp and earns 100 XP

• Najm spends 500 gp and earns 400 XP (he overspent out of magnanimity)

• Mara spends 300 gp and earns 300XP

The Lucre

• The Emerald (6000gp)

• Fine textile blankets (700gp)

• Trade goods: furs, beads, etc. (1050 gp)

• The cache of Chromium weapons:
  6 Mek’leth swords (1d6+1 dmg)
  2 Khopesh swords (1d8+1 dmg)
  1 Bat’leth (1d8 dmg, +1 to AC)

• White stones (27 in all):
  7 high quality
  9 medium quality
  11 low quality

• Leather saddle (could be sold via finding the right buyer or kept for other interest)

The Learning

• 1750 xp from treasure

• 189 xp from Sekekers x 7 (25 ea. + hp)

• 448 xp from Sandmen x 7 (50 ea. + hp)

• 424 xp from Guardian x1 (400 ea. + hp)

The Cut

• 1290 Gold per player
  650 gold for Gan and Al Rabb

• 468 XP per player
  235 XP for Gan and Al Rabb
  100 xp per level each to Althis and Najm, for the art

• Chromium weapons

• White Stones

• Leather saddle

Any gold-valued item a party-member wishes to claim may be "bought out" by subtracting its value from their share of gold (up to and including their own funds, if necessary to equal its listed value); non-valued items must be meted out by the company's agreement, according to negotiations and what seems fair.

And as always, any write-ups, artwork, etc. representing the expedition from an in-character point-of-view will earn the corresponding player-character 100 xp per level.