Session 421 – Exorcism in the Sands
General Summary
The Story So Far
Ash - An expert in the occult and a skilled monster hunter. Ash uses his talents and budding alchemical expertise to battle what people fear most for a price.
Ryobi - A monk of the embattled Order of the Warriors of Mameka. Ryobi is given an important mission: retrieve the holy blades containing the souls of his brother knights, which were lost in the recent Rethemi civil war.
They are joined by Vinzent, a bard with a morbid demeanor and a haunted past.
This is the continuation of Session 419 – Desert Assassins.
5th to 30th Ilvin (Winter) 728TR
After a botched mission, the heroes become outlaws, wanted for mass murder, robbery, and blasphemy. They have fled the Kingdom of Rethem on a secret mission for the Agrikan Primate of Harn, intending to learn the fate of the Mamekan's (a holy Weaponsmith) family in the distant Hepekerian desert continent.
The heroes have learned that the revered Mamaka’s Mother Thiri aqah Sisloss has travelled to the centre of the Hepekerian desert continent. However, due to a curse put on her by a rival, an evil Jinn of the hot desert winds has possessed her. She has sought cleansing and sanctuary at the holy Oasis of Opkara.
The heroes are joined by Thiri’s nephew, the Numec warrior, Zharlac, an experienced desert warrior and guide.
Part 1 – A Dangerous Desert Trek
The holy Oasis is deep in the desert, and Zarlac skilfully guides the party, giving them invaluable help surviving the hot, waterless conditions. The travellers fight off half a dozen Hepekerian sand worms, nasty 7ft long brutes which spit bile, and a pair of desert manticores.
Days later, a rocky outcrop appears in the distance, protecting the holy Oasis of Opkara. The Oasis is beautiful, surrounded by lush vegetation, and nearby is the entrance to a large dolmen. Unfortunately, the Oasis has a guardian, a water elemental whose snake-like form envelopes Ash. However, the tired heroes quickly dispatch it so they can drink their fill.
Part 2 – A Wish
The heroes cautiously enter the dolmen. Inside, by a fire, is the spot where an elderly woman is meditating. She pays no attention to the intruders, only mumbling or chanting. Ash gets to work with his exorcism.
If she is possessed by a Jinn, a powerful form of air elemental, he must challenge it with its diametrically opposed element, i.e., earth. He encircles her in rocks, sand, and soil, then starts an elaborate exorcism ritual. He is most skilled, and soon the chamber is enveloped with winds as the malignant elemental forces seek to oppose his efforts. Suddenly, Ash completed his recitations. The heroes hear a loud crack of thunder. A vaguely humanoid shape made of air is driven from the poor woman’s mouth.
The despicable Jinn is furious, creating a vortex in the chamber that throws the heroes against the walls. Battered and bruised, they fight using all their strength to get near the genie and deliver damage against its semi-substantial form. It screams with pain as the heroes’ enchanted weapons pass through it. It strikes back with a blast of compressed air charged with sparks. However, the valiant adventurers prevail and slice the fiend into smaller pieces.
Weakened, it telepathically speaks to Ryobi, who is poised to finish it off. “Human, spare me, and I will grant you a wish!” Ryobi ignores the begging genie and runs his holy sword through the last of its essence, obliterating it. “Thus is the fate of those who dishonour the family of the divine weaponsmith,” he declares.
As the Jinn disappears from this world, Thiri aqah Sisloss collapses to the ground exhausted, but free of the evil. The wind outside the dolmen rises, and an elemental fury is unleashed, the revenge of the destroyed genie. Compared to the Jinn, the small air elementals pose only a minor threat and are eventually destroyed.
Part 3 – Back to the Holy Village
Thiri recovers quickly and tells Ryobi her son will reward him for his valour and devotion. During the trip back to the holy village of Pyateq, she speaks of her rivalry with Fima aqah Cobaliss, once a former friend, but now a bitter enemy. Fima summoned the Jinn, which nearly destroyed Thiri’s life, and she plans to end the feud, which will involve the heroes.
To be continued.
NPC Interactions
Thiri aqah Sislosss, mother of the Mamekan.
Created Content
Nothing this week.
Related Reports
Nothing this week.
Player Characters
Ryobi - Human - L12 Monk
Background - Temple Guard.
Archetypes - Barbarian/Fighter.
Ash - Human - L12 Thaumaturge
Background - Weaponcrafter.
Archetypes - Alchemist.
NPC Companion
Vinzent - Human - L12 Bard
Background - Cursed.
Archetypes - Blessed/Disciple of Thalia.
Next Session
Session 424 – Duel to the Death.
NPC Companions
Vinzent
He is a skilled minstrel who is infamous for his depressing performances and bad luck.
Zharlac
Skilled Numec warrior and master of desert warfare.
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