The Endless Divide - Episode Nine

==Synopsis:==
Luya Barie set out months ago on an expedition to cross the Endless Divide, also known as The Quiet Lands. She and her crew were seeking the eastern coast of A'lune. No one ever heard back from them until one day, a message was sent to the Court of Abishot through some sort of magic. 25 words came from Barie:
"We almost died on journey. Found massive city in quiet lands. Cannot get back. Too dangerous. Met their wizard. They need help. Safe currently. Luya."
Abishot hired the Whispering Cutlass to seek out this lost city of the Divide and its citizens. Over 100 individuals set out on the journey.
This is the ninth adventure in The Endless Divide Saga.
This leg of the journey features constrictor snakes, water witches, and an objective finally reached.
==Client:==
City of Abishot
==Mercenaries:==
*Bandin Volward Deepburrow - Deep Gnome Rogue (Sponsor: Faithful Boar of the Circle of Faith Guild)
*Brutus Logjam - Half-Orc Barbarian (Sponsor: Briney Rickington III of House Stefarni)
*Darksteel - Aasimar Warlock
*Gale Redcliff - Air Genasi Ranger (Sponsor: RX-78-2 of House Shadhavar)
*The Poopsmith - Orc Paladin (Sponsor: Koppodrazi Ueshiba of House Stefarni)
*Tyel Morna - Aasimar Cleric (Sponsor: Xekral Shadhavar of House Shadhavar)
==Adventure Summary:==
Day 53-54 (started with 35% Caravan Supplies): The caravan travelled in peace.
Day 55: The very sand beneath the caravan began to shake. Most fled away from the area, but a few mercenaries stayed to fight: Brutus the Barbarian, with his extra tusk; Bandin the Gnome archaeologist; Gale the Genasi Ranger; Tyel the Cleric; Darksteel, the recently empowered Warlock; and finally, springing into action beyond the usual toilet-digging, The Poopsmith. 
Out of the sand rose five giant constrictor snakes, lashing out at the heroes who had mostly climbed onto the carts to protect them. Gale felled one snake instantly with an arrow to the eye while Brutus leapt from a cart, sprouting a dinosaur tail as he raged and slashed into another snake.
The Poopsmith held fast, defending Darksteel as the Warlock tossed necrotic bolts at the reptiles. Tyel and Bandin also hung back as protectors, keeping the snakes at bay and away from the supplies.
As the blood of serpents began to stain the sand, the ground again shook. One more snake arose, this one dwarfing the others in its size. This was the mother, furious at the deaths of her children; but with the help of deadly religious incantations from Tyel and a display of cunning from Bandin, the snake was brought down.
After the chaos, a few members of the group eyed the snake meat. A quick meal later, they determined that the giant constrictors were an excellent source for provisions, so the party set to work skinning and cleaning their kills, providing meat, teeth, bones, and skins for their grateful caravan.
Day 56-61: The caravan travelled in peace.
Day 62-63: Cresting a dune, the caravan came across a glorious oasis fed by a waterfall, lush vegetation growing all around. After checking for signs of fauna, the mercenaries decided that the area was safe for resting. They brought out Squishy, the axolotl-like creature they had previously found, and let it paddle at the edge of the water. The Poopsmith dug out latrines. Gale investigated the water further and came back with an apathetic view of the place. He seemed relaxed, unwilling to work, wanting to do nothing but chill out.
The behavior was questionable. Tyel tried to cast a ritual to detect if the area was magically enchanted, though he found himself frequently interrupted.
The caravan refilled water skins, and eventually, The Poopsmith agreed to go into the water to discern what had made Gale so calm and odd. After the quick dip, he too began to act odd. He dug himself a hole and sat in it like a chair, planning to sleep there.
The group decided to rest at the oasis overnight, and the night watch was organized. But in spite of these efforts, members of the caravan were lured into the waters and nearly mummified. Near daybreak, Bandin finally noticed and shot an arrow into the water; in response, poison sprayed out at him, which awoke other mercenaries.
Some looked into the water and faced a beautiful sight. Swimming just below the surface, a woman stared at them, upset by the arrows shot at her. The Poopsmith attempted to diffuse the situation, moving to the water’s edge to speak with her. She extended a hand. Misunderstanding, The Poopsmith held out an iron pot to her.
The woman snatched his arm and tried to yank him into the water, but Brutus was expecting this. He grabbed The Poopsmith’s leg, sprouting claws and digging in.
Seeing that her tricks were of no use any longer, the woman revealed her true form, that of a vile sea hag. Some members of the party trembled at the sight, nearly fleeing. The hag brought forth a water weird to attack the party, but without her guise, there was little reason for the party to refrain from obliterating her. The battle was quick, ending when Brutus drove his claws deep into the hag, ending her life.
With the hag’s demise, the oasis began to lose its luster: The waterfall halted, the water dried up, the plants withered before the party’s eyes. The caravan gathered themselves and moved on.
Day 64-71: The caravan travelled in peace.
Day 72 (19% Caravan supplies): During the day’s travel, the caravan stumbled across the remains of humanoids. Excavating the area, they found a veritable battlefield of severed limbs, not just of bone, but also some of metal. Arms, legs, feet composed entirely of metal, bearing the insignia from the worm they had discovered previously.
Continuing to dig, the mercenaries uncovered steel rails travelling along the caravan’s path, running back the way it came and moving forward in the direction the caravan moved. The caravan continued on, following the rails, climbing a large dune for the rest of the day’s travel. Finally, when they reached the top, they saw an entire city beyond it. They knew it was the city, the one in which Luya Barie had sent her call for help. They had reached their destination.
==Outcome:==
The caravan rejoiced in its near-victory. Darksteel, Gale, and The Poopsmith were wary to proceed, however. Whether this was due to their encounter with the sea hag’s water or for some other reason, no one knew. Their hesitation was noted as the mercenaries prepared to enter the city and search for their contact.
==Adventure Rewards:==
Viewing the splendor of a forgotten city, the first objective of their quest completed.
Endless Divide - 09