Loose threads: mysterious pilgrim, who were the Saqqarans?, where are they now?, the prophecy.
Participants: Daggoth, Larian Vincke, Verdant Amberforge, Bhitzaoji Ocitra, Zuma
Locations: Greyspine Mountains, Avis River, Silent Forest, Tomb of the Oracles, Desert of Rydess
Full report: Zuma
Our journey took us north this time, to the sands of Rydess' realm, in order to find any landmark of place of interest that the desert hadn't revealed to the Guild yet.
After traversing through the Greyspine Mountains, we arrived at the swamps of the Avis River. A hazardous passage, for sure. The terrain here is not welcoming to outsiders. But that day we were gifted a friendly visit. Local tailor from the nearby Kobold tribe, Khuk, had been seemingly following us for a while. He looked hesitant at first, but after a long conversation with my scaled friend, Daggoth the Chosen, we convinced him to approach and let us give him some rations. I didn't understand most of it, but the visitor said he had abandoned their village and lived with a companion in new-found hut near the river. I hope they are doing fine. I fear they might be low in the food chain out there...
We left soon after, and headed north following the coast. We came by the so called Silent Forest. Now full of life and vegetation. The party made camp and tried to rest, although a bloody scene seemed to sneak into our dreams. I won't give it much thought. Nothing good can come from a dream that was not my own.
And finally, we felt the touch of the sand. A truly beautiful dried ocean. I had never seen anything quite like this. Soon enough after we encountered and defeated a pack of aggresive giant scarabs, we found the first ruins. Remains of an ancient civilisation, as my companions pointed out, trapped inside a desert oasis. Columns and crumbled statues scattered around. Verdant Amberforge probably took more notes about them.
We did some digging and discovered a sealed entrance, only unlocked by Bhitzaoji Ocitra's stroke of genius. Inside, we found murals depicting ominous scenes of apocalyptic events. Various iconography and motifs crowned five different 'chapters' of the story:
- A glorious sun marked a panel about some kind of godlike entities fleeing, leaving their worshippers behind.
- The second one, marked by a scale, showed a mountain and a spherical winged object above a series of skeletal remains.
- The one with the hourglass - a long procession of tall figures, carrying various orbs.
- A detailed butterfly crowned a gruesome battle scene between two distinct factions, while a strange entity hovered above as witness.
- And the final one, with a petalled flower, depicting Dragons fighting a hungry void while the earth beneath shattered.
Next, we met a figure of the past and guardian of this place: Khafre. We helped him liberate himself from the clutches of some hostile Hieracosphinxes. And then he showed us a glimpse of the past. Spoke about the builders of this ancient temple and the visions they had - a prophecy, it seems.
My companions completed a few more tests of wits, before we entered the final chamber. The resting place of those who saw beyond and those who built this site. The last defenses of the temple tried to swarm the party, but we persevered.
In the end, Larian Vincke put the foes to rest again, and the ancient Unknown offered us some knowledge as gift. The same knowledge they granted to a mysterious pilgrim, trapped and turned to stone in this very last room. The knowledge about the long forgotten folk that lived in the desert - the Oracles of Saqqara.