Session Eighty-Eight: A Disparity of Trust

Meanwhile, back in Tyr, word of Alaxander, Shade, Julius, Vashti, and Kalino's exploits had reached some influential ears. These influential people hired a group of experts to assist them in their quest. Those hired included: Samsun, the half-giant water cleric and fighter; Cheet, the human preserver, Kraah, the aarakocra air cleric, and Yusef, the human thief. Using the way, the influential people were able to locate the previous group's last location and used the way again to dispatch the new group there.
Upon their arrival, they immediately found a room filled with burning hot steam. Kraah used his air magic to push most of the steam away. They saw the bodies of the old group and were greatly disappointed. Cheet noticed the absence of Vashti and Julius, so she hoped that they had survived whatever had killed the last group. Yusef suggested that they may have sought shelter down the hallway, which was half filled with pumice, or through the open doorway.
They checked the doorway and found another large room filled with steam. They decided that they probably did not go that way, so decided to check the pumice filled hallway. Yusef and Cheet crawled inside. Samsun was too big and Kraah did not care for the cramped conditions.

Meanwhile, in the hall, Dimitria had healed Raco to consciousness, but he was still badly hurt. They heard some talking, but couldn't make out what they were saying. Then, they heard movement coming from the hallway opening. They rounded a corner and hid themselves in the shadows. Just as Yusef was rounding the corner, Raco jumped out of hiding and punched Yusef in the face. Raco realized that Yusef was not a firenewt, so held back any further attacks. Yusef jumped back and drew his war club. Yusef then complained loudly, in Tyrian, about getting punched in face.
Dimitria told Raco to wait, as Cheet and Yusef stared at Raco and Dimitria. Cheet noticed how damaged Dimitria and Raco were. She concluded that they must have been with the rest of the group, when they died. Cheet explained that she, Yusef, and some others were sent as reinforcements, to aid them in their quest. She knew about the gems and that they planned to kill the Tyrant of Tyr. Raco exclaimed that her claims were the same an agent of Kalak would make.
Yusef saw that this argument was going to take awhile, so he sat down to rest, complaining the whole time about being punched in the face. Raco demanded proof of their goodwill, but the newcomers had none to offer. Cheet pointed out that the only violence done so far was done against them and that if they had a reason to attack them, Raco and Dimitria were already badly injured. Dimitria saw the logic in Cheet's statements, but Raco did not trust them.
Cheet lead them out of the hallway and introduced them to Samsun and Kraah. The two clerics used their elemental magic to heal Raco and Dimitria. This act of kindness won over Dimitria, but Raco believed they could be templars, posing as elemental clerics.
Suddenly, some firenewts wandered into the room. They were surprised to see the newcomers, along with Raco and Dimitria. They attacked the group with their spears, but the group was too strong and chased the firenewts away. After the fight, Raco trusted them slightly more, but only a little.
The group started digging out the pumice choked hallway, so Samsun and Kraah could fit through it. It took them a few hours. They heard firenewts entering the adjoining room, but none of them came into their room. During this time, the dead were looted. When the digging was finally complete, they entered the hallway.

When the got to the end of the hall, Yusef discovered a magma pit trap, which he disarmed. In front of them was a seven foot tall, four foot wide, rune covered, stone door. The runes glowed with power, so it was easy to determine that the door had spells cast upon it. Cheet dispelled the magic and tried to pretend it was psionics, but she failed to conceal her magic properly and everyone knew she was casting an arcane spell!
Yusef and Raco shouted defiler and pointed at Cheet. Dimitria, Samsun and Kraah stared at her, wide eyed. Cheet quickly explained that she was a preserver, not a defiler, and she didn't kill plants with her magic. Kraah and Dimitria had heard of preservers, so they were willing to give her a chance. Yusef trusted Kraah, so he was willing to also. However, Samsun and Raco did not believe in preservers and even called it a 'fairy tale.' Raco decided to watch them closely and attack at any sign of treachery.
They pushed the large stone door open. On the other side, there was a large, hot, and humid cavern. There were stalactites and stalagmites everywhere, indicating it was a natural cavern, but that is not what drew the group's attention.
Resting on one of the few flat areas in the cavern was a fifty foot long creature. It had a large, rounded head, four legs, and a long, flat tail. It's skin was purplish-blue and shriveled, like a raisin. The creature raised it's huge head and looked at the group. "At last," It began, excited, but weak, "you have come!"

Join us in two weeks for another exciting session of Adventures Under the Dark Sun. 
2nd edition AD&D Dark Sun Cast of Player Characters 
Dimitria: Human female druid. 20 years old. Played by Mary. Speaks Urikite, Raamin, and Tyrian.
Raco: Mul male psychometbolist. 20 years old. Played by Dave. Speaks Dwarf and Tyrian.
Samsun: Half-Giant water cleric/fighter. 37 years old. Played by Ben. Speaks Giant and Tyrian.
Kraah: Aarakocra air cleric.17 years old. Played by Chad. Speaks Aarakocra, Tyrian, Balician, and Gulgish.
Cheet: Human female preserver. 24 years old. Played by my wife. Speaks Drajish and Tyrian.
Yusef: Human male thief. 24 years old. NPC party member. Speaks Tyrian, Nibnese, and Urikite.