Session Ninety-Three: The Mountain Trek

The group walked and walked and walked up the mountain. Yusef complained about all the walking, but everyone ignored him. They noticed that the day didn't seem as hot, as any other day they had ever experienced, and were thankful for that.
Kraah spotted movement among the rocks, above the group, but was surprised when two stone colored eagles flew toward him and attacked. It took a moment for the group to grab their ranged weapons, as the birds made swooping attacks at their aarakocra companion. Kraah was doing his best, but the birds were worthy foes.
The arrows Yusef was shooting were somewhat effective, but magic and psionics proved more effective against the creatures. In the end, the birds were no match for the group. One of the birds died and the other fled, badly wounded.
After Kraah used his elemental magic to heal himself, the group pressed on. They walked and walked and walked. Yusef resumed his complaining.
After a couple more hours, Fain told them that their destination lay up ahead, but he suggested they wait until morning. When asked why, Fain explained that the ruins, up ahead, were supposedly haunted and he was not keen to find out if the rumors were true.
The group agreed and found a small cave to sleep in. Samsun only fit halfway inside. So, he slept with his head and upper torso inside the cave and his legs and feet sticking out.

Day 3, Week 1, Dessalia, Friend's Vengeance, 190th King's Age, Sun Descending

The sun was still hours from rising. Dimitria was keeping watch and caught a glimpse of something moving near the cave entrance. She peeked outside and was surprised to see a giant, chitin plated serpent hovering in the air. It ignored Dimitria and wrapped itself around Samsun.
Dimitria screamed, awakening everyone inside the cave. Samsun and Cheet were slow in waking, but everyone else was alert. They grabbed their weapons and began attacking the chitin covered serpent. Some of the strikes missed the worm-like creature and struck Samsun instead. Apologies were shouted at the half-giant.
The creature was focusing all its energy on crushing Samsun, its spines tearing into his flesh. However, the groups attacks eventually got the monster to release the battered Samsun. The serpent then shot out some chitinous spines at the group and fled into the night.
Looking at his bloody body, Samsun called upon the elements of water to heal him. Once he was healed, he went back to sleep. Everyone else did likewise, except Dimitria. Dimitria resumed her watch.
In the morning, the group awoke and had a bland breakfast of root vegetables and dried meat. Water rations were distributed. Samsun, and Kraah preached their morning sermons, thanking their elements for another day of survival. Shada listen closely to Kraah and seemed eager to learn more.
The group walked for another hour. They arrived at a plateau, with the mountain rising beyond. The plateau was rocky, but swaths of grass grew between the stones. There were ancient, ruined buildings, and a small, clear pond. After days of traveling up, nearly, barren mountain slopes, this plateau looked like paradise.

The ruined buildings were all made out of the mountain stones and were small. Fain guessed that no more than fifty people could have lived in the village. Raco asked Fain if the water was safe to drink and Fain assured him it was. He had drunk from the pond many times.
Fain then explained that this was as far as he was willing to go. He would not continue into the mountains, as those who had, had never returned. And, of course, the ruins were haunted, so he would be leaving an hour before nightfall. The group understood.
They went to the pond and filled their waterskins. They then drank their full, of the clear, clean mountain water.

Join us soon 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.