Rafiq noticed that they seemed to be in a bubble and outside of the bubble, time was frozen. To test his theory, he threw a small pebble away from himself. Once the pebble was a few feet away, it froze in the air.
Suddenly, a large dimensional gateway opened inside the bubble. The group was uncertain and discussed their options. they could just leave the bubble, and possibly time would resume for them, or they could go through the portal. Kraah really wanted to go through the portal, so the rest of the group agreed and passed through the portal. Clavis was still in the water, but he wasn't going anywhere.
They found themselves in a dark place. Lightning crashed in the distance and Kraah recognized that they were on the Paraelemental Plane of Rain. They were standing on a tiny piece of rock, that was floating through the void. Suddenly, they were surprised by a voice in the darkness. A voice that greeted them.
Rafiq lit a torch and saw a short, blue-skinned male elf. The elf introduced himself as Joseph and he explained that he was not an elf, but a Jinn. He had met Kraah previously and he had told them about his friends. He needed their help.
Selia, Yusef, Kraah, and Rafiq quickly agreed to assist the plane of rain. Joseph then explained that the plane of rain was at war with the plane of sun and they were losing, that was why it rained so infrequently on Athas. Joseph also explained that there was an efreeti general, who betrayed the plane of fire and was leading an excursion into the plane of rain. He needed to group to infiltrate the plane of sun and assassinate this general. The group discussed it briefly and then agreed.
Joseph allowed the group to borrow some magical weapons, since their non-magical ones could not hurt the efreeti. He also let them borrow some magical boots, so they would not instantly die on the plan of sun. Kraah could not wear boots, but Joseph had prepared for that and let Kraah borrow a ring that had the same enchantments as the boots.
Rafiq lit a torch and saw a short, blue-skinned male elf. The elf introduced himself as Joseph and he explained that he was not an elf, but a Jinn. He had met Kraah previously and he had told them about his friends. He needed their help.
Selia, Yusef, Kraah, and Rafiq quickly agreed to assist the plane of rain. Joseph then explained that the plane of rain was at war with the plane of sun and they were losing, that was why it rained so infrequently on Athas. Joseph also explained that there was an efreeti general, who betrayed the plane of fire and was leading an excursion into the plane of rain. He needed to group to infiltrate the plane of sun and assassinate this general. The group discussed it briefly and then agreed.
After they were suited up, Joseph instructed the group how to will themselves to fly through the plane. Kraah did it easily, of course, and Yusef picked it up surprisingly effortlessly. Rafiq, after some difficulty, followed suit. However, no matter how much she tried, Selia could not will herself to fly. So, Joseph summoned a wyvern to carry her.
Their path to the plane of the sun was easy, a giant sun was open in the vast emptiness of the plan of rain. However, once they got to the plane of sun, finding the efreeti would be more difficult. So, Joseph gave them another magical trinket. It was a rock on a string and it would show them the way to the efreeti. In addition, because the surface of the plane of the sun was liquid-like, he would arrange for them to have a boat for transport.
Their path to the plane of the sun was easy, a giant sun was open in the vast emptiness of the plan of rain. However, once they got to the plane of sun, finding the efreeti would be more difficult. So, Joseph gave them another magical trinket. It was a rock on a string and it would show them the way to the efreeti. In addition, because the surface of the plane of the sun was liquid-like, he would arrange for them to have a boat for transport.
The group flew toward the plane of sun, while dodging random lightning strikes. When the arrived, the battle was in full swing, so the group attacked the forces of sun as they passed. They flew through the portal and gravity immediately reasserted itself. Luckily for them, they found the basalt boat and climbed inside. They began rowing in the direction the rock was guiding them.
Once they were on the plane of sun, everything ignored them. Kraah told them that everything was ignoring them, because the Sun Lords were winning the elemental war and they were confident in their superiority. The group thought the sun lords were foolish, but were thankful that they were.
After rowing for awhile they came to a large basalt and obsidian fortress. The fortress floated on the semi-liquid surface of the plane, but did not drift. Rafiq used the way to scout the fortress and found some guards, but they looked bored and inattentive.
Rafiq used the way to become insubstantial and floated into the fortress. He was not spotted by the lazy guards. The fortress was large and Rafiq was using a lot of mental energy, wandering through the complex.
Rafiq was surprised when someone addressed him. He looked and saw a thin woman, she appeared to be Urikite, or maybe Tyrian, but her clothing was unlike any fashion he had seen in either city. She asked him what he was doing in the fortress, because she had hired everyone working there and knew them all by name.
Rafiq lied and said he wanted to work for the forces of sun, because he knew they were going to win the war. The woman looked him over and was silent for a moment. When she broke the silence, she told him that she did not believe him. The boots he was wearing were worn by scouts from the plane of rain. He was, most likely, there to cause trouble. She then attacked his mind with the way.
Rafiq teleported back to the boat and began explaining what had happen, but the woman opened his mind and dominated him. He stopped talking and pulled his magic sword out. He threw it overboard. Yusef, Selia, and Kraah were all confused and asked him why he had done that. Rafiq then lunged at Selia and attempted to push her overboard. However, he missed and tumbled over instead. As Rafiq sank into the semi-liquid surface of the plan of sun, the woman left his mind.
Kraah dove down and grabbed the sword. Selia tried throwing a rope to Rafiq, but it came to a rest on the semi-liquid surface. Meanwhile, Rafiq tried swimming in the semi-liquid environment and was able to slow himself down. Of course, Rafiq had no idea how to properly swim, having never done it before.
Yusef grabbed Selia's rope and tied it around her. He then shoved Selia overboard. With a surprised yelp, she fell into Rafiq. She grabbed him, he grabbed her, and they stopped falling. Kraah had returned to the boat and he and Yusef hauled up the other two.
Rafiq was mentally and physically exhausted. He suggested they rest and then plan on what to do next. The group agreed. They rowed the boat away from the fortress and found a flare to hide behind, while they slept. Kraah kept the first watch.
After sleeping, they discussed their plan. It was decided that Rafiq did not have the mental reserves to search the entire fortress himself, he needed help. So, Yusef volunteered to either hide in the fortress' shadows, or blend in with the fortress' inhabitants. That way, he could search for as long as it took. Rafiq would check in with him every ten minutes, or so.
Rafiq and Yusef teleported into the fortress. Yusef promptly hid, while Rafiq went to explore. Rafiq was immediately discovered and guards began chasing him. He teleported around a bit, leading the guards away from where Yusef was hidden, before finally teleporting back to the boat.
Yusef began searching the fortress. It took him several hours, but he was able to locate the general. He shadowed him from a distance, as the general had a few attendants and Yusef didn't want to be noticed by any of them. When Rafiq used the way to speak with Yusef, Yusef told him about the situation. Rafiq relayed the information and Selia suggested that they wait until the general was alone, or nearly alone. Rafiq and Yusef agreed.
Several more hours later, the general was in a large office, consulting with a lone advisor. When Rafiq contacted him, Yusef said that this might be their best opportunity. Yusef mentally showed Rafiq were the office was. Before Rafiq could open a dimensional gateway into the office, Yusef used the will to make the general's advisor feel that their attack on the plane of rain was hopeless.
The general and his advisor argued and the general dismissed the advisor, disgusted. Once the advisor was gone, the group sprung their trap. A dimensional gateway opened and Selia, Kraah, and Rafiq stepped through. The general was surprised, surprised and very angry.
Selia quickly barred the door, by locking it and moving furniture in front of it. Yusef came out of hiding and stabbed the efreeti in the back. Rafiq used his magical sword and Kraah his magical javelin.
The efreeti picked up a giant bronze scimitar and attacked Yusef. Yusef was badly wounded and ran away from the general. The general was brutal in his attacks and mortally wounded everyone. A particularly nasty blow knocked Kraah unconscious and caused him to begin bleeding out.
Selia managed to strike the final blow, which killed the efreeti general. The commotion got the attention of those outside and the guards were banging on the door. Rafiq quickly opened a dimensional gateway and everyone got back to the boat. Yusef grabbed Kraah and Selia grabbed the general's large bronze scimitar.
Kraah had a kit full of medical supplies in his backpack. Yusef, Rafiq, and Selia were all unfamiliar with healing, but they knew if they did not try, Kraah would die. Rafiq tried first, but failed. Selia tried next, but she failed as well. Finally Yusef tried and, with luck, was able to stop his bleeding. Yusef was very happy that he saved his friend's life. Yusef said that Raco was happy too.
The group quickly fled back to the plane of rain. They left the hellish landscape and flew back into the warm, humid emptiness. A small skirmish was happening, but Joseph was nearby. He helped them get to a safe place and did his best to heal Kraah with the will. Kraah awoke and Joseph thanked him for being willing to sacrifice his life for the plane of rain. He allowed Kraah keep the magic javelin.
Once they were on the plane of sun, everything ignored them. Kraah told them that everything was ignoring them, because the Sun Lords were winning the elemental war and they were confident in their superiority. The group thought the sun lords were foolish, but were thankful that they were.
Rafiq used the way to become insubstantial and floated into the fortress. He was not spotted by the lazy guards. The fortress was large and Rafiq was using a lot of mental energy, wandering through the complex.
Rafiq was surprised when someone addressed him. He looked and saw a thin woman, she appeared to be Urikite, or maybe Tyrian, but her clothing was unlike any fashion he had seen in either city. She asked him what he was doing in the fortress, because she had hired everyone working there and knew them all by name.
Rafiq lied and said he wanted to work for the forces of sun, because he knew they were going to win the war. The woman looked him over and was silent for a moment. When she broke the silence, she told him that she did not believe him. The boots he was wearing were worn by scouts from the plane of rain. He was, most likely, there to cause trouble. She then attacked his mind with the way.
Rafiq teleported back to the boat and began explaining what had happen, but the woman opened his mind and dominated him. He stopped talking and pulled his magic sword out. He threw it overboard. Yusef, Selia, and Kraah were all confused and asked him why he had done that. Rafiq then lunged at Selia and attempted to push her overboard. However, he missed and tumbled over instead. As Rafiq sank into the semi-liquid surface of the plan of sun, the woman left his mind.
Kraah dove down and grabbed the sword. Selia tried throwing a rope to Rafiq, but it came to a rest on the semi-liquid surface. Meanwhile, Rafiq tried swimming in the semi-liquid environment and was able to slow himself down. Of course, Rafiq had no idea how to properly swim, having never done it before.
Yusef grabbed Selia's rope and tied it around her. He then shoved Selia overboard. With a surprised yelp, she fell into Rafiq. She grabbed him, he grabbed her, and they stopped falling. Kraah had returned to the boat and he and Yusef hauled up the other two.
Rafiq was mentally and physically exhausted. He suggested they rest and then plan on what to do next. The group agreed. They rowed the boat away from the fortress and found a flare to hide behind, while they slept. Kraah kept the first watch.
After sleeping, they discussed their plan. It was decided that Rafiq did not have the mental reserves to search the entire fortress himself, he needed help. So, Yusef volunteered to either hide in the fortress' shadows, or blend in with the fortress' inhabitants. That way, he could search for as long as it took. Rafiq would check in with him every ten minutes, or so.
Rafiq and Yusef teleported into the fortress. Yusef promptly hid, while Rafiq went to explore. Rafiq was immediately discovered and guards began chasing him. He teleported around a bit, leading the guards away from where Yusef was hidden, before finally teleporting back to the boat.
Yusef began searching the fortress. It took him several hours, but he was able to locate the general. He shadowed him from a distance, as the general had a few attendants and Yusef didn't want to be noticed by any of them. When Rafiq used the way to speak with Yusef, Yusef told him about the situation. Rafiq relayed the information and Selia suggested that they wait until the general was alone, or nearly alone. Rafiq and Yusef agreed.
Several more hours later, the general was in a large office, consulting with a lone advisor. When Rafiq contacted him, Yusef said that this might be their best opportunity. Yusef mentally showed Rafiq were the office was. Before Rafiq could open a dimensional gateway into the office, Yusef used the will to make the general's advisor feel that their attack on the plane of rain was hopeless.
Selia quickly barred the door, by locking it and moving furniture in front of it. Yusef came out of hiding and stabbed the efreeti in the back. Rafiq used his magical sword and Kraah his magical javelin.
The efreeti picked up a giant bronze scimitar and attacked Yusef. Yusef was badly wounded and ran away from the general. The general was brutal in his attacks and mortally wounded everyone. A particularly nasty blow knocked Kraah unconscious and caused him to begin bleeding out.
Selia managed to strike the final blow, which killed the efreeti general. The commotion got the attention of those outside and the guards were banging on the door. Rafiq quickly opened a dimensional gateway and everyone got back to the boat. Yusef grabbed Kraah and Selia grabbed the general's large bronze scimitar.
Kraah had a kit full of medical supplies in his backpack. Yusef, Rafiq, and Selia were all unfamiliar with healing, but they knew if they did not try, Kraah would die. Rafiq tried first, but failed. Selia tried next, but she failed as well. Finally Yusef tried and, with luck, was able to stop his bleeding. Yusef was very happy that he saved his friend's life. Yusef said that Raco was happy too.
The group quickly fled back to the plane of rain. They left the hellish landscape and flew back into the warm, humid emptiness. A small skirmish was happening, but Joseph was nearby. He helped them get to a safe place and did his best to heal Kraah with the will. Kraah awoke and Joseph thanked him for being willing to sacrifice his life for the plane of rain. He allowed Kraah keep the magic javelin.
Joseph wished he could let the group keep all of their magical equipment, but it was sorely needed for the battles to come. The group agreed and handed back all of their magical equipment. He thanked the group again and opened a portal back to Athas.
The group wished Joseph farewell and limped through the portal.
The group wished Joseph farewell and limped through the portal.
Note: Two of the players could not come to this game due to their jobs. So, I came up with this side quest to keep the game going, but keep the other two player characters were they were. So, while they enjoyed this side quest, the other player characters were frozen in time.
Join us next time 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.
Clavis: Human male gladiator. 30 years old. Played by Dave. Speaks Drajish and Tyrian.
Rafiq: Human male psychoporter. 25 years old. Played by Ben. Speaks Tyrian, Balican, Raamin, and Urkite.
Kraah: Aarakocra male air cleric.17 years old. Played by Chad. Speaks Aarakocra, Tyrian, Balician, and Gulgish.
Selia: Half-elf female ranger. 27 years old. Played by my wife. Speaks Elf and Tyrian.
Yusef: Human male thief. 24 years old. NPC party member. Speaks Tyrian, Nibnese, and Urikite.
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.
Clavis: Human male gladiator. 30 years old. Played by Dave. Speaks Drajish and Tyrian.
Rafiq: Human male psychoporter. 25 years old. Played by Ben. Speaks Tyrian, Balican, Raamin, and Urkite.
Kraah: Aarakocra male air cleric.17 years old. Played by Chad. Speaks Aarakocra, Tyrian, Balician, and Gulgish.
Selia: Half-elf female ranger. 27 years old. Played by my wife. Speaks Elf and Tyrian.
Yusef: Human male thief. 24 years old. NPC party member. Speaks Tyrian, Nibnese, and Urikite.
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