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Road Trip to the Dragon Isles - The Sands of Time (Part 1)

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01 Deepkolt 349 AC The Valley of Blue Sand fades behind the party as they ride north into the desert. Arthur rides Nightrend, Agnes, Davaa and Altan sit high atop their camels, and Phineas brings up the rear on his Across-the-Plains-inator. The stallion is wary of the gnome's bizarre device, refusing to go near the thing. The blue sand gives way to gold and white, with short patches of exposed rock scoured bare by the unrelenting desert winds. The dying vestiges of winter still cling to the land, sparing the travelers from the searing heat that will arrive just a few weeks hence. Grit still stings their exposed skin and forces them to squint to protect their eyes. Phineas pulls his goggles down and takes the lead, blazing a path for the others to follow. Close to noon, the desert begins to look and feel... wrong somehow. Sand, instead of forming into dunes, twists into geometric spirals and cones. Sand flows up these formations even without driving wind behind it. Granite grumbl...

The Crossover I Didn’t Know I Needed

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I was going through some old posts last night and struck upon an idea. Birds Aren't Real + Lawyer Dog + Magic Pickle + Superhuman Registration Act = one crazy adventure seed Hicksville - while patrolling the city , searching for signs of the Brotherhood of Evil Produce, Weapon Kosher comes across a glitching Pigeon-bot that is attacking a random citizen. The Magic Pickle intervenes but is arrested for not being registered with the 50-State Initiative. Lawyer Dog is appointed as his defense attorney. 

The War in Tarithnesti - First Skirmish

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  06 - 07 Deepkolt 349 AC THE PROTECTOR'S TOWER Ornforithalas approaches the Protector's Tower. The sentries outside open the door to allow him entrance. "The commander is in her war room - fifth floor." The newly reinstated captain nods, heads inside, and makes his way up the stairs. He finds Commander Parnitha inspecting the map spread across her table. She doesn't turn but takes a deep breath, "Ornforithalas. Report." Ornforithalas speaks, his tone crisp and professional, “My scouts are organized and drilled. Two-rank volley discipline is improving. Morale is steady. We are ready for deployment.” Parnitha continues to study the map. She picks up one the figures so he can see it, “Kysek himself is airborne scouting?” “Yes, Commander," he replies. She taps one of the markers near the outskirts of Tarithnesti. “We’ve already committed troops to forward ambush positions.” Another tap marks the roads leading toward the caverns. “Evacuation rout...

Tarithnesti - Phase Two

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06 Deepkolt 349 AC THE PROTECTOR'S TOWER Commander Parnitha steps out onto the balcony of her office. She stares out over the river where Eilra is setting out in a narrow canoe with two rowers. The captain is heading out to check for places the Dragonarmy could cross the river. They tow a raft with bundles of sharpened stakes they plan on dropping into narrow bends to foul, or even better, punch holes in enemy boats. She turns and heads back inside. Her table is covered with a map that is in turn covered with tiny colored figures, each representing the troops she has scattered throughout the forest. Parnitha opens the top drawer of her desk and pulls out a tiny chest. She slowly opens it, revealing a green crystal on a silver chain. She hangs the chain around her neck and wraps her fingers around the crystal. "Hopefully, we never need you." AT THE FIRST FARMSTEAD Raven, Ra'ziir, and Grotto have pulled six volunteers from the bladesinger's squad of scouts. The...

Road Trip to the Dragon Isles - Test of the Weya-lu

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27 Newkolt 349 AC A Khur strides forward with the authority of someone used to being obeyed. His boots crunch sharply in the blue sand. A dozen warriors dressed in the same colors follow behind him in tight formation. Their presence quiets nearby conversations. This is someone important. The Khur stops a few paces from Arthur and studies him with a long, hard stare. His scowl is unmistakable. “You.” His voice carries easily across the gathered warriors. “You are the outsider who shouted down half this camp. You revealed a kidnapping. You accused a wizard of treachery. You nearly started a battle between tribes.” The man folds his arms inside his sleeves, posture rigid. He steps closer, the warriors behind him spread slightly, not threatening—but unmistakably forming a presence. The Khur’s gaze narrows. “So I will ask you plainly, stranger. Why did you involve yourself in this mess?” The camp grows very quiet again. Dozens of warriors watch Arthur closely. Arthur stands and ...