This session started out with the opening of a chest. Bingo, ever the curious one, immediately went to open the chest with no thoughts for traps. Much to Bingo’s detriment, on this chest, there was a trap. It was something I had come up with on the spur of the moment and thought it would make a nice addition. Unfortunately, it was a bit more potent than I had wanted and intended… It would have dealt a deadly blow, but considering that this gauntlet was a test that was set up by others much further in the past, the magical trap only dealt non-lethal damage. I will need to remember not to use those traps in the future (unless I am prepared to deal with a potential PC death).

The Treasure:

• The History of Sarkil ‘Kai - an ancient book bound in leather
• Sah Mor ‘Tak - a suit of chain mail that appears to have been crafted for a Seraph
• The Right Hand of Korem Dai - a gauntlet that is etched with runes and covers the entire forearm of the right arm
• ‘Tan Shai Kim - a finely crafted katana with runes and other decorative etchings on the blade
• Dea’ Com Dai - a finely crafted katana with only one single rune etched on the blade
• Ring of the War Chief (5) - silver rings etched with runes
• Crystal of Car’ Mehl (5) - A quartz like crystal suspended horizontally from a leather cord

As Bingo was going through the treasure, he passed by the stuff that wasn’t interesting to him rather quickly. The book was quickly passed back, the Chain Mail appeared to be broken (because of the slits in the shoulder blades), the katana that he picked up shocked him so badly, he had to put it down. Finally, he landed on the Gauntlet (although, he did try to pick up the katana again).

Gi ‘Kar immediately chose a katana, Mykal was enthralled by the book and Aquila was interested in the chain mail.

Bingo also passed around a ring of the War Chief to everyone, and upon placing the ring on their fingers, the ring “absorbed” into their skin and a new Tattoo appeared on the nape of their necks. Each person was also handed a Crystal of Car’ Mehl.

The room looted, there was nothing left to do, but leave via the only door available - which happened to take them back to the room with the “map” on the wall and the dias in the center. Only this time, they entered the room from the west wall and the spirit entered the room again, from the East wall, this time.

The Spirit gave the following message:

You have survived the Gauntlet and are better prepared for the work ahead of you. Each of you carries a shard of the Crystal of Car’ Mehl. This shard will return you to this sanctuary instantly when needed. To return, you have but to simply hold the crystal in your hand and utter the words “Korum Hai”.

You are the saviors of Koreb, you must prepare the people for the burning which is to come shortly. Already, the forces of evil begin to spread abroad. You must hurry if you are to save the blood of Tun’ Rheal - Azvantus will be upon them shortly. Hurry, for Azvantus must not be allowed to destroy Tun’ Reahl!

After the Spirit’s departure for the second, the door leading to the stairs reappeared, and the four adventurers were able to make their way back to the cave - whereupon they discovered the fifth member of the group - Kan’ Vi’ Don Lu. Kan’ Vi’ Don Lu is a Sol’ Kal Lobite with an ill-temper. Kan’ Vi’ had had a bad few days prior to him being selected for the Bonding Year, and the bad days didn’t stop there, either.

Despite the poor disposition, the rest of the group accepted him rather graciously (for which I am thankful). After introductions were made, the group relayed the information of their quest to Kan’ Vi’, and the group departed the cave on its way to the mountains. The trip was fairly uneventful for the first week and most of the second week of travel. However, with only a day or so left before they would exit the Dune Sea, they encountered a Dune Worm!

Dune Worms are massive creatures that “swim” through the Dune Sea and hunt by vibration. They are generally found near the borders of the Dune Sea, as that is where most of the available food is - however, Dune Worms have been spotted further in the Dune Sea upon occasion. Surprisingly, the group was able to get to an “island” of rock and made quick work of the Worm. The party suffered no injuries.

A few days later, the Bonds-brothers were out of the Dune sea and began the ascent of Mount Kel’ Sai - a barren rocky mountain with sparse shrubs and scraggly trees. A few days into the climb the group came up on a bluff overlooking a large valley. As they crept closer to the cliff, they were able to see the valley filled with an army that was terrible to behold. Many of the men, if they could be called men, appeared to be shambling and many were completely stripped of flesh. This horrible army was about the work of an army - scavenging anything and everything to produce weapons. There were forges burning and the ringing the hammers on steel could be heard, even at this distance. The army seemed to spread throughout many of the smaller valleys as well.

With a sense of foreboding, the band of brothers decided it would be smarter to skirt quietly around this massive force of destruction. As they backed away from the cliff they were assaulted by two men that were more gray than is natural for a Kaa’ Jah Kushan (which both appeared to be). They moved slowly and appeared to be rotting. Neither spoke, nor made a sound as the moved in for the kill.

Immediately the group took to arms and the fight commenced. The three Lobites unleashed with a fury of melee attacks that should have easily dispatched any normal foe - but these two seemed to take it in stride, never uttering a sound, even as blows fell that should have cleft head from shoulders. The other members of the party had similar results as well, every blow that seemed it should have taken an enemy to the earth, only served to slow it for a moment. The battle seemed to rage on for hours, but in reality, it was only a few minutes and many of the bonds-brothers were considering retreat when in a moment of desperation, Aquila grabbed one of the gray-men in a headlock in preparation to take to the air to drop it. As Aquila completed the head-lock, the gray-man let out a terrible scream of pain and rage. Quick on the uptake, Bingo (followed by the Lobites) immediately grappled the other gray-man. Within moments, the gray-men were both…more dead and unmoving than before.

While both of these foes were difficult to put down, neither seemed overly capable of doing much more than causing scrapes and bruises to the bonds-brothers and all walked from that fight with no serious injuries.

With the day wearing on, the party decided to move as far northward as possible from the army in the valley and found a place to make camp.