The Desert’s Edge
Situated somewhere in the desert, screaming hot sand rages savagely above you, unleashing its fury with unrelenting intensity. For five days, the storm has shown no mercy, and now, with your water supply gone, you and your companions press on, driven by desperation. Yet the fear of being engulfed by the stifling grip of the ever-shifting dunes consumes your spirit, forcing you to seek refuge in a shallow cave, praying for the storm to pass.
When you awaken, the fury of the storm has subsided, replaced by a cool, calm morning. You emerge from the cave, directionless, but with no choice but to continue.
The sun climbs high in the sky, and sweat drips from your brow as you trudge onward. Suddenly, something catches your eye in the distance—a strange, purple haze emanating from the desert grasslands. Desperation for water propels you and your band of explorers walk toward the haze, the shimmering mirage offering a glimmer of hope. Curious to know its source, you squint into the desert sun seeking more clues so you lift your hand to filter the sun’s rays. To your surprise, you see something unusual. You notice the legs of the sun’s rays exhibit a purple hue, as a large creature’s wings eclipse the contour of the sun. You pause, transfixed, watching as a mysterious silhouette skims across the sun’s surface. But just as quickly as it appeared, you slip on sandstone, and the vision is gone, leaving you to wonder if it was real or a trick of the Light. Intrepid to venture forth, and reluctant to reveal what you had seen to your friends, you continue to march your party into the unknown.
The desert grass rustles underfoot as the shadows grow longer, signalling the approach of night. You idly brush your hand through the grass, and to your surprise, your fingertips turn purple. The sensation of the grass triggers distant childhood memories, drawing you into a trance-like state. Repressed fragments once forgotten overlap those of joy with dread, some real and some not and force yourself to snap back to attention. What seemed like minutes was in fact hours, and although your memories felt real, they were not. You’re delirious. Worse yet, your subconscious has denied your shelter, and you are now faced with an uphill battle.
Your companions are visibly frustrated with your leadership, their groans and sideways glances revealing their dissatisfaction. Ahead, a steep incline looms—the crest of the largest dune you’ve encountered so far. Exhausted, you conserve your strength by following the footprints of those in front, cursing the shifting sands that seem to conspire against you. Two steps forward sends you one step back.
At last, you reach the top and stand alongside your fellow adventurers. Together, you gaze out over the open landscape, each of you silently acknowledging the grim reality of your situation. As you prepare to descend, your attention is drawn to the dark skies in the northwest. Rain is on it’s way. A clap of thunder follows, and you witness a flash of purple lightning crackling across the sky. Scouting for the creature you thought you saw, it is thankfully nowhere to be seen. Thank god, you exclaimed. Rest assured, faint screeches echo in the distance immediately afterwards. Moments pass.
Another crack is heard. Louder than before. Except for this time, the deep rumbles echoed despair as faint flickers of a winged beast so large it’s silhouette appeared in the cloud for all to see. The silhouette appears to fall and dissipate in turbulent cloud, of which looks almost tranquil from afar. Yet left with only more questions, you and your party stop to discuss what you have seen.
Knowledge Check: The Winged Creature
The following options correspond to a roll of a twenty-sided die. After a successful Perception check, the Dungeon Master may allow up to three attempts to glean more information about the creature.
- 1-5: An unknown winged creature. Its size and features remain indistinct.
- 6-10: A large winged creature, though its sheer size doesn’t match the size descriptions from dragon lore.
- 11-15: The creature is likely a dragon of some king, tethered to the energy of the storm, a relic snapshot of a past battle.
- 16-17: The silhouette is not a dragon, but a god, a remnant snapshot of an ancient event which has already played out. A person with ancient ties to this historical event has brought forth this memory with a relic, and is seeking to understand it better.
- 18-19: The dragon is a temporal echo, imprinted on the astral plane by ancient gods. Such glimpses might reveal clues to the whereabouts of these deities, though it may simply be the dragon’s soul replaying its final moments.
- Natural 20: Accessible only if you’ve previously rolled a 17 or higher. These fragments of ancient history are coveted by creatures known as Dreamweaver’s. They collect and reconstruct events from the innocent, stealing their memories while imprinting insidious visions often leading to suicide. Be cautious in sharing what you’ve seen, as Dreamweaver’s can infiltrate your dreams if they have seen your face and know you are of value. Their influence can drive even the strongest minds to madness. Speak of this encounter at your own peril.
