Days of the Scorching Sun 3/5

The sun continued its relentless reign over the desert, draining Calimshan of life and hope. On this third day of their journey, the adventurers—Anton, Camroan, Kali, Laurence, and Kaz—faced not only the wrath of Set but the mounting toll of exhaustion and despair. The desert itself had become a crucible, testing their resolve at every step.

The Judgment of Sobek

Their journey began with the promise of answers and judgment. A sudden, unnatural sandstorm roared across the dunes, its winds howling like the fury of an ancient god. Within the storm, the voice of Sobek boomed:

"You have stolen what is mine. You will be judged."

The storm battered the adventurers, stripping them of provisions and forcing them to fight against its overwhelming force. It was in this chaos that Kaz, their steadfast fighter, was separated from the group. As the sands swirled around him, shadows descended—Set’s envoys, sent to capture him. Mounted on flying carpets, they swept Kaz into the air, his cries lost in the storm.

Despite his capture, Kaz’s resolve did not falter. Clutched tightly in his hands was the Statuette of Shar, a relic that could bring hope to the land. As the cultists carried him skyward, he made a desperate choice. He hurled the statuette into the dunes below, ensuring it would not fall into the hands of Set’s followers.

Sobek’s Floating Palace

When the storm cleared, the adventurers stumbled upon a sight of breathtaking wonder: Sobek’s Floating Palace, suspended above an oasis shimmering with unnatural light. A flying carpet lifted the adventurers to the palace. The High Priest of Sobek greeted them with solemnity. His piercing gaze lingered on Laurence as he began to decipher the blood-stained parchment.

The High Priest’s words revealed the terrible truth of Set’s curse:

"The eternal sun is no mere vengeance—it is a grand design to channel the life of this land into the priesthood of Set. They seek immortality, fueled by the blood of all who dwell here. Laurence, you were their early experiment, a shadow of what they now seek to achieve on a massive scale."

But the High Priest’s revelations came with a price. Sobek’s wrath over the desecration of his temple and the theft of his gold had not abated. Those who carried his sacred treasure were cursed to see every drop of water they touched turn to sand. 

The Singing Sands

The adventurers followed the High Priest’s directions into the Singing Sands, a mysterious expanse of shifting dunes and haunting melodies. As they ventured deeper, whispers taunted them:

"Are you trying to stop the curse, puny creatures?"

The sands came alive as Dust Mephits emerged, clawing and cackling with glee. Each mephit, when slain, dove into the sands to reform, their magic tied to the desert itself. It was Kali who noticed their weakness—water. Splashing the mephits as they dissolved prevented their regeneration, allowing the adventurers to finally defeat them.

The Fires of the Ritual

Their journey led them to an ancient sandstone ruin, buried beneath the dunes. The air grew hotter as they descended into the ritual chamber, where four Fire Snakes coiled around an altar. The second Statuette of Shar lay within a cage of magical flames, its shadowy glow struggling against the fiery energy binding it.

The Fire Snakes struck with deadly precision, their flaming tails and regenerative powers testing the adventurers to their limits. The glowing fire glyphs on the walls fueled the snakes, forcing the party to divide their focus—some fought the serpents directly while others worked to destroy the glyphs. Anton’s cunning, Kali’s spells, and Laurence’s unrelenting fury turned the tide, while Camroan’s divine light shielded them from the worst of the flames.

As the last snake fell and the final glyph shattered, the flames around the statuette flickered and died. Its power healed the adventurers’ wounds and strengthened their resolve, but the victory was bittersweet. The sun remained high in the sky, and Kaz’s absence weighed heavily on their spirits.

But as they gazed at the horizon, they knew their journey was far from over. Somewhere, Kaz was held captive by the Cult of Set, his fate uncertain. The adventurers steeled themselves for the trials ahead, vowing to bring their comrade back and end the curse once and for all.