Act 2 The Lost Caravan Whispers of the Wastes

Act 2 - The Lost Caravan - Whispers of the Wastes

Cresting a large dune, the party discovers a haunting sight: five wagons half-buried in crystallized sand, surrounded by crystalline growths that pulse with inner light. The air thrums with unstable magical energy, and delicate crystal formations extend outward in a spiral pattern. At the center, a floating crystalline artifact casts shifting shadows that seem to show multiple moments in time simultaneously.

Initial Discovery

The Caravan Site Overview

  • 5 wagons arranged in defensive circle formation
  • 12 crystallized figures frozen in various poses of flight and protection
  • Cargo scattered and partially crystallized, including broken containment boxes
  • Crystal formations growing through/around wagons in geometric patterns
  • Central artifact: Prism of Echoes floating 5 feet above crystalline pedestal

Investigation Opportunities

Basic Investigation (DC 12)

  • Evidence of magical containment failure - broken crystal-lined boxes
  • Crystallized figures positioned fleeing toward the Prism, not away
  • Multiple waves of crystallization, suggesting repeated activation

Advanced Investigation

  • DC 15 Arcana: Energy signatures combining temporal magic with Remnant contamination
  • DC 16 History: Patterns match theoretical pre-Cataclysm temporal artifacts
  • DC 18 Arcana: Crystallization occurred in waves over time
  • DC 20 Investigation: Carved warnings in multiple languages about “temporal debt”

Medical Analysis (DC 17)

Crystallized figures remain alive - hearts beat once per minute, consciousness trapped in crystal prison.

The Crystallized Figures

Key Caravan Members

  • Merchant Captain: Pointing toward broken containment, mouth open in warning
  • Guard Sergeant: Frozen mid-sword draw, facing crystal garden heart
  • Caravan Healer: Crystallized while tending injured companion
  • Pack Animals: Horses and mules showing fear even in crystal state

Communication Attempts

  • Speak with Dead: Functions but responses fragmented, focus on temporal warnings
  • Physical Contact: Causes psychic feedback (1d6 psychic damage, DC 15 WIS save for memory flashes)
  • Breaking Crystal: 3d6 psychic damage to both figure and rescuer

The Crystal Garden

Three Distinct Zones

Outer Ring (150-300ft from center)

  • Terrain: Scattered crystal formations up to 6 feet tall
  • Movement: Normal speed, DC 12 DEX saves to avoid shards (1d6 piercing)
  • Magic: Spells function normally
  • Contamination: Mild exposure risk after 30 minutes

Middle Ring (50-150ft from center)

  • Terrain: Dense crystal maze creating narrow passages
  • Movement: Speed halved, DC 14 DEX saves every 30 feet (2d6 piercing + entanglement)
  • Magic: 10% spell reflection chance (d10: 1 reflects to random target)
  • Contamination: Moderate exposure risk after 10 minutes
  • Navigation: DC 15 Survival for optimal path

Inner Sanctum (0-50ft from center)

  • Terrain: Perfect crystalline amphitheater formations
  • Movement: Safe paths exist, DC 16 Perception to identify
  • Magic: Unpredictable effects - roll on Whispering Wastes Surge Table
  • Contamination: Heavy exposure risk immediately
  • Temporal Effects: Past/future glimpses in crystal reflections

The Heart: Prism of Echoes

  • Appearance: Multifaceted crystal shifting between transparent/opaque
  • Temporal Resonance: Shows glimpses of different time periods
  • Energy Pattern: Pulses in rhythm with crystallized figures’ heartbeats
  • Protective Field: DC 18 Arcana to safely approach without triggering defenses

Key Investigation Locations

The Merchant’s Wagon

  • Locked Strongbox (DC 15 Thieves’ Tools): Shipping manifest, payment records
  • Imperial Documentation: Orders for “Class VII Temporal Research Material” transport
  • Personal Journal: Final entry warns of containment failure and “time debt coming due”
  • Hidden Compartment: Emergency protocols for temporal artifact containment breach

Broken Containment System

  • Crystal-Lined Boxes: Sophisticated Imperial magical technology
  • Failure Evidence: Intentional opening from inside, not external force
  • Temporal Stabilizers: Components designed to prevent time displacement
  • Warning Inscriptions: “TEMPORAL MANIPULATION ARTIFACT - AUTHORIZED PERSONNEL ONLY”

Ashira the Sandshaper’s Prison

Discovery

Found partially crystallized near the Prism, existing across multiple timeline fragments simultaneously.

Ashira’s Condition

  • Physical: Lower body crystallized, upper body shifting between different ages
  • Mental: Lucid but experiencing past/present/future simultaneously
  • Communication: Often responds to questions before they’re asked
  • Temporal Anchoring: Becoming increasingly unstable

Critical Information Ashira Provides

  • Prism Function: Creates healing by stealing equivalent life force from future timeline
  • Disaster Cause: Someone used Prism to heal injured companion, triggering cascade
  • Imperial Purpose: Weaponize temporal debt principle against enemies
  • Temporal Cost: Every use creates “debt” manifesting as suffering elsewhere/elsewhen
  • Resistance: Artifact actively resists containment when sensing potential users

Environmental Hazards

Crystal Shard Storms

  • Trigger: Loud noises, magical explosions, damage to major formations
  • Effect: 2d6 piercing damage per round in affected area
  • Duration: 3 rounds unless formation source destroyed
  • Protection: Cover behind intact crystal provides immunity

Spell Reflection Matrix

  • Chance: 30% for targeted spells hitting crystalline surfaces
  • Effect: Spell targets random creature within range
  • Prediction: DC 15 Arcana to predict reflection angle
  • Mitigation: Area effects less likely to reflect

Temporal Echoes

  • Manifestation: Brief glimpses of same area at different times
  • Effect: DC 14 WIS save or stunned 1 round from temporal disorientation
  • Information: May reveal past events or hint at future consequences
  • Frequency: Increases approaching the Prism

Progressive Crystallization

  • Mechanism: Contamination levels increase while in garden
  • Save Frequency: Every 10 minutes Inner Sanctum, 30 minutes Middle Ring
  • Progression: Failed saves gain contamination levels
  • Reversal: Moving away from center reduces progression rate

Combat Encounters

Crystal Garden Guardians

Triggered when approaching Prism or damaging major formations

Contaminated Crystal Cacti (4)

!Crystal Cacti#Contaminated Crystal Cactus

Contaminated Crystal Sentinel (appears if cacti destroyed)

!Crystal Cacti#Contaminated Crystal Sentinel

Environmental Combat Complications

  • Difficult Terrain: Crystal formations create maze-like battlefield
  • Spell Hazards: Reflected spells hit random targets
  • Contamination Buildup: Extended combat increases exposure
  • Temporal Anomalies: Attacks occasionally hit targets from previous rounds

Approaches to the Prism

Method 1: Force Approach

  • Combat Route: Fight through crystal guardians directly
  • Hazards: All environmental dangers during combat
  • Time: Fastest but highest risk
  • Consequence: Destroys research value of formations

Method 2: Stealth and Skill

  • Navigation: Stealth, Acrobatics, Survival checks
  • DC Progression: 12, 14, 16 through the rings
  • Advantage: Avoid combat, preserve formations
  • Risk: Failure triggers guardians and hazards

Method 3: Magical Manipulation

  • Arcana Challenges: Use magic to navigate safely
  • Requirements: Protective wards, magical sight, dispelling
  • Benefit: Gather more temporal effect information
  • Cost: High spell slot expenditure, reflection risk

Reaching the Prism

At the garden’s heart, players must decide interaction method:

  • Direct Contact: Triggers temporal visions, immediate understanding
  • Magical Analysis: Reveals temporal debt mechanism safely
  • Ashira’s Guidance: Explains artifact nature and consequences
  • Attempted Removal: Causes violent crystal garden reaction

Complications and Timing

Imperial Recovery Team Arrival

Can occur during investigation or Prism approach

Team Composition

Captain Thane Goldspear with:

  • 6 Imperial Desert Soldiers in contamination gear
  • 1 Imperial Scout Mage with temporal detection equipment
  • Orders to “recover stolen Imperial research materials”

Imperial Response Options

  • Negotiation: Claim Port Zephyr Council authority
  • Deception: Convince them you’re hunting thieves
  • Combat: Fight while dealing with crystal hazards
  • Cooperation: Work together to contain temporal threat

Temporal Instability Escalation

As party spends time near Prism:

  • Minor: Objects briefly age or restore themselves
  • Moderate: Characters experience others’ memories
  • Major: Glimpses of alternate timeline outcomes
  • Critical: Temporal storm builds for Act 3

Ashira’s Deteriorating Condition

  • Timeline Slippage: Less anchored to current timeline
  • Information Urgency: Critical details before losing coherence
  • Spreading Crystallization: If Prism remains active
  • Final Warning: Last coherent message about choice consequences

Transition to Act 3

Escalation occurs as players gather information:

  • Imperial Pressure: Forces demand artifact recovery
  • Temporal Instability: Garden shows collapse or expansion signs
  • Critical Choice Point: Conflicting demands require decision
  • Ashira’s Revelation: Explains true cost of temporal manipulation

DM Guidance

Managing Investigation

  • Layer revelations - start simple, build complexity
  • Multiple discovery paths - investigation, magic, conversation
  • Time pressure from Imperial arrival and instability
  • Clear consequences for different approach methods

Ashira Roleplay

  • Temporal confusion - responds to unasked questions
  • Tragic figure - victim of temporal manipulation
  • Information source - but increasingly unreliable
  • Moral weight - her suffering shows cost of “solutions”

Building to Choice

  • Every discovery should make the decision harder
  • No option should seem obviously correct
  • Imperial pressure prevents careful deliberation
  • Ashira’s condition creates urgency