The Land of Time | Session 8
Separated from the crew and surrounded by danger.
4/19/2026 – The Lonely Waters
Lila floated on the restless ocean, the waves carrying her farther and farther from Finnley and Captain Salt. She was completely at the mercy of the sea now, her small piece of debris spinning slowly as it dragged her south into open water.
Thirst, exhaustion, and the unknown ahead.
Where does she get pushed…
On a roll of 1: The current drags her mercilessly West.
On a 2-3: She is swept Southwest.
On a 4-5: She is pulled Southeast, into warmer waters where strange shapes move beneath the surface.
On a 6: Fierce winds rise and hurl her two hexes Southwest.
The roll was a 4.
Lila was pulled deeper into the open ocean. No land in sight. Hours blurred together under the merciless sun. It baked down on her like a bonfire. Thirst clawed at her throat. Hunger gnawed at her stomach. Her only possessions were a small satchel, the mysterious healing poultice, and the cursed Obsidian Dagger.
As the sun began to sink toward the horizon, her mind started to race. Would she even survive the night? Was this truly the end?
When the frigid darkness finally settled over the sea, the current pushed her once more.
On a 1-2: She drifts West.
On a 3-4: She floats Southwest, straight toward a distant line of jagged sea stacks.
On a 5-6: She is swept further Southeast into mysterious warmer currents where bioluminescent lights flicker far below.
The roll was a 6!
The ocean dragged her even farther from any hope of land. Endless black water surrounded her on every side with occasional flickering of bioluminescent lights. When morning came, the sun rose again and the waves never stopped. Her body was ragged. Her mouth was dry as bone. The only thing left to try the poultice.
She stared at the poultice in her shaking hands. She could only guess it was a healing poultice. With nothing else left, she began to nibble.
What does the poultice do?
On a 1-2: The poultice is actually a concentrated water-purifying herb. When she mixes a small amount with seawater, it turns brackish water drinkable for a short time, though it tastes bitter and foul and leaves her stomach churning with sickness.
On a 3-4: The poultice is a powerful stimulant that floods her veins with energy and unnatural clarity. She suddenly spots a distant sail on the horizon, but the burst comes at a terrible cost – crushing exhaustion and haunting dreams that follow.
On a 5-6: A massive albatross is strangely drawn to the glowing red veins of the Obsidian Dagger. It circles overhead, then lands boldly on her debris. The great bird seems almost protective and allows Lila to climb onto its broad back, carrying her swiftly toward an unknown shore.
The roll was a 2.
Thirst, pain, and the cursed dagger are her only companions.
The liquid burned as it went down. For a few terrifying moments nothing happened. Then a strange warmth spread through her body. The poultice was not a simple healing herb. It was a powerful purifier. When she mixed a small amount with seawater, the brackish water became drinkable, though it tasted bitter and made her stomach twist with nausea.
It was not much. But for now, it was enough to keep her alive.
To be continued in Session 9…