Hex Crawl 23 #101: Just Add Water

Two hexes northeast, four southeast of Alakran.

 

This dry lake bed is white, not with ages-old salt, but with deep deposits of a powder that crackles and sparks. During the day, 25% of the time a Khilan priest of Apep, Gerch, will be here with three acolytes (level 7 and 2 respectively) and a squadron of 16 warriors.  The delegation comes here to check up on their work -- a lake full of dehydrated water.

The alchemical transformation of water into a crackling white powder is the pinnacle and symbol of the Khilan plan of desertification in the name of Apep, the Lament of Dust. The process is intensive and proceeds by stages, with small sections of the lake walled off and transformed; a similar process is beginning at the lake north of Nathrak. Once completely transformed, the lake generates a static charge that repels rainwater, although a particularly violent downpour might overwhelm the defenses. If water surrounds the white crystal powder, it reverts and expands into the original water. Meanwhile, the crackling hits wet-skinned (that is, non-Khilan) beings for d6 lightning damage if they get within 5 feet. The Khilan put their swords and pole-arms in the mix to pick up the charge and do an extra d6 damage on the weapon's first hit; the charge dissipates in ten minutes.

"Dehydrated water" has some interesting economic implications, as the concentrated powder is only about a quarter of the weight of liquid water. However, Gerch has a vision and a plan for the lake that precludes carting it off. He is preparing it as a statically charged hot-tub for the great blue dragon Razisiz, of the deserts south of Wahattu. Gerch hopes to lure the dragon out to his part of the world and use him as an intermediary between Apep and Tiamat in the conquest of Dulsharna and, eventually, points west.