Calla tries not to get in the way, and wishes she had spent more time with Uncle Koryk, learning how to dissect misbegotten desert monsters.
Jareen looks at the others, aghast. "Eat it? You can't be...." then as Arkan starts to dismember the beast, turns and runs. A few moments later, the sound of an older man being sick echo down the valley.
Gorad begins working on the carcass with Irvis's aid.
Gorad efficiently butchers the id fiend's carcass, bleeding it first before carving out the most energy-packed parts of its body - it's heart, liver and other internal organs. He also carefully removes it brain as a prize, carefully slicing it to aid its drying. After Jareen throws up a second time, the party are ready to move on again.
After walking in the dim moonlight for an hour, amid scattered boulders thrown up by the explosion, they eventually reach the road and turn north for Grak's Pool.
Irivis looks curiously at Jareen.
"How did you think we would find food? If you can conjure it, now would be a good time to say so."
"Grak's Pool. Might not be very ... hospitable ... if we arrive weak and starving with nothing to trade. I don't know what we can do, other than beg and hope."
She walks on.
"Better ideas?"
"Trade the brain."
The group trudge down the road in the dark, around the odd fallen rock blocking their way, heading slowly north. A fine rain of grit is now falling from the sky, making progress uncomfortable and the way ahead difficult to see. The road itself is an elevated trackway, running along to the east of the hills and the estuary beyond, following an embankment no doubt dug out by slave labour millennia ago. Eventually the sun begins to rise, hazy and crimson, partly occluded by clouds of dust high in the sky.
"Trade the brain."
Arakan smirks at her reply, "I know you're eager to be rid of me, my dear, but you can't just trade me off."
As they walk, Arakan uses what he knows to try and rustle up something to help get by on the road. If they can manage to make it without using the Id fiend meat, they could use it for bartered goods.
"What makes you think they'd want you?" mutters Irivis savagely and not quite under her breath.
Keeping her temper (just), she looks for possible supplies in the unforgiving landscape.
percp
nature
Calla blushes at the obviousness of Irivis' reply. "Don't think my heads working", she mumbles.
As the sun rises, Gorad finds a nearby cave in which to shelter. But the area here is barren, and the group cannot find any suitable forage.
Huddling in the scant shade of Gorad's cave, Calla quickly falls asleep.
"Tomorrow has no guarantees, we need to be strong today..." Gorad sits down to enjoy his Id Fiend Liver while keeping watch over the others.
Irivis eats, hoping that Garok's Pool may have more chances for scavanging.
Calla follows the lead of Irivis and Gorad; they are the more experienced survivors. She chews bitter strips of slightly dried id-fiend flesh. She chokes it down.
Jareen looks at the others in disgust, but the effort of the last day is taking it's toll. He takes some of the meat, and chews it cautiously, forcing it down, whilst trying to to remember where it came from.
Arakan eats in silence before heading off to sleep, reminding everyone about the agreed upon method of watch they had discussed before.
The day passes uneventfully. The sky is filled with roiling cloud, and from time to time there are flashes of lightning and groans of thunder, but no moisture hits the ground and it remains oppressively hot. The sun peers through the occasional gap, even more wan than usual. There is no movement on the road, which can be seen a hundred yards or so away from the group's vantage point in the cave, all day.
Calla is already on her feet, impatient to move again as soon as possible. "If we hurry it might only be one more march to Grak's."
Irivis clambers to her feet and grimaces slightly.
"Let's hope we don't have to kill another Id fiend to survive. That thing is sitting heavy on my stomach."
The group marches on through the night. The sky is still occluded so the night is dark, but nevertheless with the firmness of the road underfoot it is impossible to become lost. The exercise of walking helps fend off the cold, and the group make good progress. But, to Calla's disappointment, by the end of the night they have not reached Grak's Pool. But at least they weren't attacked by some deadly desert beast.
"Gorad, do you see anything we could hunt, or gather? Any hidden water?" If Gorad cannot find anything, Calla will suggest that Irivis and Jareen, as the weakest travelers, share the remaining food.
"Let's look before we panic."
For all her apparant fragility, Irivis has good reserves of strength.
Arakan, his mind elsewhere, periodically tries to point out anything he thinks may help to Irivis. His distraction is too much, as his assistance is less than useful.
Nature
Perception
Irivis finds a cactus bearing nectar-rich flowers. Not normal fare, but enough to keep someone going in the desert once the thorns are negotiated. She also finds a rocky overhang under which the group can shelter from the sun. The others are not so lucky, and find nothing useful.
Gorad looks sullenly at the fruit but realizes he needs it less than some of the others.
"I'll live. Jareen or Calla had better have this."
Irivis hands over the cactus.
Holed up under their overhang, the adventurers - for that is now surely what they are - keep watch on the trail or doze. At about midday, Arakan spies a group of riders heading south along the road, numbering about ten. Mounted on kanks and crodlus, they move quickly and with purpose.
"Kank. Not great eating. Unless you like chitin."
Irivis watches the approaching riders.
"Were they on their way from Grak's Pool do you think? Worth trying to intercept them?"
Noting Jareen's calm acceptance that watch duty is someone else's problem, Irivis wanders over.
"Alright, Mr "I-know-about-Arcane-Magic-with-Mightiness-beyond-your-puny-comprehension". Time to tell your story and pull your weight. It's a long day. I'm sure we can all use the distraction."
Arakan, not out of concern for the others, suggests "I would recommend we all attempt to stave off our hunger, while we are stronger and better able. Save our easy supplies for when they are absolutely necessary."
As the riders pass, Arakan tries to keep low and out of sight, just observing them. "I think they are headed to the explosion, we have no way of knowing where they originated without any markings."
"I see no obvious affiliation, they could be anything from a friendly unmarked merchant house to band of slave takers. I say we keep to ourselves until we can get to the 'safety' of the pool." He whispers, trying to ensure that the others keep still and quiet.
Gorad nods at Arakan whispering "Agree too many to take a chance"
The riders move on, down the road and out of sight to the south.
Once it is clear they are gone Gorad calls to Sandswimmer and begins to commune with the spirit.
"Help me find food"
nature to look for food
The spirits lead Gorad to a tiny crack in the rock, surrounded by some bushes that are greener than most. Within runs a tiny stream of water, with which he can fill his waterskin.
More concerned with Jareen for the moment, Irivis is no help at all on the food finding expedition.
Gorad rejoins the group with his new found rations
The harsh day turns to a gloomy twilight.