"On we go again. And Jareen, I know you're awake, so do please tell us your story. It will help pass the time."
Irivis remains insistent.
Jareen ignores Irivis through most of the day, tossing and turning, obviously not asleep when she is questioning, but feigning it badly. By twilight though, when it is obvious that the others are moving, and he will have to do likewise, he grunts, under his breath "Damned questioning women."
"I've fallen. Long and Hard, woman. Does that please you? My life before matters nothing to you. It is sufficient to say that have never needed to grub around in muck to find my next meal. But as they say, the truth will out and my natural talents, and love of lore put up the wrong backs. Now I am reduced to this: hiding, and grubbing."
Calla decides, again, to follow Gorad's and Irivis' example, and she saves the scarce food and water for another need.
"The quicker we get moving the sooner we arrive. Jareen, you can tell us more on the road. What sort of lore, perhaps? And is it likely to get us all stoned to death, maybe?"
The group march on for several more hours through the dusk and into the night. Then, ahead, they see lights in the distance - the glow of lamps and the flicker of campfires. In the dim moonlight they make out the shape of a small-ish fortress, perhaps two miles distant along the road.
Arakan scowls at the line of questioning, "Who do you all think you are that Jareen owes any of you an explanation? If the man has a past that he'd rather not delve into, you have no right to it. nly if his past is directly affecting us should it matter, and even then it is only in our own best interests and not necessarily his own on whether he tells us or not." to Jareen he adds, "If you don't want to talk about it, don't feel pressured by this lot. As long as you are able to pull your weight and I don't have to take care of your old behind, I don't care one whit about where you got your knowledge from." The conversation obviously striking a nerve with Arakan.
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As they see the walls ahead, Arakan suggests, "We should find one person to speak for the group, someone that has a way with words. We don't need to be left out in the sand because some fool said the wrong thing. I'm just throwing that out there, seeing if it sounds reasonable to you all."
"It had better not be me then."
Irivis knows her own limitations.
"I can lie and lie well if I have to, but you've all seen how much I lack the gentle touch.
As for you, Jareen, I don't care what your past is. My own isn't that wonderful, but I was curious. It's your present that concerns me. We have to look out for each other out here or none of us will survive. And that means you will have to learn to scavenge and watch like the rest of us."
"I am a trader and the daughter of traders. I will speak for us, if there are no objections." Calla looks sideways at Arakan, unsure if he were subtly proposing himself, or genuinely seeking suggestions.
Getting the response he was worried he would get from his suggestion, Arakan rolls his eyes, but doesn't argue. He's seen thus far that they seem to be more than willing to follow the woman, just because of her family name, more than any type of leadership she has shown.
The party make their way along the road towards the fort of Grak's Pool. A few hundred yards out, Arakan and Jareen pause, as if they heard something. Then the darts begin to whisper through the air.
"Why is nobody ever pleased to see us?"
Irivis is confused for a moment, thinking the shots are coming from the fort. Then she sees the tiny figures scurrying amid the boulders to the left and right of the road - silt runners. One raises its blowpipe to its mouth as she watches.
init
Arakan, true to form, sees only one good wy out of this. "Don't try to be a hero, make for the gate as fast as you can. They will either stop if we get too close, or have to face the Pool's defenders."
Irivis finds herself nodding.
"That is actually good advice. And I can't believe I'm saying that."
Calla, seeing the number of siltrunners in the rocks, also agrees with Arakan. "Get running. I'll stay at the back."
Irivis' already slow steps grind to a halt.
"So much for running."
Jareen throws out his hand, and casts a spell at the little runt that just shot him.
Jareen's spell hits its mark, and dark forms hinder the little reptilian horror.
The other siltrunners, these ones carrying spears, run to attack. One plants its spear in Irivis' midriff.
Irivis has no time to react before a spear punches into her and she drops.
Gorad summons Sandswimmer to R9 and calls healing spirits to aid Irivis.
Gorad uses claws of the eagle on Calla
Calla feels a burst of energy from Gorad's blessing, and strikes at a nearby siltrunner with her spear.
Healing energy pours into Irivis, reviving her, and the backwash also improves Jareen disposition somewhat. The inspiration gives Calla the heart to strike her nearest foe a glancing blow with her spear.
Irivis comes to herself with her nose full of sand and looks gratefully at Gorad.
Jareen straightens a little with renewed vigor, and looks terrified of facing these things unarmed.....
Arakan recognizes the feel of toxins rushing through his body, stopping him from moving his legs. He draws one of his thorn daggers, only one left after this one, whistles a quick shrill sound. With the missle in hand he throws it at the silt runner distracted by Calla's swing, its attention drawn by his whistle. The creature turns to look just as a thorn pierces its scaly flesh. Giving himself a bit of a pep talk he regains his composure enough to huddle up with the rest of the group, "C'mon, you know these poisons, just get your legs to move a little, that's all." and he is heartened by being able to force himself to take a step back. It isn't enough to purge it from his system, however, and the movement only encourages its circulation.
Arakan hurls his dagger and it sticks the siltrunner as it is momentarily distracted. Its blood flows across its scaly skin in a crimson slick. But the runners with the blowpipes continue their covering fire, one breaking cover to get a better range.
"I don't think outrunning them is going to happen. I'll try and distract these brutes in close. Jareen, Irivis - can you focus on the blow darters? Try and take them down one by one."
Irivis nods grimly, still too breathless to speak.
Jareen steps away from his attacker and thros a ball of force at it.