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Eadie kisses the tips of the fingers of her right hand and waves them at the halfling.
"'Til next time, Lem! Good luck getting your journal published in the Chronicles. Remember ... 'Eadie' is spelt with two 'D's' and three 'E's'."
Eadie smiles and *bobs* to the newcomer. "Hi, Dassah. I'm Eadie. Have you had dinner yet? I was just going to get some at the Royal Elf Diner and you're welcome to join me."
"Getting a table will be no problem." Eadie taps the side of her nose. "I know the chef!"
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The Pathfinders spend the night carousing, eating, and banding a few wounds. The maps that Mast Torch provided them spark some of the conversation but most of the party looses interest quickly and moves on to other subjects.
As a new day dawns in the Osirian trade city of Eto the party recalls their meeting with Grandmaster Torch. In exchange for a handful of services, he delivered several maps and sketches of landmarks that collectively point the way to the last known resting place of one or more sage jewels—enchanted gems capable of storing memories of Osirion’s past and reviving the Sapphire Sage Amenopheus’s order. Those will take you where you want to go, Torch declared while handing over the maps. Deviate from the path if you know what you’re doing. As an afterthought, he added, You’re not the only ones who know about that site. I hear a group of foreigners set out from Totra not too long ago and are after the same prize. Sounds like there’s no time to waste.
You have the morning to prepare yourselves for the journey through the desert.
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Eadie studies the map, but is clearly having some trouble with it.
"Do you think we need horses if time is of the essence? I'm thinking Lore should be able to keep us all well watered."
"My armor is going to get uncomfortable in the desert, so I might call in a favor with the Sapphire Sage's contacts and get a wand of Endure Elements for us to share, if you will cast it for us, Lore."
"Lore, can you please look after the scroll of Lesser Restoration I picked up? Also, should we buy food? Can anyone tell how long we're likely to be out in the desert?"
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"Eadie, my dear, of course I'd be happy to keep us all in as much water as we need. I can cast endure elements but a wand would be better, as enough spells for the whole party would leave me without anything of the first order of power. I'd be happy to use it on you to keep you cool. I wish I knew more about deserts like my sister Fionbharanel, but wouldn't camels be better than horses?"
"Hullo 'Dassah. nice to meet you. Blessings of Sarenrae on you this fine day."
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"I have to call in a favor as well, a wand of Cure Light Wounds will serve us well enough, especially with losing Kyra."
"Good former-Master Torch, what else might you be able to tell us about these foreigners?"
Not particularly trustful of the former master of the Shadow Lodge, Hadassah does her best to recall any information that might prove useful regarding the foreigners, and the journey ahead.
Once out of Torch''s ear-shot, Hadassah adds, "I really don't know that much about anything, but I can fake it relatively well." The assumer smiles, "You might say faking it is my forte"
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Hadassah is able to talk to some caravan traders about the route (without giving away too much information of course!). Some of them are familiar with the terrain and a few oasis on the trail. They can help give some advice on traveling . You also learn that Gnoll clans are becoming more active in this area and abductions on caravans are becoming more frequent. Lastly, someone else was here asking similar questions about this route a few days ago. One flashed a bronze badge bearing a snake emblem when he was questioned by customs agents.
You are able to easily obtain enough food and other provisions for the trip. But it appears that time will be you biggest enemy.
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"I suppose we should ask about how much it is to rent horses or camels. I don't like the idea of being any further behind than we already are." Hadassah sucks on her teeth thoughtfully a moment, "Let me see about a good discount for a weeks rent on a handful of camels."
Hadassah works her way back into the bazaar, looking for a camel herder who might be willing to rent five or six camels for a week.
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"The more the merrier!" Once the two are out of Lhug's hearing, "Besides when is a man ever going to be upset at the proposition of flirting with two women instead of one?"
Hadassah would like to take 20 Knowledge Geography and Knowledge Local while studying the items from Torch in the hopes of finding a short cut if at all possible. Taking 20 would net a 33, if someone assists, possibly 35
"When we get back, is there any chance you might be willing to help me go over the maps of the region to find a shortcut? I hate the idea of the others getting there first, whoever they are."
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His face and clothes appear to be smeared in what smells like...strawberry jam?
*Sniff, Sniff* Eadie gives the dragon a sideways glance.
I do NOT want to know!
Eadie overhears part of the Dawnflower devotees' conversation before they go off in search of camels. "I'm happy to chip in for some camel hire, if you can find some, Dassah."
"LOVE the new dress by the way, Lore. So cool and chic." Eadie nudges Lhug in the ribs with her elbow - more than once if necessary.
"Oh yeah ... Geography! I'm an expert at that! That's the art of dancing, right Lore?"
Eadie proceeds to whistle a tune and walk about like an Osirion.
"As long as it's nothing to do with maps! I'm hopeless with book-learning, but I CAN do OK in the field on occasion."
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Eadie nudges Lhug in the ribs with her elbow - more than once if necessary.
"What!?! Weren't you two just complaining about the same dress on that witch? You look less like a prostitute than she does, that's a compliment, right? You mind your own business and you kick ass, THAT's a compliment!"
Under his breath and counting the women on this expedition on his fingers, "I'm still missing that dwarf..."
When Eadie's not looking, he wipes his face on her cloak.
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Looking humble and a bit disheveled, Fleetwood makes his usual quiet and unobtrusive entrance.
"I see you haven't killed him yet Eadie, that's refreshing. Lore, How have you been deary? I've missed your cooking terribly as my trek back to Galt was void of anything but dry travel rations. Any sweets?"
Looking at Lhug, "How is it that you get uglier and uglier every time I see you? Yet as always I am glad you are here old friend.
Turning towards the fellow Aasimar and with a more pleasant expression Fleetwood bows slightly to the lovely Hadassah,
"A pleasure to see such a rare and beautiful flower after a lonely trek. I am Fleetwood, devotee of The Everbloom and am at your service."
Smiling, he stands a bit taller,
"Now, remind me again, why are we going into the dessert inferno?"
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Lore stands on her tippy toes on a chair and gives Woody a big hug. "Good to see you too, Woody. I missed you! Oh you should have been here last night. I was cooking at the Royal Elf Diner and everyone said it was the best food they'd served there in ages. I will be sure to cook for you on this trip if there's time, okay?"
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Looking at Lhug, "How is it that you get uglier and uglier every time I see you? Yet as always I am glad you are here old friend.
"That's not ugly, it's character," pulling down his bottom lip with his middle finger to show a tattoo of a woman's heavily lined eye on the inside of his mouth. "Look into my eye," he grins, guesuring to the outsider. "Good to have you back my silvery friend."
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"The desert inferno i more lovely than you imagine, dear Fleetwood, there are dozens of unique and wondrous species you will never see elsewhere. More importantly, you can feel the full force of the Dawnflower's embrace daily." Hadassah smiles at Lhug's fine demonstration of civility.
"When we are done here, in the desert, I will get you your very own napkin. It is much like a cloak in that it removes jam, but has the slight benefits of, one, belonging to you and second, it will fit in your very own pocket! How amazing is that? Think of it as a mini-jam-removing-cloak-in-a-pocket.
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Eadie's hug for Fleetwood threatens to lift the aasimar off the ground, with Lore still clinging to him.
"I see you haven't killed him yet Eadie ..."
"Don't the bards sing, 'Only the Good Die Young,' Woody? Welcome back!!"
After releasing the cleric, Eadie steps back and considers Hadassah's gift offer to the Dragon.
"Did you hear that, Lhug? Your very own Enchanted Cloth of Prestidigitation, without having to call in any favors with Paracountess Draleen."
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"See, there you go...now i've got goals..."
Lhug’s remark reminds Eadie of her Abadaran religious instruction.
The Judge of the Gods says to praise any improvement – no matter how small.
“Well, I think having goals to strive for is a noble thing, Lhug. Things like …
⛪ You can never have too much love, laughter or vegetables
⛪ Your body is a temple
⛪ Think Win-Win
⛪ Everything in moderation (except moderation)
⛪ Do unto others as you would have them do unto you
⛪ I’m wasting my breath, aren’t I?
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"I think we should just stick to the route on the map, just get camels for the trip to speed travel. If we try to take an unknown path, like a shortcut, it could end badly... I have heard that due to shifting sands and sudden flash floods, desert geography can change suddenly, so going off track could end up taking longer than staying on the road." lore says as she comes back leading her camel (and more for the others, if buying and selling back is what the rest want to do).
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“Good plan, Lore.”
Eadie takes the reins of one of the larger, mangier camels Lore and Dassah are leading.
“Oooh, is this one mine? The way he spits and chews with his mouth open reminds me of someone …”
Eadie tilts her head to the side as she rubs her camel’s neck and tries to think of who that might be.
“What’s his name?”
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Hadassah does her best to convince the camel salesman that she will pay upon receipt of her income from this mission, "Of course, if I die, you may still collect from the Pathfinder's Lodge. I am certain they will not allow their good name to be blemished by such an unfortunate event."
"I was born and raised in Eto, so I know a little of the desert. I am not sure I know enough that anyone should place their lives in my hands though. I don't believe our competition has camels, so I think we can still beat them there if we push the beasts as hard as we can safely."
"Mine doesn't seem to spit often enough, Dragon, would you please have a talk with her? I am sure she needs a couple pointers. I want her to spit right in the eye of the first gnoll we come across."
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"You are correct, sir. I have to admit that until now I did not even know such contests existed. I am not sure I am any better off by learning that fact, but I will remember it. Volume and accuracy are necessary for spitting contests. Check. I think I am grateful for the fact I have not been in such a contest . . . "
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"I think I am grateful for the fact I have not been in such a contest . . . "
"Overwhelming an opponent's ability to defend themselves with intent, or causing them to become exhausted or expend resources... sometimes a volume of spit is the way to win, and that's why they keep me around. I am one giant lugie"
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*Rolls Eyes* “Well actually, Lhug. I was thinking of Venture-Captain Dreng.”
Eadie eases herself up into the saddle and clicks her tongue.
*click**click* “Walk on, Drandle!”
The warrior takes her time getting used to the side-ways and forward motion of the beast, while walking him in a large circle around her companions and listening to their conversation.
“Has everyone got enough funds to be able to afford their own camel? Dassah is a local. Surely that entitles us to some kinda discount?”
“Oh, and if you didn’t know, we keep you around for your sparkling conversation, Lhug.” *Double Eye Roll*
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The Pathfinders spend the morning purchasing camels and the rest of the supplies that are needed for the journey. By mid-day you are all off, following the map that was drawn by Grand Master Torch. You spend much of the day talking with each other and bringing up old memories. Lhug spends any free moment to try to outspit the camels, with varying results.
After an eventless night, you come upon an oasis midway through the next day. The oasis shimmers like a sapphire in the midday heat. Life clings around its edges tenaciously, with only a few hardy plants nestled amid the rocks managing to survive in patches around the area. Finches bathe in the water, resting on an abandoned harness. Trash and castoffs from travelers litter the area, and a small brick hearth is the only permanent fixture.
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“Whoaa, boy.” Eadie reins Drandle to a halt, dismounts and ties him to a convenient post or tree before having a good look around.
“Looks like we might have beaten the opposition to this oasis. What does everyone make of it? Should we set up an ambush?”
I make everyone’s Survival modifiers (apologies if I have made a mistake) …
Dassah -1
Fleetwood +4
Lhug +0
Lore +3
Eadie +6
So it looks like Eadie for prom queen with everyone assisting? Can I have Guidance too please, Lore or Woody?
Lore and Lhug have posted inside my ‘1 hour edit window’ … so I’ll make the survival rolls to keep us moving …