Maqli shrugs off suggestions of healing as she returns to the main camp, not worried about the one hit she took in the fight. She'd had worse before, and it always healed; a slight cut like that would take only a day or two to recover. So instead, she moved to the front of the formation, less quickly than some of the others, and began scouting, Karsak at her side.
Once in the desert, Maqli takes on an even more sour disposition, spitting when sand gets in her mouth and rubbing at her eyes. Karsak seems little more happy, as the coarse grains catch in his scaly hide. Still, the rolling dunes are more comfortable and familiar than open plains, and the pair often make their way from valleys to the tops of the sandy hillocks, alternatively keeping a low profile and sweeping the landscape for anything of note.
Standing beside Jasmine and Kyarla , Maqli curses and wipes a hand across her face. "Can either of you see through the damned sand?"
Sadly Bree shrugs and settles back in the wagon she was currently sitting in. "I can't make out much, aside from pretty much just sand." She frowns some, but sighs in resignation as she stares out into the distant sands. She hoped that she wasn't actually slowly losing her sight, but she shrugged it off. Nothing she should really consider too seriously unless she was actually having trouble seeing things others could normally.
You didn't send an amateur to do a professional's job - which was at least part of why Ylva was up at the front to scout and lead the way. The spirit (?) looked with some amusement as everyone else squinted to make out what her keen gaze had already pinpointed. "There's some green to the northwest, and a definite shape to the northeast. The latter suggests at least some kind of artificiality, and might provide at least a bit of shelter." Ylva observed, pausing every now and then to point out bits of food the group could take.
"Perhaps the main party can continue to the green, while a small scouting party investigates the 'shape'? We may want something defensible if more Crown forces catch up to us."
"Actually you probably want two scouting teams, because if there's some green in the Northwest, you can bet some predators would sit around nearby as a way for prey to naturally come close to them - which anyone would know if they thought like a hunter." Jasmine remarks in a superior tone, as she weighs up the options before continuing, "That said, I'll investigate one of those directions anyway, beats staring at a million miles of sand"
Ishak moved up the throng of people, looking at the canidea named Taalik. Octavian was off in his own thoughts and must’ve not heard the wolf approach but the kobold took things in his own hands for now. ”Excuse me.” He’d say, as he huffed through the sand. ”No real prospects yet. But it appears some of them found things to note. Maybe you should run up to them and see what they say.”
The poor kobold was struggling walking through the sand a bit, pausing as he looked back at the disheartened throng of refugees. Frowning he shook his head slightly. ”We need to do something soon though…”
Maqli looks at Ylva with a surprised expression, then shrugs. "I can't see anything." She stares where the eidolon gestures for a few moments more, then grins and chuckles at Jasmine's comments. "I like you, flower-blood. You have a hunter spirit, like me, like Karsak. I will join you in searching one of these. Odd color or odd shape?" She chuckles again.
Jasmine glances at Maqli with a confused expression. "I don't quite know why you call me flower-blood, but assistance is always welcome. I'd prefer investigating the odd shape first though, it might have been constructed which usually means someone is around."
Bree carefully climbs down from a wagon and walks quickly over to where Ishak and Octavian where in the refugee groups. "I don't s'pose we've heard anything yet from your people right Octavian?" She fidgets a bit before turning to Ishak. "I know a lot of them, myself included, are starting to become a little antsy wandering into the desert with low supplies." She gave a smile, but her left eye twitched some, before she turned back to the large group of former slaves. "If we don't find some kind of an oasis or village of some sort soon, I fear some of the weaker ones won't make it." She said with rather grave tones.
She then turned back and grinned. "Ah but you already know that, so I probably shouldn't needlessly poke and generate worry then, hmmm?" She raised an eyebrow and gave a strange kind of wry smile that just made her look creepy and unnerving. "I know you're people are well disguised, but being so quiet... Will they be welcoming?" She finally had to ask, tired of pondering and second-guessing about it.
"When survival is an issue, most people tend to set their grudges and problems aside. And if they don't..." she considered for a moment. "Well, the needs of the many outweigh the wants of the few. Consideration is a luxury, and you can only have as much as you can afford."
Inja squints at the horizon, but cannot see either of the things that the others speak of. The mention of green draws her attention though.
"If there is green, there is likely water. We need water."
She crosses her arms across her chest, gazing north-west. She would really welcome some guidance from the blue-skinned one right about now. They had barely entered the desert and there was already dissent in the ranks about where to go and what to investigate. She doesn't think that making two scouting parties would be wise, nor does she have any interest in investigating the shape, whatever it is, but she doesn't voice her thoughts any further, judging that there are enough opinions and arguments being discussed without her adding to the confusion.
Maqli returns Jasmine's confused look. "Are you not a flower-blood? You look like one. Am I saying it right?" The half-orc frowns. "Blood of flowers, maybe? Or flowers in the blood."
"I'm an elf, but that doesn't mean I was born from a flower" Jasmine responds, still uncertain.
"Elf?" Maqli blinks. "Is that the right word? Forgive me, my skill in this tongue is not fine." She rubs her neck with a sheepish grin. "The shamans taught me, and they said one such as you is a flower-blood. Elf. I will keep it in mind."
Jasmine's expression clears as she understands. "Technically, a true flower-blood would be a Fey creature, which I guess I can take as a compliment as I consider them beautiful and graceful creatures, but the correct term for people of my race would be Elf, or Elves. You need not apologize though, your Shaman were close enough since the differences between flower-bloods and elves are...subtle."
Taalik joins those gathered atop the dune considering the options before them. Katras walks just off his flank, his eyes warily scanning the distant horizon. "So, two possible destinations. And each likely provides one of the resources we need, but will either provide at least two? A vexing decision to say the least. I will lend my skills as a hunter and warrior wherever it is deemed most helpful to the whole. Perhaps we target the caravan toward the empty space between, with swift scouts moving ahead to check both sights? If not, I would say head toward the green. Green is plant life, which will have water and likely can be harvested for some form of food. Moreover, while not a structure, leaves and branches would offer some shelter from the midday sun."
Qahnaarin looks about furtively. "We need an executive decision... in my humble opinion. I am but a simple tailor, but it appears that shelter is paramount."
"We don't need an executive decision, it's relatively simple what we do. We have two scouting teams checking out either place, while the caravan either waits or makes a beeline for the green zone. I don't give a damn about shelter when people will start starving before that"
"There's also traveling towards both of them for a time. It'll take a bit longer, but it does retain the flexibility to turn towards either once we get more information." Arion offered. "Ylva and I can go ahead to scout one of them."
Ishak clambered after them all, able to hear some form of a decision being made. "I'll stay with caravan, keep them moving. Though I agree, move them towards food first. Scouts out ahead. I should be enough to lead them to green." He paused and looked at them all for a moment, a claw coming up to his chin.
"Make sure you have bow, arrow and cloth. Fire into sky if trouble." He would then wait for them all to declare which way they are going before heading back to the caravan, to begin moving them towards the green.
Bree managed to follow Ishak up the dune to join the small gathering there. After a moment she turns to Ishak and gently taps his shoulder. "Do you think it's wiser that I stay with the caravan or go with one of the scouting groups." She asked, fidgeting some as she looked back and forth between those gathered at the top of the dune and back to the caravan with their various refugees.
Maqli grins at Ishak's suggestion and pats Karsak's head. "No need for fire in skies if trouble. Karsak's roar is very loud. You will hear if we need you." She turns to Breewyn with a musing expression. "As for halfling... perhaps you stay with wagons. You are small, and you care for the small lizard-man, yes? He is like your mate." The half-orc nods, possibly more to herself than the others. "You should stay together."
There seemed to be enough people heading towards the shape, so... "Let's stick with the caravan, then." Arion told Ylva. With a nod, her Eidolon moved forward to keep an eye on their green destination... and anything that might trouble their caravan along the way.
Bree stood there a bit confused after Maqli's response. It took her a moment or two as she slowly understood what she said and meant by 'mate'. She then was dumbfounded by the statement and felt the hue in her cheeks slowly deepen. As her mouth made motions, much like the gaping of a large fish out of water, but there was not sound. She finally started stammering in a somewhat squeaky voice. "I- I am- I mean to say we aren't- It's not all like that it's just-" She turned to Ishak and looked at him with pleading eyes, face still blushing furiously, feeling so thoroughly embarrassed at the notion that she could hardly speak.
Finally calming after the brief outburst, she nods and agrees to stay with the caravan as well.
Ishak blinked at Maqli, surprised but he couldn't help but chuckle. Shaking his head he just turned to look at Bree with a huge smile plastered to his face. "More to tease you." He always had quite some fun with messing with the gnome and this just gave him more fuel. "Does that bother you?" He asked when Bree was blushing, only chuckling more as he gave the gnome a playful poke to her shoulder.
Turning to the other he would look to the others, the speaker, Inja and the others. He reeled in his playfulness to be a bit more serious about what was going on, "Don't be gone for day. We should keep together as much as possible. Uh... don't get into trouble." He'd give a half of a smile, he knew they could handle themselves but, things tend to go south a lot with this group.
Taalik takes stock of those who have announced their intention to check the strange shape. The elf, and the orc. Ranged and melee, with a guard cat. Nice blend. We should do the same for the Green target... Looking about the company, his eyes settle on an unlikely option - the gnoll warrior. "Kyarla was it? I trust you can keep a faster pace than the others. Shall we be off then toward that green spot in the distance, to determine if any danger lies in wait?" Turning to the other woman with canine features, "And you Inja, you said you wanted to head for the green. Think you can keep up?"
Qahnaarin looks aghast at the social faux pas. His cheeks blush and he clears his throat. "I will- I will stay with the caravan. I doubt a tailor is needed to investigate the wilderness."
Speaking of which, Qahnaarin sits on the edge of the wagon and starts mending the holes in the uniforms he gathered from the fallen soldiers. He is happy as a clam with his needle and thread.
Maqli lets out loud laughter at Breewyn's flustered response, and her mirth redoubles when Ishak speaks. After several seconds, with her hands on her knees, the half-orc breathes heavily to calm down and looks up, a grin on her face as she meets Breewyn's eyes. "That was good fun. More when we return, yes?"
Wiping her eyes, she turns to Jasmine and gestures toward the shape, suggesting they get moving. Karsak, nonplussed by the affair, bounds forward and turns back, looking to see if Maqli is following.
Bree meets her eyes in return and nods gently. "Be safe out there, let us know the moment there is trouble." She would watch them as they go for a few moments before turning to return to the rest of the caravan with Ishak and Qahnaarin. She would give them a look over her shoulder as she went, almost having second thoughts. She shrugged the feeling though, decisions had been made and now all there was to do was see the results of their actions.
"And you Inja, you said you wanted to head for the green. Think you can keep up?"
"Hah. Yes, we can keep up. Let's go."
Still smirking from the joking happening around her, Inja softens her features as she crouches to be closer to the gnome and the kobold. "Stay safe, little ones. And keep the rest safe. We'll be back soon." She rises to her feet and turns to look towards the smudge of green, eyes slitted. She was starting to feel good among these others, the companionship slowly building amongst their shared plight.
Jasmine smirks a little at the half orc's comments, highly amused even if she doesn't deteriorate into fits of laughter. Nudging the half orc slightly in the shoulder, she inclines her head in the direction she was planning on taking. "Lets go, wild one, and may our hunting be swift and quiet" she mummers, setting off.
<==== Lucky Number triggers and reroll
She smiles at the skinwalker and the canid. "It will be good to run as the gods intended. Let us hunt!" She will take these words to heart breaking out with long loping strides towards the green.
As they moved forth, it was a good pack.
It takes just a couple of hours for the scouts to arrive at a large dune just before the green that was spotted prior to their run. As they climb the dune to inspect the sighting they are welcomed by a reasonably sized oasis. A few scattered desert palm trees hang close to the pool of clear water. The desert sands creep slightly onto the hard, cracked rock that served as the foundation of the oasis. There was some desert grass growing near the pool of water. So far it seemed like there was no one at the oasis but a few wild camels who lazily drank from the water or grazed from the grass.
Taking several hours to reach the shape, the scouting party would finally stop just a short distance away atop a dune. What lay before them appeared to be some building in the middle of the shifting sands. Most of the building was covered by the desert besides a few pyramid like spires that jutted out of the massive dune that blanketed it.
There was a small opening, the the sand was enveloping. It was large enough to allow two persons to walk shoulder to should through. What ever this structure was before, it was clearly abandoned now. Most of the stonework around has been buried or is in the process of being buried by the desert.
The caravan begins moving towards the direction of the green spotted. Some rumors abound about it and it causes the refugees to spring to life a bit, increasing their morale at the thought of food, water, and rest from the rising heat of the desert.
The pace is kept steady and slow, to allow the scouts plenty of time to secure the location before the caravan would arrive.
-before checking the water itself.
...Alas, she realized later that she had no practical experience checking the quality of oases.
Octavian walked next to Acteon, the lead to the reins held loosely in his hands. The big warhorse was stripped of everything except reins and was being slowly led along with the caravan and was still suffering. Bred and trained in much more temperate climates, the desert heat and arid breezes were slowly leeching the life from the big creature. Once an hour the wizard would stop to fill a bucket of water with his magic so that the horse wouldn't die of dehydration. It would be a while until the creature could adapt to the severe climate and until then Octavian was keeping a very close eye on him.
The wizard himself was unaffected by the heat that was beating down on all of them. His innate resistance to heat and the fact that his people called this desert home allowed him to endure the punishing journey with only a bilious white cloak covering his entire body. He had ordered more white covers made for everyone but it was a slow process to make so many covers with what facilities they had. Each person was also ordered to carry their own personal water skin and only drink when the command was given. Right now water was life and the desert could even leech it out of an open mouth.
When the scouts went off to investigate the possibility of an oasis he ordered the pace to remain the same, not allowing anyone to rush ahead unless there was a guarantee of clean, drinkable water. Judging from the green however Octavian was sure that even if the surface water was fouled, all they had to do was dig around the roots of the plants to find water that had impurities filtered by the sand.
[spoiler=The Shape in the Sands]Maqli pulls up atop the nearest dune to the structure, crawling low in the sand to avoid presenting a visible profile. Karsak likewise creeps along, the warcat's body low to the ground, seeming almost more serpentine than feline. Maqli peers at the apparent building for nearly a minute, looking for any signs of movement or other clues to inhabitants, but finally she turns to look at Jasmine. "Want to look inside?"
The sight of the palm trees is curious for Inja, who is used to the forests in more temperate areas. Yama, on the other hand, promptly starts using the nearest one as a scratching post, first sharpening her claws on the rough trunk, then rubbing herself against it to dislodge the sand stuck in her coat.
Inja sniffs at the water, then dips a finger in it and licks it. It didn't seem too bad, but it was difficult to be certain.
"If the water is not good, I can cleanse it. But first I need to rest a while."
The oasis was a beautiful, welcome refuge amidst the desolate sand of the desert. Yet, Taalik doubted it for some reason. Was it too peaceful? Too easy? Should not this place have some stronger power than a few camels calling it home? This questions plagued him as they drew close to the pool.
Taalik took care to survey the oasis most carefully before approaching the water's edge, where he gingerly touched the surface of the water with his club.
Jasmine grunts a little at the sight of the structure with nothing around it. "You lead first from here on, I hate confined spaces and its better if you hold the attention of whatever it is that makes its home here while I shoot it" she remarks practically, as she heads towards the building.
"Huzzah! Surely our brave scouts will find us food and water!" Qahnaarin winced from the effort of raising his voice for the others to hear. The dry air and choking dust were starting to take a toll. He wrapped a bandage around his face as a makeshift scarf.
To those who tasted the water, it seemed fine, and tasted amazing for what appeared to be pooled water. The camels nearby seem to be happy and have no ill adverse effects. The surrounding oasis seemed peaceful and quiet. Almost serene.
The water shimmered lightly around where Taalik touched the surface with his club. The water seemed unnaturally clear as you noticed you could see right ot the underlying rock and sand that made the bottom of the oasis pond. You noticed a glimmer of something moving in the water quickly, closer towards the center where it was a bit harder to see through the water due to light.
The caravan continued on slowly under the supervised march of Octavian. There seemed to be a bit more of a energy in the throng of survivors as they made their way slowly. Scouts keeping constant diligence on the nearby dunes.
As you approached the structure, you noticed a path has been worn towards the door, the stone smoothed out over constant use of its old inhabitants before the sand devours the building. Upon closer inspection it’s quite apparently the this structure had been buried beneath the sands for some time and only have recently been exposed by the ever shifting dunes. It is only really noticeable due to the fact the the dune is actually being pushed off of the structure by the slight wind.
The entry way is dark, and appears to be a long corridor. The stone is faded and worn, but there is remnants of paintings and engravings of a time past.
Bree squints into the distance, but the waves of heat irritate her vision and she blinks several times to relieve her eyes.
Octavian continues to walk, turning back slightly to run his hand along Acteon's neck.
Even though the place appears abandoned, Jasmine presses foward to search the place completely.
She looks over the camels without coming too close. She whispers to the others, "Do we use them for muscle or meat?"