Despite the rapidly disintegrating parchment, you are all able to see it was an annotated map. Lilith however somehow manages to leverage her natural awareness and harness the other magical foci she carries for such purposes.
The map was accompanies by a landscape sketch, a mesa in the desert with great cracks and rents in the earth, snaking their way through the ground. In the side of one of the cracks sits a familiar-looking structure... from the tapestries... the desert fortress of the Palatine Eye...
The map itself shows a great deal more grassland than you've seen, however it must be hundreds of years old. With Melo and Flynn providing pointers on the area, you are able to determine from some rough landmarks that the cracked earth, and the fortress, lie some three days walk to the east.
It is now fully dark, and at least for now you seem safe in your cave hideaway.
Feldus nods in reply as he peers over the mage's shoulder watching her sketch the area. "This is all new to me, and I know food will be hard to find. Still I do not see any other way to go. In the morning we should also try to find an oasis or other such place to try finding food. Regardless of who we may find."
Melo finally sits, taking a long drink from his waterskin. "Lenneth is right, we've seen mostly desert. But I like Feldus idea, tomorrow Flyn should give scout and give us an idea of whats waiting for us toward the East. We should then plan out our best move to keep our store in order." He strokes Echo's. "We have a little extra help in hunting now too."
Wolf pipes up
So... where you planning on heading then? This old temple place? Plenty of ruins that way it's true, this place is littered with them.
He shudders
Some nasty noises came from some I been near, enough to put me off going to play amateur archaeologist on my own...
He takes a swig of water
We should be safe enough in here this night, but travel during the day and it's pretty hot remember. We could always travel morning and later afternoon, build a shelter during midday to wait out the worst of it? Anyway, that's a question for the morrow.
Right then, time to be up and at them...
yawns Wolf.
Feeling so much better in the air than underground, Flynn cirles the surrounding area looking for water sources or, if their luck is really in, some kind of game.
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Getting up early Melo takes his time attempting to commune with the earth. He finds it strange with so little greenery around, but his teaches push him to know nature is all around them so he speaks to the deep roots below them.
He brings Echo with him attempting to teach his new friend, showing it the reverence he has for the land. While attempting to strengthen their
bond.
When he rejoins the group he drinks and eats before they set off before shifting into his large lion form. The first time Echo has seen this but the two large figure couldn't be any more different. "It feels good to be back in this form." He says stretching. "If anyone wants a lift jump on.
As they move Melo starts searching for food, bringing Echo along hoping it might see something he can't.
Despite the scarcity of resource here in the depths of the desert, Flynn does manage to successfully hunt some form of burrowing rodent, enough for a meal at least.
Echoes seems to survey the environment with a detached air, Melo senses interest but there is some confusion and detachment. As Melo shifts in to his lion form, Echoes sniffs him head to toe and does an odd shimmering dance, claws flexing in the sand. Shaking its head, Melo gets the sensation of satisfied amusement before Echoes steps in to hunting formation with him.
After a brief lunch and rest in the midday sun under stretched out tent canvas, you continue at pace towards the direction of the fortress.
As twilight draws in, the sky above you is as clear as glass, the stars in the sky bright against the gathering night. It's then you hear it, low thrumming sound/sensation through the ground. It's coming from over the next dune.
Crouching and moving slowly, the group leave Aura under the watchful eye of Whisper as they edge closer to the cusp of the dune.
The desert opens up on to a plateua that seems to run for miles, and a few thousand meters away there is a giant rent in the earth, a giant crack where half the ground is missing. In the revealed valley, you recognise the top spire of the fortress you have been seeking, the potential source of being able to fight back against the cult. At last. Only... the noise...
and you can see now, now the sun has finally dipped below the horizon and taken its glare with it, the noise, the sensation of tremors through the ground... it's zombies, hundreds of zombies, they encircle the semi-buried building at a distance, as if an invisible barrier were holding them at bay.
They are far enough away that they won't notice you unless you draw attention to yourselves. You see the occasional large humanoid among them, but cannot at present see any cult members or other entities.
Feldus stares out at the mass of undead surrounding the group's ultimate goal. "There is no way we can approach without being spotted and overwhelmed here." He scratches his nose thoughtfully, "Usually these buildings had a secret escape tunnel or other means of egress. Our only chance is to find it."
Valex surveys the scene with a blank expression for several minutes. Then he turns to his companions, baring his teeth in a fierce grin.
"This IS it! It is obviously enough of a threat to the Whispering Way that it merits a surrounding army...and yet powerful enough to hold that army at bay!"
To Lenneth's question, he pauses, stroking his chin and turning to stare out at the horde and spire again.
"It would certainly be in character with what little we know of the Runelords. Let me think back to see what we've learned that might be helpful."
Flynn blows out his cheeks at the sight of the gathered horde. From ground level it is impressive, from on high it is truly terrifying. He can see hundreds of them swarming around the tower like ants around a honey pot.
We can't fight our way through that and I don't think enough of them would follow me if I tried to distract them. I can't see any cultists in there though. Either these things have found their way here on their own or were led here and been left.
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Well, we could fight our way through with hit and run tactics but that could take weeks and we would run out of food. Plus that would draw the attention of any cultist, if any are in the area. No. We must find another way. Lets observe for a while. she studies the spires of the fort for a few minutes before adding My thought is that we go in by air. If the dead have not yet breached the walls we are golden.
"I think the cultist cant be far away even if we don't see them now." He looks on at the spire. "Getting in by air could work, do we know what magic keeps them out? Does it only keep the undead at bay?" He turns to Valax.
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Lilith frowns at Lenneth. There are always risks. And we know most of the groaners cannot fly. You have a better idea? We should at least scout the air possibility. You up for that Flyn? Its a fortress so I hope it has open courtyards that a clear. I can summon a mount that could carry two light people, and do it more than once if needed.
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The halfling nods and replies to Lillith; We're always ready.
I'll fly over and see what I can see. If I go high enough they may not even look up and see me. If they do, I'll circle down and beyond the hills so I don't lead any followers over here.
Come on Sky, HA!
He spurs his companion high into the thin air and approaches the fortress.
"If needs be, I can change to offer us some more flying options. I've spent enough time with Sky to understand her." He says to the group. "Lenneth is right, but let's see what Flynn finds out first. We can hope this will be easy."