Moving his mount forwards Califax took the raines to Dii's batra.

I would be delighted. Securing the beast he smiled down, I must say the thought of so much walking does put me off some, but you do seem to relish it so.

"Walking not so bad. Sometimes you step in dung. Sometimes dung is flung at you. Either way: dung." Sathras nods somberly, holding the reins of the animal assigned to him. It carries his gear with room to spare.

In reply to Sathras the Bold (msg #30):

"Well for what it's worth, walking puts me off quite a bit as well. I run when I can. I've come to realize that I enjoy that means of travel most. It's coupled with an excitement of my senses that makes me a proficient scout. You'd be amazed how much distance I can cover in a day, even here in the desert. Be sure to keep your ears alert. Should I need to warn you of something, I use "whistler" arrows." With that, she pulls out her longbow and tests it's tension.

"You are quite...fit, Dii Ahnah. Sculpted, one might say. Well, I did say--I mean to say, that your physique is a marvel. Marvelous. Like a statue."

He scrutinizes her, observing with a scholar's eye. "Statuesque. That's the word."

In reply to Novoptolomeo (msg #32):

"If you are complimenting me, thank you dear Novo. If you are contemplating me, you will be given many opportunities to test empirical research. Also, I answer most questions quite readily." She makes a long drawn out bow to Novo that eventually metamorphosizes into a quite limber forward stretch.

After the pronounced stretch, Dii takes a moment to walk toward one of the Thaumaturgists and says "I have an idea for my imbued item..."
After that, the conversation becomes obfuscated by the desert winds.
This message was last edited by the player at 21:47, Wed 23 Mar 2011.

Novo is intensely interested. But doesn't want to appear intensely interested. Plus, the Danuvian is a bit intimidating...

He goes about his preparations, but, using a focusing technique taught in the Cabal ("Occulting the clouds but for the Thunder and the Wind"), he turns his discrete attention towards her conversation with the Thaumaturges.

Califax moves his mount up beside Novo.

So, this must make a bit of a change from stuffy class rooms or drentching thunder storms?

Hanging back, silently watching the interaction and lack of between her new companions she idly pats her new mount gently and companionably.

Not receiving an answer from the handler, Aaban leads his aht-ra off with the others, speaking to it softly.  "I reckon I'll have to name you myself," he says, watching from a distance as the others gather.

Novo, lost in his focus, is silent for an...

...awkwardly...

...long...

...time...

.

"Eh...what are you saying to me?" His eyes clear. His head tilts back from 'curious kitten' to 'normal' as the conversation he was trying to eavesdrop on fades into the wind.

"Ah, yes. A bit. Of course, the open air is my classroom. Storm Chasers chase the storm, where'er it be. The Weather Watchers, on the other hand..." He shakes his head at a private thought. "--perpetually stuck in the Tower. I do not envy them their sedentary madness!"

"I've not had a chance to study arid climes personally. I'm very, very excited! I've heard that the desert sands, stretched out in vast plains, can be pushed together so hard by the winds that charges of static electricity will be built up...creating its own form of ground-hugging lightning. It's a theory, anyway. Unproven. Perhaps, given time, I'll be able to observe the phenomenon for myself."

He smiles at Califax. "I'm certainly glad to have a fellow Cymrilian out here. What news of the Crystal City? I've not been there in many months. And what of you, sir? A graduate of the Lyceum?"

Califax grins and shakes his head.

Not been there for quite a while myself.  More of a practical practitioner.  Untill reacently I was working on board a.... trade vesel.  Though I have studied.

Murron manages a small smile at his friend's comment as he rides along with the group; partly from the genuine amusement and joy from his friend's presence, and partly for the absolute truth of the insightful observation.

In reply to Murron (msg #40):

Dii finishes speaking with the Thaumaturgist and approaches A'Semna again. "Not to ask beyond your highness' already very charitable sense of graciousness, but do you have any maps of the areas we are heading into? I can make good use of them and create newer, altered versions for our 2 kingdoms. I'm sure that the meteor strike has changed the surrounding landmasses."

Novo listens to Califax attentively. "Ah...a trade vessel. Good work when you can get it. And studying is always better than not studying, I always say. Well, no. That may be the first time I've said that. But anyway...should you wish to study further, I would be more than happy to lend my brain to the cause. I'm not a full-fledged Scholar of the Cabal by any stretch, but I'm fully versed in the basics of Conjurations, Revelations and Concealments, Aeromantic Kineticism, and the Eldritch Interdiction of Injuries. Eh...wards and so forth, I mean.

He overhears a bit of Dii's speech to the King. "Excuse me, Califax."

He wanders over to Dii and the King. "Did I hear you mention maps? I am a bit of an amateur cartographer myself and would be happy to assist you in that endeavor. Indeed, had not I not born for my current line of work, I suspect that I might have been a map maker!"

In reply to Novoptolomeo (msg #42):

"A collaborative effort from 2 different vantage points seems most exponentially productive. At the end of each days travel I usually relate my journey from memory. The process can take up to an hour. If you could do any mapping from behind with the group WHILE traveling, that would be exceptional. Then we could confer once camp is made. I am in full agreement of this meeting of minds."

He is overjoyed.

"Excellent! I am most perceptive and am blessed with a keen analytical mind. Also, I'm told, do my best work from the rear. My positional acumen--whether from below, above, behind, or laterally--is well-regarded, with respect to the mapping of contours. My artistic, penetrating insights into the layouts of valleys has also been lauded, especially by certain female members of the Cabal, who seem to have a more appreciable respect for the patient attention required to make a good map."

He is, quite clearly, an avid fan of cartography.
This message was last edited by the player at 23:07, Fri 25 Mar 2011.

In reply to Novoptolomeo (msg #44):

"Dually noted, possibly literally. Something else you should know when I'm ahead scouting, If you hear this horn (she points to a mid-sized sounding/mead-horn she is wearing), You should break full speed toward me. If you hear this pass over your head (she shows Novo a "whistler" arrow) it means to stay where you are, and possibly look behind you for my arrow. Otherwise, I'll leave my tracks in the sand for you to follow. As long as the group isn't too far behind, you should follow me fairly easily. I will stop to regroup occasionally and also if I find a possible place to make camp."

King A'Semna listens to Dii Ahnah's request and the back and forth between her and Novoptolomeo with some amusement before replying; "We have no more detailed maps of the area than those that are readily available. Due to sandstorms and wind-shifted dunes it is not really feasible to try and keep truly accurate maps of the area. It is difficult enough keeping the Wilderlands Road and the road to Anasa from becoming buried by the desert. You are welcome to try your hand at mapping out that area if you choose."

In reply to A'Semna (msg #46):

"Of course, your highness. I hadn't taken the constant winds into account. I have a few standardized maps of the area." She produces her map case and after a moment pulls out a map of surrounding Dracarta and the Trade Road. After looking at it for about 7 seconds she rerolls it back up, slides it back in the tubular case and resets it to her back. "Again I thank you. Here's to hoping for another meeting with you to tell you what we've experienced and seen. Novo, keep your senses peaked, man. We'll be reconvening in a few hours." Dii picks up her Longbow and places it behind her neck with her arms hanging over. Then after moving a bit further away from any innocent bystanders, she does a series of cartwheel kicks in both directions. It seems like shes doing this to "activate" her legs somehow. And with a final wave over to Califax and the others, she begins to start running with a bearing of South-West to get to the road...
This message was last edited by the player at 19:05, Sat 26 Mar 2011.

Watching the acrobatics of Dii, Califax grins, when she starts to head out he kicks his mount into movement to follow the groups scout.

Lets get a move on then.  Life waits for no one.

Sathras nods. "Yes. Sathras agrees. Let us do what needs to be done."

The first day's travel goes very uneventfully. The weather goes pretty much how Novo predicted it would, hot and dry with variable wind blowing the sand around on the Wilderlands Road. The heat and light reflecting off the sands is very uncomfortable to those of you not accustomed to it and the scenery is basically the same from mile to mile. Eventually the sun starts setting and the group starts making camp just off the road. The temperature starts falling dramatically as it gets darker and T'Vala falls to making up a big fire for the evening, encouraging people to don the warmer clothing packed with the batra.

During the heat of the day, Sathras lopes along behind the aht-ra. He is slower than the desert steeds, but like them, he does not tire easily. He comes into camp a fair bit behind everyone else.

Though he seemed to keep going throughout even the heat of the day, as the temperature drops he becomes noticably sluggish. His speech becomes slightly slurred and his reactions slightly delayed.

"Sssathrasss n-n-not lik-k-ke the c-c-cold," he says by way of explanation.

Wrapping up against the coming cold Califax notes Sathras' ill ease and condition and picks up a blanket and moves over to the Lizard like man.

Wrap this around you and come by the fire.  It should help you warm through and get comfortable

"Sssathrasss c-could lay on fire when otherss done c-cooking. C-coals feel good on ssscaless." The Saurans eyes move slowly from one spot on the horizon to the next. "F-fire not g-give uss away at night?"