"I am ready," Raznik says to Temnir, "Do we have a destination?"

"The town of Heldenburg in Derevaan. That was where my companions were last and I'd at least like to know their fate. The town there was currently under siege the last time I saw them and we had attempted to break into the necromancer stronghold in order to put a stop to it. That i where we became separated." He seems a bit more hopeful with a group of people willing to take up the cause but he still has a look of malcontent on top of it. "The last time we traveled there, we took the land route and it proved to be a bit of a challenge. I had hoped to travel there by ship this time from the port at Anvilfall Outpost. I hope you aren't afraid to get wet."

At the mention of a ship, Raznik visibly tightens up. Being born and raised in the desert, he has never set foot on one. The concept of a ship is... unnatural. However, Raznik steels himself; what must be done, must be done.

"This will be my first voyage over water, but I will manage. My knowledge of geography is somewhat lacking. How far is Anvilfall from here?"

"Well, wet is not my favorite thing, but the whole point of a ship is not to go in the water. I'll be fine.", Felicia comments in reply. She is eagar to get started as well.

"If I remember correctly, from what the Vizier told me, it's 4 days out of the desert, another 2 until the docks. From there, we'd have to find out from a ship captain or dock master, assuming we can find one. Last I heard, there hadn't been any ships out of Derevaan for nearly a month now. Unless there's any objections, I propose we travel till midnight then make our camp then. The more ground we can cover protected from the sun, the better. Let's move people." Temnir turns and begins to walk down the side of the dune.

She blinks slowly.  Shifting from foot to foot she chuckles.  "Why be we taking the long way... rather then direct.  Surely any problems we can handle" she boasts bravely. I mean you already know what we be going to encounter.  it be a bunch of skeletons... how hard can it be?" she asked looking curious

Solomon rides atop Cho'Kobo, his Axe Beak.  He still appears unarmored, but now carries a five foot long spiked club called a tetsubo strapped across his back.  "I don't think I caught everyone's name.  And what experiences do you have fighting the dangers of the desert?"  He seemed to give everybody a second look, judging them by the armor and weapons they carry.  He assumed the tattooed girl was from a barbarian tribe, and judging by the number of weapons she carried it would be dangerous just bumping it her.  Raznik was likely a camel trader, but was experienced with the desert.  A simple merchant wouldn't have volunteered for such a dangerous mission so he wondered what else motivated the man.  He had mentioned a tome earlier in the day.  What would Felicia bring to the table?
This message was last edited by the player at 01:57, Thu 12 Apr 2012.

Nodding at Temnir, Raznik follows him down the dune. To Maeria: "I believe that Temnir is right to avoid unnecessary hardship."

As Raznik walks through the desert he ponders the prospect of sailing. He has never seen the ocean, and this will be a strange experience for him. Although not unaccustomed to strange experiences in his recent history, he is not fond of them. Catching up with Temnir, he asks, "Do you perhaps have access to a sleep spell? I forsee uneasiness when we depart upon the ship. I am used to the dry sand of the desert, and have grown used to the damp earth of the north, but I am not yet prepared to stand on water."
This message was last edited by the player at 01:55, Thu 12 Apr 2012.

"Believe me when I say it is not only skeletons that lurk in the Deadwood Forest between here and Heldenburg. Much less obvious threats abound there. Besides, it is at least another days walk to the forest and a week to be through it. Taking a ship will half that time ideally." Hearing the question from the sea-weary man, Temnir points out his right hand, a ring shaped like a skull with two purple gems set in the eye sockets adorning his index finger. "Usually, ones targeted by my spells tend to sleep for longer than they anticipate," and leaves it at that.

Remembering Solomon's question about desert foes, he gives him a sly glance, "Being of Jatzee's tribe, you've no doubt heard of Ebon. Well I haven't fought him. You'd be a madman to go after that thing without an army at your back it seems. But I have dealt with the wildlife, big and small as well as the more abhorrent undead we found in the buried temple. If you think there is something we should be wary of more than that, I would like to know of it."
This message was last edited by the player at 02:15, Thu 12 Apr 2012.

Raznik shoots Temnir a strange glance - a cross between fear and attraction. The look is, however, fleeting. "I see. I will have to manage, then."

As Soloman rides closer on the great bird of his, Raznik turns to look at the creature. In the darkness, it is difficult to make out, but the bird seems to stare back at him, alongside its vicious beak. Unsettled, Raznik looks higher to its rider as he speaks. "I was born in this desert to a roaming tribe, the Taj'li. My father raised me as a camel herder. For the past five years, however, I have been wandering the wet north." He seems to consider saying more, but lapses instead into silence.

As Raznik finishes, Temnir begins to talk of Ebon. "I remember Ebon from my childhood. Parents would use tales of the black scorpion to scare children into behaving. Once we saw the monster from a distance, but we stayed well away from it. Thankfully it was more interested in the wild camels." Despite himself, Raznik was finding that he was becoming comfortable with these travelers. He had only known them for a number of hours, yet he was opening up to them.
This message was last edited by the player at 02:29, Thu 12 Apr 2012.

"Oh I have a few tricks. For the desert itself, the proper attire of course to start.", Felicia concentrates a moment and the skimpy outfit she was wearing most of the day shifts and flows, becoming a set of long loose flowing robes in blinding pure white. She pulls the new hood up over her head and fastens a white cloth across her mouth and nose.

She glances at Solomon and you can see amusement in her eyes. Felicia continues, "I have some skills with traps and locks and can be fairly stealthy. I'm a decent shot with my bow and if it gets up close and personal, I've got these."

She hold up one hand and claws pop out. Really vicious looking silvery claws. After giving Solomon a chance to really see them, she comments, "Oh yeah, and this as well." Her claws burst into flame.

she frowns, and looks at the gathered people.  "Ah be maeria.  As ye can guess..." she jerks a thumb at her sword "I hit shit, alot"

Felicia's display intrigues Raznik. It is a neat trick that allows her to adjust her clothing in such a fashion, and the burning claws. He wonders how they are achieved.

23:54, Today: Raznik Tayn rolled 20 using 1d20+13. Knowledge (Arcana). - Outfit
23:56, Today: Raznik Tayn rolled 18 using 1d20+13. Knowledge (Arcana). - Claws
This message was last edited by the player at 22:56, Thu 12 Apr 2012.

After their initial exchange of introductions, the next few hours go by in relative silence as they make quick progress away from the caravan and into the desert. The moon overhead causes the sand to change from its normal light orange hue to a glowing blue, allowing for an interesting sight as you can see far off into the desert, if not being able to make out specific shapes particularly well.  The wind picks up a bit and carries sounds of the desert to the party; the shifting of sand, the rustling of small sand-dwelling insects, and the yipping of hyenas off in the distance.

The combination of silence and desert noises seems to be in the groups favor though as Temnir comes to the top of a dune, he immediately drops to his stomach and motions everyone down. With the universal sign for quiet, he motions everyone forward, looking Solomon in the eyes and then looking at his mount with a questioning look.

Those that move forward to Temnir see a large coiled reptile-esque creature at the base of the dune. The thing looks to be blue of color though it could just be the moonlight reflecting off of it and has two curved horns coming out from either side of its head. Down its back there are intermittent spines growing out that look quite sharp and there look to be multiple sets of legs that are curled up close to its body.
This message was last edited by the GM at 23:03, Thu 12 Apr 2012.

Examining the creature, Raznik does not believe it is native to the desert. He wracks his memory, seeing if he recognizes it from his studies.

00:16, Today: Raznik Tayn rolled 29 using 1d20+13. Knowledge (Planes).

Raznik also looks around, to see if there is a chance they can avoid contact with the creature.

00:14, Today: Raznik Tayn rolled 10 using 1d20+3. Perception.

Finally, he examines the creature for any potential weaknesses.

00:15, Today: Raznik Tayn rolled 28 using 1d20+8. Monster Lore.

Felicia scoots to the top of the dune and carefully looks over it and down on the creature. She tries to remember if she's seen or heard of it's like before.



OOC:
19:20, Today: Felicia Armstrong rolled 16 using 1d20+12. Monster Lore

PMs

Keeping his voice as low as he possibly can, Raznik whispers to the others. "It is covered in scales: no weak points that I can see. Avoiding it will be time consuming. It has a clear view to the north and south for at least half a mile. I do not like it, but perhaps it would be preferable to kill it and continue on." He grits his teeth in anticipation, looking to the more experienced fighters for their judgment. He can guess what Maeria's advice will be, however, and hopes that she will at least wait for the others to have their say.
This message had punctuation tweaked by the player at 00:01, Fri 13 Apr 2012.

Heeding the warning, Solomon dismounts.  He tugs on the Axe Beak's reins causing the giant bird to sit and rest its head on the ground.  Crouched, Solomon makes his way to the top of the dune to try and see what exactly the threat is.

"I could ride by it on Cho'kobo and lure it into an ambush position," Solomon offers.

Handle animal = 19, Monster Lore = 13

"That might be something that could work assuming it isn't faster than you... Of course, that would stop the questioning... Yeah sure try that." Temnir says to Solomon quietly with questionable sincerity, "Anyways, maybe our best bet would be to ambush it before it knows we're here. I can work with either option but since it seems our decision is at least to fight it..." Temnir makes a sign with his hands and soft green and purple glow washes over him for an instant.
This message was last edited by the player at 00:43, Fri 13 Apr 2012.

"Not that I mind getting my claws dirty too much, but it looks pretty tough. Any body got a spells to soften it up a bit before we get up close?", Felicia asks the others.

While she waits for a response she strings her longbow. It looks way to heavy for someone of her size and build, but she strings it easily.
This message was last edited by the player at 00:54, Fri 13 Apr 2012.

"I can think of a few dozen," Temnir says, a smile in is voice.
This message was last updated by the player at 00:56, Fri 13 Apr 2012.

Actually, it may be easy enough to lure it to the top of the dunes.  Does everyone have a bow, or other weapon to use from afar?" he askes.  He retrieves his own bow, willing to lend it to another if need be.

Can we tell its size?
This message was last edited by the player at 01:06, Fri 13 Apr 2012.

Observing Temnir's spell, Raznik attempts to identify it. He also considers the ring Temnir showed him earlier.

01:44, Today: Raznik Tayn rolled 31 using 1d20+13. Spellcraft.
02:15, Today: Raznik Tayn rolled 15 using 1d20+13. Knowledge (Arcana).

Moving down the hill slightly, Raznik steels himself. With what appears to be a grimace of pain, a tear forms in his eye. He nods to himself and begins to cast a complicated spell. As the spell is cast a mark begins to appear on his forehead (see image). A minute later, the mark begins to glow with arcane energy and a horrifying beast appears in front of him.


Standing on four legs, the beast looks like a cross between a skink, an alligator and a dove. Its body is long and sinuous, curving upwards at one end, sprouting two arms with three fingered hands, and ending in a long maw filled with sharp teeth. The front teeth and a pair one third from the tip of the snout are longer than the rest, glistening with a green fluid. The creature's body is covered in white feathers except at its extremities where scales emerge from beneath the down. Its legs are stocky like an alligator's but the front pair have enourmous raking claws, like those of a raptor. Its eyes sit atop the great mouth, glowing a violent blue and upon its left flank there glows a blue mark, the same as that on Raznik's head.

Ranzik whispers to the beast in a strange breathy tongue and it crouches where it is while Raznik returns to the top of the dune to rejoin the others. Reaching out to touch Maeria, he whispers another spell, making a gesture. "That should protect you. Yx'raul and I are ready and I have a sling, though I am not very skilled in its use." Raznik retrieves his sling from his pack and loads it.



This message was last edited by the player at 01:25, Fri 13 Apr 2012.

"Well, attacking right now would be just as effective as an ambush so..." Solomon sneaks back down the way he came.  He heads towards the Axe Beak.  He whispers a word to himsef, and the metal brooch that keeps his cloak fastened around his shoulders begins to rapidly unfold, surrounding his form in a bronze plate mail.  "Danger," he whispers.  Cho'kobo's head raises suddenly, stands, and looks about.  Solomon swings himself atop his steed.  He then draws an arrow and places it between his teeth.  In one hand rests the bow, in the other the reins.  He starts moving slowly up the dune.