Mabwe shrugs at Norajia's words to the outlander "Or you can walk with us." he offers Vorrik genuinely.

"I am not a quick walker, I'm afraid... I will certainly try to climb off of this thing if we need to fight."
Vorrik approaches the lizard, which seems willing to give him a chance.
Vorrik is not huge, but is a larger cargo than the bolo lizard would prefer. He struggles onto the creature with some difficulty.

<OOC: If you want you think you can support the scale between the bison and llama.
If someone can propose a path and someone else second it, that would be good, i.e., you could head south across the Dead Place which would be the shortest path to the Block, or you could head  south east which is the quickest path out of the Dead Place, and then skirt the edge heading toward the Block... or something else.>

"Thangar, how active are the tribes with regard to raiding in this winter without end?"

"I think that we should head due south. It is the most direct and therefore quickest path. Less likely to run into raiders in the Dead Place too, there's no herd to raid in here."

"So you have spent a lot of time around Moonbroth Thangar" Norajia says as the group travels south "Is Inire the Red still there? What are the Lunars doing to the place? It must be a bit of a wrench to leave after so long.".

Thangar's face darkens. "The raids have become more desperate and more bloody, from what I hear. I don't know that any path is safe. Desperation has deepened the bonds of some but turned others to outlawry."



"He is there, the peacock. The Lunars extract a heavy burden, and Inire above all insures his own comfort, the dog."

"What else did you see?" asks Lemak, after watching Mabwe, to satisfy himself that the morokanth seemed okay.



"Oh yes," Lemak remembers, "thanks, Thangar.  We haven't known each other long (if you ignore two missing years), but you've watched over our animals.  If you need help in future, I will come."



Lemak watches, a bit disappointed that the bolo lizard didn't try to throw the outlander.  "Well, if it doesn't work out, perhaps the other lizard could ride this bolo lizard...?"



"Yeah, let's go that way - the fastest way.  We're already over two years late!"

<OOC: The dragonewt is a little bigger than the bolo lizard :) >

You trudge along through the Dead Place for the better part of a day, putting the hidden cavern behind you.
The Dragonewt walks always directly behind the scale towed by Lemak and Tuari. 
As Yelm dips below the mountains to the west you set up camp.

Oh I didn't see that. A great spirit told me that the Dragon will awaken soon. As for what I saw and what I did, I cannot say. The trials are personal and the rites are secret to shaman."

When they stop to make camp Mabwe stands stock still and looks like he is watching something in the distance, though his gaze then travels close, head turning to the right and then looking behind himself as he turns to watch, though with his eyes closed.

"There are many spirits in this place. Or perhaps there are lots of spirits everywhere. Time will tell."

"I will help watch tonight, but it is distracting."

<OOC: That's okay, Lemak was just having a little dig at Vorrik, while also amused by the thought of one lizard riding another lizard  :P  But good to know the relative sizes of the two creatures anyway  :)  >




The high llama brave cocks his head to the side a moment, thinking.  "Were... you a shaman before?  I thought you were in training...  But two years have passed."  He smiles.



Lemak prepares to make camp.  As he does so, he scans the area to satisfy himself that this area will be as good as any, providing a good view of all approaches.  He stops, and says to the others.  "There are a few riders to the northeast.  They've dismounted and gone behind a small hill."

"I was not a shaman. And my training was not enough to be ready for the trials, or so I thought."

"Two years and then some have gone by and we were outside of Time for that. A lot has changed, many have perished, my clan has been without a shaman for too long. Forntiss found me, Forntiss and Shollak took me to where I had to go and I prevailed over the Bad Man's challenges, though it marked me."

"I awakened that which was hidden and now we are shaman."

He is silent a moment and then says "They dismounted? This does not sound like our people unless they did so to camp. If they prepare an attack they will come ride surely? Unless they plan to creep into our camp under the cloak of darkness. What mounts did they ride?"

Tuari looked out towards the indicated hill, "Should we ride over and see what they want?" he gives a quick grin "Give them the surprise?"

"Well, I wish the circumstances of the trial was better, but congratulations on passing!"  Lemak doesn't give a headbutt, as he's not sure the morokanth would appreciate it.  He gives a friendly pat on the shoulder instead.



Lemak turns back again to look at the small hill.  "Yes, I was thinking the same.  I couldn't make out the mounts, only shapes in the distance.  But they didn't all look similar.  Outlaws...?  We had better post extra watch tonight..."

A thought comes to him.  "I don't know anything about this dragon scale.  Can it be sensed?  Could someone be tracking it...?"
This message was last edited by the player at 01:53, Thu 10 Dec 2020.

Lemak gives a smile.  "Not a bad idea.  But we have the scale.  We've been delayed long enough.  And we could risk losing it.  Better to press on back as soon as we can, and avoid distractions."

<OOC: Sorry for the pause, I wasn't certain of your plan; I'm assuming you stay put for the night?>

"So we shall remain here then, but be alert for visitors from behind that hill then. We shall take the middle watch. Darkness makes no difference to spirits and I can see a little better in the dark than some."

You settle in for the night, the scale in the middle of your group.You take turns keeping watch, not failing to keep an eye toward the direction of the gang seen by Lemak.

You think that you should emerge from the Dead Place tomorrow around midday.

During Mabwe's watch, a lone rider trots along passing the party at a distance greater than the range of a bowshot and accelerates after passing the party, turning into a gallop heading south, disappearing into the distance.

"We're going to need to be ready for a 'welcoming' party once we leave the Dead Place, or along I ride back to The Block," says Lemak in the morning as he readies Lobber for another day's ride.

"If anyone has any ideas how we can avoid any ambush, let us know..."

Mabwe relayed his observations to the next watchers when it was his turn to sleep, so by the time all were awake everyone will know about the lone rider.

The Morokanth nods to Lemak's words "It is possible, likely perhaps. I find it strange that the rider was alone. If times are so hard then better to be with others. Still, a lone scout perhaps."

"As for avoiding ambush, difficult. Stay on the flats and don't go near hills or gullies, that means it would be difficult for any to approach us without being seen. It also might add time to our journey of course."

"That's my concern about the lone rider," says Lemak.  "Seems like one was sent ahead to warn or gather others, while the rest will follow us from behind until they outnumber us enough to attack...?

The only thing I can think of is: if these riders know where we are heading, perhaps we should take a longer route to get back to the lone tree near The Block.  But we're already so late..."

You can see your breath and that of your mounts as you pack up camp.
The Red Moon is a crescent in the sky-Freezeday.
The clouds are still as stones, in the same precise positions they were in when you left the cave.
Thangar shivers and remarks "It might jar you to know that t-this is the first day of Earth Season. J-jar? Because jars are made of earth, heh."
As the sun warms the Dragonewt, it again comes out of its trance, climbs to its feet, and waits until you have the scale positioned between your mounts.

"My dream..." Norajia says. She has gone pale. "In my dream before we went to the block - the shower of fire rocks, it was Earth Season... "

"Earth Season, Harmony Week. I remember because I thought Harmony Week might be an easier birth for the triplets. If this is the year, we have one or two weeks before it happens. What day was it? What day?"

Lemak groans.



"You're right!" exclaims Lemak.  "When Thangar mentioned Earth Season, I felt dread.  Now that you mention it, in my vision, I somehow knew it was Harmony Week, Clayday.  So that means this attack will take place in nine days' time!  We'd better head straight back to The Block, and ride over anything in our way!"

"The decision is made then, straight and true, and if trouble comes then straight through it!" Mabwe agrees, noting how his clouded breath seems to stay about him as it slowly dissipates.

He shivers and walks through it.