(Sure thing-- it's going around, as of course are other things.)






At the front door of the town hall, a member of the town council hands a letter to the two adventurers. "This came-- tied to the leg of a buzzard."

It's a request to send "heroes" to the southwest. The nomads of the Ossain desert are in danger. A sandstorm has uncovered the Lost City of Anadi, and all sorts of things from the long-dead Anadi empire are appearing-- as if they just stepped out of history-- many of these things are dangerous.

"And these also showed up," says the council member.

"These" turn out to be steeds: two giant lizards with saddles.

https://www.deviantart.com/lin...zard-rider-545608923

https://cg0.cgsociety.org/uplo...-1-42410ab8-reyf.jpg

"Wow, are these steeds for us to get to the desert ?"

Evan looks to the lizards with a bit of amazement. His patron perks up at this quest.
"Is the buzzard still here or did it fly off ?"

Yes, the letter makes it clear.




"It's still here, actually."

Myra examines the lizards thoughtfully, then looks at Evan.

"Somehow they knew to send two mounts for us," she says. "Hmm. Things may not entirely be as they appear. We should definitely be careful." She pauses a beat, before adding, "... more careful, I mean. Than our normal level of careful. Which is quite high. Of course! Because we wouldn't be successful adventurers if we weren't very careful already, right?" She looks around, and, deciding that discretion is the better part of valor, simply stands in a heroic stance, with her hands on her hips and her cape billowing behind her, while she waits for Evan to finish doing whatever he plans to do with the buzzard.

Evan smiled listening to Myra go on about being careful, "Oh most certainly. Though I am excited in equal measure."

Evan tries to make a perch for the buzzard so it could return with them. Adding it to the large lizards saddle.

"Ok, let's buy food, water and snacks for the trip."

"The lizards' saddlebags have food and water," notes the town councilman. "We encourage you to give Hanging Tree's many fine eateries and supply stores your patronage for light snacking inventory, of course."

In reply to The GM (msg # 6):

Myra nods solemnly to the councilman's suggestion.

"That is an excellent idea," she says, and nudges Evan. "We can grab some things on the way out of town."

She carefully mounts the lizard, then looks back at the town. "Not only shall we aid the nomads, we shall also spread the story of Dread Pirate Harkaway... and the town where his eternal voyage began, Hanging Tree!" Somehow, she manages to strike a dramatic pose even on the back of her lizard as her cape billows behind her. "We're off! First to get snacks, and then... to the Ossain desert and... the Lost City of... Anadi!"

Somehow she manages to get the lizard moving down the street. Once they're out of earshot of the town council, Myra looks at Evan expectantly.

"So... how do we get there?"

Evan will make sure to buy some snacks and get directions.

He smiles to Myra, "You are one of the most optimistic people I know."
"I got the directions, so were set." Shows her a map.

(Okay-- write me a post where y'all gear up and leave town and get on the road. The official adventure won't start until you get to your destination but we're gonna have a little easy, atmospheric flavor-text fun on the way.)

Evan packed up his clothes and other belongings. Securing them to the lizard.
He headed for the shops in hanging tree. Buying some salted jerky for them and for the buzzard. He also bought some fruit juice and snacks for everyone. When he saw some rock candy he got some of that.

After his shopping and haggling he came out and handed some of the things to Myra.

"I am going to get us some umbrella's the desert is probably going to be very hot."

Going into the general store he haggled for the umbrella's and ended up with one umbrella and one parasol. He came out with them and looked to Myra holding the parasol out to her.

(Okay, well, that's the first part-- now write me a post where y'all leave town and get on the road. The official adventure won't start until you get to your destination but we're gonna have a little easy, atmospheric flavor-text fun on the way.)

Myra doesn't have a lot of things to secure; most of what she has she can carry on her person. However, when Evan mentions the idea of going shopping, she enthusiastically agrees, and goes her own way for a while. When the two of them meet up again she's procured a nice backpack -- one that hangs heavy with several bound books and a nice box. She smiles with gratitude as Evan shared his purchases with her. She shows him the extra waterskins that she bought for each of them -- "Because, as you said, deserts are hot," she explains with a smile -- then shyly shows her purchases.

"They're stories," she explains. "Ones that I haven't written yet." She opens the box to reveal a padded interior containing several quills and a bottle of ink, each wrapped and cushioned with rag scraps. She also opens one of the books. All of its pages are blank, except for the first... upon which is written in a neat, flowing style:

Bold Crew Chronicles: The Tale of the Dread Pirate Harkaway

"That's us," she explains, as she carefully puts everything back into her bag. "You and me. We're the Bold Crew!" She pauses and looks at Evan with concern. "I mean, if you don't like it, we can change it. It's a work in progress, you know? But 'A Myra and Evan Adventure' seemed kinda... I dunno -- small. And should it be 'Myra and Evan' or 'Evan and Myra'? And that's not even getting into whether or not we should include Downytouch, right? Cause he was with us then, but he's not with us now." She shrugs. "Anyway giving ourselves a proper name seemed like a good idea." She waits to see Evan's reaction with clear anticipation on her face.

"Oh I think we should include Downey, even if he is not with us anymore. Myra and Evan are ok, and who knows we might pick up a new crew member in the desert."  He smiled, "Heh a crew in the desert, now that is funny."

The lizards don't walk, but they don't gallop. It's a little slower than trotting... but not by much. They get going well when they get going.

After three hours, though, they pull over to what turns out to be a small fig orchard. The bark of the trees is bone-white.

The lizards happily eat the figs off the trees, and at the foot of the trees that's fallen.

There's no one around... except one guy, a little bearded human guy with a backpack dressed in beige and maroon silk robes. He's inspecting the trees and shaking his head.

He looks up when he sees you, and sort of gives you a look like I hope these lizard-riders are friendly. (They look friendly...?)

"Greetings, sir!" Myra says cheerfully, ignoring her lizard as it munches on these figs. "Perhaps you could tell us how far we are from the Ossain desert?"

The small man walks over. "Ah... it is many hours ride that way." He gestures in the direction you've been heading. "With such fine lizards, you should get there tomorrow before dark. Ah... but... might I ask your purpose in going there...?"