Nomen Infernale XLXXI: Come Away to a Deserted Place and Rest a While
General Summary
After traveling southward La Compagnia found that the oasis was not where they believed it to be. They grew unsure of whether the oasis was a mirage or if heat shimmering off the sand made it seem further away. Around them dunes hundreds of feet in height rose and fell in undulating waves, one disappearing behind another into the distance. To the east La compagnia saw rougher terrain with flecks of deep browns and leaf-greens Riven hoped was chapparal which would provide the camels with something to eat and a decent chance at finding water. To the southwest she saw a hilltop fort with smoke rising from it. It looked like it could be of Old Rexan make, but they would need to move closer to know more. The idea of more desert hospitality intrigued them and after some discussion they headed won a wadi that seemed like it would lead them to the base of the fort.
As they neared the camels began to sniff and snort, and Asbjørn's began to panick. Kegho joined him, gaining some control, while Theo stalked off on foot to see what set the animals off. Riven noted that the animals behavior was remeniscent of herd animals smelling predators, but in the commotion only Yahi heard her and muttered out "pr-pr-predators?" before Alex shushed him to listen. He heard the yipping of dogs and whining but could tell little in the echoing wadi and with the attempts to control the camels.
He looked at Rahet and pointed at the fort and raised his hands palm up in question. Rahet shook his head as if to indicate he had no idea such a place was there. Alex handed the reigns to Yahi and slipped off his horse, motioning for Rahet not to follow and melted into the shadows of the rock wall, flecks of darkest black appearing and disappearing in the deep shadows as he ran as quietly as possible to catch up to the much taller Theo who had a head start.
Riven began to follow Alex and Theo but her fox, La Dona, stuck her nose out from her hood and snuffled the air warily before making a low quiet whine and backing deeper into the cloak. A ways down the wadi Theo smells wood smoke and sees three columns of white smoke rising from the decaying corpse of a Rexan fortification. As Alex snuck closer he heard that the yipping and yowling was rhythmic language rather than animalistic barking. He whipped a pebble at the priest harmlessly to get his attention and signed barking, walking on two legs, and pointed at the fortress. Theo received the message that the fort was infested with dogmen and they beat a retreat, catching Kegho who had decided to follow them at a distance and explaining to him as they moved hastily back to the camels and forced themselves onward toward the scrubland they had seen before. Riven and Alex were drained by the effort, but would have time to recover.
The area was not as lush as they had hoped, provided little natural cover, and while there was a great deal of brush for the camels to eat their attempts to forage or dig a productive well were unsuccessful. Theo, rested and began spilling out the blessings of Lamos upon the party. Alex and Yahi prepared as sumptuous meals as one could hope for under such harsh conditions, and Riven hunted, but Bira did not provide.
As they waited and recovered Teletpyon sat down with the staff to explore the powerful staff he had been giving by Alim, but though he could tell it thrummed with power he was unable to attune himself to it to learn the words needed to access the power or preciesly what forms that power could take. He rested from probing the staff to assess the sword of Ngozi the bronzeman and found that it was enchanted but the magicks were strange to him and he could not tell what blessing or curse lay upon it. Theo looked upon the spoils of the battle and saw nothing overtly evil beyond Lullaby, already strapped to Asbjørn's hip.
Though they had deeply needed the rest, Theo became increasingly concerned with the levels of supplies and urged the party that they would need to break camp and do something soon or they would perish in the deep desert.
Locations: Yafwadi Wasts, Derelict Rexan Hilltop Fort