Louder now, the wave of sound washes over the heroes, reaching them before the cloud of dust clears the horizon. When it does rise above the edge of the land, the source of the sound can be seen. Rushing toward the seven travelers at break neck speed is a horde of people and a herd of animals. Kanks and crodlus, carrus and inixes, and the wild herd of erdlus, as well, stampeding across the verdant belt can be seen in the distance. Their mixed screeching and bellowing make for a loud cacophony of sounds. Only the companions stand in the way of this unlikely horde and its destination.

The horde of animals charging across the scrubby verdant belt was an impressive sight to behold. If he had more time, Tak' mused, he could craft it into an impressive harbringer. But for now, survival was a more important goal.

Koreth cursed as he saw the wild animals bearing down upon him and his companions. "Run!" he shouts "or we'll all be trampled to death!"

"Koreth!" Tak' called out, trying to communicate in the dying moments before the cacophony of sounds from the stampede overruled communication, "Run to the high ground! We will be safest there!"

Koreth quickly runs to the side, hoping to get out of the way and that his companions will do so as well. He knew he stood no chance otherwise. Koreth ran as fast as his legs would take him, but they seemed to be made of lead with the weight of his heavy pack dragging him down. He tried not to think of what would happen if he were caught in the midst of the stampede, but thoughts of a grisly demise came clearly to his mind. He pumped on anyways, cursing himself for bringing such a heavy pack. As soon as he was far enough out of the erdlu herd's way, he skidded to a halt and turned to face the oncoming people.

Elric whispered a soft pray of thanks for the good night sleep and healing which he received the night before. Then lights into a swift run with the others. Upon hearing Tak's words Elric turns toward the high ground and begins to run in earnest. His long easy strides quickly eat up the ground between himself and his destination, swiftly pulling out ahead of the others showing all his elven heritage as he runs like the wind. Skidding to a halt atop the small rise Elric turns to face his comrades, his bow coming quickly to hand.

Gaigin stood straight and peered at the oncoming stampede with a bit of a smirk on his face. "Mekillot's Bloody Piss!" he yells in exasperation.

Turning, he immediately runs for the nearest safe spot, legs flying wildly. Breathing heavily and leaning on his long-spear, Gaigin coughs a bit in the choking dust raised by the herds passage, looking angrily for those driving the herd before them, ready to use his weapon if necessary.

The wind cleric whispered a prayer to his lords asking them to blow him to safety. He sees the high ground and doesn't look back, the terrified face speaking louder than any words. The pterran trader is right behind him, his three toed feet leaving deep imprints on the ground. They both join the rest of the lucky companions. They all watch helplessly as Tak and Chit get lost in the turmoil. A strange fate (DM note: die roll, I swear) proclaimed that yesterday's hunters were today's prey.

TRAMPLED

Running as fast as his short legs would carry him, Tak' took off to the small rise to the East of them. It wasn't much, but the incline and rough scrub atop it would serve at least as some protection against the onrushing horde. It was not often that Tak' had cause to regret the physique of his race, but as the terror of the stampede grew, Tak; wished for the jumping insectoid legs of Chit-Zik, or even, Gaea forbid!, the longer legs of the human-folk.

Watching the horde close in, Chit-Zik thought about how these creatures had been attacking their own races or similar one's over the last few days. He realized that Gaigin's pack was not the target because such small game would not be worthwhile; they must be headed for a larger target. The Thri-Kreen turns to Gaigin. "They could be hunting the big pack we were in for a few days, or another one! I can move faster than the prey the ride. Want me to follow then and warn others?" He looks around frantically as the people move closer. "I can catch up when it's over." Gaigin was up at the top of the small rise shouting at the confused kreen and the only thing to answer the kreen were the fastest of the animals, the erdlu herd…

In a way, Tak was lucky in that even though his small size did not help him get away, it did help him avoid most of the damage. When the first erdlu were on top of him, the halfling hunter jumped to the side in one last attempt to get away. He was hit by the herd in mid air and tumbled about as the herd turned a bit and left him alone on the ground, dusty and bruised. The hunter quickly got up and joined his companions just as the larger animals went by.

The kreen used his ability to jump to get away from the stampede; his jump, however, was not long enough and he fell almost in the middle of the erdlus. His fall cleared away a few flightless birds and sent them squeaking as fast as their long legs would allow them with their terrified herd mates. The kreen went under and rolled around a few times before he gained his footing once again. The injured kreen's second jump safely landed him right next to his companions in time enough to see the larger animals of the herd roll by.

HUMANOIDS

All seven companions reunited and moved away some more to give the rest of the stampeding animals plenty of room. After the erdlu thundered by, there came carrus, a couple of crodlus, an inix saddled but without a rider and even a mekillot trailing some sort of farming equipment behind. The bellows of the mekillot were enough for the companions to move even further from the animal's path. A group of about twenty humans, half-elves and a mul, mostly herders, followed as fast as they could not even seeing the seven travelers on the side. Riding the tail end of the dust cloud was a group of five dwarven herders whose short legs did not allow them to develop more speed. It was to this last small crowd that the companions were able to call upon.

Koreth was breathing heavy as the erdlu flowed past him, but at least he had not been trampled. He grasped his hips with both hands and sought out those who were driving the herd. He gripped his spear tightly, using it to steady himself as he looked to see if his companions had also made it to safety.

"Ho there friends!" Koreth shouted above the din of the herd to the people driving them as they neared "have you seen other travelers heading this way!?" He smiled at them, relaxing his grip on his spear as he waited to see if they would answer him.

Tak' kept his distance from these strangers, and examines them for a moment. Did they come in peace or in war? Picking out the leader, as Tak' sees it, the halfling master drew on his Will, letting it fill him, and entering the mindscape, intent this time on examination rather than combat. Flying in the form of a slight gust of wind, Tak' circled the leader, and examined his construct, seeing how the colors and aura of desire, history and intent flowing around them. The aura of the oldest dwarven herder gave a off a pale white color signaling his non-aggressive nature at the moment.

Offering a small bow in the general direction of the strangers, Tak' tried to examine the tracks of the beast that had overrun them previously, amazed at the sheer volume and variation in the stampede. Calling out to the strangers Tak' asks simply, "Why run with such haste and speed? Are you pursued?"

Four of the dwarves simply keep pumping their legs as fast as they can while the leader stops a moment to catch his breath as he regards the group. In between pants he adds, "Go and run…get a…way". He points one hand to the direction he was coming from and cups his other as if listening for something. Nothing is heard as the thundering of the stampede echoes die down to an eerie silence as the herder's chest heaves with each labored breath. It was then that a long wailing howl turns the dwarf's red face to an ashen color. He starts to run again and yells back, "SANDHOWLERS, RUN!"

THE PACK

Elric had battled these creatures before and warns, "I have had a bad experience with these beasts, for some reason or other, the beast's eight eyes can paralyze much the same as a grown kreen's bite can." The warrior-wizard is frightened by the prospect of another battle and adds, "Last time, six guards of my company fell to only four of the lizard-like beasts so whatever you do, don't look at them. Let´s find cover, maybe they will follow the herd and we will be spared." Ptellac has already drawn his sword and in a rasping voice asks, "There is no place to hide! How big are these howlers, how many can we expect?" Elric, visibly nervous, confirms the pterran's observation and answers, "They hunt in small packs as far as I know. The beasts either charged and gutted our guards with their long tusks or went straight to bite you if you were paralyzed." He puts his hand up to his waist," They are big enough, maybe up to here…it's too late to run here they come"

The dust raised by the stampede hasn't settled yet when a series of frightening howls is heard. About fifty yards ahead, a single beast can be seen. It stands on four legs, with armored scales covering its back and large yellow tusks rising from its long, tooth filled jaws. It howls again and five other howls answer it. Six of the creatures gather together. They sniff about and look for the herd they were following when one of them spots the group. It raises its tooth filled snout to the crimson sun and lets out another blood curdling screech. The other five join the grisly song and a moment later the whole group start racing toward the companions.

Your actions…

OUT OF CHARACTER

HEALTH STATUS

Remember the scale:

Healthy (H) 100% hitpoints remaining

Slightly Wounded (SiW) 75% to 100% hitpoints remaining

Wounded (W) 50% to 75% hitpoints remaining

Seriously Wounded (SeW) 25% to 50% hitpoints remaining

Mortally Wounded (MW) 0% to 25% hitpoints remaining

Gaigin (SiW)

Polonius has warned about email problems and may not post this turn.

Koreth (H)

Chit (SiW)

Elric (SiW)

Tak (SiW), PSP (SiW)

Ayrus (H)

Ayrus is being played as an NPC for 2 more weeks by me so don't expect a post from him.

The sand howlers are about 50 yards and coming at you fast. Let me know what you will do and any special precautions you may want to take.

Questions, comments, and suggestions please.

L8r,

Fabian