Silence…ominous silence broken only by the grunts and groans of the wounded as the adrenaline from the battle seeps out of strained limbs. Everyone looked around especially to the ground to see if any more attacks were coming. The six slain beasts were plainly visible and accounted but one never knew. The desert looked strange with all the criss-crosses of the sandshark's wakes drawing some strange pattern.

The mul's first response was to reach down and pat the pouch at her side. <he's okay, good, so are we all it would seem> "Well that was a good fight to live through!" The mul smirks, trying to lift spirits." No sense in dwelling since we all made it out okay. My fellow pin cushion, care to join me in some healing? We could both use it?" With a jolly laugh more befitting his character than his somber mood lately, Elric approaches the mul and she takes them both into the mindscape to visit Marteu and heal some. Both warriors were in dire need of some healing and although not much, it at least stopped the staunch of blood in open wounds.

A soft thud is heard as Chit-Zik fails in his first attempt to stand. He inhales sharply as he hits the ground, then wheezes at the sand and silt he just breathed in. Chit-Zik mumbles something about his own selfishness as he proceeds to heal himself. Cracked chitin mends together on par with the druid's gestures. Once healed, he strains to stand again, surveying the battlefield.

"It is lucky Mendi and I were still close to the pack. Maybe we should stay with the pack. We are now too hurt to go alone anyway." Chit-Zik says to the others. "We should still try to move fast."

Uncomfortable, as usual when spoken directly by the kreen, Mendi needed a moment to quiet down before he answered. "I am not hurt, I will scout in front of the party... a surprise attack from those sharks would probably be worse anyway."

The mul nods her agreement with the Thri-kreen. Seeing his injuries are as bad as Elric's, Rayne approaches Chit. "After I have had time to meditate and rest, I will help ye mend yer wounds. Ye take it easy, it was a good fight." Nodding again to the fellow hunter she felt sure that the kreen understood her words, even though she could not read his face - not being accustomed yet to the way his antennas and mandibles move for different expressions.

Aryus collapses in exhaustion as the battle ends. He was a bloody mess and the pain was numbing his body completely. The windmage was only glad this nightmare was finally over. Looking around at his companions, he sighed in relief to see that they were all alive. Aryus them moves over to tend to the wounds of the needy.

Tak’ swayed beneath the hot sun - the massive wound at his side bleeding profusely - the stink of his lifeblood and the gore of the sandsharks filling his nostrils. The lack of blood made the slight halfling queasy, and he leaned over, retching quietly, shuddering with pain with each movement. Trying to right himself, Tak’ fell down, landing in a sitting position, looking at the Shark he had felled with the might of but one mental powerful storm.

<By Gaea!> Tak’ thought to himself <I am weak! I dropped the beast with but one blow - but it nearly did the same to me>. Checking his wound - Tak’ gasped, but was inwardly relieved. Several ribs were broken, but apart from a lot of surface bleeding, there was nothing life-threatening.

Still, he could hardly walk in his current state.

MINDSCAPE:
Tak’ retired to his forest glen, stretching out before the small stream, letting the scents, sights and sounds of the peaceful forest flow through him. The energy of the life around him was absorbed by Tak’, and with careful manipulation the halfling hunter put this energy to good use.

Broken ribs fused together, and ruptured blood vessels were closed. In the physical world, the little halfling stopped bleeding. While the gaping wound at his side still looked ghastly, it was no longer a threat to the little ones’ life.

Getting up gingerly, his wounds still aching, Tak’ stretched, looking out over the industrious elf, busy trying to extract value from the slain behemoths which had threatened all their lives but few moments ago.

Elric walks over to stare down at the young tagster. As he watches, the cub shakes and chews at one end growling toward the dead sand sharks. His cloak was ruined now for sure; best make the best of it. Reaching down, Elric cuts a strip from the remains of the cloak and begins fashioning a bandage to wrap his side. Taking what was left from the cloak, Elric ties knots into it until it is little more than a 3 foot length of knots. The warlock shakes the "cloak" before the cub then tosses it to him. Smiling as the tagster chews on the cloak "Little one that was indeed a battle not for you, not for me either it would seem."

Mendi looked around him, somewhat tired by his heavy use of the Way. The elf didn't loose much time, however, and soon, while the wounded were tended by Aryus and Rayne, he used his hatchet and knife to skin the desert sharks. At the closest shark, he tried to recover what flesh he could, and looking Tak? Do you think we can eat this?

Taking on a thoughtful look, and prodding at the still-warm carcasses with his spear, Tak’ nodded, "Probably. But why would you want to do so? The erdlu-meat we have will feed us until we reach Ptellac's village. Unless we spend considerable time and dry the meat it will all spoil before we get around to eating it."

"That was precisely what I had in mind. The meat spoils quickly in the desert's hot days, so I thought we should take some of this meat to replace spoiled erdlu meat," the elf adds.

Turning away, his green eyes scanning the horizon, Tak’ adds, "let what is Gaeas be given to Gaea. This meat will enrich the scavengers and plants of this region - and eventually us as well."

The elf continued, "We could replace some of the erdlu meat with some meat from those beasts. I'd prefer to eat fresh meat to potentially spoiled one. We can always leave the erdlu meat to the scavengers... I know that some of us can heal wounds, but I'm not sure they can heal disease. Some masters of the School of Thought, who were able to heal diseases, told me that there were things similar to those 'taxens' your spectral halfling spoke of. They called them 'humour', and some of them can kill you if they poison your blood." Since Mendi finds no echo to his words, he wraps up some fresh shark meat for tonight.

As the group wanders around this battlefield, Tak’ stands before the Shark he slew - taking out his life-dagger. With some precision and care, Tak’ extracted what he was after - 5 teeth - each as long as his middle finger - triangular and sharp beyond belief.

Rubbing them with his sack-cloth until the teeth were free of blood and flesh, Tak’ wrapped his treasures in a strip of cloth and placed them in his sack. Smiling, despite the pain of his wounds, and the exhaustion in his soul, Tak’ knew that he had earned his right to live another day. He had passed another test, and was learning the lessons of Gaea well.

The elf proceeded to clear the skin with some sand, and then went on to the extraction of the beast's jaws, which he put in the rolled skins. He then tied them with string and rope, and asked the stronger mul if she could carry them.

"Rayne, this is for the whole party: those fights took a heavy toll on our armors, some of us will need to make new ones as soon as we can hole up! Since I'm a scout, and rather weak compared to you, I can hardly carry them... I'm sure that between you," Mendi pointed vaguely at the stronger members of the party, "you can share the load, don't you?"

"I have an idea, we could make a couple of travois, the way some elven tribes do! Then you and perhaps Koreth or Gaigin would be able to pull them... look! We could use a base of sandshark tough hide for the bottom, and we can use some bowels or plaited hide bands for hand holds... we could even have Tak ride one of them, and this way you'll tire less than carrying him!"

"I see that some would benefit from using the hide, but I can't carry that much. I will haul one in a what-ever-yer-calling-it elf thingy. That should do fer you, Tak and any others that need it. If ye want more elf, carry it yerself." The mul begins to turn away, but hesitates; her smirk coming to her face. "By the way - I'd call us more than even for the pouch now after this. Maybe ye even owe me one? This will slow me down more than Tak - who didn't slow me at all."

"You owe Elric, not me. He paid for the pouch", answered Mendi, who looked somewhat confused by the mul's speech.

Mendi begins to protest more at the mul's sharp tone, but she cuts him off. "I am wounded, tired and in the middle of the desert. Do not try my patience with yer babble elf. I don't think ye know what an angry female mul is lookin' like. Let's leave it at this and keep me from a foul mood which I would more than likely take out on any who try me patience!"

Mendi chuckled, obviously not much afraid by the mul's short temper.

ONLY MENDI, NO ONE ELSE HAS SEEN THIS

Mendi was slaughtering his third shark away from the party. This one was particularly big, measuring perhaps a bit over 10 feet; its jaws more than ample to fit in the elf's head and then some when fully opened. It was very hard work to cut the tendons loose to pry the mouthpiece out but was well worth it. He then proceeded to skin the beast starting from the softer underbelly. He pierced deeply with his knife and sliced towards the beast's head but the knife hit something solid before continuing. More than a little curious, Mendi was about to call over someone from the group but then decided against it since they were all busy tending to their wounds.

The elf peddler stuck his arm up to his elbow and moved around trying to find out what hit the knife. His fishing around was soon rewarded by what felt like three stones. The elf pried them out; they were all gory with blood and rests of food but the elf saw them twinkle nevertheless. They were two clear stones about half the size of Tak's fist; the other one was a clear green and was about twice as big as the other two. The elf quickly threw them on the hot, abrasive sand and cleaned them of any gore. His mouth hung limp as he surveyed the two smaller stones; they were simple brilliant and deflected the sun's rays in a myriad of colors. But it was the green stone that simply charmed the elf; the large stone was clear to its core where a small light seemed to sparkle with a life of its own. Mendi was just drawn to the light as moth is to fire and he looked at it whenever possible. He finally put the green gem out of his mind and continued with his work and then returned to the party after stashing the three gems safely into his pack

BACK AT BATTLE SCENE

Jabbing his spear one last time into the body of the sandshark, Gaigin raises his mask and spits on the carcass. "Gith-spawned shark, ye picked the wrong lot o' prey this day. Ye tasted me blood, anbd paid with yer life."

Wrenching his spear loose from the corpse, Gaigin turned away from the ruined bodies of the sharks and sighed. Leaning heavily on his spear, he limps over to retrieve his pack and begin binding his wounds with strips torn from the hem of his robe, which is now little more than a long tunic. Sipping water slowly, Gaigin watches Mendi prepare the sharks.

"I'll take one of the jaws, and a piece o' hide, elf. I'm hurt, but I'm strong enough, and me own pack's light in any case." Gaigin chuckles, "Besides, if I can make some armor out of the carcass of this beast, I might not be such easy prey next time we meet one in battle."

"That is what I have in mind, all right. I don't know how to make armors, however, so I hope somebody from Lost Scale will be able to help us. If you don't mind, I'll also make a travois for you: this will be easier to haul this way, and should we meet more hostile creatures, you will be able to instantly discard the encumbering bulk!"

Mendi went back to the carcasses, and resumed his gory knacker's work. He was soon covered with blood, and more than somewhat smelly, but he worked quickly and efficiently nonetheless, cutting long bands of the softest hide, recovering some bowels and emptying them. He then plaited them into crude ropes, and, with the complement of some tough hide, he then build two travois, one of them big enough to sustain a load and Tak.

The windmage intercedes, "I'm afraid my water has run out, but I'm not so sure that splitting up to find water is such a great idea. Considering that we are all critically wounded and considering the dangerous encounter we just had, hardly seems a great idea to send people out to find water. I do have some magic that may create so water, as soon as I get a chance to use it."

Koreth wiped the sweat from his eyes, as he lowered his sword until its bloodied tip almost touched the sand. <Those were fearsome beasts!> he surveyed the desert from which the sand sharks had come <They paid highly for their lives...in our blood. I'd not want to face them again.> Koreth almost felt guilty, almost all of his companions lay wounded and yet he had not even a scratch. His will draining from his limbs, he felt exhausted. The sword in his hands drooped in his grip, the battle within him gone.

"Blood and bloody ashes," He mutters as he turns to his companions "Gaigin, you can forget your promise of no camp chores." He looked about at his bloodied companions, his face sad. Digging in his belt pouch he produced a tattered rag. He slowly wiped the blood from his blade, his eyes still searching about for trails in the sand.

"I'll do most of them tonight...." the words almost catch in Koreth's throat, as if his father's pride will not allow his son to bow so low. The words almost sound strange coming from a man raised in the comforts of nobility, used to having everything done for him. <It's the least I can do...> he thinks somberly <for...friends?>

"With the beating those bloody beasts gave us, we had better find a place to camp soon." Koreth replaces the rag, and sheaths his blade "Otherwise we could find ourselves prey once again. All this blood is going to have every predator and scavenger for miles looking for an easy meal."

Koreth surveys the horizon, his expression somber. The desert was cruel indeed, he had always know that. It was only at times like this, when the desert was reaching out to claim someone or something he actually cared about, that he took time to contemplate it.

This done, as the wounded were more or less patched, Mendi proposed to resume his scouting role. The elf soon outpaced the party, and was very careful for the weakened party would not resist another encounter with beasts like those sand sharks. Mendi ran back and forth, carefully making as little noise as possible, and moving half crouched when on the summit of dunes, using his elven sneaking skills as well as he was able to.

WATER FINDING

During the trip, the elf saw an outcrop of cacti that attracted his trained eyes. He left his intended route to approach the cacti, and was soon happy to recognize a species that held a lot of water in its core. Using his knife to etch a small incision in the biggest cactus, Mendi was soon rewarded by a trickle of greenish, but drinkable water, with which he refilled one of his now empty water-skins. The elf looked around, and was disappointed to see that this cactus was the only one mature enough to retain some water. The elf shrugged, and then resumed his scouting.

FINDING CAMP

Some hours later, Mendi found a bush of acacia. With some swings of sword and hatchet, the place would make a good place near which to camp. Mendi ran to get the other members of the party. The elf came back, running tirelessly. "I found a thicket of acacia. We could use them for some protection, and perhaps light a meager fire, what do you think?" It was almost time to camp so no one put up any arguments and simply asked the elf to lead the way.

AT CAMP

Gaigin staggered into camp and sat down heavily, dropping his load and sitting back, sipping greedily from his waterskin. His wounds had stopped bleeding, but the crude battle-dressings would not stop infection were they left too long. Still, plenty of time for healing when the others were well. Dragging himself out of the sinking drowsiness that threatened to overtake him, Gaigin moves over to Ptellac.

"Well, Ptellac, ye fared better'n most of us against those sharks. That spear suits ye and ye use it well." Gaigin rests to take another sip of his skin. "I learned long ago that pain and injury are no excuse fer missing yer lessons. If ye aren't to exhausted, I'd continue me lesson. I've much yet to learn, and the desert grows no younger."

Ignoring the pain in his hip and arm as best he could, Gaigin concentrates fully upon the lesson, using the phrases of the Pterran tongue as a meditative mantra to keep out the pain. After a few hours of teaching, Gaigin surrenders to his exhaustion and sleeps almost where he sits.

Mendi thanked Rayne, who had carried the shark hides during the day. He unrolled them, and once more used his skinning knife and some sand to clean them, while chatting lightly with Ptellac who volunteered to help him. "If one of us has some knowledge of leather-working, we could make some good armor out of these? or perhaps we'll be able to barter them with Ptellac's people?" The pterran smiled and added, "I'm sure you will find out skill in armor and weapons to your liking, we have fine armorers and weapon smithies in our village rest assured."

Once the chores were done, Rayne almost falls into the sand. Letting the worm out for a meal and a stretch, Rayne keeps a close eye on the cub to make sure it does not take a liking to the worm. The mul then excuses herself telling Tak she is too tired to continue with her lessons this evening,

With a somewhat relieved nod, Tak agreed with Rayne that lessons in the Way would be put off for an evening. Instead, Tak’ sat his tired and battered body near the fire, and pulled out his small bag filled with several needles and small pottles.

Carefully selecting a pot - and heating one of the needles in the fire, Tak’ dipped the end of the bone tool into a black liquid, and proceeded to pierce a patch of unmarked skin on his left arm.

With care, diligence, and not a little skill, Tak’ spent time and created several images to show his deeds of the past few days. There were several stick figures - small in stature, but black in color. A green and red beast, with two abstract heads. Finally the image of a beast with no legs, and a gaping maw finished off Tak’s burst of artistry.

With an approving glance, and a hum of satisfaction, Tak’ carefully washed his new tattoos, and packed away his precious tools. Instead, he took out and carefully unwrapped the teeth he had salvaged from the Sand Shark.

Polishing them carefully, grinding down the sharp edges so they would not cut, Tak’ changed what was once teeth used to cut and rend into simple, yet striking, pieces of bone, with a distinctive shape and color. Tak’ had in mind a simple necklace - all he needed now was a short length of cord, and a tool to drill holes. Perhaps the Pterrans could help him with that - but until then, his artwork would be unfinished.

Before nightfall, Tak’ offers to heal Elric who seemed the most wounded. The technique was not too different than Rayne's although the end result was the same; the warlock would sleep much better this night.

Aryus was not in a conversation mood this night. He cleaned his wounds as best as he could and dressed them with the tattered pieces of his blood stained cloak. Using a few of the z'taal scales he bought in Tyr, he cut a few shreds of cloth to wrap around his body. Then with a heavy sigh, he collapses into a deep sleep.

Later in the evening, Rayne approaches Koreth. Sitting beside the warrior, the mul seems hesitant and a bit shy. Finally she utters her question. "Ye said a time back that ye once lived amongst the dwarves. I know nothing of me ancestors, but have a hunger fer that knowledge. Could ye tell me of them? I know it is a touchy subject fer ye, this is why I have waited some time, but me curiosity tears me apart sometimes." Sighing from finally uttering the words, she sits, apprehensively and holds her breath, not sure what the noble's response will be.

Koreth smiles over at Rayne, turning himself in her direction. <A woman that deadly in combat, shy? Interesting.> Putting aside the rag with which he had been wiping the gore from his helmet, he takes a second to admire the helm. Koreth then turns his gaze and infectious grin towards Rayne, hoping his smile will ease her nervousness.

Rayne relaxes at Koreth's grin, realizes she has not overstepped any boundaries.

"I revel in the memory of my dwarven friends, it is only their cruel deaths that bring me pain." his grin turns somewhat melancholy for a moment "The dwarves that I know the best are those who lived near the outpost, in one of the smaller villages in the area. Clan Uhrk. It's houses were crafted of fiery red mudbricks and painted with all manner of earthy browns, reds, and yellows. The only exception to this was the stone temple where they worshipped the earth. It was crafted of large blocks of pinkish stone crafted from the boulders that surround and protect the village and carved with the angular patterns of which they
are so fond of. A large stone cistern sat in the main square, free for anyone of the village or guests there to fill their skins or drink." Koreth twists the helm about in his hands a bit, his gaze drifting to it then back to Rayne. <How long has it been since I earned this helm?> he thinks to himself as he looks to see if she is listening.

Rayne listens intently as Koreth begins his tale. <oh it sounds like a beautiful place>

"The dwarves themselves were a good bunch of people. Duego and Nodi were the two I knew best, grandsons to the uhrnius himself and both excellent stonemasons. The uhrinus is a dwarven clan chief, and in the case of Vikul their spiritual leader as well. He was a stern and wise dwarf, and a good two hundred years of age!" Koreth takes a small sip of his water skin, passing it over towards Rayne.

Rayne accepts the skin and takes a sip.

"It was during the yearly ritual baazrag hunt where I earned this helmet. You see, every year the warriors of the dwarves go out and hunt baazrag in a ceremony celebrating the life the earth had provided them the year before and to guarantee the same in the year to come. In my time at the outpost, I had become almost a part of the clan. That is because I respected them, and respect and honor are very important things to dwarves. I had helped them dig a new well, I had learned not only to speak their difficult tongue but I would speak to them solely in it. It is always considered an honor to converse with a dwarf in their
tongue for long periods, and as you already know, it is very guttural and tends to dry out your throat." He pauses, taking a small sip from his skin. He looks over to Rayne, seeing if she cares to take the skin.

Rayne shakes her head no, but smiles a thanks - not wishing to speak and interrupt the story that has her enthralled.

"In return for the respect I had shown his clan and his faith, Vikul repaid me with the honor of the Dhru hla kul. Hunt of life in the trade tongue, a rough translation at best. During this hunt, the warriors paint their bare chests, backs and faces with all manner of designs. Each warrior takes a spear with him, tied onto which are ribbons of the same earthy colors used in their paints." Koreth grins widely as he remembers himself bare chested and painted, towering at least two feet over all the other warriors "We set out along a path used every year through the boulder fields and into an area of stony barrens where the baazrag could be found. The sun was merciless on my skin as I remember, burning and blistering my back before the hunt was done. There were no baazrag to be found in the normal places, so we ventured farther into the barrens."

"As an honor, I was in the front. Honor went to the warrior to first find the sacrificial baazrag and also to the warrior to slay it. Several miles past the usual hunting grounds, Vikul himself spotted a potential lair. As we crept closer, a baazrag larger than I had ever seen came out of that lair. It was nearly eight feet long! Vikul yelled a deep guttural battle cry and we all moved to surround the beast. I stayed near Vikul, who grinned happily at me. 'It's not often we are favored with such a portent!' he told me. Several dwarves, mostly the younger and more brash, jumped in one at a time to try their luck. Many had their spear shafts bounce from the creature's tough carapace, and Jerik had his spear snapped in half by the creature's strong jaws. A few spears had drawn blood, and the baazrag circled around in rage. It turned in my direction, pawing the ground as it looked at me with it's beady yellow eyes. I lowered my spear as it charged. Dust flew up as it came at me with a speed I didn't think it had. I braced myself and my spear, the exhilaration of the hunt flowing in my veins."

"The beast slammed into my spear with a force that shook my arms and sent me hurling into the large rock behind me. I pulled my spear free as the beast stumbled back, blood decorating more than two feet of the spear's shaft. The baazrag stumbled back, it's blood staining the sands as it's legs wobbled. Jumping on the chance, I thrust my spear again into the beast. It quivered, fell down and moved no more. I pulled my spear free, and Vikul was at my side. He produced several small ceramic bowls, which he set down on the sand near the slain baazrag. He held each to the wound and gathered a little blood in each bowl, passing the first to me. Part of the ritual is to drink of the life of the baazrag, who represents the earth in the ritual. I drank the mouthful of warm and salty liquid, as did every dwarf there." Holding the skull before him, Koreth looks it over a bit more before passing it to Rayne. He takes a sip as she looks upon it. The bone was a clean white, intricate angular dwarven patterns etched all over it's surface.

"Vikul gave to me the right of the first prize, an honor for slaying the beast. I chose it's skull, which Noka crafted into the helm you have in your hands. Noka is the crafter of weapons and arms for the clan, he has a fine hand and a good eye for detail. Getting back to the hunt...we took the baazrag back to the village. As we marched back, Vikul told me that the baazrag was what is called a boneclaw. To have found and slain such a large beast was a good omen for the village and for myself. In the village itself, we took the baazrag to the temple, where it was laid upon a stone altar. Vikul removed the creature's heart, which was sliced into pieces and cooked. Each dwarf in the village, male and female, young and old ate a small piece. The body was burned in a magnificent fire, along with fragrant herbs and other plants." Koreth smiles, watching Rayne's eyes as he tells his tale "To the light of the fire, they danced and drank a thick barley beer well into the night. I will always remember that day with pride and happiness. Vikul told me that by slaying the boneclaw, he knew that I would do great deeds in my life. I believe him."

Rayne absentmindedly pets the worm as it stretches out, lighting the noble and ex-slave in it's eerie light. Returning his grin, the mul sighs. "To know such people, they sound wonderful! Ye are a lucky man Koreth." The mul sighs and looks distant. "I hope to someday find me mother's family and find out about them and her, but this helps. Marteu kept me away from dwarves, I think he missed me mom too much. Or maybe the dwarves were mad at Marteu fer takin' her away. Whatever the reason, I have no idea where to begin. Thank you fer indulging me with yer tale. I am afraid ye are such a good story teller that I wil ask ye to tell me more!" Rayne chuckles and gives Koreth her usual smirk.

Taking a mouthful of water, Koreth grins at Rayne. Night is fast approaching and the first watch would start soon. "I hope that I have given you a good glimpse into dwarven life," he says "and show you what a proud people they are." Koreth looks off into the sky, the sun setting in a brilliant display of red. <And it felt good to remember and tell of them> he thought <I miss them all, living and dead.>

"I must meditate now however, I should be rested well when it comes time fer my watch." Seeing the noble's content face, Rayne feels good for asking him to share his past. Feeling rather elated, the mul sits and falls into a deep meditation. (four hours) Once Rayne awoke from her meditation, she snuggled up with the worm - whom she would put away when she awakes for her watch - and falls into a happier sleep than she has had in a while.

Expedition Day 13 - Year of the Desert's Fury of the 190th King's Age (Free Year 11)

Stony Barrens - Somewhere in the Hinterlands

The sandy wastes were left behind and the feet did not sink quite as deep in this new terrain; the stony barrens. These barrens consisted of large sheets of exposed bedrock, mostly orange-red sandstone. Exposed to the wind and sun, the barrens are littered with stones of all sizes, from tiny pebbles to massive boulders. A thick layer of orange dirt covers some areas and, in some places, drifts of red sand and yellow dust pile at least waist high.

Vegetation virtually bursts from the rocky soil, but only in the form of cactus. Squat spheres covered by long yellow needles push up from among the tumble of boulders. Twisted masses of ground hugging tubes and thorn hide in the puffy heaps of dust. Tall spine-covered barrels rise as high as 20 feet, some growing in tangles that resemble trees.

Frankly, the companions could not make up their minds which was worse. The footing was extremely tricky as sharp stones littered the ground. The yellow-white sands changed to dark red-brownish stones everywhere the eyes turned to. And the footing wasn't the worst part by any means. It was the heat. The heat was oppressing to say the least. The rocky ground literally radiated heat as waves could be seen flowing from the stones everywhere.

The make shift sleds or travois became torn to pieces soon after they started to be dragged across the sharp stones that were everywhere. The mul and ex-caravan guard had to give up dragging the makeshift sleds. Gaigin and the mul decided to carry one hide and one jaw-piece each and the lanky elf was sad a good part of the morning mumbling something about loosing a good deal to trade items which were not found everyday. Tak had recovered some of his self-esteem as he was down on the ground all the time since the companions had to slow down to account for the treacherous footing. Ptellac ruined the small hunter's morning when he told him that they would be in his beloved scrublands by the end of the day and Tak would again be at a disadvantage again.

The water was running out but they breathed easier as they were told that water was available in the scrublands. The pterran promised oasis and water in open ponds for them to draw from; waterholes much like the one they had drank from near Tyr were not uncommon. Ayrus was the only who had run out of the life-giving fluid but had been helped to the green-sticky liquid that the elf had found yesterday; he would no doubt have to borrow water for today as well unless he produced some with his magic (DM note: Rive please describe the spell, the products, etc. if the spell is cast.)

The elf had taken upon himself to scout out but this terrain was not the best to be running around so he stayed fairly close to the party after he almost sprained his ankle on a sharp rock. The group was pretty close together, casually sipping from their lukewarm water and trying to stay in the shade from the noon sun. Vision had again become blurry as the heat waves rose from the sharp angled rock all around them.

Right from in front of the party a creature rises looking over the party with gleeful delight. Its sight lingers on Mendi first and then on Elric and Ayrus. The 5 feet tall creature is some sort of insect as can be seen by its three-sectioned body. The lower parts are covered with hundreds of small legs on both sides much like the megapede the group had seen a couple of days ago. The upper torso was topped by a squat head with two bulbous eyes not unlike Chit's own. The mouth had a small mandible and two appendages sprung from its side. These arm-like appendages ended in two wicked looking claws with three opposable thumbs. Right after the heroes take into the description two more creatures rise right beside the first where there was only rock or so they thought.

The leader pointed towards the stony barrens all around them and then signaled towards the elf and both half-elves. The noise issued from its mouth sounded like a series of clicks and clacks incomprehensible even to the kreen whose antennas whirled all about trying to make sense out of it. Gaigin stepped forward from the group to parley but carried his long spear nonetheless hoping that the creatures didn't realize that the spear-head was made out of some distant cousin of his, "Kank's dung, insect. I ain't got no idea what ye wants but you'd best let us through."

The insectoid understood even less than Gaigin had and then decided to try something different. He goes through the same motion as before but then adds in a broken but understandable elven, "The rocks…around you…belong to the queen of all insects. You are trespassing…into our land. For that you must pay…and we will let you pass free." The insect leader clacks his mandibles in his own tongue and is answered by four more clicks/clacks; two on each side of the party. These new sounds come from the heroes' sides who find themselves outflanked by the man-insects (7 in all).

The leader continues in elven; his tone is non-threatening. He seems to be speaking as a matter of fact as if he is used to have his demands fulfilled. "The rocks and everything on them…belong to the queen. You must pay to pass free…we will take away… the elf and one of the half-elves from the group…to feed the queen. You don't have to pay for this service… Then you can go…for now." The scrabs make no aggressive moves towards the party; they seem convinced that what they are asking for is reasonable and perhaps it is…given the situation.

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 (W)

Mendi (H)

Koreth (H)

Ayrus (W)

Ptellac (H)

Rayne (W)

Chit (SiW)

Tak (SiW)

Elric (SiW)

GENERAL

Congratulations to Trevor for another great story; this is worth some XPs. For those of you that want to share this with the rest of us. Look to this type of story since it has got everything I want: a) it is entertaining, b) it doesn't have any world-rocking event which may mess up the campaign, and c) it details past friends and foes (which I will later use in the campaign). All in all, a great job.

I did not let Elric cast his "enlarge" spell since it has a limited duration and was not suited for its intent. Let's just say that John forgot but not Elric.

Be careful with the scrabs speech which was in ELVEN so only those that understand may act upon it. Also, please no one in the party has any notion of scrabs or what they are, etc. You have all heard legends of insect-men that live out in the barrens.

WATER SITUATION at the end of the 12th day (i.e. I haven't discounted water for this day yet)

Questions, comments, and suggestions please.

L8r,

Fabian