The pterrans noticed the strange armor and armament that the group possessed: spears made from chitin, weapons made from shiny black crystal, Koreth's shield with the strange red, flying lizard and Tak's bone daggers. What caught his attention the most were the light, yet surprisingly strong chitin plates Gaigin and Rayne had. Talbot addressed the group in his broken common, "You travel far, tell me, what is behind the endless rocky badlands where snakes no go?"

Koreth looked up from his strange shield as Talbot inquired of the world beyond his piece of the hinterlands. The noble warrior almost found their quest strange, until he remembered that the Pterran had most likely not ever ventured beyond the territory of his village.

"Beyond those bloody, scrab filled badlands is the Ringing mountains, a place Tak' would be more suited to tell you of." the noble warrior explained, glancing over at Tak' "but the lands beyond those mountains are called the tablelands. There several large cities there, numerous small villages and many trading outposts. Tyr, the city with which your people wish to open trade, is one of those large cities." Koreth shakes his head a moment, wondering exactly how he can give the Pterran a good idea of his homeland. The words seem to slip out of his grasp.

"The land...blood and ashes!" the noble warrior looks about for another to finish his description "It's a place you have to experience, and not just listen about." He looks down a moment, before turning his attention to his shield.

Talbot answers but his gaze is still drawn towards the strange shield, "Is strange you say scrabs, you must tell me what scrabs are." Gaigin interrupts, "Scrabs are medium sized insect-men, evil critters that have shown attitude towards destructive magic. They have defilers amongst 'em." The ex-caravan leader continues as he sees the blank look on the pterran's face, "Defilers work magic destroying the land, I don't know exactly how what they wither plants and leave the soil useless, anyway they are covered by chitin like I have here," Talbot quickly explains to his comrades in their native tongue and they all nod, "We worried 'cause another patrol has described creatures like you say. A patrol leader die in the encounter and it is no easy to kill pterran warrior."

Mendi continues with his own account of the lands, "Ah, dZZe lanTTT... it is a pLLaze of fine tRRRade and many goOOtz! What kind of gOOOtz inteRRest you, Talbot?"

Talbot smiles showing his fangs and exclaims, "You speak like Ptellac, me sure he like you. Me only need good weapon and weapon good when used with pride and has stood many battles." He brings forth his own polearm and the party sees that it is made out of some sort of bone/fang. Talbot continues with pride, "This here weapon will never trade, made from worm's tooth. When worm dies in battle, we take fangs and make polearms. We, ptop worm rider, bear weapons with pride. Me no trade this weapon even for slodak weapon, slodak weapon only given to special warrior and must fight beast himself to get blood. You should speak to pterran weaponmaker, maybe he trade slodak weapon for you."

Tak' smiles as Koreth makes eye-contact. It was only a few weeks ago when the noble-warrior and the halfling had met, and now both knew of their homes and dreams. There was so much to learn - and so many more people and place to see.

Tak' sits quietly for a while, choosing his word carefully, "the mountains are home to the forest ridge, the only place on Athas where life is lush and plentiful. It is a beautiful place, with flowers, scents and birdcalls
echoing through the trees. It is also a dangerous place, where predator and prey live side-by-side, and all beings from the ants to the drakes are able to defend themselves. Most importantly," Tak' says with wistful
reflection, "it is home. Where my people grow and live, and where I may walk as a servant of Gaea."

Tak' remembers Ptellac, and the bond that he had begun to form with the noble Pterran - in particular their concepts of nature and life. "Talbot, I spoke with Ptellac of the ways of my people, and he had begun to teach me the ways of yours.

"Halflings revere the cycle of life, and the accumulation of nature we see around us. Those who live today are only custodians, and tomorrow our children will inherit what we guard and preserve - as it has been for thousands of years. The nature around us is the Green, and the bond we halflings share with it is much like one held between a child and their mother. Gaea is who we respect and are raised by."

Aware that what he was about to ask potentially could cause offense, Tak' bit his lip and blurted out, "Pterran told me a little of the 'Earth Mother'. I feel I understand, but enough to truly appreciate your ways.

would like to know more."

The pterran looks bewildered at hearing Tak, "You no pterran but you describe 'Earth Mother' only you call different. You speak with pterran druid who teach you proper name no Gaea. We, pterran have only one mother for ourselves and our village. Me mother is his mother so we all brothers, one big family. You speak with pterran druid and teach better."

As the others speak of the land over the mountains, Rayne remains quiet. <nothing of those lands are anything I want to remember>. Taking out Le'lil as the darkness falls, the mul shares her food and water with the worm as it relaxes in the darkness, glowing as bright as the camp fire to light the party's campsite.

The lizardmen's eyes open wide with wonder and light as the glow worm illuminates the area just as bright as the campfire shining like a beacon in the night. "You have new things, this is like firefly but stronger." Talbot looks towards Mendi and adds, "If you trade worm, then I buy. What you want for worm." Just before Mendi has a chance to speak, the mul quickly intercepts, "Le'lil is not for sale, mind yee. Would you sell yer big worm, well he is me little worm and I take care of him. He is alive and no, Tyr does not have anymore for trading as far as I know and don't yee go askin' again." The mul rubs the worm just the right way and his light diminishes to little more than a glow. After the pterran continues talking and looking at the small creature, the mul puts him back in his bag and ties him tighter to her waist.

Not too far away

Elric watches the campfire from the short distance that signified his isolation. The young rider, who's name seemed to be Pingo, remained vigilant in his role as overseer and would not allow Elric to join his Companion around the campfire without relinquishing the short sword Tempest. Throughout the day Koreth's words had circled in the young half-elf's mind "Honor will only get you into trouble..." The logic continued to turn upon itself. A few short weeks ago, Elric would have agreed entirely. However, since joining with Gaigin's Pack, Elric had begun to build what he believed to be a hunter's honor flavored by the interactions with the noble likes of Tak'Nak'Raq and Chit. Shaking his head Elric calls Whisper to his side. With the tagster by his side, the warlock pulls out the numerous pages that contain the map and travel information. Clearing his head of the intricacies of honor Elric neatly begins to update the map. Insuring to note the range of were the group had met with the patrol.

The pterran grows bored at watching the warlock and is more than little interested at what the humanoid deemed so important that he would not give up. He gleams at the hilt but is unsure as to what to make out of the strange sword. He shares his dried slated meat with Elric and Whisper getting the small tagster to eat, not quite from his hand, but close. He is not quite sure how he will guard the half-elf without falling asleep himself. The warlock finishes with the map and adjusts himself for a good night's sleep probably thinking of the same thing when noise is heard and huge lumbering pterran is seen approaching. Guttural and throaty sounds are exchanged between the two and Pingo leaves the place leaving the a very much alert warrior in his place. Elric groans, turns around and goes to sleep again.

As the discussion of the lands beyond begins to slow down, Koreth stalks off over to where he had laid down his blanket and pack. The noble warrior looks over a moment at Tak', who is still sitting near the fire with the Pterran and a few other members of the pack.

<I guess there will be no lessons tonight,> he thinks as he sits down upon his familiar blanket. Koreth lays his hands upon his legs and closes his eyes, slowly but surely sinking into a state of meditation. He could feel the power of his will throbbing within him, the pulses of energy in time with the beat of his heart. The all too familiar pathways within him open up, but it is beyond his own psyche and body that he looks. The shapes of the others, somewhat fuzzy to his untrained senses seemed just out of reach. If he could only just reach out his hand far enough....

Expedition Day 19 - Year of the Desert's Fury of the 190th King's Age (Free Year 11)

Scrublands - One Day North of Lost Scale

Morning:

Used to her early rise for the last watch, the mul wakes, thrown off a little, Rayne shakes her head and reminds herself of the last days events. Feeling awkward, she rises slowly, uncomfortable that her weapons are not laying ready for use as they usually do when she sleeps. Keeping her movements slow and obvious so as not to alarm the pterran guards, Rayne makes her way to the edge of the camp, making sure she has ample room for her morning exercises. Her graceful kata looked just as deadly this morning, without weapons, as it did every sunrise when her movements were accented and extended by her sword and tortoise blade. Rayne nods to the guard watching her, inviting him to join in. She invites him once again as Koreth and Gaigin rise and join her, like they do most mornings. (sorry guys if I took the liberty and shouldn't have - just let Fabian know if you don't want to join . . .)

Koreth rises out of the comfortable haven of his blanket, almost unwilling to throw it off and face a new day. The chill of the night was already beginning to burn off as the sun continued to rise. He stretched out for a moment, smiling as he watched Rayne moving about her morning routine. After taking a small sip from his skin, he walks over and joins her.

"Looks like it's time for a little practice in bare handed fighting," the noble warrior grins, a little sadness on his face "I don't know about you, but I feel naked without my sword."

The mul nods. "Doesn't seem right. Ptellac will set 'em straight - we can only help with our weapons in hand - not hurt . . . they will see that."

Koreth goes about a dance not unlike Rayne's, his movements wavering from slow and methodical to quick and hasty. He had learned the pattern from her, even if he wasn't nearly as patient or gracefull at it as she.

"I'm looking forward to getting to the village," Koreth adds as he finishes the form "it'll be good to see Ptellac again."

The group gathers together for a quick cold meal before departing. Campsite is quickly cleaned and tidied and soon the group has formed again with two riders flanking the party, another rider bringing up the rear and Talbot leading. The members had to turn around to see if the last pterran was still following due to the almost utter silence of the worm. The change was brought about by the addition of the warlock to the main party but still under personal vigilance of Pingo. The pterran had obviously done double shift duty that night but looked no worse for the wear.

About mid-morning, Talbot called for a halt and hushed everyone for silence. Out in the distance, everyone squinted and saw a group of small figures advancing towards them. The two flanking snakes moved up front and formed a trio with Talbot. All of the worms' "horns" were turned towards the approaching party and Talbot urged his snake a little bit forward. The snake complied and suddenly raised itself to almost half its height with Talbot standing on the stirrups. The lizardman must have been 50' up in the air trying to get a better look. The worm suddenly flattened itself again and the pterran smiled. "That is pterran group, maybe Ptellac there."

The whole party moved forward picking up the pace eager to meet up with the trader again. In a short time, the groups met. Ptellac came accompanied by nine other pterrans. Bows were quickly exchanged and the trader quickly made Talbot and his patrol feel at ease. The pterran riders quickly went over to the bundled weapons and started laying them out on the floor for the group to collect. The pile soon became the natural circle of attention were court words were exchanged.

The pterran trader exclaimed, "Well, you have met Talbot and his patrol." He then pointed to his own lizardmen, "These are more of the finest pterran ground warriors, accompanied by three adepts of Earth Mother. All of them are as trustworthy as I am even if not all of them speak common very well. The only fellow who does speak common quite well is Ptpteic, he is…well let's just say that he is pterran with an interesting upbringing. I am hoping that he stays with us as he could be of great help in the trade agreement, you will speak to him later and find out about him. As far as I can tell, he is as trustworthy as any of us."

The party soon grabbed and strapped their weapons while Talbot and Ptellac exchange more words. The snake riders jump on the worms, courteously bow to the party while Talbot says goodbyes, "You good men, must continue patrol, you leave with Ptellac. We meet in village other day." With that the snake riders leave as silently as they appeared. Ptellac takes over, "Come, we are very near our village and should reach it before nightfall. The triumvirate is aware of your coming and wishes to speak to you early tomorrow morning and there will celebration in our village, Harvest celebration and goodwill games as well for our new trade partners. Let us hasten, we may speak on our way there"

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 (H)

Koreth (H)

Ayrus (H)

Tak (H)

Rayne (H)

Mendi (H)

Elric (H)

Whisper (H)

GENERAL

I have checked my dates and it was back on July 5^th that turn 0 went out, John was the first to answer my post for players back on June 29^th so I would say that this game has made it past one year. It wavered a little bit there but I think we can get this game back to its better times.

OK, let us roleplay this trip and ask any questions you may have for Ptellac and Ptpteic. The next turn will have you arriving at the village late at night.

Mike, I want a strong physical description of your character so we may all get a good mental image of him which will last whenever we see the name Ptpteic, other than that, jump in. Hopefully, everyone will be in to get some interaction going (Ptellac included).

This next period for XPs covers from out of the jungle to present time. Please update the sheets and mail me any and all changes. I think a couple of you have gone up levels so do your math carefully.

Questions, comments, and suggestions please.

L8r,

Fabian