Delving into the Desert (Plot)

[Skittlebug]

It had taken some time, but Neil, Suri, and Aelwine are finally approaching the desert proper. The number of demons they've been seeing has been greatly increasing the closer they get, but they haven't had much trouble putting them down so far. Things may get more difficult as the cover begins to thin though.

Suri has been proving a more than adequate scout, even Tousle has been helping that regard. She wouldn't admit to it, but being so small she works much better in a team, drawing demons to the group then helping to bring them down.

Neil has been efficient as ever, and eager to boot, putting his Force given gifts to good use.

[Kender Bard]

Aelwine had shown he was a capable fighter, though he was beginning to have some trouble without cover. He worked best by using his surroundings to his advantage, having honed his fighting skills in the jungles of Celentia. Nighthunt was able to help him with the handicap though; the pair made a fierce team, with the powerful panther distracting any opponent that seemed to be pressing Aelwine too hard, allowing him to get in a critical hit.

"Think the Fires are going to give us any trouble?" Aelwine asked Neil and Suri.

[Skittlebug]

Neil scowls, "They'd better not."

Suri shakes her head. "I'm sure they won't once they know we're after the demons, all things considered."

[Kender Bard]

"That's true," Aelwine agreed. "Good, then. But should we approach them first or should we just run to them if we need help? Personally, I'm in favor of establishing a base."

[Skittlebug]

Suri and Neil both agree. "I'll check if there's a clan anywhere nearby." Neil abruptly disappears.

Suri shakes her head, "It's still weird when he does that."

[Kender Bard]

"Minds were a bit more rare back home," Aelwine agreed. "Very odd. And how does he do that without needing to touch his sign or chant? I haven't asked him because... Um, well, frankly he's kind of scary. Don't you get the impression that he's always angry? Unless he's fighting."

[Skittlebug]

Suri shakes her head, "No idea, I wonder if it's something Worg did when he got his ring..." The idea does spark a thought, if it was something the Force had done, could any of the ring bearers be blessed with special abilities?

[Kender Bard]

"Well if that's the case, I wonder if it's because he needed it or if he deserved it," Aelwine replied. "It has to be handy. But we haven't had too much trouble. It's bound to get worse, though." He made a face at that. "Oh well. At least we're finally, properly warm."

[Skittlebug]

Suri shakes her head, "You want warm, we should come back in the summer sometime. Assuming it's still habitable..." she adds with a glance around.

Meanwhile Neil is teleporting around the area, a ways up in the air, seeing if there are indeed any of the Fire clans about.

[Kender Bard]

He spotted them fairly quickly; with all the clans grouped together, they were a sea of people that was hard to miss, just a little north and west of where they currently were.

[Skittlebug]

It isn't long before Neil returns and the three are on their way toward the Fire clans. He lets the other two approach, knowing that he isn't the best candidate.

Suri can't resist getting an aerial view and is surprised by the number of people gathered together. She lands again to walk to rest of the way, not wanting to be mistaken as hostile.

[Kender Bard]

They didn't get too close to the clans before scouts noticed them and approached. They were of mixed clans, working together on their duty and for a moment there was an awkward pause as they tried to decide who would speak up. Finally the Flare Fire spoke, "You outsiders should turn around and go back the way they came. You're entering demon territory."

[Skittlebug]

"We know," Suri says. "We've killed quite a few on the way here."

Neil stands a ways off, eager to get this over with and get on with their task.

[Kender Bard]

The scouts glanced at one another. Their speaker finally asked, sounding puzzled, "Then what is it that you're doing out here?" The others gripped their weapons a little tighter.

[Skittlebug]

Time to sound crazy, Suri thinks with a glance to the others. "We're demon hunting. We've been tasked with wiping out as many of them as we can, by Worg herself."