For the Sake of a Soul: XXVI
Tuesday, June 10, 2003 (14:13:07)

Posted by TerishD

The Search for Hope

The scenery around the group was bleak. It was a dry rocky landscape covered in small spider like creatures. The group tried to imagine the terrain under better conditions. They attempted to find straight flat sections that once might have been a road. Stones were seen as pieces of a puzzle that could be stacked back up as buildings. Depressions were considered as possible signs that trees once stood. None of the mental visualizations were enabled to become complete however.

Our adventurous groups begins to realize the complete dispair of their surroundings.

The Search for Hope

The scenery around the group was bleak. It was a dry rocky landscape covered in small spider like creatures. The group tried to imagine the terrain under better conditions. They attempted to find straight flat sections that once might have been a road. Stones were seen as pieces of a puzzle that could be stacked back up as buildings. Depressions were considered as possible signs that trees once stood. None of the mental visualizations were enabled to become complete however.

There were mountains in the distance, but they did not give any hope to the adventurers. The bare mounds of rock and dirt showed no signs of life. All felt certain that the sharp footed arachnids that moved about the land also were present on the towering heaps of earth, but none could conceive upon what the creatures were feeding.

The lack of water made the scenery appear very dismal. The object of their quest was said to be upon an island, yet they saw no presence of water. Even the mountains were without snow covered peaks.

All members of the group attempted to work with Ferrigote as he read through the diary that had caused them to make the decision to come to this world. There were notes beside each entry marking positions and weather. The party managed to assume a particular heading from the position of the sun, but without any other reference there was no method of determining their location to compare with the notations.

There were grumbles as the bearded fighter voiced really lucid sections of the text detailing rather gross activities, although the true horror of the paragraphs were their implications that it was impossible to imagine their surroundings in better conditions. If the landscape had been alive, the scenery would probably have been worse. There was a feeling however that if the world was in the same condition as it had been at the time of the writing, then some connections could be formed that would allow the group to recognize their position. Each listened to Ferrigote hoping that some clue to the true distance of their location would be made.

Some rest was gained by all. Terish assured the group that the invisible barrier protecting them would not decay in time. If the auskranids suddenly rushed them, it would be due to some action disrupting the arcane force. Only the animals and minor party members were allowed complete rest however, but Ferrigote, Straekin, Dathol and Terish only closed their eyes for a couple of hours each.

Water was the concern of all as they again started to travel. The group rode the horses now that the animals were fed and rested. The spider like creatures did not bother the animals. Their hooves might have been dead material, but somehow its connection to the still living animals made it presently undesirable. The riders used the extra height from the back of the animals to get a better view of the landscape. The group allowed the assumption that water did still exist, although the dry appearance of the mountains caused all sorts of theories to be stated concerning its location.

The group directed their travels at an angle away from the mountains. Terish did not fuss about the deviation from what he perceived as the proper direction. He understood the need for water, and allowed slight detours to check out possible sources of the liquid.

The travelers saw the haze and directed their mounts towards it. The animals however smelled or otherwise sensed the water before the group understood that their suspicion had been correct. They allowed the horses to increase the pace, and soon were patting the animals as they saw the reflection off the smooth liquid surface.

There were no streams into the lake. There were no ripples upon the surface of the water. Whatever hydraulics once operated within the planet were presently not working. The party noticed that they had not seen any indication of weather. The distant mountains were not obscured by clouds. A breeze would occasionally be noticed by the party, but it was never strong and never lasted. If it were not for the moving carpet of auskranids the group would be considering the planet to be completely dead. Looking at the still body of water, the travelers understood that the planet itself was not living.

There was nothing wrong with the water. There was a bland taste to it. It was completely untainted. The party did refill their canteens, but made certain to consume the liquid within first. All felt a sense of sacrilege to mix the water from a living source with this chemically pure substance.

The travelers walked with the horses around the body of water. The spider like creatures did not approach the lake, but there were other complaints from those that walked with the horses. A couple of mumbles were made about establishing camp near the body of water, but grumbles replied that the march would continue. The first problem was that no one trusted the calm water. Auskranids abounded on the land eating the leftover organic material, and all felt that Terdeskollit had certainly created something to eat what was present in the water. The second problem was that all suspected that the gaunts had their own role to play in the present ecology, and that the creatures of shadow would not fear coming into any camp. Those that spoke of being weary of the march were informed that the movement would continue all through the night.

The adventurers left the lake following a river. The line of water did not flow with a current, but simply existed at the bottom of a deep channel. Comments were made about evaporation, and the group did stop to inspect the ground around the water's edge. Seeing no sign of a dropping water level, eyes turned to the sun that shone overhead. The strong source of light did not seem to be a source of heat. The party was not cold, but certainly did not feel the normal thermal radiation. The travelers returned to their march sensing that the heavenly body was also without life.

Weapons were readied as the sun descended. There were comments as the light faded about their location and desired direction. Entering the dark previously was considered a malicious design of an antagonist, but presently was simply seen as another sign of unlife on this world. There was hope the time before that once the battle was won that the light would be restored. This time all understood that this was part of the rhythm of this planet, and that they were simply going to have to survive every minute of the period that the only celestial object in the sky was missing.

Combat with gaunts did occur, but not with any frequency. There was no sense that the monsters were directed upon them, but only that they encountered what creatures of shadow happened to be present along their path. There was discussion concerning how the gaunts fit into the present ecology. The talk did not seek a resolution of the topic, but merely to pass time. There was a sense of curiosity that did desire an answer, but each formed their own firm conclusion even as they kept their minds open to other viewpoints in order to keep the conversation going.

There were exclamations of joyful amazement the next morning when another area of grass and bushes appeared. The bushes were the same as the time before, but at this location they were entwined with vines covered in sharp needles that protected green berries. Some initial comments were made about Terdeskollit providing unripe fruit, but in tasting the berries they were found to have a wonderful flavor. No voice of the deity was heard, although Terish again did thank him. The plants stayed green as the group again took time to rest.

Heads turned to look behind them as they left the field after a number of hours rest. A strong wind came upon them and as their eyes watched in amazement they noticed the withering of the plants that had provided food and comfort. No complaint sounded about the death that occurred, but sounds of thanks were made to Terdeskollit for not killing the plants sooner.

There were soft sounds of joy later that day as the group spotted a distant jumble of rocks that gave the appearance of once having been a city. After a few hopeful comments about what might be found in the ruins, the initial cheer faded. What appeared to be areas of smoky haze were discerned to be semi-substantial large frog like behemoths. The creatures composed only partially of shadow were eating the rocks of the edifices that once housed possible relations of Terish. Ferrigote did move close enough to a creature to realize that the monsters did not lust after his flesh, but the size of the monsters did keep the fighter from challenging their territory. The bearded armored man complained with others about not being able to discover further clues concerning their location or the possible distance to their destination, but all moved around the town.

It was again night. The group had again battled some unseen gaunts. Again the monsters were defeated with little harm being suffered by the travelers. Medalpha was growing weary however. The novelty of the excursion had drained away. She felt a need to complain.

"Uncle Terish, how long will this march continue?"

"Go ahead and gripe, Medalpha. If you were home right now, you would be complaining there. I am certain that your father would rather I hear your whining for a while."

That was not the response that the princess wanted to hear, so she spoke to another. "Aunt Straekin, couldn't we ride the horses at night? I believe that they could move faster than the gaunts."

"The animals are being pushed to their limits already, Medalpha. If we start making them run with us riding them all night then we will soon be eating them. That might be the results anyway, but their steaks will settle on my stomach better if I know that I did attempt my best to care for them."

"Tujorn …"

"Don't you complain to me, young one. I am as mortal as you are, and an elder of my people. My feet also do not have your stride, so my feet are moving more than yours. I don't want to hear your whining."

"Lord Ferrigote." The muscular fighter grunted, but did not stop the princess from continuing. "You do not like this marching. Why can you complain and I cannot?"

The bearded muscular man displayed an odd acceptance of the childish question as he answered, "I attempt some understanding with my statements, Medalpha. I push Terish to explain his reason for choosing certain directions. I also work to probe the others to determine any strengths or skills that might help. You once stated to me your training as a noble, well, I am showing you how to complain in order to hopefully solve a problem."

The princess was starting to voice another statement, but Ferrigote silenced her by saying, "Just think of all the trouble that you put Terish through to find you and bring you home. I have a golden lady out there somewhere waiting to be rescued. Terish does what he has to in order to return you safely to your father, and I will do what is necessary to meet my golden lady. I assure you that my grumblings are not intended to indicate a desire to end this journey."

"Yes, Lord Ferrigote." Medalpha did accept the man's words, and stayed silent even as she had her feet continue to move.

And another chapter comes to a close. Things do not get any better in the next chapter, titled, "Decisions of the Divine."