The Challenge of the Desert -Open

[Dzrg]

Timestamp The first cycle in the month of Imperos, in the Season of Autumn, Era II of the Celestine Mandate, Era XIV Post Fractum, the Second Era of the Regency of Milo L'Evienne

A call was put out for adventurous volunteers to accompany a detail headed for the city of Arakmat. These individuals might encounter opportunities to fatten their purses but they would most certainly be confronted with unforeseen challenges. Crossing the desert of Arakmat Province was far from a casual journey.

It was time for the Justicar to find out what was going on in the city of Arakmat. Nothing had been heard from there for many cycles. Dzrg assembled six of his Arakmat Provincial Marshals. These battle hardened Marshalls were former sailors who sailed with Dzrg back in his days as a Pirate. They were capable of handling adversities.and hardships. Equally important, they would do as they were told.

The Provincial Marshals wore simple uniforms, a light sandy colored aba, trousers, and floppy wide brimmed hats. Their string ties were a dull black. The short leather boots into which the trousers were tucked were a soft brown suede. Each Marshal carried a wood baton, two feet in length. Though not readily apparent, each cudgel was weighted with a core of lead. A dagger was concealed under the aba. Other weapons were carried as well. On the left upper part of the aba was a dull tin star.

Much of the journey would be through the desert so camels were the mode of transportation, both for people and equipment.

[Archalen Andares]

Not very long after the desired place and time of the arranged meeting had come to pass, three men joined the Justicar arriving on horseback. The leader, who rode in front of the other two, jumped off his saddle and approached the Orc known as Drzg. He was Esh'lahier, and a very visually rigid one at that. He stood straight with shoulders back. The elfs face was clean, but shown the signs of aging from cracks and a little discoloration. "Malamar Iternus, Lord Esgalviths cheif aide and diplomat" he offered smartly, bowing low to the Justicar. It was of course apparent that the Thane had a very big interest in the finding of this expedition and although he couldn't be on the journey in person he sent the three men to be his eyes and ears.

The three (The Esh'lahier Iternus, and his two Kemite bodygaurds) wore thin white shirts and loose pants of a light gray color. Their attire was airy and thin, less the harsh twin suns bore their might too heavily. On their head were turbans of the Arakmat style, the two bodyguards were red while Iternus' was white. Each carried a dagger and the two bodyguards also had katanas stashed in a hilt across their backs. The men busied themselves with moving the various documents, water skins and supplies from the horses they rode in on to the camels the Justicar had procured for the trip. Thus, finally loaded up the anxiously awaited to see who else would journey in this land breaking event.

[Kelrell Lute]

"Wait! Don't go yet, if you are even actually there! And if you are, and aren't planning on leaving, disregard this message!"

Two of the six Arakmat Provincial Marshals broke the poker face they had been wearing in but a minor way, sideways glances being spared for the other. It was just a minor thing, but for the emotionless, it was something to brag about indeed. Well, Kelrell probably wouldn't be needing to brag about it. It probably wasn't a good thing that he was bumbling around already, perhaps getting on the nerves of some, and the adventure hadn't even started.

It would be equally bad for the ones already gathered to see the boy come skimming around the corner of a side street, dust sliding up behind his skidding feet as he nearly barrelled into the horse of the elven leader. Letting out a squawk, he barely managed to stop in time, somehow ending up on his rear end as he flailed out backwards, and managed to pitch himself over. Staring up at the horse in a daze, the animal would stare right back, the two locked in a standstill. Slowly creeping backwards, he would put some sort of distance between him and the animal, before hopping up, and brushing off his britches. He was dressed in white clothing, loose enough to provide air flow, but tight enough not to be billowy. The shirt was sleeved, providing protection from desert rays it appear, as were the pants. He looked fairly cooled, as if he was used to the desert weather. A makeshift dagger was sheathed on a leather belt wrapped around his waist.

He would glance around a moment, his eyes hesistating on the orc, then finally moving on to rest on the elven leader. A broad grin crossing his face, the kid walked over to the elf, corded muscle in his arms rippling as he moved. He walked with a definite grace, and as he approached the elven lord, a rather odd thing, considering the city, would shine in his eyes.

Innocence.

Completely unaware that he was talking to the wrong person, he would snap into a held salute, hopefully helping his chances.

"I am here to sign up for the trip to Arakmat, SIR!"

Dear Aslam. This was bad.

[Archalen Andares]

At the first sound of the plea not to leave both Iternus and his two Kemite bodygaurds turned around and raised their hands to shield the light from their eyes; as if to see where the sound emerged from. And to see a blur of dorin fur come running towards them both amused and confused them at first. Suffice to say, they rightly didn't know exactly what was going on for an instance.

Seeing the Dorin round the corner and almost run into Harrago (for that was the black steeds name) held a moment of anxiousness for the former military man who was Malamar Iternus. Harrago had a good habit of kicking people that came too close that he didn't know. Thankfully, (and amusingly) the dorin tumbled backwards and having done it Harrago chose to lock eyes with the Interloper.

When Kelrell approached the shadow elf, Malamar just looked at the young dorin. Who was he and what did he want? He was not afraid (besides the horse, at least) and held a quick run. Rigid as always Iternus waited for the furred one to explain its business. But before, the visitor snapped a salute.

This, if nothing else, forced a wide smile and a hearty chuckle from the former Legionnaire. Having had lived a hard and very demanding life so far, Iternus was fast to accept lifes little fun moments. He was friendly toward the Dorin as he could be with a stranger if nothing else then the clumsyness and apparent good nature of the thing. As a father would say to a child perhaps, Iternus softly said "At ease, solider." Lowering himself to be eye to eye with Kerell, Iternus spoke lightly and with no short supply of amusement and mirth. "Trip to Arakmat Eh? Well, you're eagerness and want is apparent," the Thanes top aide said with a friendly laugh. And with a quick point to Drzg he said; "Speak to the Justicar over there, he's in charge of this mission son."

Iternus watched the Dorin with a sense of amusement and curiosity.

[Kelrell Lute]

The young Dorin blinked, and opened his mouth, hesistating. His mouth would slide shut, and he would give a sideways glance over to the Orc, his nose twitching a bit. He would give a few discreet sniffs, and would appear to be straining to hide a face. The orc had a smell about him, yet the Dorin wasn't about going to say that out loud. Giving the elf in front of him what seemed to be a forced smile, he would give a short little bow, and slowly shuffle off toward the official-looking orc. Glancing back at the elf, he would offer a toothy smile, his white fangs shining a bit.

"Thank you, kind sir!"

Kelrell had a very light red/brown looking fur, not very much of a thick-coat either. While the rest of his clothes looked fairly dirty and a little messed up, his coat was quite clean, as if he made sure to clean it every day. His body in general seemed very well groomed, his clothes were really the only thing that looked as if they would need some work in the department of cleanliness, and somewhat in the department of smell, as well. As he approached the orc, he would snap into another firm salute, staring straight into the orcish eyes. His eyes would flicker around for a moment, lighting on what he considered to be odd dress for what he had heard about orcs, but then his black orbs would slide back to meet Dzrgs. He would let loose with the exact same sentence he had given the elf, still holding his stiff salute.

"I am here to sign up for the trip to Arakmat, SIR!"

[Dzrg]

Dzrg was glad to see Malamar Iternus, Lord Esgalvith's Chief Aide and Diplomat. When he bowed low to the Justicar, Dzrg returned the greeting in like fashion and said, "Good ta have ya here". The Orc was quite pleased that the Thane had sufficient interest this expedition to send these three men to be his eyes and ears. They were properly dressed and armed so there was no need to take time to equip them properly.

They were quick to transfer the various documents, water skins and supplies from the horses they rode in on to the camels provided for the trip. Before long they were ready to set off.

Then the Orc turned toward where a voice said, "Wait! Don't go yet, if you are even actually there! And if you are, and aren't planning on leaving, disregard this message!"

The youngster come skimming around the corner of a side street, dust sliding up behind his skidding feet as he nearly barrelled into the horse of the Iternus. He barely managed to stop in time, ending up on his rear end as he flailed out backwards, managing to pitch himself over. He stared at the horse, almost in a daze. Slowly creeping backwards, he hopped up, and brushed off his britches.

He said to the Elf, "I am here to sign up for the trip to Arakmat, SIR"!

Iternus softly said "At ease, solider." Lowering himself to be eye to eye with Kerell, Iternus spoke lightly and with no short supply of amusement and mirth. "Trip to Arakmat Eh? Well, you're eagerness and want is apparent," the Thane's top aide said with a friendly laugh. And with a quick point to Drzg he said, "Speak to the Justicar over there, he's in charge of this mission son."

Iternus watched the Dorin with a sense of amusement and curiosity.

Dzrg did not wait for the youngster to repeat himself and simply pointed to one the camels and said to the Dorin, "First ya introduce yaself ta us, den ya git da camel ta kneel, cinch da camel saddle, an' secure ya gear to it. Den ya convince da camel ta get up again."

[Dzrg]

After waiting for two Brightenings, Dzrg decided that there would not be any more coming to join the group. If there were, they could catch up. There were extra camels, so additional people would not pose a problem.

He turned to Malamar Iternus and said, "Time 'nuff we git a move on. Not gonna wait any longer." The Orc turned to the Camel Herder, a dessert native, and said, "Git movin'. Time ta start."

The Camel Herder placed camel saddles on some of the beasts and secured them properly. On other camels he placed water bags, packs of food and other cargo. Once that was done, he nodded to Dzrg. The Orc then called out, "Mount up. We movin' on".

Dzrg pulled down on the reins, getting his camel down on his knees. He then got on the camel saddle and pulled up on the reins. The camel rose and followed the Camel Herder who was already heady inland toward the dessert wastes.

The camels ambled on slowly, it would be an arduous journey.

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