Upward from Land's End

Season: Drenching. Day: 53

After a few more days of walking along the western edge of the Land’s End Pass, which would also be the eastern edge of the Dragon’s Footprint. The Sojourn Six find themselves within another small forest of scrub acorn trees. This particular patch is made possible by the spring of water that trickles down from the mountain to vanish into a small pool during the Drenching Season. The pool is tiny by geographic standard, being only a few strides in diameter and disappears completely as the Cycle continues through its other seasons, but simply due to its existence for even such a short period grants existence to the microhabitat. The acorn trees are undergoing pollination and do not bear any kernels.

As the group begins to enter the stunted forest, a particularly pleasant smell draws the attention of Antapkos. The pleasant smell is produced from the flowers covering a small shrub. The local names vary, depending upon the plant that grows the flower, for the generic term of Tranquility is given to the flowers of a variety of small plants, shrubs, trees, and vines. One measure, when mixed with food or drink or warm bath water or steam pot, will accelerate the normal restoration of the loss of Mind or its developmental components by double as well as augment blood circulation, for one hour. A measure of the dried or fresh flowers may be chewed for the same benefit. These flowers are moderately aromatic and have minor commercial value, for such. This shrub contains enough to fill a satchel, which has a total value of up to 20 clams.

Partially buried under some rubble, Britta discovers a small boulder of shiny black, opaque rock. It is recognized as Coal, which is specifically used in kilns and forges when heating iron or more obdurate metals. If a piece about the size of a normal stone is held in hand by Antapkos, Siofrita, Cormorante, or Sprthnt, the piece will enhance the mystical effectiveness of generating heat by triple. For Britta, the enhancement will only be double; after which, the stone disintegrates. Though the boulder could be broken apart using the hammer that Britta carries, the entire mass would be too burdensome to carry. At a different location, Britta discovers a single igot of a brownish, iridescent, highly malleable metal, called Molybdenum, that is used by more knowledgeable metallurgists in the manufacture of weather-resistant alloys.

On the second day within the small forest, Kuwaia comes across another bramble thicket of about 5 strides in diameter, which is a fine place to set snares for small game. On the third day, when reaching the small pool, Cormorante and Sprthnt simultaneously hear the sound of swine before they can be recognized through the trees. The small herd is composed of the sand colored rough hogs that are slightly larger than peccaries but are known to specifically inhabit the scrub environment. These swine can be dangerous to hunt if they are readily able to observe their predator, which, though identified through their sense of smell, requires visual confirmation before they attack or run.

Antapkos empties whatever else he might be carrying and distributes it to the others so that he can refill the satchel with all the flowers that he can gather from the aromatic bush. The party may have no particular use for the flowers, but the intent will be to sell them after returning to Asylim. Later, using Britta’s hammer, everyone gathers a piece of coal but leaves the remainder, knowing that the boulder is not really enough of the material to be worth mentioning. Britta keeps the ingot of Molybdenum.

When the herd of swine are discovered, Cormorante and Sprthnt motion for the other to remain quiet and move little. Sprthnt then signals Siofrita to join him. The two will target the same animal with arrows, both intending to add mystical damage. If felling one of the beast does not cause the other to run away, Cormorant will throw a stone at the rocks behind the pool, causing it to resound with a much louder sound than it would naturally make.

Season: Drenching. Day: 53

Siofrita and Sprthnt nod at each other in agreement on which pig to shoot. Each draws and fires simultaneously, or so close to it so as to be indistinguishable. The swine goes down with a squeal and some kicking of its hind leg. It is not quite dead but will not be going anywhere. The other pigs look over at their distressed member momentarily but simply go back to filling themselves with the water.

Cormorante shakes his head at the singularity of the animals then flings his pebble at the rock wall where the trickle of water descends into the pool. Water sprays in all directions with the concussion that sounds almost like a clap of thunder. The remainder of the swine run directly away from the anomaly, which also takes them away from the party, making it safe to collect the one that was downed.

Despite the pigs, the granular sandy soil keeps the pool clean and clear, compelling the party members to take their own fill. Tiny flowering grasses surround the small pool, but it is very obvious that the trickle of water is only temporary; but in a desert environment, it is enough to sustain more life. The aquifer that is created from the water seeping through the soil must be large enough to support the entire patch of scrub acorn trees.

Once the healthy pigs flee, Antapkos will make sure that the felled one is dead before Sprthnt will prepare it, attempting to save the hide and anything else that he may determine to be useful. Everyone else will prepare a camp and gather wood for the fire that will be necessary to cook and cure the meat, not wanting to waste any. Once thirsts are quenched, all waterskins will be refreshed. Cormorant and Kuwaia will attempt to climb the rock wall to have a look around from above the tops of the scrub acorn trees.

Season: Drenching. Day: 53
Sprthnt has no difficulty butchering the pig, making maximum use of the meat and recovering all of the possible hide, which produces 60% of coverage for a normal person. He also determines the pair of enlarged tusks and the tail tuft can augment the overall wellness and resilience of life for the bearer. The tusks can be used to the same efficiency by anyone in the party, but the tail tuft is only fully beneficial for Antapkos or Siofrita.

Though the climb is a little difficult, neither Cormorante nor Kuwaia have any trouble with it. The difference in height gives an advantage of an additional horizon line in distance that can be seen. Despite the vantage point, nothing of note can be seen. The small forest extends about a day’s walk away from the mountain and about two days north and south of the trickle of water. As the two begin to look around, Kuwaia suddenly convulses and begins to topple so that Cormorante catches ahold of her. Wondering what could possibly be wrong with her, he realizes that she has suddenly awakened to the talent of bending waylines. The sudden development at such a late age caused the momentary tremors and vertigo, which pass as quickly as they appear.

Never before having experienced such, Kuwaia is fascinated by what she can sense while holding the boar tusks, giving her a new understanding of why everyone else carried various items. She makes a naecklace for the tusks.

Once all of the pork has been smoked to dryness, having found nothing more of interest in the immediate area, the party will continue on northward.

Season: Drenching. Day: 55
The party spends the entire next day cutting and smoking meat in order to prepare it for future use. The smoking and drying process allows the meat to be carried for about a Tenday without the risk of it turning rancid or growing mold.

Early in the morning on the day of departure, It is Siofrita who detects a particularly pleasant aroma that leads her to a flowering clump of grass growing next the base of the rocks that compose the Dragon’s Footprint. Being as the seasons change little this far south, one of the flowers has gone to fruit, while others are in bloom and other still just in bud. Tiny insects must be shooed from the plant. Compelled to pick the bulbous fruit, which is about the size of Siofrita’s fist, she finds that a sweet smelling, milky substance can be squeezed from it. No one can identify the substance. Later, perhaps becoming a bit attuned to the particular aroma having previously discovered a small shrub, Antapkos discovers an entire cluster of tranquility shrubs. Needing the remaining satchels more for food, the location of the cluster is mentally noted, so that it can be harvested at another time.

Britta, with her usual tuning toward ores and minerals, discovers a dark blue, semi-transparent stone with streaks of orange running through it. The stone is very pretty but seems to harbor no mystical proclivity. At another location, she comes across a brick of a brownish, iridescent, highly malleable metal, which is recognized as Molybdenum, being identical to the single ingot previously discovered. used by more knowledgeable smiths in the manufacture of weather-resistant alloys. Using her hammer she is able to break the brick into 9 ingots. Though this metal has no mystical use for anyone in the party, its metallurgical value makes it worth keeping.

While the party is taking the time to mentally secure the location of the tranquility, Kuwaia hears then spots a small herd of caprinae heading up into the mountains. They had probably smelled the party and took the precaution of moving away. While it may be possible to track them, they moved up the inclines with a great efficiency and would likely far outdistance the party in short order. Any thought of this became moot, as Cormorante and Sprthnt simultaneously turned the other direction due the quiet sound of something approaching the party from farther out in the small thicket of scrub acorns. As the two men motioned to draw the party’s attention, a sense of foreboding came over Britta, making the fine hairs on her arms stand on end. Just the look on her face was enough for everyone else. Certain danger was stalking the party.

Curious about the milky liquid and wondering if it is some kind of sugar, Siofrita sqeezes it into a slightly cup-shaped, flat rock in order to see what happens when it dries in the sun. Britta keeps the blue stone, just because of its appearance. At the moment of sensing danger, everyone will separate into their usual directions and reflexively prepare to defend themselves.

Season: Drenching. Day: 55
Quite oddly, as the milky liquid dried it turned as black as charcoal and had the consistency of fresh, unwashed sugar. The substance was easy enough to scrape into a pouch. Whatever animal was closing in on the party, it seemed unnaturally intelligent. Instead of continuing straight forward, as the party moved outward, the creature altered its direction to move more to its left, bringing it toward Sprthnt and Kuwaia instead of straight in at CoCormorantemorante and Britta. It made a strange and sickly sound as it came into view, seemingly smiling as it charged toward the Spiofthest and the Hebrian. It looked somewhat canine but hunched its back as it moved more like what a raccoon or fox would do when bearing down on game. It had very long fur for something in such a hot environment.

Sprthnt will immediately draw and fire, attempting to heat the creature, as well. Kuwaia will take a step or two forward as she readies her swords and enhances her motility. She intends to slide to her left then dance to her right striking out, first, with her left sword, aiming for the thing’s face.

Cormorant and Britta will both close the distance as quickly as possible, hoping to strike the beast before it reaches Sprthnt. Cormorant will also enhance his strength.

Being out of position due to the change of direction of the creature, Antapkos and Siofrita will both move to get closer and a better line of sight. Antapkos will enhance his athletic skill while Siofrita will attempt to ionize the internal fluids of the monster.