Upward from Land's End

When the party is ready to move on, Antapkos announces that he and Siofrita plan to stay in South Road Fair, once they arrive, to raise their coming child, there. “Obviously it seems a far better idea than trekking back to Asylim, where we would never know peace.”

Everyone else agrees and congratulates the two. The group decides to forsake any more prospecting and return straight to South Road Fair by way of the road. Cormorante and Britta take the leads, and Sprthnt and Kuwaia take the vanguard position, leaving the expecting couple in the middle.

Cycle: 497: Season: Rebirth. Day: 25

Returning to the road is a rather simple matter of walking in as straight a line as possible. Following the road northward leads to little encounter with the environment and nothing of significance. Having the extra meat to bring along prevents the need for further trapping or hunting, at least for half of the trip.

Once the Sojourn Six, who will need to be called something else soon, arrive in town, they are greeted in the usual friendly manner of the residents. With their youth and length of absence, they are not readily recognized by the first few people to see them. After stepping into the Boar’s Head, the friendliness improves to genuine warmth and welcome, as those who know the youngsters want to hear about their explorations. When learning that the two young Shimadows are expecting, conversations turn to congratulations.

The two are surprised with more good news as others from the village come to greet them and converse. Sheldon and Merindell, who had been away for some time, had returned shortly after the Sojourn Six had first departed. Shortly thereafter, Sheldon and Indigo announced that they were expecting. Sheldon seemed even more elated than Indigo, for the pregnancy was a rare occurrence, he being an Aedaman and she a Faethrin. The concern in the situation was that the child will be a hybrid, termed a Bajinin. Bajinins were known to always be female and never fully develop physically, which seemed to always lead to insanity shortly after adolescence should have started. With two Benders like Sheldon and Indigo, especially Sheldon whose full potential was not remotely known by the other citizens, it was suspected that the two of them may be able to stave off the insanity for as long as they lived. It was also highly likely that the child would be born with the talent, herself.

Learning of the coming child from Antapkos and Siofrita, Sheldon and Indigo invite the two to come live with them, as their house is the largest in town. There was even more space since Merindell had gone off to Bergbaulager to look after his other life-long friend, Torvald. As Maeli and Alba, who had been the town’s herbalists and apothecaries, were becoming quite aged, Sheldon and Indigo had taken over the operation. The two could make even better curatives.

Once Antapkos and Siofrita are settled, the other four will actively look for replacements, even traveling up to Bridgetown, if necessary. Britta, who talks more than Cormorant, says to the others, “I think we still need an archer. It certainly helps with hunting larger game."

Sprthnt readily agrees, even though he had forsaken his bow for the javelins of Antapkos. “We should also look for someone like Siofrita who has a talent with herbs and alchemy. I think most everyone here, in that field, is already occupied. We may need to look at other close communities.”

Cormorant and Kuwaia merely nod in silence, Kuwaia reaching over to touch Sprthnt to show her support.

Cycle: 497: Season: Rebirth. Day: 35

There are, of course, children, too young to be considered, who want to join in the expeditions but no one of any potential, forcing the four to travel up to Bridgetown to attempt recruitment. Counting the time necessary for travel and spent for familiarization, a few days turns into two Tendays.

Initially disappointed, the four are pleased to find a kindred spirit in Bridgetown. Cina, a Centrin girl, is the daughter of Merita and Gastrobon, the exceptional cooks who operate the town’s tavern. The two had moved from Boga City when the child was an infant, wanting to raise her in a less urban environment. It was a fortunate move, as the girl began to demonstrate a natural talent for manipulating Waylines. Her parents tried to keep this talent a secret, as the citizenry in Bridgetown was still fearful of it, unlike South Road Fair.

Now in her late adolescence, most folks considered to be a bit weird, some even calling her a freak, because she would use clays from the river to paint her pale skin before she went hunting, at which she was more successful than anyone else. Her parent always made her wash all of it off when she returned. Unbeknownst to her parents, she no longer needed the clay, but put it on anyway to maintain the appearance of need.

Not knowing what to do with her and being a little bit fearful themselves, her parents were glad to hear that she wanted to go with the young explorers from South Road Fair. Being a bit small for her age and species and due to the similarity of their appearances, Cina took an almost instant fascination with Sprthnt, especially his freckles. Being completely enamored with Kuwaia, Sprthnt was, at first, oblivious. Rather than become resentful, Kuwaia immediately took a liking to the girl, because she was so much like Siofrita, with whom she had been great friends. Kuwaia’s approval was actually necessary for Sprthnt, though only she knew that.

To Cormorant, she was just another person. She was far too small of a person to harbor any attraction for him, but Britta initially showed strong disapproval, so much so than she decided to take up archery, herself. She was more angry with the fact that she was physically slower than most of her enemies, but that was not something she was willing to admit. It did not take long for her attitude toward the girl to change. She was just plain likable, being too much like everyone else in the group, and it helped her that Cina showed an interest in Sprthnt not Cormorant. Since Kuwaia seemed happy with her, Britta decided that her reservations were wrong, though she stuck with the concept of shooting a bow.

Once everything was copacetic, the group outfitted Cina with their extra gear and made an effort to sell or trade unwanted items in South Road Fair. Cormorant decided that he did not like the weight of the shield and elected to keep two of the hammers. The five, who decided to call themselves the Sojourn Fist, then departed back south to finish exploring the Land’s End Pass from its eastern side.

Cycle: 497: Season: Rebirth. Day: 42
Seven days were necessary to reach the point where the cliffs of the Pass could be seen on each horizon, to the east and west. Being 42 days into the season of Rebirth, plants had gone from flower to bud to full leaf. Fruit was beginning to appear in its early stages, and the air was fragrant. Songbirds, rodents, and tiny insects were highly active.

Since the party always travels spread out to maximize the area of exposure, each person is likely to make different discoveries. Shortly before reaching the Pass, Cormorante is attracted to the overabundant calls of birds, discovering an area of undergrowth that seems to have been chosen as an aviary for a flock of larger Harvesters. It is impossible to know the exact number but the appearance is about 50. Being the correct season for it, they are all sitting active nests with eggs.

Kuwaia comes upon a group of nomadic Shimadows that the general populace calls Haunts. Most people do not even realize that they are people, thinking of them as monsters. This encounter could guarantee hostility, but once the nomads assess more of the party, they avoid the conflict, instead, knowing that they are outmatched.

Almost immediately upon leaving South Road Fair, Sprthnt comes upon a covey of Running Birds that are about half the size of a person. Smaller varieties have been domesticated and are kept in town. These are the largest ever seen. Knowing that the smaller ones are good eating, Sprthnt deduces that a larger one would be also, even providing twice as much meat.

In the open grassy area that lies between the forest and the scrubland of the Pass, Britta comes upon a mob of rodents that look like overgrown rabbits. Since people do not really understand the difference between true rodents and rabbits, they are considered the same. These creatures, called Wallabies, are about half the size of a person and just as edible as the rabbits they resemble.

Shortly before leaving the forest, Cina comes upon an extremely large Magnolia tree. It is so large that it looks completely out of place, even though other Magnolias grow in the area. The tree is in full bloom and the smell is what draws her attention. The tree is very easy to climb and almost compelling for Cina. She discovers that it is home to a female with two newborn kits. Having a natural affinity with animals, Cina is able to get rather close to it without it feeling threatened or disturbed. A kit might be easily domesticated and raised as a pet, but the mother would likely have to be killed to take one.

Understanding that an aviary for Harvesters is only temporary and that a new location is likely be chosen for the next breeding period, the party elects to collect one egg from each nest, ignoring the protests of the birds, until they have what they can carry to make a meal of them. They choose to take only one egg per nest so as to have as little impact on the flock as possible.

Not especially interested in unnecessary conflict, the party watches the Haunts leave but does not try to engage or impede them. Sprthnt, aided by his mystical talent, decides to take one of the larger Running Birds. He will clean and prepare it, testing if any of its parts harbor any mystical proclivity. “I hope this overgrown rooster tastes as good as the smaller ones.”

Having been practicing with her shooting, Britta find the sight of such rodents to be a good test of her skill. She will attempt to take one. If successful, she will then attempt to save its hide; and like Sprthnt, check to see if any parts hold particular interest for her.

Cina has no interest in disturbing the wildcat or its kits. She will get as close as she can without spooking it, even attempting mewing sounds to comfort it. She will leave a piece of dried meat on the limb for it, as she climbs back down.

Cycle: 497: Season: Rebirth. Day: 42
Sprthnt is able to determine that several parts of his larger rooster can be used to enhance mystical attributes. The spurs, rather than the whole feet, the skull, and a set of three of the tail feathers can be used to augment the impetus for resilience and vitality (Confluence +3). Anyone in the party can make use of the spurs, but only Cormorante, Britta, and Sprthnt can make use of the skull, and only Kuwaia and Cina can make use of the feathers.

Britta does an excellent job of butchering her wallaby, but it seems her fortune changes when she tries to analyze its parts. The hide provides enough material for about a 40 percent coverage. Since Sprthnt has better luck with his, she hands over the carcass for his examination. He is able to determine that only the pair of its front incisors habor mystical potential. The pair can be used by anyone in the party to enhance overall wellness (Health +3).

The rooster turns out to be better eating than the wallaby, but both are excellent fare and the party is able to save three measures of meat from the rodent to use for dried rations.

Since he is the one to identify the usefulness of the animals parts, Sprthnt looks over them first. “I already have this Grapestone, which is just as strong as these rooster parts, and Cormorant has that piece of Jade. Britta, do you want this skull, since you are the only other one of us who can make use of it?”

Britta nods. “Yes, yes, you are saying it is stronger than this rooster foot that I already have?”

Sprthnt agrees and hands it over to her. Cina, who is not shy even though she is a new member of the group, speaks up. “Can I have those feathers? I would really like to add them to my hair.” She looks over at Kuwaia as she finishes speaking since she is the other person who might want them.

Kuwaia merely gestures. She keeps the spurs, adding them to her necklace with the swine tusks. Cormorant walks over to Britta and gently touches her on the top of her head, since she is kneeling to butcher her kill. He wants its incisors for himself and discards his quill. He looks over the rest of the party and asks, “Tomorrow?”

The one word question is enough. In the past, Antapkos did most of the talking. Now, it is Sprthnt. “We know where we are and our intentions. We should stay close the mountains here on the east side, as we go. It should be our best chance of finding water, which we will need.”

Cycle: 497: Season: Rebirth. Day: 43
Like with traveling northward along the western side of the Pass, the topography of the mountains creates protected pockets between rocky outcropping where clusters of trees grow, mostly due to the potential of water runoff when rain hit the mountains, even though the rains almost never cross them, which is why the area is mostly desert. A day more of walking brings the Sojourn Fist into the most northern copse of trees on the eastern edge.

Before entering the cluster of stunted acorn trees, Britta happens across an Azurestone, which still has some commercial value even though no one in the party needs it for its mystical potential. In a small rocky depression, Cina discovers a patch of small shrubs, the leaves of which have minor medicinal use (Soothe Herb). There are enough of the shrubs to note the location, as around ten satchels of the leaves could be gathered without damaging the plants to where they would not recover. Though the members of the party never really need such an herb, it is well appreciated in all communities.

Kuwaia has the misfortune of coming upon a wandering party of cannibals. Most civilized folks do even recognize them as people, only monsters. They are of average height and muscular with stone gray skin that they mark with darker gray patterns, using clay. This misfortune is really for the cannibals. Being completely psychotic, the party is forced to defend themselves and quickly decimates the monsters.

Cormorante and Sprthnt, separately, come across small herds of moderately large swine that are known to inhabit the environment. Having a greater talent to affect others by bending waylines, Sprthnt is able to kill one. This allows Cormorante to ignore his find.

Cina, who is farthest to right while walking, taking the position that used to be covered by Antapkos and Siofrita, is ambushed by a phase spider just as the party is entering the cluster of trees. The spider, which is fairly well camouflaged, has a relaxed leg area about the size of a person's torso. At the moment of attack, Cormorante and Britta are about 20 strides away. Sprthnt and Kuwaia are an additional 20 strides beyond that. Though she is an extremely wary person, the spider lands on her and sinks its fangs into bare flesh, injecting its paralytic venom. Cina is hurt and weakened but still functional.