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Message: <blockquote data-quote="Lazybones" data-source="post: 1721555" data-attributes="member: 143">Chapter 205Zenna cast a long, sweeping glance across the vast plain that surrounded them in all directions.  Due to the flat nature of Occipitus, they could see clearly all the way to the surrounding mountains that held the flatlands in their grasp, and the omnipresent skull-mountain that issued smoke and plasms in an unceasing trickle.  That long vista gave the place an illusion of compactness, but having walked over a goodly part of the plane since their arrival, she knew first-hand how big this region was.  It was their third “day” since their departure from the cathedral.  They counted the passage of time by the number of sleeping-breaks they took, an inexact measure at best.  At least the soft, slightly spongy ground and flatness of the plain made their travel very efficient, and they covered many miles in each long march.  They had come across another herd of evil bison, who had responded with much the same aggressiveness as the first group.  This time there had been no convenient barrier to shelter behind, but there were only fifteen in this herd, and their weapons made short work of the fierce creatures.  Dannel had taken a hard hit this time, butted almost senseless by one of the charging beasts, but healing had been quickly forthcoming, and none of the others had been seriously injured in the brief clash. Occipitus’s sheer... presence continued to weigh upon them, and there had been occasional scenes of conflict on the long trek, but for the most part, they had settled down to a grim equilibrium, marching forward along the path indicated by the lantern.  Occasionally she transferred the device to Dannel, or Arun, or even Mole, but for the most part she bore the glowing lamp herself.  Kaurophon did not offer to bear it, perhaps knowing that they would have refused him had he offered.  In covert moments, away from the sorcerer, they agreed to always keep at least two of them in proximity to the lamp at all times, and to avoid leaving it unguarded for even a moment.  Zenna had shared enough of what she’d learned about Kaurophon, especially his ability to dimension door, so that they could all be on guard against betrayal. Still, oddly, for all that she found herself liking the quixotic outsider.  Kaurophon had a strong presence about him, and his manner was always observant and often friendly.  He kept himself apart from them for the most part, recognizing their suspicion of him, but there were times when he told them tales of the varied wonders of the Outer Realms, spoken vividly enough to give Zenna the impression that she’d actually visited some of these places. She felt stronger now, more comfortable in herself.  At the cathedral, during their rests, she focused her thoughts and continued her meditations, extending what she had learned and accommodating it to the altered realities of this place.  She felt her consciousness expanding, and felt new avenues of power open to her explorations.  She regretted the lack of access to new wizard spells, and the inks, quills, and other supplies to add them to her spellbook.  But she could feel the divine magic at her command grow stronger.“Something’s coming up behind us,” Dannel said, stirring her again from her thoughts.  They all turned to look back, staring across the plain.  Zenna thought she saw a speck in the distance, along their line of march. “What is it?” Mole asked, sheltering her eyes with her hand, staring out over the distance.Dannel didn’t respond for several long seconds.  When he finally spoke, however, his words brought a familiar feeling of anticipation, mingled with dread.“The vulture-demon, it’s back.  And this time, it looks like it’s brought a friend along with it.”</blockquote>

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