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Message: <blockquote data-quote="megamania" data-source="post: 943835" data-attributes="member: 9255">UNDER A DARKSUNSEGMENT 079“Leaving The Civilized World”They set off at daybreak and were out of the Windbreak Mountain Forest area within the hour.  They were about an hour’s walk south of Nibenay so they quickly moved on to avoid templars or their spies.  Moving quickly and along the forest’s edge, the two went south towards the City-state of Gulg.  The land here was as different as the desert was to the forest.  Thick grasses grew here in the damp rich earth.  No wonder Gulg and Nibenay fought regularly over this land.  A few square miles of it could feed the entire city for a year.  If they stopped fighting and destroying crops in the process, both cities could possible prosper using the land.  But that is the way of the city rulers.Stonewalls marked property boundaries.  These boundaries were often guarded.  The farmers originally placed these walls to mark their lands and discourage thieves but now find the fences required due to live stock.  Large beasts of burden covered in fur or scales (rare few in both!) walked guided by children with their father or master new by.  Mania never knew how good it could be.The Nibenese workers were lighter skinned than most of the Gulg civilians and workers.  The Gulg folk had dark skin.  Almost a light brown.  They also dressed in simple but colorful strips of cloth that rarely covered essential parts of the body.  Only the templars would dare to dress this way in Nibenay.  Mania blushed more than once.They went into the forest for the night and set up a camp without a fire.  The night went by without incident.  They went closer to Gulg that originally planned.  Each was tired of purple berries.  From venders, they bought smoked meats and a few exotic fruits.  They were expensive but awesome compared to the sour berries.  They followed the trade roads south to the Small Mekillot Mountains.  Now they feared the nighttime the most.  They were no longer “protected” by the sorcerer-king or queen of Nibenay or Gulg.  They were entering the world of the bandit and the slavetribes.They slept on a sandy rock laced dune within site of Fort Harbeth that night.  Cosa told me what she knew of the fort.  It was a stronghold used by House Inika.  It aided in trade between Gulg and Ledopolus to the south.  Many non-human races, including Thri-kreen come here to trade goods.The next day they went now NE towards where Bruce said Salt View was.  The content of the sand was becoming whiter and the wind had a biting salty taste to it.  Each had to wrap loose cloth around their heads to shield it from the sun and wind now.  Perhaps that is how the beast got so close.The Giant sized Ant Lion was within fifty feet of them coming from the left out of the rocks at the base of the mountains.  It clacked its mandibles in agitation and advanced towards them.  “I fear we can’t outrun this critter Cosa.  We may have to fight it here in the open.” Says Mania looking around for a defensive position and finding few of any quality.  “If we must then so be it.  At least it appears to be alone.” She says while pulling out a few material components for a spell she wants to use.The beast closes the distance by half.  It seems cautious and confused. (OCC neither realize that that Ant Lions are a trap creating creature and doesn’t like fighting like this)  Mania begins to glow and draws his large club figuring it will crack the shell of this insect better than the smaller clubs will.  Cosa castes a Magic Missile spell. Two streaks of energy strike the insect making it squeal and shudder for a moment.  Angered, it rushes her and goes for a bite.  It misses her.   Mania doesn’t.  He cracks the armor near the foremost shoulder getting it to squeal again.  She tries to distance herself now placing cacti between her and the creature.  It doesn’t really matter.  This meal is too dangerous.  It has cracked its armor in two places and caused a limb to go numb.  It moves away.  Wishing not to kill it if not required, Mania just readies himself in case of a charge.“Well, welcome to Salt view.” quips Mania“Let’s get going incase it has friends.”</blockquote>

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