[Last Time, on El WHAT?!: The group encountered a blessedly short and mild-mannered example of the only weather to be found in thier current environment. Rocky was nearly blown away, and Amy nearly suffocated herself on blowing dust, but overall, they didn't do too badly. Now, the dust storm is over, and they can be on their way towards the distant water again.] [Session Start] * There is an all too familiar bright strobing light and when it clears, for the first time in a fairly long time, _everybody_ is present. * Shiho pulls herself and Rocky out of the crevasse. "Glad that's over with. Everyone okay?" What happened? Tired... I think I'm alright. You still know where that water is? * Amy coughs. "Hot and tired.." * Daphne stands and dusts herself off, for whatever it's worth. [Time Check: It is still before noon, though how far before you can't quite tell.] * Just to refresh everybody's memory, it's very, very hot, and the sun overhead is large and red, not at all what you're used to. * Cara gets to her feet and shakes sand out of her skirt. * Shiho wipes some sweat off her forehead, for all the good it does. "Amy, how far is the water?" * Amy focuses and mumbles under her breath. * Ichi is hot, sweaty, wearing leather...and it's full of sand. ::ich ich ich:: ...Amy? * Rocky chitters something to Shiho. * Amy points in one direction. "Zat way." She then points in another direction "Some water closer that way, but it's moving." ...Moving? * Daphne blinks. "Moving?" How can water move? Donno. Maybe somebody's carrying it? * Shiho nods. "If so... C'mon. We've gotta get there!" How close is the moving water, Amy? More then half the way to the other water. So, it's closer, but.. I wonder if we will be able to catch up to it. Is it moving towards us? Is it moving towards us or away from us? Movin' perpindicular to us. * Shiho nods. "Then we have a chance. Let's go." * Daphne nods. "Right." * Ichi holds up a pair of fingers and tries to remember which one perpindicular is. * Cara looks quizically at Ichi. "Whatcha doing?" * Ichi crosses the fingers "Is it this one or.." puts them next to eachother "or this one?" * Cara makes a T with her hands. "It's like this." Ahh, thankyou. Math was never my strong point. ::scratches the back of his head:: Mine neither. ^_^ Math stinks. * Cara nodnods. So, Amy. Which way is the mobile water again? * Amy points in the direction she pointed before. * Shiho nods and starts heading that-a-way. "All right. Come on." * Cara walks after Shiho. * Ichi trudges onward. * Amy shrugs and follows after Shiho. "I hope they'll give us some water..." * Noon approaches and the temperature hits the triple digits. * Daphne trudges along, trying not to think about how hot it is, and failing. * Shiho staggers along. "Maybe... This wasn't such a good idea." * Cara sweats. It's too hot. It's way too hot. Why is it so hot? Yeah... Dunno... Never liked Science much. * Noon strikes, and the temperature is now approaching 112 degrees Fahrenheit. * Ichi bakes. I wish I had a cooler shirt... ;_; I think it's so hot because of that big glowing red thing in the sky. Just a guess. * Poor Ichi and Shiho are suffering the worst. Ichi because of his leather armor, and Shiho because she has the heaviest clothing. * Anybody bring any sunblock? * Shiho keeps going despite this. Maybe we should play a game to pass the time. Like what? I spy, with my little eye, something that is.. uh.. yellow. Sand? ... * The time approaches 3 in the afternoon, and though Cara and Daphne cannot tell the difference, Amy sure feels it and collapses under the 120 degree heat. * Amy collapses. * Cara whirls. "Amy!" * Daphne slowly grinds to a halt and slowly turns. "Amy? You okay?" * Shiho turns back and spies Amy as she falls. "Amy!" * Ichi turns around. "Are you allright?" * Shiho moves over to her and tries to help her up. * Cara walks over to Amy. ...wait. 'Course you're not okay. * Daphne trudges towards Amy. * Amy is delerious and mumbling... well... deleriously. * Rocky rides on Shiho's shoulder. So you don't forget about him like Brett keeps doing :P This's bad. * Shiho pulls Amy to her feet. C'mon. Can't stop now. * Amy cannot stand on her own, and leans weakly on Shiho. * Amy mumbles. "Mm. Ice Cream." * Shiho helps Amy along, if she has to, and keeps moving towards the water. Dammit Amy. I won't let you die in a place like this. Want some help with 'er, Shiho? Maybe we should give her some of the water. * Shiho nods to Daphne * Cara balls up her hands underneath her chin. "Ooooooh! There has to be some sort of spell I can cast!" * Amy mumbles. "Yes Mr. Bear, I would like some tea." ...but I don't know what. ;_; ... Of course! Maybe... * Daphne assists Shiho in helping Amy along. Cara, can you draw... I don't know... transportation? Or a rain cloud? Or... something? A small pond...what's the word? Osirus? No... Oasis. Lemme try. They outlawed math.. yay. Yeah, one thoes. Thanks Shiho. * Cara sets her pack down and retrieves her sketchpad. She focusses and begins drawing an overcast sky pouring rain down on the group. * The power begins building. Wuhoaaaa....this feels niiiiice... No, I swear Mrs. Kitten. I didn't blow up the earth.. * Cara wobbles drunkenly as the power builds around her. She suddenly stops drawing and the feeling of power releases. * Amy sits bolt upright and screams like her soul is being torn out. GYAAAAAAAAAAA! * Ichi draws his sword and looks for what ever caused the scream. * Shiho nearly drops Amy in surprise. "What?! What's going on?" * Cara falls to her knees. Whuthu hell? What happened, Cara? * A small raincloud forms over Shiho and starts trickling down a light rain. I dunno... Wh... What's going on? It feels like.. the world's being torn apart from the inside. I think...I shouldn'ta done that... * Cara feels rather woozy, and wobbles like Daphne after a good night of drinking. What? * After perhaps thirty seconds of a light drizzle, the rain peters out and the cloud dissipates. * Shiho looks over at Daphne. "I got Amy. Go help Cara." Right. What happened? Wh.. what WAS that? * Daphne goes and supports Cara, aiming her back towards Shiho and her raincloud. * Ichi decides that whatever is happening, he can't hit it with his sword, and puts it away. * Amy looks around in fear. uuuuhh... * Rocky looks at Amy and blinks. Hey, Shiho. Don't suppose you can spare any of that rain? I think it's gone. * Indeed, the dry air sucked up the moisture almost before it contacted Shiho and Amy. T.. that was horrible. Absolutly horrible. What on earth happened? * Cara tries to get up. Oh. Nevermind. I dunno, Amy. Can you still sense that water, by the way? * Ichi goes to try and help Cara up. * Amy wobbles. "I.. I'll try." * Amy mumbles under her breath. * Shiho keeps pulling Amy along. "Dammit. How could I have been so stupid?" * Daphne helps Cara up and along. ...not gonna try that again... I'm sorry, Cara. * Cara wobbles. * Daphne tries to keep Cara on her feet. s'okay...notyer fault... * Shiho keeps trudging along. "Yes it is. This whole thing is my fault." It is? Should've known better, back at Colorford. Hmm? I knew our chances of actually making it home were slim. I knew it wouldn't be that easy. But I... * Amy points in a direction, and not the one they are moving. "It's that way, and still moving." Ah. So, it was your decision to take the department of dimensional travel, or whatever? * Shiho clenches a fist, her nails biting into her flesh. "Dammit. I thought the chance was worth taking. And I thought that if it didn't work out, we could overcome whatever obstacle got in our way. But this..." * Shiho gestures with her free hand. "We can't overcome this. And I was stupid to think so." * The temperature has apparently peaked and the wasteland around you is beginning to cool off for the coming night. We'll make it. We just need to find this water. And then we worry about what to do next. Don't worry, Shiho. We'll overcome this. We'll figure out a way out, or something. And then, when we have the luxury to worry about such things, I am going to kick you in the ass. But only once, 'cuz I value your friendship. ...don't...dun blame yerself... * Daphne shakes her head. "I'm talkin' nonsense. Either the heat's getting to me, or I'm sober. God, I hope it's the heat." We'll make it... I'll get you guys out of this if it kills me. Are we there yet? * The overly large, red sun begins to set. s'gonna get cold now... * Cara shivers involuntarily. * Shiho looks around the immediate area for stuff to build a fire wit'. * Just as the last time you made camp, there is a small amount of dead brush around and/or blowing past. It will burn quickly, however. Better keep going... Just a bit longer. Until the sun totally sets. Right... yeah... We can rest then. Rest would be good...very good Water would be better. Uh? Whuzzat? * Daphne squints. ...wass goin on? What is it? * Ichi is apparently too busy staring at Daphne's assets to spot whatever Daphne and Amy have spotted. There's some dust comin' towards us. n_n Movement? * Daphne is too busy looking at what she spotted to smack or tease Ichi. * Amy shrugs. "Donno." * Ichi continues to ignor the rest of the world. * Cara looks up, still looking a bit dazed. Let's keep going. The sooner we meet with them, the better... I hope... * The cloud of dust approaches quickly, and soon everyone can see it clearly, despite its small size. Well, everyone except Ichi, who is still contemplating Daphne's assets. So. Something's moving this way, and doing it wast. ...that's nice. Think they've spotted us? I dunno. Prolly. ...mebbe they have water... Maybe they'll be willing to share it. That'd be nice. * Shiho nods. "Stay alert. We can't count on them being friendly." Maybe my dad was a gopher. * Daphne reaches a hand into her pocket and fingers her brass knuckles. ...yer dad was a gopher? * The cloud approaches at an amazing pace. * Ichi continues to stare. Somethin' big comin'... * Shiho nods. That's nice. * Ichi mumbles something about roundness. Whatever it is, it's worth a shot. * The cloud curves to intercept you. * Ichi continues to mumble, occiosionaly words such as "bouncy" or "bonbons" are audable. * Daphne glances at Ichi and finally notices him ogling her. "Hey, cut that out." She smacks him with her free hand. * The cloud finally gets close enough for you all to see what is generating it. It appears to be a mantis-like creature, but very, very large. Easily twelve feet from head to tail. Wah! * Ichi falls over and gets back up holding his cheek. "Big.." ... Wow. 'zats a big mantis. Maybe he's friendly. Uhm. I think this is bad. Not sure why. * Shiho halts and stares at the thing wide-eyes. "Yeah. Big." Big ugly bug man! * Amy waves at the cute widdle bug. "Hello there!" * Mantis slows as it approaches the group, and is now not throwing up nearly as large a trail of dust. * Mantis slows further and circles the group at about twenty feet. * Shiho watches the Mantis carefully. * Ichi turns to face the Mantis. * Daphne tries to keep her eye on the Mantis. * Cara eyes the bug thing fearfully. * Mantis slows further and comes in to a distance of perhaps ten feet. * Mantis chitters slightly at the group as it comes to a stop. * Daphne blinks. Eep. * Mantis says something untypeable, as it involves non-ASCII characters. Uhm. Hi? * Shiho blinks, and looks at Amy. "Don't suppose you know what it said?" * Ichi blinks a few times. * Amy falls over twitching. * Mantis jumps back in alarm. * Daphne startles and looks at Amy. "What, again?" * Shiho kneels and tries to help Amy up. * Ichi rubs his head. * Amy is apparently having some sort of seizure, not merely fainting. A-Amy! * Mantis chitters something untypeable. * Daphne squats next to Amy, tries to help, and realises she doesn't know how. * Shiho shakes her a bit. "Amy! Snap out of it!" * The seizure calms after a moment and Amy regains consciousness. * Ichi turns to the Mantis "Could you exuse us for a second?" * Mantis blinks in a particularly insectoid way, and then chitters at Ichi. Amy? Amy, you okay? * Cara shivers in fear. Ow. What the hell happened? * Ichi's body goes stiff, though it maintains its balance somehow. You just suddenly lost balance. Are you okay now? Hell if I know. I don't think this thing's trying to kill us, tho. Do you think you could talk to it? Uh. Ok, I'll try. * Cara bites her lower lip. I don't know it's language or anything tho'. * Cara looks around and finally notices Ichi. * Ichi's eyes are glassy and staring off into the distance. I...I think something's wrong with Ichi too. * Daphne looks at Ichi. "Swell." * Shiho blinks and waves a hand in front of Ichi. * Ichi does not respond. * Cara pokes Ichi. * Daphne rubs the back of her head. * Shiho frowns. "Something's wrong here." * Mantis is, similarly, standing stock still, though you can't tell if it's as stiff as Ichi. * Daphne looks from Ichi to the Mantis and back. * Cara looks at the bug guy. "Maybe...it's talking to him?" How is it talkin' to him? Like I do with Rocky, probably. That's... probably not so far off. Maybe it's the Mantis mind meld, or somethin'. * Rocky nods enthusiastically. Although if Ichi has a mind, I'll be surprised. Not to sound mean, or anything. It's just... yeah. Poor Ichi. So. Uhm, how long do you suppose we ought to wait before we get good and worried and discount the 'odd manner of communication' theory? Well, the mantis can't move either, it seems, so I don't think it was trying to harm him. True. Um... * Ichi jerks and comes back to himself. Ichi? What happened? * Mantis simultaneously starts moving slightly again. Oh, here I am again. Yo, Itchi. you okay? * Mantis chitters at Ichi. What happened, man? Itchy! What happened? Yeah, give me a second. ::digs around in his backpack:: What happened Itchy? * Mantis reaches behind itself with its four arms and begins unloading waterskins. Lots of them, and apparently all full. * Daphne blinks. "Wait, this guy's a merchant, or something?" * Shiho blinks. Bears Much Water here says he'll trade us a lot of water for...::pulls out a knife:: this. Yay! I believe that I am very fond of Bears Much Water. * BearsMuchWater finishes unloading an immense number of waterskins, easily enough to get you to the oasis that Amy has been sensing. Nice of him. Wow... * BearsMuchWater reaches across the pile toward Ichi with his three-clawed hand. * Ichi hands over the knife, hilt first. * BearsMuchWater takes the knife and reaches the arm around behind itself, putting it whereever the waterskins came from. * BearsMuchWater nods at Ichi a bit, chitters, and then turns and runs into the distance. He also said that we're north of a place called Tyr. What a nice... giant mantis. * Ichi waives to the departing figure. We are, huh? Guess we should head that way. That must be where the water is! Which direction are we going, anyway? Makes sense. I doubt whoever lives here would build a town away from water. * Ichi ponders. "I think he said the water was an oasis, and that this would get us there..." Unless they don't need water! There is that. All the better. We can refill what we use when we get there. * Daphne nods. Still... Why would that mantis go through all that for a knife? Well.. maybe metal is very rare here! ... In which case. Or maybe he really likes knives! * Shiho eyes Ichi's swords and frowns. "We'd better be very careful." Hmm? * Daphne nods and puts her knuckles away. Oh! * Shiho shrugs. "I could be wrong, but it doesn't hurt to be a little cautious. Anyhow, let's rest here a bit, then head for that oasis. Sounds like a plan. Yeah. * Ichi nods and reaches for one of the skins. * Shiho gathers what she can to build a fire with. * Daphne gets a skin for herself and in what may be a first, has a drink of something without alcohol in it. * In a short time, Shiho has a small fire going to warm you for part of the night. * Amy reaches for a skin and takes a nice drink. "Ahhh! Better!" * Cara grabs a waterskin and drinks. * Ichi takes off his backpack and sits next to fire and drinks. "Thank you Bears." Daphne. We'll have to split the watches between ourselves, I think. * Ichi nods off. * Daphne nods. "Yeah. I think I can handle that. Which of us goes first?" Are you guys sure you can do that? * Shiho lies down. "You. I'll build another fire when it's my turn." * Amy lies down, closes her eyes and goes to sleep. "mm.. tired." * Daphne nods. "Sure thing. G'night, Shiho." We'll be fine. You just get some rest, Cara. Night. 'kay. * Cara lies down, and falls asleep almost instantly. * The night passes uneventfully, lucky for you. Everybody heals their 8 hour rates except Shiho and Daphne, but they're both at full, so it doesn't matter. * The next morning, the sun begins to rise. Shiho is on watch, so she can let people sleep in or wake them up to start walking. * Shiho let's them rest for once :P ...mmm... * A while later, people start waking up. * Amy yawns and sits up. * Mainly they wake up because it's starting to get warm. * Cara slowly opens her eyes. * Daphne wakes up, yawns, stretches, blinks, yawns, and stands up, gathering her things. * Ichi sits up and streatches before letting out a massive yawn. * Cara gets to her feet and stretches, smiling brightly. * Shiho notices the others wake, stands, and stretches a bit. "Everyone ready?" Sure thing! Yeah! Sure. * Amy stands up and stretches. Yeah...::yawn:: * Daphne pulls out her flask, looks at it, frowns, puts it away and has some water instead. Let's be on our way, then. * Daphne nods. * Cara takes a short drink of water, then puts the skin away. I don't suppose we get asa-goh...er breakfast today?::stands up:: Let's eat on the way. If we have any rations left, we can eat while we're moving. Right. ::picks up his stuff and puts on his backpack:: * Shiho goes south! * The group walks off into the distance as the screen fades to black. [Session End]