From: Naron (naron_at_bigpond.net.au)
Date: Sun Oct 12 2003 - 05:09:33 BST
Skirting the badlands to the North would mean skirting the Mist Swamps also. The crossing of the Iontos river also would be much easier to the South so you all head South - West.
It is a two day ride before you reach the river that lays partially in the boundary of what most tales call the Badlands. Relations with Elklisee are at an all time low and she responds to absolutely no approaches from any member of the group. She eats separately and camps just on the edge of the firelight, as far as she can get from any of the group. She does not seem too uncomfortable at travelling along the edge of the Iontos river but you catch her more than once staring into the lands beyond with fear in her eyes.
The land across the river looks to you no more worse than the land you travel on though you are aware of the sheer volume of tales of pure horror that Troubadours in the city of Travar have to put fear still in the heart of any but the bravest adventurers. Certainly the terrain has no vegetation and it seems to give way further on into jagged hills but parts of the Thunder mountains also look the same. The only thing that tells you it may be worse on the other side of the river is that not even moss or weeds grow on the far bank. Of the things that once lived there, only blackened dead vegetation remains.
It is past noon on the third days travel when Temorya begins to get excited. He calls you around as you travel and you watch as the stave begins to move reasonably quickly in a change of direction. From the movement you realise that Elklisee's worst fear has been realised and that the Kaer must lay within the bounds of the Badlands. From the amount of movement it would have to be within a days travel on horse back.
The Iontos at this point provides a good area to cross, with the waters running swiftly but only at about thigh height on Lenora at its deepest point. As you prepare to cross Elklisee moves back to you all and hears the news with a stony face.
"Then this may well be the point of a painful departure." The ork looks carefully at Shalandra. "The terrain in the badlands is rocky and dangerous. There is no way that the cart will make it even half an hours travel and all of our mounts would be lame within a quarter days travel, even if we were not mounted on them. It seems that indeed we must enter the foul place, and we must also leave our mounts and some equipment behind."
"In the Badlands you will find the sun hotter and drier than any other place you have travelled. We must stock up on water, of which I have bought extra supplies. Do not seek to fill up your waterskins in the river for some tales say that the river is filled with Horrors so small that they infest you by you drinking the water they live in."
"Also, bring with you as much extra clothing and blankets you can, for though the heat is scorching by day it is nigh on freezing at night. Not even the Death's Sea heats this accursed place at night."
As she speaks she dismounts and places various equipment into her packs. Finally she turns and looks at you all but focusses on DaNel and Farli. "What say you all, are you prepared to leave your beasts behind and find this prize? It is the only way, unless we split up, some to protect the beasts and the remainder to find the prize?"
<If we get quick responses to this and a clear direction I will add a further post to this one before Wednesday!>
<The website is failing to load again, and I will do it through the week, but there were no personal notes and the character sheets on the existing site are still current - sorry for any annoyance this may cause>
<Moves please>
<Cheers>
<Mark>
If you are into role-playing, check out http://users.bigpond.net.au/naron/
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