Thea listens, taking in the information and remains silent. She just pads after the group towards the light.

Violet nods.

"Yes... that sounds like the Order," she says.

Greko wonders what magic hovers over these trials...He snaps to once hearing about a settlement."Settlement? Perhaps we should go and regroup there. Weary travelers needing a rest...."

"Enough Chin Waggling" Malenia, stern and focused grabs onto Kazu's reins. Leading the Kocra and in turn the Princess towards this settlement. The Gray Jedi's demeanor was stiff yet the more perceptive among the group could hear the clear creak of metal as her brass prosthetic trembled, Upon returning to Hyboria after their shortcut through Leviathan. Malenia had felt something change within the Force, Something that may have happened long before yet it was only at that moment did she truly discover it. 

Clenching her metal hand, Gritting her teeth beneath the face of her Helm. Her goal now clear in her mind. The Path however, would be a long one...

With their direction determined, Rum once again mounts Porkins.

"I will scout ahead", he announces as they take to the sky and head East, disappearing as the Star Lancer makes them invisible.

Retcon/edit on post #2420, I completely forgot that the star lancers can turn invisible (thanks for the reminder, @VolcanoLair!).  Consider Lady Kaede / Balthor now invisible.  However, they chose to remain circling above the party, and not go on ahead, alone.

Jek has been in a trance since Vader. But how? One of his best accomplishments on this journey. For naught. And now? The Auyrn, gone. He's not even sure where Darla has gone off to.

The little shade was a shadow of the group. He barely looking up when they fought over a silly sword. Were they on a ship. Are there new people here? How long has it been, months, days, hours? Was this truly the right path. The Bright Lady, has she forsaken him? Did he stray from her with what happen with the lizards? Did he still deserve to be her shade?

Then the light. The three woman. What was that? So bright... A woman in Green... A smile... No, not her, but a light, a path. Where are they going? What is this place.... 

Another new place. Where are they now. A desert... Home... No, this is not the Shem. But, the smells, the feel. It starts to settle his mind. He did not realize how much he missed it, missed his brothers. Are they still alive. But, there is something important, something he's forgetting. Where are they... The Southern Oracle... Oh... OHHH....

"The Mystics are here!" He says from behind the others.

Greko rumages through his pack looking for a snack...his sugar levels are low he thinks to him...He sniffs something that was wrapped proabbaly pre death and hurls it into the desert, finally settling on something that looks like cake. He turns to see Jek appear out of no where or was he with them the whole time? Greko can't remember.... "Oh Jek how Greko could have used your help with Vader....Greko lost my staff. fighting him off to allow the others to escape....The mystics you say?" He grunts at the thought of these charlatans "The handful that have survived their purge from the Skeksis...they allowed an inferior species nearly destroy them...simply because they are peaceful.....Hopefully they are more helpful to us than themselves...." Greko says with disdain as he continues to eat his little piece of cake

Jek looks down at Greko's admonishment. "I'm sorry about you staff. I should have helped more."

Jek tilts his head at Greko's statement. "The Skeksis didn't want to kill the mystics. I mean, they can't. The mystics are the urRu, they are the opposite of the Skeksis, the other side of the coin. If the urRu are killed, the Skeksis will die as well. That's why Vader was trying to kill them at the Tower of the Elephant, because he couldn't get to the Skeksis. The Childlike Empress was able to send them to the Southern Oracle. That was one of the last things she did before Vader killed her. But you are right, they will always help others before they even think of helping themselves. I hope they are safe, they always had good stories."

Greko puts a hand on Jek's shoulder "Do not worry yourself about the Vader fight. Greko meant, Jek and Greko will get him next time. Ah yes yes Greko's mind is jumbled....These mystics have stood by and allowed travesty and tragedy to occur without help...riddles and stories...." Greko Pffts at the thought of hearing more of them "Maybe they have had a change of heart after seeing the chaos and destruction of this world."

It doesn't take long for Rum to re-appear on the path in front of them.

"It seems Remnant Violet did well. The lights ahead are Engewook's Observatory, that the Princess spoke of. Unless there is another observatory in this desert that is", he says to them when they reach him. "It looks like Kit-Tik's people have settled around it, in crude buildings made of rubbish and mud bricks. They do not appear to be hostile".

"Be aware, they are an insectoid like species, that communicate directly into your mind. It can be unnerving at first".

Almost without thinking, Lady Kaede blurts out "The no-mind not-thinks no-thoughts about no-things." after Rum's comments about Kit-Tik's people communicating directly into your mind.  Her favorite tutor growing up used to slap a switch on her wrist when her mind was wandering, and make her recite that ancient phrase over and over again until she was back in the present and paying attention to her studies.

Shaking her head to clear out the mindless thoughts, she finally brings herself back to the present, and continues her flight above the group as they march east, towards the illuminated town.

Perception to keep her eyes and ears pealed for any danger that may be approaching the merry band of travelers: 12

Balthor has a passive perception of 13, just in case Lady Kaede isn't paying attention (again).

The march across the miles of open desert is just as lifeless as their initial arrival.  The desert, while notorious for being desolate, is nearly dead by any measure.  There is simply nothing alive out there, nothing, that is, outside of the sprawl of Engewook's Observatory.  

Several of the Thri-Kreen take notice of the band as they start their way up the slope toward the Observatory, standing to reach for spears and other weapons, though making sure not to take up threatening stances.  They seem ready to defend themselves, rather than to launch a needless offensive.  They stand, and they watch, before one female steps forward, the turbin on her head drooping very, very close over her eyes.  

Who goes there?  She thinks directly to the approaching band.  

Behind her is the observatory, and the bivouac of the Thri-Kreen.  Several smaller versions of the insect people, children no doubt, hide behind the bigger members, peering out to examine the strange newcomers.  Their little makeshift village, a conglomerate of hide and hull tents, crafted from shells and giant scales and bone and leather, is nestled between multiple buildings that appear to be constructed for little people like Gnomes...though the buildings are huge for what they are.  Beyond that there are cables leading up to a point, a peak at the end of the plateau, facing southeast.  

As they get closer to the makeshift settlement and the observatory, Rum dismounts from Porkins and requests he stay away but close enough so he may call him using his horn. He requests that if he hunts he sticks to feral beasts and birds, although the chances of finding any are slim.

He is prepared for the sight of the Thri-Kreen and for the voice in his mind as the female approaches the band, and ensures he concentrates his mind before he reaches her.

"Greetings, I am Rumble of Hunger, one of the Ardent Remnants chosen by the late Childlike Empress to stand against the onslaught of darkness and evil", he says formally. "We are allies to one of your kind known as Kit-Tik, and seek entrance to the observatory".

"Please tell, to whom are we speaking?".

Persuasion (with Guidance): 11+6+3=20

Greko doesn’t say a word and allows Rum to do Rum. This gives Greko a chance to do Greko. He drops some water in his hand and begins to make little water creatures dance around the sand. The little water creations look like the children hiding behind their parents. Greko smiles and hops around with his little water folks trying to ease the tension and make the kids less scared 

(How long was the trek across the desert?  Hours? Days?)

     At the start of the journey across the sands Judal is happy and amused enough.  As time drags on, however, he finds himself growing more and more annoyed at the monotony, the dryness and the sand...  The sand gets everywhere.  Inside everything.  The gritty, relentless sand.  Ugh.  He considers changing form... A camel, perhaps.  Some kind of sand snake.  A scorpion.  But what would be the point?  It would be mildly amusing for a moment but after an hour or so that would be that.

     He does find some amusement with pausing on occasion to ritually cast Magic Mouth and leave little enchanted breadcrumbs across the desert to show their path.  Not actual breadcrumbs, of course, but he casts it upon random small stone or such that they pass.  Each enchantment is more or less random based on whatever he is thinking about at the time - Small snippets of a song, a bit of poetry, short jokes...  Or jokes about other things.  Often the message left is just cryptic and puzzling, a voice asking directions to the blacksmith, or assuring whoever stumbles past that the oasis is just over the next dune, or a childlike voice asking if the passing traveller will be their friend.  Just randomness to amuse and pass the time...

     Upon approaching the observatory and hearing the voice in his head Judal thinks suddenly about cheese.  Cheese, cheese, cheese, cheese, cheese...  He concentrates on cheese and does his best to fill his head with any and every thing he knows about cheese.  Judal dislikes the idea of anyone except him in his head (and is ambivalent about even that much company in there) and so chose cheese as a way to keep him from thinking about anything that really mattered and sharing information unexpectedly...  Cheese!  Cheddar, provolone, mozarella, parmesian, bleu, cream, gouda, feta, brie... cheese, cheese, cheese, cheese, cheese...

Lady Kaede felt a flicker in the invisibility magic as Balthor (the Star Lancer) dipped its head in descent. They touched down with a soft thud near the party, causing the shimmering distortion around them to dissipate like smoke in the desert wind. Kaede, her katana secured at her hip, gracefully dismounted. The Star Lancer folded its immense wings with a sigh that disturbed the sand, its previously invisible form now a breathtaking silhouette against the setting sun. Kaede strode towards her companions, a determined glint in her eyes as they neared the curious Thri-Kreen, the Star Lancer's watchful gaze following their every move.

Lady Kaede, halting a step behind Rum, focused her mind, projecting a warm greeting. "Greetings, travelers of the sands. We come in peace, seeking passage and perhaps knowledge you might share. I am called Lady Kaede Ashikaga, daughter of Shōgun Ashikaga of Kings Landing."

Thea was still gaining her footing and figuring out her place. So caught up in her own thoughts, she almost bumps into Greko when the old lizard seemingly stops abruptly in front of her. She peeks out from behind him, wide eyed with wonder as she takes in the little settlement and it's people.

The Thri-Kreen looks around at the others in her group as she assesses the situation.  They watch Greko, and all of them seem to hear the barrage of 'cheese cheese cheese cheese' in what is probably a conversational tone to them, but they all appear to be trying to stoically put these things away.  

Rumble of Hunger one of the Ardent Remnants chosen by the late Childlike Empress to stand against the onslaught of darkness and evil, Lady Kaede Ashikaga daughter of Shogun Ashikaga of King's Landing, it is good to meet you and your companions.  She says, moving wish a certain insectile grace as she steps aside and motions one of her arms toward the rest of her group.  I am Dit-Tid, and this is my swarm.  We came here seeking the wisdom of Engewook...but it seems that his knowledge has put our goal out of our reach.

She studies for a moment.  

I am unfamiliar with Kit-Tik.  They must be from another swarm.  She looks up the hill, and points a separate arm up toward the ramp of one of the buildings there, near the base of the rising peak of the plateau.  The answers you would seek would be there, with Engewook.  We are but pilgrims.  He has the knowledge.  

Rum places a fist over his chest and bows his head in response to Dit-Tid.

"My thanks, Dit-Tid. We will seek out Engewook as you suggest", he says as he looks in the direction she points. He is about to turn and walk in that direction, but his curiosity gets the better of him. He is a cat after all.

"What is your goal that is out of reach?", he says turning back to her.