An Act of Hubris or Guile

Kasbis creeps up over the rise, just so that his eyes are visible. He considers why they could be fighting.  

Nature :   9 

Duncan, ducking into the sand to appear to make himself less threatening towards the fighting creatures thinks about what he is observing.

nature: 10

Hrathen rolls his eyes but follows the group.

Insight: 13

Its spring and more precisely its mating season for scorpions. The male tries to restrain the female as in some cases the female kills the male after mating.

Duncan quietly steps back and says, "Let's not get in the middle of that. At least we know it's just nature, and not more assassins." He's then ready to continue their trek.

“Yes, let’s get away from here, quickly.”  Kasbis moves back away, hoping to get moving toward their destination.  “Duncan.  Can you… hold my ring for a bit?  Just an hour or so… I want to go to my quiet place.  Will you do that for me?”  This was a practiced thing between the two of them, and as an old family friend, he trusted him with his life and his most precious secrets.  He would hide away in his ring, magically disappear into it somehow, rest for an hour, then return invigorated.  Duncan knew to tap three times on the ring and say “Kas” to get him to reappear if he was needed before then.  

The party moves away and eventually finds an okay resting spot by a large boulder.

Its 2:00AM when you found the resting spot.

((If he feels comfortable with it, he’s asking Duncan to allow him to short rest as they travel, so that he can recharge.  He can short rest inside his ring as they travel.))

 (That ring is quite is handy)

Duncan nods as he takes the ring and places it safely into his pocket, always a bit disappointed when his leader leaves the group to fend on their own to get a nap. Once they come to a place to stop, Duncan then does his best to set up their gear in such a way that they can have a small fire to warm their food and their bodies, before having a late dinner, and finishing the rest of his water skin; if Hrath can fill it for him, he should put what he has into his body where it will be most useful the next day. He then spends some time playing with Shai, slowly working to teach him simple, but important commands like 'sit', 'wait', 'drop it', etc., giving him enough salt and wondering how the little pup would enjoy some crystals or gems as the Bishop said he eats. He's then ready to camp for the night and offers to let the others sleep while he keeps his eyes and ears open for any sounds in the desert at night after putting out their fire ((perception for watch 15))

After the hour or hour and a half, Kasbis reemerges and puts his ring back on, shoulders his portion of the load again.  He takes a turn watching at camp, accompanied by Gaz who looks out as well.  He feels reenergized and ready to call on his powers again.  He continues to study the map and their location during his downtime.  

Kas perception : 16 

Gaz perception : 3 

Shai is very attentive during train especially when given salt

Nothing happens on Duncan watch

Kasbis sees an desert fox investigate the camp for a bit before running off into the night.

(Reminder subtract 2 waterskins and 1 ration for each person)

The rest of the night is uneventful and it is now morning. The party continues it trek. After traveling for some time you arrive at the Breor Mesas. Its getting quite hot, but there is ample shade made by the mesas.

In the morning, Hrathen casts create water to refill waterskins. He then casts detect magic once more and observes for the first ten minutes of journey. Perception: 18

"It's good to not be trekking fully on sand," Duncan says as they take a small break and shakes a rock from his boot. Then looking to the group says, "I'd like to climb up and get a view of the area. We may even be able to see your land," From the top he looks around to get a better view ((perception 22))

(If stopping at dawn then you would see the Breor mesas off in the distance as the party took a long rest at 2:00AM. Now the party can keep on going and walk until reaching the ample shade from the mesas.)

Duncan does not see much beyond the other mesas in the area.

Hrathen with his sharp senses hears faint whistles coming from somewhere deeper in the Breor Mesas.

Kas votes to keep moving, and get under the shade of the Breor mesas, calculating a stop time before the heat of the day.  “Let’s keep moving.  Wait a minute, do you hear that?”  Kasbis says.  He and Gaz look for the sound of the whistles and wonder as to the source of it.  

Kas perception : 12 

Gaz perception : 6 

"I agree that we should keep moving. This seems like  dangerous place, and I would like to avoid the direct heat." Hrathen also lets both of the others know about the whistling he heard.

The party continues on heading deeper into the Breor Mesas. The whistles become louder and more insistent. Off in the distance you see a well dressed elderly man and a mule with heavy saddlebags and tools. He is looking around as if looking for something.