The Exploits of Misfit Company

"Not really, but I rarely ever sleep more than four hours, which means that my day tends to begin before everyone else's." Vastra pulls out her spellbook and shows it to Alys. "I haven't gained too many new spells since the last time we've done this, so I don't think that you'll gain too many spells." (The only spells that I think that Vastra has and you don't are Cone of Cold, Synaptic Static, Vitriolic Sphere, Phantasmal Killer, Dispel Magic, and Summon Fey Spirit.)

Alys would pause abruptly before letting out a bit of a laugh at herself when Vastra would mention she rarely slept more than 4 hours. “I suppose I picked up some ‘luxurious’ sleeping habits my time with humans.” Though, when she was dedicated to a task or out during one of their adventures, she’d definitely take advantage of meditative rest much like Vastra. 

The young wizard alway’s appreciated Vastra’s willingness to always share her knowledge and personal spellbook. Alys would be happy to present hers to Vastra for review should there be anything of interest she’d want to copy while on their voyage. “I was just thinking about copying some spells from that spellbook we found forever ago. There were some interesting ones to add to the list.” She’d smile to her mentor, just always excited to discover more, even if she never ended up using one of the spells right away.

Upon hearing that she should find something to do, Stella stands and moves to the back of the ship where she'll out of the way and pulls out a set of cards. The young woman then switches between practicing tricks with the deck, hiding cards, stacking it, and so on, and then standing and pulling out her blades and running through a series of combat forms. When the blade practice exhausts her, she sits down and practices with the cards for a while, then stands and runs through her blade forms again, and so on.

Yvan was unsure if he should have apologized again for making things frustrating for Bixby. The apology is kept behind closed lips though, as to let the changeling speak. After listening to Bix, Yvan does feel a sense of... understanding when he explains why he, and the other personas, didn't say anything. The two were similar in that sense, ones who would rather deal with the problem themselves than to make it known to the others.

At the end, the goliaths brows furrow. "I... I'll try I suppose..." At just what he had been referring to would be a bit unclear, but Bixby's awkward shoulder pat would be returned with one of Yvan's, and with a final nod the barbarian would return to looking out at the landscape.

Aryn walks up to Stella and rubs up against her knees, as she has no other way of communicating with the rogue and letting her know that it's time for her to give Common lessons.

Stella looks down at her and smiles. "Okay. Let's get started." She heads over to the wizards. "Can I get a comprehend languages, please? Starting on Aryn's lessons."

Kasha pops her head out.

Vastra quickly waves her hand over Stella and she can communicate with Aryn again. "Hey Alys, you want to go see how this ship works?"

Stella gives the wizards some space and then sits down with Aryn and goes about beginning her lessons in Common.

Kasha is of course welcome if she wishes to join right now.

Kasha smiles and joins in. She picks up Obsidian and sits him down next to her.

He looks up and gives her a look as if to tell her he can already read.

“Sure!” Alys wasn’t expecting Vastra to suggest a little tour for them, but she was happy to spend some time with her. The elf would offer a wave to Stella and her learning crew, Kasha, Obsidian and Aryn. 

Vastra and Alys learn that the engine of the ship is powered by a quad-elemental core, a technological innovation that one of the nerds working the engine excitedly tells you will lead the world into a new age of industry and exploration and other such things.

 Stella is able to teach Aryn and Kasha today.

The ship reaches its' destination, a series of large platforms outside of what looks like a bustling metropolis that appears to be the only civilization for miles in the middle of what appears to be a vast desert .  Faras has you all wait in the ship for a little bit while he goes into the city to purchase some camels for your journey. He returns with six camels. "The pyramid in which Garabad is sealed is a three-day ride from here on camel. It is directly east from here. It is a large pyramid made entirely of black stone, you shall not miss it."

"Before we take off, a few last minute questions, if that is alright?" Bixby requested casaully after sizing up a camel. "Are there particular or peculiar dangers we should be aware of when crossing the desert, which I assume will be a thing? Special provisions we should invest in? Or-...." He trails off there, squinting at the ground for a moment, before then shaking his head and looking expectantly back at Faras once more.

"I suggest that you stock up on water, as the desert can be quite hot. And keep watch for the giant worms that live in the earth. They can easily swallow you whole."

Yvan could withstand heat to a certain extent. He was already a warm body and being raised in the high mountaintops had a play in his preference for cooler weather. First thing he did when disembarking from the airship was take off his fur lined cloak. While it may have been useful in the night, in the day it would have been utterly foolish to keep on, even if taking it off left him bare for the world to see the scars he bore. 

He rests the fabric on one of the camels, turning to Faras. "... I don't suppose you have a compass? In case we get turned around... or something."

Vastra removes her cloak, as well as the tunic that she commonly wears, leaving her in blue trousers and a simple black top. Faras tosses a compass to Yvan. Vastra climbs atop of her camel and starts to get a feel of riding it before actually heading East.

Animal Handling: 22 (For flavor)

Apart from adjusting his pants and rolling back his sleeves, Bixby finds his seat atop a camel fairly quickly. Or at least he would've, had it not seen him, and immediately began doing everything in its power to make the process as annoying as possible. Even minor alchemical approaches via experiments with manufacturing scents on the fly using a variety of bottles bagged away only keeps it from nipping him.

He is as persistent as he is determined to not ask for aid on the matter. For the longer the 'duel' went, the more his usually placid expression became set with determination. But eventually he is trailing behind the others on his mount, making only the one pit stop in town if possible to grab an empty keg and a spare waterskin for good measure.

Yvan catches the compass easily, giving Faras a nod in appreciation prior to pocketing it. He gives a look to the others to ensure they had been ready to move on. When they did, the barbarian looked to his camel, then proceeded to pick it up in a fireman's carry and move along with the group.

Your first day of travel passes without incident, as you ride through the desert, or in Yvan's case, do some strange ride-and-carry combo. But during the second day, the ground shakes as something off in the distance stirs. As the day goes on, the shaking intensifies as whatever it is gets closer and you can see something burrowing through the sands. Exploding out of the ground comes the hideous, spiky form of a purple worm! Roll for initiative.

Vastra:15
Aryn:16
Purple Worm:-1

Goodie: 27

Kitty: 21