"Worry not, Benita," Varielky quickly responds to Benita's strange statement, "the only thing that could stop you from walking with me is you, and only if you so choose."

However, when Ednyss speaks, Varielky is deeply saddened. She has only known Ednyss for about a month, but in that short time, they've been through so much together. Now thinking about the journey which started lives ago, if he leaves, she'll be the only one left of those fought in Lokimarra. Strange, how attached she became, after a few good years of being a lone wolf - of sorts - who didn't even have to bother to remember people's names before they were either stationed elsewhere or passed from this world. 
However, if it's for the question of one's belief in the gods, Varielky cannot judge that choice. Though she believes in a stronger connection to a certain god in her pantheon, Varielky never restricted herself to worship only him - staying within the boundaries of her religion, of course. If Ednyss is starting to open up to a similar idea - well, even if it's done for completely different gods - she understands. 
"That is... unfortunate, but it is important for one to set their priorities in order." Within that saying is a thoughtful tone. And what about herself? What are her priorities? 

"Misuse of powers..." Varielky repeats quietly after Granophyre, mostly to herself. Would that also be a thing she'll have to learn to avoid?

Benita’s response to Varielky’s words is to roll her eyes, mutter to herself, shaking her head, and walk to the edge of the oasis lake, where she stands alone, arms crossed, taking deep breaths.

Granophyre doesn't notice Benita's apparent moodiness. "I thank you all, humbly. I think it unwise to revisit any of the banks in Kalahata, but I have means to effect payment owed for your services so far, and also to continue our contract, perhaps in one of the smaller towns in the Vale. Indeed," he scratches his beard, thinking, "...given the added dangers before us, your wage is not enough. From today, I will pay each of you 15 Jenghen gold per day of service until the Core is found."

"While we do not wish to dally in Kalahata, there is no other way into the Vale of Deshar, except over the surrounding mountains, which are steep and without proper equipment, impassable. Tuff was ever better than I at logistics and mapping out routes of travel. I believe the vale is some 60 miles in length from its southern end to the northern slopes. How shall we approach the journey? And, how shall we approach Kalahata?"

“Ah!, I almost forgot,” the old scholar says, searching in a vest pocket, from which he produces a small stone, the like of which you have seen before. “Reveal!,” he whispers, in ancient Dwarven, and a map image appears before you, of the Vale of Deshar.

“On my travels to my homeland, I procured this,” he says, studying the map as it hangs in the air.

Varielky doesn't add up all the points to realise what's going on with Benita, yet. As far as she knows, her forced statement was just a bit too awkward, and so Benita's response is justifiable. She doesn't respond to that, and instead, moves to watch Granophyre's map from a better angle.

"If we must go back to Kalahata, we can only quickly pass by. Unless someone has another objective there, the only thing I can think of doing there is perhaps to say goodbye to Tamazaert, which we could also do by sending a message, if we want to leave as fast as we can. As for approaching the journey after Kalahata... where do we hope to find the next clue?"

"Once in the Vale, the Abziri Dacha is in the far north. I think the only tricky thing is to decide whether to enter or skirt around the city.

"We should return the way we came and return these fine --- err -- steeds as I do not think we will need them in the Vale. From there perhaps it would be best to not re-enter the city and instead go around. Heading around the north side of the city would be faster but brings us in close contact to Thacia, where you were held prisoner Strewn. Taking the clockwise route around the city would take longer and would take us through the shanty town, but it might limit our exposure to watchful eyes."

Auger looks to the others to see what others think, "Did anyone leave anything in our rooms that needs to be picked up? As I think about it I would like to get a message to Tama as to our whereabouts, and to settle with the Inn with regard to damages when the Red Cypress attacked. Both of those things create potential risk of exposure."

Granophyre and Ednyss both shake their heads in response to Auger’s question. “There is nothing there I need,” says Strewn, “maybe a few pages of parchment and pens are all I left, but nothing worth stopping for.”

Varielky knows for a fact that Benita has no possessions other than what she’s carrying.

“You should ride with Benita,” says Ednyss, turning to Granophyre. “We only have four boards. I know what I’m doing and so does she… but two armored dwarves on one board may slow our progress.”

(OOC: let me know when you're ready to mount your boards, and please confirm that your heading will be west, then northwest, retracing your path to Kalahata. Will you plan to stop at the mining operation again for water?)

"Perhaps when we are near the city I can send Py in with a message for Tamazaert. So much has happened I only just recalled the Giant and the strange flying creatures we encountered on the way here. Perhaps we should take another route back. I do think stopping for water again will be important."

"You're right. We did encounter the giant on the way. Does anybody know where it was, approximately?" However, as she says that, she shakes her head. "Actually, there is no telling where it might be at the moment. By now, it could have gone anywhere. If we are destined to meet it, that will happen no matter where we go. I think we should take the shortest route, so we can leave Kalahata before dark, and perhaps gain some distance from the city before we camp for the night. Besides, if I remember correctly, didn't the gates close at night?" 

(OOC: I might be mistaking it here, but I think we arrived just before they closed last time, didn't we?)

Quote from FireCat5 >>

Besides, if I remember correctly, didn't the gates close at night?" 

(OOC: I might be mistaking it here, but I think we arrived just before they closed last time, didn't we?)

(OOC: Perhaps Varielky is thinking tactically in advance, along these lines: "What would I do if it were my city, and I was seeking an escaped prisoner. Curfew?". To answer the question, when the party arrived to Kalahata, it was mid-morning, after having spent the prior night only a few hours away.)

"Hmm - fate has had a lot for us, perhaps it will relent on this journey. Lets start back."

Auger mounts his board and begins moving with the others towards Kalahata along the fastest possible route of return.

The Return to Kalahata

Donning the metal braces which fit around your necks, holding the silent whistles which direct the tawekki in place under your scarves – worn high over your noses and over your heads too, leaving only a thin slit to keep sand and dust out of your face – your return journey begins. Slaloming gently on the curved, three meter boards, your boots firmly clamped into braces which cause you to face left or right over your shoulder, you move sideways in a wide stance.

Although well rested, you rediscover that holding this position is physically taxing, and, sore from your prior ride, you must take regular breaks, for you must constantly push the board against the sand with you legs, while the Tawekki gamely spin and pull you behind them, requiring you to hold your arms and wrists at a certain angle, pulling against the tension.

A light but blustery crosswind whips golden threads off of the high dunes as you travel under a thin gauze of grey clouds which lend a silver sheen to the landscape. But with the sun at your backs, the brightness is not harsh on this day, the 2nd of Grandeur. You lightly blow your whistles, and like a drill, the forebody of each Tawekka spins quickly, and pulls you forward as it dives just a foot or so under the sand, to reach a speed no faster than an easy walk, then you soon blow another blast and increase your pace.

With Granophyre with Benita on one board, you move slower than on your prior trip; the tawekki’s tentacles gently reach around, begging for phuphi nuts, which you must now carefully ration.

You burst over a high dune, blowing your noiseless whistles to cause the Tawekki to leap ahead, and in a lazy flurry of motion, a dozen buzzards flap skywards, leaving the remains of a huge tawekka half-buried in the sand. You course up and over, up and over dunes in a steady rhythm, until, after an hour, you stop in the shade of a high wind-carved redstone arch to rest and gain a few moments out of the sunlight. You mount again, and the rhythm of the dunes continues, your boards swishing beneath you, the Tawekki whirling effortlessly through the fine orange-yellow grains. 

After some three hours, the sun now high above, you see a mining encampment to your right, the same one you stopped at the prior day, a large circular hole in the ground, perhaps 80’ across, with doorways lining a flat lower level, where a covered well marks the circle’s center. A rider on a camel enters a long tunnel to the lower level as you arrive, and the smell of roasted meat calls to you after your long night out of doors.

Varielky pulls towards Benita and Granophyre and aligns her board close to theirs. "Should we go in? Our water will run out if we don't refill them at some point, but we'll be able to drink when we get back to Kalahata, too, if we enter the city. Stopping here means we can avoid that, and with Auger's suggestion of sending Py to deliver the message, we could possibly avoid entering the city entirely. However, they may have heard about a Dwarf who escaped detainment, and that may cause trouble. What do you think?" Two names, which she has never said before, in one sentence. No longer "Sharp-Eyes" and his pet. Whatever the reason, Varielky either finally managed to remember their names, or most likely, finally decided to use them.

"In truth," says Granophyre, "I have not eaten a solid meal in two days. Yet, the less we are seen, the better. Auger?"

Ednyss and Benita await your thoughts as the tawekki chirp their giggling noises and their tentacles know no limits to exploring their riders' shapes and must be slapped away.

"A stop for some food seems like a good idea. I'll send Py ahead to have a look around and ensure we are going to be fine there."

Py, please stay invisible and out of trouble. We just want to know if there is anything strange in this stop.

Auger lets Py fly ahead and after about 5 minutes summons him back if it has not already returned.

‘Humans. Not that many, perhaps 10. Roasting a lamb and baking flatbread. The camel rider is eating. The others seem quite busy, cooking, and with cranks and pulleys, and a water sluice. No one is wearing armor or carrying weapons,’ relays the Fey alyasub to its master, after returning from its four-minute absence. 

Auger relays what Py learned to the others.

"I suggest we join them and offer to pay for a meal."

You hitch your tawekki to posts outside the encampment, and walk down the sloping causeway to a tunnel which curves around to enter the circular lower level. There, men and women are industriously lowering meal tables set with flatbreads, mead, and roasted lamb, down into the mine on a rickety elevator controlled by a large manual wheel & pulley contraption, so that the workers don’t have to come up to eat. Looking around, it seems there are lodgings in the walls and further in for perhaps one hundred or more workers.

On this level to one side is a large chamber cut into the wall acting as a stable, housing an elephant – unharnessed at the moment, munching on straw – and an assortment of camels.

You refill your waterskins at the well, and the cooks are happy to accept your offer to purchase a meal, at a very reasonable price, which Granophyre pays for. 

The camel-rider, a messenger, is already at the long wooden table seated at one end, eating quietly, and apparently, waiting to deliver a missive to the manager of the mine.

(Auger & Varielky, please roll Insight checks as you eat.)

Varielky eats, but she's wary. She feels a little uncomfortable underground, their last encounter in a similar place still fresh in her memory. She eats quickly - to fill her stomach, rather than enjoy the food. The sooner they'll finish eating, the sooner they'll be out of the mines. The sooner they'll be out of the mines, the sooner they'll reach Kalahata - and hopefully, leave it too.

Insight: 16.

(I was not clear. You are still in open air, but on the floor of the 80' diameter circular depression (sort of like this, if the tops of the buildings are even with the surrounding terrain. One of those arches would lead to the curved, sloping tunnel through which you entered.)

Per Auger's instruction, Py remains invisible on his shoulder as they approach the miners.

Auger concentrates on the meal and reminds himself of the simple joy of eating. The basic welcoming acceptance of the miners and their cook is somehow a small delight unto itself. Yes, regular people going about their day without world-bending problems facing them. Realizing he is feeling jealous of them, Auger squelches those thoughts and concentrates on looking around. Finally he lets his attention rest on the Messenger realizing that he might serve to help those who watch them, unwittingly or not. 

Insight: 10