1h - Quinteth, Medis 29, 4th AC 2575
As I write this, I sit under a tree on the shore of Dyron Lake. Through the night air, the hot breeze of the desert carries with it the musty sent of mektoubs and the crackle of Fyros warriors carrying Burning Stavon swords and Retch axes. Over the waters drifts the sounds of music from the Oasis Tavern, someone is celebrating. Life in the desert is very different from the jungle—the music is a stark reminder of that—and yet, it is the same. I find it hard to believe that it's almost two months since we left the Witherings.
The Exodus
It was early in the morning when we loaded the mektoubs—it was about the 3rd hour on Dua, Floris 2, 4th AC 2575—summer had just arrived in the jungle and most of Zora was still sleeping. Vao agreed to meet us at the stables and prepare some feed for the journey. He still could not believe that two apprentices, me an armorer adn Lorick a forager, were taking three mektoubs over The Great Outback and into the Burning Desert . . . alone. I could only smile and assure him of our guaranteed safety. Ma'Ran-sek'o Zo'wang Shizu'o Ma'Tal Tseu-ho.
In short order the meks were packed and we were riding out the north Daïsha gate toward Stainmoor Gate which we reached without incident. There we greeted the Kami and then continued our journey toward Desert Stock and The Great Outback. We reached Desert Stock late in the afternoon that day and found the old hermit waiting for us as promised. He deftly guided us passed Gibbaï and gingo and then we watched as this old and frail looking Zoraï wove sap into spells strong enough to easily fell the kitin swarming over the rampart of The Great Outback. At his signal, we rode up the rampart, passed the broken carapaces of kirosta and into the Great Outback. "Mata waki," he called out to us and then turned back toward the jungle. Lorick and I rode on and took shelter at the outpost for the night.
Before sleeping, I sketched the mask of the old hermit. I wish I knew the story behind his wearing the scripture of devotion, so few Zoraï do.
The next morning, just after dawn, we set out again and it wasn't long until we entered the tunnel that would lead us into the desert. We could feel the heat and caught the smell of the desert long before we exited the tunnel. It was about the 7th hour on Tria, Floris 3rd that we exited the tunnel and entered the Burning Desert.
Before us rose a large dune covered with a huge herd of timari, their shimmering scales glinted in the morning light. The familiar sight of these docile creatures was a warm welcome to the desert. Among the timari wandered a few animals I had never seen. They were very tall with long legs, large bulbous eyes, a short and squat tail and seemed covered in a bristly spine over their back. I have since learned that these are called lumpers. The are even more placid than the gentle timari!
Beyond the large herd of timari and lumper was a herd of one of the most unusual creatures I have ever seen. I am unsure how to describe them, it was almost as if I were looking at something formed from the bark and moss of Atys itself. The Fyros in Dyron told me that they are called arana. The arana bray loudly, it is quite a defening sound!
These sketches are first of a lumper and then an arana. The arana has two tusks that jut from its lower jaw.
We rested for a short time, checked the maps the hermit had given us and made our way to Dyron. There were kitin—kipucka, kirosta and kipesta—that made the travel risky but we were able to sneak passed them without too much difficulty. The top of the Malmont was covered with three kitin mounds which were swarming with huge kipees and white kitin of all kinds. We didn't get close enough to make out exactly what they were but I will guess that they are similar to the kitin swarming the mound east of Hoï-Cho.
It was nearly midday when we reached Dyron; so we stopped in at the Oasis Tavern for a meal and then began our journey toward Pyr. Lorick and I have been studying desert foraging under Master Apokos Boethus, he's a rather strick teacher. Lorick has been learning to craft Kostom helmets from Master Dyron Cegrips, she is a very severe Fyros—I am glad that I am not studying with her! We've both had a free day today but now dawn is not far off and I need the sleep. Tomorrow Lorick and I will spend the day digging and then Lorick will be under Master Cegrips watchful eye. Perhaps I'll find the time to write about our journey to Pyr and the time we spent living there.
Some sketches I did of Dyron. One of the merchants thinks he can sell them as momentos for travellers. He thinks they'll want to write on the back of them and send them to family in other lands by messenger. The first is from the Dyron market and the other is the Oasis Tavern.
As I write this, I sit under a tree on the shore of Dyron Lake. Through the night air, the hot breeze of the desert carries with it the musty sent of mektoubs and the crackle of Fyros warriors carrying Burning Stavon swords and Retch axes. Over the waters drifts the sounds of music from the Oasis Tavern, someone is celebrating. Life in the desert is very different from the jungle—the music is a stark reminder of that—and yet, it is the same. I find it hard to believe that it's almost two months since we left the Witherings.
The Exodus
It was early in the morning when we loaded the mektoubs—it was about the 3rd hour on Dua, Floris 2, 4th AC 2575—summer had just arrived in the jungle and most of Zora was still sleeping. Vao agreed to meet us at the stables and prepare some feed for the journey. He still could not believe that two apprentices, me an armorer adn Lorick a forager, were taking three mektoubs over The Great Outback and into the Burning Desert . . . alone. I could only smile and assure him of our guaranteed safety. Ma'Ran-sek'o Zo'wang Shizu'o Ma'Tal Tseu-ho.
In short order the meks were packed and we were riding out the north Daïsha gate toward Stainmoor Gate which we reached without incident. There we greeted the Kami and then continued our journey toward Desert Stock and The Great Outback. We reached Desert Stock late in the afternoon that day and found the old hermit waiting for us as promised. He deftly guided us passed Gibbaï and gingo and then we watched as this old and frail looking Zoraï wove sap into spells strong enough to easily fell the kitin swarming over the rampart of The Great Outback. At his signal, we rode up the rampart, passed the broken carapaces of kirosta and into the Great Outback. "Mata waki," he called out to us and then turned back toward the jungle. Lorick and I rode on and took shelter at the outpost for the night.
Before sleeping, I sketched the mask of the old hermit. I wish I knew the story behind his wearing the scripture of devotion, so few Zoraï do.
The next morning, just after dawn, we set out again and it wasn't long until we entered the tunnel that would lead us into the desert. We could feel the heat and caught the smell of the desert long before we exited the tunnel. It was about the 7th hour on Tria, Floris 3rd that we exited the tunnel and entered the Burning Desert.
Before us rose a large dune covered with a huge herd of timari, their shimmering scales glinted in the morning light. The familiar sight of these docile creatures was a warm welcome to the desert. Among the timari wandered a few animals I had never seen. They were very tall with long legs, large bulbous eyes, a short and squat tail and seemed covered in a bristly spine over their back. I have since learned that these are called lumpers. The are even more placid than the gentle timari!
Beyond the large herd of timari and lumper was a herd of one of the most unusual creatures I have ever seen. I am unsure how to describe them, it was almost as if I were looking at something formed from the bark and moss of Atys itself. The Fyros in Dyron told me that they are called arana. The arana bray loudly, it is quite a defening sound!
These sketches are first of a lumper and then an arana. The arana has two tusks that jut from its lower jaw.
We rested for a short time, checked the maps the hermit had given us and made our way to Dyron. There were kitin—kipucka, kirosta and kipesta—that made the travel risky but we were able to sneak passed them without too much difficulty. The top of the Malmont was covered with three kitin mounds which were swarming with huge kipees and white kitin of all kinds. We didn't get close enough to make out exactly what they were but I will guess that they are similar to the kitin swarming the mound east of Hoï-Cho.
It was nearly midday when we reached Dyron; so we stopped in at the Oasis Tavern for a meal and then began our journey toward Pyr. Lorick and I have been studying desert foraging under Master Apokos Boethus, he's a rather strick teacher. Lorick has been learning to craft Kostom helmets from Master Dyron Cegrips, she is a very severe Fyros—I am glad that I am not studying with her! We've both had a free day today but now dawn is not far off and I need the sleep. Tomorrow Lorick and I will spend the day digging and then Lorick will be under Master Cegrips watchful eye. Perhaps I'll find the time to write about our journey to Pyr and the time we spent living there.
Some sketches I did of Dyron. One of the merchants thinks he can sell them as momentos for travellers. He thinks they'll want to write on the back of them and send them to family in other lands by messenger. The first is from the Dyron market and the other is the Oasis Tavern.
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An'Zhanto, JewelerBlessed by Ma-Duk
Guardian of the Theocracy
Eldest, Order of the White Lotus Guild Info