Into the Savan – Day One

Preparedness is key when leaving the relative safety of civilization behind, and it is something Kin takes to heart. To her specifications, and with suggestions from Xander, provisions are prepared for an extended journey into the sunbaked plains of the Savan. A covered wagon and a pair of pack Dromodons are secured, and loaded aboard are preserved foodstuffs and water for the Kirigai and their Lapine friend, as well as some lanterns and oil, rope and wood for repairs or other necessities, some parchment and ink for records, and a little nip of something for the old man. A broad umbrella keeps both sun and rain off. The last supplied item comes not from the provisioner, but from the Milan Collie's navigator… a fairly accurate map of the region.

Muttering at the front of the Dromodon's saddle, Xander keeps his fireball spell refreshed while holding the umbrella in his left hand. The usual Lapi stereotype is that they breed is easy to panic, timid and randy. Xander likes to think of himself as being merely paranoid and friendly. Every so often he tilts the umbrella to check the sky for pirates, hunting washuu or some other horrible thing about to swoop down on them.

Kin, however, is the picture of calm. While Xander fidgets … she has basically taken to draping herself more or less on the Lapi, entwining about him in rather a snakelike fashion. This serves two purposes, the first being is she soaks up the Lapi's body heat. The second being is she actually helps keep him cooler. "You should relax, Mage Lightfoot. Enough problems in the world will come to you, you do not need to actively look for them," she tells the Lapi as she slowly releases him so that she can sit back and stretch a bit.

"I've never been in this territory before," Xander says, looking around for… well, anything. "I feel exposed, even with the umbrella. I don't know how my cousin does this sort of thing for a living."

"You are not exposed, you are with me," Kin notes as she starts idly combing her claws along the Lapi's ears. "Worrying does not make anything better; it only will make you nervous." The Kiriga also looks around a bit, if for nothing else … to see the lands.

It's been several hours since Viper's Hold was left behind, and the trip has been uneventful for all the watching the Lapi has been doing. Golden plains of tall grasses stretch away as far as the eye can see, occasionally broken by the odd tree or herd of animals. The skies are bright and brilliant blue above, dotted with a cloud or carrion bird(bug?) from time to time, but little else so far. Though bumpy, there has been a road to follow, a trade route worn into the dirt that winds its way around rougher patches… though the rest of the plains seem flat enough that crossing them shouldn't be a major issue. Somehow, Long Tooth manages to doze in the wagon despite all the jarring.

"Are you sure the old man's still alive back there?" Xander whispers to Kin.

"He is fine. He has not died recently," Kin assures the Lapi. "So, tell me, what did you think of the Governor? I found him to be … ineffective. Which at least implies to me he is not likely in league with my enemies."

"I try not to form judgments about employers," the Mage notes. "Government shouldn't be too effective anyway. I'm sure that would be bad."

"That is short-sighted. We are not merely on this because he is paying. We have a greater goal and this serves as part of that to gather information," Kin notes as she tweaks Xander's ear. "Either he, or the official we go to collect, may be in league with some very evil men."

Xander twitches his tweaked ear. "Then he's just a pawn. Are you afraid he sent word ahead to those you're chasing? We did leave Lilac behind to check for that sort of thing and fly out to warn us."

"I do not know where the enemy lairs here. That is what we seek," Kin says. "We walk in dangerous waters, Mage Lightfoot. There is an enemy, but where, and when he will strike is unknown. But all answers will come in time; there is no point in dwelling on what may happen, only on what does happen."

"Just so long as they attack in a nice close group, so I can get them all in one blast," the Fire Mage comments. "I'm going to blow up something before I have to let this spell fizzle."

"And people call me violent," the Kiriga muses. "Just because you carry a weapon does not mean it need be used."

"Your weapons don't take an hour to load and didn't cost you a good bit of gold to learn how to use," Xander points out. "Besides, I'm a guy. I have to blow something up once I cast this. I'll feel frustrated otherwise. Ask Master Tooth, I'm sure he'll agree. And keep an eye out for good targets too."

There isn't much to blow up out here, sadly. Though, after a while, one can't really shake the feeling that they're being watched…

"You often seem frustrated. I will endeavor to resolve that. Perhaps I can dance for you," Kin offers the Lapi. "I have been told that men enjoy watching a woman dance." Her webbed ears twitch and her head then cranes around. She doesn't look skyward, she looks at the grasses.

The grasses are tall, and wave with the wind that sweeps across them. Nothing makes itself apparent.

"Ummm," Xander says, then catches the reptile's movements. "Do you sense something, or is my paranoia rubbing off on you via osmosis or something?"

"I feel as if we are being hunted," Kin comments, "The sense of danger; the instinct of a warrior. Can you hear anything out in the grasses?"

"The wind in the grass makes a lot of noise," Xander comments as he tries to pick up anything unnatural sounding.

The wind does indeed make a lot of noise, swiveling Lapine ears picking up everything from the whoosh of grass to the buzzing of insects, and especially the creaking and clattering of the wagon. Nothing unusual just yet, though that feeling persists.

"We should stop and investigate. Something is not right," Kin says as her left hand rests idly on the tsuba of the Floating Blossom. "Please make the beast stop."

"This guy you're after, does he have Mages working for him?" the Lapi asks, as he can't pick out anything nearby at least. He tugs on the reigns to bring the big Dromodon to a stop.

"They do, yes. This is why I wanted you with us; mage against mage," Kin answers as she continues to look around.

Taking a deep breath, Xander tries to tune out the sounds and distractions and focus on feeling any magic within his range. Although a good Spirit Watcher or other remote-viewing apparition could probably spy from farther away if it didn't want to be noticed.

Once the beast stops, Kin slides from its back. She stands amongst the grasses and watches them ripple and roll in the breeze. More specifically, she starts watching for sections of the grass that do not move with the breeze or move differently.

The Dromodon rears its head, and shuffles to a stop. The Dromodon pulling the wagon rumbles to a stop as well, swinging its head a few times and seeming glad for the break. It begins nosing some bits of brush and snuffling. Without the wagon creaking, it becomes noticeably more quiet. Xandar's mystically attuned senses don't find anything out of the ordinary, nor do his sharp ears. They happen to be swiveling in the opposite direction from the one Kin is paying attention to, and though her ears are less sensitive, they do catch a rustle that's distinctly different from the gentle blowing of the wind.

"Behind you. We are being hunted," Kin says in a whisper towards the Lapi. Kin then takes off in a dash towards the rustling. She doesn't draw her weapons, though; not knowing if this is friend or foe.

Xander spins in the saddle and does something like a salute, which transfers the ring of fire from his head to his right hand. He holds his hand cocked like a gun until Kin can give him a target to blast.

Kin's speedy dash forward allows her to catch sight of something… bright eyes peering from between the grasses, black ears raised above it. They're only there for a moment before their owner scatters, zipping low through them with a clatter of what sounds like beads.

Kin skids to a halt. "Savanite," she calls back to Xander. "I do not know if it a threat to us or not. So, do not fire." Calling out after the spy, she says, "We wish to pass through in peace. We do not seek to harm you. Is there something you need? Do you wish to trade?"

"A native?" Xander asks, a bit more to himself than to Kin. He 'safes' the fireball spell back atop his head. "Don't try to follow it!" he warns.

There's silence for a bit, and another rustle. The feeling of being watched is still there, and this time, another pair of eyes watches from the grass from further away when Kin speaks. It's joined by another, and eventually a spotted head rises above the grass line, sharp eyes above black tear marks eying the travelers warily, feather-adorned black ears laid back above dark-spotted yellow fur.

Kin lifts her arms away from her weapons and holds them out, showing her palms to try and indicate she does not intend harm. "We are passing through these lands," she repeats, "And wish no harm on your people. Can any of you write? Do you wish to communicate with us?"

"They probably don't understand you," Xander calls. "Unless one or more are former slaves. Do you know any Silent Sign? I only know a few phrases that… probably wouldn't help much."

"If Lilac were here, she could just make her boo-boo eyes at them," Xander mutters. "Hey, maybe the old guy knows sign? He's been around, right?"

The Lapi climbs down from the saddle to see if he can rouse Master Tooth.

"He barely speaks standard," Kin calls back to Xander. "I doubt it." She keeps watching the Savanite, looking for weapons or threatening moves.

"But he has the booze," Xander explains. "Booze is the ultimate communicator."

The Savanite seems to notice the scrutiny. When Xander's hand stops pointing, he stands up… and he turns out to be very tall indeed. Lanky and lean, the grasses come up to his waist where they had been hiding him completely before. A spear is held in one hand, tipped with a sharp bit of knapped stone tied with rawhide, what look like knuckle bones dangling below the head.

Kin puts her hand over her heart and says, "Kin Ryuu. Friend." She tries it in both Imperial and Standard.

Climbing into the wagon, Xander tries to wake Tooth – or at least get the jug away from him, which should have the same effect.

The old man is laying on his back in that strange way of his, tongue hanging out. The jug feels pretty light when Xander takes it, though there's still some sloshing within. After a good deal of shaking, the Kiriga snorts, and one of his fists punches out, neatly snapping a plank out of the side of the wagon.

"Gah!" Xander yelps and falls back on his tail. "Master Tooth! Wake up! We need your… wisdom!"

The tall Savanite watches Kin carefully, seeming to study her. His ears stand up more straight now, and after a few long moments he raises his empty hand and makes a few shapes with it. Soon, more faces peek out of the grass, more of the lean, spotted cats emerging. Quietly, they observe, and the tall one Kin is facing turns to regard her. Jamming his spear point down into the dirt, he puts his fist at his chest, tapping it once, then pauses. He signs again, holding his hands apart, then holding them both together, one standing upright, and the other held level at the base of the first.

The old man in the wagon snorts again. Though it's always hard to tell whether his eyes are open or not, they twitch, seeming to blink, and Tooth sucks his tongue back in, smacking his lips slowly. "Mnyuh."

Kin tilts her head, trying to comprehend what has just been 'said'. "I am afraid I do not know your language," the Kiriga says, again saying it in standard first, then imperial, "But if you can understand me at all, please nod. I believe you are trying to tell me your name? Standing-Tall? Standing-Spear?" She reasons the position of the feline's hands means the standing of something.

"Savanite tribesmen," Xander babbles to the bleary Tooth. "They could tell us things we need to know. You have to go talk to them, they'll respect age."

The cheetah seems to pause in thought. He slowly steps forward out of the grasses and approaches Kin.

Kin makes no move for a weapon; she just watches the Savanite approach. Thinking of something else, she asks, "Or are you saying you can write? I have paper and ink in the wagon." As he gets closer, she becomes aware of just how much bigger he is than her.

The Savanite steps close, towering over Kin, but he leaves his spear sticking out of the soil behind. He must not be very heavy, his body trim and fit but just this side of scrawny, decorated with bands of orange painted and stamped hide around his biceps. He holds up his hands again, a distance apart, a bit further then before. Instead of the second sign, he points down at the ground behind him, where his shadow stretches away.

Then he taps his chest with his fist again."

Tooth squints at Xander, then heaves himself to his feet, joints cracking and popping as he does so. He pokes his head out of the wagon, ragged ear fins perking up.

"Shadow?" Kin offers as she looks up at the feline, "Is that your name? Are you named because you are like a shadow, one that follows?" Honestly, she can't help but feel impressed; he's huge.

"Kin is already talking with the leader it looks like," Xander comments unnecessarily to Tooth, as he pokes his head out of the wagon as well. "That is one tall drink of cheetah. I bet he has a stride that's as long as I am tall… "

The Savanite nods once. He holds his hands apart again.

Kin's brow ridge furrows. "Space? Distance?" she asks. "Separation?"

"Mph," grunts Long Tooth. "Whatchoo wan' me do? I tinkah I can take dem all… "

The cheetah points when Kin says distance, nodding a bit but waggling his paw like he almost agrees. He makes that gesture again, hands held apart, then pointing down at his shadow.

"Talk to them! You've been everywhere and met everyone, haven't you?" Xander says, then looks back to the pair in the grass. "I think he's telling her something about time growing short."

"Distant-Shadow," Kin offers? "If that is your name, it suits you well."

The old man rubs his snout. "I nevah tinkah try talk dem. Dey nevah say anyting back."

The tribesman looks faintly bemused, his ears wiggling. More of the tribesmen emerge, standing a bit more at ease but still keeping their distance. The tallest waggles his paw again, as if to say, "Almost!" and holds his hand out. One of the tribe, a young-looking fellow, quickly takes the tall one's spear out of the ground and places the haft in his senior's paw. The cheetah uses it to reach out past his shadow, marking one end of it with a line in the dust, then marking where his shadow touches his feet. He taps both the lines for emphasis, then holds his hands apart again, smiling.

Xander stares at the back of Tooth's head for a moment, as if he could burn a hole through it with his glare (which he can't of course, not without a few hours of preparation). Then he turns back into the wagon and grabs some writing supplies, a bottle of water, and some jerked meat from Tooth's part of the supplies.

The young Kiriga's brow furrows again and she can't help but rub lightly at the base of the first of her small horns on her muzzle. "Long-Shadow? Tall-Shadow? Far-Shadow?" she offers in succession, starting to look embarrassed she hasn't gotten it quite right yet.

At the first one, the Savanite looks pleased, pointing and then reaching out to pat Kin on the shoulder with one of those long, gangly arms of his. The other tribesmen wiggle their ears.

The Lapi starts carrying the supplies towards Kin, slowing down a bit when he sees all of the other felines that have appeared. Still… they wouldn't attack someone whose head was apparently on fire, would they?

Tooth looks like he wants to protest, but says nothing, watching from the wagon and stroking his whiskers.

Kin smiles a sort of embarrassed and almost shy smile when her shoulder is patted. "Well, it is a pleasure to meet you, Long-Shadow," she says, then bows slightly to the huge feline. "You move with amazing silence. We could not hear you. I only felt you; it was instinct. We do not mean to intrude on your territory, we are passing through as we try to locate the wreckage of a downed airship."

Xander stops a dozen feet behind Kin, and tells her, "I've brought some water and… snacks. And paper, if you need to draw a map… "

"Ah, and this is Mage Xander Lightfoot," Kin says upon hearing the voice of the Lapi. "He is a friend of mine."

Long-Shadow seems to ponder this, especially noting Xander and the buck's wreath of flames. He looks over his shoulder at some of the other tribesmen, and makes some signs. The others go bounding off on their long legs with remarkable speed, leaving Long-Shadow and a few with the outlanders. The tall cheetah regards Xander, and makes a sign with his fingers held up, then stoops to pick up a handful of sand, and lets it trickle between his fingers. He sweeps his arm out to gesture at the other Savanites.

"Ah, fire!" Xander says, recognizing that sign. He isn't so sure about the sweep of sand, but says, "I won't burn any of you." He tries to recall the few signs he was taught, and tries 'I am a Mage', even if it comes out more like 'My liver is full of magic cheese'.

Kin watches the others bound off. For a moment, she looks a bit confused, wondering if somehow the mage has scared or threatened them. "He will not hurt you," Kin tells the cheetah. "Is that what you are concerned about? Or do you wish him to do something for you?"

"Oh… are you the… Burning Sand Tribe?" the Lapi asks.

The corner of Long-Shadow's eyes crinkle again, the amused cheetah wiggling his ears in a Savanite laugh. He starts to look back toward Kin, but then pauses at Xander's words, and points excitedly, giving the Lapi a hearty pat on the shoulder now. He looks quite pleased, warming up to the travelers. He nods at Kin again, and points at the sky. Then he makes the sign Xander recognized as 'fire' or 'burning' from before. He points at the sky once more, slowly dropping his finger down toward the horizon… then signs 'fire' again.

"They saw the airship crash!" Xander says excitedly, and offers Long-Shadow a stick of jerky. He's not sure what sort of animal the meat came from, but all meat is pretty much the same to him anyway.

"The airship battle. They saw the flaming ship go down," Kin says, believing she understands now and nods to Xander. "Last evening. Do you know if anyone survived?"

Long-Shadow nods at Kin, then tilts his head at Xander, taking up his offer and sniffing at it curiously. Gingerly, he takes a bite of the preserved meat, chewing and smacking his black lips. His ears wiggle again. He seems quite inclined to stick around now, and the other Savanites don't seem as shy anymore, ambling up and leaning on their spears to watch and listen curiously. Long-Shadow seems to regard Kin's question again, nodding the affirmative once more, but this time he reaches out to try to take her hand, leaving his spear to rest in the crook of his arm.

Seeing the movement towards her hand, she lifts it up and offers it to him. "Are they all right? Did something more happen to them?" she asks. To Xander, she says, "There are charming people. I feel bad I cannot speak to them properly."

"Maybe they've been to the crash site already and picked up any survivors," Xander suggests, sounding hopeful.

The tall cheetah holds Kin's hand, and draws a fingertip along her forearm, tapping on a scale, then on another scale, then on another scale. He points out over the horizon. Just then, one of the other tribesmen stands a little taller, looking out into the grass. He claps his hands together a couple times, getting all the Savanites' attention, and Long-Shadow lets go of Kin's hand. The whole band of cheetahs kneel down as their fellows return, bringing with them an elderly looking member with a shawl over his shoulders dyed vivid hues of yellow, matched by bright strings of beads over his arms and woven into his loincloth… amber, tiger's-eye, and sandstone. Most notably is that, like Xander, some motes of flame trail after him, creeping up and over his shoulders and the nape of his neck.

"Three survivors, or three measures of distance from here, perhaps," Kin suggests to Xander at the peculiar tapping of the scales on her arm. The arriving elder, though, quickly gets her attention. "They have a mage, like you," she says. "Well, not exactly like you. This one is calm. Can you tell what spell that is?"

"First Ones!" Xander squeaks, and hops up onto his toes for a better look. "It's one of their Mages! I never got to see the ones that came to Caroban from Xenea. Do you have any idea how rare shamans like this are?" he asks Kin, rhetorically. "Their magic is different, so… no, I can't really tell. But he must be sprier than he looks."

"I know nothing about magic, Mage Lightfoot; you know that," Kin says as she watches with curiosity.

"And their settlement must be quite a distance away, or I would have noticed… oh," Xander says. "I bet he sensed me, and they came out to investigate… "

"Well, you do look like your head is on fire. I would have been worried too," Kin points out to Xander.

The elder approaches. He must have been fairly tall once too, but though he's stooped over a bit, he does seem fairly spry, not relying on any spear or stick for support. Long-Shadow flicks signs at him, faster and more complex than the ones he used with Kin and Xander, and the older one eyes his visitors curiously. He crooks a finger at Xander, and points at the parchment in the Lapi's hands.

Unsure of how to actually respond, Xander bows first, then brings the paper over to the elder mage.

The old shaman takes the paper and unrolls it. Long-Shadow steps close and kneels again, presenting his back and looking over his shoulder curiously. His elder lays the parchment on Shadow's back, and holds a hand out to Xander expectantly.

Kin nudges Xander, saying, "Quill and ink."

The Lapi hands over the quill, then opens the ink pot and holds it ready.

"You know, this guy is probably related to the Queen of Xenea," Xander whispers to Kin. "Maybe distantly, but still… royalty."

"Why do you say that?" Kin asks Xander quietly, trying not to disturb the elder.

The shaman dips the quill tip, and begins scratching away at the paper. His touch is light, since there's some give to Long-Shadow's fur, but the writing is still fairly elegant. "I am Glowing Coal. We are Burning Sands. Long-Shadow likes you. Not many try to talk with us. He says you are looking for the sky houses that fell in flames." He dips the quill again, and shows the page to the duo.

Xander looks to Kin and smiles widely.

"You did not act as if you wished us harm; I sensed that you were curious. Honestly, I have never met you kind before and … I was curious as well. I am honored that you stopped and spoke with us," Kin says to the elder and bows slightly. "We do seek the ships that fell yesterday. There were people of great importance on one that we wish to locate."

Glowing Coal scratches away again. "Your interest and grace do you credit, outlanders. Long-Shadow saw the long-ears knows the ways of flame, and you spoke well. Only I of our tribe can write your language, so I was summoned. There are those who yet live among the broken sky houses. Those such as you, Sun Scales."

"Do you know how many? Do you know from which one? There was one ship larger than all the others and that is the one we seek. And would you be willing to show us the way to the fallen ships?" Kin asks politely. "And while I am I am glad that you know our language, I am sorry that I do not know yours. These are your lands, you deserve to be spoken to in your language as that is what would be proper and respectful."

The shaman seems to consider this, and Long-Shadow looks over his shoulder. The tall tribesman raises his hands and wiggles some signs, to which Glowing Coal replies with a few short signs, and begins writing some more. "Some of the scaled ones of the greater house live. We observed some whole, and some injured, most dead. They wear the sign of the serpent king, his fighting men. We will not go near to them, we do not trust their kind. But Long-Shadow likes Sunscale and Embercrown. He says it is two days travel. He will guide you."

"Talk about luck!" Xander says, and hands the ink pot to Kin, saying, "Hold this a moment, please."

"Thank you. If there is a way to repay your tribe for its kindness, please tell us what we could do," Kin says, "And if I may, there is another question I would like to ask." She then pauses there and accepts the ink pot from Xander.

The Lapi mage starts rummaging through the pockets on the inside of his robe, where he keeps his spell ingredients. After a bit, he produces a small dark pouch, which he opens up to extract a tiny stoppered bottle from. Inside are two translucent, yellowish waxy beads. "For you, Glowing Coal; white phosphorus. I'm sure you can find a use for it," he says, offering the bottle to the Savanite mage.

The shaman accepts the bottle curiously, peering into it, and sniffing at the lip. He holds his other paw over the top and seems to think for a moment, then re-stoppers the bottle. He writes a few more things on the parchment, then taps Long-Shadow on the back, and twists his fingers about in Silent Sign. Long-Shadow nods and smiles, ears wiggling, then reaches up to his ear, untying something from it. The tall cheetah steps close to Kin, and gently bids her lift her arm up, while the shaman approaches Xander and hands him the roll of parchment, tapping the Lapi's arm and bidding him to raise it up as well.

The parchment reads, "Powerful food for the spirit of fire, they should burn with a pure white flame. You will spend the night with us, fill your water skins and bellies."

Kin's webbed ears flick slightly and she lifts her arm, holding it straight out for whatever Long-Shadow wishes to do or tie upon it. She watches the cheetah with rapt interest now.

Xander holds up his arm without any trepidation (for a change) and seems happier than usual. "This is going to be so neat," he promises Kin.

A lace of rawhide encircles Kin's upper arm, and Long-Shadow ties it snugly, letting the end fall away with a bright bead of amber which holds a fiery plume of some sort. Glowing Coal leaves a similar adornment on Xander's arm, this one tiger's-eye with a talisman of imprinted hide painted with flames. The tribesmen stand and rest their spears on their shoulders, disappearing into the tall grasses, and Glowing Coal moves to follow them, leaving a smiling Long-Shadow to remain, who beckons as he follows his fellows more slowly.

"I hope Master Tooth doesn't embarrass us," Xander says to Kin as he collects the leftover supplies. He also snuffs out his fireball spell – no sense risking Glowing Coal's position after all.

"What do we do about Master Longtooth and our wagon?" Kin asks as Long-Shadow starts to walk away. "I suppose had better get our wagon get Master Longtooth to bring it near their village." And as Xander snuffs out his spell, she notes, "And see? You didn't make anything explode and yet you are not frustrated." Grinning slightly, the Kiriga follows after the tall Savanite.

"I can do something harmless later on if Glowing Coal asks," Xander says, heading for the wagon. "You did really well, Kin. Especially considering who your teacher is," he adds.

"Master Longtooth is a wise man. He has taught me much patience and understanding. Many an hour I have had to spend deciphering his lessons when he has had too much to drink. Long-Shadow's clues were much easier," Kin explains as she keeps looking to Long-Shadow. "I have only heard a few things about their kind … and none of them were true. I am gladdened to have had this experience."