A koan for Kara

[turtledunn1191]

((Sense motive

Dice Roll:

(as this is an older post, these rolls are interpreted by the older (more basic) dice roller code)
d20+2:	(6) + 2	Total = 8

Do I get any cirumstance bonus for having Samus as a follower?))

[turtledunn1191]

((doesnt matter))
I dont get it. I never learned much of cyphers, and riddles. I spent more time on troops formations. Any of you have an idea of what it is. It looks like samus goes to some water, is chased by gnomes, and hides in the middle of three hills. Thats me of course.

[Corwyn]

deciphering Dice Roll: (as this is an older post, these rolls are interpreted by the older (more basic) dice roller code) 4d20: 16, 4, 15, 6 Total = 41

[Corwyn]

Univen listens to Kara's guess as to the message's meaning. Knowing her friend and ally, Kara immediately surmisses that Samus is trying to guide them, despite his inability to return to them or wait for them. She guesses that the ranger is held up due to hostile enemies, maybe desert gnomes. As the others move in to examine the stone carving, Therous shakes his head, gnomes? he asks in confusion. Therous provides a little insight, these three hills here after the second human icon, I believe represent something a little less specific. Among the ancient followers of Tyr, there was a simple form of iconography, similiar to what he has inscribed here. This concave 'hill', would represent the earth, or the ground. The circle above it represents the sun. As a whole, the icon means, 'one day'. I take it that this crescent in place of the sun, in the next symbol, is the moon. I think he says here, 'two days and one night'.
Univene nods, I agree, I have seen that symbol before, though it was a little different. Also, usually such icons aren't considered specific of an individual. Had Samus been trying to say that he was running or walking, he might have identified himself, perhaps replacing the head with part or all of his mark. I think he wants us to walk or run... Wen picks up where she leaves off, the stone was facing south when we found it, therefore, if we are to follow Samus's apparent advice, we are to head along the north east branch of the riverbed, following the arrow. Perhaps these wavy lines indicate that we will find water there. The next symbol is a man standing. Waiting? I surmise that we follow the northern riverbed and if we find water there we wait for Samus, giving him two full days to catch up. Twain simply scratchs his head, frowning. Finally, he shakes his head, what if you have it wrong? What if he really was chased by something, or someone? They shot arrows at him and then he is hiding in the hills. We might walk right into an ambush...

Wen shrugs, shall I go back for the animals while you decide? he asks Kara.

**Free actions. Do you follow what seems to be the popular consensus and head northwest to wait for Samus? Do you go back to the animals and wait there, assuming Samus will return to where he last saw you? Or do you do something else entirely?**

[turtledunn1191]

Yes.... Go get the animals... I need to think. Kara says slowly.

[Corwyn]

Wen nods at Kara's command, glancing at Therous before turning and heading back they way they had come, leaving his camel with the other animals. Wen moves at his customary pace, which is almost unnaturally quick, casually moving nearly as fast as a trotting horse. His grace and speed never ceases to amaze.
While Kara tries to concentrate on determining her next move, Univene takes command, ordering the others to care for the animals and establish a resting place. Therous begins to conjure some water.

**Free actions.**

[turtledunn1191]

Let us follow the river bed. Someone scribe a message back, saying thats what we did, in case we are wrong. Kara decides, after taking a sip of the water.

[Corwyn]

Therous and Univene collaborate to try and duplicate the style of the message and leave a similiar one, which they hope translates into Kara's instructions. By the time the group is watered and rested and the message is crafted, Wen returns with the rest of the animals. He tells Kara that he left her lance and her message in tact, as well as the little bit of food and water, just in case. He also leaves a half filled waterskin buried beneath Univene's carefully placed message, planting a slim reed in the gravel, a plant that looks completely out of place in the desert.
The group travels along, mostly in silence, under the hot sun. Wen takes Samus' place wordlessly, riding ahead to scout the path. Just as the sun sets completely and the group begins to reign in their mounts and prepare to dismount, Wen comes riding along the darkened riverbed, waving his hand. He waits until he approaches to within a few feet of Kara before reporting, a large pool of water, about four arrow flights ahead. Without another word, he turns his mount around and heads back they way he came. The others simply follow along at their slow pace.

A few hours after sunset finds the group well-watered and fed, camped beside a deeper section of the river bed that contains water despite the desert sun. Trees and plants line the edges of the riverbed and younger growth grows along the basin, right up and into the water. Therous manages a small cookfire, keeping it up with dead leaves and brambles from the many desert plants in the vicinity. The warm fire contrasts against the chill night air nicely and the unmistakable presence in the water is a luxoury so uncommon for the group it is nearly uncomfortable, but not quite. Night owls and leatherwings can be heard hunting among the plants and the occasional scurring of their prey. The stars above turn relentlessly over a serene scene.


**Free actions. Do you simply wait or do you have any down time activity that Kara would do? Let me know how long you would wait and if you would do or order anything done.**

[turtledunn1191]

Theourus. Univine. Set up the perimiter traps. Non lethal. We will wait for a while, Wen. Help me fill up the skins. Kara stands up, tethering the animals near the water. She pulls the barrels off of the animals, and dunks them in the water, knowing that there are few spots as nice as this in the desert...

[Corwyn]

Kara's followers perform their duties preparing the campsite and establishing a perimeter. In short order they have managed to fill all of their receptacles with fresh water and the animals sate themselves at the oasis. Wen expresses his doubts, saying that the water is unnaturally cool and its location is suspect, but Univene teases him, Wen, if the goddess of lust came down from the heavens and offered to lay with you in the pools of eternal bliss, you'd probably attack her! Theorus laughs, enjoying the respite beside the refreshing pond, sitting back comfortably beside Univene. The female warrior however, subtly moves a little away from Therous, prefering to sit closer to Kara.
The night passes without event, everyone spending a time watching over the others. In the morning Univene and Therous prepare a hearty breakfast of fowl and desert fruit, provided by Twain's quick fingers during his watch and Wen's early morning perimeter check. Wen spends most of the first part of the day exercising and Twain takes turns with Univene running and grooming the horses. Nothing approaches the party but a few animals can be seen from time to time, approaching different parts of the oasis to sate their thirst at the crisp, clear, pool of water.

**The night passes without event, the day edges by slowly. How long do you wait? Do you have any down time activity that you or your cohorts would do?**

[turtledunn1191]

Kara gives her clothes a wash, and continues to fill all containers with the precious liquid. She looks around. ((Are there any natural hieghts or lookouts nearby? ))

[Corwyn]

The best vantage point around the oasis is a rocky outcropping the juts up from the edge of one of the sides of the riverbed. When the river fills, most of the plant life around the pond would be submerged, but as it is now, the outcropping is nearly fifteen feet above the surface of the water. However, the narrow ledge is only five or six ffet above the cracked, brocken surface of the surrounding terrain, outside of the riverbed. Wen spends a good portion of his time there, despite the beating sun, exercising, meditiating and keeping a watch out.
Occassionally, someone takes one of the horses for a ride, scouting the area but staying within view of whoever is standing on the outcropping.
The day passes without any sign of Samus.

**Free actions.**

[turtledunn1191]

((Same thing. Exercise, maintain watch for samus. However, build massive bon-fire, with wet wood so that there is lots of smoke. Set extra guards to watch for anyone hostile who sees it.))

[Corwyn]

Kara and the others keep a vigil watch for the rest of the day and the night. In the morning, there is still no news of Samus. Kara calls for the bonfire again. This time, not more than an hour after the thick smoke begins to climb into the azure sky above, Wen calls a warning down from the outcropping, creatures approaching from the south, humaniod. ETA 5 minutes. He kneels down, but continues to watch, gazing across the deep riverbed trench to the oppossite bank. The others immediately begin equipping themselves, looking to Kara for instruction.

**Free actions.**

[turtledunn1191]

Twain. Samus. Get your bows up on that rock. Wen, you and Slasher hold on the left of the rock. Theorus with him. Univine with me. We stay on this side of the river. If they try and cross, charge them once they are in the shallows. Archers. Fire when ready. This rock formation is our stronghold. Do not let the enemy close to melee with support. she pumps her lance, the standard snapping in the breeze. She leeps onto Stomper, and he snorts with readiness, his armor clanking.