(073) Wind and Sand

[mushgnome]

"Wen, should we use our spells of detection as we cross the ancient battlefield to Gustave's tower?" suggesteth Highbough.

[Eris]

Olaf continues to peek over the edge of the crater looking in all directions. He will shield his eyes and nose as best he can, but he wants to see if there is any movement out on the plain...especially any thing headed this way.

[waysoftheearth]

Olaf trudges out to the rim of the crater, shielding his face from the bitter hot wind blasting into his face as he goes, in order to get a better look around...

Meanwhile, Desmond/Mondes struggles with the taut lashings, but eventually finds purchase and cuts the hard, grey rope through with his knife-edge. The stuff is unfamiliar; it seems made of some kind of coarse, grey hair. Perhaps horse-mane? In any event, he begins reeling it in amind the swirling sands. It's hot, gritty work but in a few minutes he reckons he's made about ten fathom. It's heavy enough, and with all the work he's parched.

By this time Olaf has reached the dune ridge, and peers out over the top into the hard pan below. Gods it's hot, and damn this wind that blows into his face! The great bulk of the fortress looms on the horizon, perhaps a couple of mile off? Between him and it lies an ocean of battle-scarred desert. Uncountable spears and arrows and tattered pennants riddle the dunes for as far as the squinted eye can see. It's breath taking... but wait! Something is moving out on the dunes to his right... or are the dunes themselves moving?? Olaf shakes his head to focus his sight in the mirage heat, but sure enough! A ridge of sand seems to be moving--quite impossibly--zig-zagging roughly toward him. It's a hundred yard off, perhaps, but moving at a fair clip--for a dune!

[waysoftheearth]

What now people?

[ehiker133]

Desmond dumps his rope near the breech in the hull and climbs in for a brief respite, taking some sips of water to slack his thirst.

"Time's wasting. Let's get a move on," he says flatly. "I got some of the rigging down, in case we want to use it. Figured with all the blowing sand and such outside, might be good if we all held on to a rope or something as we walked to make sure nobody got lost."

[mushgnome]

Highbough, oblivious to the approaching danger, prepares for the trek across the ancient battlefield and the assault on Gustave's tower.

[Eris]

Olaf crawls back down the crater looking over his shoulder, first at the approaching dune and then backto Dieter, waving his free arm.

Hopefully, Dieter will guess from Olaf's actions that something is coming. Olaf will head for boat, quick time, once he is down on the crater floor.

"Hard to believe it, but there's a DUNE moving out there and it's headed this way!" Olaf shouts to Dieter when gets close, "First the wind attacks and now it looks like the earth itself is going to attack us!"

"I DO NOT like this place!"

In Olaf's opinion, the sooner we're away from this place the better!

[Condorcet]

Helmut stands, as much as he can in the cramped space, and readies himself, wrapping a faded scarf around his mouth and nose.

"If you are ready to move, my Lady, I can assist you" he says, offering Josiane a hand.

[doctorx]

"Thank you, my friend."

Josiane accepts the hand up from Helmut, wincing as she tries to stand.

"Desmond is right. Let the company be joined together. To become separated in this storm will mean death. Let us find our friend with all the haste we may.

"Lord Ulric? Will you and the Speculem guide our path?"

[coffee]

Olaf crawls back down the crater looking over his shoulder, first at the approaching dune and then backto Dieter, waving his free arm.

"Heads up, people!" Dieter roars, thumping the side of the craft. "Olaf is on his way down and he doesn't look happy!"

He tightens his grip on his sword (not even considering his bow -- in this wind, it'd be pointless).