Zorlon - Levdia

[Malchik]

Konnell glances at Malika and shrugs. "Don't recall anything happening here. Obviously I never made the attempt. Haven't been able to walk straight since my mother tried to cut a tick out of me when I was six. Nearly cut the foot off but she meant well. If those things get you, they can give you this terrible disease. I think that's what puts many people off. And it's rough and wet. There are other dangers too. The animals are aggressive, some of the plants are poisonous to touch. A few kids try it every year and the rest see enough not to bother. Besides, we can always go down to the Branden coast if we want to. There are no problems getting to the sea there."

 

There is a pause while Konnell thinks if there is anything he can add.

 

"I have a book with pictures of the dangerous plants. I won't let you take it. It was a favourite of my mother. You are welcome to look. It's rather a lot to remember though."

 

He glances around to see if anyone feels up to the challenge.

[ThetaOrionis01]

"Thanks for the warning," Lurel says with a grimace. "I'm glad we decided to get a full pot of the tick salve after all - I don't like the sound of that disease."

 

He looks at Midge, who has been very quiet - Lurel assumes that he must be tired after the exhausting walk.

 

"Midge, would you like to have a look at this book?"

[ShinJiOh]

"that's a pretty chunky book" says midge as he opens it and stares down at the pages...

 

"We shouldn't be in too much trouble.. anything that is more than one colour seems to be poisonous" Midge says as he hands the book back to Lurel

[Switch]

"Diseased ticks... rabid animals... poisonous plants... gee, this is gunna be fun!" Ford says with a sarcastic tone.

[Malchik]

Malika gives a small laugh but does not elaborate.

 

Konnell finishes his meal. "I need to be up early so I'm turning in. I'll show you your rooms first."

 

He doesn't seem to notice that you are still devouring Malika's food.

 

There are four bedrooms. Lisette and Lurel have rooms to themselves. Ford and Midge are sharing. Konnell and Malika use the fourth. Padden is sleeping on the sofa. You retire after the quick raid back to the table to clean up the left overs. Nothing disturbs you until Konnell knocks on the doors.

 

"Malika has left packs with enough food for breakfast and lunch. We're off. Padden said goodbye too but needed to get back to his mother. Seemed a bit jumpy about you. Didn't say why. Outside the gate turn left. Path goes to the end of the long field. After that - you must make the best of it. We wish you luck."

 

You quickly assemble and collect the food packs. At the gate you do as Konnell advised. The long field is what it says and it takes you the best part of half an hour until you reach the end.

 

What you then see appears to be a continuation of the field. There is no trace of any path. To your left about fifteen paces away is a line of scrubby bushes perhaps following a stream bed. To your right about thirty paces the field changes colour from a brightish yellowy green to a darker blue-green. You can walk wherever you wish unrestricted.

[Switch]

Ford stretches and yawns as they walk along the path, still barely awake. When they reach the end of the field he looks around then looks to Lurel.

 

"Well... what way now?"

[ShinJiOh]

Midge feeling rather pooped, says

"Ford, you snore.. seriously, i couldn't get much sleep last night. JUst kidding, no you didn't"

 

"personally, that line of scrubby bushes seems to be the way to go, if it's stream it's bound to be a tributary of some kind.. perhaps to the sea?"

[ThetaOrionis01]

"Well..." Lurel says thoughtfully, "usually water finds the path of least resistance - so the streambed would be a good path to follow. But on the other hand, vegetation usually grows more thickly there too, which makes the going more difficult. And there are usually more biting insects near water too - if the ticks carry disease, who knows what the flies have in store for us?"

 

Lurel weighs up the various options, wishing he hadn't been so tired the night before - he feels that he didn't ask the right questions. And he regrets not having had a chance to say farewell to Padden.

 

"Well - it's still early. Let's follow the stream for a while, as long as it takes us in the right direction, and the going doesn't become too difficult. If it gets as hot as yesterday, it might be cooler there too. But keep an eye out for those poisonous plants - and those insects and other beasties."

 

He looks to the others. "Unless anyone has any strong feelings on the matter?"

[Malchik]

You head towards the line of trees. The stream bed is dry, probably seasonal. It would be awkward to walk in it but the top of the banks are flat and the grass is not very tall. A low growing creeping plant with small pale leaves and inconspicuous white flowers grows in profusion.

 

Midge feels a strange vibration. When he tries to isolate the source it is coming from the rusty spoon. Except, the centre of the bowl is no longer rusty.

 

Lisette's magical dagger emits an all but inaudible hum.

 

The air seems suddenly thicker.

 

You all begin to feel tired, exhausted and depressed. This is a waste of time, it will serve you no purpose, you should give up before disaster befalls.

 

Lurel knows at once that there is magic in the atmosphere. What it is and who set it are questions for later. What must be decided immediately is how to counteract it. If it is not dealt with their plans will be doomed.

[ThetaOrionis01]

"This is wrong!" Lurel says urgently. "We need to do something about that! Something - or someone - is trying to stop us from going any further."

 

He thinks hard - there is something, he is sure, that was said about hearing, and distraction.

 

Then he remembers.

"Ford! That piece of straw you have - try using it now! If it can disrupt people's hearing, maybe it will distract us from this hostile influence too!"

 

He grimaces. "Or maybe we need to start singing, like Malika told Lisette."