Shaking the Sands - RPLOG

Participants

• Angus
• Arimia
• Mazurek
• Ryusho
• Sally
• Zevran

Date

16/12/475

Log

After numerous reports of disturbances in the desert, a call has gone out for brave souls to investigate. Those answering this call have been asked to the meet not at the gates of Firmament, but at a designated meeting spot on the edge of the desert itself. A rhino can be seen waiting at the spot, clad in spiked heavy armor and with a greatsword strapped across his back.

Ryusho sighs softly as he adjusts his pack a bit, though dressed a bit light considering it is the desert, he also is packing a lot less the normal to help make sure that he will not be a burden, get over-heated or other things, meaning any field repairs he makes, will have to be -make do- on site, with proper repairs once they get back to town

Sally approaches, dressed in her usual blouse and skirt, and sweating a small river as she goes, "Hate deserts," she grumbles softly as she moves to join the rhino and the others who happen to be present. Despite personal discomfort, her regalia is intact, badge and medals shined.

Angus shades his eyes as he glares out at the desert. "I know how you feel Sally" As he wipes the sweat from his brow and takes another drink from his canteen.

Mazurek is definitely one to enjoy deserts, especially since he's going in his draconic form. Meaning he gets to go in nothing more than shorts today. His personal badges are attached to thewaistband, showing his rank and callsign in the Lightbringers. He has a pack with him as well, though it's slung over a shoulder for the present time as he does short flights from time to time.

The rhino keeps his back turned to the approaching folk, his hand shading his eyes as he peers into the desert. Once he hears the last set of footsteps stop, he turns to face the group. The rhino is none other than Zevran, which becomes clear once his face is seen. He seems to be sweating quite a bit as well, not at all helped by his heavy armor. "So I suppose you're here to investigate as well?" He asks with a smile, looking towards the group as he wipes the sweat from his brow with the back of his hand. A slight vibration runs through the ground around the group, causing the topmost layer of sand to vibrate slightly, but not strong enough to be noticed unless someone had been looking for it.

Ryusho shifts his position where he stands slightly, "Decided I may as well equip a bit light, so I would not be a burden if something happens." he says after a moment, "Though I beleive this is the group that is to help investigate, like we heard might be needed." he nods a bit, here to represent House Ironsoul, as he has worked to add the Growin gclan seal, as well as a mark to show that he is a retainer for House Ironsoul upon his person.

Sally shakes herself off lightly, "Of course we are, Private. I wouldn't be out here for much less than that. Duty calls, give us a situation report," she beckons, "You see anything?"

Angus sits down next to Sally and before looking up at Zevran. "What can I say Zev I always wanted to die of heat stroke." The heat was still getting to him and he wasn't even wearing his chainmail or his cloak so he wouldn't be to hard to carry if he did manage to pass out.

Mazurek doesn't exactly need to speak, given that the leader of the unit is present as well, but that doesn't mean that he isn't going to converse with his fellow dragon, "It looks like you brought enough things to field a small army. You really don't put anything to chance when it comes to these things, do you?" He doesn't ignore Angus and actually goes so far as to pull him up into his arms, "You really need to consider the ritual to become a dragon, Angus. You can even live underwater without fear of drowning if you wanted."

Another small vibration travels through the ground around the group, causing the sand to vibrate. "I haven't seen too much. Except that." Zevran points to the vibrating sand, which becomes still again after a few seconds. He moves towards Angus to try and help the fox back to his feet, but stops as he sees Mazurek pick up the fox. "As far as I can tell, it's coming from over there." He remarks, pointing to a dune a fair distance further into the desert. As he points at it, the sand atop the dune can be seen to shake much more violently. The vibration travels outward towards the group, but by the time it reaches them it has diminished to the slight vibrations he pointed out before.

Sally looks towards the shaking in the sand, "Well that doesn't tell me much, but something capable of making that much of a thump is likely capable of striking more than one good soldier at a time, so let's fan out and investigate," she orders, waving her hand out across towards the curiosity.

Angus is suprised when Mazurek picks him up and glares at him. "I'm fine I'm fine just not use to the heat." Pushing against him he trys to get down. "And I'm also fine just staying a Kitsune. One ritual is enough for me at them moment." Hearing Sallys plan he turns to her and nods as he waits for Maz to put him down.

Mazurek puts Angus down as easily as he picked him up, though he keeps his hands on his shoulders until the 'sune is sure he has his balance, "I had heard of something out here before, but unfortunately I wasn't one of those who were present at the time. Something that was causing explosions willy-nilly and was actually some form of living creature, an experiment or something. So long ago that I can't recall exact details. It can't be this thing, since it's only causing tremors, right?"

Zevran nods his head as he hears Sally's plan before looking towards Mazurek at the dragon's query. "No, I don't think it's the same thing. I remember fighting that monster." He replies to the dragon, shaking his head. "Still, I doubt that whatever it is will come over here and introduce itself. The sooner we find out what it is, the sooner we can get out of this heat." He remarks, wiping more perspiration from his brow. He doesn't wait for another moment before he does as Sally ordered, trekking towards the dune that the vibrations had come from. The tremors continue intermittently, and their effects are stronger the closer the group gets to the dune, making footing a bit more difficult.

Ryusho Hums softly as he mrphs a bit, as he almost stumbles slightly, each time he has to re-adjust his footing a bit, but the pack makes the loss of footing a bit more..akward since it is so much weight that gets shifted almost.

Sally keeps her distance from the others, to minimize the odds of any area effects striking more than one at a time before they know what they are dealing with. Her steps are light across the sand, scrambling ahead with heavy panting.

Angus grumbles as he follows behind, stumbling once thanks to the shifting sand, and trys to make sure he is far enough away from the others. As they get closer to the dunes he draws his Rapier and glances up at it wondering what could possibly be causing those tremors.

Mazurek drops to all fours while he approaches the dune, going at an even different angle than the others are. He's following in Sally's proverbial footsteps, though he does end up seeing what he can find by going airborne about halfway to that dune, using some air magics to assist him with his flight.

As Mazurek crests the dune, he is able to see what the cause is on the other side. At the base of the dune, two Heavy Folk are engaged in combat. One seems to be a Grizzly Bear, while the other is a Tiger. Both are clad in heavy armor and wielding large weapons. The bear wields a mace, while the tiger is holding a maul. As the tiger strikes the ground with the maul, it creates another strong tremor. The vibration travels through the dune, making footing even more difficult for those on the other side of it. Zevran loses his footing, falling to a knee. He pushes himself up and struggles to top of the dune. When the others crest the dune, they will see the two Heavy Folk engaged in combat.

Ryusho grumbles a bit as the footing gets less and less stable as he shifts to using his hands to aid in movement as well as feet, though it also helps by spreading the weight he is carrying out into four points as well rather then just the two of his feet...though he comes to a stop as he gets to the top...with a quirk of his brow, "..What in the world? ...this has been going on 'how' long?

Sally rubs behind her head, watching the two battle it out a moment, "Not what I was expecting," she admits, "But hardly illegal, provided this is..." she rolls a hand, then huffs out loudly, looking between the two large figures.

Mazurek is not as quiet as the others are. When he spots the two in the heated battle he settles to the top of the dune to rest and wait until the others see what is happening. Afterward is when he finally lets out a bellow that lasts a few seconds, enhancing it with some air magics to let it carry farther. A few seconds later he calls out in a more intelligible tongue, "You boys done yet?! You're shakin' up the neighborhood!"

The two combatants continue with their battle, slamming heavy blows into each other that probably would have killed them if it weren't for their heavy armor. They don't even notice the group spectating at first, but they stop their combat after hearing Mazurek's bellow. They don't seem scared at all. Rather, they seem a bit annoyed. "Why don't you mind your own business!" The bear responds in a gruff voice. If one's eyesight is good enough, one can see an emblem on each of the Heavy Folk's armors. The emblem depicts a flat plain with a fissure splitting it right down the middle. A simple enough image. Zevran stands atop the dunes with the others, looking at the combatants and rubbing his chin, almost as if trying to remember something.

Ryusho cants his head a bit, as he glances to the rest, "..Well this is not what I was expecting at all.." he says softly, "..then again, I don't know what I was expecting..." he then adds

Sally lifts her head, "Giant sand creatures burrowing towards the city? Cliffside demolition crew making arses of themselves?" she suggests as possibilities, "Or two gents beating the tar out of each other over a tavern tab."

Mazurek is a bit too occupied to take care of the poor Kitsune when he passes out, for his focus is on the battling duo. He actually goes so far as to slide down the dune towards them, surfing in the sand with the help of his wings, "Our business is here, gentlemen. We have come to investigate the reason behind these tremors you two are apparently causing."

Arimia wanders aimlessly through the sands, either lost, or having no particular destination to be headed to. Until she feels the vibrations, anyway. That prompts her to start searching for the source. When she stumbles upon the two engaged in battle she stops, staying a good distance away. She doesn't seem to have noticed the other group investigating yet.

As Angus passes out, Zevran moves to catch the fox, slinging him over his shoulder as he watches Mazurek slide down the slope. He draws his gaze away from the two Heavy Folk and Mazurek to turn to Sally. "Worse. They're EarthShakers." Zevran responds to Sally, recognizing the emblem on the armor although he wouldn't explain how. The two EarthShakers still seem rather annoyed at Mazurek in particular. "Isn't it obvious? We're training." The tiger responds to Mazurek, his tone arrogant as he rests his maul on his right shoulder. The EarthShakers don't seem to have noticed the small raccoon who has shown up.

Ryusho mrphs softly as he glances to Zevran, "Earth shakers? I haven't heard of them.." he says after a bit, scratching his head as he looks back to them...

The arrogance in the tone is either lost to the dragon or ignored entirely by the dragon, who crosses his arms with a tilt of the head, "Training? Out here in the desert? Weeellll...." He rubs his snout a little, "That..would keep the populace of the city safe from the tremors you're causing. What clan are you two a part of? I don't recognize the seal at all."

Arimia sits down where she is, and runs her hands through the sand of the desert. She grabs a handful, and idly lets it trickle from one hand to the other. She listens to the words of the various beings gathered, then speaks up, drawing attention to herself. "Trainin' is all well an' good, but you should do it without shaking the ground. I mean, it's amazin' that you have the might to do so an' all, but it would be even more amazin' if you had the might to do so, an' the control to keep from doin' so. It would show you're truly masters at what you do."

"Mercenaries. Damn good ones, too. Their services aren't cheap, though." Zevran responds to Ryusho, still watching the exchange between Mazurek and the Earthshakers. "We are Heavy Folk. I thought that would be obvious." The tiger responds to Mazurek, closing his gauntleted left hand into a fist and holding it out towards Mazurek. The Heavy Clan seal is emblazoned on the back of the gauntlet, easily missed during the earlier fighting. The bear, meanwhile turns to face Arimia upon hearing her. He looks at her a moment, sizing her up, before doubling over in laughter. He takes a moment to stop laughing and catch his breath. "And how do you know we don't. Why do you think we would train in such a remote location? Only a Heavy Folk could truly understand the power we control." The bear replies to Arimia once he catches his breath, his tone arrogant and almost patronizing.

Ryusho rolls his eyes a bit, "..well that explains the -attitude- they have at least.." he says with a slight huff crossing his arms on top of the dune beside szevran...

Mazurek takes a look at the seal on the gauntlet very, very briefly, but ends up pointing to the seal that he was really speaking of, "We can all see that you're Heavy Clanners, but I was speaking of your unit's seal. That is the only thing here that I am unfamiliar with. Is it also common to poke fun at the females, or is that attitude just for the sake of your own egos?" This is one very unimpressed dragon.

Arimia narrows her eyes slightly as the bear starts to laugh, and her hands move to the desert sands beside her seated form. Her claws and fingers dig into the earth and she smiles, though it is more a baring of teeth than a friendly action. "I'm sure you think you do," the 'coon says in soothingly and insincerely sweet tones. "An' _of course_ nobody but one of your clan can understand what you do." As she speaks her hands twist on the sand slowly and subtly as the raccoon uses earth magic to try and turn the sand below the bear's feet into a contained sinkhole, or pit of quicksand, trying to make it so the bear, and only the bear, starts to sink. "I mean, obviously a deeper understandin' of the maths of earth magic is inaccessible to any who don't take up so much of the bloody ground."

"This isn't sounding too good." Zevran mutters as he listens to the conversations at the bottom of the dune. "Here, you watch Angus for a while."