[Sanctuary] Staff Bonding - A Campout On The Sea of Grass

[Dust]

Kavala slowed them all down a bit, and called to the rest of the group, which diverted Dust from watching the landscape go by. She turned towards the Konti, as did her Strider, and listened attentively as the woman explained how to direct the horse. Look forward to go forward; lean forward to go faster; sit back to stop. Turn with pressure from the legs. The raven Kelvic tipped her head to one side, blinking once as she mulled over these instructions. She cast a quick smile at Van when he passed by and offered encouragement -- then set out to test the directions Kavala had given. Dust sat back until her mount slowed a bit, then applied pressure to turn the horse left. It swerved in that direction, and the Kelvic woman chortled happily at her success in actually directing the great beast. She reversed pressure to move it back towards the course the rest of the group was on, leaning forward in her desire to catch back up. Fortunately, the Strider knew that to mean go faster -- so they did. When Dust found herself back by Van again, she sat back, the better to talk at the Drykas; her mount slowed to keep pace with his. "This is really cool!" she exclaimed. Afoot, there probably would have been some hand-waving or other gesture reflecting her excitement; mounted, Dust didn't feel nearly confident enough to now remove her hands from where they clung. Riding the horse was a little like hanging on a branch in the wind, albeit only a little -- branches didn't move the same way at all. And she held onto a branch with her feet, not her thighs. But the need to stay balanced was a helpful commonality. The Strider flicked its ears back at her. Dust wondered if the horse found her silly, or was indulgently amused -- most reactions to her seemed to go in one or the other of those camps. Looking ahead, she saw that the Akalak and Tia'aria were riding up with Kavala; whatever they were talking about didn't carry back to her. Cadra rode between that knot and the second clump of herself and Van. A glance back -- careful, so as not to unbalance herself -- found no eagle behind them, and she promptly set herself to finding where Larik flew in his scouting, scanning the spring sky.

[Kavala]

Kavala smiled at Riaris, and moved Spitfire under her so the mare set pace with the larger Strider her Akalak companion was riding. She answered his question with a laugh, knowing that those who grew up in stone walls didn't give safety a second thought. But out here, it had to be a first thought. "I think it will take us two days to ride to the ruins. So we'll camp about a days ride out towards the end of the day, sleep, then get up early and finish the trip into the ruins. But we always make camp first, by anyone's standards. You do so in order to have everything safely established. There could be wind, storms, hard rain even in the summer, and we need to look for grazing for the horses but a place where we can set our tents up sheltered from grass fire if possible. There's numerous stone outcroppings and dry gulches, so we should be able to find someplace to shelter over night. I don't want to push people too hard. Most everyone here hasn't been on a horse very long." Kavala answered Riaris, then reached over to touch his arm, smiling.

"You're doing well." The Konti whispered.

Kavala added, then turned to answer Tia's question. "Her name is Sungold. Dusk is mounted on Kasata, and your remounts are Riverwild and Patas. Riraris' horse is named Illwind. He'll find out why once the stallion gets into really green grasss. Don't stand behind him." She said, laughing lightly and slowly urging the group to get their horses into a gallop and then into the gait that all Striders were known for... the Wind Gait. The horses could run faster than people could think with little effort that way, and cover ground to their first camping spot of the night.

[Vanator]

Vanator could feel the anxiousness in the barely contained movement of Sirroco beneath him. The Drykas rode a circuit around the group as Kavala instructed the new riders how to guide a Strider in a yvas. Vanator rode with ease, his posture erect but relaxed. His hands rested on his thighs or fidgeted with the strands of hair that seemed to constantly blow into his face. One of the beauties of the yvas was that there were no reins to cling to, the rider's hands were free to use a bow or weapon, or to munch on jerked deer or a ripe pear. Fighting from a yvas was a different story. Without stirrups to brace one's legs, the Strider rider must balance momentum and position to remain seated in a fight. Drykas strategies had evolved in light of this. Hence, lances were not employed, while ranged weapons like bows, crossbows, spears and the like were more common. Gripping the front handle on the yvas also added stability when swinging a weapon from the yvas' seat.

Once the quick lesson was concluded, the group set out again as Tia, Riaris and Dust tested the technique. The raven girl drew up next to Vanator, who had fallen back in with the others. The Kelvic seemed to pick up on the riding style, allowing her body to relax enough to move with the motion of the Strider's gait, where others would fight it by stiffening their bodies, like the burly Akalak ahead. That would make for sore muscles at the end of the day.

"You are picking it up quickly!" Van replied to Dust, noting her search of the sky for his son. "Don't worry, he's around, watching." The Drykas gave his friend a smile and a wink. Then Kavala urged Spitfire into a gallop, and the others eventually matching her gait. Van looked over at Dust again. "Get ready to fly without using your wings!" He laughed, the never fading anticipation of the Wind Gait filling the horseman's heart with joy. Spitfire tore into the grass like a shot, the other Striders anxious to follow. Sirroco took off like a bolt, Vanator turning his head with his hair in a flurry to make sure the Kelvic followed.

[Riaris Dovukalis]

Riaris glared at Vanator and a weak smirk stretched across his lips. He was showing off, trotting around on his horse as if the two had been made one. Riaris couldn't fought him for his behavior, there were beautiful woman about and just as it was important for him not to look like a fool in front of Kavala, the Drykas was doing the same, only better. "Well played brother Drykas. Alpha suits you." he thought to himself, though he wouldn't likely tell this to the human even if he did truly believe it.

He turned his gaze back to Kavala and listened as she explained their route and way of travel. It was a simple enough task, and one far from as tiresome as the one he had when the Kuvay'Nas sent him on the Zith hunt. He tried to steer the horse to walk straight and side by side with Kavala's so that their pace was the same and he could talk with her more. "I assume we don't have to worry about Vanator rushing off into the wilderness to find himself a trope Glassbeak?" he winked towards the Drykas then, letting him know that he saw him.

Kavala was the woman with all the answers, and while he was find with that, what he learned about the horse he rode wasn't a comfort. "Illwind? I don't think that anyone wants to find out just how ill of a wind." He didn't say it aloud, but the Akalak was now considering finding a tree off in the distance to station the horse for the night. He wasn't sure how close he could get with Kavala with the others around, but a bad smell could ruin the mood. At the word of his companion, Riaris leaned forward and urged the horse into a gallop and headed off.

[Dust]

"Of course he is!" Dust answered to Van. She glanced towards Kavala, noting the name of her horse: Kasata. And... Dust twisted in the yvas, keeping one hand on the horn for stability. Which one was Patas? But then Kavala's horse leapt forward, and Van redirected the Kelvic's attention to her own steed. "Okay!" Seeing how the other Striders surged through the grass put Van's remark in instant perspective. Dust grinned, then wrapped her hands firmly around the yvas horn, snugged her legs against the horse's flanks, and leaned forward. "All right, go!" she said, words to accompany the shift in her weight, though Kasata was already gathering herself to run by that time. When the Strider launched into motion, Dust rocked back in the yvas, the surge surprising despite all her expectations; Kasata checked a moment, glancing towards her from the edge of one large, dark eye. "Um... I'm okay," Dust assured the horse, after verifying that yes, she was still seated, and yes, she would... probably... stay that way. As long as she stayed low and close to the horse, and paid attention to her seat and grip. But it was something like flying, this racing along over the earth -- if very, very fast.

[Kavala]

Two days of hard riding brought the party up to the very outskirts of The Isyan Ruins. They had all worked hard, practicing their riding for those that could not, and learning how best to navigate the grasslands with Striders tapping the webbing. Kavala stopped every few hours, letting the horses rest and letting everyone walk around and stretch their legs. Most of the party would be sore by the time they arrived at the ruins, but she made sure - along with Vanator - that by scanning the web ahead of them the pathway was clear. Kavala didn't speak to the non-drykas about what they were doing, but instead quietly called the halts then set out quietly on foot, her head bowed, in the guise of stretching her legs.

She might have been Konti, but she was drykas by birth and honored her people's traditions of keeping Webbing a secret. Kavala bowed her head as she walked, tapped the web, and scanned ahead the few miles she was able, looking for predators and bad weather. Vanator, of course, knew what she was doing and took as many turns scanning as she did on the rest stops. But all in all they got there safe, with no one worse for the ware.

The ruins themselves were made up of massive stone columns scattered about with stairways that lead down into the earth, up into the air, and punctuated briefly into nothing. Bricks were scattered around like something had exploded them or tossed them like a child's blocks, and stone walls ran parallel to the earth and sky but lead nowhere. Wind and water had taken its toll on the ruins and had taken all their use away save the occasional shelter from storms for the Drykas and other travelers on the grasslands.

There were above ground structures still standing, tall in the sun but somehow defeated looking. And more importantly there were below ground structures as well, interwoven with mazes, perfect for The Sanctuary Staff to do some training and bonding. Kavala dismounted, lead Spitfire forward, and looked around.

"Where do you guys think would be the best place to camp for a few day?" She asked, not having much experience in camping or being out without a Pavilion and a Drykas clan surrounding her.

[Vanator]

Vanator slid from his yvas, patting Sirocco on his strong neck before stretching out stiff muscles. His gaze drank in the ruins, as his steps drew him nearer to the dejected collection of stone blocks. Again, he surreptitiously plied the Web for indication of other significant life around them. There seemed to be a disruption of the Web nearby, or around the ruins themselves, that hindered a complete survey of the area.

Van reached out to brush a rough hand across one of the fallen stones, noting subtle unevenness in is gritty surface. He tread the grassy paths between crumbling walls, past a crack-ridden set of steps that lead down into a dark opening in the earth. He paused only a moment, peering at the stone stairway and into the dim doorway, seeing no sign of recent passage. Perhaps it was the atmosphere, the silent skeletal remains of an ancient structure, that gave the dark opening an eerie vibe.

Moving on, he ascended another set of steps that lead to a walkway. It ended only a few feet from the top of the stairs, the rest collapsed in a heap of brick and rubble below. From the higher elevation, Vanator surveyed their surroundings.

"I say we pitch against that wall." He spoke up, pointing to a stretch of wall at one side of the ruins. "It would make a good wind break, and give us one side of defense." Defense was never far from Vanator's mind. but in his opinion, In the Sea of Grass, it should be on everyone's mind. Climbing back down, Van rejoined Sirocco, who had wandered a bit looking for choice grasses until he saw his rider approach. "My guess is, if they built this here, there must be a source of water nearby, if it hasn't dried up over the centuries."

[Riaris Dovukalis]

Riaris was relieved when they made it to the Isyan Ruins. Two days upon horseback reminded him of the journey with the Myrian when they fought off the Zith. He wasn't thrilled and he was still pretty sure that horses didn't like him. Pale blue eyes lowered to the ground and he thought about getting off but paused. Getting off would be fine, but then if he had to climb back up again.. he wouldn't be happy about it.

He looked to Vanator and Kavala as they surveyed the area. Finally he slipped off the horse which seemed to sigh in relief at having the giant off it's back. Riaris gave the horse a light pat and took a few steps forward to try and wake the muscles in his rear that had long since fallen asleep during the long ride. He hobbled forward taking his own time to look around the place for somewhere to camp. Vanator started to climb stone ledges in a display of acrobatics and the Akalak watched with folded arms.

He looked towards the wall that his comrade pointed out would be a good place for a camp. The Drykas was right in fact, the wall provided them cover from predators as well as the winds which could pick up fiercely when they wanted too. "I agree, this wall could provide us with a good defense for a night at least." Riaris looked to Kavala then and waited to see what she thought or their plan. "The light won't hold for long, I'm going to look around and see if I can find a water source, horses look like they need it."

[Kavala]

Kavala nodded at Vanator's advice, finding it sound. Ankals always knew wher eto camp. She then nodded again when Riaris offered to go find water. That was smart because they'd need it not only for the horses but for themselves.

Kavala walked around a moment, then whistled to summon up two of the re-mounts that were more heavily loaded down than the others. She lead them over to the spot Vanator had indicated, and began unloading the horses. Kavala had brought the pavilion she used when she went back and forth to Endrykas in those early days. Her's wasn't a full family pavilion that took a wagon to move. Instead, this was a portable two room structure that a horse could easily pack. She took down the poles first, assembled them carefully, then laid out the canvas and strung together the binders until she was ready to erect it. Then, concentrating, she got the poles aloft, carrying the canvas with them. Once the pavilion was erected, she got out her tie-downs and began securing the canvas so that even a stiff wind or a rain storm wouldn't' upend it.

When she was done securing it, she walked into the interior, pulled back the dividing curtain and thoughtfully looked around. Usually when there was just one pavilion like this, the front room acted like a stable and the back room acted as a living quarters. With all their horses and remounts, they would be fending for themselves outside tonight. And when half the party and pleaded saddle-soreness and turned back after the first day, they were down to just the three of them unless others caught up. So Kavala carefully began to unload the rest of the horses, turning them loose to find grass and graze. She stowed Riaris and her own stuff in the living quarters along with Vanator's and then put the tack and gear they'd brought in the stable area. Kavala threw down rolled rugs from the other packhorse for ground cover on the living side and left a large circular area in which she dug out a fire pit, lined it with stones she collected, and began gathering firewood. It was easy, this routine, falling into the years of her youth, doing women's work for the camp.

When the men returned from their self appointed tasks, they'd find shelter and a warm fire going. If Riaris brought back water, or at least located a source, Kavala would accompany him back to it to fill the soup pot and wash pot, and bring along the horses to water. They could light an outdoor fire if they wanted, but it was the mens job to do that. Fires outside were more defensive than domestic. And Kavala knew her role in the Drykas world.

When they all got settled, fed, and rested... it would be time to make plans.

"Now that we are here... what do you all want to do?" Kavala asked. She'd left it up to them if they were eating around a fire outside or were enjoying the warmth of the pavilion inside. "I want to go underground. I've heard that there are huge structures with mysterious writing on them beneath the earth. I brought torches if anyone wants to come with me." She said, wondering what others wanted to do and how she could help them accomplish the task. This was their rest and relaxation time.. she wasn't going to not join in any adventures anyone wanted to have.

[Vanator]

Riaris strode off in search of water, and Kavala to the making of camp. Vanator circumnavigated the perimeter of the ruins, marking notable aspects. A large block here, a stray fallen column there, an area of barely visible flagstones hidden in the grass. He stopped at a stone block, its corners worn by weather and time. Around the corner, Van could hear the snuffling of the horses and the rustle of canvas nearby as Kavala worked to erect their shelter.

Van settled onto the ground facing the block. He eyed the rough hewn surface, quieting his soul and discerning the djed within him. Once he sensed it, Van separated it in his mind, in the awareness of his body. Eyes staring at the stony texture glassed over as the Drykas coaxed djed down his limbs to his hands. He pressed the tips of his fingers to the stone, shifting them subtly. Eyes that had shifted to see more of ethereal than material saw the faint glowing sigil he formed upon the rock. Warm glowing strands then were drawn from the palms of the hands, seemingly embedded in the glyph. The djed threads were then woven around the stone block. It was not a deep anchor, Vanator was not skilled enough to sink one that would be more enduring, but his origin would suffice for their short stay.

From there, Vanator strung the strands outward, weaving them around the edge of the ruins, wrapped around the outlying features of the landscape, another stray block, a tree stump, the fallen column. He laid it out some distance from the small pavilion Kavala had erected, tracing the area the horses were most likely to linger, then back around to the origin, where it was secured.

Next, several web strands were laid strategically across the ruins themselves, most notable across the dark opening to the lower levels. Once the web was woven. Van ran its length, ensuring it was secure and consistent. Later, he would tie them all to it. The sound of camp making rose again as his eyes focused on the gritty surface of the stone block.

Vanator stood and strode to the campsite. While Kavala and Riaris fetched water. Vanator scrounged for fuel for an outdoor fire. Enough dried grass was secured as tinder. Some suitable wood was found near the stump, but the remainder of the fuel would consist of the dried dung from the barns they had brought along. A square framework was made from the scavenged wood, the dried disks and chunks of dung laid on top of the tinder. With the muttered repetition of a few well-versed syllables, Vanator resourced his djed again, this time to form res in his hand. He created a few licking flames of fire, holding them close to the waiting fuel. The tinder ignited and soon a small fire was crackling outside the pavilion.

Once they had taken care of camp, and themselves, the three relaxed. His belly full, Vanator felt the stress ease from his body. Kavala spoke up, declaring her desire to explore the ruins. Vanator nodded. "I'll go. I admit it is a bit eerie, but I find my curiosity outweighing my wariness." He laughed at himself. "As for me," he glanced at the ancient wall behind them and the columns rising behind it, "I think this is a good place to put some finesse on firebolts, almost like an city fight situation." He thought of the snarlwing attack they had all helped repel, and how unwieldy he was with his fire. Kavala had helped direct and expand it with her wind, but Van would like to hone it where it would be a deadly ranged weapon. Fire could have unwanted collateral consequences (as in setting a buidling, or the grasslands, on fire) if not used accurately. "Aside from that, I am up for anything!"