[OOM] The Westersand, First Day, with Jay. (Prethreading.)

[fluffiest_archadian]

The first hour or so out on the Westersand - an area more rock and clay than sand, but covered in a heavy layer of stuff nonetheless - is relatively uneventful. A few cactus-like creatures skitter across their path. Once or twice, something that looks like a burlap sack with a large, grinning tomato for a head gets too close and is shot down by an archer.

Sherral brings his chocobo alongside Jay's after a while, glancing over at him. "Are you dealing with the heat all right?"

Comments

[runningred]

Jay nods over his shoulder to the sniper rifle. "I can make a kill shot at over ten times the range of your archers but I need to be stationary with a good line of sight when I do. Won't help much in the caverns but out here, we can clear the way ahead of us if we need to."

[fluffiest_archadian]

"Good. Better to take out any monsters before they get close, at least while we're out in the Westersand," Sherral says. "I would see our medical supplies untouched until we reach the caverns."

[runningred]

"I'll do my best. Just let me know if you need me to step up."

Jay grins, petting his chocobo as they ride. "I forgot to ask, what's her name?"

[fluffiest_archadian]

"Yanna. She's one of our newer ones. We received over a dozen new chocobos when Lord Vayne became consul," Sherral says.

In the distance, an orangey-yellow ball of light floats sedately across the sands, about four feet up. It's enough to make Sherral pause, and the rest of the expedition stops behind him.

[runningred]

"Hey Yanna. Nice to meet you, girl." He strokes her neck, offering her one of the sugar cubes he has stashed in a pouch at his belt.

Jay pulls up as Sherral does. reaching to detach the scope off his rifle. "What is it?"

[fluffiest_archadian]

"Gnoma Entite," Sherral says. "A greater elemental spirit of the earth. They're - docile, after a fashion, but they can turn in a moment. If it becomes hostile, it'll wipe out everyone here."

He pauses, thoughtfully. "We've not the time to give it a wide berth."

[runningred]

"Alright, so how do we keep it from turning?" Jay asks, mentally inventorying his gear. Magic is somewhat out of his skill set.

[fluffiest_archadian]

"It'll turn on us instantly if we use magic around it, or if we attack it," Sherral says, "and apart from that, there's little we can do save move slowly and try not to startle it. It is nigh impossible to know if they are going to become hostile until they do."

[runningred]

"Life and death on day one. Wonderful." Jay mutters sarcastically. "Do we dismount and walk very calmly past?" He strokes Yanna's neck, hoping the birds stay calm too. "Anything else I should know about these things?"

[fluffiest_archadian]

Sherral grins under his helmet. "We can stay mounted. Just walk the chocobos slowly, without looking at it."

Beat.

"Oh, many things. They possess an ability which deals in return any injury dealt to them; they were purportedly created by the gods; and they become more powerful the more injury they have taken. For example."

[runningred]

"Oh goodie." Jay mutters sarcastically. He follows Sherral's lead, keeping his eyes ahead as they move.

[fluffiest_archadian]

"I figured you'd like that," Sherral says cheerfully. "Everyone, keep your Mist emissions low."

He starts moving Bridget forward, slowly, step by step. As they get close, the sphere skitters around them, shaking a little.

[runningred]

Jay follows, brushing Yanna's neck to keep himself focused as much to keep her calm. After all, these birds seem fairly unflappable so far. He sings softly under his breath as they move. For some reason he suddenly has 'Yesterday' by the Beatles stuck in his head.

[fluffiest_archadian]

The Entite stays with the group, taking particular interest in Jay. It circles him in one direction, then circles rapidly in the other, then pauses, quivers, and circles again.

Sherral keeps one eye on it, easing a hand back to settle on one of his swords.

[runningred]

I give off different energy. I wondered if that would become an issue. Jay thinks to himself, intentional moving himself away from the others a bit, just to be sure. If it is him it's after, at least Sherral and the others will have a fighting chance.

That damn song just won't get out of his head so he lifts his voice a little, singing it aloud as he rides. Is it the resonance that's attracting this thing?

[fluffiest_archadian]

The Entite contracts, then expands again, until it's almost the size of a person. It pauses for a moment, then emits a shrill, echoing melody that's only a few notes off the song Jay's singing.

It pauses. Quivers. Then, apparently satisfied, it floats sedately on its way.

[runningred]

Jay smiles and sings the final verse to the Entite. Much to his own suprise, he has a pretty good voice and it's an easy song to sing.

Once it has passed, he gently turns Yanna back to Sherral's side. "Well, that was interesting. I think I just taught a God's plaything the Beatles."

[fluffiest_archadian]

"I'll keep you apprised of any reports of Entites singing to people," Sherral says wryly.

[runningred]

Jay laughs and resists the urge to glance over his shoulder to see how the men have reacted. No doubt they're as inscrutable as Sherral but Jay has a feeling what he just did with the Entite was impressively stupid.

[fluffiest_archadian]

"Unless we're very unlucky, we're not likely to see another one on this expedition," Sherral says. "They're fairly rare."

[runningred]

"That probably a good thing. The only other Beatles song I know all the words to is Yellow Submarine and I don't think that'll have quite the same effect." He jokes, settling back into their matching pace.

[fluffiest_archadian]

"Pah, submariners," one of the men remarks, a little way behind them.

"Perhaps not," Sherral says. "But if we encounter another one, we'll try it. For science."

[runningred]

Jay glances over his shoulder and laughs. "Couldn't agree more."

"Well, they seem to like ballads. I'll have to go through my collection and see what else I have."

[fluffiest_archadian]

Sherral chuckles a little.

For the next few hours, the ride is fairly uneventful. A few rogue tomatoes wander by, as do a few walking cacti. Once or twice a wolf is seen from afar.

As they start getting into narrower, more uneven paths, they're forced to move slower, and Sherral sends a scout up ahead. The scout returns after a while, trotting up on his chocobo.

"It looks like bandits have set up camp in this area. Probably recently, but they're well-equipped, with magicite for drawing near monsters if needs be. They've set up camp on one of the passes, to extract toll of anyone who passes through."

[runningred]

"Sounds like fun." Jay mutters, shifting his gear around on his shoulders. "How do you want to play this? I rock climb fairly well. I don't mind going up and around to meet you in the middle."