[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]

"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."

[fluffiest_archadian]

"How many are there?" Sherral asks.

"Forty-six," comes the immediate answer.

Sherral pauses, thinking. Then, to Jay: "I believe you and I might be able to attend to this matter by ourselves. We can climb the cliffs, pass around their camp and attack from behind."

[runningred]

Jay grins and gets down off Yanna, leaving the majority of his gear with her. He palms a tiny comm from one of his belt pouches and hands it to Sherral. "Put this in your ear and you'll be able to hear me and via versa."

He looks up at the cliff and pulls his jumpline from his belt. "Lets do this."

[fluffiest_archadian]

Sherral unclasps his helmet enough to slide the earpiece beneath it, then refastens it.

"By all means," he says, climbing off Bridget and collecting a jumpline of his own from the gear strapped to her.

[runningred]

Jay grins under his own helmet and runs for the cliff-face. He fires at a run, using his momentum to swing himself up. His suit had the advantage of being easy to move in and he bounces gracefully off the rocks, finding a foothold to fire again and again till he reaches the top, looking around for Sherral.

[fluffiest_archadian]

Sherral is a little slower to get up, but he's at the top of the cliff in good time, quickly brushing down his armour.

He takes a few steps forward, dropping into a crouch and peering down at the bandit camp nearby. Both sides are fortified, but the side they came from is noticeably more so. He can see cannons, but not many - two at the front, one at the back.

[runningred]

"What do you feel like trashing first? The men or the cannons?" Jay's voice is soft enough to be picked up by the comms but nothing more.

He pulls the scope from his rifle and examines the camp. "I've got a pretty clear shot from here but the next ridge would be better."

[fluffiest_archadian]

"The cannons," Sherral says. "They're magicite cannons, they pose the biggest threat to us here."

He pauses. "Let's head to the next ridge. Get you the best shot possible."

[runningred]

Jay nods and moves swiftly and silently across the rocks till he finds just the right spot. He lays flat on the ground with his rifle, taking aim with care and selecting the right ammo for the job. "Where's the best spot to hit them? The firing mechanism on top?"

[fluffiest_archadian]

"Firing mechanism, aye," Sherral says. "Take out the two at the front. I'm going to approach from the rear - I'll take the cannon out on my way."

He heads away along the ridge, moving towards the rear of the camp.

[runningred]

"No worries." He settles in, looking down the sight of his gun. "Give me a signal when you want them blown."

He rests his finger on the trigger, slowing his breathing, ready to take the shot.