To Cure a Cabbit (Closed PS RP)

[Besyanteo]

Jeridan had ridden on this carpet in the past, and knew the drill. He in fact liked the object, although the list time he'd riden it his and all his companion's lives had been in some great deal of danger. He sat with his legs crossed, taking up as little room as he could manage.

[Jak Snide]

Jak took his place on the carpet with a touch of hesitation. He'd never actually rode such a thing before and, while he had faith in the enchantments upon it, he wondered how well they'd hold up in these lands.

[Uncle Pervy]

And thus does the party take off on their swanky new ride. Those looking down as they pass over settlement seven note that they have garner a good deal of attention, as people slow or stop their work to watch.

Soon enough, the town is but a spot on the horizon, and below them is naught but desert. It is not a desert of rolling sand dunes, but rather a fairly lifeless flat with a dusting of sand over it. Some scrubs florish here and again, and some animals, mostly reptiles, can be found. But in general, the wastes are not a place to house any sort of civilization. Some, however, may find a sort of stark beauty in this simple terrain, or in the ability of some things to survive regardless of the harsh conditions.

Others simply swelter in the heat, however nice the breeze is while flying.

Some hours pass, as morning becomes noon then afternoon. The trip, if overly warm, is peaceful enough; no one has fallen from the carpet. A Settlement can be seen in the distance. According to the map, it should be Settlement Four.

[Jak Snide]

Jak had spent the majority of the journey simply taking in the scenery. He'd never seen a place like this before, and was relishing the new experience. That didn't stop him from being uncomfortably hot, hungry and thirsty though.

"Kelne, we're going to set down for the night over there, right?"

[Besyanteo]

Jeridan didn't seem to be doing well. In addition to his normal daze from the thin magic in the area, he'd been panting for the better half of the trip, and it soon became sort of uncomfortable to get close to him. As if the sun weren't bad enough, Jeridan's body seemed to be radiating quite a bit of heat itself. The wind quickly blew the scent of baking fur, so the party was spared that atleast. It was fairly easy for any of the group to see that, aparently, like their canine cousins garoujin do not possess sweat glands.

When Jak spoke up, he turned very, very slowly to look at him. His eyes crossed and uncrossed in an almost comical manner. What Jak said was fairly simple. What Jeridan heard was:
<span style="font-size:xx-small;">
"K-k-kel-elelelne.... weeeeeeee'rrrre goiiiing to se-et dooooooownnn for the nnnnnig-"</span>

Jeridan blinked, and then shut his eyes while holding his head.

"Guys... I really don't... feel well suddenly..."

[Shinigori V2]

Most of Paige's flight was spent trying to figure out just how this seemingly ordinary rug was staying aloft. She remained fairly quiet for the time being, not wanting to sound stupid about the forces of Magic.

[Kelne]

"Might as well," Kelne said, "It beats camping out in the wild, at least." It was then that he caught Jeridan's words, turning to regard the garoujin with some concern.

"You going to be alright back there, Jeridan?" He sincerely hoped he wasn't going to wind up regretting bringing Jeridan along. Still, he was already beginning his descent towards the settlement. With luck, he just needed a bit of time on solid ground. If not, Kelne was just going to have to waste a couple of days ferrying him back to the ship.

[Besyanteo]

Jeridan opened his mouth, as if to speak, and the closed it. He WANTED to say he'd be ok, he'd LOVE to say that it was probably just the ride... but he was so hot, and is was so very hard to think. How did those sopunds go again? He realized with mild panic that he couldn't immediately recall how to talk. No, wait... wait... Yes!

He tried again:

"I'll... be fiiiiuuuuuughh!"

Oh my. There went part of Jeridan's last meal, over the side of the carpet. Atleast it didn't get on anyone. Not long after, he begins dry heaving. His breathe is still coming irregular.

[Shinigori V2]

Paige scoots over, and gives Jeridan's back a gentle rub. Although she's never had it herself, she's familiar with air-sickness...Or what she assumes is air sickness. "Take deep breaths, and try not to think about it. Concentrate on me...Or something else here."

Edited by: Shinigori V2&nbsp; at: 9/4/05 7:15

[Besyanteo]

Paige finds that the back she's rubbing BURNS! Or, sort of. She's never, ever felt someone's skin that hot before. It was like touching a stone that had been left out in the hot sun for an hour! That boy's got some hellish kind of fever.

[Shinigori V2]

"Aack!" Paige yelps, pulling her hand away and shaking it off. "Guys, he's hot. I mean...Really, really hot! We need to land, or something, because he needs help!"

[pd Rydia]

Dia, who had grabbed a middle seat so as to see as little of the passing scenery as possible, had been hearing the previous exchange with some distant interest. She hadn't moved much from a much earlier point in the flight, where she found it necessary to pull down her long ears with one hand to keep them from flapping painfully in the wind and grabbed Fluffy with her free arm to hug close. It was hard hearing what was being said with one's ears clamped to one's head, or seeing with one's eyes closed tightly shut.

So, blissfully, she continued being unaware of what was going on around her. But how long would it last?

[Kelne]

Paying little attention to any entreaties for speed, Kelne kept the descent at a steady rate. He wasn't in a good spot to get at Jeridan, and probably wasn't a good person to help even if he were. Even before Paige mentioned the fever, he could tell that it was something a bit more serious than airsickness. After all, airsickness tended to show up at the beginning of a trip, not the end, and besides, Jeridan had always seemed to enjoy flying.

A possible answer did present itself. One that they probably should have been more worried about, given the climate and the fact that Jeridan was rather well insulated by all that fur. "Heat exhaustion, perhaps?" he said, throwing the idea out there. He wasn't particularly familiar with the problem, since Doma generally had a reasonably cool climate, but it was a distinct possibility.

[Besyanteo]

For his part, Jeridan was in quite no position to reply to any questions or comments made towards or about him. He was much too busy trying to support himself, so as not to fall or knock anyone to the side, while simultaeneously trying to stop the dry-heaving. So, he simply continued his short, irregular breathing and waited for something that would make the horrible horrible sensations in his body and mind cease.

[Uncle Pervy]

Kelne lands the carpet a few hundred yards from the city outskirts.

The observant will notice a few people are approaching, while some outlaying ranchers watch curiously.

[Jak Snide]

Jak rose from the carpet, quickly making room for Jeridan to do the same as well. This was the worst he'd ever seen the man and his predicament was enough to make the mage thank the gods for his relatively hairless skin.

"Kelne, go talk to those people about some shade. I'll try to keep Jeridan from keeling over."

Normally when he channeled mana into an ice spell it took the form of a large spear of ice lodging itself into some poor sap's chest. Now, however, Jak tried to work the flows of magic more subtlety, chilling the air around Jeridan enough for him to feel more comfortable. He doubled his efforts once he was quickly reminded of the relative lack of mana in this blasted land.

<span style="font-size:xx-small;">(No spell for this, so deal with as you see fit.)</span>

[Kelne]

"Right," Kelne said, assuming that Jak and the others would soon have things mostly under control.

He took several paces towards the oncoming people, then settled in to wait for them to come to him.

[Uncle Pervy]

It is an easy spell that Jak tries, one that normally he could do without effort. Now, it is a bit more draining, more taxing to his skills. However, he manages to generate a nice aera of cold around Jeridan. It does not promise to last very long before the climate overpowers it.

The people draw closer, but Kelne finds he has a couple moments to reherse what he is going to say.

[Shinigori V2]

Paige leans close to Jeridan, but not TOO close. "Is it working? Are you okay?"

[Kelne]

Kelne didn't really need any extra time to get his thoughts in order. Jeridan's condition had derailed them somewhat, but not that badly.

"Good afternoon," he said as soon as people had gotten within reasonable speaking distance, "We're just passing through on our way to settlement ten, and were hoping to arrange some accommodation for the night."

[Besyanteo]

Jeridan sat still, taking in as much of the cool as he could. The presence of magic about himself was incredibly refreshing. He sighed in releif, but still looked shakey as the effect passed.

"Thank you... Jak."

He tried clumsily to get to his feet. It was akin to watching a new born colt getting a feel for his legs. He lakked in Jak's general direction, but his gaze was unfocused, like Jak might be jumping around and shuffling from side to side.

"I think I need a doctor..."

He very slowly stepped off the carpet, each step taking a little longer to land than looked normal.

[Jak Snide]

Jak tried to move the aura with him. He'd presumed that Jeridan would only need a refresher to get him moving, but now he was working on keeping his senior officer chilled enough to make it somewhere he could get aid.

[Uncle Pervy]

"We have no idea who you are," says one of the people as they draw near. It seems to be a squad of a dozen men, very much like the EF people from settlement seven. "Many of your mannerisms make us think you are with the Belu. It is difficult to trust you."

Kelne is fairly certain this is one of most polite "Prove it or we shoot" statements he has recieved in some time.

[Kelne]

How quickly he wound up dealing with the locals again. Next time, he swore, somebody else could do it. Things would no doubt be going more smoothly if he'd thought to ask AD-7 for a letter of introduction, but that was hindsight for you.

Kelne responded with a calm shrug, "We've only recently arrived here from across the eastern sea," he said, "Thus far, we haven't encountered any of the Belu, which rather precludes our being with them." None of which, of course, constituted proof. He'd see how they responded to his statements before getting into that.

[Uncle Pervy]

"It is true that you do not sound much like Belu," says the speaker, whom Kelne is guessing is the head guard. He motions for the others to lower their weapons, then turns his attention to Jeridan. "This is curious. I have not seen a man whose flesh is covered in thick hair. Is he sick?"

[Kelne]

"The heat's gotten to him, we think. We're not sure how bad it is just yet," He said, turning back momentarily to regard Jeridan's progress, "But we'll see how he goes. We may yet need to take him to a healer."

[Uncle Pervy]

"I can take you to a doctor," says the guard. "If you do not have sufficient things to exchange for treatment, she may not help you. Afterwards, AD-4 will want to see you."

[Jak Snide]

The heat was getting to Jak as well, and it was doing nothing to improve his mood. "All he needs is some shade and water. Now hurry up! I can't keep this party trick going forever." His mood was being further spoiled by the effort it took to maintain such a simple spell.

[Kelne]

Kelne nodded in response to Jak, "Alright. We'll skip the doctor for now. I'm happy to see AD-4 while accommodation is being arranged."

[Uncle Pervy]

"If this is your wish," says the speaker. He makes a few gestures to his men, who begin back toward the town. "Come with me."

He then begins back toward the town himself.

[Besyanteo]

Jeridan was looking better all the time as Jak's spell continued it's work. He still didn't look well, but his eyes were atleast uncrossing. He tried to control his breathing better, and to move as well. He still couldn't think clearly, but he had a vague idea that he needed to rest somewhere. If only people would make sense when they talked!

"Jak... I need to lie down somewhere. Everything feels wrong..."

He worked laborously on both standing and maintaining balance. Hopefully, with Jak cooling him down, he could manage walking to a place to rest.

[Kelne]

"One moment," Kelne said, returning to the carpet and lifting it back into the air with a touch. He'd intended to bring along their gear like this anyway, rather than unloading it all and slinging it onto their backs. And, while he was at it...

"You may as well sit down," he said to Jeridan, moving over to him and indicating a spot on the carpet, "It'll be easier all around." He'd see if he could implement a more permanent version of Jak's cooling spell as soon as they had a bit of time on their hands.

[Besyanteo]

Jeridan, being led the short distance back onto the carpet, complies readily. If nothing else, he knows he can trust his friends to make competant decisions about his health. They hadn't led him wrong yet.

[Uncle Pervy]

The group is lead into Settlement Four. Unsurprisingly, it's designed much like Settlement Seven. It is not an exact copy, as buildings are placed to take better advantage of the hills, but it is familiar enough that Kelne, at least, is fairly certain he could find his way anywhere. Much like Settlement Seven, the middle of town bears an elongated building that is presumably the marketplace, and a two-story building that is presumably the temple. This town does seem to be a good deal larger than the previous one, the people seem to number closer to the thousands than the hundreds. The group gets a good deal of curious stares and whispers behind their backs from the Thalsians that they pass.

They are quickly led to a building that looks much like any other, with its doorway curtain tied open. The guard walks inside. A long shadow spreads before the structure, inviting the group to rest there.

A moment later, the Guard remerges. "AD-4B will speak with you."

[Jak Snide]

"Well, let's not keep him waiting."

Jak, who'd dropped his spell when Jeridan had reached the shade, headed on in.

[Kelne]

Kelne parked the carpet and Jeridan in the shade before commenting, "At least one of us should stay with him." Not that he expected the conversation with AD-4B to take long, but it wouldn't do to leave Jeridan alone in his present state.

[Shinigori V2]

"Uh...I can stay with him, but...There's not much I can do..." Paige said, nervously. She wanted to go in and look around, but it wouldn't feel right if she abandoned someone who was sick to do it.

[Kelne]

"Alright," Kelne said, "We shouldn't be more than a few minutes." If he noticed Paige's reluctance, he gave no sign. In fact, were his opinion on the matter known, it would be that Paige really wasn't missing much.

Kelne followed Jak into the building.

[Uncle Pervy]

Inside, Kelne can see this place follows the same housing pattern as pretty much every building he has seen in the Thalsian Settlements thus far. Rugs are hug up to serve as partions, while a smallish woman sits at the desk, observing the two with her hands folded as they come in. Were not for the fact that the Thalsians seem to be humans, or at least mostly so, it wouldn't be hard to believe this woman has some gnome in her bloodlines somewhere.

"I am AD-4B," she says calmly, her hands folded atop the desk, "EF-4H has assured me you have come with harmonious intentions. I would like to know what those intentions are."

****

Those outside find themselves getting no less attention from the townsfolk than before.

Also, they may notice some rustling in Jeridan's pack. Those with good memories may recall that Ushyu had crawled into it some time ago.

Edited by: Uncle Pervy&nbsp; at: 9/15/05 6:30

[Jak Snide]

"We're just passing through on our way to Settlement 10. We were told that the TO there is your nation's expert on a device called a limiter, and we've come to make inquiries, seeing as nobody from our lands has a clue about the thing."