Fire Emblem Tropera

"What corruptive influence are you having on the boy, now?" Ailes said wearily, appearing at the top of the gangplank. "I swear, I can't leave you people to your own devices for five minutes."

Inuksuk notes Ailes' presence, then refocusses, scanning the area around the docks once more.

Still nothing.

Inuksuk does not sigh; instead, his eyes continue their sweeping. At the extremity of their path, he notices out of one corner a flash of colour: a group of birds - strange large ones with dark grey bodies, white necks and tufts of orange atop their heads - standing on an unoccupied section of bank.

The wolf Laguz considers them for a moment. He begins to draw his bow and reaches towards his quiver before deciding against it. I would have to walk over to retrieve them. My vigil would end.

His eyes return to sweeping.

edited 24th Jan '18 5:12:07 PM by Existential_Tempest

It didn't take long once Ailes had boarded for the Syldra to set sail back toward the mainland, and the company found themselves gathered in Scherwiz's cabin to discuss their next move.

"I made contact with my intelligence network before returning to the ship," Ailes explained, "and it seems our next destination is almost chosen for us. My spies report that Vissan forces are excavating a complex of ruins in the Kambacha Desert. If they have discovered the location of the Kambachan fragment, then they cannot be allowed to acquire it first."

Diane frowned. "Since when is Vissan looking for the fragments?"

Ailes snorted derisively. "You lot haven't been the most discrete in keeping our mission to yourselves. If any of Vissan's spies have learned of our plan, they must certainly be out to thwart us. We cannot take the chance that this is coincidence."

"Where be these ruins?" Scherwiz asked, kicking their feet back off their desk and standing up. A nautical map showing the entirety of Tropera was spread over the surface.

Ailes looked thoughtful for a moment, then pointed to a spot near the southern cape of the continent, within the massive yellow blot of the desert. "There."

"South'rn coast. Not many ports to choose from..." Scherwiz mused, rubbing their chin. "Looks like landin' at Nimbukta, then hikin' the rest of the way. Best time, I say four days to port, if'n the wind be likin' us, and another three or four through the damned desert."

"A week, at minimum," Ailes said with the inflection of a curse.

Zeera took a moment to examine the map. She didn't quite remember where she had been when she had traveled through the desert, but she did not remember running into coastline except when she neared the city.

"I don't think I've been through this part of the desert before."

Grendan scowled. "And we can bet that the weather's going to be an issue, too. I doubt I'll be much help over the next week or so- if I try flying Heath'll probably get his wings shredded in a sandstorm."

Astra looked spooked at this statement. "Y-you mean... I'll have to...?" they started, trailing off fearfully.

"Kambacha Desert... I think I'd like to have one last glass of tea before we're forced to go without proper food and drink for who-knows-how long combing through those ruins," Vera said grumpily.

"If we are to be crossing similar terrain to that which we encountered in Sowtland," Inuksuk adds, "I think that we would do well to adapt to it. With the permission of the rest of you, I will purchase some sand-coloured, lightweight fabric to fashion into cloaks when we dock at Nimbukta." And as protection for my paws, at least a little. It would be pointless to burn them like that again.

edited 28th Jan '18 4:08:02 AM by Existential_Tempest

"I honestly don't know what you all are so worried about. Deserts are nice. They're warm and often have caves in very convenient locations." Kiri said clearly not afraid to voice her opinion on the subject.

"The desert is far from similar, but I think we may manage," said Zeera.

"That does sound nice," Vera told Kiri.

Damien's at the meeting, listening to the others talk about deserts. Surprisingly, he tidied himself up for this one. After all, this was regarding their new mission.

"Agreed," adds Damien. "Hopefully, we'll run across an oasis or two along the way."

"Oh-ay-sis?" Inuksuk frowns. "What is an oh-ay-sis?"

"An oasis is like a lake found in deserts," replies Damien. "I think they have those strange-looking trees, if I'm not mistaken."

How could that be? With the heat, surely the water would be subsumed into the aether... Inuksuk nods. "Yes, those would be helpful; hoping to encounter some makes sense."

edited 28th Jan '18 4:24:43 PM by Existential_Tempest

"We should be careful, though- I've heard that high temperatures can cause people to hallucinate at times," Grendan pointed out. Turning to Kiri, he added, "And surely you haven't forgotten that most of us are humans, so what you consider warm may be lethal to us."

"Hence the cloaks," Inuksuk continues in an voice that is oddly lacking in triumph. "I will speak to Malia and ask to requisition some funds. Of those of us here, who would be interested?"

edited 29th Jan '18 9:51:46 AM by Existential_Tempest

"I'm glad you agree, Vera." Kiri gave her a smile though the only thing Grendan got was an intensely bored look. Her mind immidately came up with a retort but at this point she'd just rather not and looked at new guy. "Don't worry yourself over it, in fact I'm certain Malia has already made preparations. She's such a sweet little thing."

edited 29th Jan '18 11:25:02 AM by Azure

"I am right here," Malia said, reproachfully. "You guys don't have to talk like I'm not in the room."

________________________________

Nine days later, a woman trudged out of her tent at the eastern base of a sand-blasted ruin rising out of the desert. Her black robes flapped in the wind as she blinked against the early afternoon sun. Being able to sleep late was one of the few perks of command that she could still enjoy in this goddess-forsaken wasteland.

Arentine sighed and began the trek up to the top of the ruin, cursing at the sand that shifted beneath her feet and somehow always managed to find its way into her boots, even after she'd had the quartermaster bring her a pair of knee-highs from the last supply run.

Her assistant was already at the ruin's entrance when she arrived, overseeing the search teams. Ryson, his name was, and he was only other perk of being reassigned to this miserable post after the debacle in Gusfer.

"What have you got for me today?" she said, smirking behind her veil at the way he perked up at the sound of her voice.

"Nothing special so far, ma'am," he reported, tipping a ledger as if inviting her to look it over with him. She waved it aside. "Shall we go down?"

"Have you remembered to eat yet?" she asked, catching his arm as he started into the ruin. He just looked sheepish and stammered something incomprehensible. Adorable.

"Go have lunch. That's an order," she said, pushing him playfully toward the stairs back down to the expedition camp. "I'll wait."

As he started down the steps, Arentine turned to look out over the desert. The wind continued to whip at her robes, and a distinctive haze on the horizon cast a fresh shadow on her mood.

"And batten down my tent while you're down there, will you?" she called after Ryson. "Sandstorm on the way."

• K.1: The Sands of Time
  • Objective: Seize Gate
  • Setup Deadline: 2/1

edited 2nd Feb '18 12:05:33 AM by Wryte

Horsehair Band, Steel Clip, and Piercer Pin for Damien. If possible, bring Brave Clip along as well. Dragonshield, Vulnerary x2 as items. Starting at C20.

edited 30th Jan '18 12:44:19 PM by josh6243

Milliana's equipment:

Weapons: Lightdrinker, Sombra Tome, Heal Staff, and Mend Staff.

Items: Angelic Robe and Pure Water.

Starting at D 23.

edited 30th Jan '18 8:47:11 AM by CrystalMemoria

"I see it up ahead!" Malia said with relief. The last few days of hiking through the harsh sands had taken their toll on the whole company, including her. Never in her life had she ever been so desperate for a bath, and the mission wasn't even over yet! "Let's hurry before that sandstorm catches us!"

Round 1 Deadline: 9:00pm PST, 2/3.

Move Milliana to B20.

Damien nods to Malia before moving towards the closest sand dune.

Move to F19 and Defend.

Railen was already dashing up ahead, sweating up a storm under the hot desert sun.

Move to E16 and defend.

Another day, another army. Vera got her longbow ready and set out.

Vera to F20. Prepare attack with Longbow.

edited 2nd Feb '18 1:40:06 PM by nman