The Hard Part

Ascending Earth 13, Dawn - Just outside the gates of Great Forks.

Arellious let Husk lead the trio of exalts as they departed from Great Forks, after all he created quite the center piece with the seemingly infinite ox-cart being pulled behind him. Sarefine and Arellious walked on either side of the solar exalt, Arellious's simhatta left to roam on its own without going too far. The three had gathered behind Aktuelle's Temple on the previous night to look at the blip on the crystallized map on the chest of the magnificent, though unkempt, warstrider. Arellious had recognized the location right away, to the west and across the wide banks of the Yellow River, near the small town of Melevhil. Though he knew the area well, there was larger reason he thought he knew where this map was leading them, though he had yet to speak up about it to his companions.

They set out at dawn in hopes of making the near shores of the Yellow River by nightfall, they would need to find a ferry that was both willing and capable of carrying them across. Normally a relatively easy task, but with the needed towing of Penance it could take more time and resources to find and secure transport. They could travel along the banks of the river waiting for a ship of adequate size to pass by and attempt to wave it over, the worst case scenario would find them traveling to Zelanor where Arellious could easily find them a way across.

The beginning of the day was spent traveling through the familiar territory west of Great Forks and past the slave run opium fields that surround the area. Conversation remained light and mostly small talk and information passed between three people who did not know one another all that well. From the humble southern background of Husk, to the militaristic Lookshy upbringing of Arellious, to the prestigious nobility of the Realm and Sarefine. They traveled mostly without stopping, not in a rush but anxious to get to their destination. And as afternoon turned to evening, and Arellious considered their progress and if it was best to push on to make the shores of the river tonight, the conversation turned to a matter of higher importance or at least pertinence.

"Tell me Husk, what is it you are trying to accomplish carrying that mighty machine behind you all this way? From what I hear of the artisans of Gem, you would have had better luck getting it repaired there and than here, and certainly better luck here than in the North."

--FyreFly 20:04, 30 April 2009 (EDT)