<strong>Eshalu - in the wilds of Dra Sirdu, deciding what to do next</strong><br/><br/>Eshalu paused for an instant, listening intently to the discussion between Aeryn and Reliyian. The sensation of touching the mountain elf's cool, pale skin lingered on her fingertips. A pleasant tingling, which reminded her of the soothing touch of the druids of her Caern who could massage away the aches and sprains of a ranger with almost effortless ease. It had been like magic itself flowed in the voluptuous sorceress's veins, stirring with a powerful tension, angry and hungry like a second blood. Sorcery remained strange and slightly threatening to her, but if she thought Reliyian to be a druid, just like Aeryn was a loreweaver, their roles made sense. Perhaps there was less distance between the world she had left behind and the world outside the trackless domain of her clan than she thought.<br/><br/>"Reliyian is right," she said, moving to retrieve her spear, its blade glinting in the rich, ruddy glow of Reliyian's magical lighting, "we should go after Lazerette swiftly, but Aeryn can perhaps speak with one of these creatures. I would know what it has to say. They attacked us for a reason. If we invaded their territory and offended the spirits to which they sacrifice, it was not our intention - but we cannot abandon our companion. Once she is returned to us, we will remove ourselves from their lands."<br/><br/>Eshalu moved to where Aeryn was attending to the injured saurian. It seemed small and vulnerable, unarmed and dying - prey rather than predator. "Please Aeryn, make this quick, the trail grows weaker with each passing moment. With your agreement, we will grant this creature life if it offers assistance. If not, it must suffer the fate of all prey and fall beneath the huntress."<br/><br/>With that, Eshalu turned to inspect the bloody trail left by the lizard alpha. The scent of blood had almost faded, and the patches of dark, thick fluid had either dried, or become almost imperceptible in the shifting, swirling clouds of darkness. Still, a trail was a trail.<br/><br/>"<em>Far-Seer</em>," she called to Reliyian, "if you can, illuminate the horizon, for this darkness is thick and unnatural and does not yield to my sight."<br/><br/><div class="spoiler_container"><div class="spoiler_header" onclick="hideSecond (this);" role="button">Spoiler: Click to Show/Hide</div><div class="spoiler_body">Roll Result: Eshalu rolled: 4d6<br/>Comment: Eshalu - Notice check to follow the trail left by the Lizard Alphas blood<br/>Result: 4, 3, 2, 2, <br/>Net result: <strong>0</strong> (-2 dice rolls and +2 Notice)<br/><br/>Expending <strong>1 Fate Point</strong> to reroll<br/><br/>Roll Result: Eshalu rolled: 4d6<br/>Comment: Eshalu - Notice check re-roll to follow the trail left by the Lizard Alphas blood<br/>Result: 2, 3, 3, 6, <br/>Net result: <strong>+2</strong> (0 dice rolls and +2 Notice)<br/><br/>Even assuming a +2 teamwork from Aeryn and Reliyian, this still falls short <br/><br/>Eshalu has <strong>1</strong> Fate Point left</div></div><br/>Eshalu bit her lip in frustration. The trail seemed cold. Even if she could follow the first splotches of dried blood, the dense undergrowth and the swirling shadows proved too much for her. There was no consistent pattern in the blood-spatter and the distinctive, metallic scent of the lizard alpha's blood soon gave way to the intoxicating and bizarre perfumes of the local flora, which, mingled with the sharp, acidic scent of overripe and rotting fruit drowned out the scent trail entirely.<br/><br/>"Nothing," Eshalu murmured with resignation, "now we can wait for what the Cold One tells us, but there is no going forward until dawn."<br/><br/>She slumped by a tree trunk, her spear, resting on her knees, gazing at the silver-starred night sky.<em>This alien, unnatural land,</em>she thought ruefully,<em>its spirits wish us ill</em>. She felt empty and disappointed. Before coming to the island, she knew her skills in combat, maneuvering and tracking had a role - a purpose. Here, each encounter seemed to created new problems and the environment which she thought she had mastered was impenetrable and hostile. It was devastating, but she would not let herself be overcome. She owed it to her Lodge-Sisters and now she owed it to her new companions.