Every fucking thing tries kills us – Nothing good happens 18JUL20
22
JUL/20
Day 1: Prep for the Trip:
A new debate starting to move through the tribe. To wait and see if we could heal up or to leave now. After the spider fight, many of the tribal fighters, including Oni were hurt. Joe and Oni had lasting injuries. They would be injured for weeks, or months, or even forever. Oni’s own body was poisoning him every day. Oni wanted to stay at the oasis with every piece of his being. He thought he might die if he went into the desert now. The tribe though could not stay here. They would die if they stayed.
For Oni the choice was clear. Head into the desert to save and rebuild the tribe. How was that going to be possible? Oni stood up and again pretended he was fine. Bolster yourself by bolstering all of them. Oni was working it through his own mind. Even if he died, he could save the tribe and maybe the world. He looked out towards the sunrise to be reborn again.
Okay let see what we have to work with here:
Pakku the hunter. He seems to need to be by himself. Oni thought back and he could not remember when he had ever talked to him. He hung out with Joe. Joe never talked about him. Oni would need to bring him into the tribe more. Normally he just hides. That would be fine, but he would need to fight too. Oni thought about it more, and he remembered that Pakku was good at crafting Tattoos. Maybe he could have Pakku craft tattoos, that would define us as a group.
Soot it a good crafter of armor and pretty good at the sling. She seems like she would be a pretty good fighter if she would risk a little and engage. We can craft her into one for the tribe’s guards. I need to have her work with Joe and Yas to build her up. They can make her into a true guard for the tribe.
Paulu, and the mother of Selise, Joe and Oni. Oni thought it was strange to think of himself in this manner. She had proved herself as a fierce warrior back with the slavers. She charges in when any of her kids are in danger. Oni thought to himself, he would need to figure out a way to curb this in his mother. She would need to add her skills in the best place and not just when one of you kids were in danger. She seemed to have powers like Mar’iya. Oni could see how the Mar’iya would look at her. He knew of her powers. Oni would need him to help her develop those powers. Oni thought to himself, “If we are to survive the trek south, I will need to trust him.” At that moment, Oni brought in a large breath, letting the sun’s rays bake into him, “I now trust Mar’iya.”
Kobra Kai has been following Oni around quite a bit. Oni looked over at him. He knew it was time to actually train him. He had let him into the circle a little. Oni had watched Kobra practicing with him. It was time to teach him meditation. This was a secret pact Oni had with the dawns early light and it was time to teach it to someone else. The dawn was rebirth and Kobra could be reborn into the warrior that Oni could never be.
Likely the best warrior in the group was Ajamu. She was a guard and used a strange duel shield combat style. Oni started to think about her protective style. He wondered if he could modify her shields to make them more offensive. It might take some time and supplies but adding spikes and other sharp edges might work great as a way to increase their deadliness. Oni closed his eyes and thought about how she moved into combat, and how she could defend the other combatants. That could be the better training for her. He could work with Yas and Ajamu, to form a fighting group. Yas would be the main offensive, Ajamu the protector, and Oni as the nimble shock trooper. Oni face went hard. He could not do that currently and he might not make it once they enter the desert. Kobra would be the shock trooper. Those three would form the tip of the spear.
Last but not least Agis. Oni looked over to him. He had some shadow over him that Oni could not understand. Oni did not know how he was going to help us as they moved south. All of the distrust he once had for Mar’iya, he now had for Agis. Oni had only one person that could watch him and help make him useful for our tribe. Selise was the only one. Oni looked around and he laughed a little. Selise was again no way to be found. Everyone in the tribe was working hard, and two people were missing. Selise and Agis. They would be the perfect team.
Oni now knew the subtle ways he needed to move the tribe. “Kobra, can you drop what you are doing come here for a minute.” Oni smiled through the pain. “Well like 30 minutes.” Kobra just dropped the waterskin he was carrying and bounce over to Oni. Oni wondered how that old man could bounce and leap like that. He thought to himself, he will be a good student. Maybe this is how it all starts. This is the new dawn one person at a time. “Let me tell you the importance of meditation.”
Oni went on to describe all of the inner workings of meditation. He knew that Kobra could not understand most of it. It took time and Oni needed to start it now, so that Kobra could find his inner path. “I use the dawn and the rebirth of what dawn brings as my focus. It talks to me. You will need to find your own focus. Maybe it is the dawn, maybe not.” Oni spent the next hour telling Kobra about breath and breathing. How to focus and find your inner resolve. Kobra seemed to take most of it in.
“Hey Kobra, you mind checking out something in the mine,” Oni asked as he started to walk towards the mine. Kobra followed him. Oni told him about the blood mist. Kobra’s main response was, “Wow.” He had a unique way of capturing moments in simple terms. Oni and Kobra went into the mine and looked for the remains of the blood myst. Kobra found them, but Oni was the first to touch them. he moved through the viens looking for the tiny stinger at their ends.
Kobra was excited to help and said, “Here is one, master Oni.” Oni looked at him with a little anger and a little too quickly said, “never call me that. I know some things you want to learn and as long as that is true, I will teach you. I am not and will never be your master. We are equal in this relationship.” Kobra nodded his understanding, “why do you need them?” Oni thought about it. Was it time to reveal everything? “I am hoping to use it as the tip of a writing tool.” The two of them found many, but they were so brittle only two could be recovered.
Kobra looked deep into Oni’s eyes, lips parted slightly as if in deep thought, “Could you use the spider fangs?” Oni smiled at him, as this was a fantastic idea. He was now excited and bounced like Kobra had earlier. Oni was now learning from Kobra. They ran out into field of spiders and started to harvest. In their excitement, they could not harvest a single intact fang. Oni now hoped that the tiny brittle blood mist stringer would work.
The plan was to leave around sundown. They were going to travel through the night. They were now used to the desert and the nights were cold but easier to travel. It was harder to stay on the track south. Oni watched as they gathered all the water and food in the shade on one end of the oasis. They were working as a group. Oni had to rest again. He was still sick. He walked tall until he could find a private space. He went into the mine, this time by himself. He had some sharp rocks in his hand.
Oni moved back into the far-off chamber. It was time to make sure his name and message was cast in stone. Oni used the rock in his hand and scratched his name into the wall. “Oni was here.” He was about to head back out into the oasis, but he knew he had to leave a message for those that would follow. If they failed. “To bring the Dawn’s Rebirth Back, the secret is in the pyramid to the south.” It was a lot harder to scratch the walls and Oni was really tired. He wanted to write more, but if he was to travel at sundown he needed to rest. He stood up and noticed he side hurt again. He coughed up a little blood and walked out.
As Oni found most of the tribe resting when he came out. He found a shady spot and laid down to rest.
Day 2: The Return trip
As the sun started to set, the tribe gathered on the south end of the oasis. Pakku was calming one of the camels down. He was really good with animals. As the group gathered, Paulu and Agis came out front. They were really the leaders of the tribe and needed to inspire the group for this trip south. The kids were really the leaders, but as the two oldest in the tribe they were the elders. They both looked over to the kids as they spoke.
Paulu looked first at Agis and then the kids. She touched Agis ever so gently on his shoulder. Agis stepped up. He took the mantle of the leader of the tribe, but he knew it was no longer true. His leadership had led to many of the tribe already being dead. He had killed them. This plan of Oni’s and the others could save his very soul. His and their sacrifice might make this all worth it. He cleared his throat., “tonight we start the next part of our tribes’ journey. We are all going to head south. It will not be easy, but it will be worth it.”
With that Joe, Pakku and Rain led the tribe out of the oasis. They all believed it was the last time they would see such a great and fresh source of water. Every step shot pain through Oni’s side. He was feeling terrible as well. The poisons should have worked through him, but he still hurt. He walked tall to mask it for the first hour. Oni started to notice he was the only one walking tall. Maybe it would be okay for him to crouch a little in the pain. As he looked over the traveling group, it was clear they would not notice. He slumped just a little.
It was really late in the night; the tribe had stopped to rest. Mar’iya and Joe were discussing the direction to travel. Neither seemed to be sure. They were pointing into the sky. They were talking about the different stars that they should be following. Rain stood up and walked out beyond the rest of the group. The camels started to get excited. Rain raised his face into the air, like he was niffing for water. He had found it. The camels knew it was their as well.
Rain came back and broke up Joe and Mar’iya conversation. He was pointing the direction we had been traveling. Oni could almost read his lips. Rain could feel water ahead. Oni started to tell the tribe to be on guard. If there was water ahead, there were likely those holding that water. Joe looked back to see Oni prepping the tribe. He smiled.
The tribe was moving a little faster, only to find their old oasis. They had traveled in a giant circle. Throughout most of the night they did not notice their mistake. It was not time to worry about it now. Oni yelled. “Okay, let’s make camp, and rest. We going to try this again tonight.”
The tribe made camp and rested most of the day. Oni needed to do something. The spirits of the tribe were really low. They had just traveled all night and ended up right where they started. Joe and Mar’iya had failed to read the desert at night. Oni grabbed two empty waterskins and headed over to the water. He gently filled them with the freshest water.
Oni’s side was killing him. He had to breathe through the pain all day. He stood tall to pretend he was not hurt at all. He walked around to each person in the tribe as they were setting up to rest. He shared some water with them and talked to them. He made sure he smiled and was excited about the next day. He often made the same joke around, “While I guess we now know what to expect.” It was working. The spirits in the tribe were going up.
With that task done Oni found he had a problem. Everyone was ready to rest and he had not prepared at all. He grabbed his bedroll and found a place to rest. He did not sleep well. Every time he moved the pain in his side woke him.
Hours before dusk Oni decided to head down into the mines again. He was grumpy as he dragged his fingers down the side of the tunnel. He headed down to where he had scratched in a message the day before. He still wondered if taking the tribe with them was a good idea. He was not sure, but that decision had already been made. “No reason to rethink that,” he thought to himself. He closed his eyes and ran his fingers through the scratches in the wall. He could see the very words he scribed into the wall.
He thought most would have no idea what his writings meant. Almost known can read. Somehow the rock he used to scratch the wall was already in his hand. Oni did not remember grabbing it or holding it, but there it was. He moved to the opposite wall in the tunnel. This time he scratched a picture into the wall. He made an image of a pyramid. He then scratched in the symbol of the sun from his left shoulder into the wall. He scratched in the sun’s rays to try and give a direction. He had no idea if anyone would ever see this. He was placing it here in stone, just in case they failed.
With that done, Oni walked back out of the mine. Food was cooking and the animals were already packed. The tribe was ready to travel again. Oni watched the sun drop below the horizon as they headed south again.
Day 3: Enter the Sandmen
A scream and cry could be heard from ahead. Oni knew that the tribe could likely slip by and ignore this. He debated it, but this was the reborn tribe. They no longer shied away from danger. They faced danger, especially if they can help people. The world Oni grew up in, did not care for others, but they were reborn. Oni believed they were protected as long as they did protect others. They needed to bring people to enlightenment, one encounter at a time.
Oni looked at the others in the night, “There are people tied up on the far side. Yas and Ajamu will move straight up and draw them this way. I will charge to the other side of the fight to protect the two that are tied up. Pakku can you go hide over there and give cover fire?” Pakku was not used to being a part of a plan. He looked concerned for a moment and then nodded. This went against everything Pakku believed in the world, but he would help. He moved off and disappeared.
With a mild plan in place Yas charged up and passed out. The tribe had entered into the zone of the sandman and she had fallen asleep. Oni could almost see one of the quotes in one of the books he had read, “a plan only lasts until you engage the enemy.” Oni decided to change his personal part of the plan. He now wanted to protect Yas. He moved up to Yas’ side and launch chi at the sandman next to him.
The creatures looked like they were made of sand. When they moved the front of the creature picked up new desert sand in front of it, dropping sand where it left. They left these trails of sand that looks like slight mounds. They had this amazing ability to make people fall asleep next to them. They were fierce.
With Yas out of the fight they were much more difficult to fight. Where she could have killed these things with each swing of her sword. Pakku working from a hidden location firing into the fight worked great. They could never find him, and he was able to confuse them, as we brought vengeance down upon them.
The two humans were freed. Paulu started to gather a small amount of food and water for them. Oni went over to his brother, “I think we should just make camp here.” Oni did not want to tell his brother, but he could hardly walk. The fight had made his side inflamed. Oni grabbed Rain, “do you think we might find some water in this old riverbed.” Oni was hoping to make this a good reason to camp. They could look for water. Rain nodded, “it is possible, but I am not sensing anything.” Joe had the tribe start setting up camp. Oni and Rain started to look for water, digging small test holes.
The two people wanted to know what the tribe intended to do with them. Oni, Joe, and Selise looked at Paulu. Agis was no longer even the spiritual leader of the tribe. Paulu was that now. She looked at them with her soft kind eyes, “you are free to go, or join us. if you leave we will give you a few days of food and water. If you head north, you might find an oasis. If you come with us, we are traveling south. We are looking for a pyramid.” The kids all coughed to stop her. They could reveal the goal, but only with time.
The two looked at each over. They were completely caught off guard. No one had ever treated them this way. They were free but had to make a decision. They both smiled. They decided to join them for the moment south and to join tribe. Oni thought to himself that these two had been reborn. He gulped down a little pain to smile at them. The tribe had grown for the first time in months.
With that they made camp.
Day 4: The rain that Kills
During the middle of the day they watched a cloud build and move their direction. Looking out in the desert around, Oni thought it had not rained here in years. Nothing lived here. The tribe’s spirits rose as the rain started to fall. Oni could not remember the last time he had seen rain. Most of the tribe stepped out into the rain, just to feel it hit their skin. The Inix shifted to rest under the wagon. The camels started to run as each person in the rain figured out why. The rain brought pain with each drop. The rain would kill them if they stayed in it.
Pakku called out to the camels. He had built a relationship with them and tried to bring them back. Oni stepped back. He wondered if this was the end of the tribe for good. If the rain killed, how could they continue. Travel was getting worse. One of the camels came to Pakku and his calm voice. He found a place under one of the torps to protect it. The other continued to run off.
Pakku worked to brush the rain off the beast as quickly as possible. Joe ran off with several other people to recover the other beast. Without it they would need to leave a bunch of water behind. Paulu grabbed a small piece of torp to protect herself and them and ran after them. Oni started to help make room for the animals in the tents. Paulu brought the other camel back just as space became available for it.
It would now be a completely different resting experience. The beasts stunk. Oni saw as this terribly tragic event was not going to end them. He was glad it happened while they were camping and not while they traveled. He started to rethink how they pack the wagon. The tribe would need to be prepared at a moment’s notice to find cover.
As the rain ended, the tribe packed up and started to head south into the night
Day 5: The Obelisk and the Ghost
The sun started to glow on the horizon. That ball of light spread its tendrils out over the desert. Light streaks hit every little hill and valley as the tribe tracked south. Oni stopped for a moment to absorb the morning light. Kobra looked over and copied him. He was thinking that if he copied Oni he could be just like him. He was not internalizing the sun’s rays. He was copying Oni. He had missed all of Oni’s meditation teachings. Oni was feeling a little broken and hoped the light would heal his very soul.
Joe yelled out, “Black obelisks ahead.” Oni looked up. He could barely see them. They were about 2 hours off. Oni was thinking back to the messages in the desert. He started to work through all of them in his head.
“There are obelisks in the desert that speak of greatness, but they are evil places where death awaits. None who have gone forth to study those ancient stones have ever returned.”
This was the message Oni had heard. Oni wondered if his moment of meditation had brought this vision to them. He had hoped for healing but was given a sign instead. He now knew they were on the right path. This was where the messages were sending him, and them. Oni voice was a little weak, but he spoke up as load as he could, “Let’s make it to the obelisks and camp there.” Oni realized he was a slumped in pain and forced himself to stand tall and ignore the pain. “that is where the voices were telling us to go.” Oni hoped he was giving the tribe a little hope. The journey had been hard, and a little hope would be good for all their souls.
Joe changed direction a little and started to move the tribe to the obelisk. There were two large black obelisks stretching out of the sand. They left a gap between the stones. The tribe gathered around them. They were all expecting something. The stones would not be enough. They would need more to move further into the sand.
Mist formed between the two stones. It formed into a figure wearing rags. It looked like the mummies that Oni had read about in one of the journals. He wished he could have brought them with him. Books were evil and dangerous; he could not have safely brought them with the tribe. He hoped they were still fine for whoever might find them. The ghostly creature looked down from a floating position over the entire tribe. Oni felt tiny looking up at the ragged ghost. Then it spoke. (Note: Listen to recording)
The tribe stood there in silence for long moments. Someone had to break that silence, but it seemed everyone was stuck in their own moment. Paulu spoke first, “let’s make camp.” Everyone started to move. That was all it took. The tribe was very tired as they had traveled an extra couple of hours. Hope had been placed in the hearts of the tribe. They started to setup camp.
Oni started to think about all the messages. He remembered the second set first. The first set started to creep into his mind. It was just like the morning sun moving light across the land. Rain had heard, “Open the gates to my sphere of power and put off evil in its appointed hour.” Oni, fell back to his usual friends, “Let’s search this place. We might find some kind of gate”