This takes place mostly during the game on 23JAN21
1
FEB/21
The morning started just like the last three. Oni was on watch as the sun rose. He took it in from their hidden camp, then stepped out to take it in again. He tried to give himself two dawns each morning. He knew the dawns glory and getting two of them was uplifting. He moved out to pray and meditate. Mar’iya would wake at some point. He would complain that Oni had not awaken him earlier. Oni would say something making sure Mar’iya knew he did it on purpose. They would go on to make some breakfast. That would be some dried meat, that was left over. They would break down the camp and head into the sand. This morning was like all the rest.
The day in the sand was normal up to lunch as well. Oni and Mar’iya could tell they were not traveling as fast as they had. They were slowing down. David was still very quiet and mostly just keeping to himself. They had not seen any thunderherders. They stopped for a quick lunch. Oni looked over their supplies, three days. They were in jeopardy of dying soon. They ate that same lunch, relieved themselves and started to head out into the sand again.
Mar’iya went to the top of a dune on the north side camp. He turned back with the smallest smile on his face. He waved for Oni and David to join him. They went to the top of the dune and looked around. Mar’iya had what could only be called a real smile. That was something that almost never happened. He was stoic and usually only smiled when he was using it, in some way. David and Oni looked around again. Never saw anything.
Oni staring at Mar’iya: “what?”
Mar’iya losing his smile a little: “do you not see it.”
David: “clearly not.”
Mar’iya pointing to ground: “look, … animal tracks”
Oni: “do you want to go hunting?”
David: “uuuuu, animal tracks.”
Mar’iya: “how do you survive without me. Animal tracks like that mean a water hole.”
Oni and David almost together: “oh”
Mar’iya: “I think we should follow them off to the west. It will add time to our trek to Raam”
Oni: “but might save our lives.”
Mar’iya headed off to the west. Oni went back to clean up the tracks from camp up to the dune. Daivd followed Mar’iya. They all picked up their step a little. No one could notice the change, but the feeling of fresh water and fresh meat felt good. If made the heat of the desert feel better. Oni found mopping up the tracks harder now that they were following the animal trail. He did not want to make it so clean, as to mask the animals. Oni started to smell that same water smell, from the rain days ago. It was a new fresh smell. It felt like life to him.
Mar’iya crouched at the top of a dune. He slid back a little and quietly ran along the edge of the dune around just out of sight. He was moving quickly but not with any fear. David moved up to barely look over the dune. Oni continued to mop up the tracks until he reached David. Oni and David peeked over the edge. They could not see the water hole but knew it was close. They both saw Mar’iya around on another dune. They slid down and headed over to where he was. As they reached Mar’iya he slid back down the dune.
Oni: “what’s up?”
Mar’iya pointing over the dune: “the water hole is right over this dune. There are at least five people and a couple of animals. The safest thing would be to kill them.”
David: “no.”
Oni: “that is not who we are. We will talk to them first.”
Mar’iya: “I agree, I just wanted to point out the safest move.”
Oni: “you two stay here and I will go in.”
Oni slowly moved off to the west then turned to head into the waterhole. From this direction he started to see a small handful of Date Palms. Oni wanted to make sure to enter from a different direction from his friends, to protect them. The thought of friends made him feel good. He had felt so empty for days but thinking of David and Mar’iya as friends made him feel full again. He was not healed but he was feeling better. Oni wanted to see if he could help David the way he had been helped. He stepped slowly over the dune to become visible at the water hole.
It was not a large watering hole. It looked like someone had setup a somewhat permanent settlement here. Likely trading water for other supplies. Some of it had been destroyed recently. Oni could see seven people resting under a couple of palms. Two women, three men and two children. All of them seemed worn out, well beyond the norm for being at a water hole. Oni made sure he did not surprise them as he approached. He did not want to startle them in any way. One of the men, who had a large bandage on his arm came up to meet Oni.
Oni speaking calmly: “good day, I was hoping to have some water and a little rest.”
Audun, neverous: “how many are there?”
Oni: “three. … my name is Oni. … what is your name?”
Audun: “Audun. Do you have anything to trade?”
Oni: “only hope. We come in the wake of the two dawns”
You could almost hear Mar’iya mentally slap his own skull with Oni’s comment. David and Mar’iya could not hear all of the conversation but watched from a spot on the edge. David started to grip his sword. Oni was starting to talk like a crazy man. If someone had come to them selling “hope” they would know that snake oil was about to come out. Oni believed what he was saying. He truly believed in the hope he was now peddling. Mar’iya went into his mental powers, to prepare for battle. The only one who did not seem to know what was going on was the Audun. He had a look of complete confusion on his face.
Oni scanned the area. It was a disaster. There were several tent like structures. They were all cut and slashed open. On one end of the oasis there was a lot of blood. Some fight had occurred there. These tents that once gave shelter currently gave none. That is when Oni saw several bodies just on the other side of the blood. It looked like a few children were killed. Something bad happened here. One of the tents looked like it was attacked from the inside. It had all its contents exploded out from its center. The second dawn had been alembic for Oni, and he would now be that for them.
Oni looking around: “my friend, … you guys clearly need help. We can give you that help.”
Audun: “we have water, we can trade.”
Oni now smiling: “You let us stay here a couple of days. We need rest and we need to refresh our supplies. In exchange, we can repair some of the damage. I know that can be tough. The new dawn has brought a new day my friend.”
Oni looking sadly over to the dead bodies: “We can also handle the bodies for you.”
Audun: “I don’t think we could stop you anyway.”
Oni: “let’s not go down that road. It is a new day and a new world. Rejoice in the dawn.”
Audun looked back to his tribe: “please don’t hurt us. … please help us.”
Oni whistled up to the dune. Mar’iya and David slid back down to circle in the same way Oni had. This made them seem like they were coming from the north and not the south. Oni stepped back to place his arm on a date palm. Herman cleaned out of his sleeve and scurried up the tree, “please go be a lookout for us for a little while.” Oni moved over to the biggest tent near the tribe. He pulled out his directional stones he used to mend things. Mar’iya and David came into the oasis proper. Oni started to mend the tent, “can you two check on their wounds?” Herman moved up into a small location just below the top of the tree. He started to look out among the sand. That is when a miracle happened.
Water started to fall from the sky. Everyone had to stand and just take it in. The ground was so dry that it evaporated the second it impacted. A strange fog or mist rose from the ground. Oni looked up to Herman, “you okay little buddy?” Herman did not respond but made Oni look through his eye for a moment. He had stashed himself under some palm and was fine. Oni saw himself looking out over the horizon. He could see for miles up in the tree. Oni had never seen anything like this. Water was falling from the sky in all directions as far as he could see. Then his vision moved to a giant water drop in front of his nose. Joy rushed through him. A couple of little bug hands reached out and pulled in the water bubble. Oni felt something hit his arm and he fell to the ground.
Oni’s vision came back to him. A little boy was standing next to him. He was shaking. Oni smiled, “it is okay, I am sure it was a mistake.” The little boy relaxed a little and let out a big breath. Water was dripping from his small face. Oni put his finger up, “I have something for you.” He reached over to his backpack. He reached in and pulled out one of the dolls, “here, this is for you.” The kid took it into his hands with a smile. Oni went down to one knee, “if you send over the other kid, I have another one.” The kid ran off.
As quickly as the rain came the rain left.
Oni had mended two of the tent like structures. He walked over to Mar’iya and David. They had dug a huge trench on the far end of the oasis. They made sure to place it just over a dune. Oni was exhausted from casting mending some hundred times in the past two hours. They were exhausted from moving all the dirt and bodies. He walked up, smiled and said, “maybe I can help.” Oni started to move the dirt to protect the bodies from view. David looked at him without a word. Mar’iya tilted his head to one side, “thanks for all your help.” Oni looked back to the other tribe, “I am going to talk to Audun, if you are want to join me.” Oni turned back to them, before he started to head back, “I think I smell food. … Smells good.” The three of them headed back to the tribe. Oni tapped his temple as they approached.
Mar’iya made sure to start scanning folks as they came up. He was only looking at surface thoughts. He did not want to intrude too deeply. The day was fatiguing for all three of them but helping this tribe had lifted their spirits. They were walking taller and bolder. Oni led the three back to the tribe. Audun saw them and headed towards them. Off to one side the two kids were playing with the dolls Oni had given them. Oni mentally took a note that he should make more of those. If they rested here a few days, he could do that here. The food was really starting to make them all hungry. Freshly killed meat was grilling, with some fresh scavenged vegetables and flat bread. Oni mouth was starting to water.
Audun: “please join us for evening meal.”
Oni: “yes please, it smells amazing.”
Audun: “thanks for your help today. We were starting to retrocede, and you may have stopped that.”
Oni: “The Dawns did that. Each Dawn is a new day and can be a new you. The miracle of the day of two dawns, is you could have been renewed twice.”
Mar’iya scanning Audun’s thoughts: “Forgive my hopeful friends here. We are glad we could help. We would be honored to share a meal with you and your tribe.”
Oni: “Yes, I mended those two tents. Can we use that one tonight?”
Audun: “Of course, it is yours as long as you stay.”
Oni: “do you have anything else that needs mending, … weapons, tools, anything.”
Audun: “yes please.”
Oni: “that tent that was completely destroyed. I cannot mend it. Do you mind if I use to create some other items? For you and us.”
Audun: “sure… but let’s eat for now.”
All of them gathered near a small fire that was cooking dinner. Pulling out mess kits they all started to eat. Meals like this are always the greatest meal of your life. When you have been eating near starvation for days, eating only salted meats, this food hits your palate and fills your mouth with a cornucopia of joy. They did not want to eat too much as it can make you sick after eating so little for a couple of days, but they indulged. Food rested in their mouths and gently rested in their stomachs, making them just a little lethargic.
The night started to roll in. Taking a little risk, the three stayed up into the dark with their new friends. The moon was not up yet, and the stars were in the house of Weyog. They might be okay to stay out in the dark a little. Besides it felt good to feel a little normal. Audun led the others in tales about the tribe. They sang a few songs. He told them about how the chaos of the last few days had driven their tribe into chaos. Some had turned on them, some fled into the sand, some, them, stayed here to rebuild. If possible.
Oni looked over to David in the fire light. The orange flickering light dancing across his face. Oni could see that telling these stories was making the tribe feel batter. By the five, it was making him feel better.
Mar’iya was there but clearly felt exposed. He was listening, but his eyes almost frantically jolted to every point of the oasis. If only they had seen whatever Mar’iya could feel. With a slight smirk, “David, … tell us about Sora,” Oni said to the fire.” David initially shifted uncomfortably but soon started to tell tales of a young gladiator. Fighting her way into the heart of the Gardiward house. What he did not share was clear. It was his heart that brought her into the house. So, it was his fault she was now dead. It was not true, but David’s heart felt it anyway.
David continued to talk about her combat skills. They entire group listened as he now entertained. Soon they were all laughing in the night. Audun even pulled out a bottle of some wine he had stashed for a special occasion. To them and the tribe this was that special occasion. By the time David was ready to sleep he was sitting taller and looking brighter. He was not healed but just telling the Tale of Sora, was enough to make him feel better. Oni believed they would now survive the desert after all.
They all went off to sleep. Mar’iya took the first watch. He noticed that one of the tribe took watch as well but was asleep in minutes. He was letting him rest. Mar’iya heard the most unnatural noise come from the far end of the dune. He could feel this was wrong. He was about to check it out when he saw one of the dead at the top of the hill. It was walking again. He woke Oni and David instantly. Maybe they had been caught. As Oni and David rose, he pinged the mind of the sleeping watchmen, “Get up, there is danger.”
Oni grabbed his staff and charged up the hill, “you guys protect the tribesmen.” David followed Oni a little slower to make sure none were moving around them. He saw three on the dune top, picked them up and tossed them about. Mar’iya attacked the group from a far but slid back to guard the camp. Oni charged into the group and was able to drop these horribly weakened undead. His night vision was not great, but he could see the entire group of dead that they buried during the day were now active again. They were splitting to two groups. One was heading straight for Oni. The other was heading around to the couple of animals. They were going to head to the tribe first. Oni screamed back to David, and Mar’iya, “they are splitting. I have this group. You two go to the animals and protect the tribe.” Oni charged down to the group. David and Mar’iya moved to the animal stall. They arrived just before the group and started to push them back. The sleeping watchmen finally gathered his tribe and headed to protect the animals. As they started to fight the dead, they all saw a huge blast of light where Oni had gone. David and Mar’iya were not worried, but the entire tribe cried in shock.
Oni charged down the hill. He was heading down into the group of ten undead by himself. He needed to soften them up before engaging. Still running he swung the staff around, and through a fireball from its claw like tip. The fireball burst just in front of Oni. He charged in just as the blast subsided. Using his best defense attacks he waded in becoming surrounded by the dead beasts. He was thinning them, but he was starting to get hit as they had advantage on all sides.
David drew Sora’s sword. “I now carry you into battle,” he yelled as he took the brunt of the front line. He converted his blade into the phi blade that could cut down the dead. Two tribesmen did join him, but they mostly kept some dead busy while David slashed them. He never went to mass attacks once Sora was in his hands again. Mar’iya controlled the battlefield, like a tactical master. Making sure the two tribesmen never became overwhelmed and funneling the dead to David just as he could slaughter them where he stood. Their groups of four took down the ten undead quickly. Mar’iya and the tribesmen checked on the pack lizards. David screamed just like Sora in battle and charged to help Oni.
Oni was surrounded. Out of the corner of his eye he saw Sora charge over the dune with her sword held high. It was as if the heat from the desert was masking David who hit his battle at a full charge. Oni played defense and tried to draw all of the attacks to him. David swung high and removed two heads upon entry. David sparkled as he held the sword. He turned to his right taking in a giant breath and breathed nothing out over the attacking dead.
Audun and Mar’iya started to run up the dune. The rest of the tribe were making sure everything was safe, but Audun was making sure his new warrior friends were safe too. They reached to top together. Oni was still surrounded but David was starting to clear out the ones around him. Oni had damaged all of them and with David now in the fight the rest started to drop again. Mar’iya was about to run down, but knew the battle was over.
Audun, shocked and pointing down the dune: “did Oni just charge ten people all by himself.”
Mar’iya: “yep, he wanted to make sure you and yours were safe.”
Audun: “he is crazy.”
Mar’iya: “sometimes… and it might get him killed.”
Audun: “please stay as long as you like.”
Mar’iya: “we cannot stay long. We might be making you less safe by being here. Oni knows that. We will rest and do what we can and then move one.”
Audun: “where are you going?”
Mar’iya: “Raam. We have unfinished business there.”
Audun: “I would hate to be your unfinished business.”
Mar’iya: “it is late. Tomorrow we will tell you about a place that might be safe for you guys.”
Oni stood in the middle of all the dead bodies, dead again. Blood dripped from small cuts all over his body. David cleaned the blade and slowly headed back to camp. Oni looked up to the sky. The moon was there, but it was not her moon. It was a new moon. He watched as the wind cycled across his him, giving him everything from hot to frigid. This was some new glorious moon. He looked up and thought, “maybe she has not found us yet.”
