Always Ascending

[Alice]

Food is handed out a wrapped bundle to Naethra, Retria, and two to Oric, "You should be open with what you enjoy.. Trying to hide it only makes you look suspicious to your friends."

[darlingng01]

Oric:

I shrug, still speaking in crude fey "Oh this isn't for me. I just figure they'll come in handy at some point. As for letting them know, it's mind control insurance. Them knowing doesn't help Them, but could hurt them. Also should keep people from stealing my rations."

[Ryuforce]

The dragonborn is bit amused at the price change just purely for the weight. She doesn't intend to keep it as the strange girl might hope but gives a polite bow, purchasing some supplies she needs before heading out her way with the rest. "Yeah.. I don't like staying in one place anyway.. I rather figure out more about what this 'Lady' wants with us." She declares as she starts to leave. "Still, thank you so much for helping us, Miss Lattisha." she says, stopping to turn and give her one last respectable bow before she heads off.

(1 waterskin refill and 5 rations for 40 SP and 5 CP)

[Alice]

After Duran gives that respectable bow as the group heads for the door ready to get rolling she feels a not that respectable, but very appreciative squeeze on her rear.

Once the exit the door closes behind them, and they find that they are standing on a white sand beach stretching as far as the eye can see looking side to side. The cerulean sea stretches to the horizon sparking in clear sunlight from the cloudless sky.  Behind the party is a sheer cliff face easily hundreds of feet and looking very formidable.

[Nihtgenga]

Stepping out onto the sandy beach, Retiara looked around with a wide smile. "This place is beautiful! Is that a sea? I've never seen one before!"

[darlingng01]

Oric:

For once I'm shocked and that immediately puts me on alert. I've never been to the ocean, and I've never liked sand. My tail bristles as I look around "It's very pretty indeed, but I don't trust it. Keep your guard up."

[Dichotomy]

Lou:

I frown, shading my eyes with my hand "The... sea. And the positioning seems to indicate that our objective is not in either direction across the beach- the narrative implied by the origin of this place would not bear such ambiguity, with nothing to recommend one direction over the other but... then again, we've no vessel, and I'm not such a strong swimmer as to simply head out that way..." I adjust my suit again and swear in goblin "I just got this suit... fine, I'll go forth. Watch my back please?" I mutter something as I wade forward into the water- I pause though, with just my toes wet "...I can manage to survive underwater with fairly minimal issue, but I cannot ensure the same for everyone. That would seem to indicate that diving is not the direction we're supposed to go, no? But then... it's the only direction to scout? Shall I go scouting?" I'm staring at the opaque waves with a sudden apprehension as to what may lie beneath them. unseen and waiting.

[Nihtgenga]

Retiara took her sandals off, then followed Lou to the water's edge, poking it with a foot and giving it a splash. The warm sand and cool water felt lovely underfoot. "Um... if you're saying we need to go out... into that... we got a problem. I can't swim. And I don't see any boats around..."

[darlingng01]

Oric:

I look at the pair with a confused tilt of my head "What... are you two doing? It makes far more sense to walk along the beach doesn't it?" I look to the left and right, seeing nothing of note in either direction I decide to just choose left at random "I think we should get moving and stay on land. The sea is dangerous.

[Ryuforce]

Duran was quite surprised to see a place full of sand with water and behind her a cliff she couldn't help ponder isn't usually overwhelmed by the water that laps upon the beach they are on. Still she was mostly distracted by the sights. Sand as far as their eyes can say. "Is.. is this one of those deserts I heard about? I've never seen sooo much sand about. Although.. I thought it was going to be a lot hotter. This is.. quite nice." The dragon paladin mutters out to no one in particular only to soon ponder with Oric on why the two are heading to the water when there's so much sand to travel on. That and well she really doesn't think she'll be much of a swimmer with her larger frame.

Another question bubbled up out of curiosity as she like Oric didn't actually plan to take to the water yet. Still she had to ask it, just to know. "Um.. does being fatter make you float or sink?" She asks out with a slight blush but this might actually be important to the sheltered dragonborn. You never know!

[Nihtgenga]

I look at the pair with a confused tilt of my head "What... are you two doing? It makes far more sense to walk along the beach doesn't it? I think we should get moving and stay on land. The sea is dangerous."

"...Oh. Right. Okay." Retiaria was clearly disappointed, her inability to swim set aside she'd been quite excited about experiencing the sea. Still, she turned and walked alongside Oric- though she did stay ankle deep in the water.

"Is.. is this one of those deserts I heard about? I've never seen sooo much sand about. Although.. I thought it was going to be a lot hotter. This is.. quite nice."

"No way of telling what's behind those cliffs, but I'd guess no. I'm from a desert town, and yeah, it gets way hotter. Plus this sand is... different. Whiter, and it's smoother too. Desert sand is kinda gritty." She chuckled, "I like this sand more."

[Alice]

As Oric starts to walk down the beach she notices a leather strap only slightly exposed in the sand.

[darlingng01]

Oric:

Seeing the strap I stop, and gesture for the others to stop as well. I look around to see if there's anywhere someone could be hiding in ambush besides over the cliff or under the water. Once I'm confident I pick up a stone and toss it at the strap, attempting to hit the ground with enough force to trigger something.

[If nothing happens] : I pull out a stick and attempt to poke around it briefly, before finally trying to hook the leather strap and tugging on it.

[Alice]

Pulling the strap you pull a high quality leather satchel from the sand. Clinking glass can be heard inside. The leather looks to have been completely soaked before becoming mostly burred in the sand.

[Ordos]

Naethra was quiet going through the portal, still glaring at Oric.

And then she was on a beach. It was unlike anything she'd ever seen before, but she'd read accounts from before the world was sundered.  There was no denying a certain peaceful beauty the ancients spoke of, but now, Naethra couldn't help but wonder what lurked beneath those waves.

"Maybe we can scale the cliffs?  We'd get a better vantage, a good idea of where we are, and... well, from what I've read, the water at the shore doesn't stay put.  Those waves can move closer or further away from where we are... and they nigh consume this strand entirely at high tide."