Outrider#1

"..So you can see that the protocols er rituals are in place for very good reasons.", said the larger than average man mildly. Dankmar got the impression that the unusually tall and muscular man was making a very large effort to explain -- it didn't really help. Clearly the Holy Man of the Mountain was as wise as he was strong. Dankmar was seen as smart among his people, He knew all of the songs, both spell and lore. He had even grasped the counting magic of the tribe -- which was beyond the normal training for Outriders.

The Outriders were those sent to patrol the borders and Wilds. They were trained from childhood to wander and deal with the dangerous unpredictability of the of the wider world. They were allowed to bear the treasured weapons -- each a valuable work of ancient lost magics. Even so equipped, the danger was often overwhelming, but knowing that the full efforts of his people were behind him normally bolstered Dankmar's heart.

Looking at the expectant and broad face of the Holy mountain man scattered the Outrider's confidence. How was he expected to speak of such esoteric matters? The words of the man had a sense of heaviness to them, no matter how mild the Holy One's tone.

Dankmar resisted the urge to clutch the blade at his belt. The habitual gesture of comfort would not be taken well by a Holy One. The Outrider knew he was deeply out of his depth, his higher than average wit was nothing before the large mountain man's explanation. Dankmar's mind stumbled to make sense of the words, but they scattered like fish before a noisy heron. Who cared if the pirates were cursed? He didn't like pirates anyway.

Dankmar dared glance at the Doppelganger beside him. He had defeated Akem's witchery and bound her to not trespass upon his people's lands. It was only through the songs of his tribe that he had prevailed over the cunning spirit woman. As was the way of some of the non-humans, she had proven loyal and helpful after being defeated. Her cunning and sly disposition had saved him from many dangers. Perhaps her grasps of magics would avail them once more?

Dankmar's heart fell instantly upon looking upon her more fully. The dusky skinned woman's polite smile didn't allow the beads of sweat or flush of her face to escape the Outrider's honed eyes. As a spirit, Akem's appearance was more fluid than a human's. When strained, this was to her detriment, for her heart often bled into the details of her shape.

Even now, her hair was shorter than normal. The point of her chin and shape of her cheeks was very reminiscent of the foreign Outrider he had coupled with and fought beside as a younger man. He had never spoke of it with Akem, but the Doppelganger known the female Outrider's shape, somehow. Upon giving her loyalty, he'd oath-bound her to stop using that form. Only later did he learn that it was a sign of comfort-during-turmoil, and rescind the binding.

Akem, whose cunning had seen the flaw of the Shining Spider -- allowing them to defeat it even as it spat invisible flame and sliced through stone -- was making a show of considering of the Holy One's words. Yet as her eyes met Dankmar's he felt a burst of her confusion.and near panic flow over him. Dankmar couldn't blame her, it was always best to tread lightly with the Holy Ones. They were seldom seen, but difficult to avoid or placate. He didn't want to be drawn into their strange concerns.

The heavy rumble of a clearing throat brought Dankmar's attention back the large mountain man's expectant face. Dankmar's mind was blank. He couldn't even begin to understand the words of the tall impossibly muscular man, no matter that they somehow retained perfect clarity in his memory.

"Ah. The Holy One is truly wise.", said Akem with a pleasant blend of cheer and slyness in her voice. After years of wandering with her, Dankmar recognized the tone she'd often used to delay the 10-Limbed Rovers from their boats so he could set them aflame. She didn't care to save pirates either. Her clever temporizing tongue was stopped before it could even begin, as a sigh from the Holy Man cut through the air.

The Holy One spoke again, his voice just as carefully mild as before. Now however there was the sense of weight emanating from the heavy-built man was less restrained. Dankmar clenched his teeth as the words washed over him -- burning heat flashed though his bones and popping lines of flame ate through his muscles. Where once there had been confusion, now there was only red-hot certainty. Muscles aching as if he'd just run for a day's length, Dankmar wheezed as his brow dripped with sweat.

Then the force relented as the mountain man spoke once more, "I didn't want to resort to that, but I don't have time for your petty tribalism or superstition. The 'wizard's curse' will be carried by the river. It cannot be allowed to spread. Five entire communities within range will be killed across generations. You were skilled enough to destroy a Guardian -- ", here the Holy One smiled in polite amusement, even as he nearly emanated power, "--so you'll be more than capable of surviving after my little *pep talk*."

The Holy One's smile dropped for a moment and he looked into the distance murmuring "There are 7 more tributaries that branch out from the Keep and the waterways are heavily populated. Your grudge against pirates, can't be permitted to interfere." A large thick finger was pointed at the large sack that looked to be filled with fine grayish sand.

"This must be sown at *every* marked location within. Eat a handful yourself before entering. This is as far as I can help. The sentinels WILL do their best to kill trespassers but I cannot deactivate them without...drawing attention. You recognize the mark of the curse now. You will do this and you will not dawdle or delay. Understood?", said the Holy One,

Dankmar glanced at Akem, the spirit woman's shape now fully matching the female Outrider of long ago. Akem was covered in sweat, gasping as heavily as he. Both her dusky skin and clothing flushed in patches, throbbing vividly in color. He sympathized, he could feel the roving heat dancing within his own muscles, making his own pale skin flush with the ache of unnatural strength.

Akem met his eye and gave a subtle but steady nod. Dankmar didn't think the sudden warmth in his chest was due to the Holy One's spell. That she would join him in near certain death was beyond the binding placed upon her. Having slain one Shining Spider once before, what were a handful more? He confidently met the Holy One's eyes before giving his agreement.