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Enter The Wilds

It was late in the evening on a cool fall day and the skies were dark with angry clouds. Kontu, A tabaxi that worked for the Exploration guild was camped near a bottom of a cliff in a Valley. He had a tent set up and was just finishing his dinner when he heard the rumbles of thunder echo thru the valley. “Sounds like rain” He thought as he was just about ready to call it and sleep for the night. This was to be an easy trip of gathering herbs and plants. Maybe a few small magical beasts to sell on the Exploration guild market.

Kontu was your typical tabaxi. Tall and thin, the feline had tan fur with dark brown spots dotting along his entire from. His face was a lighter shade as where his hands and footpaws. Not really caring about fashion or anything, the mid 20's tabaxi was more for clothing that was comfortable and durability. Usually going for more natural tough clothing of browns or greens. In the wilds, standing out was always a risk, so more neutral colors were always preferred and that was what Kontu went with. Along with sturdy boots, He looked to always be ready to go camping, even when in the city.

As Kontu cleaned up from cooking and eating, he thought back on why he joined the Exploration Guild. Even as a child, he dreamed of what mysteries were outside the cities. Danger, beasts, treasure and ancient runes all waiting on him to discover them. He could get rich and live a comfortable life, as long as he survived the harsh lands of the Wilds and got a bit lucky. The truth through was, Kontu wanted to see what was outside the cities. To see rugged lands filled with beasts, dangers and treasures. The cities were crowded and boring. Filled with dull people only doing the same dull thing all day every day. No, Kontu wanted adventure and to explore. Being a member of the guild gave him access to the wilds and even a way to make a living doing so.

Thunder booms louder now and the rain starts, bring Kontu out of his own musings. Sheets of thick blinding rain poured down, hiding the Valley it a cloak of dark fog. Lighting strikes near by with a flash and a bang making Kontu jump. He hurriedly packed his things up, ready to move at a moments notice if needed. The wind blew and the tent was pulling up on the stakes. Realizing it was a losing battle to stay there, Kontu decided it was best to seek a more stable shelter. After packing the rest of his gear and cooking wear, He puts on his Magic Detection Optical Scanner, or MDOS for short and heads out into the drenching rain to try and fight the wind for his tent.

Lighting flashes and thunder booms as Kontu fights the wind and tries to roll the tent. The lightning strikes seem to get closer with one blinding him with a bright flash that lit up the whole Valley. His mount, A large lizard like creature called a shrieker, screams out as its name sake would suggest.

Kontu was about half way done with forcing his way to big tent in the somehow way to small bag, it always seemed that way despite how the tent came out of that bag, When lighting struck at the cliff above. A new sound, a rumble and grating sound soon filled the air, even starting to drown out the rain. Terror filled Kontu as he quickly abandoned the tend and ran to his mount. Not even bothering to untie the mount, He pulled a knife and cute the rope and climbed onto the Shrieker. He the kicked the sides of the Shrieker and they sped off.

The sound of the rumbling grew louder as they Kontu rode away. The shrieker cried out and ran. Riding a shrieker, especially one frighten and running for all its worth was no easy feat. The shrieker didn't just run in a straight path as there wasn't any clear path to run along. Instead, The beast jumped and climbed rocked and ledges, leaping long distances and then running along flat spots. Behind, Kontu could hear trees snapping and with the rumbling, his fears became realized. A mud slide was running down off the cliff, and if he didn't hurry, he would be buried alive. Mud and dirt flew thru the air, pelting him in the back. The MDOS thankfully gave him some sight as it could map out the ground and plants by tracing there magical signatures. Still this only gave him a few feet at best of sight as he had to guide his mount around trees and up over rocks and small ledges.

Suddenly, Kontu felt his mount slow and trip but thankfully recovered quickly. The mud slide was upon them and the poor tabaxi had to resort to more and more treacherous paths to survive. Soon the ground was covered in mud flowing like water and he had to guide the shrieker. They leaped, rebounding off trees and landing on rock tops. Anything to move forward and keep out of the mud.

On one rock, the shrieker lost its grip and slipped. He fell then rolled into the flowing mud, tossing Kontu into the air only to hit a tree knocking the air out of his lungs. He gasped for air despite seeing stars, coughing as rain and mud mixed with the air. He clung to a branch as he listened in horror as the cries and screams of his shrieker suddenly went silent, drowned out by the rumble of the mud and rain.

His attention to his loss was short lived though, as the tree he was now clinging to gave a loud crack and then fell, taking Kontu with it. Having nothing else he could do, Kontu clung to the tree, holding on for dear life as the mud gripped at him and tried to pull him under. Pain and exhaustion surged thru his body as he did everything he could survive. Finally the mud seemed to slow and settle and Kontu found himself half buried, still clinging to the tree.

Having little choice, He Dug himself out and dragged himself to a the back side of a rock where he sat to wait out the storm. Thankfully, within a half hour or so the storm finally did let up and Kontu was able to see his surroundings once more. The valley was devastated. Trees were uprooted and buried in the mud. Rocks and anything loose was picked up and drug along in the river of mud. The ground was covered in soft squishy brown mix of dirt, water and mush that threatened to pull down any anything trying to traverse thru. The rained thinned and and finally stopped as Kontu climbed to his feet. He looks back to the cliff he had just retreated from and gasps. With the enhanced vision given to him by his MDOS visor, He could see, something. He wasn't sure what yet but he needed to know. Besides might was well see what was uncovered.

He was just starting to look how he would traverse this new landscape when he heard a familiar shrill cry. Kontu's face lit up with excitement and relieve as he heard the calls of his Shrieker. He pulls off his bag and pulls out a small whistle and blow. A piercing note rings out and then is answered by another call from his mount. He looks in the direction of the sound and finally sees the large lizard bounding and leaping from rock to rock, or some times just plowing thru the mud as it approached. It runs up and then stops, covered in dirt, mug and leaves that were glued to its body. Though relieved he had his mount back he wasn't overly surprised as muddy swamps and wet areas where the natural habitats for these creature. Still Kontu thought his mount could have been a little more careful and not slipped, tossing the now irritable tabaxi into the mud slide. “Well I am glad you made it at least. Though looks like I am out a tent.” Kontu stretches as he tries to take stock of his situation, mostly just glad to still be alive. Plus.....while he hurt all over, it was kind of fun, or at least would have been if not for the whole life or death part.

He looks over his mount, checking the restraints and having to make quick repairs here and there, tying a few strands together and having to cut loose one foot holder as it was nothing but shredded leather. It would work for now but he would have to pay for a fee for the damaged saddle and restraints. Kontu just sighs as he makes some quick adjustments and climbs back into his mount and heads back to the cliff.

The ride back was a lot less exciting as the shrieker leaped from rock to rock or much to Kontu's dismay, plowed thru the mud covering them both in the thick cold wet dirt. “I need a bath” Kontu thought as the made his way back. Once closer, Kontu looked back at the cliff and saw an opening. But not just any opening, No, It was a ruin.

“A ruin!” Kontu exclaims aloud, already forgetting his previous grumbling. He looks around and sets a path to the side, seeing some rocks that would allow him and his mount to climb up the cliff to the top. Another good thing about Shriekers was there climbing ability. As long as there was at least some foothold for the large creature, it could climb up a ridge with little problem. This was why they were one of the most popular mounts in the Exploration Guild. Once overhead the ruin on the cliff, Kontu ties off his mount then pulls out his rope and ties off one end to a near by well anchored rock and uses the rope to climb down. It was close to the top so he didn't have to down more then 20 feet or so till he was at the entrance to the ruin. His eyes light up in glee as he takes in the view of ruin. This may just be the biggest find if his life. Despite being dirty, tired, drenched and nearly dying, this was turning out to be one of the best days of his life.