A Usual Day of Seeking... [Open]

[SkyBlade]

Essyrn. The Moraki Desert... probably one of the best and worst places for finding some objects of worth.
The weather was still neutral to both day and night: it had not yet been decided who would win it, as it was in the middle of dawn that "The Rower" was sitting in his boat, thinking. His expression was lost.
"Maybe I should not by day travel, what you think?" he thought to himself.

"No, no, I'm telling you, there a caravan show up somewhere here! Yes-- NO! Trust me, it's not going be tha' long, dawn is approaching. Here there ought to be some life around here!" he began talking, as if arguing with his fantastically rough voice, giving out a loud and lengthy laugh after finishing.

"Well, I do-don't-don't think we'd do any good by staying here only!" he stuttered, talking seemingly alone, yet to whom he thought he was actually talking was the fog covering his boat. "I need to go, cannot...cannot accept simply staying aroun'!"

The power of a scorching weather was growing, yet it did not seem to bother him at all. Without a second thought he began his smooth rowing on the soft sand.

The silence would be defined by many as maddening, but to him, it was normal.
After maybe half an hour he opened a potion merely to drink - not even checking for surely if it was just a potion for drinking or one having major effects on somebody - that the look on his face - his whole body (aside from the rowing hands) for that matter - froze yet again. His stare, constant and fixated on the sky which seemed to melt together with the earth. His huge grin, present because of unfathomable causes.

He was joyous to finally spot something in the distance - too far away to know what it exactly was. It seemed to look merely like a dot.
He began to laugh yet again with his husky voice, muttering on a content tone: "Finally! Let us see and watch the power of the one or ones coming... it's a long bee' that I haven't have a fight good, and hungry I am for more loot...!..."

He then accelerated, already holding the sabre at his belt, double checking if any needed potion is at hand.

[Jiaolong]

Yulsin Leivani was tired.

Having no other means of transportation, he had traveled through the night on foot, a scraggly, hand-drawn map guiding him to what he hoped was the right destination. He'd long ago left the main road, believing he was going in the right direction. However, now he was beginning to think he was lost.

He should've known. His map was only a poor copy of the real one that was given to his sister, Yurel, a week ago. While his memory was good, he'd only captured a glimpse of the real thing, and his imitation was sure to have flaws. The only thing keeping him trudging through the sand was the thought of his sister.

She should've returned from her escort job three days ago, yet Yulsin hadn't heard from her at all. He knew in his gut he should have gone with her, but he had his own job to do at the time. Dawn was approaching, marking the fourth day since Yurel was gone. Yulsin swallowed back his anxiety and continued along, searching, searching...

Something seemed to be in the distance. Squinting, Yulsin could almost make out some sort of swirling substance. A sandstorm? No, it was too small. A mirage? Perhaps. Or could it be the tomb that Yurel had supposedly gone to, the exact tomb he was looking for! If anything, it was worth checking out, and he trudged forward.

[SkyBlade]

It was just a matter of time that the silhouette of Yulsin began to be more pronounced.
There was a while that passed before "The Rower" could distinguish the long-haired half-human in more detail.
He approached him, slowing down until he finished his last oaring move and stopped next to him, though keeping a distance of a few metres between them. His usually tune started playing, but only until his boat stopped.

"A little lost we are, aren't we?" he said with a grin, taking the last sip of his drink. He then froze yet again, this time leaning against the interior of his boat for maybe half a minute.

For the desert, of course, there wasn't a precise map of every single corner and "The Rower" himself used what he could find between his scrolls, and especially the stars, to navigate. The stars, however, were almost completely gone now, so all he was left with was his intuition, few pergaments, and the decent amount of experience he had in desolate places like that.

"The Rower" was studying the half-demon. Maybe he did not have so many things at him to be robbed... or maybe he could interact with this person in a different manner as well, not necessarily challenging and slashing him just to gain what he wants.

He broke the silence by suddenly laughing yet again loudly, though for merely a few seconds this time.

"I suppo' I may offe' ye a little help with few extra scrolls. Or perhaps we ought take one look at the one you're holdin' to see for any errors. I also think I have came from path you walking now are, so maybe I could tell 'bout a few things encoun'ered..." he said on a joyful, loud tone. Then, changing back to his usual, hoarse and strange voice, he continued:
"But 'course I'd say I'd wait for something instead. Maybe a little help, a little wisdom about this world shared, or perhaps rathe'... material things."

He swiftly opened yet another bottle of potion and poured the red liquid of its interior onto the boat, washing and cleaning it from the sand and dirt it had collected. While doing this, with the other hand he still kept holding his sabre just as tightly as before, and his stare did not leave Yulsin. He poured the liquid around and, though he did not do it with too much care or precision, it seemed to rid the boat of dirt quite rapidly and efficiently.

[Jiaolong]

Yulsin didn't know what to make of the mist, the boat, or the eerie tune that could be heard as it approached. And even stranger than the boat sailing on sand dunes was its scraggly-looking occupant!

The music—if it could even be called so—stopped as abruptly as the boat did. Yulsin met the eyes of the strange individual atop the boat, tying to figure out what the old man was. He didn't seem to be a demon, but could he be called human? Well, Yulsin had met many creatures throughout his travels. The only thing that mattered now was the fact that the man was offering some help.

However, would it be wise to trust the stranger? His peculiar speech and mannerisms led Yulsin to believe the man might simply be crazy...and what was this about 'material things?' The half-demon couldn't help but notice the sharp blade against the man's hip, and he eyed it warily.

Oh, well. While he didn't want to admit he was lost, it was either this or wandering the desert in circles. Yurel has always told him to not be too judgemental of appearances. He reluctantly handed the map over, frowning under the man's incessant stare. "This is the map I've been following. It's crude, but, it should lead to a certain tomb. It's said to have three stone towers that hold lots of treasure...it's a local myth, have you perhaps heard of it?"

[SkyBlade]

The red eyes of the one in front of him certainly looked interesting. "The Rower" was glad when Yulsin finally handed the map to him.
For a few minutes he sat there, wondering and studying what could or could not be wrong about it, as well as trying to associate it with locations in the desert he might have already been to.

"I presume all that's wrong is the western parts are drawn little too northwards. Also, that rock ove' there should be much farther southwards... trus' me, I've seen it." he said, pointing with his bony index finger on the said locations.

He proceeded to snap his fingers, though still looking at the map. "Hey, rid you'self of whims, you know what I need right now!" he said on a serious tone. As he finished telling this, a hand of mist started shaping in the middle of the fog and handed him another map.

"The Rower" did not have a paper representing the whole desert, naturally, but he connected the bits he had on some of his maps with what was on Yulsin's. He kept comparing the two while further trying to deduce the locations.

"Oh, an' likely that huge, hill-like dune is closer to us as well. Nothin' major bu' it seems ye could have reached this spot more swiftly had these small mistakes not bee' there." he assessed, while handing the map back to Yulsin and giving the other one back to the fog-hand, which then disappeared together with it.

Though his strange expressions were still constant, he looked serious enough while examining the map and explaining as to temporarily reduce the sense of eeriness his madness induced...

His eyes had widened for a moment when he heard the words "hold lots of treasure".

"As for the myth, been unfortunate enough I not to hear 'bout it, though few rumours with the concern of gold escape my ears, so it seems to me odd... perhaps the only thing I may ask of ye in return is the permission to join this quest. Used to navigation in lost, desolate places like this cursed sandsea, even when nearly clueless of the surroundings; maybe I cou' be of help 'til we reach the place. Interested be I in this treasure..."

Teaming up? That would mean to team up... quite a strange and unusual idea for "The Rower", but he could reach the treasure more easily...
Perhaps he'd take everything stealthily once he was there, or challenge the fellow in combat for the treasure; or simply share it with him - which was not exactly his preferred choice, but the knots of wickedness might loosen for one day... nothing was certain, but things would unfold in time.

[Jiaolong]

While he would never admit it, Yulsin was secretly impressed by the man's skills. He'd only taken a few glances at the map and seemed to know just where to go!

Yulsin grabbed the side of the boat, heaving himself into it without waiting for an invitation. "Of course you'll be joining me—you're the only one who knows how to navigate this place. And I'm not walking another step in this desert." He folded his arms, leaning against the side of the boat. The mist was unnerving, that was for sure, but he would just have to bear with it. Perhaps the man was not as mad as he thought. "Do as you wish with the treasure we find...It's all yours."

[SkyBlade]

Seeing Yulsin hopping into the boat, "The Rower" immediately said:

"Very well! Bu' befo' we begi' a' this, you'd better take the san' out of your boots! The last time I travel from the east edge of thi' dese' to the west one, the boa' full was of it an' you ought believe me: I shall waste not three potions again just to clean it all!" he said on a serious tone.

"A' right! Let us this do! And, of course, let me do the rowing!" he exclaimed with a grin.

While they were advancing in the sand under the scorching sun - which somehow did not bother him - "The Rower" occasionally gave out a sinister laugh or seemed to talk to someone. He did not care, though, that Yulsin might be confused whether he is speaking to him or to yet another one of his hallucinations. The atmosphere was awkward at best, but the pirate-like man could not feel it.

He just kept rowing silently...

About half an hour passed and the ground started to quake heavily.

"No, fool! There are no waves, even though we may call it a sand sea!" albeit he uttered these words with a mixture of irritation and confidence (to the spirits know whom!), the sudden movements of the boat were rather aggressive and after a while not even his indifference could fight the unusual circumstances. The shaking was accompanied by brutal noises as well.

Soon, the enigma was solved: the suddenness of the giant worm jumping out of the sands was astounding. Yet, "The Rower" showed but a twitch and a temporary eye-widening as a reaction.

Half of the worm's body was still underground, but that did not help the situation.

"Haaah!! You again! I should've expected!" he exclaimed, even though he hadn't met that creature before. He jumped out of his boat, not even checking if his new journey mate was also ready for the fight.

Every bite or any other sort of attack from the worm was partially dodged, partially parried with a slash from his sabre, letting occasional yellow blood pour. Though the worm did look like it was hurt by these blows, it also seemed to slowly but surely regenerate.

The sight would have rather been disgusting to many, yet that did not seem to be of too much concern to "The Rower".

"Ha ha!" he exclaimed, before grabbing two potions at once and casting them upwards into the air. He then proceeded to hit them both with his sabre. The bottles naturally broke, but the hit had been firm enough to swiftly send the potions towards the worm, and so the strange green and purple gas was emanated in front of the beast.

"I'd suggest stay away, unless you want that thing to reach you as well!" "The Rower" told Yulsin, with his occasional traces of caring towards others...

He quickly jumped a few steps backwards, letting the coloured smoke and dust slowly fade into oblivion, while the beast seemed to freeze.

"Bash, strike, and stab it 'til you have time still! It ought not to be able regenerate in state this!" he shouted with his loud, deep voice.

In a wink he dashed towards the worm, piercing the frosty layer that covered it. Though it was a partial defense for the creature, the ice was by no means impossible to penetrate, and thus "The Rower" began striking before the effect would fade.

Even so, the creature soon broke out of the spell with a devastating rage and hurled him backwards. It now seemed too wounded in order to recover fast enough, though. Thus, on this occasion, its wrath and now ten times more brutal, brusque, and rapid attacks seemed to be the only things of concern.

[Jiaolong]

As the two traveled across the sand, Yulsin was able to observe more of the strange man's behavior. He definitely seemed a little...off, but his navigation skills were good, and that was what mattered in the desert.

He was standing off to the side with his arms crossed when the boat suddenly lurched forward, then to the side, and then back again. Yulsin quickly steadied himself, his hand instinctively going to the hilt of his sword.

It was a giant worm, and it seemed hell-bent on destroying them. The half-demon watched the man's fighting skills...he could hold his own, but so could the worm. While his potions had soon worn off, the beast was finally wearing down. Yulsin took the man's advice and unsheathed his sword, leaping with an inhuman amount of strength at the worm's head. He then proceeded to cut it clean off, a spray of yellow blood following. The rest of its body fell limp to the ground.

Yulsin landed lightly on the boat, hesitating to sheathe his sword. It certainly was easier to kill the thing thanks to the strange man having beaten it to this point, but it almost seemed too easy...

At this point, the worm's once-stationary body began to move. It's lower half slid out of the ground, revealing...another head?! And this one was even angrier than the last!

Yulsin grimaced, taking a defensive stance. "How many heads does this thing need?"