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Quang takes the lead and you follow him in single file through the forest on a south-easterly course. You make steady progress until the stormy grey light of day surrenders to the approaching dark of night. You are all very hungry for you have not eaten a thing since you awoke early this morning. The storm has abated but the rain has become heavier during your long afternoon ride, and Quang is sorely aware of the need to find safe shelter, somewhere dry where you can eat, rest, and recover your flagging strength.
In the failing light, he spots a place that looks promising. It is a cave-like opening in the side of a wooded knoll. He calls you to come forward in the line and determine if it is safe to enter. You focus your Sixth Sense and at once you know that there is nothing hazardous lurking beyond the opening.
‘All clear,’ you tell him.
‘We’ll camp here for the night,’ says Quang, and he orders the Watchers to dismount and tether the horses to the trees close to the opening.
As they carry out his order, you and he inspect this natural shelter. Beyond the opening you discover a room-sized cavity that is suitable for your needs. Bai and Chao prepare a small fire and you help Quang and Deng to clear the ground and prepare a communal meal from the provisions you are carrying in your backpacks. If you have a Meal in your backpack you must now erase it and give it to Quang. If you do not have a Meal, you go and gather edible roots, fungi, and berries from the immediate vicinity.
Bai proves himself to be a good cook and the meal he prepares is very nutritious. When you finish your meal, you agree to remain on guard for one hour each while the others get some much needed sleep. You volunteer to take first watch.
You settle yourself down at the entrance to the shelter and draw your oilskin cape close around you. The warmth of the small campfire helps to dull the persistent chill of the satchel containing the Eye of Agarash. As you stare out into the darkness of the forest and listen to the sounds of its nocturnal animals, you reflect on the events of the day. Your unexpected encounter with the doomwolves plays on your mind. You have no doubts that Nadziran Zashnor is responsible for their presence here in Chai and it reveals to you that this evil sorcerer is a formidable adversary. If it can deploy doomwolves this far south in Chai, you wonder how many other Darklands beasts it has at its command to let loose on Pensei and secure its capture. You feel a pressing need to inform Lord Rimoah of this, but it is now impossible for you to return to the tracker-gem and be there in time for his return aboard the Comet.
( i try to use Telegnosis to reach out to Rimoah)
You close your eyes and draw deeply upon your Grand Master Discipline in an effort to establish a telepathic link with Lord Rimoah. You focus and strain your Discipline to the limit, but try as you may you are unable to make direct mind contact with him. After several fruitless and tiring attempts, you resign yourself to the fact that he is somewhere beyond the range of your telepathic ability. The mental energy you expend leaves you feeling emotionally and physically drained: lose 1 ENDURANCE point.
You finish your watch and enter the shelter to awaken Chao; he is the next in line for guard duty. He rubs his eyes and takes his place at the entrance. You settle down on the ground where he lay and drift off into a deep sleep.
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