Editing Fulgar's Scratchings

Fulgar’s scratchings

Batu says he is an elder in his pack and must present himself to the pack leaders in this strange place.  He is young but strong and fights well so I think it is maybe true.  If there were Hengeyokai here, I would do the same but humans have strange ways and they do not seem to know of either Garuk’s kind or my pack.  I think my time is better spent serving in the temple of Shang-Ti, studying the way and seeking the path.  Once we have paid our dues, Garuk and I will also attempt to return to the scene of my shame, where my mind was too weak to resist our enemies and I tried to fight my friends.  Shang-Ti revealed the path to me there, before we fell through the floor and onto another false path.  If we can once more find Shang-Ti’s sign, perhaps I can redeem myself.  


Before we set out, Batu kindly gave us some of the gold discs that humans use instead of barter and we spent some time preparing ourselves for a journey into the unknown.  Garuk was particularly pleased when he was able to exchange his shiny knife for a bigger knife that wasn’t shiny.  They all seem equally awkward to me but it was important to him.  We obtained provisions, including food and water, as this place offers little in the way of sustenance.


From the rising and the setting of the sun we have noted that this city is a gateway between east and west as the ravine in which is hidden runs north and south.  There is a strange mix of buildings but I think those added to the outside are new and lack the clever machines in the old buildings that are set back into the rocks, as though designed to be hidden.  Everybody here is law-abiding and respectful, as all peoples should be, but the traders and merchants seem wary of discussing their business or where they are travelling from and to.  The merchants also seem to spend as much time as possible outside the city.  They obviously value the shiny metal and polished stones that the people in the city seem to have.


Batu records all that he does, this must be how his pack remember their stories.  Stories are better told than written in my experience but I will honour his request to record the outcome of our reconnaissance.


We started by heading up the spiral staircase to the land above – on the sunset side so that we can head towards the mighty wall I saw before.  Up above the ravine, we found another mighty city, this one made entirely of the cloth houses some humans seem to prefer; it was full of merchants, bartering and trading all manner of items, although still no big knife for Garuk.  He never seems happy with whatever knife he has.


Heading north, we soon find the guard tower that I saw before, including 2 of the finely dressed keepers of the local law on the way to their duties I think.  I wonder how they stand to wear so much metal in this heat.  The hot earth in this sun-scorched place burns my feet and reluctantly I am now forced to wear some of the strange foot coverings that humans love so much.  We are clearly following an ancient path that was once well-cut stone, many years ago.  It is surprisingly poorly kept for such a lawful place but it is anything up to 20 paces wide and must once have been impressive indeed.  We pass what look like guard points, long since abandoned and eroded.  This place knows peace and law now but those that built it clearly didn’t.  They were obviously ready to defend their city but it seems nobody cares anymore.  Whoever they were, their stone cutting is impressive work and time was taken to carve much detail.  The carvings take the form of fierce desert wildlife including the hideous beetles we encountered previously.  The carvings all face outwards, to intimidate opponents – as they almost did us!


These stones last for at least a mile of slow hot walking before the path narrows to maybe only 5 paces across.  It continues to rise as we climb higher, following the line of the gorge, still following the law keepers who are unbothered by us I hope.  Garuk has kept his face covered in case his appearance might startle them.  All the time, the ravine beside us is narrowing and climbing towards us.  The great wall ahead clearly holds back much water with many large stone buildings that were built with conflict in mind.  The weapons of humans would hold back an army from here and many hundreds could be enclosed inside.


We had a long chat with the 2 guards (‘Harun’ they prefer), one was called Brian and the other did not give his name!  They kindly offered to share their food and water with us but warned that beyond the wall lies a place of ill omen.  Nonetheless we were free to explore and will not be challenged on our return unless we threaten the guards or the dam.  It is clear as we get closer that the law keepers live in a mighty stone building that would withstand the battering of the gods themselves it seems.  At least a score more of the same law keepers were already inside the tower.  Even were we minded to threaten this place, we certainly would not dare do so.  Their food seems communal but real food was once again in short supply.  I swear by Shang-Ti that I am likely to turn into a fruit if I stay too long in this strange place.


During the meal Brian read a prayer of thanks to Shang-Ti – what a wonder these people are.  Truly this could be a home to us all.  It seems there is a ritual whereby the law keepers are paid after Shang-Ti has been honoured.  Their respect for Shang-Ti’s name seems perfunctory though; I do not think the Shaman would consider them sufficiently respectful.


The keeper of the foods kindly allowed us to refresh our rations and water but of course we offered some of the copper discs as thanks to Shang-Ti.


An hour on the road from the tower and the ancient cut stone walkway seems to end suddenly as though we have reached a destination that is no longer here.  From the ruined foundation stones around us, there were once perhaps 2 mighty towers here.  In my unfamiliarity with this lethal place I would have pressed on but friend Garuk wisely suggested we remain under cover here until the fire in the sky has subsided and ceased its brutal beating on our backs.  Pitching the tarpaulin from Batu’s pack as a shade we were able to gain some respite and I found some time to study The Way.  The endless heat interfered even with my training though and I was forced to consider only some of the gentler movements.


We carried on as the sun set and the stars emerged.  The cool air was a joy as was the opportunity to finally remove the ridiculous clothes that humans insist on.  The breeze on my naked flesh was delightful as I slowly slipped back into a more natural form, relishing the sensation of fur once more covering my baldness.


The heat may have subsided but the very ground works against us in this place.  As soon as our feet sank into the dragging sand beyond I gained a new appreciation for the pathway we had followed.  This ground seems to grab at our feet and suddenly our journey was much slower.


It is difficult to mark time in this place but some hours later we encountered a large and unnatural looking shape some 200 yards ahead.  


[[File:SpiderSnake.jpg|thumb|left|alt=Desert Spider Snake| Desert Spider Snake]]



Both friend Garuk and I decided that discretion was the wise choice although we fled in opposite directions, me forwards and right and him back the way we had come.  I thought him wrong to retreat but he reminded me that he was at least remaining on Shnag-Ti’s path whereas I had sought my own counsel.  Chastised, I backtracked and quickly caught him, although I think he slowed his pace to cover my shame at falling behind.


No sooner had we put distance between us and the foul desert creature when we found ourselves staring down a thing even more misshapen and unnatural.


[[File:Sword Scorpion.jpg|thumb|left|alt=Desert Scorpion with very big knife| Desert Scorpion with very big knife]]


Even the creatures here use the knives of the humans to fight – they should study the way, it is better.  The fight was short and brutal and its over-sized tail delivered a needle like blow to my back before I snapped it’s neck with a solid punch to the face welded to its chest.  I fear I was poisoned already because my recollection of the next events is hazy and confused.


I remember glancing back, or was it front now, along the path to see that the first beast had closed on us while we fought and was almost upon us.   It came straight at me, seemingly much faster over this clawing sand than us.  I landed some blows but it bit me hard in the shoulder and I felt the poison flooding my body.  Both these desert demons had now poisoned me it seems and I fear I was not long for this fight.  To my great joy, friend Garuk had taken a liking to the first beast’s knife, putting away the big dull knife he had traded his shiny one for and landing a mighty blow with a sword that must have been as big as him.  Such a strange way to fight but a wonderful result.  Our foe defeated, fighting together as a pack should, I embraced him.  His body looks weak but his arms are strong, stronger than me for sure.  We are pack now, he and I.  I told him that he should keep the spoils of my kill with my thanks, indicating the sword in his hands.  I think he feared that he offended me and he dropped it immediately but that was not my intent.  I retrieved the knife from the sand, needing both hands to lift the unwieldy monstrosity, and offered it back to him more formally, a gift from my kill to show my respect for him.  We are pack now I think as he accepted the gift with much respect.


By this point I could feel the poison racking my body and I knew I would soon fall.  Garuk rushed to my aid and laid out his strange bottles of dweomer, one blue like the sky, another clear like water and then a strange pot of white mud.


I took the blue-sky potion first, of course, and found myself suddenly flying.  Amazing for sure but unlikely to save my life.  Not knowing what else to do, I drank the bottle that was clear like water but I don’t think it was wise as I collapsed unconscious, death rapidly approaching.  


I snapped awake but I don’t know how much time had passed; I was full of life and vigour and learned that Garuk had smeared the white mud into my wounds, seemingly all now healed.  He is a great pack mate and together we will do great things for Shang-Ti.


We carried on into the night but only after I had eaten my fill of our vanquished foe.  The taste was not dissimilar to the snakes of my homeland, though this one was much larger, with enough flesh to feed me for several days!  Garuk kindly lent me some of the waxed paper from his own food so that I could take some of the flesh with me although he declined my offer to share.  Meat at last, how could he resist!


We continued then as best we could but already I was worrying that our water was running low and this expedition was perhaps not blessed by Shang-Ti.  Had we erred in some way?  Was this the wrong path?


Garuk was quickly becoming wise in the ways of the desert and he selected a good place to rest and hide from the heat of the sun, using the tarpaulin once more for protection.  I sat watch atop the stone, meditating and considering the way while he rested below me, seeking to restore his dweomer I think. 


Maybe as many 4 hours passed and I had just decided to join him under cover and resume my training when the desert itself leapt into the air, whipping at our faces on the back of a vicious wind.  This place truly was trying to kill us, or so I thought.  Instead, the spirits of the desert came to me, riding on the wind, and warned me to hide as our enemy was being carried by the storm and would soon be upon us.


As I leapt down, the wind ripped away the tarpaulin and I caught it with an outstretched hand, just, before I landed beside Garuk.  The spirits came to me again to say that the enemy was on us and we had to hide.  I somehow kept hold of the tarpaulin, scooped up Garuk’s pack in the same hand (couldn’t let him lose another one!) and grabbed Garuk’s bivouac with the other, with him and his new knife still inside!


I dropped us all to the ground in the shelter of the rock, our only chance for any protection.  It was too late though, the wind suddenly dropped to nothing and the enemy came at us.  


[[File:BatLion.jpg|thumb|left|alt=Bat Lion that rides the desert winds| Bat Lion that rides the desert winds]]


I landed a blow with little effect and Garuk struck again with his new big knife.  The spirits were once more with me, Shang-Ti protects us, and they told me to strike for the throat.


I attacked again with a flurry of punches aimed only at the throat.  The first went wide but the second landed well and he fell, dead.  Thanks to Shang-Ti and the spirits of the desert.


I decided that despite Shang-Ti’s best efforts to protect us, there was perhaps some error in our path, maybe it was because he had also placed friend Batu in our life path but we had started this journey without him.  I suggested we return now and rejoin him but I have learnt to trust Garuk’s wisdom and he argued that we should continue a little further.  First we ate of course, and I took my fill of the creature’s organs before exchanging the snake meat in my pack for fresh kill.  Garuk once more declined, even though the blood was still fresh and warm.


We continued then, as Garuk counselled, but it wasn’t long before we were once again opposed:


[[File:LajatangInsect.jpg|thumb|left|alt=Bipedal Desert Insect with Lajatang| Bipedal Desert Insect with Lajatang]]


Luckily Garuk saw him before he saw us and we took cover to share counsel.  Cooler heads finally prevailed in the desert heat and we agreed to return to the city and share out adventures with friend Batu.