Kasrjin's relationship with his chocobo seemed to have ameliorated since the last time he had checked on the animal; Karadwyr shuffled about noticeably less as he checked and re-checked the fastenings of the saddlebags that were to hold his provisions. The chocobo was a massive black destrier meant to carry a fully-armoured knight into battle, so at the least he did not need to worry overmuch about a weight limit. The bird chirped what Kasrjin interpreted as solemn approval as he loosened the straps somewhat, running a hand between the soot-coloured feathers and the faded brown leather of the bags.
He'd considered removing the saddle itself, but if the struggle with the saddlebags had been any indication, manipulating straps and buckles could only lead to his utter doom.
The Xaela's provisions had been hidden in the middle of a small, rocky outcropping at the bottom of a steep hill, blanketed by layers of rough animal skins and covered with what foliage he could find amongst the Highlands. The foul scent of the animal skins kept most benign scavengers--person and animal alike--away, while the accumulated shrubbery caused most carrion to be disinterested in picking away at said skins.
Kasrjin removed the stones anchoring the skins and swept some layers of dirt away from a pit to reveal several sizeable bags of hand-tooled leather. A cursory inspection revealed that everything was as he had left it; strips of brittle steinbock meat, dried through exposure to frigid winds, crushed snurbleberries, almonds, strips of cloth for bandages, tools, a fur-lined cloak, and a thick insulated waterskin to melt snow in.
"I have no qualms with civilization. I simply find yours to be obtuse to interact with at times," he grunted as he began to migrate the supplies to Karadwyr's saddlebags. "I also lack the means for personal storage and there are certain risks I do not wish to take within the city." Truth be told, he had no idea if those armed men were still looking for him, Roen, and Edda, but it would make him feel somewhat foolish to find out by being caught by them.
"To answer your earlier question, we do not live amongst the steppes. The mountains and glaciers serve as our home, and the winters there are harsh. Blizzards have lasted up to half a moon at a time." Kasrjin was careful to keep any accurate directions out of his description, though it was less out of mistrust and more out of simple force of habit. "You have your fair share of vengeful weather, but its touch is gentler than what I am adjusted to."
His supplies successfully transferred, an endeavour that brought more than a little relief. It was little more than luck that the Au Ra had managed to relocate his cache--though "relocate" was perhaps a generous term as he could not be entirely sure that this was the one he had intended to find--for more than once while gathering these provisions had he been completely unable to find the place where he had stored it, as the snow would sweep or obscure any landmarks he could make and his own sense of direction was...lacking.
At the least, somewhere out there were several buried pits of varying provisions. Perhaps they could use them in an emergency. Or someone could, at least.
Tracking was for the Nayantai. Kasrjin kept his sigh internal, and turned to face the paladin and the Miqo'te.
He glanced at Roen. "I would mention that my expedition may last longer than it takes for this endeavour to be completed" The paladin had made an offer to help him, but he was not entirely sure that she would be willing or able to commit to such a lengthy journey. "Should we find--"
A pause. He briefly had forgotten the Miqo'te's name. Mark...Lurk....ah, right. Think of cloudy water.
"Should we find Mirke's compatriots swiftly, you plan to accompany them until their rescue arrives?"
Karadwyr warbled again with a brief shiver, Kasrjin reflexively wincing as he imagined the buckles and straps of the saddlebags exploding apart again.
He'd considered removing the saddle itself, but if the struggle with the saddlebags had been any indication, manipulating straps and buckles could only lead to his utter doom.
The Xaela's provisions had been hidden in the middle of a small, rocky outcropping at the bottom of a steep hill, blanketed by layers of rough animal skins and covered with what foliage he could find amongst the Highlands. The foul scent of the animal skins kept most benign scavengers--person and animal alike--away, while the accumulated shrubbery caused most carrion to be disinterested in picking away at said skins.
Kasrjin removed the stones anchoring the skins and swept some layers of dirt away from a pit to reveal several sizeable bags of hand-tooled leather. A cursory inspection revealed that everything was as he had left it; strips of brittle steinbock meat, dried through exposure to frigid winds, crushed snurbleberries, almonds, strips of cloth for bandages, tools, a fur-lined cloak, and a thick insulated waterskin to melt snow in.
"I have no qualms with civilization. I simply find yours to be obtuse to interact with at times," he grunted as he began to migrate the supplies to Karadwyr's saddlebags. "I also lack the means for personal storage and there are certain risks I do not wish to take within the city." Truth be told, he had no idea if those armed men were still looking for him, Roen, and Edda, but it would make him feel somewhat foolish to find out by being caught by them.
"To answer your earlier question, we do not live amongst the steppes. The mountains and glaciers serve as our home, and the winters there are harsh. Blizzards have lasted up to half a moon at a time." Kasrjin was careful to keep any accurate directions out of his description, though it was less out of mistrust and more out of simple force of habit. "You have your fair share of vengeful weather, but its touch is gentler than what I am adjusted to."
His supplies successfully transferred, an endeavour that brought more than a little relief. It was little more than luck that the Au Ra had managed to relocate his cache--though "relocate" was perhaps a generous term as he could not be entirely sure that this was the one he had intended to find--for more than once while gathering these provisions had he been completely unable to find the place where he had stored it, as the snow would sweep or obscure any landmarks he could make and his own sense of direction was...lacking.
At the least, somewhere out there were several buried pits of varying provisions. Perhaps they could use them in an emergency. Or someone could, at least.
Tracking was for the Nayantai. Kasrjin kept his sigh internal, and turned to face the paladin and the Miqo'te.
He glanced at Roen. "I would mention that my expedition may last longer than it takes for this endeavour to be completed" The paladin had made an offer to help him, but he was not entirely sure that she would be willing or able to commit to such a lengthy journey. "Should we find--"
A pause. He briefly had forgotten the Miqo'te's name. Mark...Lurk....ah, right. Think of cloudy water.
"Should we find Mirke's compatriots swiftly, you plan to accompany them until their rescue arrives?"
Karadwyr warbled again with a brief shiver, Kasrjin reflexively wincing as he imagined the buckles and straps of the saddlebags exploding apart again.
