Maesanai looked up from the captured strip of meat to spot the Winterheart approaching them. She met his eyes evenly, offering a nod of her head in turn. She finished her snack and washed it down with some of the tea the Exodite lad had prepared for them. At the Winterheart's question, she offered a light smile to the Dire Avenger. "We will require the good Ranger," she nodded in the watchful Faenkon's direction, where he circled the camp. "To lead us. I say that if you crave point or rear, then take the rear," she opined.

Avrielle accepted some of the delicious breakfast and sipped at her tea. She got ready for the day, packing up her gear and finding time to make her morning ablutions in the nearby stream. She didn't say much, looking up thoughtfully at the mountain path ahead. There would likely be some steep challenges for a Craftworlder of her background.

Lysandriax came late to the fireside, reluctant to leave her warm bedding for the cool start to the day. But she perked up once breakfast was provided, thanking Talis for his contribution.

"A good skill to have," she said. "You may be surprised to learn that there are few who have it in the fleets I've sailed in."

"Good morning, Winterheart," she said, nodding but without malice. "You too, Child of the Serpent. I see you caught breakfast already."

When do we start the journey up to the valley?" she called over to Faenkon. "Do not forget, if we are stuck in place I have a flight pack and so does Iktomi." At the mention of the Corsair she looked slightly more thoughtful, and took up a spare cup of tea. She padded softly over to where Iktomi was sleeping.

"Just as every day starts with a breath, so should it begin with tea," she said, gently nudging the Felarch. "We have a sword to claim for the glory of the Empire Reborn. Or, if you prefer, just the glory." Her words were light, but her body language was softer.

The rest of the group could avail themselves of breakfast before they struck camp, and make what preparations they needed to. It was time to ascend to the hanging valley and thence, the sword.



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Talis, once Avrielle was up, had handed her a mug of tea and then smiled at her, watching her go off to the river. He himself got up and ate some of the breakfast before nodding at Lysandrix. "Thank you, it was something I learned back at home - like most everything. My father was getting rather busy and at times I would get too far and not be able to return home on time. So this meat will keep for a while once it cools." he said, looking back at Avrielle as she came back.

"If we get stuck, I can also use my grapple hook to help us all climb out." the Exodite offered as he began to break down his own sleeping area. He didn't much acknowledge Alo with anything more than a brief smile. Eventually he stood up and walked over to Avrielle's side to look up the mountain with her.

"I'll be by your side if you need me. You need only ask." he said with a smile, pulling out his notebook and beginning to quickly sketch out the scene in front of him (including a certain female) on one of the few bits of empty paper he had left. He frowned a little and sighed. "I wish I could get a new notebook. I've been using this one for many years now, it's almost full."

"Early bird gets the worm," Maesanai agreed, flashing her pearly whites at the fellow Corsair. The Young Serpent seemed to be in a good mood, sitting back from the fire and casting her eyes skywards --- towards the mountains. While she'd busied herself with food and drink, the adventure before them never quite seemed to be far from the woman's mind. She stood up and slinked past Talis, tussling his hair in passing with a "Thanks for the breakfast, friend!", and collected her belongings. She lifted her power spear and held it aloft with one hand, before she grasped it with the other and gently brought the blade down to prod the earth. She looked up towards the mountain again, breathing deeply and slowly, while she started bringing the spear about in various forms --- the odd swipe and twirl --- and exercises. "I wonder instead what lies beyond that cliff," she announced for the others, speaking softly so as not to wake the others.

"Whenever we move out, I'll be ready. Staying still, idling, makes my skin itch and blood boil."
Alo grumbled and slung his shuriken rifle on his back. He also took in the sight of the mountain, with a scowl. This quest has had many turns and surprises already, he wasn't sure he wanted to uncover more.
"At least our goal should be worth all this...probably just another damn hoop or a dead-end waiting to be found."
He muttered and brushed some of his hair off his face.

Onvar too had awakened to the sounds of conversation, a bit more sluggish than usual. He had obligated himself to take watch at midnight, the most dreaded time, and therefore had to manage two rather short periods of rest. Nonetheless, Onvar shook off the last ounces of sleep with a short stretch, approaching the fireside while he grabbed rifle and helmet off the ground. Luckily he had been able to inform himself about the current situation from the ones that took watch besides him, so at least he was covered to that end.

"It really looks to be a good morning today, doesn't it?" Onvar said, as he sat down next to the fireside and helped himself to what looked to be the breakfast for today, his helmet next to him and his rifle on his back. After finishing, he ended up with a cup of tea in hand, looking over the campside. He especially took an interest to the corsair (Maesanai Skyblood, was it?), who was exercising her spearmanship. It seemed he was the second-last one to awake, so he refrained from any more intrusive actions for now.

Maesanai's routine made it clear that she was very... limber. Her exercises consisted of a wide array of poses of her body in unison with her spear, wielding it like an extension of her being, its movements every bit as flowing as the young Corsair's own. Catching Onvar's eye, and holding his gaze, the Corsair flashed him a brilliant grin, before she resumed the form. The odd sweeping kick and swipe of her spear mingled with sudden, precise strikes. It all had a very serpentine quality to it.

"Agreed!" she called back to the younger of the Dire Avengers. "Though I hope the night was kind to you, as well, Onvar!"

What a bright persona. And quite impressive skills. See if we can't put that to use.
Onvar looked towards the mountain, his one hand swirling the teacup before taking another sip.
A kind night, huh?
"As kind as it can be, I suppose. Nothing but some of the more harmless wildlife." He finished his cup of tea, and layed his shuriken catapult on his knees, checking and recalibrating it.
"Let us see if that stays this way."

The group made its morning preparations and some made smalltalk amongst themselves, or perhaps it was more. Who knew, on a bright morning such as this? The crisp mountain air was refreshing, bringing a certain clarity to those who had thoughts weighing on their minds. The scent of warming grass and rare flowers as the sun hit the slope was light and spoke of warmer seasons to come.

The Ranger and his drone made a study of the best way to begin the ascent. Talis knew the way to tackle the more difficult parts of the climb, and his advice would surely be well-received. The first part was not hard, walking rather than climbing, but the approach to the hanging valley became more steep and there was a sheer rockface as it dropped off into the valley below. It wouldn't be impossible for those with Corsair flight packs to make the ascent another way, of course; such was the utility of the design, although the air currents around the mountain were swirling as the day warmed up.

Avrielle looked the least sure of the climb. but as a Craftworld citizen she had some Guardian training, and all the Children of Isha were limber. She took a moment to gather herself before the steeper climb, and, with some gentle guidance, she recovered her nerve.

At the top of the route, the hanging valley lay open, its blunt drop over the void below unnerving in the silence of all but birdsong. But once away from the sheer edge, facing the alpine meadow, it looked quite pleasant, with knee-length grass dotted with blooms and some small, low trees. The sheltered sides held flowering berry bushes, evidence of a good harvest later, though none of the local Exodites would pick them.

It was all idyllic, to the eyes.

The cool mountain breeze and the play of the sunshine (were Iktomi's ears not shaded by his hat, they would be in danger of a pink tint) made it all seem like a spring holiday, The murmur of bees, the lilt of a songbird, the sighing of a tree as its burgeoning leaves rustled; surely it would be tempting to rest a while, to forget the cares of the world.

The entrance to the cave was not hard to find. The dark mouth loomed at the back of the valley on the right side, and it did not look eroded - it must have been made, though there were no marks of the primitive tools favoured by the Exodites. The surface was not colonised by any of the lichens or rock plants outside, and it was perhaps three feet higher than an Eldar's tallest height. There were no symbols or signs. There was only a slight, warm breeze from the cave mouth, bringing with in whisps of an unidentifiable scent.

The rock was cool and the shade of the entrance offered a respite from the sun. The way inside sloped, but not too sharply. Those with a psychic attunement could feel a prickle in the air, a stronger version of the feeling that thunder is on its way. The light of the day did not penetrate far inside.

Avrielle set down her radio set and made some small adjustments.

"I will send a report to Morvan of what we have found - I doubt the signal will carry from inside," she said, offering as there were no Seers with the group. The strange technology had its uses, even after the shield of the Ancient's ship was no longer a concern. She gave a concise report of the place, with only a little waver in her voice as she told of Yareli's departure. After that, the little radiotech packed up her gear and was ready to go.

Lysandriax inspected the tunnel and ran a hand over the wall. "Nothing here, but - wait, does anyone have some charcoal? This does not feel as if it is really flat."


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