SOLDIER's Guided Tours - Destination: Saburra Desert

[furorimperator]

Who: The Desert Expedition
Where: Starting at Lake Meridian and progressing into the Saburra Desert
Style: Prose/Action tags [pick your preference, although action tags do go faster!]
Status: Open to anyone who responded ICly to Sephiroth's invitation. [And the invitation is still open! If you want your pup to participate, let the General know on

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From Somni to Oasis

[furorimperator]

[Following the path to the first designated oasis, where the group will spend the hottest part of the day. Feel free to have "party banter", find some interesting artifacts/flowers/plants/whatever on the way, ect.]

[furorimperator]

[It was hot, but that was to be expected. Thanks to ShinRa's wonderful conditioning and their manipulation of genetics, the heat wasn't totally unbearable.

Such was far from Sephiroth's mind, however, as he crested a large dune and stood at the precipice, staring out over the sandy landscape. Yes, he'd missed this.]

[couldnotfly]

[The heat itself wasn't a problem, not for SOLDIERs, but Zack had the.....unfortunate tendency to be clumsy when tired. That was unlikely to change even in the relative peace of Somarium, so he'd been stumbling a bit the entire way.

Hells, he was still stumbling as he came to stand beside Sephiroth, dusting sand off his pants for what felt like the thousandth time today. He was going to have sand in places sand was never supposed to go by the time they got home, that was for sure. But, at this moment in time, he really couldn't bring himself to care.]

Enjoying yourself, General?

[furorimperator]

[Unsurprised when the pup joined him at the pinnacle, Sephiroth had to chuckle at Zack's clumsiness. Well, everyone was entitled to be a bit awkward every now and then, so. And they'd both been up quiet late ensuring all was in readiness for the trek.]

I am, actually. It's good to get out and about every so often.

[Which was quite true. As he'd told Angeal, vacationing was all well and good, but it wasn't what he'd been made for. He was a soldier, no matter what world upon which he resided.

He glanced back to the rest of the troopers, an eyebrow quirked knowingly.]

A bit of a motley crew we lead, though, hm?

First Stop - Oasis

[furorimperator]

[And here we are at the oasis, where the group will spend the first night. There's shade here, a pool of fresh water. Feel free to strike your tent, hang out with some pals, find more stuff to puzzle over or just relax in the shade.]

[needsmorefiagra]

[ To put it mildly, the journey so far had been an inconvenience. While it was true, they had made good progress, encountered and defeated a few dozen lesser threats, for Genesis - the real battle began and ended within himself. The exhausting terrain, the constant innocuous little nuisances and the present company aside, it was already beginning to feel like a ... mistake. And for the umpteenth time, he found himself wondering why he had even agreed to tag along in the first place. It was a blessing, perhaps, in more ways than one when finally they found a place to settle down for the night

[furorimperator]

[Leaving Zack Fair to finish setting up camp and ensuring all were settled for the evening, Sephiroth took a canteen and headed over to the corner where Genesis had all but staked ropes and barricades. He gave not a thought to intruding -wouldn't have stopped even if he had- as he sat down beside his crimson brother with a tired but satisfied sigh, taking a swallow of cool clear spring water before wordlessly extending the container to Genesis.]

[needsmorefiagra]

[ For the last half an hour or so, Genesis had been present only in body. The General's steady footfalls brought him back to the present. His gaze lazily flickered towards Sephiroth, stormy blues beginning to lighten a shade. They hadn't spoken almost the entire day. Genesis had purposely lagged behind, while the General had taken his position at the front. This alone spoke volumes about a man such as Genesis. A born leader, there had never been a moment when he hadn't fought for the top spot.

He felt the shift as Sephiroth took a seat beside him. A moment later, he found himself staring at the offered canteen. He hesitated, before taking it, bringing it to his lips for a sip. ]

MONSTER ATTACK!

[furorimperator]

[The desert has finally caught up with the group!]

Giant Crabs - just after midnight

[furorimperator]

[Burrowing out of the sand just beyond the oasis, the giant crabs are thinking they might have an easy meal.

The bestiary states: "Twenty feet wide, these crabs are a new addition to the desert monster bestiary. However, they are more like scavengers than full out predators. But they are also opportunists, so if you look weak, they might try and snap you in half with their claws."

Let's break out the butter and tongs!]

[doveindisguise]

[W-well...Those are certainly some giant crabs.

The aspiring gentleman will just be taking a small step away from danger to let the real men of this expedition get rid of these beasts.]

[furorimperator]

[A bright blue-white flash, a high, pure tone from metal and one of the creatures falls into two perfectly identical pieces just a few yards shy of Luke. Then Sephiroth is there, gleaming Masamune in hand, savagely kicking one half of the large thing away.]

Are you all right?

RUINS. Hopefully this is okay.

[purpleprosed]

[ Whenever the group makes it to the ruins in the desert, they're likely to find two things;

One being the five or so giant crabs piled off to the side, obviously dead. And the other is a young girl, no more than 13, emerging from said ruins with her dreamberry in hand, nonchalantly flipping through it with one hand and spinning a pair of needles between the fingers of the other.

She seems a bit preoccupied, what with exploring the ruins and fighting monsters, but during this momentary calm one might wish to inquire as to why a young girl is out by her lonesome.]

[doveindisguise]

[Aha! The Ruins! The very exact reason Big Luke was out here in the harsh terrain looking for. The young man immediately steps away from the soldiers and mercenaries as they finish their fun with the desert beasts, moving quickly towards the Ancient Ruins...

But the sight of a small child, a young girl even, is more than enough for the aspiring gentleman to pause and reevaluate his current situation. As intriguing as the mystery behind the Ruins is to him, a young lady's safety will always be that much more important.

He doesn't hesitate in politely calling out to her.]

Excuse me, Young Miss.

[purpleprosed]

[ For a few moments longer, Rose continues to type away on her dreamberry, silently wishing she had her laptop on hand, but fairing well enough without it. When called out to she finishes up her thought and shoves the dreamberry back into her pocket, along with the magically enhanced knitting needles.

She turns toward the young man, pokerfaced. ]

Yes?

[doveindisguise]

Did you happen to arrive with the group?

[On one hand, it would certainly explain her presence. On the other, the young man would be terribly disappointed in his companions if they had brought along a child on their dangerous adventures.]