The Wastes: Travel (The First Scroll)

[TetNak]

"That's a poor example, friend," Ryuu says, "I would say more like, being trampled by an Utaku steed, or being trampled by an oxen." He flashes his strange, lopsided, smile. "I'd say that is a fairer example."

[Vardaen]

"When the kami speak to you, an you can speak to them, then you may lecture me on the nature of such things. Till then, try to not insult all of the shugenja in Rokugan, not to mention the Lords of Death, the Kami, and the Fortunes, by voicing your belief that we and the gaijin sorcerers are even remotely related in our practices."

The Moto kids the flanks his horse and rides off to the lead of the caravan before he does something rash like challenging Ryuu to a duel for the slight.

[TetNak]

"Touche," Ryuu quips to himself as the Moto Death Priest rides away. The man seems to think less of the arguement than brushing away a fly from the front of his face. He happily rides along with the caravan, wondering how many of these people will actually return from the colonies. He had seen better men end their lives there.

[Phlale]

Slowly, the caravan main starts to move. Guards and scouts move faster, eyes sharp as they check ambush points and investigate noises. Some might say that, in the shadow of the fortress, this is a waste, but the Unicorn take their duties to the Empress seriously.

The dust cloud raises dims the morning light, and the noise of men and animals soon chases off any animals in the area. The journey begins to the Colonies.

GM

Feel free to continue conversing/arguing, just getting things rolling

[ManWithDoor]

The Vindicator shakes his head quietly at the argument between the Death Priest and his brother-in-law. Strong personalities butting heads on a long and dangerous road. Normally he'd be right in there with them, finding something to argue about. But as always, he marvels at the influence of his wife to bring the best out of him.

As he and Yukiko are very heavily armed, and like to get in close and personal, he places them at the front of the caravan. If the scouts do their job, they won't be surprised by anything coming their way. Regardless, he'll be ready to be the first (and hopefully last) thing that trouble sees when it comes.

[Hayabusa]

When the caravan begins to move, Yukiko looks a bit worried from her older brother to the shugenja. There are things she does not know about his long absence and she certainly does not like to see him come to odds with a Death Priest. Not because she's especially respectful to just them but because her Ide parents had always preached harmony between one Unicorn and another. However, when she hears that Naseru is assigning tasks for the journey she quickly heads to comply with them.

Riding beside her husband Yukiko takes a deep breath, now with her helmet on her head and a hand on the reins of her steed slowly running the purple silk through her fingers. "Are you worried about anything?" The shiotome calmly asks the vindicator before throwing a look over her shoulder and the caravan. "What do you think about our companions?"

[Muskrat]

Hiroake rides along silently. The argument among his companions just as they set out has him a bit on edge--it seems an ill sign for the coming journey. He does not know enough about the ways of magic to enter the debate and smooth any ruffled feathers though, so lets it go and resolves to watch this thing. If the tension escalates, he may try to find some other way to intervene.

He is also intrigued and worried about the presence of a Spider in their caravan. He knows officially that they have been welcomed back into the Celestial Order--but he is wary of their motives and whether they do not seek to undermine the Empire within--a wariness he suspects is shared by others, all the way up the Empress, who, after all, has sent them to the Colonies.

[ManWithDoor]

He looks back at the caravan behind him, then turns back to the front. "I trust the Dragon far more than the Spider. The Tainted are not allowed within the boundaries of the Empire proper, so she must either be pure, or have ways of hiding her corruption." He touches the finger of jade at his throat, a constant companion during and after the War. "The scholars say we are safe from the Taint unless we ask for it, but after a thousand years of death and terror, who can say how true that is? I worry more for our souls in the Colonies than I do our bodies."

[Hayabusa]

"I see, " Yukiko replies though she's jot entirely sure she does. Worrying about the purity of her soul was never her biggest concern. At least not compared to being a dutiful servant to her lady. "Well, I will worry about oue physical well-being then and you watch our souls. "

[Vardaen]

The Moto rides in the van of the caravan for a long while. He chats with the scouts as they return to give reports, but otherwise enjoys the view. Once during the trip he turns in his saddle and looks back at the mountains and Rokugan as they fall away behind the company. Little by little he can feel a change in the kami as he rides beyond the boarders of the Emerald Empire and it begins to bother him. He is on edge, and rolls his shoulders much, and begins to pace his horse up and down the length of the caravan.