The Merchant had made it as far as the Crucible, now, and he gazed up at the mesas. High above, the combat was audible, though down here, nothing was visible: but for the sounds of shouting, of screeching and tearing, it might have been almost peaceful.

He ignored Nemean and Astraea both, his demeanor far more dignified and staid than either's. "They must pass... through, soon," he observed. "Though not close. But... it is raining," he pointed out, one clawed hand slowly raising to point skyward.

The Masked Merchant began to make his way to another trail, a half-hidden, steep slope that wandered up the side of another of the plateaus. Eventually, he trudged his way up to the top--and there he turned, facing across a ravine, observing the fight from a distance.

_________

At the other side of the canyon, the battle raged on. The Vulture Matriarch, her last ragged breaths punctuated by hoarse screeching, was frantically chasing Agate Two-Three-Six. And Quartz Eight-Six-Zero had been struck as he lunged for her--one of her many children tearing at him. He had been saved only by the surprising interference of the tiny lizard Amazon, her courage (and volume) more than making up for her size: the vulture dove for her, but its talons ripped fruitlessly over bare rock.

None of their situations would be helped by the smoke now billowing across the mesa from Garnet Five-Seven-Nine's magic, though the rain now pattering down from Shango--though little more than a thin and windy drizzle in this dry cave--was helping to dampen it, somewhat. Reseda had avoided any severe damage with quick reflexes and quicker thinking, it seemed, though Labradorite, after having attacked her, had turned away--only to be raked over by another Eyehook child's talons. He was saved only by Desert Rose's attack in his defense, that vulture dropping dead with its neck snapped neatly to one side. Another of the children had gone for Mayngo, but the fossa had turned with desperate strength, and his vulture crashed to the ground with shattered skull and twisted neck, its wings beating feebly as it breathed its last. A final child--the last among them to dare attack as their mother faced her death--was tearing at Yoosung; the Wisp hurtled into its eye, that blue fire igniting half its face, and with a horrible, echoing screech it let go and lifted back away, its ragged, uneven flight carrying it down past the ledge and out of sight.

Lapis Ninety-Five, beyond many of them, had tried to flee--but the heat was wearing her down, it seemed. The dog Styx had saved itself, if barely, tumbling down only onto a slightly-lower ledge, but he was likely to be dazed, at best.

The Matriarch turned, Imp's jaws fastened behind her neck, thrashing and flailing as Agate continued to (barely) evade her. Quartz Five-Two-Four had rushed for her, as well, only to be assaulted by another of her desperate, vicious children. Below, Opal was laying a track of slime, though those atop her didn't seem to much require it: the white dragon Asimona had caught back up to the Matriarch after her prior slash, her jaws locking around its neck and twisting. After a moment, the head tore--and the vulture's wings faltered, and she started plummeting to the earth. Her final deafening screech turned into a choking gurgle as her head at last gave way, mere thin strips of bloodied flesh holding it in Asimona's jaws.

Headless, the vulture crashed into the rock below, sliding over the slime and nearly off the ledge.

There the massive body lay, still and lifeless: and her children rose, their chorus of mournful, rage-filled shrieks filling the sky. They did not dare attack further--not yet--but it was clear that it would not be wise to linger too long. The single Eyehook still pursuing Amazon peeled away with a final shriek, lifting high into the sky and circling... watching her.

The smoke kept a low cloud over half the mesa, and the drizzling rain was beginning to run over the ledge's side in thin rivulets.

_________

INTERLUDE

The next leg of the journey will be well-known to previous Champions of Hydra: it will take the Gembound back down into the canyons, through the labyrinthian honeycomb of spires and narrow passageways until at last the desert opens into the Dead Marsh.

For now, however, the Gembound have a moment to catch their breath and take a trophy (no rolls required). They may also attempt one other action (roll required): to aid or sabotage any other Gembound nearby them, or cast any spells they see fit, or attempt first aid on themselves if they have a method to do so, or attempt to move ahead.

Of gembound attempting to move ahead into First Place, however, Garnet Five-Seven-Nine is the only one who does not need to roll to do so. Anyone else attempting to follow Garnet into the smoke cloud will need to roll to succeed; a failure will result in smoke inhalation, with wheezing, coughing and dizziness that may last for several rounds. Anyone attempting to move forward into any other placement may roll to do so with no consequence for a failure. Gembound do not need to roll to move backwards in placement.

Gembound who are attacked in a Sabotage attempt may post more than once: once to take an action of their choice, and again to roll to defend themselves. If attacked by multiple enemies, they may post to roll a defense for each attack.

A Critical Fail on this roll will result in a severe wound from one of the vultures, or from a fall.

Please post & roll only once.