Eight Days

JP with Omni, Lorem, and Winteroak

As Voah and Gonyaul approached the closest fire camp, they saw five people in robes of white and blue casually sitting by the flames. The men turned their heads as they approached and at their thickly accented greeting.

Gonyaul and Voah noticed they were all men, one of whom rose from the sand and came to speak to them, returning the greeting.

When they were near enough, Gonyaul planted his staff down into the sand so it stood on its own and then signed a vauxian greeting with a bow of respect.

He tried to gauge if this man knew a language they could converse in. He started with Helian common tongue.

“A beautiful night to meet. Do you speak this tongue?”

If the man did not he would try the same in Vauxian. Then what basics he knew of Odsier. And even novice Mizaran if need be.

Well… this conversion was clearly going nowhere fast. They had recognized the greeting and Voah could tell from the confused expressions that these people didn’t speak anything but Ozainae. It would be hard to communicate anything at all without a goal in mind. They needed to get to the Holy City and could use an escort.

Voah politely put a hand on Gonyaul’s shoulders and stepped forward slightly to take the reigns. She attempted to communicate using gestures to convey their faux names and that they came peacefully, complimenting her gestures with Helian so that Gonyual was following as well.

“We seek Gra’akast.” She pointed to herself and Gonyaul, then prodded an uncertain wavering finger in the general direction of west.

“You go? Gra’akast?” She gestured to the robed men and pointed again as if to say ‘go’ or ‘from’.

The robed man looked from the two newcomers to his fellows sitting around the fire. He understood the general premise of what Voah was trying to convey. He shook his head. He pointed at his chest and than at the ground as if to explain they were staying here.

"Gra'akast.." he said pointing in general north-western direction and brought up up two hands, showing 8 fingers....

“Eight… eight days maybe?” Voah said pondering aloud to herself and taking note of the direction.

“Days? Eight days? Walking, nnn? Or camel?” She felt a little silly trying to gesture these things like sunrise to sunset, walking, and miming like she was riding a mount.

It was doable, so long as it was walking and they kept their travel to the evenings and nights. But they would need food and possibly more waterskins unless there was an oasis on the way.

The man replied by gesturing as if he was riding. He than proceeded to invite Voah and Gonyaul to sit by their fire, where some of the other men where pouring at looked like tea into small glass cups.

Voah hid her disappointment. Eight days ride was easier than eight days of walking with full burdens, a luxury they didn’t have. She nodded at his response in understanding and bowed in thanks to his invitation.

“We thank you.” She said politely.

She grabbed Gonyaul’s hand and pulled him along to the arrangement near the fire.