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The desert is cruel and unforgiving, yet it fills me with a sense of freedom I have never known before. Until now I have never been this far from the walls of the city, unless it was to ride inside a cage with a caravan traveling to a new arena. To take on work guarding a caravan instead of being transported by one seemed like an exciting new experience. Besides, it would have gotten me to a new city with an arena fresh for the taking. I saw this as an opportunity to start a new life, fighting in a new arena, for rewards that I would get to keep, instead of them going to a greedy master. I would become wealthy using the skills I was forced to develop.

Guard the caravan from bandits, that was the job description. It seemed easy enough when I had spent my whole life fighting, a good use of my skills. Sign me up I said, lets get this show on the road. I may come to regret this decision, for things have not gone smoothly. On the second day out from the city a sudden storm overtook us. It began to rain obsidian shards upon the caravan. Is this normal for the desert? I didn’t know at the time, but it seems from what I can gather that this was no natural occurrence. Many of the people were slaughtered by the rain, lucky for me and a few others we were near enough to a large wagon to avoid the worst of it. The storm still raged, but it cleared up enough for us to see that the caravan was destroyed, people who hadn’t died fled into the desert.

I could see strange lizard creatures ransacking the remnants of the wagons, they must have come out of the storm. Knowing that if things went bad, I would have to survive for who knows how long in the wastes, I hastily grabbed a water skin from the wagon and rushed forward to chase off the lizard people. They were not as easily frightened as I had hoped. I lashed about with my net and flail, drawing much blood and getting their attention. This is something I can deal with, something solid, not like a mysterious storm that rains blades of stone. The lizards proved to be vicious opponents and I had to rethink my tactics, I had underestimated them. I payed dearly for my mistake, I drew fire from the lot of them, taking a savage beating and shrugging off what surely was some sort of poison from their darts.

The other survivors, having grabbed all the supplies they could carry while I distracted the lizard men, came to my aid. Their leader, who had been directing the attacks of the others decided it was time to disengage and gain some distance when my comrades approached. I decided that he should stay here, I watered the sands with his blood. We soon had the lizards beaten, but there were more of their kind approaching, being drawn to us by the sounds of battle. I scooped up what supplies I could and we made all haste to put distance between us and the creatures. They gave up chase soon after, deciding that the wrecked caravan was more valuable than chasing a few survivors.

When we caught our breaths, introductions were made. I found myself with a musician of sorts by the name of Les. He is one that bears watching, I saw his skill with a blade and have no doubt there is more to him than just his flippant happy go lucky nature. There was a kreen among us, who may be a bit psychotic, I can hear him talking to himself. He is named Kikrik, and seems to be under the orders of some unseen master. He should throw off his chains, no self respecting man follows the commands of another. Next was a girl of slight build by the name of Rayne. I also find myself questioning how much she can be trusted, she seemed to be able to step from shadow to shadow, killing without mercy. Not that I find a problem with killing, its just that I wouldn’t want to come upon her in a dark ally. Finally there was a strange looking man by the name of Clavis who carried an enormous bow and knew how to use it as well. This is a man that I could get along with. He seems to be practical and not the kind to put up with any nonsense. Hopefully these people will be useful in getting me out of this desert, if anything I will smash them and take their water, but I hope it does not come to that. I volunteered my strength to help carry the supplies, making it easier for me if things should go bad as we ventured deeper into the desert.

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