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As if on cue, the moment she actually started the bike and began moving--- the sands behind her would shift considerably, parting in their wake as something began to make it's presence known to the world at large.

And large it was.

The Famed Barthavos Rock Snake was known for hiding within plain sight or within the very desert sands itself-- before striking at its prey.

However this one in particular had a ways to go in the age department, and simply thought of the fast moving target as ample game.

Interesting sport that rarely came along.

With a quickening thrash, and the ease of movement that was given to its ilk, the overly large serpent began slithering after Sam with blinding speed.

Objects in the mirror are closer than they appear.

As for the two men?

Well, one of Reyin's camels would be missed, as it was promptly swallowed whole by something inside the sands themselves. It would give out a distorted sound of perhaps disapproval or fear, but by then both men would just be wondering what the hell happened.

"Job, huh? Well I--"

There was a disturbance behind him, and Reyin turned around to face it just about the time Kael started screaming obscenities. Compared to his new friend, Reyin was rather, well...calm was one way to put it.

His right eye squinted, his tongue pushed out his lower lip, and he raised his left hand to take stock of his camels, pointing at the two remaining camels. The one he had rode in on, and the one carting all the water.

Wait, what about the one carrying all his clothes?

"...Huh."

And while Kael was busy stabbing at the ground underneath him, Reyin just kept on looking straight ahead, as if expecting the camel to just reappear out of nowhere. And, hey, considering how quickly the thing disappeared, it was equally likely for it to reappear, right?

"Hey. This is sorta like that movie. Y'know?"

He turned around, only catching Kael's backside as the other swordsman was quick to leave the blonde kid standing all alone on the sand.

"...Can't remember the name of it for the life of me."

He reached up to scratch the back of the head, walking back to his camel and snagging up his sword from the beast's side. He slipped the sword and scabbard across his back, nabbed a canteen from the spooked animal next to him, and slipped his hand into the reigns of the first camel, apparently preparing to follow Kael once he mounted his beetle or...whatever that thing was.

"Tunnels?"

He shook his head.

"Nah, that's not right."

So here we are, at the famed oasis in the mountain ranges of the Barthavos Dessert. Well aint that dandy?

Anyway, one mister Eriksson Caddure had arrived not too long ago. By the look of it, perhaps maybe an hour or two. The man, garbed in a large coat, even in such a climate, still carried many bags on his body; a large backpack over his back with a light sleeping roll and sachels crossing his torso. It was almost hard to imagine how he could even carry so many packs around. He had a very simple folding stool set up as he sat upon it, overlooking the lake in the center of the oasis, shaded by a nearby palm tree. But he was not sight seeing, by all means. Oh no, he was busy at work, getting some final preparations done before his expedition.

With a scroll of parchment unrolled, he was busy scribbling into it. Scribing a spell for quick use so that he would not have to take as much time casting it when he did need it.

Well, it shouldnt be too hard to find him, since he was sitting out in the open and all, waiting for people to show.

A grace, perhaps, that the oasis be surrounded by mountains rather than in the desolate heart of a desert. So it seemed to Rivven, by the least, as he trudged across the stones and worked his way slowly round and down the slope, attempting to lead a mule. Attempting, as it was clear he had little skill with the creature, and little more luck with the climate. His every intention had been to arrive before the rest of the party so as to have time to prepare. Certainly, preparation had been smooth as could be desired.

Barthavos lacked any such kindness for this traveler.

He had taken every break to restore supplies as they traveled, and often to rest in some small alcove or settlement rather than on the sands. As though some thirst-starved sea, they lived and flowed much as the water, if ever so much slower. Any wise man who lived by the sea learned to respect its power. As such this bizarre, foreign ocean unnerved him a great deal more than he allowed himself to display.

And that was enough. Surprised, he had been, to find his coat, hood up, made decent wear to travel the blazing sun, though its color was stained by the sands. Much of the formal finery was gone from his outfit, and instead several pouches, and an even larger number of canteens and waterskins were hung about his person. Not the heavier parts of their load, though the water, even with several of the containers emptied, weighed plenty. His wiry frame was hard pressed just to carry what it did and survive the heat of the desert at once. His skin, though he had tried to shield it ever from the fiery orb's gaze, was reddened and slicked by heavy sweat, setting his blue eyes far out of place. Exhaustion upon his features, though not so far as to break him. Rivven yet had things to do.

He was somewhat more hearty than a glimpse of his physique belied, but even so, nature wielded such power as man could only dream of.

Rounding to where the first signs of the oasis came into view was the first well welcome comfort this day since being able to at least negotiate the stone slopes, a terrain he had some familiarity with, rather than the sands and baked earth.

"I... I believe we have come to our destination, miss Lockwood."

A soft smile crossed his face. Without a thought, without realizing he slowly raised the plain golden band about one of his fingers to his lips. A strange sight of late the first, though perhaps not so rare the second. A bit breathlessly, he continued.

"I would very much like to make haste to the waterfront, if you are so obliged."

With a firm tug upon the pack beast's reins, he set to pace down the trail once more. Just a few minutes travel, a small price to pay to bathe in the shadow and dip his face in natural water.

The rumble of an engine got his attention and he peered up from his work for a second, squinting against the bright environment outisde of the overcasted shade he had been enjoying from the palm tree. Well, theres one.

Eriksson's gaze quickly went back to the parchment as he traced a circle on the top of the parchment, above the arcane scribblings.

"Welcome, and sit down, my good man. Your journey must have been long and taxing. A light rest would do the body good."

Hey, maybe he could munch on a snack or something while they waited for the others to show. Oh well, the scholar was busy putting the finishing touches on the scroll he was working on to make that suggestion. Maybe the man wasnt hungry, or maybe he'd figure to do that himself since ther wasnt all that much to do while they waited.

A light clatter of stones and a soft echoing of song fell over the peacefully quiet area as two more travellers made their way down towards the oasis, causing mister Caddure to look up once again, peering around until he spotted them.

Two more circles were drawn onto the parchment, exactly as the first; one in the bottom left of the text, one in the bottom right. And with three circles drawn, he traced straight lines connecting each one, encircling the arcane text he had written within. He bottled the small container of ink and put away his quill, waiting a few seconds for the ink to soak into the paper and dry before he rolled up the completed scroll and placed it into a silver capped ivory case.

He waved at the two as they came into the area as he got up and picked up the small folding stool which was nothing more than two rectangular pieces of wood and a sheet of cloth to hold its shape and act as a surface to sit on when stretched out.

He shielded his eyes as he stepped out of the shade, looking up at the sun. He was oldschool. Real oldschool; he could have used a watch, but instead, looked at the position of the sun to determine the time. Three were required for this expedition, and three had arrived. But there was still one more who had not shown yet.

He would wait another hour until they set off. If the final man would show late, he shouldnt have too much trouble finding his way towards them, as the riddle would indicate the direction they would go in, and what their destination looked like.

Once more the traveler took the title with ill ease, turning his head briefly toward his companion and opening his mouth as if to politely correct her, but kept his silence and simply made to march faster with a nod. Little mind he paid to the rest of the slope, coming down the terrain as in the same smooth, flowing steps of carefully placed feet which seemed at odds with the weathered weariness the rest of his bearing spoke of.

Though he paid mind not to rudely leave Rasilyn behind, once they had come to proximity of the others he made his same quick bowing motion, fist to palm, to each of the others, mumbled a brief "Day bless you, Master Eriksson," and discreetly left off the other man whose name he failed to recall, though he did got one of the short bows at least.

To follow, Rivven walked straight to the waterside, stripping the canteens and packs strapped to him off and letting them fall as he walked, leaving a trail of both empty and filled water containers, and finally dropping his coat, but not the tight shirt within, at the waterside and quickly waded in to waist depth before submersing his head.

With a gasping breath he rose again, worn face beginning to look revitalized already, though the rejuvenation of the cool liquid did little to change the bright red color of his face. Ducking his head down, he continued to splash the water over his face a few times. He could not afford too long though, to make his companions wait, and despite that Eriksson would make the decision to wait for a time, Rivven would mind to refilling his water and helping water the mule during that time. Normally, he would have stripped to the nude and made to enjoy himself swimming, but it seemed an inappropriate time to take to bathing, with a task at hand, and those of these other cultures often seemed to find their sensibilities offending by strange things like the body.

Though his clothing was thoroughly soaked, the thin fabric did not hold much water and became lighter quickly, even as he rested in the shade during their wait, quietly unless spoken to, the necklaces of strung beads, shells, crabclaws, and other small relics glimmering in the desert sun while they mournfully dried with him.

Well, they had an hour of free time to rest and prepare, and Eriksson had already gotten his initial preparations done early. There wasnt too much for him to do, he had come prepared; scrolls and books neatly organized in his bags, utensils categorized in a different one, everything made neat for ease of access. He kept himself busy moving around the oasis, examining strange plants every now and again as he made his way around, looking for any signs of the last member or the expedition's arrival.

An hour later, and no sightings, he gave up with a sigh and returned towards the waterhole, fishing three jingling pouches from one of his sachels, giving one to each of the people who had arrived.

"We can wait no longer, let us be off. But first, the promised pay."

One thousand gold coins to each member of the expedition. As written in the newspaper advertisement.

"Get you articles, ladies and gentlement, and let us be off."

South. It was the direction they needed to head in, the explorer leading the way through the jagged and rough canyons of the mountains, weaving through the narrow pathways until they reached the ledge of an overhanging cliff between two peaks.

Not seventy feet away, there lay another jutting cliff which rose at a slight angle, stalactites hanging from its edges, and right below it, jagged spears of rock rise to meet them. The imposing work of nature, like the fangs of a beast, facing east.

"The dragon's maw."

He spoke quietly. But there appeared to be a problem for now. How were the adventurers going to cross the fissure which divided them from the mouth of the cave?