Night of Nightal 15

You realize very quickly that levitaion in the windy conditions you discover atop the wagon won't work as far as you staying in place.

Malis sighs at his inability to levitate effectively and stands on the top of the cart.

He begins making hand motions, mumbling a few words, and his eyes gleam as he seems to be (if anyone is watching) casting some spells and/or using some powers.

The other two guards atop the other two wagons NOT occupied by Master Kai carry heavy crossbows and you can guess by the relative direction of the points of their hoods they are watching your spell casting withgreat interest...

you have a momentary flash back to your last encounter with a crossbow bolt...

Your shoulder winces

Malis seeminly casts another spell.

Immediately, from their half-kneeling positions, the two guards drop flat atop the roofs of the wagons. For a few seconds they scan the outside of the ring, being careful to keep their profiles as low as possible. The uard further away from Malis lets out a quick, short whistle, the closer one replies with two short whistles as he turns to look at you. The more distant guard looks back at his companion, who is pointing at Malis. The other guard makes an open-palmed gesture to his comrade. The nearer guard replies with a shake of his head.

The other guard goes back to his watch as the nearer one rises and moves closer toward Malis.

Malis casually waits for the guard to approach. He makes no abrupt or sudden gestures or motions, so the guard doesn't think he's trying anything.

The guard looks at you for a few awkward seconds. His head is covered in two-layered hood that forms a flat brim above his eyes are the only things visible as his lower face is wrapped in anothe peice of dark fabric.

Standing on the other wagon's roof, He shakes his head at you. He pulls his mask down, and his breath fogs in the air.

"Friend, magic is not a trusted ally these days, you would do well to remember that. A good whisper will get our attention just as well."

He pulls his mask back up and moves back to his watch position.

Malis climbs down from the wagon he's on and approaches the one with the guard that spoke with him.

"May I come up?"

A long pause then

"If you must" comes a muffled responce

Malis pulls himself onto the wagon's top and sits cross-legged.

"I must ask, since I seem to have caused some apprehension, why are magic users feared in these parts? I've been curious ever since we arrived here."

lil walks around one of the wagons, alone, and sits by the fire. she looks around, seeminly lost in thought.

The guard turns his head to look back at you over his shoulder. You can tell that the guard, one of the horsemen riders, is looking at you from under the deeper shadows of his cowl even though you can't see his eyes.

"I am unsure how to answer your question... there are so many reasons why people everywhere are wary of wizards, far more so than in the past and for very different reasons. I personally don't care what you do with your powers, friend, but you would be doing us all a favor if you did not direct that at anyone traveling here."

"I didn't plan on it, sir. I only use my more dangerous magics on those that would do me harm. Though you may find my talents useful if this caravan were to suddenly be set upon, though I hope nothing of the sort happens."

The guard hangs his head, shaking it in disbelief, before looking back at you over his shoulder again.

"I don't think you understand friend, tales tell of wizards exploding themselves, and others, through the use of benign as well as destructive magics. Why, I myself saw a protective spell cast upon a man... mage armor is what I believe they call it, only to have the "protections" it granted nearly cut his arm off as he brought that arm forward to swing his sword. It was as if the magic armor had created a physical plate on the man's chest whose edge was razor sharp!"

Malis' eyes narrow.

"You mean to say the effects of the Blue Fire stretch even this far..."

He pauses and lifts his hand to eye level, examining it carefully.

"You'll have to forgive me, sir. I was hoping that those...effects...hadn't reached these far regions, though I had no proof that they hadn't. Your fear is indeed warranted then. I assure you, and I hope you'll pass this on to the other guards, that I'll refrain from using my talents unless absolutely necessary; nor will I use any of them on your people, good or bad magic."