Having heard Shel's advice, Rintor turns and squints in the direction of the horizon. There are mountains in the near distance ahead and to the left, which is... [i]We don't even know our cardinal directions here.[/i] He thinks for a moment while others begin talking again. Perhaps sense will prevail over ego and ambition after all and his skills will be put to use. [i]Some of that ego is your own,[/i] he reminds himself.

"We will need a defensible position," he tells Esailia, Shel, and the others closest by. "But first and foremost, we will need to find a reliable source of fresh water. I believe that our best bet is near the foot of the mountains, perhaps on somewhat higher ground but with access to a stream." [i]Assuming that there's even water here in the sense that we understand it.[/i] He raises his voice slightly. "It is my opinion that we head for the mountains, so long as there aren't any strong objections. We stand to find both drinkable water and a defensible position over there, and perhaps," he adds wryly, "should we be so fortunate, even a place where our changeling can bathe to her heart's content."