[@sntabe]
[hider=Previously on Through the Portal...]
[quote=@sntabe]
Zeke put up a friendly front. "Esailia, you seem to have your wits about yourself," he began, pulling his hood down.  He'd completely forgotten it was up in the first place.  "How long have you been in service?  And-" he stopped himself.
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[quote=@BangoSkank]
"[color=8dc73f]Might I suggest behind us[/color]," Shel chimed in in his high voice to the pair of them, Rintor and Esalia, "[color=8dc73f]it seems only natural to move thata way[/color]," he said pointing in the direction they'd come out facing, "[color=8dc73f]but near as I can figure this spot isn't anywhere significant in this land.  One ways as good as the other I'd suppose.[/color]"
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[quote=@Force and Fury]
"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." 
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[quote=@Regitnui]
Finally, she walked over to the mithra. "Esailia, wasn't it?" She rolled the name sensuously through her lips. "I don't have any weapons, but I'll put a game face on if anything happens, alright? I have a few persona with claws and teeth." She inspected the other woman's body like a jeweller would a gem. "Somewhat like you. Maybe I'll show you." These people were going to be fun. Such diverse personalities to explore.
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[/hider]

Esailia was glad that people were starting to realize she didn't want to be an overseer, just that no one else was seeming to stand up and take responsibility for the entire group. [i]That's one of many things I'm glad I learned in my training...[/i] Her thought was interrupted by Zeke's question, and smiled "[b][color=8dc73f]To be honest, Rintor's right. I have about six years of training, but no real field experience. I only wanted to get us quickly organized and moving, not start an argument about taking command. I'm no dictator.[/color][/b]" She tilted her head at the 'and-', but didn't press. No reason to interrogate him. And even if she wanted, she was hounded again by the Changeling, waving her attempts at flirting away "[b][color=8dc73f]I don't think any of us will have time to mess around. But thank you for the offer.[/color][/b]"

The soldier looked back towards where Rintor was looking, and the mountains were indeed one of the best places in the visible land to find a potential base of operations "[b][color=8dc73f]Agreed. Everyone, we're on the move![/color][/b]" She glanced towards Zeke, Rhen, and Shel  "[b][color=8dc73f]And if you three want to work together to form a map and decide on which way we want to call North, it'd be helpful. We don't want to lose track of where the portal opens. See if anyone else has anything to contribute to that cause as well.[/color][/b]"