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As per usual, it had been Ranger who picked the path Evelio took, the peregrin falcon sitting imperiously on his right shoulder like a king overlooking his subjects. Its sharp beak tugged on his hair until he turned to face the direction it thought right, followed by a light nip on his earlobe to get him walking forward. The wanderer didn't exactly mind, seeing as he wasn't looking to explore new places, more than content in letting the bird and his feet take him across the lands. It had been more than a week since he left the last village, spending only a night in the shabby inn of a near-empty inhabitance. He had been glad to leave the foul-smelling place, but he was pretty sure the inn-keeper was happier to see him walk out the door. It wasn't really Evelio's fault he had mistaken the man's son to be a hobgoblin. Damn brat certainly looked the part, a creature of folk tales or not. Didn't help the brat looked like he was ready to steal Evelio's slice of goat cheese. No one touched Evelio's cheese. [i]No one.[/i] 

Either way, under the guidance of Ranger, the former Knight found himself approaching a fishing village as the sun moved past its zenith. The smell of fish and sea salt permeated the air, carried by the constant breeze coming from the ocean. Residents dressed in patched linen and hauling nets of catch around was an expected sight. However, what wasn't the norm was the presence of strangely clad individuals draped in gaudy looking clothes with dried bones hanging from their limbs, clinking dully in the wind as they stalked to and fro, a smattering of people following a distance behind, expression ranging from bemusement to exasperation. 

Only one thought ran through Evelio's mind. [i]Ah, fellow madmen! Proper conversationalists at last![/i] 

Unfortunately for the poor wanderer, his too-wide grin distorted to deranged, courtesy of his scars and gleam in his lone eye. Evelio's first target squeaked when a calloused hand landed heavily on a thin shoulder, the force of it rattling and clinking the cheap hanging ornaments. A cobalt eye was drawn to them by the sharp noises, the mad grin somehow managing to stretch wider. 

[color=0072bc]"My friend! Are those any effective in warding off dream demons?"[/color] At the thin man's confused look, Evelio leaned closer and lowered his voice, as though divulging a secret. [color=0072bc]"Those damn things have been getting their slimy claws closer to my eyeballs. Even the one I lost years ago! Don't ask me how, I dearly like to know too! Say, should I try locking them up in a box and throwing away the key? What do you -- "[/color]

His ramblings were cut short when the gaudy man finally recovered from shock and shoved the hand off his shoulder. "Tha heck 're ya on? I ain't no shaman! Jus' a guide! Ya know, fer tha Mote on tha coast!"

Evelio stopped short. "Mote?" His gaze turned distant. [color=0072bc]"A Mote here? On the coast? A guide for...oh! Tourists!"[/color] The last word was said in triumph, a finger jabbed in the direction of the small crowd watching the spectacle. The finger withdrew as he clapped gleefully. [color=0072bc]"Wonderful! Brilliant! Let's all go to see this Mote, shall we?"[/color]

"Not wif ya, we ain't! Move on, ya mad cur!"

[color=0072bc]"Well, that's rather rude of you, but everyone is entitled to their opinion. I shall bid you good day and...move on."[/color] Giving a stately bow, he whirled on his heels and stalked off.

It didn't take all that long to glean the location of the Mote from people eager to share the strange sight they had personally witnessed. A monolith of stone with blue glowing carvings on its surface standing in the middle of all that sand, a whirlwind of miscellaneous junk swirling around it. It was this barrier that prevented frustrated researchers from laying their hands on the rock itself. The mysterious force was strong enough to sweep even a full grown man off his feet! No one wanted to risk that. Not even for a sliver of mystery rock. 

Evelio had nodded politely at the recounts and left, purchasing a room for two days at the local inn with a small piece of sapphire. He didn't carry gold or coins, only various precious stones he found during his travels. The gem was still covered in hard mud, but enough glimmer shone through to be accepted by the innkeeper. 

He waited until nightfall, when most of the village went back to their homes and the streets were empty, save for a few drunks and nightowls. Evelio slipped out the door and headed down the various twists and turns, stopping every now and then to look for the landmarks described by the people who took the tour to see the Mote. He would have gladly paid to go on a tour too, except all the guides he talked to either refused his gems or shied away, leaving him with no choice but to go alone. And what better scene to witness when night fell and stars are out. 

It was the blue glow that let him know he was getting closer. Walking down the coast as though it was a main street, Evelio didn't bother sneaking. He didn't know if there were rules regarding visiting the Mote, and if there was, he didn't care a wit. As described, the swirl of junk revolved around the monolith, preventing all from getting close. Circling the Mote a few times, he can to a halt in front of it, making sure to put a few feet distance between. 

[color=0072bc]"Hmm...it doesn't seem to hold other strange powers other than this..."[/color] he murmured to himself, arms crossed over his chest and head tilted to the side. Ranger, who had left his side during his afternoon tour of the village, landed back on his shoulder again with a single sharp cry. [color=0072bc]"What do you think, Ranger? Should I throw you at it? See if you can fly out of the whirl? Shall I throw myself at it? Maybe I can touch the Mote's surface that way? Ooh, how about throwing someone else at it? Pity there's no one around though."[/color]