Jakeem made no sort of response as the group of adventurers sounded off their opinions of what to do next, three of them anyway. Samira - the sorceress - seemed to be the only one that preferred to push on tonight. The  Dragonborn and the northern woman however made their preference for making camp clear. The other two men, the Drow and the ragged [i]musadhyar[/i] stayed quiet which the pasha took as them caring not one way or the other. 

Jakeem knew he had to keep the collective somewhat satisfied and content with the conditions at hand, of course knowing he couldn’t satisfy them all at once. Besides there was an obvious point of compromise. The pasha’s men had secured the ruins exterior and set up fortifications nearby, and while the ruins were indeed riddled with danger the entrance was sealed to prevent anything from inside coming out at night. The group could ride on and would reach the main camp as the sun touched down. They then could rest the night and wake up fresh to descend into the depths. All points that Jakeem stated as the group ascended the arch of a dune before them. “We ride on. My men have set up a camp just outside the main structure, it is very well guarded and the ruins are sealed off from the outside. Rest at the main camp tonight and then tomorrow we may penetrate the ruins.”

[b]“I prefer that over having to sleep anywhere in this desert and ride on further tomorrow morning.”[/b] Altonas spoke for the first time since they set out from Calimport. 

“The desert is not a place to lay for rest.” Jakeem said smugly behind his cowl. “It is not much farther.”

[hr]
[hr]

True to Jakeem’s word it wasn’t much further to the ruins and the campsite nearby. The group made their way over a final towering sand dune, laboring to get up and over the top as the sun peaked just over the far horizon. From atop the dune they all lay their eyes on a small crop of craggy red rocks and cliffs with a sort of rounded gorge at the center roughly the size of a stadium. They could see torchlight and campfires about and the small shapes of men moving through what looked to be a fairly secured campsite positioned amid the natural ravine.

As beautiful as the gorge was - particularly now, illuminated by the red rays of the setting sun - it was the massive structure at the far side opposite of the entrance that was a true marvel.

[center][img]https://i.imgur.com/YpcDmUg.jpg[/img][/center]


“There it is,” Jakeem said aloud, lowering the sand coated cowl from his face, “the Sanctuary of Aduzahir.”

Several of the pasha’s men were murmuring at the grand sight before them. It couldn’t be denied that the marvel of the ancient ruin paired with the natural beauty of it’s stoney shroud was an intoxicating visage. All bathed in the red reflections of the eventide sun.

“This place was built thousands of years ago, in the time of the djinn before they were driven out by man.” Jakeem and his men ushered their camels on and began the slow descent down the steep dune towards the campsite below. The adventurers would follow with the rear guard keeping in tow. Everyone had to ride forward slow and careful, especially the Dragonborn and his bulky rhinoceros steed. 

Sand rolled down the dune as the party made their way down, the camels lowing and snorting in both irritation and pings of worry as the sand gave way in large clods at certain points. Jakeem’s men all broke file and spread out and one ordered the hire-ons to do the same as to avoid a single animal slipping and falling to cause everyone to go hurtling down the dune. The group managed to reach the bottom without incident and from there rode straight ahead toward the encampment. A makeshift palisade had been constructed with a simple wooden gate. While it wouldn’t stop a horde of goblins or a well armed marauder group it was enough to dissuade any curious passerby’s or other unwanted approachers. 

With a shout from one of Jakeem’s leads the gate came creaking open and after a long and grueling journey across the desert they had finally arrived. Jakeem and his men dismounted, slaves coming to round up the camels as the gate slammed shut behind the newly arrived. The evening sun by now gone, the only light in the encampment coming from rows of torches and scattered campfires.

“The slaves will take you to an empty tent of your choice, ask them for food if you wish and they will provide. I would suggest you all try and get some rest tonight, we will speak in the morning as would like to retire now.” Jakeem el Kalil then departed with his men in tow as a handful of slaves waited for any command to be given by the adventurers.