Two: The Approach

The small herd bounds off to the east as the group moves away from the main road and down Old Frederick Road. The sun is still low on the horizon, but no longer in their eyes. Here the road is more well worn, but less maintained and is merely a suggestion in some places. By the time the sun begins to reach it's apex, they can see a lone wooden structure standing in the distance off the road. It looks like it may have been a ranchhouse, decades ago.

From a distance, the old ranch looks like a relic from a bygone era, standing alone in the middle of the arid landscape. The wooden structures appear to be weathered, falling apart, and mostly in piles of cracked boards and shingles. The barbed fence that surrounds the property is rusted and broken in some places, with large gaps that let in the occasional gust of wind.

The only structure that seems to be completely intact is a small stable, made of dark wood with a thatched roof. It stands out from the rest of the buildings with its relatively good condition, but it still looks old and abandoned.

The area surrounding the ranch is vast and barren, with only a few gnarled trees and patches of dry grass. The sun beats down relentlessly, and the heat shimmers off the ground, making it difficult to see anything clearly.

Rook dismounts and walks towards the stable. He'll hitch Surly outside it and carefully look for any evidence of use in the recent past.

"I'll cover you." Fenhari, a few lengths behind Rook, stops Milpa next to one of the gnarled trees.

"Sorry, girl, it's the best I can do.", he says softly, knowing the meager shade will do little to provide comfort to the horse. He dismounts and readies an arrow.

It looks like the stable once led into a modest coral. A couple of juniper fence posts can still be seen here and there, but the lot has become overgrown. Approaching the stable, You can all see that it has two large doors for livestock and a regular sized door next to it. They are all shut. As Rook approaches, he doesn't notice any evidence of recent occupancy, at least not from the outside. There is a small window in the door looking into the stable, but it is very dark inside. Looking in, he can see the light of a high up window on the opposite wall but the light isn't really passing into the building and aside from the outline of a couple of beams extending across the ceiling, It isn't really enough to illuminate much else.

Fenhari, arrow ready watches as Rook investigates the facade of the stable.
As Rook steps away from the window and stands before the stable, the wind turns into kite-flying weather. As the wind pushes on the face of the building the door in front of Rook looks as if it wants to blow open, but something unseen seems to be holding it in place.
Xur'Tual notices a hawk in the distance.

Rook will plant a kick against the door, trying to knock it down without actually entering.

"Hold on, Rook!" Xur'Tual tries to get out as Rook's foot lands against the door.

Rook's nostrils fill with a putrid smell as the door swings open with a cracking sound kicking up a cloud of dirt and rat turds. The door now stands open before him.

‘Smells like it should I guess…’ Rook sighs. Rook will check the stable fir any sign of recent activity.

Xur'Tual gets into position and watches alongside Fenhari as Rook disappears into the darkness entering the stable.

‘Bugs! Or crabs?! Or something’!!’

Xur'Tual takes off towards the hut.

Fenhari mutters under his breath as he moves forward to support Rook. 'Rats. I bet it's rats."

Glad of the reach his weapon affords, Rook swings at the cresture. 'This things even uglier than me!'

Xur'Tual and Fenhari arrive at the doorway and are now looking into the stable. They arrive in time to see Rook thrash into a Scorpion the size of a large dog. Their eyes haven't quite adjusted enough to take in the entirety of the scene, suffice to say, there are inches of rat turds everywhere.

Rook bashes a large chunk out of the soft underside of the scorpion. The scorpion does indeed step into range of Rook's reaction triggering another attack in an attempt to grab him with one of it's pincers. At the same time, the scorpion's stinger whips down at Rook.

A second scorpion emerges from an open stall

Here you go.

As the scorpion closes the gap it loses another large chunk thanks to Rook's expertise with the glaive.
It does however succeed in grabbing Rook with it's immense pincer. He hears it's deadly stinger somehow narrowly missing him and whizzing past his ear.