Calira Shiel

As they walked out into the dusty grassland Calira was busy studying. Not a book or an animal, well some would call him an animal, but she thought of him as a misunderstood man and nothing more. She sought to understand him, at least as soon as he showed he had magic. She had been disappointed at first, knowing he was unable to speak she had assumed he could not use magic. Clearly she had been wrong.

Calira was of medium height with attractive features but was not noticed on more than a precursory glance because she was more educated than many she had encountered. Her long black hair tucked behind her ears. She was a Maltrothan and was studying to earn a doctorate. Her appointed task was to discover how magic worked and a way to counter it, scientifically.

She thought it might be a lost cause as even those who used it seemed to do so with such a potential for disaster. Ivar was the first person she had seen use magic like it was his tool and not the other way around. She was very glad she had decided to come on this mission and feeling lucky she had been put into his party.

When Ivar announced stopping for the evening her legs hurt, she like most of the people here, was not used to walking this much.

Ivar pulled out his map and showed the locations to the group. His handwriting was sloppy and the creature's voice who spoke was a little grating on her ears. She would have to endure for the research.

The others did not seem able to read his handwriting so she took a look at it more closely. After studying the minerals laid out on the map she asked, "What is kentarite?"

The tiny creature jumped down from Ivar's shoulders and paced across the map, "Kentarite is the best name for it we could come up with as our civilization never discovered this ore. It has innate magical properties and is extremely strong. It is exceptionally heavy also, making it difficult to mine or use for any practical purpose. Except that I discovered how to refine it into something lighter."

The process requires the skilled use of metalworking and," The creature laughed softly. "Other resources that we have at our disposal."

"You mean magic?" Calira asked. "Isn't that incredibly dangerous."

The creature cocked his head to the side, "Magic is not as dangerous once you get away from the nexus dear girl. It is much safer to use out here in the wilds, but yes, magic."

The group became nervous and Ivar slammed his fist onto the cart the map was on top of. The creature leaped back onto his shoulders, "If you are up to the task this would surely be a resource that would earn all of you the payment you are desiring."

"What dangers can we except there?" Calira asked. "Why did you put a line through the word?"

"Because last time I was there they tried to kill me," Ivar's pet walked from his right to his left shoulder. "The Kentari do not appreciate what we did to them the day we arrived on this planet. This land we are in was all theirs. That place you all call home, was their home. They remember and they did not want me taking the kentarite. I'll be in my tent if you have any further questions. When you are finished please bring the map to me. I plan to let you all sleep on it and we'll take vote in the morning."

Ivar walked off into his tent and entered it. Getting him to talk to me about magic will not be easy, but he is probably very distrustful of, well, my people and with good reason.

Those near her seemed to grumble about how bad could that place possible be and appeared to have their minds made up as they walked off to make food before bed.

One of the travelers in the group, a Lexian named Hallon took it upon himself to be cook. The food he made was not bad considering the scant conditions and small amount of rations they had brought. She had heard it was a week just to week the border of the crater but that was probably an exaggeration. If not she doubted if they had the supplies to make it that far unless someone started hunting.

After socializing with other members in the group for a few hours she headed off to the small tent she had been fortunate enough to bring. Not everyone in the group had brought shelter. She quickly wrote about her observations that day in her journal and soon feel to sleep.