"People who've dedicated themselves to practicing it can leave out some components; mostly the purpose is as a memory aid. That's interesting, though, and definitely sounds more like psion powers than our magic."

"Also, for us it's random who gets powers, about one in five hundred women, women specifically, and they show up when you're ten or twelve or so, and you can train to use your magic better but it's not something you can get or learn. Hiring some of your world's spellcasters could turn out to be very beneficial... If the teleporter who screwed up and sent us here manages to find us again, that is."

"It's possible one of our wizards will figure something out, we've made contact with new planes in the past. We do have spontaneous casters - sorcerers and oracles off the top of my head - who don't have to train to use magic initially. But, yes, that sort of collaboration would be great."

"For now it seems you have more immediate, blight-related problems to deal with. And like I said yesterday, since we can't fight the Neuroi from here, it's reasonable to fight the blight."

"I swore to defend people. Didn't swear to a specific people, or world."

"Boss promised me combat bonuses, so... Yeah."

"Thank you. There is a bounty for information on the Blight, and a further reward for actually doing anything about it - enough to keep even a large group comfortable for life. We greatly appreciate any volunteer efforts, but help isn't unrewarded." This Sparky sounds more like his sort of person; might make a good paladin someday, even, if training people from their world works out. He doesn't let any of his thoughts show on his face, though.

"Shall we get going, then?"

"Let's." He nods to Tess, who casts something - this involving words like the rustles of leaves in a tree and no spent objects. All color drains out of Lirhan, Emes, Raena, and Tess after Tess taps them, and they look like clouds shaped into strange forms.

"We can move at about sixty miles per hour like this," Lirhan says. "There shouldn't be anything flying around this far south if you three want to scout ahead, but - keep an eye out for giant flying fire-breathing reptiles, there used to be a colony up north that we lost contact with."

"Lovely. I'll keep them in mind. I bet they're not faster than Neuroi. They might be on the ground, though, and we're less practiced at spotting things there."

"Says you. I did all kindsa surveying runs countin' soldiers on the ground before radios were everywhere. I bet I can spot a giant lizard."

"I suggest we stay in a few kilometers of Lirhan's group and check in every few minutes. Patrol is about diligence and being in supporting range of each other is almost never a bad idea."

"Agreed. Well, up we go. -Wait, Lirhan, maybe your group should take one of our radios? We only have three, but they can talk to each other - at least until they run out of power."

"...What's a radio?"

"Device that sends signals with... Rays of light with a higher wave-length. It's technology. I don't think this language has proper words for it. But their range is pretty good - twenty kilometers or so. I don't know how much range Raena's telepathy has, is all."

"Her range is currently about four hundred thirty feet, so those're definitely much higher. Leaving one with us sounds like a good idea, definitely."

"You can have mine. Ghost goes off alone sometimes, and Cat's the squad leader, so I'm the obvious choice. Bad weather or obstacles like dips in the ground or thick tree cover can reduce the range, and they won't work much at all in caves or some buildings, so keep that in mind. Battery will last another eight hours, we have a total of five spare batteries - took inventory last night. Also, don't get it wet."

She hands it over - it's small enough to be worn on the head if you don't have a helmet - and demonstrates how to use it.

The team, after some discussion, leaves the radio with Emes, since she's going to be the least involved in any fights.

"Let's get moving, then. Standing around won't stop the blight."

The three witches take to the sky, keeping pace with Lirhan's party for the first while.

They move fairly quickly, though slower than the witches' maximum, Tess and Raena in front, Emes in the back.

The landscape is very, very thoroughly dead. There's patches of blighted trees around distant lakes and ponds, but not much else yet. Soon the plains start sloping down, and in the distance the witches can see what might be buildings nestled in a small and dead forest.

Grendyne reports this in a businesslike manner, slipping into jargon they're not familiar with before correcting herself, and asks if they want to check it out or pass by.

The group debates for a bit before deciding to check it out.

Sandra zips ahead and high above, invisible, to get a good bird's-eye look at the buildings. She's pretty good at this kind of thing. And has binoculars. Anything still moving down there?

Not at first, just plants rustling in the wind, but then she notices forms not moving with the others, and strange shadows inside the ruins.

Yep. Monsters.

How about a slightly closer look, only a couple hundred feet in the air? Can she get a number on the monsters?