The Trials (Part 1)

After the night has passed and breakfast was had the group quickly made their way to the base of the plateau. "We finally made it!" Lar exclaims.

"Not quite, we still have to make out way up." Iskandor replies.

"There better be stairs... I'm not climbing the plateau, it's too steep." Serena says, resting against a nearby tree.

"Let's assume there is a stair case, what reason would you have to put it there if you don't want people to reach the end." Hikari asks.

"It's simple, the stairs would be a trap, I'm going to assume that there's no way for a living guardian to be effective due to the fact we are merely mortal, so that means that the traps would be extremely deadly." Iskandor replies.

"Exactly, Iskandor, you and Serena scout the Nothern half while Lar and I scout the Southern half, we will meet up on the opposite side and make camp at the enterance, base of the stairs or whatever, if the other group doesn't arrive by dinner of the next night search the other half cautiously." Hikari says.

"Makes sense, grab what you need out of the tent." Iskandor says while quickly opening the tent.

"Who will hold on to the tent?" Lar asks.

"Iskandor, you can have the tent, as if you are in trouble or need to save us you are the most resourceful." Hikari answers while complimenting Iskandor.

"Just remember, we have just over a fortnight to reach the peak if we want to arrive before mating season." Iskandor cautions and starts exploring the Northern half of the plateau from the base.

"Feels a bit weird separating from the other two, even if it's for less than 36 hours..." Iskandor mentions while observing the northern side of the plateau.

"Hope they'll be fine without the tent." Serena replies.

"Hikari is smart, be it by instinct, training or otherwise, and Lar isn't bad at adapting to unique situations." Iskandor comforts. "Mind if I collect a few rock samples of the plateau when we stop for lunch?"

"I don't see why it's needed but sure." Serena answers.

"If I know what the plateau is made of, I may be able to tell if it was formed naturally and if it's composed of igneous rock determine the source of the hotspring and determine that this is a volcano or something." Iskandor replies. "If it's a volcano, which seems fairly plausable, it likely isn't active as if it were we would likely feel some residual heat and know of a recent eruption..." Iskandor rambles.

***************

Meanwhile on the Southern side of the plateau.

"So, Hikari, what's your thoughts on the whole mating season shit we're about to go through." Lar asks, causing Hikari to blush.

"Well... The fact dragonborn experience it when most aren't an immediate descendant of dragons is a bit interesting. The fact it lasts 25 days is quite intimidating however. I'm just hoping nothing crazy happens." Hikari replies nervously.

"Assuming we have enough control I'd like to arrange it so Serena has his first time, them me and you last so that he hopefully isn't rough, and that's assuming chaining us up or something won't work." Lar explains.

***************

"It's about noon now, wanna have lunch?" Iskandor asks.

"Sure, but let's make it a fairly quick meal as I want to get this done quickly." Serena replies.

"I have jerky and some berries. Fenrir, you getting hungry?"

"Food would be nice." Fenrir replies, and starts sniffing around they area to confirm there is no threats nearby.

"Alright, heres a mix of beef, pork and venison jerky and a small branch of berries, I'll be back in a minute." Iskandor says, handing the rations to Serena and quickly heading closer to the plateau and grabbing a pickaxe from the tent in a suprisingly fluid movement.

"How does he unfold the tent midair, grab something out of it and get it folded back up like that?" Serena questions under her breath, Fenrir imitates a shrug as a response. Minutes later a madly laughing Iskandor comes back carrying several rock samples.

"Haha! Basalt, tourmaline, magnetite, even obsidian! This place is awesome! It's definitely a volcano, almost definitely extinct. I never thought I'd be so excited by finding rocks!" Iskandor cheers.

"Umm... They're just rocks..." Serena says.

"Basalt it a fairly strong rock that we can easily use to make structures, tourmaline may not be as prevalent here but it can be used where basalt is too weak, magnetite will help me in my path of creating technology and obsidian can be great for really sharp knives, if enchanted to increase its durability we could make a sword out of it and not worry about it breaking!" Iskandor exclaims.

"Just eat... I want to get to the summit as soon at possible..." Serena sighs, throwing the package of jerky at Iskandor.

***************

"I wonder what causes hotsprings in the first place..." Lar says quietly, pondering over this herself when Hikari interrupts, "If I were to guess this plateau is, or once was a volcano. The heat of the lava could certainly cause water to heat up to the temperatures of hotsprings. I wonder if we'll see any interesting flora or fauna around her. I might be able to find rare alchemical reagents or herbs to make healing salves!"

"You can take a quick look now, it's about lunch anyway, I'll get started on the stew, luckily this recipe makes it pretty quickly so we won't hold the others up." Lar says, pulling the small pot from her pack and grabbing the ingredients she packed and starts making the stew as Hikari runs off. Minutes later Hikari comes back with a basket full of various plants. "Nightshade, mountain flowers, thistle, deathbell, aloe, and suprisingly snowberries! And that's not all, with the amount I found I'm sure I could make a few potions and poisons, perhaps even a few pills if I study a bit into working as an apothecary!" Hikari cheers.

"Nice, but that will have to wait, lunch is ready." Lar replies, serving a bowl of stew.

"I also saw a rock formation that looked a little unnatural, I couldn't quite tell at the angle I was looking at it from however." Hikari mentions as she eats.

"Let's hope it's what we're looking for, but even if it is we still have to meet the others on the Eastern side to confirm we are safe and they too are fine." Lar says.