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RS026



Present-day Ro sits in her Templar armor, her chin resting in her palm. She's made a seat out of their pack beast's feed bag.


The sylph caravan has reached the gates of Ras Haran. Its massive stone gates are closed. Ro watches two other Templar as they talk with armed guards.


The Templar make their way back, crossing a wide bridge over a cavern to the waiting members of the unit.


Ro


WELL?


Ro demands answers when Eld and Zyr stop of in front of her. Zyr gestures awkwardly, smiling as his fellow Templar stare at him.


Ro


What's the holdup?


Eld


Apparently, they don't open the gate before sunrise anymore.


Zyr


At least, uh... I think.


RS026

RS026

The xihra is a valuable animal, especially to the sylph, for its indiscriminate diet—it is one of the few creatures in Erj capable of digesting the ubiquitous ash blooms. Indeed, xi/ra in Old Sylph (and incidentally, Suneater) translates roughly as ‘beast of ingestion’.

Xihra females are kept by the sylph for use as beasts of burden, helping to transport provisions and merchandise all over Erj. Though slow, they possess great strength, and can tow enormous volumes. Xihra males, however, remain undomesticated. Small and vicious, these agile 'whippets’ roam the wastes in packs, and travelers of all races know to stay wary.