Msaka departed Silmaria not long after his meeting with the tritons and began a long trek, first by ship and then over land. First to Shapier, where he quietly retrieved the elemental that he had left hidden amidst the cliffs, then south towards the borders of Tarna. He travelled as swiftly as possible, both to avoid those who might think ill of his past visit, and due to the shaman's warning that trouble was brewing in his homeland. Though few details were forthcoming, Msaka got the distinct impression that the danger was to all of the land's inhabitants, not merely his own people.

That didn't stop Msaka from hearing rumors as he drew near Tarna itself. Though each one told it differently, the overall picture was clear: There had been a substantial increase in the frequency and coordination of monstrous attacks. Some people even claimed that crocs had managed to tame the region's giant ants, and were now practicing rudimentary cavalry tactics against the savannah-dwellers. This worried him, for it might well mean that his own people were facing a similar threat. Unfortunately, there was no way to be sure until he got there.

It was a relatively small caravan that set out for the city whose name the region bore. The rumors of trouble, coupled with the season, had discouraged many merchants from travelling that way. Though the danger might be greater, the fact that the much smaller group could travel more swiftly was a hopeful sign; they would reach the city quickly if all went well, and perhaps be able to outrun trouble if it did not.

His hopes proved to be well-founded. Though they were faced a few small skirmishes along the way, as well as passing the burned-out husk of what might once have been a small Simbani village, the caravan reached the city's gates without facing serious opposition. It was clear that the city had faced its own troubles, however - many of the outlying orchards had been attacked, and some had suffered damage. Those that lay near the river were the worst hit, since the crocs could freely move through the waters, outmaneuvering the defenders on land. What disturbed him more were the signs of damage to the city itself. No mere raids had caused the cracks that ran through the city's ancient stone. He swiftly learned that the city had suffered through several small earthquakes in recent months, and this did little to ease his growing sense of dread, for earthquakes were all but unknown in these parts.

Knowing that she was the most likely to have answers to his questions, he made his way to Kreesha's home. He paused at the doorway, sensing the presence of her magic even as he saw her at work within, her magical circle aglow with power as she worked at casting a ritual. Though impatient, he knew better than to interrupt such ceremonies, and so he waited until the throbbing of mystical energy at last subsided, and Kreesha slumped slightly, fatigued from her exertions.

Stepping through the doorway, he called softly, "May I speak with you?"

Kreesha had clearly been unaware of his presence, and started at his words, half-turning to face him. She evidently recognized him from his last visit, however, her anxious posture quickly relaxing again. "Of course," she replied. "I had wondered when you would return."

Msaka hesitated for a moment, then ventured, "You expected to see me?"

Kreesha nodded. "Aziza has told me about your stay in Shapier, and given what is happening here, I suspected that you might come to seek my counsel when you returned."

Msaka's unease grew. What had Aziza told her? For that matter, how much did Aziza know? If Kreesha had been told about the water elemental...

Thankfully, she made no mention of it, taking a deep breath before she continued, "These attacks, and the earthquakes, are no coincidence. As I suspect you have already guessed, there is a magician behind them, one who is very skilled at earth magic, and is harnessing the land and its baser creatures against us. You foiled his plans in Shapier, and his anger only grew when he learned that a second relative lay dead by your hand, the first having taken his own life due to the war of the previous year. I do not know whether your own people have also been attacked by his creatures, but his anger and his powers seem to remain focused upon Tarna for now. I have done my best to shield the city from direct harm, but it is easier to destroy than to protect, and my wards can not hold out the beasts that he has brought under his control."

Msaka's anxiety had grown by leaps and bounds as his suspicions were confirmed. He stood in silence for several long moments, trying to sort out the thoughts that were racing through his mind. He knew that he needed to return to his people, and quickly, but the distance seemed to have grown far greater, and the potential danger far more menacing. Did the shaman know what was happening to the city? Was it happening to his people as well? His village was not without its own protections, but they couldn't afford to hide within it - they depended upon the surrounding jungle for sustenance, and if the earth wizard directed his powers and forces there...

Slowly, he brought his gaze back in line with Kreesha's. "I need to return home," he said, his throat dry. "Our shaman may be able to do something to help." He bit back any further words, not wishing to divulge the fact that the help might well consist of crafting a thing of power using a water elemental that he'd stolen from right under Aziza's nose. At least he knew why the shaman considered the matter to be so urgent, though he couldn't help but feel ill at the irony. If he hadn't gone to Shapier in search of the elemental, his people wouldn't need its power so urgently.

Kreesha merely nodded in an almost serene fashion, leading him to wonder once again how much she really knew. "Of course," she murmured. "Swift journey."