88 Ash 121
There were plenty of signs that Dakkur was nearing his obelisk but those signs were nothing but meaningless numbers to him; the numbers on the roadsigns getting smaller meant the distance towards the obelisk was shorter but how much shorter? Dakkur was no seasoned traveler to be able to make that assessment from maps and signs alone. So the first sign he was near to his destination? The sight of the pitch black structure full of mystery reaching into the skies from over the horizon. The spirit was amazed and asked about it and why Dakkur forced himself on the trip they had just undertaken for so many days just to reach it. "Well, its because this here obelisk, its one of the greatest mysteries of our time and everyone wants to be the one to find out more about it." What did they know about it? Nothing much, which was the reason why Dakkur was able to get through his exposition of the obelisk rather quickly.Which reminded him of something. "I've already given you your payment earlier right?" Why did Dakkur ask that out of the blue? "No good reason, but since we can already see the obelisk already we could consider agreement done and you can go back anytime, you don't have to follow me right up to it" This spirit he had worked with had been pretty sassy with Dakkur at times so his own shamelessness of knowing what might happen once they got closer to the obelisk but not letting the spirit know beforehand was not uncalled for although who knew what other changes the obelisk had other than the toiling bell and the change in colour?
But that was not going to happen immediately. Dakkur stopped a little aways from the obelisk and searched out for a higher vantage point. When asked about the delay, Dakkur reminded the spirit of what he said earlier before he spurred his horse towards a nearby dune, the spirit withholding its assistance this time in a rather juvenile manner. Not that Dakkur paid any heed as he tied the horse and headed up before looking towards the obelisk and the vicinity of it. No doubt some of his peers from Zeraphesh would be there already but even he heard the bell in Zaichaer and for all he knew there might be others like him who decided to make the trip to the obelisk for their own interests. After he had taken notes on points and other items of interest he could see, he got back down and rummaged through his stuff which the horse carried for him. He switched his clothes and put on the hood to hide his features, he did not want to risk anyone recognizing him.
And then sure of his ability to preserve his anonymity, he retrieved the tools he fou- salvaged from the old dig site he once worked at and took a detour to just to get. With them placed to be more visible on the horse, he would now be just like any other curious scholar who wanted to document the changes to the obelisk as he made his way to it. Perfect.