The ritual takes place within the dried up Serpent (river bed) that originates at the sea some ninety miles to the South. Flash floods were common at this time of year, scouring the land and emptying into Dead Bottom to the North.

Once the floods are gone, the land dries quickly leaving little moisture behind and much destruction. Waha fights the Serpents here trying to break them, stopping the flash flooding and watering the land in a more gentle way.

The serpents hate Waha for he compelled and enslaved the Sounders river. This is a khan making place, those who defeat the Wicked Writher (a flash flood in reverse) or the Serpents has proved themselves a khan. Having subdued the waters they are called Rainmen as they can control the rains and stop the serpents arising...

Nausyas the Iron Bull has entered the river bed, adorned in pulsating runes and filled with Power. He will face the coming waters, aided by his watching community, who line the rocky bank.

Nearby atop a handy rise stands Barrak Earth Shaker, Angelika Snowspear, Granny No horn and Whispers from the Sky. The Rhino Khan is Orlanth today, aiding Waha in his battle and hopefully winning weather magic for his own people.

Outriders keep guard, for now is a dangerous time for the Clans, as enemies are often drawn intent on ruining the rites….

The wind begins to pick up as the Sky Watchers call their great spirit down to help, his breath whipping up the water that has begun to collect in the previously dry river bed.

Along it's banks the people of the Prairie Thunder chant loudly, with their horns adding to the already mighty din.

To those of the party who are riding the boundaries there is not much to see as their eyes are on all avenues of possibly attack. Weapons at the ready and charms upon their lips.

Then there's a shout coming from a hundred voices, as the waters begin to be sucked backwards, heralding the coming of the Wicked Writher.

And, on the very edge of hearing, can be heard its dreadful roar….

As outriders, Fireborn and Cloudkiller dance together at the sound of the raor. Fireborn can not only feel his hackles rising but also Cloudkillers.

Chosen by Sun Hawk and with his very own fire boiling inside him, Fireborn does not enjoy the rain, feeling ill at ease in such dampness. It quells his spirit and he yearns for the warmth of the sun. Still today is an important day for his clan and such differences are put aside.



As the hair rises on the back of Fireborn's arms he spies that the sun is trying to burst his way through the obstructing banks of cloud.

There is other magic afoot!

And the feeling grows, similar to that when he first met Sun Hawk during his initiation rites two weeks previously.

And there, nearly hidden by the low clouds, he spots them

Arrows!

Coming right at them is a shower of missiles, some burning with magical fire….

Melock is riding near Fireborn, when the arrows are seen, he raises his shield to try and block some of them incoming!

Fireborn also holds up his shield as he calls out..."These are Impala riders attacking us! They mean to disrupt the ritual!"

The arrows begin to fall amongst the mounted braves, as from the scrub comes the whoop and holler of war cries and the noise of fast approaching riders.

There's the thwack of flesh being hit and several cries from both men and beasts.

Apart from the party there is a handful of seasoned warriors, who begin to close ranks, lowering lances and casting magic. Calm orders ripple down the line….

"Get ready to charge lads….No quarter for the bastards…"

On the ground lies a gravely injured Bison rider, having slipped from his mount, an arrow in his side. He waves weakly for the others to carry on and sinks back to the ground in a pool of blood.

"Steady…"

Melock will invoke rabbit skin and if he has time without falling behind cats claw on the lance and get ready to charge when the order is given hope I don't mess up in front of the older warriors lets get them!

Greeshar, gleeful that the Impalas have given him his chance, whoops and readies his weapons for the charge!

Concentrating, he casts a charm of Protection upon himself, then waits for the signal to charge.

Fireborn readies his lance and shirld. his sword loose on his belt. He cast both protection(2) and bladesharp as he waits to charge.

As a ripple of cast charms go down the line, the last of the arrows land, one hitting Greeshar in the chest, but thanks to the new armour and great distance the arrow has spent it's power, bouncing off and falling on to his lap.

Before the Rhino rider can comment there's a roar as the command for charge is given and they're off, thundering to meet their attackers, still hidden by the scrub ahead.

The older warriors surge ahead, their mounts magically enhanced by charms of mobility, with the rest of the braves coming up behind. A natural arrow formation is formed and it's with this that they hit the startled Impalas, who just at that moment burst from the line of vegetation ahead.

Faces frozen in fear….Broken lances….Sprays of bright blood at sharp points drive home…The clang of bone blade against hide shield or the slice of cut flesh.

It's bedlam as the heavy Bisons surge through the bright Impala Braves, their mounts bounding this way and that to avoid the impact of the charge.

Melock head down and lance held firm, rides next to Fireborn, Stinky butting an impala high into the air as  Fireborn skewers it's rider through the head with his lance. Fireborn's own Bison impacts with a large boulder, fumbling badly, then buckles throwing his rider to the ground. Melock can only hang on for dear life and shout as he sees his friend tumble, stand and then spin as he's slashed across the back by a passing Impala warrior…

On the other side are the two Rhino Riders, their mounts slightly slower but terrifying to behold. Neither beast hits with their horns, nor does Greeshar with his lance, but Amara on the other hand is on top form, burying her weapon in an Impala as it flies past.

Dropping her lance, she parries a nasty swipe and then opens an enemy's thigh to the bone, as to her side her twin smashes his shield into a brave, knocking him from his mount.

Kobal and Kaonu ride side by side, neither hitting anything until the messy hand to hand begins. Kaonu stabs a brave, his companion shooting an arrow point blank into Kaonu's head! Enraged Kobal punches the bowman who rides off swearing madly.

Melock perhaps intending to head back to help his fallen friend, doesn't see the blade sweeping out to slash him across his left leg.

And then they're gone, retreating through the bush, one of then hit as he flees by a javelin thrown by Amara, their brazen attack foiled, on this side of the banks at any rate. On the ground lie five of their dead and one injured attempting to climb on his mount.

Melock and Kaonu's wound are not life threatening, though Fireborn lies on the ground bleeding, and unmoving. Two of the older braves jump to the ground, one casting a healing charm that immediately begins to knit torn flesh and skin.

His colour returns and he is able to get to his feet, shaky but very much alive….
This message was last edited by the GM at 15:03, Thu 07 Nov 2013.

Greeshar takes in the situation on the battlefield, noting the impala rider trying to escape. Without warning, he urges the mighty Stoneskin forward in an abrupt charge, lance at the ready!

Several of the older braves had begun to go after the injured Impala rider, but on seeing Greeshar's perfect wheel and charge they stop, allowing the Rhino rider the honour of the capture.

Melock will hang back and not chase after the Impala, and will enjoy the sight of a full blown rhino charge

As the mighty Stoneskin charges, it seems that he is quite capable of making just as much thunderous noise as the entire skirmish that came before! Dirt flying beneath his heavy feet, the impala and its rider stare, transfixed, until the moment for escape is lost. Greeshar urges the mighty Stoneskin towards the rider, and his lance neatly clips the riding beast. The massive rhino head knocks the brave to the ground, but pulls up short of trampling him into the earth. Greeshar, wearing his sternest look, dares the man to rise with his eyes, while looping his rope around the impala's neck. Making the end of the rope fast to his saddle, he dismounts and binds the man's hands with care.

“Let us return to the ritual,” he says. “We may be called upon to defend again.”

The prisoner, much bruised and barely reaching Greeshar's waist when he stands, just nods in reply, his head streaming blood from a a nasty gash.

Greeshar realises that it is the brave he smashed off his mount with the rim of his shield near the end of the charge.

There's no Clan markings on the man, though he is adorned with Runes of Fire and Movement and a quiver hangs from his back. Nearby on the ground lies his bow, snapped in two.
This message was last edited by the GM at 18:53, Thu 07 Nov 2013.

Amara sought to herd the remaining wild impala together and back towards the others, unable to resist the wealth. If nothing else they'd be eating well tonight. She smiled as she saw Greeshar capture the impala warrior, it was time they captured a slave for their band to do the mundane everyday things. She dismounted to stack up the dead warriors and impalas lashing them to her thunderfoot. They could look over the spoils later and give the warriors the death they deserved. She looked for some idea as to which clan it was that faced them in the bodies of the fallen and the impala themselves.

Kobal nudges Black Hoof around to check that each of the fallen impala braves is indeed dead.

When the attack has first come, his heart has soared.  A chance to prove my ability and forget about last night!  But in the full speed of the clash of nomads, his lance had missed, and all he had managed was to punch one of the enemy who rode off...  And there's Greeshar, in his new armour, capturing one of the enemy.

Satisfied with the dead, he returns to watching the approaches, almost hoping for another attack.

Melock will join Kobal, keeping an eye out for an other attack.
He will also have a go at healing his leg, but fails. If there is no more sign of attack he will ride over to the brave who healed Fireborn Hi, would you be able to heal my leg please?
This message was last edited by the player at 21:54, Sat 09 Nov 2013.

Fireborn drags himself to his feet a grin spreading a cross his face. he looks to the braves that aided them..."Many thanks upon you brothers!"

He jerks his lance from the head of the dead Impala Rider and grins even wider. He looks at his lance and smiles again saying...You serve me well again!"

Whilst the braves gather themselves after the brief brawl on the sands, behind them comes an almost deafening roar as Grywl Gontath arrives.

The Wicked Writher is here, having dropped from the sky, and then having surged out of Dead Bottom to smash his way down the empty river bed towards the waiting Bison Khan.

Next to Greeshar the injured Impala brave winces, at both the noise, his bruised ribs and the gash on his face. Dark skinned, with a shaved head he peers around, taking in his dead friends, looking shocked at the carnage.

One of the older Braves call out to Amara as she starts collecting the dead

"Leave them. Their companions can collect them after the ritual and give them the rites that they deserve. They are following ancient paths dictated by their own Great Spirits."

"The Wicked Writher is upon us, we must keep watch, for chaos is known to come…." shouts another as the air fills with spray.

As the braves talk and form up once more, Cloud Killer picks himself up from the ground, just like his master, wobbly of leg and eyes spinning from the blow to his head. The rock he hit is nearly split in two from the impact of his head.
This message had punctuation tweaked by the GM at 06:26, Sat 09 Nov 2013.

Greeshar looks quickly to make certain that someone has tended to this brave. Then he resumes his watch for Chaos..!