So we can ride by up here and just deal with any scouts we come across. Hopefully we can find another way down soon after. Henal says.

Shall we ride on before the discover us?

"Yes lets go. We should stay a good distance from the cliff edge as well."

Whilst the Ranger's discuss options Sand Fox  and his brother keep watch.

It's not long before Nixa returns with the news that a large party of riders have appeared from the direction of the river,  driving a good sized herd of High Llamas and Impalas before them. They have slaves too.

Been out raiding.

Nixa says that the Sables are looking like they plan to camp. Travel tents are going up and fires are being lit.

An idea flashes into Ohanzee’s mind like the flap of a black Raven’s wing across his vision ”Kinope is easy to persuade after what we have done for the river, but the priest less so Melock said.”

“Perhaps his opinion will improve if we can convince him through action that we are not like other nomads, through actions like freeing slaves.”

He looks at Nixa and <b>Sand Fox</> ”Impala and High Llama you say. Were there any river folk amongst the slaves, they should stand out as being between the height of the others?”

“Three birds with one stone, if we can free the nomads the Sables will spend time chasing them, the river folk can show us where the stream is and can put in a good word!”

In reply to Ohanzee Shappa (msg # 52):

Scratching his stubble, Hoskar ponders awhile before voicing an opinion on Ohanzee's words.

Hmmm. That would be risky, of course. We get caught, we're slaves ourselves and I don't fancy a life minding mounts for those moon-lovers. Maybe a creep in, creep out job. Long Grass taught me a charm to silence the noise of riding which I could cast on a few people, but probably not on all of us - it's not an easy one. Maybe if a few sneaky types get in while the rest of us are ready to give covering fire if they need to hoof it quickly.

What does everyone else think?
This message was last edited by the player at 13:46, Fri 13 Feb 2015.

"Creeping was what I had in mind, no noise and not getting seen in and out without them even knowing is how it'll need to be. They'll be celebrating, kumiss flowing, but it would have to be on foot though, our mounts are too large."

He considers a moment "Silence and Melock's darkwall. If he puts that up and keeps it low enough then we could get close with less chance of being seen."

"And those who go would have to leave their familiars back out of the range that the sable familiars and any allied can detect."

Tarnessh turned to Melock. "If the worst happens, want to try the lightwall and darkwall strategy again? It seemed to work pretty well in Corflu."

Hoskar chuckles.

You know, I rather like the sound of this, although I reckon the fewer creep in the better - less chance of tripping over something. Not to mention I'd quite fancy the idea of being mounted backup.

His eyes twinkle; amused yet bloodthirsty. Just imagine the look on a pursuer's face if they think there's no-one around and then they're met by me on a charging Rhino along with the rest of us and they've heard none of us coming: the first they'll know is when they're already on the business end of a spear. Or a horn.

Happy days if it worked, but it's still a risk. They'll be tougher than the hunters - might have people who can dismiss the magic walls.

I'd not recommend putting me in the sneaking up party: it would probably be too tempting for me to try cutting a few extra throats while I'm in there.

"And of course Firestorm here" he nods to Tarnessh with a grin "can always start another blaze if things go tits up, that'll have them running and worrying about that more than us!"

"If we're doing this, we need to keep in mind that we have to be very quick and very careful. If it looks like they're going to spot you, then back off right away. We're not doing this for loot or slaves, we're doing this to hurt the Sables. Stay in the outside edge of the camp, don't go inside it." Tarnessh said, shaking his head at Melock. "I guess I could try that if we have no choice, but if it's at night, I'm not as powerful."

"I think you'd be fooling yourself if no-one figures out we're coming in long before we get there." Amara said "While I have no problem with killing sables or anyone else for that matter, I do mind if doing it gets in the way of what our eventual goal is. Just bypass them and keep going to see Kinope."

I hate to leave enemies untouched, but I don't think they will be so careless that we can easily raid an entire clan. The young warriors might be drunk but will their Khan or Shaman be? I do not belive that and we need to move on to complete our mission so leave it for now.

"You are wrong Tarnessh, and you too Amara and Henal, it is not about killing Sables, or hurting them even, it is not about gaining slaves, it is about incresing the chance of success of this mission. To meet Kinope he need to go through the priest who hates us."

"That's assuming we can even find the place without river folk help. If there are river folk taken slaves then their rescue is the point and through that gaining their aid in finding the place and then persuading the priest."

He sighs "Of course if there are no river folk down there I agree, let's go around, but do not think to tell me the reasoning behind my idea because your mind reading is not up to scratch."

Amara raised an eyebrow "We have proven ourselves friends to the river peoples already. You are intent on raising an entire clans ire by raiding them on the premise that there might be some river people in their haul of slaves." Amara motioned to the place where the clan was resting. "How would kinope or her priest welcome us with a warband of angry sables closely following us. How can you hope to outrun sables when most of those we might rescue are on foot. This is not a simple raid Ohanzee. We're not after stealing some sables and riding away. We're riding into the middle of their tribe. if you truly think you can do this unscathed, you're a fool."

Melock sighs, "I've got to say, I think Amara is right. When we get chased by them, they will catch us. So I think for now we should leave them alone" He nudges Stinky along side Ohanzee, "Its a tempting target, but we are out numbered."

As the debate develops, the smile is wiped from Hoskar's face as he looks back and forth between his comrades; Amara's words hitting home like blows. He opens his mouth to speak several times, but words don't emerge; and when Melock chimes in he finally exhales, head drooping. Oh hell. Melock's always been right about plans so far. Any hope? Enough hope? If only...

Damnit I just don't know. You can all see I'd love to do something to them, but we could easily get killed here and that's not how I want to end up.

Someone else will have to work it out he concludes plaintively; seeming to retreat into himself.

"Personally, I'd prefer we just leave and go by them, that's the wisest thing to do. Hoskar, there will be other opportunities to hurt the Sables. Remember that many clans are depending on us right now."

"Our job is far more important than some lust for revenge. What we are doing, we do for all tribes everywhere. Come the great reckoning this sable clan will be gone, it's name little more than a memory if even that. For that to happen you need to think about more than yourself and your desire for blood." Amara watched the others.

He looks around at the others, "So, that's agreed then. We wont raid them now and we'll keep to the high road to stay out of their way" He waits to see if anyone objects, then starts riding. "If we can find some where up here to camp tonight, I think we should, that way we can have a cliff to our backs which someone on watch can climb to keep a look out"

"And no fires to draw attention. We need to keep a lookout all around. They will have outriders." Amara added. "Their bows will shoot further than our javelins. Even if we take the high road, we will need to be wary."

"Good point, I'll make sure my canteen is charged up so we have some hot water." He thinks for a moment, "I reckon we should have at least 3 of us on each watch. As Ohanzee and myself are the most at home in the dark, if we take the middle watch and if Hoskar doesn't mind being in the dark with only Ravens for company" he laughs, "Having him with us would be very helpful as he can help me see further in the dark than I normally can"

Bamled, Nixa and Sand Fox agree with Amara, Bamled quite vocally, calling the suggestion of raiding "Foolish, with such a small party of braves."

He speaks with some authority on the matter, being older and having raided much over the last few years, especially against the Pol Joni. But he doesn't go on about it and instead takes his place where needed.

Before leaving, those still spying on the Sable Clan, whom Hoskar recognises as being the Arinstoli Clan, Lunar sympathisers and known as very warlike, see that more of their people are arriving from what must be a ford across the river. Important news to tell the Prairie Thunder elders especially as they plan to move to the river too...

Five to six hours later

The Northern most bog slips past below and Bright Treasure is preparing to vanish when the Rangers find another way down the cliff. Standing on the edge the braves can see that the river valley begins to widen some twenty plus kilometres to the North, which Salen and Hoskar point out must be the edge of Sun County, the land of the Yelmalions and a refuge for Sun Hawk himself...

Closer is the Bog itself, far smaller than the last one, but still a dense mass of vegetation, mud, quicksand and nasties.

Tulox has been unable to help in finding a possible site for Kinope's spring as the Bog is too far for him to travel without breaking the bond with his master.

So all the Rangers can do is travel down and try and find it with the hawk's help the next day.

For the moment there's still time to travel down the cliff face and find a camping spot below or instead search for somewhere defensible where they are.
This message was last edited by the GM at 17:08, Sun 15 Feb 2015.

As they travel during the day, Melock varies his position in the group spending time chatting to Ohanzee and Hoskar.

"Travelling down a cliff at night, where most of us can't see very well? Not a good idea. Lets make camp and go down in the morning." Tarnessh said.

Ohanzee rides in brooding silence playing over the debate and fuming, not because of the outcome, it was likely the most sensible choice, but at the repeated misrepresentation of his words, even when he correct them.

When Melock rides up he shakes his head and responds

As the Bright Treasure nears the horizon Ohanzee spies a likely looking campsite some small distance from the cliff edge a rocky outcrop that overhangs on the side facing away from the cliff edge sufficiently to provide shelter.