As his song of praise progresses his voice rises with the excitement of the situation, he can hear his own heart pumping loudly in his ears and even feel the strong heart of that of Wihakayda below him starting to race with excitement as the rhino picks up the pace.

With each verse, with each chorus the beast speeds a little more and when it is over the rhino needs no encouragement to break into a gallop, Ohanzee on his back calling through the night air with ululations as he breaks from the group and honours Great Rhino in the purest way, in a rhino charge!

Sour Claw has kept pace with Amara whilst she talked, her features hidden by the darkness. A darkness which Ohanzee finds that he can see far better in than usual, his connection with his rune particularly strong.

"That sounds like our Khan, though it surprises me that he killed someone in cold blood. Well you are not exactly our friends so this can be expected out here in the Wastes."

The Morokanth doesn't seem at all apologetic for her Khan's actions.

In answer to Ohanzee , before he galloped off, she says "They have bothered us yes and I petitioned the Earth Witch for help...And here you are."

She sounds particularly pleased with herself.

Greeshar needs no encouragement and is soon thundering after his fellow Rhino rider, his own bellows joining the ululations that now fill the night air.

"They told me they were directed to do so in a vision from the spirits telling them to find those of the four feathers that roam the Wastes, referring to us. Apparently it was our destiny to find it and their destiny to bring it to us. Now the other Agimori are working with the Sun Country people and they worship Yelmalio, the winter sun god of that land."

Unable to help himself Hoskar joins in too.

The Morokanth stop walking to turn and stare at the three Rhino Riders as they gallop off into the night..

After a few moments they continue to move, though they have increased their speed.

"Everyone know we here now..."

Amara shrugged as she rode beside the Morokanth. "It is the rhino way. Let everyone know we're here."

Sitting around the campfire, Kobal nods to acknowledge the boasts of Leaper and Tarosh of their deeds and those of their family.



Tarnessh and his strange thoughts again, Kobal thinks to himself, as he observes the exchange between his half-brother and Tarosh.

Then again, as Rangers we are to unite the Wastes.  Maybe this raiding and feuding will have to change for that.  He shakes his head, as if to banish the ideas.  Now I'm getting strange thoughts too.



As the party continues on its way, Kobal looks out for any areas where it might be good sow melon seeds, particularly where there are signs of water or substantially more vegetation.  On the odd occasion, he stops Black Hoof to get down, quickly plant a few seeds, and then re-mount to catch up with the others.



He doesn't know rhino ways, but Kobal knows a good song when he hears it.  When Blue Arm has finished his song, Kobal clashes his lance against his shield in appreciation, even as the rhino riders are galloping away.

He turns to the male morokanth and says to them.  "We have not fought harpies before.  What can you tell us about them?  What are their weaknesses?  How do they fight?  How is it best to defeat them?"
This message was last edited by the player at 02:10, Fri 12 June 2015.

Sour Claw laughs "Well let's hope the local Broo are too tired to fight. You Rhino riders will be strong whilst under the watchful eye of the great Rhino, so I think we have little to fear, though we should stay alert."

The gnarly old veteran grunts "Until I saw them a few weeks ago I'd never known they existed. We'd go after them ourselves but we can not climb."

He seems annoyed about the fact.

"They stay out of missile and spell range unless they can surprise us, then drop rocks and cast their charms. The first time they distracted the herders and a second group took our Gerns. It did not happen so easily the next." They are fearless, hardy and are vicious fighters."

Greeshar, Ohanzee and Hoskar eventually return, invigorated and jubilant, a mood matched by their cumbersome mounts who stamp and roar.

Possibly because of the this show of strength nothing comes near the group of travellers and just before dawn they find themselves winding in amongst the tall, imposing rocks of the Rhino Holy place.

A place to camp is found, tall sided rocks giving ample shade helped by a copious amount of vegetation centred around a deep, water filled crevice. There's sign that others have stopped here in the past, both Rhino and other members of the many Tribes of the Wastes.

There's recent Ostrich spoor, about a week old, some Hyenas, and Bison from sometime in the last season, everything else is from before. The grass is abundant, as are signs of both Jerboa and Manul, their tracks zigzagging beneath the Saxual, Tamarisk and other smaller shrubs. Kola spies a healthy crop of Water Melon, immediately picking up the shimmer of Checheh as he flashes from fruit to fruit.

The Morokanth immediately begin to water their herd beasts, setting up camp at the same time, securing good shady spots to wait out the coming sun....

The newest recruits, Tarosh, Leaper, Galama and Peat, take on the job of watering and then guarding the mounts, sorting out their own watch rotation, leaving the rest of the Rangers to rest, eat and do what ever they need to do.

Bright Treasure, newly arisen in the east, has yet to rise high enough for it's rays to light up the Wastes to the west of the rocks, and it's from there that Kobal, Salen and Henal both hear noises as if something, or somethings are approaching from the darkness.

There's the clink of metal, and the shuffle of feet.

As dawn breaks Tarnessh feels the need to avoid the shadows and soak up some of Bright Treasures rays, a need mirrored in Glama Golden who looks to be waiting for his fellow Sun Hawk on the edge of the camp.

"I wish to greet the first rays and send prayers of thanks."

In reply to GM (msg # 84):

Henal stands trying to stay silent, picking up a javelin and motioning with his hands to not speak and pointing towards the rocks. He looks round the others to see if any others are readying themselves.

Several of the male Morokanth are stirring, reaching for weapons. Their Hyenas have been taken further into the rocks to the East with one of the males, looking for game.

Ohanzee takes his digging stick from his gear as well as the rolls of Saxual bark that he carries on his rhino. This bundle he drops into the water filled crevice tying it off so that he can pull it up without risk of it sinking beyond reach or floating away. Straightening, he is about to go sit under the Saxaul with the digging stick when he spots the behaviour of the male Morokanth and then Henal.

The brave moves back to his gear in the shadows and takes up his crossbows readying them and making sure that he has his speedart matrix at the ready too as he watches for enemies. He also pulls out one of the two gourds of brewed Goyo blade venom ready to apply that to the crossbow bolts.

"Do not be surprised, for Amara spoke truly. I was the Ranger who saw it happen in front of my own eyes, as Condor is my witness."

Salen looks at Sour Claw only long enough to say his words, but his expression is neutral and his words bear no malice. He had no grumble with her, at least not yet.

---------

At dawn the next morning Salen hears the same noises as dome of the others, and he reaches for his javelin in preparation.

Tarnessh got up and smiled at Glama. "That's a good idea. I'll join you." He said, and prayed to Sun Hawk with Glama as Bright Treasure dawned.

From out of the darkness comes a welcoming bellow, answered by one of the now surprised looking Morokanth.

"A group of our people..." he says, advancing with uncertainty towards the noise.

Ohanzee continues to prepare the crossbows noting the uncertainty of the Morokanth who moves towards the bellow Better prepared than not. Still, he holds off applying the venom to the bolt points as he waits to see what will transpire.

From the shadows appear a group of Morokanth , eight in number, leading a pack Bison, two Gern and a short line of shackled humans.

"Hallo" comes a call from a very large male at their front, a massive maul resting on one shoulder "What have we here, Morokanth and Humans setting up camp?....Ah Black Mud folk and friends...."

He's all Morokanth smiles, but there is a sinister air about the creature, not helped by his menacing companions, one of which holds a heavy crossbow aimed at Ohanzee. Leading the Bison is a female, cloaked and covered with fetishes.

Slavers.

Having climbed up on top of one of the high rocks, high above the camp, the two Sun Hawk braves welcome the first rays of sunlight as Bright Treasure appears. Forcing back the night, the light heralds a new day, filled with what ever fate might have in store for the Rangers and their companions.

Which at that precise moment seems to be three very fast approaching shapes, diving down from above....

Tarnessh nudged Glama and pointed to the rock crevices they could hide in from the harpies, being careful not to say anything to give away where they were. He climbed towards those crevices and watched, hoping the harpies wouldn't attack the camp.

Slavers! Even before his own time as a slave Ohanzee had a distaste for their type. To take slaves in raiding and put them to work was one thing, something in the natural order of things in Prax even. But to make that what you do, to take and trade in slaves as a way of living instead of beasts, that was just not Waha's way!

He remains still though, giving the Muddies the chance to speak and not raising his own crossbow though not relinquishing it either.