Ohanzee gasps as the section of bark frees  itself from the tree and steps forward. He's experienced spirits taking form in the spirit plane and possessing bodies, but never seen this before.

He offers his hand "Certainly." As they help her around the Hidden Valley he speaks "You should know, during our wedding we and our guests were set upon by Daga We bested him and trapped a portion of him inside a copper pot which we will take away and guard."

"It is the way of these things though that now that the wedding ceremony is known again there may be those who try to interfere with the quest, perhaps even to try to aid Daga next time." he smiles "And there will be a next time because it will be sung of by the Wandering Rangers and we will make pilgrimage here to renew the vows."

"We will not let those who oppose the re-greening prevail. We will help the Green spread from this small domain as it does from the Earth Temple."

Amara fetched the temple raiment she'd worn during the ceremony and the copper pot bound by rope containing Daga. "We'd be happy to accompany you." she said, as she packed everything.

Hoskar has been standing pensively in the background, drinking in the day. One miracle after another, and this one beats most.

For once, I have little to say save giving honour. I'll keep watch awhile.

Muttering a cantrip for the vision of Condor, he scans around in case of the unexpected.

Previously

When the Queen resurrects Glama, a tear forms in Tarosh's eye. "My Queen, your power is god like, but even that is dwarfed by your compassion." Once Glama is standing, Tarosh slaps him on the back, "Brother, I thought you'd been taken by Stormbull to the eternal battle. What was it like being dead?" Tarosh walks with Glama to the hidden valley and joins in when he sings.

Now

He stays a respectful distance from Whitewood, but listens to what is being said. When he see's Ohanzee receive a seed from her and hears him being told to take it to the Aldryami, he coughs in surprise and mutters to Hoskar, "A Raven dealing with Aldryami, what next, a Sun Hawk dealing with trolls? I can't wait to see what happens, but from what I've seen so far, I don't think Ohanzee will have too many problems." When he sees Hoskar keeping watch, "I found a skull of some weird beast that's been turned into a helm and it has the charm of farsee etched in to it."

The Dryad begins a very slow amble about the valley. If she continues at the speed she is going it will take several hours and night would surely fall.

She stops to stroke every bush and plant, her touch invigorating the flora and causing new growth to start. Even her footprints brings new life to the rich, seed filled ground.

"You brought much goodness with you Earth Wife and Water Husband."

Amble, amble...

"You know where you might find more of my people?"

Hoskar sees nothing threatening, nor does Salen who has investigated the mountainside where they must descend.

Far below Mordy sends a message that all is well and that the Harpy Queen has arrived and found new servants amongst the Rangers...

Ohanzee shakes his head "Your people, no I've never seen any of your people before, you are the first. I've never seen an Aldryami before either, but I know that they live behind the wall."

He looks about and realises how long this is going to take but stifling the sigh is easy as he also notices all the new growth she brings.

A thought come to him "What trees do your people reside in? Your one is the first I have seen of its kind and trees are all too few in the Wastes."

Although he had been a bit shaken from his near-tumble down the cliff face, Salen soon recovered his usual composure and wandered around with his fellow Rangers, keeping an eye out for anything unexpected. But at this time there was little to fear, even though there was - as always - much to be done.

And he hadn't seen a Dryad before. She was interesting.

"One of the reasons we seek to restore the green is that much of where we have lived is a Wasteland. I'm afraid not many trees grow there and still less that might have a dryad nearby. It is a crying shame that we have met so few, but perhaps with your help and the changes we have started your trees will start growing once more. The only tree spirit I know is Grandmother Thorntree. It's possible your trees might exist where we live, but I have never seen a tree like the one you have come from." Amara said walking beside Ohanzee and the Dryad.

The bison brave gives thanks to the Earth, Water, Checheh the Melon Boy and Askuwhetu the Tamarisk Man as he inspects the seedlings.  Then, as the dryad's face appears in the tree, he bows to the creature.  Surely she must have had some part in the growth of the plants.

When she emerges from the tree, though, this is a more unnerving spectacle, as he has never seen an Aldryami before, only heard tales from his grandfather.

Standing next to Kobal, the Impala brave whispers "So we gotta take that seed to the elves in Pavis eh? I heard hey kill first and don't even bother asking questions."

"I am Aldryami...A dryad, a priestess. A protector of the plants. My people nurture all things that grow in our god's domain."



"You must give the Aldyami my seed. It will only grow with their magic."

"The elves, or Pavis in general?" Kobal replies out of the side of his mouth.  "We have been to Corflu, so cities are not so mysterious to us now.  And if we bear the trappings of the Earth, I think the elves will ask us questions first, heh heh."

Looking intently at the skull, Hoskar is a little bemused. Of all the places to etch a charm, that's just plain odd. It's no animal I've seen. Too small for a Wyvern, too big for a Rubble Runner. Ever boiled a Bolo Lizard  head? Maybe it's one of them?

Either way, congratulations - more watch duty for you with that I'd reckon. Grinning, he mutters something further before resuming his watch

He catches some snatches of conversations about Aldryami, and adds Had no dealings with them: secretive lot really and mother has trade with the Uz, which is apt to be making the tree folk cautious about her. Like most people, I bet they are less likely to be shooting first if they expect visitors.

Ohanzee grins "Well at least we know what to look for then." he says a little sheepishly.

He looks about again at the array of plants, some recognised and others not Perhaps we can learn more whilst we see her about the place "Some of these plants are strange to me he frowns in thought as though trying to catch a fleeting memory "Though they feel kind of familiar at the same time, perhaps because I was the serpent this morning."

"Are there any that might gift us anything useful, anything to help our journey to the walled place or help us make friendly contact with the Aldryami there?"

"Elves...Though I think Pavis too as they quite rightly hate us. The feeling is mutual.

Corflu, I have heard some of the others speak of it in passing. Is it as big as Pavis?"

"Everything is to young right now....But if you arrive with a seed from a Whitewood tree, well that should be enough. You are the Wandering Rangers. Some will remember Tada..."

Ohanzee and Amara can't help but think that the Dryad is unsurprisingly out of touch with the world.
This message was last edited by the player at 10:15, Fri 20 Nov 2015.

Having previously joined Kobal in giving thanks with the seedlings coming up so quickly, then Henal standing back from the tree and looking at the dryad in amazement as she emerges. He keeps his distance from her in the conversation with Ohanzee and Amara, digging in his things for more seeds to plant in the valley.

The Rangers realise that if they do not leave immediately they will get stuck on the side of the mountain when night falls. So it is either camp here in the hidden valley, leave Amara and Ohanzee with the Dryad or for the rest to head down the mountainside, trusting that Amara and Ohanzee would be safe.

"Some will remember Tada..." Ohanzee repeats and this gives him an idea "When we return to the Giant's Finger Holes we do so walking proud and openly as Tada." He glances over the head of Whitewood and says to Amara with a smile "And so shall we when we seek out the Aldryami behind the wall."
This message was last edited by the player at 11:00, Fri 20 Nov 2015.

"Say that you seek the Aldryami Lords, the ones who carried a piece of Tada away from Tadafall. They are the ones that entombed the seed of Genert below."

Ohanzee nods "Yes, the seed of Genert below. He was a giant wasn't he, I wonder what his seed is like." he smiles "I guess we'll soon know."

"Below, by the river there is not just the Water and Earth temple, but an ancient complex and a room sealed with great magics. Perhaps this is where the seed is?"

"I think its the wrong shape for a bolo and the nose isn't right for a pack lizard," He shrugs his shoulders, "Hopefully someone back at the Earth Temple will know what it is, but until I can get a Stormbull to tell me it's not chaotic, I'm not using it." He watches as the light begins to fade as Bright Treasure nears the Gates of Dusk, "Since the others by the serpent are safe enough where they are without us, I think I'll stay up here for tonight," gesturing towards the new growth, with a smile, "it's like being at an oasis."

In reply to Tarosh Long Neck (msg # 299):

Looking placid, Hoskar nods to himself. You are taking...sorry...took the words right out of my mouth there: they seem safe enough, and it's lovely here thanks to Amara and Ohanzee mostly.

After a few moments thought, he adds Reckon we both might want to have a gentle chat with Glama soon: he and I have had quite an experience today. I seem okay so far as I can tell, but I can't tell how it's affected him yet.

Hmmm.

Wonder what he saw between falling and coming back.

"I went to the nest of Sun Hawk, high up where Bright Treasure is brightest. But the Gold Queen came and challenged Sun Hawk for my soul.

I think he let her win, for he had said to me that my time was not done yet."

Neither brave had heard the Sun Hawk brave approach.
This message was last edited by the player at 19:56, Fri 20 Nov 2015.