He goes to raise his hand to stop Ohanzee, but is too late, so he calls out after him, "It's nothing" Melock looks a bit embarrassed as Ohanzee heads off.

"Yes it is a selfless ruse where they attract all the enemy attention for miles round" laughs the Vingan.
This message was last edited by the player at 06:52, Mon 14 Nov 2016.

With a shake of his head Voras says to Temush "The actions of those two is beyond any logic, any reason and in may cases beyond taboos too."

He sighs "But sometimes it seems to work anyway."

"Ohanzee, slow down!" Amara shouted after her short term husband "No need to rush towards getting another limb cut off."

"They are there to get the first javelins and arrows from our enemies" replies a bleary looking Henal

Temush returns to his previous cordon position but still steals the odd quizzical glance at the Ravens, sometimes scratching his head.

Angelika moves up towards the rearguard but hangs back as if she expects the Rangers to do the talking..

"Please thank your Owl for his excellent information, Temush."

Then turning to the other Rangers she adds "We must be quick here, collect your friends and do what ever business that it is that you must do. We must not tarry."
This message was last updated by the player at 06:55, Mon 14 Nov 2016.

"I shall stay here at the temple" replies Greeshar his leg now healed "I have an appointment with a certain creature and will give my time to protect the Rangers caves and the Temple."

"I too will stay.I have been more gravely struck by the loss of the Eye of Yamsur than I had thought. The whole incident as raised some questions in my soul that I never dreamed of and I need time to meditate and commune with Sun Hawk away from the usiness of the clan and the confies oftheir walled city is not a good place for that either I think."

He directs his mount to draw alongside Temush's bird and looks down at him "Two weeks is not long and the trolls may even have come not from there, but the north or eslewhere. I do not hold any to the offer of searching it out, that is a task I should levy on others but should undertake when I am recovered."

Amara wondered at her brothers reticence in travelling along with the rest of the group. Idly, she wondered what the certain creatures name was and if she would welcome joining the clan. It would go a long way to explain how Greeshar had lost some of his anger.

"Are we taking the time to welcome our new arrivals to the rangers? This is a sacred place to us....or are we pressing on quickly to get to Pavis?"

As he keeps an eye on what Ohanzee is doing, Melock can't help smiling to himself as he believes he's won the argument with Amara since, for once, she didn't answer back.



He nods in agreement, "Lets go and see what's happening at the Earth Temple then." He gets Stinky trotting towards the Temple, keeping look out for any hidden Red Thorns while he does so.

"It should not take us too long to induct new members to our band.  And I think we it's best that we do this before entering Pavis," replies Kobal, who has come riding back from scouting on the left of the party.

Now doesn't seem like a good time to meet with his first father-in-law, the Red Thorns apparently having been driven from the oasis.  Kobal wasn't even sure that Kelab Besi was still in the area - likely not.

The Rangers ride into the oasis, which turns out to be a ghost town. Empty tents flap in the wind and the ground is covered with discarded belongings and the occasional dead body. To the West comes the sound of a skirmish, perhaps a group of braves defending their family as they scramble to leave and collect their gear...

Temush sees for the first time the effects of the oasis' new found vitality, with trees far larger than normal and despite the time of year foliage healthy as if it is Sea Season and not that of Storm. Even for those who have been here before the appearance of the gargantuan building blocks piled up, where once huge buildings stood, is an awe inspiring sight and then they're all in the centre of the oasis, a clear area with  five sinkholes of various size dotting the area. There are still tents, owned by the several score pilgrims who were here when the invasion began. High Llamas and Impala riders for the most part, all with worried looks on their faces, which as they spy the Rangers are replaced with looks of relief.

Also present is the command group of the war party who are just beginning to escort a group of Red Thorns out of the clearing. Standing nearby is the Earth Witch, the statuesque priestess without her usual snake across her shoulders but still accompanied by her Earth protectresses, their axes glinting with magic. Beside her stands Hoskar, Akala Stone Face, Leaper, Sand Fox, Nixa, Sehana, Tarosh Long Neck and Tarnessh.

Kobal gives a grim smile of greeting to the assembled Wandering Rangers - only a small smile, given the circumstances - but otherwise keeps his attention on the Earth Witch.

Approaching her, he dismounts and bows, with fist over his chest.  "Wise One, I hope you and all the Temple's residents and worshippers are all right."

Henal lifts a hand in greeting to the other Rangers and then follows Kobal to the Earth Witch, dismounting his unfamiliar zerbra with a look of relief before his face sets back into a grim smile.

"Yes" replies the witch with an equal tight smile "We are fine. The oasis is now in your clan's hands congratulations. It is with relief that I can say little blood was spilt, thanks to clear heads on this freezing day."

Temush dismounts, and joins Kobal and Henal, keeping an eye out for anyone who looks like they need healing but aren't getting it.

"Greetings Big Pecker. I am surprised to see you as I had been led to understand that you were all dead. I am the priestess of this temple."

The Earth Witch is a statuesque Rhino rider, her skin the colour of burnished copper. Her voice is deep and strong and she gives the pygmy a genuine smile.

Ohanzee reaches the edge of the camp as the others reach the oasis to be greeted by the Earth With. He is crest fallen that Melock his chase after what Melock may or may not have seen proved fruitless and he plods along slowly on the zebra.

It is eerie arriving at the once bustling camp to find it all but empty and deserted with such haste that the tents are left standing. Dismounting he leads the mount through the outskirts to join the others.

Staying mounted, Melock bows his head in greeting to the Earth Witch and smiles at the other Rangers, "It sounds like some of them don't want to leave," he points to the west, "I'm going to see if they need a hand. Anyone want to join me?" He quickly looks round at the others and then rides westward.

Angelika shouts angrily after Melock "Who gave you permission to leave? GET BACK HERE NOW!"

He back goes stiff and he gets Stinky to turn around. He rides up to Angelika with his head bowed, "Sorry, I thought there might be people who needed our help, maybe women or children." his voice is steady with a hint of annoyance.

"You were told not to get involved...So you are prepared to go against the commands of your khan? Well go and suffer the consequences then, or stay and do as you all said you would, which is accompany me as my escort" answers the Queen, picking up on his annoyance

"I greet Wise One" Temush says haltingly "Most earth bird men be dead, yes, I just not be but"

Amara greeted the earth Witch with a smile and a bow in deference. She waved to Delenda, motioning that she'd like to talk, but after Angelika berated Melock, she remained where she was. She almost seemed exasperated that Melock obeyed her instantly yet always did his own thing whenever she asked him not to.