The Old Woman raises an eyebrow and scrutinises Ohanzee, what she says next covered by the sound of music and song.

Gramps leans in to Ohanzee, placing a consoling arm over his shoulder and passing a full mug of wine.

The sailor shrugs and passes the pouch to the Condor braves to sample, before asking Tarnessh "So where you heading now? Best be somewhere far from the river once the law finds out about us lot. Suppose you'll be climbing back on whatever it is you ride and heading back up there..."

He points out into the darkness to where the high valley cliffs are.

As they talk Yellow Fin sits down next to the fire, taking one of the stringed instruments and beginning to play.

Starting to sing his voice is not bad, though he sings in a foreign language, Pelorian more than likely. It sounds sad whatever it is about.

Then from out of the shadows come the Black Eel woman whom he's taken a fancy to, her voice joining his as she sits down next to him. Soon the others of her people overcome their shyness and join those about the fire....

Kobal gives the wizard a polite, thin-lipped smile back, while inwardly he seethes.  We let those men walk off the boat with the artifact!  And Hoskar paid them into the bargain!  He makes a mental note of their names, in case they should run across them again.  Miles. Sicarius.

Turning his gaze from the Old Woman, Ohanzee falls silent a while as he considers what has been said. He then turns his head again and speaks

Tarnessh nodded. "Yes. Unfortunately we have many places to scout for our clan. Great danger too. Besides, we are nomads. We wouldn't feel comfortable staying in the same place for long."

Shell sits down with her husband Ven, listening to the music, her face etched with worry now that Eddy is not with the Rangers.

When Yellow Fin's song finishes Bamled takes a turn singing a popular Bison song, known to all of that Nation

Three Horns in a Bag

Sung not that long ago by Kaonu Windspeaker on the start of the Braves' patrol at the beginning of Sea Season...

"Not much difference than us really when you think about it. We spend all year moving from one place to the other, bar Fire Season when we keep to the Delta.

Probably not as violent as your life but. Talking of which I heard rumours of Broo further up the valley, been chased here by some of your lot. Nomads I mean. My brother came down yesterday on his boat, said there'd been a big fight by one of the fords across the river."

The sailor takes back his pouch and snorts another pinch whilst he waits for Bamled to finish singing.

Ohanzee smiles

Then rising be nods to the Old Woman and goes to fetch more wine.

Henal seeing Shell's expression goes over to speak to her.

I saw Eddy on the boat going to Pavis dressed as one of the crew. She should be safe enough with the Deep Channel people.

Later when he can speak privately to his fellow rangers he says

In the traders belongings there was a flask I took up that said it contained powder that could be used to make a potion of invisibility. I wonder if that was what the Lunars had found or if those scribes took something with them.

"So close? Is this settlement safe, then?" He asked, knowing that they would have no chance against a horde of broo if they were found.

Not much can be done about the artifact now.  Kobal settles down to join in the song and enjoy himself for the night.



Kobal shakes his head.  "I doubt it was the flask.  Firstly, it probably wouldn't have been entrusted to an untrustworthy merchant.  Secondly, I doubt those 'scribes' would have left without the artifact."

"Not that close, up by South Bog on it's Southern end at the Easy Ford" adds the sailor.

Tarnessh reckons this is about twenty or so kilometres North of where they are now. He'd heard the name of the ford mentioned before they'd left on the scouting trip as the best place to cross the river if they had need too.
This message was last edited by the GM at 07:50, Tue 30 Dec 2014.

Shell at first brightens up at this, then looks worried once more

"Pavis? Why by the River has she gone there?"

No one near seems to have an answer....

"Which boat was it? Did you see the Skipper?"

The Ranger's own Skipper nods "Aye I know him well it was old Hasta Crawfish, she'll be fine. T'was the boat that took the Lunar men with them."

Melock finds the mounts calm and on the most part sleeping despite the rowdy party a field away. He can feel that the air is cooler tonight, a sign that Freezeday is here and therefore the start of Earth Season.

A day often wrought with danger seeing that it is also Disorder week. Times when those strong in darkness are at their most dangerous and devious.

The Brave senses that he is being watched. He'd been forewarned that spirits were about, but he feels that living eye watch too.

From several locations about the perimeter.

In reply to GM (msg # 225):

He rubs his neck as he feels he is being watched. He chooses the spot on the perimeter furthest from the party, and slowly walks towards it, while trying to make out any shapes in the darkness.
"I'm Melock. Follower of Raven and Grandmother Spider. Who are you?" He then repeats himself in Spirit Speech.

Melock vanishes into the darkness....

Ohanzee returns to the Old Woman offering her one of the drinks he has fetched and offers a toast raising his own cup

The party winds down in the early hours with everyone heading off to sleep. The Rangers had found out that the Shallow Water family would be packing up in the next few days to return to their boats and their normal nomadic lifestyle. They were going North, upstream to reap the bounties of the new season....

General consensus seemed to be that the new day would be spent readying their mounts, checking equipment and ensuring they had enough stores for the trip ahead. A mount would need to be readied for the wizard's own gear and to carry his naked slave Grim Wire.

As everyone wakes, they discover both Melock and Ohanzee are missing....

Kobal isn't too troubled with the absence of the braves.  The Shallow Waters folk don't seem alarmed by the matter.  He asks his familiar about the missing braves.  "Haaro, did you hear anything to do with Melock and Ohanzee's absence?  Are they going to meet with the darkness spirit outside the perimeter for some strange Raven ritual?"

It's a good thing we're leaving tomorrow.  Gives those two some time to do whatever they're up to.

Tarnessh noticed as well and tried to think of where the Raven braves would have most likely thought to have gone.

Henal seeing the two raven braves are not visible says:

Think they'll spring out from a bush to surprise us?

"If they did I'd be very disappointed. Ravens should be cleverer then that!"
This message was last edited by the player at 02:21, Sun 04 Jan 2015.

Whilst they ready their mounts and check their gear Salen points out that the Tower is above the river in the highlands, so they have a choice: Either follow the river and then ascend or ascend immediately thus avoiding all the vegetation and flies. The tower is situated on a wide area, half way up the massive cliffs, affording a great view along the valley. There is easy access from the river close to the tower up a gentle incline, passable by mounts.