Out of the darkness, bolts Taya, she runs up to Hoskar and practically climbs on to his lap, "She's here" she says in a harsh whisper.

Black Hoof springs forward, Kobal happy to have gotten a head start on the others.  That'll show that Delenda!  They're still some distance away, so his lance is not yet levelled at any enemy.  Instead, he uses the butt of the lance to prod the bison faster and faster.  Thankful as he is for Salen's cantrip to cancel out the sound of the bison's thundering hooves, it's a strange feeling to charge forward while not whooping, or calling out to urge the beast faster.

On his other arm, his shield is ready to parry any blows or sting attacks from scorpion men.  But he pats the knife at his waist now and then.  Once they've arrived at Tarnessh's location, he'll jump down to cut his brother free.

Ahead, he peers into the gloom, looking for any scorpion man silhouettes in their path which need to be taken out, but otherwise tries to keep Black Hoof in a straight line to Tarnessh - or where he thinks Tarnessh is, based on guidance from Haaro and Tulox.  Make sure you've got a good grip of Black Hoof, he sends to his familiar, as the man and bison hurtle down the gorge.
This message was last edited by the player at 18:16, Wed 29 Apr 2015.

As they grew closer, Akala instructed Bouncer to attempt to find out where the others the searched for Tarnessh were.

And if there are any landmarks, fires, or otherwise that they can give us to find them faster. He added at the last.

Henal pushes Whiteblaze into a gallop moving beside Kobal with spear and shield readied. He finds it a struggle to avoid whooping and yelling war cries while they advance, ready to use his lance against any scorpion man near the gorge's exit and setting his shield to block any incoming attacks.

As he moves through the gorge closing with its end through Rikki and Tulox he sends a message to Tarnessh Time for the light

Salen and Delenda fall in behind, with Kohana pushing hard on Black Hoof's rear as the faster animal tries to barge past.

Ahead the darkness is expelled by a sudden burst of light, illuminating a clearing partially surrounded by large walls of Prickly Pear. Two massive large scorpion men are shielding their eyes from the sudden glare, and just behind them can be seen Tarnessh on the ground.

The Rangers and friend are almost upon them when disaster strikes....

Kobal confronted with a massive Prickly Pear isn't able to stop in time, hindered in part by Kohana behind, resulting in both Bisons colliding to deposit their riders on the ground, or in Kobal's case right into the middle of the cactus.

Both are stunned for the moment with only their magical protection stopping some of the damage from the crash.

Henal deftly avoids the tangle of limbs as does Delenda who swerves in beside the Thunder Bird brave, both lances aiming true.

There's the flash of passing beasts, two hefty thwacks and the scorpion men are down, Henal striking one through the head and Delenda through the chest.

Both creatures lie on the ground twitching as they die, lances pointing up at the now star filled sky. A shout comes from Tarnessh on the ground, where he is covered from head to toe by a swarm of young scorpion men, biting and stinging...

Once he's gathered his senses, Kobal draws his sword and runs over to Tarnessh, to clear the scorpion men off his brother, then free him, as quickly as he can.

Haaro, try to keep Black Hoof out of harm's way!
This message was last edited by the player at 08:24, Thu 30 Apr 2015.

Henal stops Whiteblaze close to Tarnessh and dismounts then hurries over dagger drawn trying to avoid any baby scorpionmen.  When he gets to Tarnessh he looks to put a spell of protection on him and get him up so they can sweep the baby scorpion men off and get him onto a mount.

Keep watch for any more scorpion men he calls to Delenda and Salen.

Hoskar pales at Taya's news; not that there's anyone to see...or at least he hopes the only witness is the Rubble Runner herself: anything else out there close enough to take notice would not be welcome.

Not sure how much of this you understand: not my familiar. Try not to worry - she'll have to get through me first. I owe you for Ram's life after all he whispers; putting himself between Taya and the edge of the rock outcrop and drawing his sword.

I hope Melock knows what he's doing or this could get nasty really fast.

Travelling back both braves realise how far they'd actually ridden looking for Ohanzee. Now the night was quiet and slowly the fires of the camp drew closer. Bouncer is unable to help Akala as he is to small to see far and talk to any of the spirits.

Suddenly just beyond their torchlight something moves, drawing closer with weapons at the ready the two Rhino Braves see that it is Grumpfy, Tarnessh's Bison.

The beast is happily chewing on some sparse vegetation, surrounded by the corpses of nearly a dozen Scorpion men.

Hoskar hears Melock approaching and at the same time receives a message from Four Paws saying that the rescue of Tarnessh is under way.

Akala gave a verbal bark at Amara to slow, slowed his own Rhino, and ultimately, calmly, took Grumpfy's reins and gently led the the Bison back to Thundercloud.

Once atop his steed, he clucked, and once again took up the ride towards the distant lights of the campfire.
This message was last edited by the player at 11:55, Thu 30 Apr 2015.

In reply to GM (msg # 963):

See, Taya? Hoskar whispers in reassuring tone that'll be Melock now.

Straining his eyes into the darkness for signs of movement or the silhouette of his comrade, he calls softly over here. It's going well for the others then changes position, sword still ready, just in case his ears have deceived him and the approaching form is hostile no point being daft - don't want a missile in the face.

Tarnessh shook his head to make sure that no Scorpion-spawn were still on him, then began thanking the others profusely. "This is the second time that this has happened. Sorry about that." He said. When they found Grumpfy surrounded by dead Scorpion-men he grinned and chuckled as he got on his Bison. "Maybe Grumpfy should be a Wandering Ranger? He certainly hates Chaos enough."

Hoskar sees a patch of darkess start to move, and Melock appears, "Well that went kind of ok, She says that I'm safe for tonight, but I sensed as I came back that it only applies back there. So here is the new plan, you and Taya stay hidden here and I'll go sit in the open and not be quiet, that way any nasties should see me first and become food" He collects his ocarina, "Hows it been here?"

In reply to Melock (msg # 967):

Hoskar's eyes widen still further at Melock's comments. Been pretty quiet here. Taya really didn't like it when you did whatever you did to speak to the spider, and I can't say I blame her. Even poor old Kor there was disturbed enough to go silent.

He pauses a moment as what he's been told sinks in.

So what you're telling me is she'll feed on the scorpions but only guarantee your safety?

My turn to say it: if you hear me screaming, come a-running. I'll do the same. We might not be able to do much other than go down fighting side by side what with all the things out there tonight; but ahh, it would be a glorious way to go.

What a life, he grins nervously.

The Prairie Thunder were charging hard, living up their name. Just ahead of Salen his fellow brave Kobal was close enough to to almost touch! Kohana was charging for all he was worth, and-

WHOA!

Too late. Kohana collided with the suddenly rearing Black Hoof, and before they knew it both Rangers hit the ground, and hard. While he tried to gather his senses Salen rose to his feet. Close by Kobal was already up and working to free Tarnessh of the small plague of mini scorpions crawling over him. Salen immediately moved to help them both.

In reply to Hoskar Feather (msg # 968):


"I think if you had been there and joined in, she would have extended her aid, we are too far away for any of her children to help. I plan to entertain whatever is looking out for me with music and stories, so I don't think anyone should notice you here."
Taya uncurls herself from Hoskar's lap and slowly walks over to Melock and looks up at him, "Lets hope your right. I'm going to stay with Hoskar. Try not to die" and with that she turns around and walks back to Hoskar and curls up next to him.
Melock chuckles quietly at her behaviour. "Don't worry, if anything does gets near you Taya can let me know and I should be able to distract it. Right, I better head back. See you at dawn." He quietly heads back to the corpses, taking care to leave as few signs of his passing as he can.

In reply to Melock (msg # 970):


Well. Okay then. Be safe, and yell if you need help is all Hoskar can say; his expression on the cusp between relief and fear.

Most of his concentration on his hearing, to sense unwanted company, he resumes making Kor as comfortable as he can and looking through his gear for food Might as well see if I we've anything to feed you, Taya: don't think you'll be hunting tonight he mutters absently; still not really sure if the Rubble Runner understands a word of what he's saying.

Good news, Hoskar: friends all living. Sable woman's charge was doughty too: we all will need to thank her.

What's that?

Careful, friends who hear my warning: spiders scuttle in the sand tonight.

In reply to Hoskar Feather (msg # 971):


She looks up at him and rubs her head against his arm, "Food sounds good, though for once I'm almost too worried to eat" She shivers slightly, "Then again, eating should help take my mind of what that dumb raven of mine is doing"

Tarnessh rescued, meeting up with friends and returning to camp.

With Tarnessh freed, his captors either killed, stomped or driven off his rescuers speed off. Though not after pilfering an interesting looking hide bundle of the magnificent Scorpion man leader, killed so artfully by Henal.

At an opportune moment it is unravelled to show that it is from an animal that none present can recognise, and that it is very old. It's surface has been branded with pictures of runes, glyphs and long passages of what the foreigners call writing. Also inside are three human heads, two males and a female, perhaps two weeks dead. On the woman's ears are golden earrings.

Continuing towards the camp Salen spies the lights of Amara and Akala, who have in their possession a very alive Grumpfy, which would surprise Henal as the last thing he'd seen was the animal being borne to the ground by a half dozen scorpion men.
This message was last edited by the GM at 10:51, Fri 01 May 2015.

 When they found Grumpfy surrounded by dead Scorpion-men he grinned and chuckled as he got on his Bison. "Maybe Grumpfy should be a Wandering Ranger? He certainly hates Chaos enough.

link to a message in this game

Last I saw there were plenty of scorpion men still alive round Grumphy so he's killed more chaos than some of us have this time. Back to camp then go and find Hoskar and Melock in the light.

Henal looks at the heads and the hide, spits and speaks. More f*ing headhunters. These need to burned as a funeral for a pure release when we get back to the camp, but I can take those earrings as booty and the hide.