"I agree, sun worshippers are nothing but trouble" He smiles at Tarnessh, "and we need to avoid those Agimori as well. So lets stay our course and hope they don't spot us, with a bit of luck they'll run in to something nasty."

So it's decided and the two groups pass each other, one oblivious to the other's existence whilst the other is quietly happy to slip on by...

An old campsite is found, filled with blackened fire pits, but human bones lie about in abundance, the majority smashed open to allow access to the marrow inside. It's an evil place soon left behind.

Another more suitable spot is discovered by the scouts with good views of the surrounding land and some shelter from the fierce hot wind that has been blowing all day.

Looking to the North West Cantalas remarks "I fear tomorrow we will get a chaos filled storm." A fact that Kobal readily agrees with, his uncannily correct weather forecasting saying the same thing.

"It would be wise to find some shelter during the day if we can."

"No luck with hunting today" announces Salen as the scouts get back in. "We've enough dried meat for for today and tomorrow."

"Sounds like a plan to me. Do you know when it will strike, maybe we should make use of the shelter available here?" Ohanzee suggests but then as Salen mentions the state of their food store he sighs "Perhaps not, the sooner we are out of this place the better, so if we can make any headway tomorrow then we should make use of the time we have."

The group had passed many caves during the day, some mere overhangs whilst others looked bigger and in some cases deeper. They'd been avoided because of what may live in them and the urgent need to keep on moving.

"We'll need to find something less open than where we are now, preferably with a roof" comments Cantalas.

Several of the Rangers can't help but remember the last time a similar storm hit them and they'd found shelter in a cave filled with something scuttling about in the background.

"We've got the sables to eat, so we wont go hungry." He rubs the back of his neck, "I've had this odd sensation, on and off all day, that someone has been watching us, but every time I look round, I cant see anyone." he looks over his shoulder the way they came, "It could just be this place. Maybe a couple of us should head back the way we came and see if there's any sign of being followed?" He chuckles, "Last time we sheltered from one of these storms the cave we were in had a giant centipede."

"I'm bushed from scouting all day" answers Salen "You go if you want, but be careful."

Salen stops at the mention of the cave "Greeshar killed that dog that day. It is not a good memory."

He heads over to help with getting the camp ready, bending to pat Mordy on the head as he goes.

"Sorry, I shouldn't have brought it up." He collects the saddle bag with Taya in, "Hoskar, can you look after Taya. That way if I run in to any problems, she can let you know" He sorts through his gear, wanting to travel light, he takes his kukri, sling and some rope, but leaves his axe and shield on Stinky. "I shouldn't be too long, just going to find a high spot to look back the way we came."

In reply to Delenda Axe Sister (msg # 25):

Amara smiled "This is Prax, Delendra...when are we not in danger?" Amara replied "But yes, a large group of people are moving nearby. We're not in immediate danger, but we're going to delay for a short time and allow them to pass."

*****************

Amara rode near the others "I fear we must look for shelter soon, whether it be occupied or not. Why not pick a cave and have us check it out before moving to take shelter?"

"I'll come with you two as well. Tulox can help keep and eye out, and my magic is always useful." Tarnessh said, taking out his bronze scimitar and making sure his sling stones were ready.

"If you ask me it's asking for trouble to go wandering offin these parts." Ohanzee says as the other three prepare for scouting back down their path. He grins "If there's trouble to be had then I can't let you lot have it alone."

Still dressed in his armour he takes his selfbow rather than the crossbow, together with his shield slung over his back and his sword sheathed at his belt.

"Yup" replies Cantalas.

Whilst the camp gets set up the small band of braves slink off into the coming darkness. After about ten minutes slinking they find a good vantage point to watch along the track they'd just travelled down.

Then it gets dark.

The wind makes hearing things hard and well the darkness makes it pretty difficult to see anything, but the two Ravens put their trust in their limited night vision.

They all hear the Hyenas, their laughs carried from somewhere to the North East, but see nothing for the next half hour.

Those that stay back at the camp must decide whether or not to risk lighting fires....

"How far can you see?" Tarnessh asked the Raven braves. "I don't want to risk putting up a lightwall to see by if there's too many enemies about."

Melock puts his head in his hands and sighs, then whispers, "You wont be putting lightwall up, unless we get attacked. The plan is to sit and watch for a couple of hours and see if anyone comes this way"
This message was last edited by the player at 19:31, Sat 14 Mar 2015.

Amara whispered to the others "From even before we became braves our paths have always been dogged by hyenas. Who sets them on our path? Perhaps one that is set against the return?"

"That's an interesting thought, Amara. However if someone is setting them on our path, they'll be thoroughly disappointed." Tarnessh said.
This message was last edited by the player at 03:25, Sun 15 Mar 2015.

Akala's face had shown surprise at Melock's suggestion at attempting to watch their trail, but he trusted the man's sense that something had been watching them.

"The camp might be more defensible...but there are women and children here. If someone is hunting us, it would be better to engage them out there," he had gestured with his head vaguely towards the way they had come.

To Cantalas he had said, "If something is coming, it would probably be best not to light the fires.  And double the guard."

---

Later, amongst the other Rangers, Akala was quiet.  His golden eyes attempted to penetrate the thick, unnatural darkness, to little avail.

"My only concern is being caught out here in the storm," he said.

His shield and javelin were held loosely, axe at his side, sword sheathed in his back.  His armor felt light and comfortable after a full days wearing.  Rolling the Zana root he was chewing in his mouth from left to right, he forced himself to relax, letting the tension ease so that he could react to the situation as needed.

He checked on Bouncer to make sure the Jerboa was comfortable.

The big man squatted down so as not to make himself more visible, due to his size.
This message was last edited by the player at 22:06, Sat 14 Mar 2015.

Melock rolls his eyes, a gesture that is totally wasted in the dark, "Tarnessh, Akala, the idea of being out here is to watch and listen for people following us, not talk so they can hear us, if you need to say anything please whisper"

Tarnessh frowned at Melock. "Yes, I'm sure we would hate to start a fight that almost gets one of our brothers killed, wouldn't we? Don't worry about us."
This message was last edited by the player at 03:29, Sun 15 Mar 2015.

The rather large scouting party having clanked their way over to the spot chosen to spy on their route, settle down to wait.

Another half hour passes, with nothing sensed or spotted, and it's then that they hear the shouts coming from the camp, some ten minutes walk away....


Henal, having stayed behind with Kobal, Hoskar and Salen, hears a commotion coming from the darkness to the Northern side of the campsite. For the last hour he and his companions had helped corral the mounts, settle the Blue Llama folk and work out watches.

The Thunderbird brave had found himself paired up with Peat, keeping watch on the Eastern approaches. It was dark and windy, but the stars gave some illumination allowing them to see a good thirty metres ahead.

When the shouting starts Peat nudges Henal "That's where Salen and Al are keeping watch, What should we do?"

Henal keeps looking out into the darkness. This is tricky because we need to have watch kept this way so we need a relief before we could go to help. I'll see if my spirit Rikki can communicate with the spirit in Mordy, Salen's dog.

Rikki, what can Mordy see and hear? do you sense any sprits or smell anything out there.

Amara immediately started running back to the camp as fast as she could. Moving as swiftly as she could.

"I'll make sure no one gets us here." Tarnessh told the others.