From above comes the sound of birds rising into the air as the Vrok Hawks follow their masters towards the Earth Complex.

Oh my. That's interesting, but I can't just skip out.

Hey, cat: if you can find Taya safely, get her to let Melock know he's going to have company: sunny boys and their hawks are coming after the disc. They said they'd talk first, but who knows.

Amara smiled "Even if the marriage is not to take place. I'm sure we could find enough bronze weaponry to arm your clan. It strikes me there are a lot of foreigners who are bent on mayhem at the Temple. They should be quite heavily armed and armoured in bronze."

Passing the pipe back to Kelab Besi without fuss Salen smiles honestly and openly.

"An excellent vintage. Been a while since I tasted something quite as strong as that, so my many thanks."

He looks around. The Yelmalions looked like trouble, but most people did in Prax. Some of the young women around the camp were sure to look a lot better after that pipe, too...

"Unfortunately if the marriage does not take place our friendship will only be as long as this parley" replies the Khan as he repacks the pipe with some more of his quality Tobakeh. Once full he accepts a light from Tarnessh and begins to exhale large clouds of sweet smoke, before passing it once more to Salen.

Amara sighed heavily "I'd prefer to be an ally than an enemy. I think your tribe has much to offer. Does it have to be Kobal? Greeshar and I were adopted by the Kahn and Queen of the SkyWatchers?"

"You can work for me as mercenaries as is the way of your people" suggests the Khan "I can always do with extra braves."

Amara frowned "We could, but our obligations are already set to the Prairie Thunder clan and to restoring the Garden. Nonetheless, I want to help the Red Thorn clan. Is there perhaps something specific that needs done that could settle all of the ill will between us?" Amara suggested. "It might unproductive for us for us to contest one another at each crossing to and from the Temple."

"You are under geas from what I understand. Come see me when you are released by the Earth Witch and I may have something that you can do for me. A delicate matter.

You will be heading south, back to your clans too, so I will ask you to relay messages to your Khans. But that is for a later time to discuss."

Amara nodded, greeting the Kahn with a smile "We will speak of your hospitality, wisdom and generosity to all. Khan Kelab Besi of the Red Thorns."

Tarnessh got a distant look in his eyes for a moment and then sighed. "Apparently Ohanzee needs to be freed from his restraints, and he'd really like his rhino back, as well as his other possessions, if possible."

With a nod Salen accepted the pipe once again from Kelab Besi, and after taking a reasonable puff he looked around for someone to pass it on to...a little reluctantly perhaps, but he did it. He exhaled long and slowly, watching smoke rings arc upwards, then spoke.

"My family has already married into the Red Thorns, otherwise I would put myself forward. If another were to do so, surely that would only make our bond stronger..?"
This message was last edited by the player at 10:36, Tue 02 June 2015.

This seems to please the Khan.



"The slave was not mine, but that of our Shaman. I will not order him to relinquish what he still holds. The slave has run away and may still be recaptured, though I do not think Banyak Bulu will interfere whilst you work for the Earth Witch." replies the Khan.



"It will indeed Salen of the bottomless lungs."

Accepting the pipe from Salen, Hoskar takes a more modest drag; still inhaling deeply; and looks to pass the pipe on further. He nods at the khan's judgement on Ohanzee then smiles at Kelab Besi's naming of his comrade.

Clear sight and justice. We will truly speak well of you, O Khan.

You'll appreciate we would want to free our friend, I have no doubt, and I am my mother's son...though I prefer a trade where everyone wins instead of a hard city bargain. Is there anything in which your shaman delights that we could offer him, maybe? Tellings of trickster and the darkness, perhaps? I have a rare lore-tale concerning jackrabbit and the long-noses that even my comrades haven't heard yet.

After some more idle but good natured talk the Khan wraps the parley up.

"Kobal I give you the next two weeks to think about the offer. When you return from working for the Earth Witch I expect an answer."

It's the signal for those Rangers present to leave the tent.

Standing Salen's aunt excuses herself, saying that she must return to the Earth Complex quickly to aid the Earth Witch.

Back at the camp, above the Giant Finger Holes, the other Rangers wait with the readied mounts. Greeshar, Sand Fox, Nixa, Leaper, Glama Golden, Peat Bog and Tarosh Long Neck, having observed the sudden appearance and disappearance of the Yelmalions have armed themselves just in case.

Anyone looking up in to the sky notices that the few clouds up there are moving rapidly away...

When it is made clear the parley is over Salen stands and bows to Kelab Besi, then turns and leaves the tent. Outside, the clouds are disappearing with undue haste, a sure sign that something is up with the Yelmalions down below. With undue haste of his own, Salen heads for the Earth Temple to join the others.

Tarnessh bowed to the Red Thorn Khan, happy that the parley had, to be honest, gone far better then he felt he had any right to expect. Then he heard about the Sun Domers and his fears were confirmed when he saw the clouds start to move faster then the wind. He followed the others as quickly as he could. Could Sun Hawk overpower their foreign god?

Those rushing down the slope of the smallest Hole, the way leading via a winding tunnel to the lake filled largest Hole, discover that the way is blocked by a blinding light, caused most likely by the Yelmalion party some way ahead of them.

"Well that doesn't help. Unless we can find another way around, or down, then they'll have to do without us."

Salen does however finger his rope, as he considers just how deep the other Holes are.

Amara bowed respectfully to the Khan of the Red thorns heading towards the Yelmalions. Her face twisted in a smirk. The sun was always defeated by the storm. Whether it be Orlanth defeating Yelm, or thunderbird and storm hawk. The storm always won. Amara called to the storm, to Orlanth, inviting to protect the Earth as he always did.


09:16, Today: Amara Brightsky rolled 76 using 1d100. Storm.
Except in this case

Joining his sister Greeshar lends his own powers to her attempts to hide the sun, but just like Henal below they fail, the few clouds there pushed back by the brilliance of Bright Treasure and this on Windsday too!

If only they could find their Kolati shamaness.

Kobal bows to the Red Thorn leader.  "Khan, I was surprised by your proposal.  This was not what I was expecting when I came to this parley.  Nor are you what I expected.  I see now why you are the khan of the Red Thorns.

He stands proudly.  "I am willing to marry your daughter.  This would be good for both our clans.  But I have a condition of my own.  I must meet with your daughter first.  It is not the way of our clan to arrange marriages where the brave has not met his bride-to-be before.

"As you know, we are here at the summons of the Earth.  Already, the Earth Witch expects our service.  I suggest we arrange a meeting with your daughter when our service has ended."



Kobal bows again, "I look forward to meeting again, Khan."  He turns and walks out with the others, to return to the temple.




The blinding light emanating from the Finger Holes obliges Kobal to look away.  He notes the clouds moving away unnaturally.

So the Sun Worshippers will petition the Earth, will they?  Ha!  It was only because of Waha that Bright Treasure rose again, after hiding in the Earth.

He drops to his knees, near the light, but not too close, and spreads his arms, looking up to the Air.

Thunder Bird, you bring the Storm
Wrap all in your great cloud wings
From the north gale
From the south lightning
From the east whirlwind
From the west thunder
I hear your voice in the wind

In reply to GM (msg # 526):

Tarnessh walked through the light, his unarmed hands held up in a gesture of peace. "We are in service to the Earth here." He reminded those inside as he entered.
This message was last edited by the player at 23:01, Wed 03 June 2015.