In reply to Ohanzee Shappa (msg # 44):

"But unlike Ravens, they are bound by their word, and I think it covers any meeting with them." He thinks for a moment, "Shall we leave them to it then, and go and see if we can find the brave who put these on you? Personally I want to keep an eye on this lot, they can cause us more trouble than the Red Thorns."

Whilst the three braves discuss what is to be done the air begins to haze around the two groups of people. A ritual is taking place, ancient gods and goddesses meeting and jostling for positions of power.

Overhead Bright Treasure shines down on the lake, dazzling those not taking part.

"Lets make their truth rune work to our benefit, they cannot lie when we negotiate with them so they will at least be true to their word. If the Red Thorn shaman is our problem then where could we trap one of his braves to capture them and trade his freedom for Ohanzees?"

"That can wait, the Earth is being coerced, even if not directly attacked. If this battle is lost then the disc, the bargaining chip is lost. Send message through your spirits to the others, the Earth needs our support and as this is a hero struggle the way to do that is through gifting our souls to the Earth. My soul is shackled, I can give little." Even so he crouches down and places his left hand flat on the ground and a meagre gift flows from him.

In reply to Ohanzee Shappa (msg # 48):

"I don't have much left to give, I was generous with it to Gadesha." He looks up at the fleeing clouds and how much brighter, Bright Treasure is looking, "We can do more than add our spirits to this fight, with our links to Darkness and Henal's link to storm we should be able to dim the sky, thus taking away some of their power. I'll ask Emesh-Ga to let them know."

"My Lord, can you let the others know, that the Sun Worshipers plan to force their will upon the Earth Witch by invoking ancient rights. We need them back here as soon as they are able."

"Even though it is day time, lets see if we can make it a little darker and help the Earth Witch." He reaches out to Ohanzee, "Lets see if we are stronger together." He starts concentrating on his inner darkness, hoping to at least dim Bright Treasure's fierce gaze.

Henal starts to concentrate on the clouds using his runes and the thunderbird's link to the storm trying to dim Bright Treasure's glow. He bends and touches a hand to the ground to gift his spirit to the Earth.

Ohanzee tries to lend his support to Melock, tries to utilise his connection with Darkness, but again he is thwarted by the blocking shackles.

With little mythical link to the story and a lack of experience the three Rangers find that their attempt to support the Earth is unsuccessful.

The Sunlight is too strong and their opponents too powerful. Shadows that begin to form at the edge of the hole are pushed back by rays of light and the few remaining wisps of clouds are burnt away into nothing. Nevertheless their sacrifice is accepted by the Earth and goes towards aiding the Witch and her attendants.

"Psssst"

Someone is trying to get Ohanzee's attention from the tunnel they'd just left. Turning the three Rangers see that it is one of the Red Skinned braves. Barely visible behind him are several others still in the tunnel.

"I bring word from my master who waits inside. Give the Golden disc to him and your gear and Rhino will be yours again and I shall free you of your bracelets. My master swears by the Great Spirits that this will be so."

Ohanzee jumps a little at the noise and turning glares at the braves recognising the one who beat him and placed the bracelets on him immediately. The chance at freedom from the damn things is so enticing, but weighed against that is his distrust of the shaman and his personal guard. "Melock, Henal, call the others, especially Tarnessh. I am a Raven and I do not trust the word of a Raven given second hand." He adds the last as much for he ears of the brave as his friends.

It's a good deal, better than just my freedom that Tarnessh was about to agree to. Turning his attention to the Red Thorns he says "It is a reasonable trade, but I have been told my rhino was butchered. I do not want my beast back in bits so if it is dead I expect compensation for such a fine beast?"

He glances back at the ongoing hero struggle and then adds "I guess Banyak Bulu seeks the disc to trade with the Sun Domers. If this is true then he better decide on this bargain quickly because the Sun may well force the Earth to aid it and as we serve the Earth we must do as it orders."

"If you want more time to think on if I suggest you gift the Earth and strengthen it's cause."

"There is nothing to decide, I just told you his offer. There is no time to wait for others. Decide now or do you think one such as he would swear on the Great spirits and face retribution?

Your Rhino is alive and will be given with your gear."

"Yea or nay?"

Ohanzee considers a moment then turns to the other two "I have no choice. Shackled, crippled like this I'm no use." Then looking back at the Red Thorn "I believe he would not break such an oath, but I have only your word that such an oath has been given and I do not trust you."

"So I will come with you and when I see the Oath given I will bring the disc or take him to it as he prefers." He moves down the tunnel.

Henal follows Ohanzee into the tunnel.

"I will bear witness to the oath so that it is harder to break. If the other Rangers were here one of the Sun Hawks could make the oath stronger with the runes of Truth".

The brave escorts Ohanzee, Henal and possibly Melock in to the tunnel where they find the Red Thorn Shaman waiting for them. He's guarded by a handful of his braves, several of whom are carrying Ohanzee's gear.

"Your Rhino will be brought to your camp. It was kept within a tent" mentions the brave who then bows to his master, who nods once in reply.

Turning the Red Thorn approaches Ohanzee and releases the bonds upon his neck and wrists, whilst the shaman swears by Waha that he will hand over Ohanzee's gear, Rhino and free him in return for the disc.

"Now the Golden Disc..."

A red dyed hand is held open to accept the much sought after item.

Ohanzee suddenly feels the world about him more intensely again, hears the spirits clearly again as though water has drained from his ears. Still, there is time for the deal to fall apart if the Sun Domers prevail soon, so he starts heading for Gadesha straight away saying "I shall fetch it now, come if you wish."

Arriving at the elemental's cave he asks "Wondrous Gadesh, a deal is struck and the disc belongs now to the Red Thorn shaman."
This message was last edited by the player at 14:08, Wed 03 June 2015.

Melock decides to stay and watch the ritual between Earth and Bright Treasure. He moves to stand near the axe sisters as a sign of his support, but making sure he doesn't get too close.

Henal goes with Ohanzee to Gadesha's cave, and drops to one knee with bowed head.

I gift you some of my essence for aiding us Gadesha.

Followed by the shaman and his cronies, Henal and Ohanzee are rewarded with the slow appearance of the Golden Disc as it pushes up through the earthen floor of the entrance hall.

Of Gadesha there is no sign.

Despite the lack of Guardian both the Shaman and the Red Thorn braves look about themselves warily.

Ohanzee fetches the disc and moves back to the shaman holding it out and pausing ever so slightly at the last momement "You are obviously most revered by your people, a powerful man but unlike the two Raven shamen I have have been guided by so far. I do not like you but I respect you and the power you wield greatly."

"Because of this and because we are all Waha's people and these foreigners are not I tell you this, whatever price they have offered already you can likely get more now that they go through their quest whether they succeed or not. They have been looking for it for some time and lost people already in that search. It is very important to them for some reason, that they are prepared now to do whatever quest they are doing and leave themselves weak amongst our people is more proof of this."

The shaman accepts the Golden Disc off Ohanzee and gives the word to his men to hand over all of Ohanzee's gear.

He says nothing in reply to the Raven Brave, though there is the barest hint of a smile on his face as he turns and heads out to where the Earth contests with the Sun.....

Tarnessh moves easily through the blinding light, vanishing from his companions' view, but not for long as Kobal calls forth Thunderbird's aid in protecting his worshippers.

Clouds form to move resolutely across the azure sky, growing in strength with each passing moment. It's just enough to block Bright Treasure's glare, enabling all remaining Rangers, including the helpless Condors, to pass out into the main Hole.

Once there they see two groups of people, surrounded by a dome of magical haze, Tarnessh standing to one side, his arms wide in signs of peace.

For the moment no one pays them the slightest bit of attention, being too busy re-enacting an ancient story from the God Time...

Melock is also just visible to the South, those looking at him seeing that that he is being passed by a groups of Red Thorn Braves escorting what must be their shaman towards the mythical bubble before them. It's hard to tell exactly for in their midst is a burning globe of blinding light, held aloft by it's carrier.

Accepting the gear Ohanzee hurries after the shaman and his entourage, but then moves to Melock's side where he whispers to his fellow Raven brave.

In reply to Ohanzee Shappa (msg # 66):

He shields his eye from the glowing Yelmalions and shakes his head, "I can't handle that bright light" His hand slips in to a pouch on his belt and his fingers wrap around his darkness fetish, "This might help, or it could get me killed." He uses the fetish to summon a dome of darkness around the Yelmalions and then, if it works, runs for the exit to the surface.

Recognising the fetish as the Darkwall one Melock previously lent him Ohanzee gets ready to run if the Raven's plan works.

Ye gods that's bright...

can't see...

where am I being led now?

Ahh, a little shade...

what the...?

Thank you, Kobal: that was unpleasant, to say the least.