Smiling he steps between Tarnessh and Dark Claw, "He's not worth the hassle Dark Claw, so what do you plan to give me when I kill more chaos than you?" He scratches his chin, "though I feel its on fair to warn you that I've kill weird chaos before, it was this giant snail like beast, it had two heads, one of which spat this sticky liquid that almost killed me, but I cracked its shell with my axe and then hacked it to pieces."

"I have killed nine Broo in single combat, and have killed a beast that came from the Chaos Box for my initiation. If you win I will spare your life when it comes for us to kill you all."

The Morokanth's mood has shifted and he looks ready for a fight.

At this interruption the Morokanth checks his anger and accepts the proffered wine. As he drinks deeply his Gern crouch down, waiting for their master.

Flinging the empty gourd away the warrior then moves to a spot away from the flames of the fire and prepares an area as his own.

Looking to her companions Whispers looks torn between accompanying the Wandering Rangers on their quest and helping the sick Black Mud folk.

"What should I do?" she asks uncharacteristically, the question aimed at all though she looks at Amara.

"Fucking asshole." Tarnessh muttered under his breath.

The smile leaves his face and he's just about to respond when Hoskar interrupts them. He backs away from Dark Claw, only taking his eyes off him when he's a spear length away. He chuckles at Tarnessh's comment, "Tarnessh, I think we need lots of bright fires around our camp, to keep those big flies away." he winks at him.

Now that the dust has settled, it can be seen that there are several slaves with the Morokanth Shaman. Different from those seen in the adobe ruin yesterday. Two of them are staring at the Rangers with a mixture of alarm and hope.

Bright Treasure is setting far to the West and darkness quickly spills into the camp, set between tall jagged boulders and thirsty scrub. The wind has stopped and the heat of the day quickly vanishes, replaced by the welcome cool of the coming night.

Kobal is about to step in at Dark Claw's increasing threatening behaviour, when Ohanzee's toast seems to defuse the situation.  It doesn't stop him staring at the morokanth and his gern as they move to take up their own space.



"Wise One," he says, noting the irony that she is asking them - or at least Amara - for advice, "we are here at the request of the morokanth, so since Broken Claw has asked for your aid, it may be good to oblige.  While we'd certainly miss you, it would also put us in good stead with the shaman, as we may need his help again when we return, and he seems to have no love for Two Thumbs.  If you intend to stay, one of us could remain behind and help you."

Whispers' powers could certainly save them as they make their way across the Chaos blighted land, but if she stays and helps, a bond could be established with the Black Mud.  Kobal looks to see what the other Rangers think.

In reply to GM (msg # 655):

Tarnessh looked at the two slaves with open shock. "You have got to be kidding me." He muttered. Those two were from Corflu, and they would not be happy to see them.

"Stay, help them," says Salen, when Kobal makes his proposal to Whispers from the Sky. "If we require aid from you after we put paid to the Harpy menace, at least we know where to go. And as Kobal says, it would put us in good standing with the shaman."

When Tarnessh spoke Salen paid him little heed. He had already seen the two River People, and did not want to draw further attention to them. That Morokanth needed some comeuppance...

The older of the slaves, recognising the men from the boat, mouths the words

Help us.

"I think you should stay and help. Tarnessh has already offered to stay with you." he looks at the Sun Hawk "Unless in offering so quickly you were offering another's service without even consulting them?"

He glances at the two slaves and then talks quietly again "Your loss to our mission will be felt Whispers, and it is more than was asked, agreed and accepted so I think it would be expected that you get some recompence. Those two are from the boat and could be useful. Remeber they were sold cheap by the priest to make a good impression for his clan so no great loss to the shaman."

Whispers looks from Ohanzee to the two women, not having seen them before she doesn't understand the connection, but knows what is expected of her

"I'll do that, though it nerves me to stay here by myself."
This message was last updated by the player at 19:49, Mon 10 Aug 2015.

Amara nodded agreeing with Ohanzee "While it pains me to have you part from us, knowing that our need will be great in the times to come and I wish that we could help those here as well as have you come with us, only one of the two is possible. I think to further our goal, it might be best for you to help those here." Amara said the sadness at leaving her friend behind evident on her face.

"Ohanzee speaks truly, the morokanth here need the help against disease more than we will on our mission. Hopefully we can come back whole and clear of any disease after dealing with these harpies".

In reply to Ohanzee Shappa (msg # 661):

"I had thought he meant after we get rid of the Harpies." Tarnessh told Melock. "I have little ability to fight disease, outside of attempting to interfere with disease spirits." He noted.

In reply to Tarnessh Listens-To-Silence (msg # 665):

At least we've got these...things. He looks at the Morokanth fetish with a degree of suspicion. Plus one cure over.

He lowers his voice to be heard by the Rangers and Seza only And a bit of gratitude from the morokanth might help us help those slaves there on our way back: don't think there's anything we can do for them now without upsetting everything.

Kobal replies in a similar low voice.  "Our own clans have slaves.  I don't think there's much difference.  We should do nothing to help them that would damage our relationship with the shaman."  He tries to put out of his mind the involvement the Rangers had in those folk becoming slaves.

Whispers listens to what the Rangers say, and despite her better judgement agrees to stay.

"Will anyone stay with me? I do not wish to be alone with herders of men..."

Surprisingly it is Greeshar who answers

"Aye I will stay with you Seza. It will be an honour to guard you, especially with the ever present threat of Chaos."

He fixes Ohanzee with a leer when he says this.

Kobal nods in approval of Greeshar's volunteering.  "I know that with Greeshar here, you will be safe, Wise One."  Though the Storm Bull cultist is not the most diplomatic of people.

He claps the brave on the shoulder.  "We'll miss your strength fighting the harpies too.  But I'm sure that there'll be enough Chaos here for you.  Just remember: we are helping the morokanth here, and Broken Claw has been good to us.  So violence is not always the answer, haha."

Greeshar shrugs off the hand, but nods at Kobal's words, for he speaks the truth.

"Well with me gone you'll at least have a chance of killing some Harpies Kobal.

Good luck. I mean it."

"Thank you Greeshar." Tarnessh said simply. "We really appreciate this."

Amara hugged Greeshar and Whispers before parting with the others. She'd been looking forward to riding again with her brother and whispers, but it made more sense for them to stay and try to tend to the Morokanth.