Midday

With Bright Treasure immediately above them, the Rangers are once more gathered about their mounts, gear already loaded, with enough food to last the journey there and back, and water to at least get them to where they were going. For the first time the braves had more than the usual Bison and Rhinos, joined now by three High Llama riders and a member of the Impala Nation.

The new braves looked proud as they mingled with their new colleagues, some shy, and others with chests stuck out.

Greeshar grumbles as he vaults on to his Rhino, happy to be leaving the Oasis, which to him was just a hotbed of rivalries, hidden motives and stupid politics.

"Come on lets go. Always the bloody Ravens that hold us up..."

Ohanzee slips the covered item he had recovered into the pack on his saddle before he likewise vaults onto his own mount. Grabbing at the opening left by Greeshar, always happy to try to wind up the bully "That's us Ravens, always there to hold you up when you would otherwise fall."

"Don't be too hard on them, Greeshar. Ravens are better tricksters then some others I've heard of. Apparently the strange Orlanthi's trickster is a terrible madman." He looked at Ohanzee and Melock. "Besides, our Ravens have never shied away from the consequences when the situation required it. They've both been more acquainted with death then they should be at our age."

Having accompanied the Rangers back to their camp above the Holes, the shaman readies her own Rhino, announcing that she will accompany them on their quest.

Her mount is laden down with interesting looking gear, fetishes, bundles of feathers, rolled hides and two extra large wobbling water skins.

The Blue Llama clan members come to say their farewells, promising to watch over the Rangers' spare herd beasts. Cantalas is there and does his best to avoid Ohanzee, thus averting any last minute problems. Hugging his son the elder passes over a tightly bound package into Peat's hands.

"Take care and use it wisely my son. May Foundchild guide your way."

Reining in his impatient Impala, Leaper hollers above the noise of the assorted animals "So north to Hoofcrack aye?"

Approaching his companions Sand Fox announces

"I just found out that a party of my people have set off for the Sandstorm Hills first thing this morning before dawn. Loyal men of the Shaman."

Ohanzee makes sure that he stays clear of Cantalas for the same reasons, no desire to add to the swellings and darkened bruises covering him, many of which are visible on his face only now that he has his gear back. On hearing Sand Fox he frowns. It irks him greatly that the shaman has sided with the Sun against the Rangers, especially given that Raven himself has shown the importance of the disk. And what only adds to this is that he has earned not only the gratitude of the foreigners but also the Earth Witch!

"Do you know what business they have there?" he asks his fellow Ranger "They left before the trouble over the disc so it can't be anything to do with that unless Banyak Bulu had prior knowledge about it or the Sun Domers."

As usual Salen quietly goes about his business, making sure everything is gathered and in place on Kohana. He doesn't need to worry about Mordy, because that mutt is always barking at something. Time to go skewer some scumbags, for Melock...

"It has nothing to do with the Yelmalions, they leave now towards the South. The Shaman's braves are heading to the hills where the Harpies are nesting. They plan to beat us there" answers his brother.

"Why?" Tarnessh asked as he started riding Grumpfy in the direction of Hoofcrack after making sure that the cowpeckers on Grumpfy's back were happy. "He already got what he wanted, and it doesn't make sense for the Earth Witch to geas two groups to compete with each other to do the same thing. Then we might fight and neither of us actually get rid of those damn harpies."
This message was last edited by the player at 15:26, Tue 09 June 2015.

"I think they plan to show us up" growls Greeshar, who has fallen in next to his Seza, Whispers in the Sky.

"Get there first and take all the credit."

"This has nothing to do with the Earth Witch."

When Cantalas comes to see them off Tarosh salutes him from atop Carross and says his farewell to his fellow Blue Llama's.
Looking down from his High Llama, "If the stories about you lot are true, it'll be them that's shown up." Thinking Kobal is the leader of the Rangers, he asks him, " So, where do you want me while we travel?"

Ohanzee nods "Makes perfect sense to me, the shaman hates us Rangers. Not sure why, but maybe because of the killing of his teacher, the Mad One."

"Whatever the reason he had me brought to him person like, had my rhino hidden in a tent to keep it secret and had me beaten too, more personal treatment than other slaves get."

"And if he hates us then his personal war party does too, anything says is law with them."

He pulls alongside Leaper, happy to look down instead of up all the time "It'd be nice to rescue them when they cock it up." and then a dark look comes over him "Be even nicer to take some fresh slaves!"

Amara said nothing as Ohanzee spoke, only looking thoughtful as he mentioned his treatment at the hands of the shaman. "We don't need to rush. The weaker the shaman is, the less his influence will be. If some of the shamans braves get there before us and kill some harpies then I see no need to rush in ahead of them. Our geas will be complete and the Red Thorns will have done all of the work. We're not in competition with the Red Thorns to aid the temple." she added.

Seeing everyone turn to Kobal, she headed out riding on the left of the main group as was her preference.

"Make a change from you cocking up won't it" laughs the Rhino brave.

Looking up at Tarosh Long Neck he growls

"You have the markings of a Thunderbird, which makes you okay by me. You seen much action?"

Kobal straightens after tending to Black Hoof and nods at Amara's words.  "Yes, I was thinking the same.  If the Red Thorns do some of the work for us, it might not be such a bad thing.  As long as they don't take all the glory...

"Sand Fox, Nixa, thanks for this news.  We must make good time to the Hoofcrack oasis, and then the Hills.  My grandfather once told me a story of the Hoofcrack, from his time searching out Chaos.  It is said that there the blood of Malia fell upon the Earth and scarred it.  My grandfather said that the people of that oasis are Chaos friends.  I don't know why then, the Earth Witch has suggested that we seek the help of the shaman there..."



Kobal turns to the llama brave with a smile, and looks up.  However, when he speaks, he raises his voice to address all present, particularly the new Rangers.  "Tarosh Long Neck, among our band we normally sort this out among ourselves.  Take whatever position you feel comfortable with.  However, I think it would be a good idea when we start out for new Rangers to mix with the veterans.  Let's not have all the llama riders together.  In that way, we'll all get to know each other better."

Then he walks to Cantalas and offers his hand.  "Cantalas, our thanks again for your help and hospitality before and now at these Giant Finger Holes.  We'll see you again in a few weeks.  May Waha and the Earth watch over you and you people."
This message was last edited by the player at 01:05, Wed 10 June 2015.

He nods his head, "Plenty!" he has a smug grin on his face, "Before we ran in to you lot, we raided some river folk, who were on their way to trade in that cursed place by the river," he spits, "I killed 3 of them. They thought they were safe, spending the night away from the bank, I wont forget the look of surprise that crossed the guard's face when he looked over and saw Carross," he pats the neck of his llama, "wading through the water with me standing on his back, the water was half way up his flank. Mind you the next thing that crossed his face was my axe."



He looks a bit shocked, "How the hell does that work? Who takes the blame when things go wrong?" He looks round at the Rangers, trying to choose who to ride with, a bit baffled by the sudden choice, "I think it would be better if the ones that have been here longer than I decide that."

As the Rangers are departing they find their way through the Oasis blocked by a small knot of Morokanth: Three females that Amara recognises from the High Holy day and the three males encountered hanging out under some bushes whilst watching their small herd of Gern. The same herd that are currently feeding on the shrubs and bushes about their owners now.

Also with them is Brinna, Salen's aunt.

"Rangers, these are your travelling companions and guides to Hoofcrack."

Six pairs of dark eyes watch the approaching braves and the small herd of Gern stop what they're doing, instead crouching down defensively.

Amara watched the Morokanth between narrowed eyes. "We both know there are differences between your clan and ours. Our mission and what we are doing for the Earth is more important than our differences, and I do not blame you personally for what was done to Kaonu. I blame Zakeen Two Thumb. It might not be today, or even in a moons time, but some day, if he dare shows his face around us, we will extract our revenge from his hide for what he did to Kaonu after we spared his life. We spared it once and it cost us dear, that mistake will never be made again." Amara paused for only a moment "If you need to tell him to run that we do not kill him, then please do so. I'd prefer not to spoil what we do in the name of the Garden with the blood of the kin of those we work with to restore it." Amara took a deep breath, cleansing her spirit, not realising and surprised how much anger she held towards Zakeen for that act of betrayal.

In reply to Tarosh Long Neck (msg # 19):

"You will need to learn how to make your own decisions." Tarnessh conversed. "Often we are seperated or have to do things that only we know how to do."

----

Tarnessh watched the Morokanth cautiously, feeling his skin crawl at the sight of the mindless Gern. "You heard what she said. I wasn't there when all that happened, so let's all be truthful with each other and we'll get along well enough."

Kobal smiles again.  "First come first served.  Whoever claims a position first for the day can have it.  Besides, this way, everyone does their best - otherwise they will only have themselves to blame, haha!  Usually, those of our braves who follow the Condor take the front.  Recently I have taken the centre.  Join me if you want, Tarosh."



Kobal groans inwardly when he recognises the three males.  Just our luck.  Red Thorns ahead of us, angry morokanth beside us.  I hope Henal doesn't try anything again.  And that these three aren't supporters of that cursed Zakeen.

He bows to the Brinna.  "Thank you, Wise One.  Working together, we will help bring the Green closer to bloom."

The Morokanth look suitably confused by what is being said, as if they have no idea what the Rangers are talking about.

One of the females raises a hand in greeting

"I am Sour Claw, and despite what sounds like bad previous dealings with my people, have no ill intentions towards any of you."

Seeing the confusion on the morokanths' faces, Kobal decides it's best not to mention Zakeen further.

"Sour Claw, thank you."  He looks mainly at her, but turns to address all the morokanth.  "I am Kobal, son of Colnar Three Steps of the Prairie Thunder bison clan."  Introducing the rest of the Rangers, he continues, "Melock, one of our brothers, is being revived by the Wise Ones.  He will re-join us when he recovers.  We Rangers also wish no ill on any of you.  We hope that all clans and all tribes can come together in future."

Looking again the Brinna, he says, "Wise One, we would be grateful if you would bless all our party for our journey."

Henal grimaces at the sight of the Morokanth, but seeing Brinna's introduction he rides up and speaks.

"Let us leave any past dealings between our people as the past and make this journey safe and rapid. Let Waha and Eirithra bless our purpose."

He nods and nudges Carross with his knees to get him to move next to Kobal, "Once I've settled in, I'll take a place on the flanks."
This message was last updated by the player at 06:56, Wed 10 June 2015.

Ohanzee yawns loudly and turns his gaze to the North as the others go about their wordy introductions and preparations. He says to Amara and Hoskar We should stop at the Rocklands to pray and at Rhino Gouge to check for messages from others of our clan, perhaps even other clans of our tribe."

"Time presses though and the Shaman's cronies have a lead on us. Perhaps we should delay this until our return."</blue>

His gaze then falls on the Morokanth and their gern and he urges Wihakayda slowly over towards the shrubs where the males are watching over their herd. Unlike his fellow Rangers he shows no more discomfort with them than he would with any other nomads in such a peaceful interaction. Of course he has heard the story of the others, but that to him is something that happened to someone he didn't know and to whom he had no ties, nor is it any more than he has witnessed Hoskar do nor heard of Greeshar doing.

Perhaps also their shared connection to Darkness helps and he says in a friendly way "Greetings, I'm Ohanzee Shappa. I'm curious, are any of your gern fighting trained, I've always wondered how they fight?"

The largest of the Morokanth braves, an Initiate of Waha and much scarred, replies

"I will gladly demonstrate what they can do when we are out of the Oasis Blue Arm. You are the one that has tasted slavery are you not?"

All three Morokanth braves fail to hide their obvious amusement at the Ranger, but they stop short of being outright rude.

Before Ohanzee can reply Brinna begins to speak.

Brinna nods at Kobal's request first approaching Hoskar, handing the brave a large package, made from a Sable skin sown shut.

"Give this to the Morokanth Shaman at the Oasis, and only to her. It is a gift from the Earth Witch and is to help sweeten the deal when you seek aid from her."

Salen is then given a leather satchel, heavily embroidered with the runes of Life "This is for you my nephew, take care and watch over your cousins Sand Fox and Nixa."

Finally she goes from beast to person to beast, anointing each with holy oil

"Blessed is Erambrath the first Bison....Mother of our Mounts.... and Blessings to Father Rhino, guest in our lands....Protector of his Children....High Llama, Impala and Morokanth too...."

"Erambrath walks the walk" chants the priestess "See how the ground trembles. Warriors of our people guard them well....See the dangers....Defeat the enemy....Come back strong."

Then once everyone is ready the large group heads out through the Red Thorn camp and out into the Wastes beyond.

Ohanzee falls silent as Salen's aunt performs her blessing ceremony and then when the ride out remains with the Morokanth riding alongside them as they walk their beasts. He isn't phased by their amusement at his history, being the butt of a laugh is as much a Raven's way as laughing at others. He speaks easily as they ride "It is true, I have tasted slavery and it is a taste that does not agree with me."

He smiles "I was taken by a dozen or so of the Red Thorns a day away from here when I was travelling alone to the Giant's Finger Holes. If it doesn't kill you you can learn form it and that is not something that will happen again!"

His smile broadens "And it could have killed me so easily, but I chose to speak of what I have accomplished and in so doing won the meeting ceremony and won my life." He wonders if the morokanth will take the bait and ask him what he has accomplished or show indifference.

Looking at the gern again he asks "Do you bind spirits into them, or even awaken them?"

As they pull out into the Wastes beyond the oasis one of the Three Morokanth braves pulls out two serrated bones and begins to rub them together. The noise is enough to make those hearing it shudder, and after a minute of rubbing the brave is rewarded by far off grunting and barks.

In the near distance another small group of Morokanth appear, a pack of Hyenas milling about their legs. Several of the beasts come bounding towards the Rangers, intent on welcoming their Morokanth travelling companions.

This new group consists of another three braves and eight fully grown and domesticated hyenas.




"Some are awakened yes, and trained to fight" replies one, his attention on one of the hyenas as it bounds up to jump in his arms.

"Ah Mauler it is good to see you again."

Reaching into a sack the Morokanth pulls out several dried Gern ears and throws them up into the air for the hyena to catch.

"Who's a good boy then?"

The young Raven brave laughs at the sight of the tamed hyena pleased to be reunited with it's master. "They're friendlier than the hyena that came when I summoned the ancient Hyena spirit. Still, they were good allies that night, side by side we fought a great pack of hyena broo and wiped them out. It is a shame so many of their numbers perished."

The Morokanth greet each other warmly, with the latest arrivals accepting the news that they were to escort the Rangers to their oasis with obvious reluctance.

Nevertheless they fall into place and once more the group continues on their journey, both groups mingling despite obvious differences and thus enabling Rangers to converse with their odd travelling companions if they wished to do so.

Whilst the other hyenas roam far and wide Mauler stays with his master for the moment, causing Mordy to jump up on to the back of Salen's Bison and the various Manul cats to hide well out of view.



Respect shows on the face of the Morokanth when he hears this

"You called a Hyena spirit? Who taught you to do this? The Spotted man?"

Ohanzee looks quizzically at the Morokanth as he repeats the mane in a questioning tone "The Spotted Man? No, I've never heard of him."

Before an answer can be given he continues "No we'd, the Rangers that is, had been trailed by hyenas for days, perhaps weeks if it was the same pack. Always out in the dark, always hearing them, sometimes even catching a glimpse."

"Between us we had debated why they were paying us more attention than is normal and Melock, my fellow Raven brave and I decided that the best thing to do was to ask them."

"So as the others stood guard a javelin throw away I performed a ceremony, sung a summoning song that I had composed, it... just seemed right, seemed to fit. Melock helped with gifting some of his soul to the calling."

He shrugs the shrug that is familiar to any who have spent time with him "It must have been right enough because an ancient and powerful spirit came along with the pack. We talked, we entertained, he spoke of aiding us in a quest that mingles with our own I think."

"And then the chaos things arrived. He spread a great purple magic through his children to aid them, those brave enough, strong enough to remain and fight whilst the rest vanished into the night." There is respect and even admiration in his voice as he remembers the night, something that he would never have dreamt of some few seasons ago.
This message was last edited by the player at 11:17, Wed 10 June 2015.

Tarosh watches the Morokanth with interest, not having had much experience dealing with them. Carross gets slightly spooked by the arrival of the hyenas, but after Tarosh whispers soothing words in his ear, while scratching between his ears, Carross soon calms down. When he gets the chance, he watches all the Rangers, trying to get a feel for the group. "You know Kobal, if someone had told me last season that today, I would be riding with such a mixed group to kill a bunch of harpies, I would have laughed in their face."

Tarnessh noticed the fetishes on the Morokanth. "I see you have fetishes that protect against disease. Those would have definitely come in handy when we were stuck in that Chaos Storm out in the wastes. Perhaps we could trade for these fetishes the River Folk gave us that repelled biting and stinging insects."

The nearest Morokanth shrugs uninterested "We are not bothered by either, unlike you we have the skin of true warriors. And our fetishes are not things to be given up to the first Sun fucker that comes along."

It's one of the Morokanth warriors, a gnarly fellow, who like his companions wears the mark of Darkness with pride.

Greeshar laughs out loud at this and begins to sing a song about how Thunderbird bested Sun Hawk, way back when the world was full of nothing but clouds, rain and thunder.

In the distance the Rhino Rocklands can be seen, appearing as if floating above the midday haze, before it scorpion filled badlands, little shade and almost no vegetation.

The Morokanths look unhappy, probably to Tarnessh's amusement, but their lead scout says that they are heading for a deep walled gully which will lead them through to the Rhino grasslands beyond.

From overheard chatter it seems that the darkness creatures plan to travel late into the night and early in the morning, resting up during the next midday sun. They're only travelling now because of their desire to put distance between them and the Giant Finger Holes for some reason.

During the journey Amara asks one of the Morokanth if there are any stories that can be shared about the Spotted Man. Given the groups problems with hyena, Amara thought it might be wise to learn more about this spotted man, if he was an adversary or if he could assist the band with resolving the issues of hyena trialing the clan.

"Yeah well, check this out." Tarnessh said, and then raised his hand and revealed the awesome power and utility of his opposable thumbs. "See, we have the hands of true warriors." Then he looked him square in the eyes. "And if you want this to work out well for you, you'll remember that. Keep in mind that since I'm bonded to Sun Hawk, that's not a threat, that's a promise. I've been nothing but welcoming, but the Sun burns darkness."

Ohanzee groans quietly at the exchange between the two, but when Tarnessh speaks of burning away Darkness he pipes up "Maybe the sun can push away the Darkness and maybe not. One thing is certain though, Darkness can exist without the light, but the reverse I'm not so sure about. When the Bright Treasure is about Darkness is still there, pushed under a tree or behind a rock but still there. Take light into a cave or bring it to the darkest of nights and you just make the Darkness just out of reach all the stronger for it's presence."

He leans down on his rhino to look closer at the hyena walking next to him alongside it's master.

"Do you have any pups to trade at your oasis?"

Tarosh joins in the singing, but in certain places in the song, he sings different words.
When he see's the shimmering rock lands, he points to them and asks the Rhino riders, "Have you been there?" He wipes the sweat off of his, mostly bald, head and then taking out a skin of kumiss, he has a deep drink then offers it to the other Rangers.

"I'm always up for debating philosophy with you, Melock. We'll just need to wait until we're at camp."

Ohanzee gives Tarnessh a strange look and then speaks very slowly "Me Ohanzee. You Tarnessh. Too much sun on your head? Get some shade." and then bursts into laughter.

The nearest Morokanth pays attention to Ohanzee, likely as they share similar runes, and that he'd managed to summon a Hyena spirit. This last bit of information soon spreads amongst the creatures.

Even so he's is quick in his response about the Hyenas "Boss'll never allow it. What you want one for? You'd better not be thinking about eating one..."



This elicits a grumble from the Sun Hawk's target and causes his friends to laugh "You've been burnt mate!"

Despite the comeback from Tarnessh the old brave doesn't rise to the bait, instead raising his short trunk in salute of the Sun Hawk brave acknowledging his win.



Perhaps surprisingly the rest of the day passes uneventfully, the gully being reached by mid afternoon and the rest of the day being taken up by travelling through it's high walled and shady way.

The Gerns are unsettling to watch, so similar to humans, though lacking in any intelligence greater than a Dog or Manul cat and far hairier than the most stereotypical Bison Rider. Several of them, a tad bit smarter than the rest, are employed in carrying gear and performing tasks that the Morokanths find unable to do.

At dusk a halt is called, time to rest, eat and make sure that mounts are okay before carrying on for another few hours in the dark.

The Morokanths huddle around a fire roasting what looks like several haunches of meat.

The Eirithan comes over to Amara

"Come sit with us sister and tell us about yourself and why you ride as a warrior."

Hoskar goes to sit with Peat Bog and Salen, whilst Leaper the Impala brave from the Thunder Clan sits down with Akala, Greeshar, Tarosh, Kobal and Henal.

Ohanzee finds himself with Tarnessh and Glama, the latter grinning widely at the Raven brave.

Sand Fox and Nixa are flirting with Whispers from the Sky, who though looking tired seems amused at their antics.

Amara nodded and joined the women, though she wouldn't eat any offered gern. She joined in the conversation and watched as they cooked, to see if there was anything she might use on other dishes. She hoped the food they prepared would not smell as good as the gern back at the Giants Finger Holes. When it came to the right time she began her story.

"I am Amara Brightsky of the SkyWatchers, and I have not always followed the path of the warrior. My mother would have had me follow in her footsteps and become a HerdMother. The story of how my path changed is a long one, but I can at least tell you the beginning. After Moonbroth our clan was all but lost. Once a powerful clan, those that survived Moonbroth were the old, the wounded and the young. Almost all of the men and women of the clan were killed or scattered to the winds. Our clan travelled in search of a place where we could begin to become strong again, but we still faced the dangers of the Wasteland. At one point during our travels our paths crossed with those of another clan. Tensions were always high between us, but there was safety in larger numbers. My younger brother Hakaris at the time always spoke what he felt and he was suspicious of those who travelled with us. He ridiculed the strongest braves and oldest women without pause. Eventually the time came for our clans to part ways." Amara poked the fire with a stick. "Without anyone travelling with us. All of our remaining warriors, wounded or not had to be sent out as outriders, to give early warning to the main body of the clan so no-one was left to guard us all and that's when Shiarn the Headstrong struck. One night he stole into our camp, stole some of our herd and to punish Hakaris, he stole him and took him as slave." Amara smiled sadly "There were only women and children and the Khan left in the camp. Even Greeshar my brother was with the warriors learning their ways. None of them were expected back for a day and we were expecting more attacks. Where Shiar struck and found it easy to steal herd and slaves, others would follow. I begged the Khan, I begged the Queen, I begged all around me to return my brother to us, but to no avail.... none would heed my call. So, because none would listen. I chose to go get him myself....and the story of that tale is longer than we have time here, but it marks the first time I chose the path I am on....and I prefer to think of my path as the path of the protector as opposed to the path of the warrior."

"So Leaper what made you want to join the Wandering Rangers? This is no easy path as the number of our comrades who have fallen would show, but there is glory there. Just on our journey to the Giant Finger Holes we slew many broo and scorpion men, and on our journeys before killed many more followers of chaos."

Henal asks while playing with Rikki, the manul cat pouncing on a cord he dangles through the dust like a snake.

After tending to Carross, Tarosh joins the other Thunderbirds. He sniffs the air and looks over towards the fire, "That meat smells good." When he see's Amara with the female Morokanth, "She cooks as well as fights?" The quick movement of Rikki catches his eye, "I'd watch out for the hyena's mistaking you manul for a quick snack."

"Waha's whiskers no!" Ohanzee replies in a shocked voice then "No, for the same reason as you, I recognise their potential, their value, as guards, for hunting, affinity to the Darkness."

He shrugs "I spoke with Ehawee and she gifted me a Skullbat to bind a spirit to and she served me well until she was killed by the spirit of a Basmoli hero. A hyena, like a dog but more sturdy."

"Maybe I'll try calling Hyena again if the boss'll say no."


Ohanzee realises that he's seen nothing of the Men-and-a-half since leaving the the camp days ago "What happened to the Agamori, did they not come to the Giant's Finger Holes?"

Tarnessh shrugged as he watched Tulox circling up in the air looking for food. "Depends on which ones you mean. There were the ones with the Sun People, and then the ones that we came to the finger holes with. I assume the ones we came with left on their own after the rituals and such were over."

"I didn't know that any came with the Sun Domers, I meant the ones we met on the way. Did you find out why they met us?"

In reply to Ohanzee Shappa (msg # 55):

Tarnessh looked back and forth sheepishly. "To uh...give us the Sun Disk back." He said while rubbing his arm.

Kobal nods in agreement.  "Yes, as Rangers we have seen and done many things.  First there were we Prairie Thunder bison riders and Skywatcher rhino riders.  Others joined - from the Black Shields and even the Red Thorns - who are enemies of my clan," he gestures towards Nixa and Sand Fox.  "We have fought Chaos time and again, visited Corflu, spied on the Lunars, met a sorceror from across the ocean, delved into Mostali dwellings, challenged Basmoli, aided an ostrich Khan.  With us, you will see and do more than a normal brave."  He grins.

Later at camp, he looks to the new Rangers.  "Leaper, Tarosh, tell us of yourselves.  My father is Colnar Three Steps, an elder of our clan.  His father Tarabula Lightfoot was once khan, and went twice deep into the Marsh to hunt Chaos.  Tarnessh there is my half-brother.  Our clan traveled different lands before the Moonbroth.  But we will take back our lands."

"I am a follower of Thunderbird, I crave excitement, new adventures and the prospect of fame. I am last in a long line of brothers and they each compete to see who is beast. I shall be the best. The greatest warrior of the Wandering Rangers and one day I shall knock down the very walls of old Pavis and take all that is within for myself."

At the mention of Broo and Scorpionmen he gets excited "Where we are now is a place famed for the Scorpion men. On our way here we killed two of them. I pierced one so many times that it ended looking like a cactus. Like any sane brave I fear chaos, but I shall never run from one."

He points at Henal's square shield "I want one of those as soon as possible. Square and stout...Though maybe not as big."

The three female Morokanths listen politely to Amara's story, offering her both meat and water.

"So...There's is bad blood between your band and our Boss. Why so?"

"Aye and they mentioned that they will still be close by and can be called by Tarnish's hawk if needed" replies Glama, Tarnessh's Sun Hawk sidekick.
This message was last edited by the player at 08:01, Thu 11 June 2015.

Ohanzee's curiosity is piqued "Why would they travel the Wastes to find us and return the magical disc to you Tarnessh? Any sane person would keep such an item for themselves. And how would they know who to return it to?!"

In reply to Leaper (msg # 58):

Henal laughs and replies to Leaper. "Spoken like a true Thunderbird! You will have to be behind me in knocking down the walls of Pavis to drive out the moon worshippers".

Pointing to his shield he continues "The wyvern hide is harder to get, but a square shield for the Earth is our symbol".

Leaper removes a Goanna from the coals of the fire placing it on a flat rock so he can begin cutting it into chunks. Passing a piece of the charred meat to Kobal he replies

"I'm a brave of the Thunder clan as you know, most of us follow the little brother and Thunderbird, unlike the rest of our people. Made us tough little bastards as it sometimes seems everyone wants a piece of us."

I was part of the escort of our Priestess to the Giant Finger Holes. We'd heard of you mob and I'd decided to follow my runes and see if you'd take me."

Prominent on his bald head is a rune of mobility.

He looks impressed, "That is a fine lineage and one that I can't better. Like most of the Rangers, I was chosen by Thunder Bird. While it shames me to admit, I haven't fought nearly as much chaos as you. I've personally killed a broo, five river folk and helped capture some sunny boy farmers." he points to his axe, "That was given to me when I became a man, a gift from my father. He claimed it, when he killed three zebra riding raiders who thought our clan was easy pray." he laughs, "Not one of their group got away." He takes a swig of kumiss and passes it around, "I'm glad to hear that we'll be traveling and doing more than those that have stayed behind, there are few women around and one needs to do big things to impress them."
This message was last updated by the player at 08:23, Thu 11 June 2015.

All too soon the coals are put out and the Morokanth set forth, sending two of their number far out ahead with the pack of hyenas as scouts.

It's a clear night, so the stars are visible and the it's still possible to see a little way.

An hour later the band are out of the gullies and boulder fields, heading across the Rhino grass plain before the Rhino Rocklands.

Sour Claw explains that they plan to hole up on the Western edge of the Rhino Rocklands, until the afternoon of the following day. It will still take several hours travel to where they plan to stop.

Those riding on Rhinos find their mounts gaining a spring in their step and the air taking on an unexpected freshness. It is a place of power where they now ride, filled with ancient spirits and magic.

In reply to Tarosh Long Neck (msg # 64):

Tarnessh raised an eyebrow at him saying that he killed River Folk. "Who...were these River Folk? Because we ended up befriending a group of them when we saved their children from mudsharks. We also learned that they were kin to the High Llamas through the grandmother, and they still had ties. They knew the Peaceful Cut." He looked into the fire then. "Also, I spoke to Sun Hawk on his holy day, and he told me that the River Folk were considered of the people." With that he sighed. "You'd think that always speaking the truth and being able to know when people were lying or not would make things easier, more simple, but in truth it's made things far more complicated."

"I have no idea who they were, we didn't bother asking their names before we killed them." he chuckles, "We're not stupid enough to raid her family, she has been known to help a few braves who ran a foul of those cursed lunars" He looks directly at Tarnessh, "What does it matter that they are of the people? We raid and kill other clans all the time."

As they clear the boulders a thought comes to Ohanzee and he asks Sour Claw "The harpies are even closer to your oasis. Have you had any problems with them taking your Gerns?" Then a thought comes to him Can they breed with Gern? but he doesn't voice that question.

Entering the grassland the magic, the power, the history of the place is so palpable that Ohanzee can almost taste it and he can certainly sense that Wihakayda feels it too. His rhino, larger than most almost feels like he would imagine an impala feels like to ride and the now positively nimble feeling mount picks up it's pace apparently eager to get to the front of the rhinos.

It's dark and perhaps he should hold Wihakayda back, but the feeling is intoxicating so he lets the beast walk on briskly looking about at the other Rhino Riders to see if they and their mounts feel it too and out across the darkness of the grassland.

And as he riders be begins singing song of praise to the Great Rhino.

Great Rhino
Father true
Man and beast
We honour you

Horn sharp
Head down
Thundering hooves
Shake the ground

When you charge
The ground shakes
When you charge
You enemies quake

Horn sharp
Head down
Thundering hooves
Shake the ground

Run them through
Send them flying
Pound them down
Hear their crying

Horn sharp
Head down
Thundering hooves
Shake the ground

Spirits come
Charge with us
Rhinos all
Kick up dust

Horn sharp
Head down
Thundering hooves
Shake the ground

Founding Father
Example to all
Watch us ride
Proud and tall

Horn sharp
Head down
Thundering hooves
Shake the ground

Tarnessh shrugged. "Just thinking, is all. When you're riding from place to place a lot, you get a lot of time to think about stuff, you know?"

Amara took a deep breath s she responded to the Morokanth woman. "Before we became the wandering rangers, we had still all been chosen by the feathered rivals. We travelled together as a band. We'd defeated Tripanander and our herd was safe from predation by Leaping Bears. We'd all developed a strong and friendly bond with one another. Our travels brought us this way as we set out to defeat the Red Thorn shaman who'd turned to chaos and we decided to stop by the rhino rocklands to pay homage to the Great Rhino....and also we'd hoped that there might be others of our clan there." Amara winced "There weren't but we managed to gather enough of great Rhino's attention that any who belonged to our clan must know it still exists. It is also why we hope to stop by the Great Rhino to see if any CloudWatchers heard the message and rode there....but that's a distraction from the story."

Amara looked out at the horizon her attention caught by something in the distance before she returned to the Morokanth women "When we arrived we met an irksome man who seemed friendly at the time. We were sharing food with him when Zakeen attacked. We defeated Zakeen and he seemed on good terms with the man we'd already met so after some assurances and offering Zakeen the hospitality of our fires, we visited the Earth Witch, leaving Kaonu to watch over our herd. While we were deep in conversation with the Earth Witch, Zakeen and Krakka conspired with each other. Krakka stole all of our rhino and gear and Zakeen took our brother Kaonu while our footsteps as wandering rangers were just beginning. Needless to say we were upset when our meeitng with teh Earth Witch had concluded. We split into 2. Most of us choosing to track Krakka, to regain our rhino and gear, and the other setting out to rescue Kaonu. While we recovered our gear fairly easily, the ranger that set out to recover Kaonu witnessed him being murdered by Zakeen. So... that is why Zakeens life is forfeit."

His eyes light up with understanding, "That'll be where your going wrong, too much thinking," he shakes his head, "never a good idea"

As his song of praise progresses his voice rises with the excitement of the situation, he can hear his own heart pumping loudly in his ears and even feel the strong heart of that of Wihakayda below him starting to race with excitement as the rhino picks up the pace.

With each verse, with each chorus the beast speeds a little more and when it is over the rhino needs no encouragement to break into a gallop, Ohanzee on his back calling through the night air with ululations as he breaks from the group and honours Great Rhino in the purest way, in a rhino charge!

Sour Claw has kept pace with Amara whilst she talked, her features hidden by the darkness. A darkness which Ohanzee finds that he can see far better in than usual, his connection with his rune particularly strong.

"That sounds like our Khan, though it surprises me that he killed someone in cold blood. Well you are not exactly our friends so this can be expected out here in the Wastes."

The Morokanth doesn't seem at all apologetic for her Khan's actions.

In answer to Ohanzee , before he galloped off, she says "They have bothered us yes and I petitioned the Earth Witch for help...And here you are."

She sounds particularly pleased with herself.

Greeshar needs no encouragement and is soon thundering after his fellow Rhino rider, his own bellows joining the ululations that now fill the night air.

"They told me they were directed to do so in a vision from the spirits telling them to find those of the four feathers that roam the Wastes, referring to us. Apparently it was our destiny to find it and their destiny to bring it to us. Now the other Agimori are working with the Sun Country people and they worship Yelmalio, the winter sun god of that land."

Unable to help himself Hoskar joins in too.

The Morokanth stop walking to turn and stare at the three Rhino Riders as they gallop off into the night..

After a few moments they continue to move, though they have increased their speed.

"Everyone know we here now..."

Amara shrugged as she rode beside the Morokanth. "It is the rhino way. Let everyone know we're here."

Sitting around the campfire, Kobal nods to acknowledge the boasts of Leaper and Tarosh of their deeds and those of their family.



Tarnessh and his strange thoughts again, Kobal thinks to himself, as he observes the exchange between his half-brother and Tarosh.

Then again, as Rangers we are to unite the Wastes.  Maybe this raiding and feuding will have to change for that.  He shakes his head, as if to banish the ideas.  Now I'm getting strange thoughts too.



As the party continues on its way, Kobal looks out for any areas where it might be good sow melon seeds, particularly where there are signs of water or substantially more vegetation.  On the odd occasion, he stops Black Hoof to get down, quickly plant a few seeds, and then re-mount to catch up with the others.



He doesn't know rhino ways, but Kobal knows a good song when he hears it.  When Blue Arm has finished his song, Kobal clashes his lance against his shield in appreciation, even as the rhino riders are galloping away.

He turns to the male morokanth and says to them.  "We have not fought harpies before.  What can you tell us about them?  What are their weaknesses?  How do they fight?  How is it best to defeat them?"
This message was last edited by the player at 02:10, Fri 12 June 2015.

Sour Claw laughs "Well let's hope the local Broo are too tired to fight. You Rhino riders will be strong whilst under the watchful eye of the great Rhino, so I think we have little to fear, though we should stay alert."

The gnarly old veteran grunts "Until I saw them a few weeks ago I'd never known they existed. We'd go after them ourselves but we can not climb."

He seems annoyed about the fact.

"They stay out of missile and spell range unless they can surprise us, then drop rocks and cast their charms. The first time they distracted the herders and a second group took our Gerns. It did not happen so easily the next." They are fearless, hardy and are vicious fighters."

Greeshar, Ohanzee and Hoskar eventually return, invigorated and jubilant, a mood matched by their cumbersome mounts who stamp and roar.

Possibly because of the this show of strength nothing comes near the group of travellers and just before dawn they find themselves winding in amongst the tall, imposing rocks of the Rhino Holy place.

A place to camp is found, tall sided rocks giving ample shade helped by a copious amount of vegetation centred around a deep, water filled crevice. There's sign that others have stopped here in the past, both Rhino and other members of the many Tribes of the Wastes.

There's recent Ostrich spoor, about a week old, some Hyenas, and Bison from sometime in the last season, everything else is from before. The grass is abundant, as are signs of both Jerboa and Manul, their tracks zigzagging beneath the Saxual, Tamarisk and other smaller shrubs. Kola spies a healthy crop of Water Melon, immediately picking up the shimmer of Checheh as he flashes from fruit to fruit.

The Morokanth immediately begin to water their herd beasts, setting up camp at the same time, securing good shady spots to wait out the coming sun....

The newest recruits, Tarosh, Leaper, Galama and Peat, take on the job of watering and then guarding the mounts, sorting out their own watch rotation, leaving the rest of the Rangers to rest, eat and do what ever they need to do.

Bright Treasure, newly arisen in the east, has yet to rise high enough for it's rays to light up the Wastes to the west of the rocks, and it's from there that Kobal, Salen and Henal both hear noises as if something, or somethings are approaching from the darkness.

There's the clink of metal, and the shuffle of feet.

As dawn breaks Tarnessh feels the need to avoid the shadows and soak up some of Bright Treasures rays, a need mirrored in Glama Golden who looks to be waiting for his fellow Sun Hawk on the edge of the camp.

"I wish to greet the first rays and send prayers of thanks."

In reply to GM (msg # 84):

Henal stands trying to stay silent, picking up a javelin and motioning with his hands to not speak and pointing towards the rocks. He looks round the others to see if any others are readying themselves.

Several of the male Morokanth are stirring, reaching for weapons. Their Hyenas have been taken further into the rocks to the East with one of the males, looking for game.

Ohanzee takes his digging stick from his gear as well as the rolls of Saxual bark that he carries on his rhino. This bundle he drops into the water filled crevice tying it off so that he can pull it up without risk of it sinking beyond reach or floating away. Straightening, he is about to go sit under the Saxaul with the digging stick when he spots the behaviour of the male Morokanth and then Henal.

The brave moves back to his gear in the shadows and takes up his crossbows readying them and making sure that he has his speedart matrix at the ready too as he watches for enemies. He also pulls out one of the two gourds of brewed Goyo blade venom ready to apply that to the crossbow bolts.

"Do not be surprised, for Amara spoke truly. I was the Ranger who saw it happen in front of my own eyes, as Condor is my witness."

Salen looks at Sour Claw only long enough to say his words, but his expression is neutral and his words bear no malice. He had no grumble with her, at least not yet.

---------

At dawn the next morning Salen hears the same noises as dome of the others, and he reaches for his javelin in preparation.

Tarnessh got up and smiled at Glama. "That's a good idea. I'll join you." He said, and prayed to Sun Hawk with Glama as Bright Treasure dawned.

From out of the darkness comes a welcoming bellow, answered by one of the now surprised looking Morokanth.

"A group of our people..." he says, advancing with uncertainty towards the noise.

Ohanzee continues to prepare the crossbows noting the uncertainty of the Morokanth who moves towards the bellow Better prepared than not. Still, he holds off applying the venom to the bolt points as he waits to see what will transpire.

From the shadows appear a group of Morokanth , eight in number, leading a pack Bison, two Gern and a short line of shackled humans.

"Hallo" comes a call from a very large male at their front, a massive maul resting on one shoulder "What have we here, Morokanth and Humans setting up camp?....Ah Black Mud folk and friends...."

He's all Morokanth smiles, but there is a sinister air about the creature, not helped by his menacing companions, one of which holds a heavy crossbow aimed at Ohanzee. Leading the Bison is a female, cloaked and covered with fetishes.

Slavers.

Having climbed up on top of one of the high rocks, high above the camp, the two Sun Hawk braves welcome the first rays of sunlight as Bright Treasure appears. Forcing back the night, the light heralds a new day, filled with what ever fate might have in store for the Rangers and their companions.

Which at that precise moment seems to be three very fast approaching shapes, diving down from above....

Tarnessh nudged Glama and pointed to the rock crevices they could hide in from the harpies, being careful not to say anything to give away where they were. He climbed towards those crevices and watched, hoping the harpies wouldn't attack the camp.

Slavers! Even before his own time as a slave Ohanzee had a distaste for their type. To take slaves in raiding and put them to work was one thing, something in the natural order of things in Prax even. But to make that what you do, to take and trade in slaves as a way of living instead of beasts, that was just not Waha's way!

He remains still though, giving the Muddies the chance to speak and not raising his own crossbow though not relinquishing it either.

Henal watches the Morokanth slavers warily, but makes no threatening move with his weapons.

"Welcome you in peace. The wilderness often makes for unusual travelling companions as safety from chaos can be hard to find without them."

"Tulox, tell the rest of the familiars that there are harpies about, and coming closer to us!" Tarnessh told his familiar, who did so.

The three indistinct shapes are upon Tarnessh and Glama far quicker than anticipated, Both braves diving for cover in amongst the many crevices atop the rock.


Whilst Glama makes it to safety Tarnessh finds himself mistiming his dive and slamming into a jutting piece of stone, it's probably what saves him from being snagged by the outstretched talons of what seems to be a giant bird. Despite the lucky escape the fall winds the Sun Hawk brave and he finds himself looking up into the face of an extremely vicious looking female, albeit one with a halo of burnt brown feathers about her head.

Hissing, the Harpy flaps her massive wings, one clawed foot grabbing hold of Tarnessh's arm. At her side another one lands sending a green enveloping fog of befuddlement at the brave which sends his mind reeling in bewilderment.

Down below those with familiars receive Tarnessh's warning.

"Backs against the rocks, Rangers! We have incoming!"

Immediately aware of Tarnessh's message passed via Tulox and Mordy to him, Salen calls out to his fellow Rangers - the rest can take care of themselves. He hefts his javelin in two hands and braces for a diving harpy - seeing a sharp point coming their way might give them second thoughts.

Tarnessh wheeled, stunned from the green smoke, and then suddenly grasped. "Disgusting!" He slurred.

Eager not to get a crossbow bolt from the Morokanth slaver in him as he is about to raise his own weapon Ohanzee translates Salen's warning and the warning heard by Eyota for the Morokanth "HARPIES!" Then looking skyward he tries to spot the targets.

Having been guarding the mounts, Tarosh fails to notice the others reacting to the noise of the slavers, but when they become visibly, he readies his axe, but stays at his post. When the call of harpy goes up, he looks skyward, but keeps his axe in his hand, ready to lash out at any that come with in range. If they grab any of the Rangers, he will use his charm of slowing on that harpy.

Henal looks up with his javelin readied, but will cast a spell of confusion onto a harpy coming at him first.

The newly arrived Morokanths stop where they are as soon as the shout goes up, everyone's eyes fixing on the thin band of blue sky above them.

Dark shapes soar back and forth, visible for fleeting moments as they fly across the twenty metre wide gap. It's hard to tell exactly how many of the Harpies there are.

Salen has his bow out, realising that only Amara would be able to throw a javelin high enough to hit anything at that height.



Meanwhile up above, the Harpy that has hold of Tarnessh grabs his other arm and begins to flap her foul smelling wings intending to take off with her prize.

It's not to be though for as she rises, Glama leaps up from his crevice, grabbing his companion's flailing legs and starting a frantic tug of war. The Harpy is left hovering  thirty metres above the camp, now in full view of everyone below, Tarnessh firmly in her grip, but unable to fly anywhere thanks to Glama Golden's firm hold.

The other two Harpies still on the rock explode upwards in alarm, loose feathers bursting outwards as they take flight.



A Harpy comes in to view, hovering with a limp looking Tarnessh in her talons, his legs being held on to by a near hysterical Glama.

Filling the air comes a shower of feathers, followed by the pitter patter of guano hitting the sandy floor of the canyon. It's bright green and stinks to high heaven...
This message was last edited by the GM at 18:29, Fri 12 June 2015.

"Fuck me....What the fuck is that??"

It's the very large Morokanth slaver, who stepping forward reveals himself by both tattoos and ash markings to be a Rune Priest of Waha. His spiritual power goes before him, felt as a physical wall by those closest. He's pointing at the hovering Harpy with an Iron spear, the maul held by his other hand, still resting on his broad shoulder.

He's covered in head to toes with white ash, with the runes of Mastery and Death very prominent. Those Rangers with bound spirits are instantly informed that one of the Gerns is his allied spirit, presumably the one armoured and carry weapons. A fact not lost on Salen who had seen one just like him cut Kaonu's throat all those weeks ago.
This message was last edited by the player at 19:33, Fri 12 June 2015.

Amara quickly stood on Thunderfoots broad back. Her footing sure and certain as she raised her javelin. She whispered to the javelin "Seek out the heart of those that would harm those under our protection" and added the charm taught to her before sending the javelin into a high arc towards the harpy.

Amara's javelin streaks upwards, closely followed by two arrows fired by Salen and Leaper, adding to the charm already flung by Henal.

There's a loud squawk, an explosion of feathers and the Harpy begins a badly controlled spiral towards the ground. Just before being hit she'd been forced to let go of Tarnessh, thanks to Glama's better grip, and now the Sun Hawk brave finds himself swinging into the side of the rock face, upside down and held only by the ankles by his companion.

As it falls the Harpy takes another hit, this time from Ohanzee's crossbow, the bolt slamming into a wing, causing it to crumple and the creature to hit the ground of the campsite with a bone crunching thud.

Salen can see his arrow jutting from a leg and Amara that her javelin took it cleanly in the shoulder. Leaper can only curse at his miss.

Looking up all can see that Tarnessh has flipped over in his controlled fall and is now hanging by his hands on a pretty much sheer, thirty metre high rock face. Glama having let go of his ankles seems to be busy now in fending off attacks from several other Harpies just out of sight.
This message was last edited by the GM at 12:25, Sat 13 June 2015.

With one harpy downed and many more up and out of sight, Salen decides to go meet them, as Glama may need all the help he can get. He slings his bow over his shoulder and begins climbing as quickly as he can, keeping an eye out for trouble as he goes.

Henal seeing the falling harpy and the sounds of struggle from above runs to grab a rope then  head up towards where Tarnessh is hanging from the rocks, but with his javelin readied. He casts spells of warding against magic and protection while he moves around.

"We need to help Glama and Tarnessh, lets get up there and deal with those harpies".

Tarnessh climbed up to help Glama, taking his sling out of his pack and grabbing a rock from the ground. It wasn't as good as the ones he had collected, but it would have to do. He flung a rock at the closest harpy while it's back was turned.

Scooting up the rock like a lizard, Salen reaches the top at the same time as Tarnessh pulls himself up. The two braves find Glama struggling between three hideous creatures. A mixture of giant bird and human, none of them are exactly the same: A human head here, a bird head there, cruel Hawk talons on one replaced on another with human legs and feet covered in coarse hair and gnarly toe nails, cracked and covered in filth. What they do have in common is feathers, wings, their gender and an overall look of evilness.

That and the stink.

Overhead another six of the creatures ride the thermals, greeting the appearance of the two Rangers with loud screeches and vile insults. In one fluid motion Tarnessh scoops up a rock and with his whirling sling sends it into the back of one the Harpies head, dropping it to the floor dead.

The other two take off with a strangely limp Glama, who looks to be completely befuddled by the whole situation.

From above comes the swishing sound of incoming darts, whilst added to the shouts from below comes the thud of Henal landing on his arse.



Ohanzee finds that the Harpy on the ground is quite dead, face frozen in pain and rage. It's still snarling mouth showing rows of sharp teeth and a bright blue tongue. It's female, evident by it's bare chest, but the rest of it is covered in brown, black tipped feathers, with any skin showing to be of a burnt orange colour. A crude belt about it's waist has an even cruder pouch hanging from it, and the Raven brave can only react in disgust as he realises that it's made from human male genitalia.

Too late.

Although he had made the ascent as quickly as one could, Salen could only watch as two of the harpies carried Glama away. Well, there was one other thing he could do - he activated one of his runes and fired an arrow after them.
This message was last edited by the GM at 19:54, Sat 13 June 2015.

Tarnessh roared in rage and slung more rocks at the harpies in anger, not even bothering to cast charms.

Glancing skyward now and then to check for Harpies remaining in view and range long enough to aim at Ohanzee takes his bone knife in hand and cuts the scrotal sac free this throat and groin instinctively tightening.

Dragging it away with the blade he cuts it open.

It spews forth a mass of maggots, which instinctively move towards the nearest life source...There's a glint of gold and silver in amongst them all...A ring and several coins by the looks of it.

Tarnessh's barrage of hastily flung slingshots zip past the Harpies, succeeding only in making them change course and straight into the better aimed shots of Salen and Leaper far below.

Salen's shot takes one Harpy in the head, causing it to drop like a stone, Glama's arm dropping from it's grip. This causes the remaining Harpy to screech in alarm and to veer off away out of sight from those below. Coming to it's aid are three other of the vile creatures, one flying straight into Leaper's barrage of multiple magical arrows.

A puff of feathers and this one smacks into the rock face, sliding downwards to leave a trail of blood smeared across it's surface.

The two others get to their over burdened companion, sharp talons grabbing hold of a now terrified and screaming Glama

"Heeeeelp meeeee" he shouts as the Harpies carry him off, bare metres above the high rocky outcrops of the Rocklands.

A disrupt from Salen hits one, causing it to let go, but it's not enough to stop their escape. Turning he finds that Tarnessh has stopped to pull a crude dart from his leg armour,  the only one of many thrown from above to actually hit anything. Thankfully it failed to penetrate, which when examining the filth covered tip is a lucky fact indeed.

Finally with one last barrage of insults, deposits of guano and badly aimed darts the rest of the Harpies fly off North Westwards.

Ohanzee empties his guts at the sight and stench instinctively stepping back from the maggots.

The most recent Harpy to hit the ground is quickly clubbed into the afterlife by several of the nearest Morokanth. The Creatures immediately cleaning their weapons with both water and fire.
This message was last edited by the GM at 10:54, Sun 14 June 2015.

Recovering from his vomiting as he goes Ohanzee fetches some dry grass and kindling as well as a burning brand scatter over the maggots and loot to cleanse it.

"Tulox, can you follow the harpies from a distance? We need to make sure that we can find Glama" Tarnessh told his familiar as he began the climb downwards.

"Can do, though I can only go so far" he replies before flying off in pursuit.

At the base of the rock he'd attempted to climb Henal watches as the third Harpy to be hit slides down the rock face to land at his feet with an unnerving squelch. From it's corpse rises a cloud of fat flies, which quickly move towards the startled brave.

Powerless due to the range of the Harpies, the rest of the Wandering Rangers can only mill about, either protecting the camp or trying to contain the newly arrived Morokanths.

Two of them have already advanced in to the camp, poking their noses about and staring down the other Morokanths when they look like trying to stop them. Their Priest follows, swaggering in as if he owns the whole place...

Shooting down a Harpy would normally be a cause for celebration, but from high up on the rocks Salen can only watch the rest of them fly away with Glama. They would have to set off in pursuit as soon as possible to have any chance of saving him.

But, down below, Salen can see the other Morokanth noseying into the camp. He aims a warning arrow down at them, and calls to the others.

"Tell them to get out of our camp...or else."

After a minute of climbing back down, Tarnessh ran to the others, panting a bit. "We need to get after those harpies now. They've got Glama and I've got Tulox following them."

Amara wasn't focussing on the new morocanth arrivals. She was more concerned about what might happen to Glama. She nudged Thunderfoot with her feet to give chase after the harpy. Intending to hit it with her javelin when there was a chance Glama might survive the fall.

Being both glad that he wasn't attack by the stinking harpies, but disappointed that he didn't get to kill any of them, Tarosh vaults on to Carross and chases after Amara, intent on keeping up with her and getting a chance to kill harpies. If he gets close enough to the harpy carrying Glama, he will try and slow it down with a charm, followed by a charm to make it fight so it doesn't run away.

Retching and beating off the flies Henal runs back to the mounts.

"Lets get after Glama and get him back from the harpies".

Tarnessh mounted up with Henal and Amara and went off after the harpies.

Greeshar was sniffing around one of the Harpy corpses when his sister rides off, and as he leaps on his Rhino he shouts out to those remaining "They're Chaotic...The bird women....Chaos..."

And then he's gone in a cloud of grit and sand.

Whilst Tarnessh was clambering down the rock face and Henal was swatting flies, Ohanzee was burning maggots and disease away from the rotting scrotal sac, flicking escaping maggots back to the flames and firing the knife blade too.

Now he slips the knife back in his belt and tips some water on the burning pile eliciting a small but satisfying cloud of steam to rise from the quenched pile.

Then Salen shouts his warning about the slavers, Tarnessh arrives at the bottom and tells of Glama's predicament as he rides off, Henal urges riding and does similar then Greeshar shouts of chaos and rides off like the wind.

Ohanzee grabs the now shining, fire and water cleansed coins and ring slipping the former into his own pouch and the latter onto the middle finger of his left hand.

Looking at the swaggering Morokanth he is torn, to run down the chaos is the Nomad and Ranger thing, but they are flying and will rise above even Amara's arm if they haven't already. Then again their task is to rid the place of the beasts, but that task is at the behest of these Muddies by all accounts, so deserting them to slavery would seem a poor performance of that duty.

This slaver is a damn priest of Waha and he would ignore Chaos for his own gain, what of his strictures! Maybe a subtle reminder of them? The Raven brave returns to his mount and gear at a jog shouting as he goes "Greeshar follows the Bull, he knows Chaos when he smells it by Waha!"

He grabs his square Wyvern skin shield, Bambled's before him. Torn again, to mount his rhino in this most holy of Rhino lands or to stand on the ground? I am a Wandering Ranger of the Sky Watchers! He vaults onto Wihakayda and rides the same way as Greeshar but after making enough distance to charge he wheels his mount and stops.

"We are Wandering Rangers!" he shouts. "We are swarn to destroy Chaos." as he points with his lance towards those chasing the harpies. But then he swings it around to point at Sour Claw "And we are sworn to protect the Earth too by oath to my brothers and to Emesh-Ga. And I swear now by Great Rhino in his place today I will protect the Earth from her enemies, whoever they may be!"

At Ohanzee's call the rest of the Wandering Rangers vault on to their mounts and charge after those at the fore. The Hunt is on.

As they leave, the Black Mud Morokanths begin to protest, shouting after the Rangers as they go

"Stop!"

"You'll never catch them!"

"They live many days ride from here!"

The newly arrived Morokanths on the other hand move forward, ignoring Salen's warning shout from above, the Priest going forward to greet Sour Claw and her braves, who bow to the priest in respect.

Out front Amara weaves her way through the winding ravines and gaps between the massive slabs of rock, instinctively knowing the best routes to follow the Harpies above. Due to the height of the rocks it's hard to keep them in sight, but with Tulox's help the Rangers know that they're flying straight and ascending slowly.

The majority of the Harpies are ahead, with the two carrying Glama at the rear, still only just clearing the tops of the highest rocks, and those Rangers at the front of the posse can see that the Sun Hawk brave is struggling hard. Both Birdwomen are screeching in protest, which grow in volume as Glama breaks free of one of them, causing his sole captor to begin to descend rapidly out of sight, instantly followed by her enraged companion.

Digging their heels into the flanks of their mounts the Rangers quickly come across their quarry...

A stand of tall Tamarisks fills one end of the twenty metre wide ravine, the rest  a scrub filled sandy area. Centre spot is Glama, sat astride his captor, bleeding from multiple wounds but still able to stab the creature repeatedly with his knife. The second Harpy hovers just above his head, gnarly feet trying to get purchase on the brave.

It's then that Tarosh's demoralising charm hits it, a look of confusion replacing that of rage.

"The other Harpies have stopped and are coming back" reports Tulox.

Retrospective

On the ride to the Rocklands, Hoskar has been going through the motions, not his usual voluble self at all. Even when alone with Salen and Peat, he's been more condor-alone than Issaries-talker; a pensive mood upon him from the failure to extract Melock from the pool in time to save him. So it's all down to Serpent Tamer now...but why?...seemed to throw his life away between a jest and a wink...no need for that...so much for never having a bad plan...could he be up to something?...with death itself, don't be silly man...wonder what it feels like...miss his humour on the march...cat will miss Taya too...why were we too slow?...silly ass for jumping...oh Issaries guide his spirit back.

Even the freeingly-frantic ride into the Rocklands, Ram seeming to cast away his years as he frisks in Greeshar's wake, raises no more than a passing joy like the glint of sunlight on a dull-grey march through the mist, but that at least is a beginning...

Contemporary

...so when new arrivals happen he's fuddled, too slow in camp to meet the Harpies' initial attack, but sufficiently present to greet the Morokanth arrivals from Ram's broad back.

Well met, Wahanos of honour; foes together of the chaos up there. From a rhino in the rhino place, I hope you'll be welcome. Little help with those flying pests might be nice he cries with a hurried smile, trying to decide where best to turn; shield in hand as a symbol of earth-service but as yet no weapons drawn.

The Morokanth priest returns the greetings, having stopped momentarily when Ohanzee had begun hollering.

"Ho ho...These creatures tried their luck on us a half hour ago. Took two of my Gern before we drove them off. Help you? Well there's not much we Morokanth can do against flying beasts that live in the Mountains. I'd heard that they were plaguing the area and it is why I travel now to Hoofcrack to see what can be done."

Hoskar can't help noticing the way the creatures is evaluating his worth whilst talking. Black beady eyes sweep over the Condor brave obviously summing up whether he'd make a good slave or not.

"I am Barosh Bosh, Priest of the White Ash clan...Who are the Wandering Rangers? I have not heard of you before, though I detect that you have an ancient guardian with you..."

In reply to Barosh Bosh (msg # 136):

Inclining his head respectfully, Hoskar stays back; wary; relying on Ram's speed and general tetchiness shoud there be any unpleasantess here.

It's a long story, worthy Barosh; one I hope we'll be able to tell you in friendship. The short version is we follow the Copper Knight path with the great Emesh-Ga in service to the earth and are also heading to Hoofcrack to sort out the menace for the sake of all the tribes. Maybe we can help one another in this: aid unlooked-for is like a drink in Fire Season: refreshing benison.

As for what you can do, we too do not fly; yet guile and magic and honest worth can find out many a foe and destroy flying foulness.
This message was last edited by the player at 15:46, Mon 15 June 2015.

Tarnessh kicked Grumpfy forward and gave Glama a lift up onto Grumpfy's back. "Ready for some revenge?" He asked the fellow Sun Hawk with a slightly unnerving smile.

At Tarnessh's approach the remaining demoralised Harpy flies upwards to escape. The rest of the Rangers left with nothing to attack, thunder past, halting just before they reach the stand of Tamarisk.


"My leg is broken...Thanks for coming after me" replies Glama.

Up above the remaining flock of Harpies on seeing one of their number rocket upwards and the large group of mounted braves in the ravine, wheel around and fly off to the North West.

Turning to watch his companions come into the camp and ordering one of them to water the slaves, Barosh then answers Hoskar

"Well if they come back we will fight, for now my people are tired and must rest. We've been travelling all night, much like you I reckon."

He then returns to Sour Claw, and goes to sit in the shadows to talk with the other Morokanths.

One of the Black Mud folk is already out hunting with the hyenas and another goes to wait at the entrance of the ravine having pulled first watch.

Those Rangers at the camp and those out hunting Harpies begin to feel the strain of having travelled for half of yesterday and most of the night.

With all but a couple of his brother Rangers galloping past Ohanzee is at too surprised to wheel his mount again and join them immediately, but he recovers his composure quickly and salutes the Morokanth "We Rangers don't know Never!". He turns his rhino and is gone in his own smaller cloud of dust following along behind the larger cloud.

Blood pumping at the chase and thought of battling Chaos and charging through the sacred Rhino Rocklands he breaks once again into the song of praise for the founder of their tribe.

It is with disappointment then that he arrives too late to do anything, but glad at least to see that they have managed to rescue Glama quite literally from the clutches of the foul fowl beast women.

"We should burn that one." he says pointing at the one Glama had ridden into the ground "And return to make sure that the others are burnt and the Muddies and few Rangers left with them are not are not slaves by now!"

In reply to Ohanzee Shappa (msg # 142):

A look of disappointment crosses Tarosh face when he doesn't get to kill anything. He quickly turns Carross around when he hears Ohanzee's words, "They wouldn't do that, would they? We travel with other Morokanth." He looks at the gully walls and scratches his head, "Amara, I hope you can find our way back to the camp?"
This message was last edited by the player at 15:49, Mon 15 June 2015.

In reply to Tarosh Long Neck (msg # 143):

"Just cause they're Morokanth doesn't mean they won't take them as slaves. we take other humans as slaves, after all." Tarnessh pointed out as they rode back.

"Looks like there is a cave in the rocks behind the Tamarisks, I reckon it is worth looking at it before we return." Henal says before they turn to leave. He starts riding towards the Tamarisks, but not before casting a spell to detect living creatures.

Amara's mouth opened in shock. "I....I don't know....." Before she rolled her eyes at Tarosh. "Of course I can get back to the camp."

Apart from picking up the life signs of rodents and other small creatures, the charm comes back negative. At least for the range it covered.

The Tamarisks prevent Henal from riding right up to the rock face, but he can see that the cave, well more a crack in the rock, twists out of sight, hinting that it goes up and not down. Surrounding it's entrance is what looks like simple carvings or scratchings, though of what exactly he can't tell.

"Let's go see what Henal has found. It's always interesting things he finds." Amara suggested.

Ohanzee's interest is piqued by Henal's discovery, but there is still the matter of the likely disease ridden filthy corpse. He dismounts his rhino leading it away from the corpse and sets about gathering some deadwood from under the Tamarisks "I'll catch you up when I've dealt with this thing." he says throwing some wood onto the remains "Tarnessh a light if you would." and then going to gather more wood to make sure that there is enough to burn it. As he picks up some more he suggests "I'd check around the cave entrance for tracks, get an idea of what might use it."

He sings a song of thanks to Askuwhetu as he collects the wood to destroy the Chaos remains.
This message was last edited by the player at 13:13, Mon 15 June 2015.

Tarnessh snapped his fingers and the wood lit up.

Seeing things appear to be quiet below Salen takes up a guard position atop the rocks, at least until the others return. He calls down to his fellow Condor.

"Hoskar! Watch Kohana and Mordy for me, if you will!"

The suggestion to also watch the Morokanth is obviously implied, if not directly mentioned.

From his vantage point Salen can see that the Harpies are leaving the area without Glama in their clutches and also comes the realisation that there is no way for the Morokanth to come up to where he is.
This message was last edited by the GM at 13:44, Mon 15 June 2015.

Amongst the Tamarisks

"Thanks." Ohanzee says to Tarnessh and then pauses in his gathering to watch the brave head off with the injured Glama.

Returning with another armful of wood he circles to ensure that any wind isn't blowing the smoke his way as the filthy feathers singe still as he approaches to throw the rest of the wood on he holds his breath against the stench of burning flesh mixed with filthy Chaos Harpy.

As he throws the wood onto the thing he looks it over without touching or getting too close to see if it too has a pouch or wears or carries anything metal, deciding this time to check what is left after the flames rather than touch anything before them.

"Any joy back there?" he calls to Henal.

Back at the camp

Hoskar nods in recognition of the Morokanth's words; face composed to noncommital friendliness but eyes still watchful. Aye. It's a dusty road to the rocklands.

No fears here now those chaos bitches have flown. Not that we've seen anyway. As you need rest, I can keep a lookout that way; and the Rangers shouldn't be too long out there.

He raises an arm in recognition to Salen, watching from above. Will do! he bellows back.

And hey, Four-Paws: I know you're busy being pleased to be out here with your friend Ram, but if you get a moment, pass it round the familiars..or such as are in range...guess probably just Mordy and I think Salen knows this anyway...that we'd rather not be short-handed here with a set of Morokanth slavers too long.
This message was last edited by the player at 14:18, Mon 15 June 2015.

In addition to having an excellent vantage point, Salen can tell he is out of reach of the Morokanth, for the most part. Every once in a while he stands up and looks down upon them with his bow, arrow already nocked, just to show he has an eye out in all directions, both far and close. The Harpies may be gone, but trouble is never far away...

Back at the camp

Lazy time with Hoskar quiet. Relish company well-made. Washing whiskers, fine-spun satin sheen. Clean as ever, friend-surrounded. Yet no happy home for Hungry: now she's silent-slipped from seeing spirit to the arms of greedy darkness. Well met, ill missed my armoured sister.

Wha?

Suppose I will mindspeak to Mordy as I must as fee for form here. Why he's worried when well-mounted I can't fathom.

Mordy, master speaks what's patent - feels outnumbered I would reckon. Yours should keep an eye down here too; as no doubt he is already.

Humans. Hmph.

Rolls on rhino's back uncaring, fur and hide at one together. Unlikely friends can still be strongest.
This message was last edited by the player at 15:40, Mon 15 June 2015.

Looking down from Carross, he laughs, "I didn't realise rhino women had a sense of humour." While the others explore behind the trees, Tarosh stays mounted and even though he is almost constantly yawning, he does his best to stay alert for danger, making sure he is up wind of the fire.

For the moment it looks quiet enough down below, where Hoskar, Kobal, Whispers from the sky and several of the newest recruits are holding the fort.

With the rising of Bright Treasure the surface of the rock begins to warm up, resulting in several inquisitive lizards to begin skittering across it's surface. One particularly large one stops and stares at the Condor Brave.

Up above, now that the Harpies have gone, the sky fills with birds of many different types, their calls echoing around the deep sided rocks.

All in all a pleasant diorama.

As he admires the view a wisp of smoke comes drifting past, bringing with it the mouth watering smell of cooked meat.

Gern.

Having needed to dismount to approach the cave, Amara, Greeshar and Henal, with weapons drawn, creep forward to investigate. Searching for tracks turns up nothing bigger than jerboas and the snakes and Manuls that hunt them, with Amara hearing what must be several of the wild cats somewhere near by, probably up the side of the large rock hill.

The entrance of the cave is filled with shadow, as is this side of the high sided space between the Rhino rocks. Peering in, the three braves can see that the crack, for that's what it is really, twists upwards out of view.

The scratches around it's entrance are very old pictures of Rhinos, of all shapes and sizes.

With Tarnessh and Glama heading back to camp, Ohanzee is left to search through the ashes of the burning bird whilst Tarosh looks on.

One thing both braves had noticed was that each Harpy had young features, those of what would be barely adults in his own clan.

Braving the oily smoke and using his lance to stir the blackened bones he finds nothing of interest.

"So, Raven any thoughts on how we're going to kill the rest of them? Even considering how far Amara can throw and the others with bows, they can easily stay out of our range but hit us."

Amara was intrigued by the Manuls and the rhino drawings present. "I know we're all tired, but it would be very useful to me for us to catch a Manul...or an alynx...or a sabre toothed tiger. I've missed the benefit of having Grimalkin.....and I very much would like to explore what this place is."

Henal putting away the Tamarisk seeds he picked up on the way over while muttering a prayer to Askuwhetu, looks around the mouth of the cave for tracks or spoor that could show any animals living in it.

"I'm not sure about this cave, something feels funny about it".

He keeps looking about cautiously.

Rikki, do you sense any spirits here?

As Bright Treasure rises it gets warmer, and Salen begins to realise that he is rather tired. He is not ready to sleep, however, and besides...he has some of Oglod's children for company this morning. He smiles at them, and waves a greeting.

Burning the dead

Ohanzee stops poking the remains and replies "It takes a certain type of critter to fly at night and I don't think these have the eyes for it though I could be wrong."

"And by all accounts they have a nest in the hills we're headed for, so if we can get to them there at night then we'll have them all in one place and unable to use their flight against us." He shrugs "If that doesn't work out then we can shoot them out the sky, we've got what, three, four already?"

He looks up at Tarosh "They're all young. And all quite different. Didn't someone say Harpies gang up with broo? I reckon these are a cross between broo and harpies, though maybe harpies are as random as their friends."

Returning to his rhino he says "I'm going to take a look at what Henal found." He considers taking the crossbow, but decides to keep the precious bolts for the next harpy encounter and instead sticks with Bambled's club and his shield and he heads for the cave.

To the Bat Cave

The Raven brave whistles through his teeth at the sight of the obviously ancient cave drawings marvelling at the many rhino shapes and sizes stopping at one picture of a tiny rhino standing next to a man Pygmy rhino! Now that would make a cool familiar!

"Drawn by our ancestors no doubt." he says to those there already "Anything of interest?"
This message was last edited by the GM at 07:53, Tue 16 June 2015.

One of the lizards, seeing Salen's interest, raises a magnificent blue lined frill and tilts it's head as if to say "What?"


Tarnessh arrives back with the inured Glama, who with Hoskar's magic aid is quickly healed, though he's left with a minor limp to remind him of his first attempt at flying.

The Three Harpies have been burnt to ash, though the camp is still filled with remnants of the resultant oily smoke. Though not as gross but perhaps for some rather unappetising, there is the smell of freshly cooked Gern recently prepared by some of the Black Mud females, the rest of their folk now sitting down to eat with the newly arrived slavers.

There's much joking and all seems good between the two bands, who despite the normal differences between them and humans have made it clear that those present are welcome to join them.

"Ach yes...We came up out of the deep mud and you should have seen the surprise on their faces...Near on shit themselves, though you'd hardly have noticed if they had since they stink anyway...present company accepted..."

Barosh seems to be in the middle of telling the tale of how he caught some or perhaps all of his slaves. Slaves who have been left tied with their backs to the nearest rock wall. They're all asleep.

Sand Fox and Nixa have joined them, both braves with slack jawed looks of fascination on their faces as they watch the Morokanths interact.

Keeping guard is Leaper and Peat Bog, both braves sat near the mounts not currently in use.

During Glama's healing Whispers from the Sky approaches Tarnessh, Kobal and Hoskar, interested in hearing how the rescue had gone.

Speaking quietly she adds "Do you trust these white Ash folk?"

Rikki curls in between his master's legs , purring "Aye further in...This place is holy for my kind. I do not think we are in danger."



Studying the pictures Ohanzee can see that they've been scratched over even older ones, which are now barely visible.

To the Bat Cave

Straining trying to make out the images below the newer ones Ohanzee rubs his tired eyes and then goes back outside to fetch another dead branch of Tamarisk which he lights and carries in to take a closer look. He uses both sight and touch to try to make out the older scratchings.

Droopingly weary, Hoskar finds his mouth watering at the smell of Morokanth cookery. Now that's good. Wonder what those herbs might be...but it's Gern...how do I feel about this?

Quiet in response to the Seza, he can only shrug in uncertainty as he mutters Not sure. They've offered us no harm, didn't overhelm me at first sight, but I'm fairly sure their leader's been sizing us up like merchandise. For the moment, I trust them where I can see them.

To the Bat Cave

It looks like some might be pictures of Manul, but if so they are very crude and barely discernible.

To the Bat Cave

"Interesting" he says reporting his findings to the others "The rhino drawings are ancient, but there are crude Manul even older carvings under some of them."

Eyota, do you sense anything here, anything that might suggest that this place is special? he silently asks the Raven spirit bound to him during his adult initiation, unaware of Rikki's findings.

The Seza nods "Well I suppose it would be the right thing to go and talk for a while, though it must be said I am exhausted and need to sleep."

Tarnessh walked over to the slave trading Morokanth. "Greetings. So, where are you travelling to?" He asked.

The talking stops as all Morokanth look to the Waha Priest amongst them.

"And who the hell are you to ask questions such as those?" comes back the angry reply.

To the Bat Cave

Henal looks around the cave looking more relaxed
 It's sacred to manul cats here, so I'll leave something as a sacrifice.

If I could talk to the animals...

To the Bat Cave

"It is? I wondered." He looks at Amara "I don't actually know what your familiar was, the one that you lost in the Mostali complex. But maybe if we can contact the spirits here you can get a new familiar Manul?"

He too moves deeper into the crack leaving his shield at the entrance so that he can climb more easily "Having lost two spirits it is like I have a hole in me and cats are after all good at night."

Back at the camp


Hoskar nods in agreement with the Seza, blinking sleep from his eyes; and joins the approach...when he overhears the response to Tarnessh's query with a wince and is quick to enter the exchange.
I'm sure no disrespect was intended, sir: Tarnessh here speaks his thoughts truly, if bluntly sometimes; and he won't have overheard that you're also going to Hoofcrack to do the honourable thing and fight the chaos.

That's right, isn't it? I'm sorry - bit tired myself too. He covers his mouth, stifling an uncontrollable yawn.

Amara held out a hand to stop Ohanzee. "Hold on a moment. This place looks as though it's been sacred to both rhino riders and Manul. Why don't we ask permission to enter? There's bound to be a spirit guarding this place and one that isn't hostile to rhino riders. We might also be able to ask the spirit if any of the cats here are willing to become my familiar. I'd rather ask than take."

To the Bat Cave

"What a good idea" Ohanzee replies "Why didn't I think of that?... Oh wait I did. But since the spirits are deeper within I'm going to find them rather than shout down the cave."

"When I get close enough that Eyota tells me we are near, then I'll try to petition them." and pushing Amara's hand gently but firmly away he starts moving again.

Taroah looks around at the mounts the others have left alone and shakes his head and mutters to himself, "How they haven't lost all their gear is beyond me." Still yawning he keeps looking skyward, checking to make sure none of the harpies are returning.

Amara nodded, putting her weapons away. She hoped that whichever spirit held domain in this place, that it would know they had no hostile intent. "I am Amara Brightsky of the SkyWatcher clan of the Rhino People. We mean you no harm. We are here to visit and share news. May we enter?" she said as she moved forward.
This message was last edited by the player at 15:45, Tue 16 June 2015.

Tarnessh's face flickered into an angry expression, but he quickly recovered himself when Hoskar took over. He crossed his arms, stood back, and listened.

"I sense a powerful spirit inside...It is a cat....I suggest caution as it is hungry."

To the Bat Cave

For the moment there is no reply.



Ohanzee's brand lights up the crevice, which as he enters begins to slope sharply upwards, the walls criss crossed in deep grooves or scratches, looking almost as if they've been made by claws.

Both hands will be needed to make it up the steep incline, which goes up past the range of the flame.

The Morokanth Priest seems molified though he returns Tarnessh's look with one of his own and then bursts out laughing. It's not the nice kind and both braves feel his gaze sizing them up...and then dismissing them before returning to his stories.

Sour Claw looks up almost apologetically and makes it known that they can sit if they wish and eat. The rest of the Morokanth are eating, but their attention is on the Rangers, either with surreptitious looks or outright stares.

"Is there anything we can do that might satiate your hunger?" Amara asked as she began climbing. She repeated her greeting as she climbed up the incline. She was wary of the scratches, but hoped that they might make more friends of spirits near the Rhino rocklands.

To the Bat Cave

Ohanzee stops and looks at the marks on the wall touching them, running his fingers down the scratches to judge the size of the cat that raked here if indeed it was a cat.

Drained as he is he is happy to let Amara go first but suggests "It's a spirit, likely not worshipped here for many ages. It'll want sacrifice of the soul. I can compose a song that might help, but I'm too drained after the slave bracelets to gift much."

"I suggest we return to the others, rest and then come back later when we are recovered. Gives me time to compose and recover enough essence to offer."

"I'd prefer not to share this place with the Morokanth, Ohanzee. I think they'd see it as something to exploit. I would prefer to explore. I might not be the spirit talker you are, but I have some soul to share if that would satisfy it." Amara suggested "But...if you really think we need the others, I'm happy to wait."

The explorers, whilst speaking have come to a slightly wider space, flatter than before. At the other end the crevice continues upwards...

The floor is littered with small animal bones, so many that they cover the entire area, so if one continued they couldn't help but crush them underfoot. Jerboas on the main, mixed with some Jackrabbits and snakes by the looks of it. The place stinks of Manul and their piss, despite the fresh air that comes from several smaller fissures that lead off to each side, too small for humans to enter, but fine for cats.

Rikki, still hugging Henal's legs hisses "Old cat place...It's children live here still....It's one of Manul's spawn...Old...Like this place..."

The walls are covered by similar scratches, Ohanzee thinking they're from something a fair bit bigger than any Manul he's ever seen.

There's traces of colour too, as if the walls had once held pictures, like so many of the other caves out here.
This message was last edited by the GM at 17:21, Tue 16 June 2015.

"No, no, no!" he says shaking his head violently "No, they should definitely not learn of this place. I was thinking of riding out from the camp to tell them that we are to pray to Great Rhino, which we should do too, and that we need to be alone."

The suggestion that he needs others though wrangles on his pride and he straightens "No help needed though, between us we should be able treat with it." and he moves forward desperately try to compose a suitable song in his head.

"Maybe an animal sacrifice too, any chance of Rikki catching a live critter Henal?"

Kobal is thinking on the sudden attack by the harpies - I had wondered whether there might be some other way to deal with the harpies, but it looks like we'll just have to kill them; unless this shaman at Hoofcrack has some other solution - when the Seza's question interrupts his thoughts.

Kobal replies in kind, "No.  Nor do I trust these Black Mud ones.  But I will treat with them honourably as long as they do the same with us."



"You go rest, Wise One.  I will stay up, at least until the others return."  These morokanth have not shown any particular ill will towards them, and Sour Claw in particular has seemed sympathetic.  But the last time they turned their back on a Black Mud morokanth, it was fatal.



Kobal is about to leap to his brother's defence, but Hoskar beats him with a reply.  It seems to mollify the rune lord, even if his laugh grates, but Kobal decides to hold his tongue.  And it puts him in no mood to talk with the morokanth, nor eat gern with them.  Not that he feels he'd ever be in the mood to try gern meat.

Amara smiled, realising that she and Ohanzee were of one mind with respect to keeping this place secret from the Morokanth. She paused for a moment before speaking loudly. "I am Amara Brightsky and this is Ohanzee Shappa, we are of the Skywatcher clan of the Rhino People. We seek your counsel and wisdom as happened in older days. Let us share words, food and wisdom with each other." Amara looked around, the size of the manul here were a little worrying.

Kobal finds his gaze falling on the line of slaves. Two women, obviously River folk and three males, foreigners by the look of it. Not Lunar worshippers or at least not ones he'd recognise. They catch him looking and hang their heads in shame.

Just beyond them is the female Morokanth who'd led the pack Bison into camp, the beast now tethered after being watered. Kobal can see it's a fine beast and in good health with no obvious clan markings.

It's owner walks past on four legs, her fetishes jangling as she moves.

Big eyes above wide nostrils stare the Thunderbird brave down. There's no warmth there....Just cold and darkness. Taking a place next to the Waha Priest she straightens up and begins to gnaw on a roasted slab of ribs, only stopping to lick the grease off her stubby fingers.

Tarnessh shook his head at Sour Claw with a softer expression, but walked away back to Grumpfy, and asked the Cowpecker birds to be wary of the slavetrading Morokanth and to give an alarm if they tried anything. He then sat beside his bison and took the opportunity to rest.

Ohanzee pauses for the briefest of moments as he considers what and how to sing and then smiles silently thanking Raven for looking kindly on his lyrical performances. Moving on he begins to sing.

Wondrous hunter
Cunning cat
In ambush you wait
To spring your trap

Deadly bite
Knife like claws
Eyes so bright
Silent paws

Whiskers twitch
Taste the scent
On prey you pounce
It's body rent

Deadly bite
Knife like claws
Eyes so bright
Silent paws

Ancient spirit
Spawn of Manul
In times of old
Our people called

Deadly bite
Knife like claws
Eyes so bright
Silent paws

Those times were gone
Our people scattered
Times were hard
Our tribe was tattered

Deadly bite
Knife like claws
Eyes so bright
Silent paws

But now we grow
Quests are done
Great Rhino hears
Our time again will come

Deadly bite
Knife like claws
Eyes so bright
Silent paws

Your den found new
We come again
Renew our bond
We come as friends

Deadly bite
Knife like claws
Eyes so bright
Silent paws

Ancient spirit
Spawn of Manul
With your kin
We'll again walk tall

Deadly bite
Knife like claws
Eyes so bright
Silent paws

This message was last edited by the player at 20:28, Tue 16 June 2015.

Henal looks around at the scratches and remarks "A mighty cat indeed to create those. I'd not tell many about this, certainly not the morokanth".

"Great cat spirit, I am Henal Longgrass friend to manul cats and rider of the bison. Take some of my spirit as a gift of goodwill".

Kobal gives no ground as he returns the stare of the morokanth, then returns to checking and sharpening his lance and javelins.  It looks like they may see much use against harpies. At least we won't be scurrying about in narrow caves this time.

From time to time he observes the new morokanth, to see if he notices anything about them that might be helpful in future.
This message was lightly edited by the player at 01:11, Wed 17 June 2015.

Relieved to have avoided conflict with a powerful party when already tired, Hoskar smiles wanly at Sour Claw, and sits. Thank you: hospitality and friendship are relatives, and strong ones at that. You know, I've something of an interest in cooking and that smells delicious. I'm guessing it's gern, but I'd love to know about the herbs in there. Never eaten gern - I imagine few humans do - I'd be a bit nervous about it in honesty. For now I'll just drink in that amazing aroma.

Oh. Do you and your comrades here smoke or relish kumiss? As we're hoping to share welcome, I could offer you that sort of refreshment if it would be relaxing.
This message was last edited by the player at 08:22, Wed 17 June 2015.

This suggestion brings a very positive reaction from the Morokanth, who on mass pull out pipes of various sizes and shapes. All sorts of things have been used: Bones, wood, horn, dried tubers and even metal.

All eyes are now on the Condor Brave....

Sour Claw had begun explaining what herbs she had used but stops with a sigh when the pipes begin to appear.

"Males" she mutters "If it's not that it's the other thing...."

In reply to GM (msg # 200):

Don't worry, Sour Claw - when I've got some smokables I'll be back to pay attention: so far, that sounds a lovely mix. Think it might go well, with prairie bustard too. I'm not kidding about my interest in those herbs - not exactly a typical male, am I? But if I don't get the stuff right now, looks like there will be a riot.

He grins.

Eating and inhalation: two more things we all share.

He ambles off to find Fireborn's old pipe and his tobakeh...with maybe just a pinch of the stronger stuff thrown in to keep the occasion mellow.

The small bone filled space soon echoes to the song and various salutations. Only Greeshar keeps quiet, the Brave sniffing the air and keeping both sword and shield at the ready.

Once peace reigns again there is movement from the side fissures and ever so slowly in creep dozens of manual cats. Presently a score or more of them line the ledges on either side of the cave, each one staring at the Rangers.

"And some Kumiss too" comes a shout from the slaver who owns a large crossbow. "I've a fair thirst on me."

The Scratching Post

As silence fills the cave Ohanzee gets that nagging desire again to fill the silence but not without first asking Eyota Do you sense the mood of the spirit? We are not pounced upon so that's a good start isn't it!

"Kin of Manul may we know your name that has been lost to our people for so long?"
This message was last edited by the player at 09:34, Wed 17 June 2015.

The Scratching Post

There is no answer from the cave.

The Scratching Post

A look of confusion crosses Ohanzee'b face but he turns and starts to head out of the cave stopping to whisper to Greeshar on the way

Then he carries on out of the cave picking up his shield on the way.

The Scratching Post

Greeshar listens to what Ohanzee has to say and a look of distrust crosses his already grumpy face. He cricks his neck and tightens the grip on his weapon, half whispering to Henal

"What does it say?"

Back at the camp



Spins round with a grin and a florid bow belying the bone-weariness he feels. I like a person who takes me at my word. Coming up. Not sure we've got loads of the stuff, but enough to wet one's nose alright.

He winks. In case you're wondering why I'm being so friendly, don't worry too much. Hope you might have heard news of an old friend of mine I've lost touch with if truth be told. But I'll ask about him later on.

The Blue Llama brave, alone except for the massive Akala, sees nothing out of the ordinary. Well almost nothing for he feels that he's being watched...

And there on the nearest massive rock face, sat on small ledges or overhangs are half a dozen Manuls, each the same colour of the stone behind them.

There's movement under the Tamarisks, turning out to be Ohanzee...

Henal looks at Greeshar "The manul spirit wants you to leave with Ohanzee and Amara and I to go forward to it".

"We hear you spirit and will come to you. Thank you for your trust in us".

"Amara, let us go on to the spirit"

In reply to GM (msg # 209):


He looks at the manuls, "We've got company" he keeps his voice low while talking to Akala. He fishes around in his pack for some dried meat and throws it towards them, but off to one side away from Ohanzee.
This message was last updated by the player at 11:56, Wed 17 June 2015.

Outside the cave

"They're having a powwow with and ancient spirit, spawn of Manul." Ohanzee explains as he exits the cave ducking under the lower branches of the Tamarisks.

He moves a little away from the entrance and then lays down on his back under the shade of the branches staring up through them "If anything happens give me a shout."
This message was last edited by the player at 13:43, Wed 17 June 2015.

The Manul cats eye the thrown meat from their high vantage points, but do not move.

Outside the cave

To no one in particular the Raven brave ponders aloud "I wonder why it didn't like Greeshar and me?"" Then he smiles "Well me at least, I can perfectly understand why it didn't like Greeshar, but why me."

He frowns, deep in thought for a short while "Unless..." He pushes himself up onto his elbows "Unless it is because I previously called to the Hyena spirit?"

"That could be it, they don't much like them."

He casually looks about the place to see what other bushes and plants are about.

Amara nodded to Henal and moved forward. She whispered to Ohanzee "Thank you for your song Ohanzee. It is well done."

"Maybe they're just good at judging people" He laughs and dismounts, "lets see if I can do any better" He grabs a handful of dried meat and slowly walks towards the group of cats, "Hello, I'm Tarosh Long Neck. Would you like some food?" He throws a couple of pieces of meat up to them and gifts them some of his spirit.

Outside the cave

"Knock yourself out. You'll have to go inside the cave. Strange taste that spirit though."

Hoskar's tobakeh is accepted readily and soon the gathering is sat beneath a cloud of calming smoke. The Morokanth seem to forget about the Rangers for the moment, instead swapping stories and asking news of each others clan.

The Condor brave learns that the White Ash slavers had been hunting along the Zola Fel, their clan having been pushed out of their usual lands by aggressive sable riders and Lunars surveying the valley floor. Many of them had been killed in a ferocious fire that had swept South, destroying everything in its path. The survivors were making their way to Hoofcrack, looking for sanctuary.

It sounds like Barosh is sounding out Sour Claw on what her people would think of there being new arrivals. It's here that Hoskar learns that Zakeen Two Thumb is away.

Up above, where Salen keeps watch, is quite, the brave having several large lizards to keep him company. Looking out over the tops of the Rocklands the Condor Brave sees two trails of smoke some distance apart, both somewhere in the Northern reaches of the Rhino holy place. Campfires like their own. There's also distant dust clouds where other clans are moving, searching for better grazing for their herds...

Below Kobal and Tarnessh gets some well earned rest whilst Peat Bog keeps watch over their mounts.

The Manul cats just stare at Tarosh, two of them stretching and moving higher up the rock face, the rest staying where they are.

Outside the cave

Ohanzee glances over at Akala noting that his own familiar is no where to be seen A wise move hereabouts. So many hungry mouths. he thinks.

Rising he moves over to his rhino and removes the wrapped package that he had put there at the GFH and returns to the shade of the tree where he sits with his back against the gnarlly trunk of the tamarisk tree. There he unwraps it and holds it in his hands turning it over looking and feeling the markings on it.


He rolls his head back so that his crown rests against the trunk and  looks up through the branches again.

He starts to sing...

Askuwhetu what sorrows has this Tamarisk known?
Its tears now dried but the salt remains.
For mount, for meat, for man, for trade,
We gather those tears, take the memories away.

Askuwhetu what wounds has this Tamarisk known?
It bleeds a sweet sap the blood of your own.
Cut shallow, cut short so this Tamarisk lives,
As syrup as scab its sweeter than figs.

Askuwhetu this Tamarisk is mighty and strong.
Its roots dig deep and its trunk is long.
Its branches spread above us high,
Its needles all but touch the sky.

Come join us Askuwhetu,
See how it’s grown.
Gift your great wisdom
Askuwhetu come.

Finishing there is a pause and then he sighs and goes back to looking at the stone object.

He watches the cats lack of interest and shrugs, "I think you're right Ohanzee." He walks back to Carross and leads him to the Tamarisk trees to eat. He then heads in to the cave, calling to Henal and Amara, "Is it ok for me to enter?"

There's no answer from the steep crevice. It seems that his fellow Rangers are to far away to hear and that the Blue Llama will have to climb up to find them...

In reply to GM (msg # 218):

Two-Thumb away? Well, that's one less thing to worry about. Doubt he'll have any better memories of us than we have of him.

Hoskar has stayed fairly close to Sour Claw, quizzing her politely on the rest of the gern recipe and finding that one of his herbs might be the thing to tone down a little problem with indigestion from popping the occasional rarer older gern in the pot.

Nodding with tiredness, he lets himself be carried along by the conversation, sympathising with fire season losses to the flames pass it round the familiars when you can, cat - let's not mention what happened at the tower and coming more alert, face still mildly friendly, when Two-Thumb's name crops up. That reminds me of what I was going to ask. I spent some time travelling with a Storm Bull - followed Little Brother too - older man called Krakka Rumble. For a while, he was like a father to me but we parted suddenly with a misunderstanding. Know he had morokanth friends. You wouldn't have any news of him, would you? I'd like to see him again one day and mull over old times.

Despite the pain of the past, he does his best to avoid tension coming into his voice; looking for all the world like a sleepy man asking a casual question; and to tell nothing but the truth to these strangers. Who knows what they can tell about falsehood?

Salen takes the opportunity to get himself some sleep, asking the lizards to keep an eye out for him. He'll offer them some food from his sack and take some himself, before closing his eyes.

Sour Claw, accepting some herbs off Hoskar thinks for a moment before replying "There is a human, that may be who you speak of. White haired, scarred and a follower of the little Brother. He is an old adventuring companion. Zakeen was known to travel with two Rhino braves in his youth. They raided behind the great walls, looking for a fabled White Lance. I have heard the stories many times. Krakka and ...what was his name? Yennan Windsong, that's right."

As there is no negative reply, Tarosh heads in to the cave looking for the others. He doesn't try to be quiet as he wants them to know he is coming.

Clambering up Tarosh hears voices and comes to a small chamber, li by a brand held by Greeshar. Also there is Henal and Amara, all three standing ankle deep in small animal bones that cover the floor. Watching are a score of Manul cats of all shapes and sizes, sat on ledges and in the entrances of many smaller fissures leading away from the room.

In the far wall the crevice continues upwards.

"We need to get a sacrifice for the great cat spirit to take into there. Only problem is it looks for something pretty big so no mice or jack rabbits, more like an antelope or herd beast". Henal says to the others.

"Lets get outside where we can look about and see if there are any tracks of something we could hunt down for it".

"We could just trade for one of the Gern. Save us running around with no sleep"

"We could...but do we really want to give the Manuls a taste for human flesh...and also let the Morokanth know we need a herd animal? I'd say just give them one of our food animals and hunt on the trip." Amara suggested.

"I agree with you Amara, I don't want the Manuls thinking of man like creatures as prey, even if gern are as dumb as bison or zebra. Lets get one fast and settle that spirit now its woken." Henal says.

In reply to Amara Brightsky (msg # 230):

"Good idea, I'll wait here" He sits down and gets the dried meat out and carries on trying to entice one of the cat to him.
This message was last edited by the GM at 20:04, Thu 18 June 2015.

Kobal plants some more water melon seeds near the pool next to the rocks.  He'd rather stay up than sleep with so many morokanth around, particularly another clan, who didn't ask the Earth Witch for their help.  But he and other Rangers have been up for a long time and his eyelids are heavy.  Haaro, wake me if any of those morokanth tries anything.

Greeshar heads out with a shrug of his large shoulders "Gern are Gern."

Once outside he calls to Ohanzee "The spirit wants something to eat...You know, suck it's soul out" He grimaces.

"Amara and Henal want to hunt for something, whilst I thought we should just trade for a Gern."

"Anyway I don't care...I'm heading back to sleep" and with that he turns around his Rhino and heads back to the camp, accompanied by Akala.

Outside the cave

Before Greeshar had appeared Ohanzee had been frustrated in his search for information....

After a brief search Henal stumbles across the tracks of a small herd of Impalas heading deeper into the Rhino Rocklands.

Drooping but borne up by new conversation didn't know he hung around with Greeshar and Amara's father - wonder if they know, Hoskar stifles yet another yawn, and replies. Yes. That sounds like Krakka. He was a bit of a lad in his youth, I believe. Not heard of him more recently, then? Was hoping we could clear up that misunderstanding with him one day.

Guess I'll find him eventually.

You know, I think I will try a mouthful of that cooking if I may. Can't imagine I'll get another chance to try gern without fear. He grins sleepily. If I find I can't deal with it, what with the way they look like my bunch, you won't scrag me...will you?
This message was last edited by the player at 07:54, Fri 19 June 2015.

Henal mounts up on Whiteblaze, with Rikki jumping up to ride in front of him to watch what is happening.

"who is coming to try and get an impala for the big cat spirit?"

Outside the cave

Looking over at Henal as he slips something into his top he shakes his head and says rather grumpily "Sod that, I've given the ungrateful thing a song worship, I'm not going to waste sleeping time rounding up dinner for it too. Now you're out though I don't have to wait to tell you, I'm off to the camp to get some sleep like Greeshar."

Then like Amara's brother he vaults onto his mount and heads back to the camp.

An hour or so later Henal and Amara return with a bound Impala.

Dismounting under the eyes of a good score Manull cats that watch from the rock face, they spy a rather large one watching them from the cave mouth.

"It's the Manul spirit" warns Rikki, who shrinks back in fear.

As the two braves look on, Tarosh appears from the darkness behind, rubbing his eyes as if just woken up...

Ohanzee finds a camp at rest, Greeshar and Akala already dismounted and rolled up next to Whispers from the Sky, Glama, Tarnessh, Sand Fox, Nixa and Kobal.

Hoskar is sat with a few of the Morokanth who are mostly hidden behind a cloud of smoke. The rest of them curled up and snoring...


Salen is presumably still above and Peat Bog waves from where he guards the mounts.

"Pallas, we bring back this Antelope as food for you. Do you want it brought into the central cave?"

Henal secures Whiteblaze leaving Rikki on top and starts moving the antelope towards the cave mouth.

A contented bone-weary Hoskar, still licking his lips that's a light, almost delicate meat; but the sauce is the star - so glad I asked about those herbs, waves wearily at the returning Ohanzee. I'll try to stay awake awhile longer, mate - we've found some really pleasant company here. And if you've ever wondered what gern tastes like, now's the time to try: Sour Claw and her friends have cooked up something truly special. He ambles briefly over and adds, more quietly, can't keep awake forever, though and we can't all nod off at once. I'll not make you first on my wakeup list - looks like you're done in too before strolling back over to the remaining Morokanth; this time with a waterskin so as not to overdo anything.
This message was last edited by the player at 09:58, Fri 19 June 2015.

In reply to Henal Longgrass (msg # 242):

He stretches and grins, "You can leave it out here." He looks up at the large manul, "What do you say to the nice people Pallas?" He walks between Henal and Amara, turns and puts and arm round each of them, "Thanks for warning me about Pallas. I'm sure if you ask him nicely he'll sort you out with a bound spirit"

At the camp

Ohanzee stifles a yawn but cannot stop the loud grumbling emanating from his stomach. That he is hungry and tired is obvious, but the fact that he's grumpy with it becomes clear when he snaps at Hoskar "Of course I know what Gern tastes like. You've spent too much time behind those walls."

After hearing the whispered warning he nods his understanding moving to the shelter of the shade and taking some food before collapsing in his own bedroll.

"I say Piss on you two legs" comes back the angry reply, the grey haired  Manul raising a paw to lick. It eyes the Impala greedily, as do the score of other cats that begin descending from above to join their boss....

Henal steps back from the impala to let the cats close in, moving Whiteblaze back.

"We had better go and sleep soon. Been too long on the road now not to rest".

In reply to Pallas (msg # 246):

He smiles thinly, "I hope that was you attempt at a joke." he glances at Amara and Henal, "I think we've just found a volunteer to be bait when we go harpy hunting."

Amara ignored Tarosh. "As you can see Pallas. We are people of our word. We have brought food."

Accepting his friend's rebuke, shaking his head to try and clear the muzziness he feels, Hoskar tries still to avoid sleep.

Foolish again, man - plain and simple. They've got years and years more out here than you. Body might be awake, but the mind was asleep there.

Still, that'll keep me awake a few hours.

Excusing himself from the Morokanth group - best see to my mount: he's a bit tetchy a lot of the time. Wouldn't go near him if I were you - I only go near him 'cos he knows me - he wanders over to Ram, going behind the rhino as if checking his hide for wounds to take the chance to pour some water down his own neck to help with wakefulness.
The camp being quiet for the moment, he takes the chance to thank Issaries for the gift of communication once again that could have ended up in a fight: really glad it didn't.

Golden words, golden tongue
Help your followers along
Golden guide for golden ages
Succour from dread anger's cages.

My thanks, my lord.

Having little else to do but watch and think now, he paces to keep awake, looking round for trouble, remembering to glance up to Salen's rock to check for trouble above too.
This message was last edited by the player at 15:18, Fri 19 June 2015.