In reply to GM (msg # 622):

He frowns when he see's what the cat is eating, "I can't wait until I can put a spirit in you." Shaking his head he turns to meet Broken Claw letting the others do any talking as he's not very good at it. He squints trying to make out who the other morokanth are.

Ohanzee stands with the others as Broken Claw approaches, interested to see who the shaman has brought along with him over and above the three females.

Tarnessh moved to be one of the first to meet the Shaman, although not walking ahead of the group.

Tarnessh's news of harpies to the west had raised Kobal's hopes they'd come to the Rangers, instead of having to hunt them down in the north.  It's a shame the creatures are flying north, even if Tarosh is still recovering from the Shakes.

He walks to greet Broken Claw, and bows, fist over his chest, as the shaman's chariot draws up.

As the dust settles the albino Morokanth returns the salutes with one of his own and waves forward his companions.

The three female Black mud folk, have in their paws long strings from which hang the promised fetishes. They beckon to the Rangers to come forward and take them.

From the other side of the chariot appears an unexpected surprise...

It is the Zorak Zorani brave Dark Claw, ready for a journey by the looks of his accumulated gear. With him are two tough looking Gern carrying his weapons.

He doesn't look very amused.

Tarnessh took his fetish. "Thank you, shaman." He said respectfully, then looked at Dark Claw. "Is he here for what I think he is?" He asked.

He approaches the female morokanth and with a slight bow he takes the offered fetish. "My thanks, lets hope we don't need them." When he see's Dark Claw and his companions with there traveling gear, he walks over to them, "With you and your friends at our side, those harpies don't stand a chance." he grins, "and we can see who the better killer is."

Dark Claw had begun to bristle at Tarosh's approach, but a smile hits the corner of his mouth when he hears what the braves has to say. It vanishes pretty quickly to be replaced with the familiar look of impending violence.

Then a paw is held out in greeting

"Aye, that seems like a worthy challenge Ranger. Killing is my business and I do it well."

"A pleasure Sun Hawk....And yes I have decided to send Dark Claw with you. It will benefit all concerned."

Ohanzee is surprised to see Dark Claw apparently set on coming along on the mission, but when he hears that the Morokanth likely had little choice in it he smiles.

He takes his fetish from one of the females with thanks and then on hearing the exchange between Tarosh and Dark Claw add "May Raven smile on the Chaos killing to come" his smile broadens "and the long climb to the Harpy nest."

He then moves over to join Tarnessh and the shaman "And may the spirits look favourably on our. Talking of spirits" he holds up a strange looking crystal arrowhead "have you ever seen anything like this? There's a spirit rune etched here and it obviously has some innate power since it remains cold to the touch despite the temperature about it."

"I thought best to discover whether it is useful before we leave in case it might be useful in the task to come."

As the fetishes are placed around necks they begin to buzz, and on examination each is found to consist of a chunk of bone that has been carved in a likeness of a Malia: a headless body, with a large teeth filled maw in her belly. The bone has been hollowed out and trapped behind the teeth is a single fat fly, the source of the buzzing. A dozen arms circle the fat body and it's stumpy legs, made from twisted threads of hair. It feels and looks disgusting but will hopefully heal it's wearer from an otherwise fatal disease.

Kobal greets the shaman, and thanks him for the fetish, bowing his head to allow the fetish to be hung on his neck.

When he recognises Dark Claw, he frowns, and he rubs his jaw, remembering the brawl.  But he relaxes his position when he sees the morokanth raise a claw in greeting.  They may not be friends - the violence in the Dark Claw is obvious - but at least there is some respect in the morokanth now.



"That looks like an arrow that can harm ghosts," says Kobal.  "We came across those when before you joined us, Ohanzee."  He looks to those of the original Rangers, and then to the shaman for confirmation.  Bows and arrows are not for him, but still, it could come in handy.

Amara had been rather subdued throughout the day, not responding to Greeshars quips at her expense, though she responded quickly to Whispers request for her acacia. She returned the camp clean having spent hours washing the filth from both her and thunderfoot.

She watched Dark Claw carefully. It was plain he was more of a threat than most, but she wondered what he might offer the group as they rode forth to deal with harpies. Distracted only by Kobals words she responded "The ghost arrow worked best for us in the past when we put it on the end of a spear."

Tarnessh shuddered slightly when he felt the fetish touch his skin after putting it around his neck. He hoped that he would be able to get it off as soon as possible.

"I never knew we had a spirit-wounding arrow!" Tarnessh whispered to them.

Ohanzee shares Tarnessh's surprise "Ghost arrow? Nor did I. I can see how that would come in handy." He nods Too handy to shoot from a bow and loose."

His mind flicks through the idea of mounting it on a spear and he dismisses it since he's never used one before An axe though. I'm skilled with them and I could rig up something usin it as a head.

He shakes his paw, "It is, and the only looser will be chaos." He laughs loudly, "how about a small bet? between us two, whoever kills the least chaos gives the other a magic item? If, somehow, you win, I'll give you a charm that adds three missiles to each one you fire."

The Morokanth gives Tarosh the once over, a sly smile appearing on his face as he touches his runes with his paw.

"You want to bet with me that's your business. I revere hatred and destruction and will rain death upon our foes. When I am filled with my god's fury none can stand before me."

He lets his gaze run over all those present and does not look impressed.

"Can you use stealth, cunning, and climb?" Tarnessh asked Dark Claw. "That will be very important."

The enemy of all things light and fire, fixes Tarnessh with a long stare filled with promised violence.

*Long silence*

Tarnessh stepped back a bit with his hands up. "Okay, forget I asked."

Ohanzee groans  "Let us drink to a rain of death and destruction on the foes of the Earth and of the Dark Eater."

He looks about for an unfortunate Oasis Folk, feeling no love for them after the smirks earlier "You, fetch some wine quick, the Wandering Rangers and Dark Claw personification of Dark Eater go to hunt Chaos together and that deserves a toast!"

When wine is fetched he offers "Four corners, four sides, for Earth!"

Henal salutes Broken Claw and the female morokanth, but looks puzzled at the sight of Dark Claw.  He steps forward and takes the fetish of Malia, though his face betrays a look of dislike in handling it.

"Better this than disease in the wastes. Thank you".

Standing back from Dark Claw and the other Rangers exchanges with him, his only words around it are.

"As long as we remember that chaos is what we are going to fight, not any other herders".

Looking suspiciously at the fetish ohh, but I hope this doesn't get me into trouble later...but if Ohanzee of Orl...um...Little Bro...um...no...Orlanth after all is in, who am I to argue?, Hoskar smiles weakly and bows. This is a strange thing to me; but I'm sensible of its benefit. My thanks.

Waiting his chance with Dark Claw, he eventually has chance to add a few  words of greeting You've hit it right there, Ohanzee: four elements foursquare against chaos. Welcome indeed, Dark Claw.

Whispers from the Sky finds herself without a fetish and looks at the shaman enquiringly, who returns her look with filled with apologies

"Ah I am truly sorry but I have a request to make of you...Thanks to the recent quest by the Ostrich riders we have had an outbreak of disease, It is sweeping through my people. I will be stretched to my limits in fighting it and in the light of our new found friendship...Between the new Earth Temple...Yourselves....And I....I ask humbly for your help in combatting Malia's revenge-"

In reply to Broken Claw Spirit-Talker (msg # 647):

Tarnessh frowned and nodded to the others to indicate that he seemed to be speaking the truth. "Of course we will fight the depravities of Malia, if we are able. "