On hearing that Rhino Riders are on their way Ohanzee urges his mount on along with Amara tosee what tribe and clan they might be.

When he hears the call about Rhino riders and sees Amara and Ohanzee head towards them, Tarosh stays where he is and keeps a look out for anything that wants to attack them.

Henal has taken up his usual place on the right of the group riding and keeping lookout for that direction, though he looks skywards more often now.

At the cry of Rhino riders he stays in place and looks around to cover for those moving forward to see the clan.

Kobal urges Black Hoof towards the rhino riders who have turned towards them, reducing his distance on the right flank, but still keeping an eye out for danger from the right, such as Impala who might try to outflank them.

Do you sense anything? he asks Haaro, as they ride towards the rhinos.

Eyes brightening in anticipation and hope; yet not without a tinge of caution hope it's not Krakka and company: we'd not need that distraction today, Hoskar manages a grin. We paid the price for opposing the blind eye; but it was probably worth it. Good source of news if nothing else he winks.

Well, let's see who they are. Cautiously, of course.

Shield firmly in hand, lance balanced on Ram's broad back and right hand held up in tentative greeting, he moves forward to meet - or at lest see more of - the newcomers.

Peaceful passage riding thick-skin. Gentle mount but not for others. Snooze in scent of faithful friend.

Ho! What's this?

Feline forms should not meet foemen. Caution's for a cat like me. Slip down softly, crouch in cover. Move in later if they're friends.

The Three riders approach within hailing distance, a strong wind heralding their arrival with eerie shrieks

Screaming Wind Clan, riding their one horned war Rhinos.

Unafraid and bristling with bravado their leader shouts out

"You must keep away as we pass. Try and raid those that hired us and we will fight you!"

All three braves are adorned in Runes of Air, Mastery and Death and those with familiars detect several bound spirits with them.

In reply to GM (msg # 19):

"Who are the ones who hired you, then?" Tarnessh asked.

Squinting with the aid of a charm the diminutive Impala rider answers Tarnessh instead

"Fact they got Rhino riders means this mob are special, bit hard to tell but I'd bet that it's the Flint Rain Clan. Khan is one N'run Longarrow. Be best we don't mess with them unless you want to leak every time you drink..."

The now silent Rhino riders stay where they are.

Pulling up Ram's advance, hand still raised empty to betoken a lack of hostile intent, Hoskar is drawing breath to reply as Tarnessh asks his question.

He glances in surprise at his comrade, eyebrows shooting up under the rim of his helmet, then speaks quickly towards the newcomers before the Screaming Wind warrior can reply. Easy there. First things first. We're not raiding - we're chaos hunting. Unless your employers mean us ill, you'll not need to shed blood to protect them this time, friend.
This message was last edited by the player at 09:48, Wed 12 Aug 2015.

The leader of the trio answers

"What chaos do you hunt?"

At least we're talking. Didn't fancy a charge and countercharge here.

Still smiling reservedly, Hoskar's manner relaxes somewhat, staring hard at the warrior hoping to pick out some hint of his intent from his face.

Good question, there. Think I'd like to know your intentions before going into detail, though we're all enemies of the one enemy here. Short answer: the sort that flies, kills the tribes' beasts, and spreads disease.

He thinks a moment.

If you'd like our bands to share information with one another, let's talk. If we worry you...or your employers...we can all go our own ways I reckon.

"Harpies yeah?....We ran in to some yesterday, fighting amongst themselves."

Ohanzee looks strangely at Hoskar then plants his lance into the ground "Greetings Rarn Wall Shaker of the Screaming Wind Clan, and to his sons Rern and Vern I am Ohanzee Shappa of the Sky Watchers, this Amara Brightsky and my talkative friend Hoskar Feather of the same clan. Excuse my friends manners, he has been too long with those who live in the stone tents."
This message was last edited by the player at 10:45, Wed 12 Aug 2015.

Rarn Wall Shaker, resplendent in his Rhino head helm and Ostrich feather plumage, studies Ohanzee but seems not to recognise him and ignores the thrust lance.

"Sky Watchers by your gear, but names I don not recognise. I thought you were all dead."

He then looks at the uplands where the Rangers are obviously intending to go

"You plan to find the Harpies' nest?"

Ohanzee frowns at the lance still in the ground and sits straighter "Most are, save my mother Talutah I am the last of my family, my father Taima and my brother Shappa having fallen at Moonbroth. It is up to me to keep our name going" there is a pause and a glance at the lance again before looking at the obviously powerful warrior "and our traditions alive."

Kobal rides up to where the Sky Watcher and Screaming Wind riders are talking, though he stops his mount slightly behind and beside the Sky Watchers, to show that he is one of the same party.  Seeing as the two sides are talking and not fighting, he remains silent and just observes, unless the Screaming Wind riders turn their attention to him.  His lance is at rest, pointing up to the sky, showing no hostile intent.

As they talk the Impalas are passing by in the distance.

"Now there's a name I won't forget. Taima was a good man, and I met your brother too. Strong warriors both."

Despite the recognition there is little warmth in his speech and his two sons haven't stopped scowling...

The young Raven brave glances at the single horned rhinos War beasts and rare ones at that "Strong warriors indeed. They taught me their ways but Dowenhowee taught me more, my path lies with the spirits great and small." he raises his left hand to bat away an annoying fly satisfied as his blue hand hits it from the air is it attracted by the buzzing coming from the Malia protection fetish?

He gives up on the challenge, obviously this warrior cares only to delay them until the sept passes "We will find the nest and deal with the problem, our duty to the Earth as Wandering Rangers."

As the Rhino people talk Salen watches with only passing interest, then turns and directs his gaze back up to the plateau, to see if anything is developing up there.

Tarnessh kept his eyes on the Impala folk. Not making any attempt to seem threatening, but keeping an eye on them nonetheless if they decided that the Rangers looked like easy pickings.

The Condor brave's study of the approaches to the plateau turns up what looks like a way up for both nomads and their mounts.

From far above comes word from Tulox that the way is clear of obvious danger...

The Rhino rider has had one eye on the Impala folk passing and once he's happy with where they've got to, he turns his mount and begins riding off to join them once more.

"Good luck with your hunt. You'll need it. There was strange goings on when we saw them..." Then as he draws level with Ohanzee he adds in a far less hostile voice

"I'll take up your challenge next time son of Taima. No time for niceties around here....You watch out for yourself now...."

Then with a dig to his Rhino's armoured flank, he and his sons trot off.

Ohanzee simply nods his response, then drawing the lance from the earth again he watches the three ride off.