"Ah the leader of the group speaks, full of Wind and bluster..."


"Broken Claw is, how do I put it? Indisposed for now..."


"Ah you're Krakka's one...The Ranger with the golden tongue. A good friend of mine and of your father's too, whom I remember well from times now long gone."



"Ah the circle is complete...The very brave who butchered a half score of my own warriors. Somewhat like the pot calling the kettle copper no?"


"So you have killed the Harpies. For this reason you walk here freely and are not now face down in the mud with my murderous paws resting on your backs. You have proof?"

Taking a hasty breath in the hope of speaking first oh my: he's questioning our truth now?

You remember well, Khan. My thanks for the pretty compliment there. That Jondar and you were friends gladdens my heart he utters; face still composed, hand working against the shield's leathern strap.

Proof, you say? Well we're not in the habit of lying, as you'll remember, but if you want proof we can always show you the loot. He looks round the crowd of seasoned warriors. Not all of you, of course - we're not daft - but maybe if we go fetch a sample. Then there's the information: did you know there were baboon broo up there too? Not now, of course: we were quite thorough.

"I don't need to see loot...Though If you wish to gift me something to show your sincerity, well that would go along way....

Sun Hawk...Aye you, skulking behind your brother...Does the Condor brave tell the truth?"

"Yes he most certainly does and you know that I can not lie. They defeated the chaos Harpies and I helped kill the baboon Broo nearby. More than you and your braves have managed to do."

Ohanzee pipes up a "So now you know who we are and that we have completed the quest, our Seza and her guard? And water for our mounts?"

"I don't care who you are, or what you've done it is of no matter to me. Water? You may have none. You may leave unmolested and you can have your friends."

From out of the darkness comes two forms, pushed by several Morokanth braves.

In the dim light the Rangers can see that it is Greeshar and Whispers from The Sky. For the moment neither says anything.

"Seza" he says in subdued greeting to his childhood friend and leans down offering a hand to her in case she wants to ride out.

Sitting upright again turns the beast ready to move out.

"We need our mounts" comes the whispered reply

Ohanzee frowns and straightens "And their mounts? They cannot be here or they'd be ill so where can we find them?"

Any hint of tension eases from Hoskar's shoulders, and he releases his strong grip from the shield's fastening, only to fiddle briefly with his waist. When he is done, the glint of polished silver can be seen in his right hand. At a suitable break in discussions, he mutters something briefly to Salen  then nods to the morokanth.

It is condign, Khan Two-Thumb. You know you're not that popular with some of my friends here, so it's only right I give you something of my own and not of theirs. In truth, I'm more interested in having another quiet word with Krakka one day than with holding grudges.

His smile takes on a self-deprecatory tone, and he looks down as if in embarrassment for a moment.

Most of my possessions are elsewhere, but this is quite personal and not without its own value. Only a silver buckle, but quite heavy. He shrugs. Not full value for a khan gift, I know; but the best I can do at this notice. Think it might emphasise your status nicely: for obvious reasons, you're the only Morokanth I've ever met who could use it.
This message was last edited by the player at 13:50, Thu 03 Dec 2015.

"Though you argument seems to be with the rangers as a group, I have no personal quarrel with you Khan, so like Hoskar Two-Feather, I will gift you something of my own." He unpins a gold broach that takes the shape of a scorpion. He holds it out in to the darkness, towards where he thinks Zakeen is. "Like the buckle, it doesn't come near what is due a Khan, but we had not expected to see you and didn't think to bring more with us. If I may return to our camp, I will be able to return with more a suitable gift, maybe in exchange for water?"

"It is a welcomed gift"

From out of the shadows comes a human slave, who with out stretched hand accepts the gift, returning to the shadows to give it to her master.

"For this I will release your friends' Rhinos. This is because I knew your father."



This brings a gruff grunted laugh "Water for the High Llama brave..... I accept your gift and will take more for water."

"Three silvers worth for each skin you wish filled."

"Bah"

Greeshar spits on the ground in frustration, though his face is in shadow it's not hard to guess that he's sneering in anger.

"If the water is to be paid for...should not the healing our Seza has done for your tribe also be paid for?" Amara asked. "I've no objection to paying for water, I just want to know where we stand moving forward."

OOC:How many skins do we need to get back home?

"Believe me it is the only reason she and her lover are not my slaves" replies the Khan.

"Not really. You took and then murdered one of my friends, one of us - the Wandering Rangers. If you hadn't, your warriors would still be here and we would never have crossed swords."

Salen stands, unmoving, not concerned by anything around him. He is obviously not about to part with even one silver to this dog.
This message was last edited by the GM at 16:03, Fri 04 Dec 2015.

Henal stands unusually silent with a grim look across his face and his hand straying down to his sword hilt before he remembers to bring it away.

Kobal stiffens at the name.  He had suspected it was Zakeen, and had strained his ears and memory, but the sharper senses of Condor had confirmed the voice.



Hoskar, you're cozying up to this bastard?!  You were there when Zakeen and Krakka killed Kaonu!




Kobal stifles his anger as much as he can and calls out to the two.  "Wise One, Greeshar, are you all right?"  He doesn't ask if they were treated well.  The answer to that is obvious.



"So this is how the mighty Black Mud clan repays aid and service from the Earth?  With extortion of its servants?"  He makes no outward move to ready his weapons, for the morokanth can see better in the dark than he, but he tries not to tense his muscles in case of an attack.



Lover?!
This message was last edited by the player at 01:13, Fri 04 Dec 2015.

"Aye I'm alright, but Gree...."

"I'm fine" snaps the Thunderbird brave angrily from the shadows.

"We're alive. Let's leave before this turns bad."

"I the Khan of the Clan do not remember asking you for help human. We rule this oasis and everything in it. You want water you pay.

I advise that you leave now, with your companions, whom I decided in kindness and without real need to free from what would have been a life of slavery. It matters not that they helped. I did not allow it."

"Go"

At the final word there is the sound of many warriors readying weapons and the clearing fills with charms being cast in preparation for trouble.

Having been unable to silence a small snort of mirth at the cost of water, Hoskar has been silent awhile; looking around to see who might have noticed his slip; Kobal's look of disfavour also not going unheeded. When it seems as if it's been passed over, he lowers his shield deliberately and slowly, tucking his staff in his now-loosened belt and unassumingly making the rune of Issaries with his hands behind the lowered shield.

You want us gone, I say we're gone. Your oasis, your rules.

Is there a servant of yours we could negotiate that water price with? We're not without our own resources, but more water would be nice and it never hurts to have wanderers - and foes of the one foe - speak well of your good will: a friend in an...ah...unexpected quarter is welcome as fresh water from the living earth, after all.

He bows his head again and makes preparation to leave in accord with the Morokanth's command.

As he listens to the others, Tarosh starts to get nervous and strains his ears, listening for any sign of attack. As the slave didn't return for his gift, he gently throws it towards Zakeen, hoping its not misconstrued as an attack. "I'll return for my water when Bright Treasure has risen, Khan." He bows and starts the trek back to camp.

"Dark Claw can be our go between. When you decide how much you want send him to me. You come to if we are to haggle. Now go."




The Slave takes the gift, catching it mid air, handing it to her master.
This message was last edited by the player at 09:17, Fri 04 Dec 2015.

Kobal nods at Whispers and Greeshar to acknowledge their response.





Kobal tries to keep his gaze on Zakeen, but he can't help but glance at Hoskar.    'Goodwill'?!  'Friend'?!

He looks back to the morokanth khan.  "You do not remember asking for help?  But we will remember.  That your clan asked for help, and that this was the reception we received in return.

He turns to Whispers and Greeshar.  "Wise One, Greeshar, let's get your mounts and go."

He looks back at Zakeen again.  "If you want silver, next time offer a fair price for the water."  He ignores the comment about Dark Claw.
This message was last edited by the player at 09:21, Fri 04 Dec 2015.