Salen and Hoskar vanish for the day, only meeting up with the Rangers that evening when the large group of travelers begin their descent into the warren of rocks and gullies that finally lead to the Rhino Gorge, scene of many events in the adventures of the Rangers.

A place where two of the Wandering Rangers had passed on to the afterlife: Kaonu at the hands of the Black Mud clan warriors, some of whom are now travelling with the Rangers and also of Fireborn, killed by the death explosion of Big Mouth, the Mostali guardian of the tomb of the long dead dwarf companion of the Second Age official Repe Sorsa.

As they descend through the rocky gullies Ohanzee, leading the captured sable and with his newly bound familiar sleeping tucked away out of sight, feels butterflies in his stomach. It is anticipation and more than a little trepidation mixed with excitement at the chance that he might be successful in his planned summoning of Grandmother Spider.

Spiders scurry...

Webs twang...

And from the other side an ancient spirit watches from the darkness....

Following the others Tarosh looks up at the sides of the gullies, "An easy place to be ambushed, are we staying long?"

"There are things that some of us must do" Ohanzee replies "My task will only take a night if successful."

As they approach the end of their descent, Bright Treasure already out of view down in the gully leading to Rhino Gouge Ohanzee explains to the Sky Watchers "By night it's a good idea to stay close to the fires. As you may already have known, Rhino Gouge is home to Oglod father of lizards and by day he and his children look after the place. His home is in the branch tot he North West. He's quite a character and if any want to drop by to give him thanks then it'd not hurt."

"By night though the gorge is protected by Grandmother Spider and her children who range over the boulder field to the East of the gorge. It's a long story, but the quick version is that a fellow follower of Raven and Wandering Ranger summoned her to the place, to Oglod's home and in doing so brought his wrath though he didn't know it."

"I devised a compromise so that by day, his element, Oglod looks over the place and by night, hers Grandmother Spider does. She keeps her children from sucking the life from the ravine too, but that is not to say that they would not come if she called them at night to protect it."

He shrugs "You may even meet Melock when we get to the Earth Temple, if the priestess has been able to recover his soul and mend his body."

Ohanzee falls quiet as they near the end of the gully and exit into Rhino Gouge and as they move to the overhang by the pool where they last camped, where he met and joined the Rangers and where other less happy memories linger. By the time they have set camp the shadows are already deepening to night and seem all the darker for the light thrown out from the camp fires only to be quenched within a few yards.

Umbra has already taken to the wing and is feeding happily on the insects that buzz over and about the pool Bring back some for the other bat Ohanzee sends silently glad of the help in keeping the little thing fed now.

The Raven brave's anticipation has grown further still and his stomach is turning too much to fancy eating anything so with his animals seen to he rises and announces "I'm going to the cave where Melock called Grandmother Spider, anyone want to come?"
This message was last edited by the player at 11:16, Mon 11 Jan 2016.

Before reaching the Rhino Gorge, Broken Claw tells the Rangers that he and his followers will camp in one of the side ravines, partially out of respect for the Ranger who fell here to Zakeen Two Thumb's Herdman and mainly in respect to the many Morokanths who died at the hand of Salen and his allies.

"It is a Ghost place for us now..."

Perhaps surprisingly the Harpy Queen and her followers elect to roost with the Morokanths, saying that the magic of the Rhino Gorge jars her spirit and that she feels unsafe there.

Even with the sudden depletion of their numbers, the Rangers are still in the company of the Vingans, who look about in wonder, explaining that this would be a place they would not visit normally.

The overhang looks unused since the last time the Rangers had all been here and the spirit of the camp has kept it tidy, the wood pile filled and the gourds and pottery urns full of water.

From the pool comes a splash and those looking swear that they see something larges flash silver just below the surface...

He listens as Ohanzee tells the new traveling companions what is abroad in the dark and what he plans to do, "Why would you want to call such a terrible spirit? surely she will just attack us all?" As they get to the overhang, he dismounts and helps Kinamasi down. Hisser jumps down and once he sees which way Ohanzee is heading, goes off in the other direction to hunt.

Kinamasi is just about to ask about firewood, when she see the stack of it, she turns to the others, "I think someone else is already living here, they have collected firewood. We should talk to them before we take over their camp."

Ohanzee smiles "Oh but she's about anyway come Darkness. At least a portion of her is."

Then after a moment he sighs and adds "Besides, I have a gift or two for her and hope to win her favour, to come back closer to the Darkness that used to feel so natural to me."
He gazes at the pool watching the bat flit this way and that.

"It is the camp spirit who keeps it clean and yes and offering would be good and expected" answers the Shaman. "There was a small copper man who lived here too, what became of him?"

"This place smells of death...Many have died here recently....Baboon...Human...Morokanth...I smell Basmoli too and something else."

*Sniff Sniff*

In reply to Whispers from the Sky (msg # 9):

She nods her head and blushes at being spoken to by Whispers from the Sky, "Forgive my ignorance Whispers from the Sky." She hurries to set up the camp fire and start cooking and can be heard thanking the spirit as she does so.
Once the fire is going, she turns to Hoskar, "I don't suppose you have any herbs or spices amongst your gods? Its just that Tarosh is down to just salt."

In reply to Ohanzee Shappa (msg # 8):

He shakes his head, "As long as you keep her away from the camp, its not my place to ask you not to. If you survive tonight, could you show me where Oglod lives, I would like to pay my respects."

The Vingan women sit down on mass about the Northern most fire pit on the ledge and lay out their sleeping mats and gear.

"What was that in the water?" asks Bubbles

Urrak decides to take the next two overhangs to the North with his wife, son Ukki and his wife and the two great grandchildren, his two grandsons electing to take the overhang directly opposite.

The space about the pool is filled with mounts who begin to tuck into the plentiful fodder, especially the copious amounts of wild melon now growing everywhere.
This message was last edited by the GM at 14:38, Mon 11 Jan 2016.

In reply to Tarosh Long Neck (msg # 12):

Ohanzee nods "But if I don't then Salen can introduce you." He looks over at Bubbles "Same for the spirit in the pool which is what you saw. Salen's a bit possessive over her though." and he grins at the Condor's back.

He takes a hide bucket and fills it partially with water from the pool thanking spirit within as he does so. Then he leads the sable towards the cave, bucket and painting stick held in the other with the sable halter.

The Vingans are the first to notice the pool, and the splashing, but they are not alone. Salen has been staring at the water for a long while but only now realises he has been doing so. The Condor brave knows he will have to see Oglod very shortly, but there are other matters to attend first. He addresses Bubbles' query, and his sideways look to Ohanzee is as neutral as can be, when normally he would at least acknowledge the jibe, if not return in kind.

"There is a Water Spirit in there. I have an...agreement with her...but I would suggest you leave the pool alone if you possibly can. She's often hungry and usually not picky.

In fact, I...better go see...her."

And with that Salen leaves the campsite under the overhang and makes his way down to the water's edge.

"That makes more sense, I was wondering why a follower of Raven would be having anything to do with a spirit as fiery as Oglod." He watches the two braves go off into the darkness and then turns back to the remaining Rangers, "From what I've heard you all say about this place, you've run in to lots of trouble here lets hope we're in for a quieter couple of days."

There are grunts and muffled curses and then Ohanzee reappears leading a relieved looking sable "Can someone help me get this stupid beast into the cave?!" he asks "You don't have to stay, just help me get it in there."

Tarosh laughs at Ohanzee, "Do I look stupid, I'm not falling for one of your tricks." He looks at the sable, "Though I'll hold it while you hobble it."

It takes but a moment to tie the beast's feet together and with it slung over his shoulder Ohanzee is off once more.

Amara sighed "It's an undine of some description. She tried to make a meal of my brother at one point. I often wonder what deal Salen might have made with it...but then I think it's probably best not to wonder." Amara said off handedly, before going to check the knots they'd set to tell everyone about the clan...and see if any more survivors of the Skywatchers had made it.

Greeshar grunts at this from where he stands at the edge of the overhang staring after Salen as the brave descends to the water's edge

"I don't trust him, or the spirit."

Taking a torch so as to locate the knots situated at the ends of the gorge and up under the overhang, Amara finds that they are in good condition and that no others have been left in reply.

At the Northern end she turns to survey the length of the gorge, fires lit on both sides and voices calling back and forth as families and friends exchange banter over the lowing of the Bison, grunts of the Rhino and slow, methodical munching of the High llamas.

An almost bucolic scene...and one interrupted by the short flash of light emanating from the ravine heading down to Oglod's lair to the West.

Amara frowned as she saw the flash, wondering what was up at that end of the gorge. "Anyone know who went to visit Oglod? He seems kinda upset. Maybe the rest of us should intervene. Whispers....do you know what's going on?"

Having returned to the others to ask her question, Amara gets a negative from all present.

"Oglod's a day spirit" replies Whispers from the Sky, shrugging. "Perhaps you'd better go and check?"

From the Vingan fire comes a round of laughter, centred on Henal who sits with the girls, telling them his stories.

"I'll come with you" volunteers Leaper

"Aye, so will I sister"

Greeshar already has his sword drawn and seems eager to get off the ledge and doing something.

"Is no one else worried about what Ohanzee is doing?"

Just as Greeshar finishes speaking there is an animal squeal of terror that comes from the cave of the spider and all the fires dim down to just a bed of coals...

Herd beasts moo and stamp their feet in protest and a ripple of unease spreads amongst the camp.

"I always worry about what Ohanzee is doing, haha," Kobal looks up from where he sits, examining his lance.  "But he took his bat familiar with him, right?  I'd hope that if there was any problem, the familiar at least would warn someone..."  He gives no indication that he'll get up to investigate the flash of light.  Rather not get involved in dark Raven affairs anyway.

Tarosh is just about to answer Greeshar when the sable screams in terror, he shudders and nods in agreement with Kobal, "Same here, but I'm not going to check on him, either he comes back tonight or we collect whats left of his body tomorrow morning. "

Down by the pool Salen cannot hear anyone else's words, cannot see the flash coming from the direction of Oglod's lair, can pay no heed to anyone else's concerns.

Down by the pool Salen removes most of his belongings and slips into the water. A moment later he disappears below the surface, and cannot be seen.

There's something grim afoot there, alright mutters Hoskar. No ofence to some of our companions, but the dark's never been my thing. Once spent a night on watch with Melock and had to confess that that spider scares the horn off me.

He sudders once in remembrance, then resumes smoking a pipe of tobakeh, content for the moment to watch and observe goings-on; adding only Thinking of Melock, he used to cart the copper man from here around, I think. Anyone know who does have him these days?.

The oasis woman taps Hoskar on his shoulder and repeats her question.

Hoskar jumps and winces at his own abstraction, blushing thoroughly. Apologies. I was away soaring for a moment there.

He thinks a moment. Herbs. Yes. My current supplies are pepper, dried chilli, cummin, and a bit of dried ginger root. Think I've got some fenugreek too, but that keeps getting used for people's indigestion.

He smiles.

I'm a bit embarrassed I missed the question. Can't apologise enough. Cooking's an interest of mine too. Can I help at all?

In reply to Hoskar Two-Feather (msg # 33):

She bows her head, "No need to apologize, I'm sure a warrior such as yourself has more important things to do than to help cook food." She gestures towards her cook pot, "Its just a simple stew, but it needs a little something to perk it up." She starts walking slowly towards Hoskar's gear, "May I help myself?"

Amara sighed heavily "How come is it that any time trouble is to be found, Ohanzee is right in the middle of it" Amara picked up her weapons and made sure she'd have everything she'd need for a fight. "Ok, everyone that is going to rescue Ohanzee....again. It is time for us to be off."

Henal stands up on hearing the sounds from the cave and walks towards his fellow rangers.
Think I'll join you Amara, though Ohanzee brings this trouble on himself.

A relieved expression flows out across Hoskar's face, his mouth relaxing to a smile and the creases on his brow flattening. For the first few steps, he walks with Kinamasi.

Thank you, although I apologise anyway. It's the little things like courtesy that matter sometimes, and to a hungry man there's nothing more important than food. Maybe fighters forget that sometimes.

By all means dive in: I suppose I'd best help deal with whatever our Raven's up to. For a stew, I'd go with the pepper and a touch of the chilli myself - the two little bags just by where my lazy cat's snoozing again; the pepper bag's got two stones for grinding in there too he points but the other three bags just behind are herbs too. Feel free to surprise us. Just don't bung anything from the boxes in or we'll all be seeing visions for weeks.

Leaving Kinamasi to help herself, he ambles to follow the now-departed Amara and see what the fuss is about...
This message was last edited by the player at 12:50, Wed 13 Jan 2016.

Amara, Henal, Tarosh, Leaper and Greeshar head off up the gorge, dropping off the ledge at it's most northerly point and then heading west up the ravine which led to Oglod's domain.

Conscious that the cliffs here were filled with rock lizards during the day, the Rangers moved cautiously, torches held high and weapons at the ready.

Parts of the ravine's floor is made up of silt and gravel and Tarosh spots some fresh tracks which Amara makes out to be a large hyena.

Arriving at the box canyon they find it empty of life....

To one side is the cave of Oglod, large enough that a Ranger can walk in without bending.

As she gets near to Hoskar's gear, she calls out softly, "Don't worry little cat, I'm just getting some herbs for dinner." She picks up the bag pepper with its grind stones and the pouch of chilli. She can't help herself and has a quick look in to the box to see what vision inducing food Hoskar has. As she turns to go back to the fire, a glint of bronze in the dull light catches her eye, thinking it maybe another cooking pot she walks over to it and uncovers what looks like a small metal man, she screams loudly.

Investigating the flash of light

Henal peers at the cave mouth.
Not sure about going in without making a sacrifice to Oglod first. Lets see if anything can be seen out here first.
This message was last edited by the player at 12:58, Wed 13 Jan 2016.

...but he gets very few paces indeed before he hears Kinamasi scream and wheels round in amazed horror.

Wha? Surely not the cat?

He pelts back the paces he's travelled so far; calling as he does so What is it? There's nothing bad in my kit then sees what Kinamasi has uncovered from a saddlebag, and the light of understanding dawns.

He kneels between the startled woman and the copper man, making calming noises.

Don't worry. He's not dangerous. Can't move at the moment, poor little thing.

Best keep talking - calm and soothing voice to assuage fears.

It really is okay he adds, reaching out and touching the copper figure to demonstrate its harmlessness. He used to move about and make drinks - some of the best drinks we've ever had - but he's run down somehow. Never harmed anyone ever. Maybe later I'll take another look round the caves we found him in to see if there's anything in there that will bring him back. I think we know the dangers in there now well enough to avoid them, and they're worth seeing if you'd like: nothing like any other cave.

He looks at Kinamasi's face, trying to assess if he's helping.

I'm sorry again. Would have warned you if I'd remembered he was there. Are you alright?

No more watching Hoskar soaring, sleep is grateful by the baggage. Smells of herbs and scented freshness wafting here and wafting there.

Opens one eye, lazily.

Who is this approaching closely - it's the woman Kinamasi looking soothing speaking calming; I can rest myself beside her...

Purrrr

A piercing scream.

Cat jumps swiftly back from danger, fur erect as she looks round her for the sudden foe emerging.
She is startled? What's the problem? All these humans never silent.

Creeps back, head low, winds sinuously round the frightened one's legs. Fear's not here and I will show it, lambent my eyes look up at fearful. Miaow

"Everywhere we go, we are dogged by hyenas. Given the Morokanth...taste for using them, I have to wonder if on our very first outing as braves, it might have been a Morokanth that set hyenas on our path." Amara stated out loud. "Do we have anything to offer Oglod to appease him beyond parts of our soul?"

Suddenly a dripping-wet Salen appears, his armor now back in place and his various belts and weapons strapped or carried all around him.

"What's up? The Water Spirit just warned me that there is danger here - Zowie the Hyena Lord, up to his old dirty tricks. So I came immediately.

What have you found? Seen?"

In reply to Hoskar Two-Feather (msg # 41):


Trembling with shock that is now turning to relief and embarrassment, she lets out a little laugh, "I've never seen anything like it before, I though it was chaos come to kill us all." Just as her breathing is returning to normal, she jumps as Four Paws rubs against her legs, she looks deep in to her eyes, "Not funny!" She fusses with her hair to hide her red face, once she has calmed down again, "I would like to see that cave." she looks closely at Copperman, "You say he normally moves and serves drinks, but now he doesn't? Then he's dead and should be buried."

In reply to Amara Brightsky (msg # 43):

Investigating the flash of light

As he looks at the track, he hears Kinamasi's scream, he's about to run back to the camp when he remembers Hisser, "What's happening back at camp, that sounded like Kinamasi?"

"It was," comes back the reply, "Something of Hoskar's made her scream, I can't see what as there's too much grass in the way, but she seems unhurt."

"Thanks, good hunting."

"It might have been until she screamed" Hisser sounds a bit peeved.

He turns to the others, "Don't worry about the scream, apparently Hoskar showed Kinamasi something that made her scream," he thinks briefly, "If its that book of his, I'm going to punch him." He scratches his head, "If this hyena isn't one of the Morokanth's then I'm sure it would make a good sacrifice."

As Kobal sits by the fire, nursing a kumiss skin and reflecting on the last few days he feels something in his hair. Moving.

Salen finds the braves searching about the box canyon. looking for clues, narrowly avoiding getting stabbed by a startled Greeshar.

At Kinamasi's scream, he stirs, rising to one knee and grabbing his sword and a couple of javelins.  But soon Hoskar returns and alarm is over.



"'Dead'?"  Kobal calls out to the Hoskar and Kinamasi.  "Ha, I wonder if it was truly alive in the first place.  Maybe some sorcerous construct of those Mostali.  Maybe it should be buried - who knows what magicks are in it?  But it would be a waste of a lot of metal..."  He sits back down.

Gently, he combs through his hair, feeling out the creatures, letting them crawl onto his fingers, then placing his hand on the ground so they can crawl off.  Grandmother Spider, Wise One, we honour your great power.  Long are the threads you weave, long is your reach.  We mean no harm to you or kin here.  He slowly exhales, only now noticing that he'd been holding his breath.  Hopefully that will appease the spirit...

After searching for a while the Rangers find nothing amiss in the canyon, no more tracks due to the hard rock floor and nothing moving in the scores of small cracks, crevices and caves that line the stony walls.

Nothing.

Though Familiars all back away from Oglod's cave.

"Lets get back to the camp, I don't want to disturb the spirits in Oglod's cave and darkness is none of us element." Henal says looking around them for signs of movement.

Flicks away, somewhat disgruntled. There's the pay for good intentions. Rolls once over, soft fur showing for a moment then stands upright; walks away like nothing happened save for one small backwards looking, eyes like slits, stern-disapproving.

Still keen to distract the oasis woman, and to assuage her embrarrassment, Hoskar pauses nodding as Kobal explains, then speaks further. He's right, you know. That's why I want another look in the caves. Don't think it's dead - maybe just lacking something it used to get here. Maybe he'll come back if we find it.

Can't blame you flinching - it's a strange little thing. Most of us have done something similar at one time or another, though the fighters wouldn't thank me for saying it. Runnings-off, the occasional fear-related...um...accident and so on.

Oh. She and Tarosh have something, don't they? Best be clear.

That was before we knew Tarosh, of course. Never seen him flinch from anything. Good man, that; and a braver man than me I reckon.

Think that's saved it. Hope so.

Anyway, can't do anything about that cave stuff till the others get back. Would it disturb your cooking if I sing to the camp spirit while you use the fire? Probably no better time to give thanks than when the place is being used to such good effect.

At Kobal's words she starts looking back and forth between him and Hoskar, "What is Mostali? So these caves might have food for him? odd." When Hoskar mentions Tarosh, she preens herself, "Yes he is a brave man, I would choose no other." She turns and heads back to the fire, once he is behind her, she rolls her eyes, Children, not one of them is worthy of the name brave! Crouching next to the glowing fire, she looks over her shoulder, "It would be good to hear a lively song, not only would it honour the spirit," she jabs at the fire, "it might help get the fire burning better so I can cook."

Something is very wrong. It is quiet - too quiet. Not a flicker from Oglod's cave, when Salen at the very least would have expected some sign from the old one.

"Mordy, is Oglod in there? And if not, who is? What can you sense?"

*Woof da fucking woof*

In reply to Kinamasi (msg # 54):

Ahh. I'm glad. It's good to render thanks where due. I might not be much of a fighter, but words are my thing.

He sits cross-legged beside the fire, having taken pinches from the herb bags in advance.

Hearthkeeper-Mahome, Hevren-mother and helpflame, our thanks. For clean places and grateful fire, our thanks.
You give to us, it is right we give to you.

He casts both a portion of his spirit and pinches of the herbs as a symbol of help received to the flame-spirit, and begins a song he heard as the caravan women camped many a year ago.

Let the fire crackle
Let the fire sing
Cookfire and home fire
Seeing everything.

Passing from the fire folk
To the middle air
Laugh with a good joke
Well away from care.

Everything that passes
Coming through your light
Food out of grasses
Driving off the night.

Hope and home that we live
Warm the firepot
Blessings that you give
Keeping cold nights hot.

Work and war for us now
But you still are here
From hunt and from plough
Food away from fear.

Graceful friend Mahome
Food for all to share
Light for the lonely
Spreading everywhere.

His eyes twinkle as he sings; recalling easier times and youthful irresponsibility when food came unheeded and family meant everything.
This message was last edited by the player at 12:51, Thu 14 Jan 2016.

After a long look at his dog Salen looked back into the inky blackness of the cave, though he spoke aloud to the others.

"Oglod is in there, with his kin. And some sort of Hyena-Human thing, which must be Zowie. We must wait out here, and be ready for trouble."

Ohanzee returns to the camp with the remains of what used to be the sable calf over his shoulder. It is dessicated and from the looks on it's gaunt head with mouth agape in a silent death bleat it was not a good death. He places the dried husk onto the flames and with every last trace of liquid drawn from it it catches immediately flames licking over it and rising high.

"Where are the others?"" he asks.

"You could be right, but since we made a compact with Oglod...might it not be better to go in and help resolve his issues with the hyena? Hyenas are our enemies in any case." Amara suggested. "It would be good to have Oglod more firmly on our side"

"Compacts aside - and I am more invested with Oglod than all but Ohanzee - Mordy is practically screaming at me to not go in there. Which is why I suggested waiting out here."

Water gathers around Salen's feet as it continues to run, more slowly now, off his body.
This message was last edited by the player at 16:00, Thu 14 Jan 2016.

In reply to Ohanzee Shappa (msg # 59):


Something of Ohanzee's meaning penetrates Hoskar's rapt attention to the hearth-spirit, maybe because the sable-husk is food for her flame, and his singing changes for one verse before resuming the remembered-words.

Oglod they are courting
While we praise the fire
Thanks for her blessing
Feeding our desire.

"Salen, I know and trust Mordy, but it appears as though Oglod is in trouble...and he might need our help. Perhaps I should go fetch the others. Together we should be able to help."

Ohanzee looks at Hoskar as he responds mid song and smiles at the Skywatcher "Thanks"

He then says to the others about so as not to interrupt Hoskar again "I'll go join them." and he heads off.


After a short while Ohanzee turns up outside the cave where the others have gathered "What's happening then?"

Investigating the flash of light

Henal stays watching the cave mouth.

"If we want the others why not just use the familiars to contact them rather than going. These hyenas have been tracking us for so long and it needs to end. Can you sense anything about Oglod Ohanzee?"

Ohanzee shrugs "Sure it's the same ones? Half man half hyena doesn'tsound like the normal ones to me. Besides, Melock and I spoke to that lot and they offered to help us... I think."

"And from the sounds of it this one was already here, not following us."

He looks at the darkened cave entrance "If Mordy says wait then I'm sure it's for a good reason. So that's what I'm going to do."

Kobal frowns.  "Mostali are strange ones.  They are sorcerers.  They are not of the Wastes and do not follow the ways of Waha.  We should have nothing to do with them.  Though the others," he nods in the direction of Hoskar, "don't seem as worried by Mostali things."  He turns back to his lance.

But soon Hoskar's prayer to the camp spirit draws his attention again, and he joins the rhino brave, listening first, then adding his own prayer when Hoskar has finished.

O spirit of this homely rest
You bring succor and shade
To those who call upon you

We come to you tired and hungry
Show us the way to respect your bounty
And to respect your domain

May our hands find warmth and friendship
May our noses smell food aplenty
May our mouths be quenched of thirst

May our ears hear peace and quiet
May our eyes wake to a new dawn
May our beasts be rested and calm

As he chants his prayer, he adds some deadwood, which he has collected from the plants near the water, to the fire.
This message was last edited by the player at 23:53, Thu 14 Jan 2016.

After their homage to the camp spirit, Kobal returns to where he had been seated to collect the skin of kumiss.

Walking to one of the larger crop of water melons, he pours some of the liquor over the melons, with a dedication.

Checheh
Old One, Melon Boy
Hear my voice

Sweet your fruit
Thank you these gifts
Red your nectar
Our spirit lifts

Among the Wastes
Hardy your rind
Tough your vines
A boon to find

I fulfilled my oath
To sow your seeds
I swear again
To repeat these deeds


With his knife, he cuts one melon off the vine carefully, and takes it to split for Black Hoof and Haaro to share.

Investigating the flash of light

OK let us wait then. Maybe Salen will be dry by the time anything happens. Henal settles to wait but keeps his javelin and shield ready.

The wait is long...

Nothing happens for an hour and first Greeshar and then Leaper make their excuses, both heading back to the main overhang for some sleep and to take part in the watch for the night.

Then after another thirty minutes something happens.

Several creatures appear on the top of the canyon walls, silhouetted against the slightly lighter night sky. One laughs insanely, revealing them instantly as Hyenas. One by one they slide down the slope, heading by the looks of it for the general area of Oglod's cave.

Kobal's song is greeted by a cackle of happy laughter, and there just visible amongst the lush melon leaves the brave can just make out the softly glowing figure of the odd little stickman .

His song over, a tear comes to Hoskar's eye as Kobal offers thanks also. Beautiful. Just beautiful. He turns his head away, trying to disguise his emotion as being nothing more than a mote in his eye.

Unnoticed, he also wills a little of his spirit to the giver of melons  supporting Kobal's second invocation.

He is chattering away to the people round the fire about nothing more than talk, and why his travels mean he's not fussed if the copperman is strange as long as it's not dangerous or chaos, when tired comrades start returning. So nothing's happening then: can't be trouble or Greeshar would be in the thick of it. This relaxes him further, and he is again puffing contentedly on a little tobakeh when he is suddenly interrupted by a sense that a rather heavy little table has just landed squarely on his lap; one leg in a most uncomfortable place. As he fumbles for his lost pipe and eases his vulnerables, he sees Four Paws, standing upon him clearly perturbed.

Wearily, he grabs for weapons in case of trouble.
This message was last edited by the player at 10:29, Fri 15 Jan 2016.

There's a smell I do not like here. Big dog, laughing dog, no man's friend. More than one, so I'm in danger.
Ears flattened, runs down ravine finding folk around the fire. Jumps on Hoskar, paws a-landing where they will no time for aiming.
Smell of something none too friendly: dogs in the darkness.
This message was last edited by the player at 09:18, Fri 15 Jan 2016.

Ohanzee had been sitting waiting but at the sight and sound of the approaching hyena he picks up his gear and stands ready for trouble ""Any more from within?" he asks Salen looking also at Mordy

Salen's dog barks at the Hyenas

The Hyenas ignore Mordy's bark and instead settle down in a semi circle facing in towards the cave.

Hoskar furrows his brow at the cat's message from her senses, and sets about strapping on his armour...the metal stuff should keep laughing-dog out of my vitals.

Wild Hyaenas by the sound of it he grates. Never did understand why the Morokanth keep the things. Anyone think we'd best check on the others? Reckon I might have a wander that way: they've been a long while now.

Having just returned Leaper answers "No, not unless they sound the alarm. I'm beat and have pulled last watch. Blow your horn if there's trouble."

Several of the Vingans show limited interest but the furthest hey go with Hoskar is to stand guard on the mounts, who are just below the ledge anyways.

"The Hyenas are the ones travelling with Broken Claw and his cronies. But something is drawing them here, though I cannot tell what."

Salen has dried now, at last, but worried though he is he makes no move toward the cave.

Mordy drops to the ground and watches the dark shapes of the Hyenas

*Grrrrrrrrrrrr*

Several minutes later there's a soft call from the lip of the canyon where the Hyenas had appeared from.

Morokanth.

Acknowledging the others' exigencies with a nod they've had a tough one so far, Hoskar simply remarks quietly: I'd be obliged if you keep an eye on cat there: don't want him hyaena food; adding to the Vingans it's good to know you're listening out - riding with Amara has shown me you can always trust a Vingan in a crisis. Sword unsheathed, he creeps from the camp out towards Oglod's cave, ears straining for sounds of movement or trouble and gaze scanning ahead - once his eyes have grown used to the fire's absence - for any sign of foes. So far as he can tell, he's barely scuffing the ground; and for once he's managing to stop his mail from clanking.

Let's see what's what then. No sounds of fighting - might be alright - but something's off here or I'm an Esrolian.

Ohanzee responds to Salen with "I'll bet I can get it with one guess!" and moves towards the cave entrance but stops just at the threshold "Everything okay in there? Anyone need any help? I'm sure there's no differences that can't be overcome, after all we all share Disorder in common!"

Outside Oglod's Gaff

While waiting with the others, Tarosh had been keeping a look out behind them to make sure nothing jumped them from behind, but when the hyenas arrived he turned to watch them. He keeps his great axe ready in case they decide to attack, though he relaxes a bit when the Morokanth appear. As Ohanzee goes towards the cave, he shakes his head and mutters to those nearest, "He's must be feeling cocky since the spider didn't eat him."

"We've all defeated hyena's before. Is there that much of a difference between a hyena and a hyena man spirit?" Amara shouted out into Oglods cave. "Hyena man, come forth and talk to us that matters might be settled between us."

As Ohanzee and Amara approach the cave, the three Hyenas all begin to growl, looking as if they'll attack if they come any closer.

Back on the lip of the canyon the small group of Morokanth haven't moved, they seem to have settled down to watch. Then as Amara and Ohanzee's words fade, there's more noise, and coming down from above is another group of Hyenas. These ones are feral and a score in number, snapping and yelping at each other as they tumble, leap and roll into the centre of the canyon...
This message was last edited by the GM at 10:55, Sat 16 Jan 2016.

"This could get very interesting very quickly. We should form a square in case they attack." He calls to Hisser, "More hyenas have turned up, spread the word."

Hisser tells any familiars who are close to the camp and after briefly thinking about it, he decides that being near the fire is the safest place to be and quickly runs there.

Tarosh calls up to the Morokanth, "Do you lot have anything you want to tell us?"

At the camp

Kobal pours a bit more kumiss into the mouth of the spirit.



Kobal at first shakes his head.  Though Haaro has senses the animals approaching as well, there's been no alarm from the others, and no sounds of fighting.  But then he thinks There are enough here to guard the camp and animals, particularly with the Vingans and rhino riders.  He gets up and readies his armour and weapons, then heads off after Hoskar.

Tarosh finds that his voice is drowned out by the newly arrived Hyena pack's loud squabbling and carry on, but unless interrupted they begin to settle down before the cave entrance, ignoring both the Rangers and the domesticated Hyenas.

To communicate the Blue Llama brave would have to actually approach the Morokanth and climb the easily scalable canyon walls.

Meanwhile Kobal finds Hoskar hidden behind a rock at the entrance of the box canyon, watching the procedures, a loaded sling in one hand

Ohanzee turns away from the cave entrance "Well this isn't going anywhere and it's taking it's own sweet time to get there!"

"I'll be back later but I'll leave Umbra about in case you need to contact me."

He then starts back for the main ravine and on towards the camp.


As he passes he speaks to those present "Hyena Man and Oglod are having a powwow, though I don't think Oglod invited him. Things might kick off."

but he carries on South.

Ohanzee heads off unmolested by the hyenas, which over the course of the next few minutes manage to quieten down somewhat, instead each and everyone, bar the odd minor squabble between over excited individuals, sit or lie on the ground, their eyes riveted on the cave opening...

Outside Oglod's Gaff

It's late, and instead of things getting heated, they seemed to have calmed down, particularly after Ohanzee left the area.  Strange that, haha....

Kobal turns to Hoskar and says quietly to him.  "I'll get some rest.  Wake me if the hyenas get restless, or when you want to rest."  With that, he finds a space he can lean his back against, and closes his eyes, shield by his side and arm around a javelin.
This message was last edited by the player at 01:19, Mon 18 Jan 2016.

A further fifteen minutes pass and then from the cave comes a sudden expulsion of sweet smelling smoke, instantly recognisable to both Condor braves as some sweet smelling shit...

From the depth of the cave comes a faint light growing closer all the while as the Hyenas suddenly go mad with excitement, howling and laughing so loud that the Rangers have to cover their ears.

The light turns out to be a lit bullrush torch held aloft by a scrawny man dressed in a crudely stitched together hide one piece, his face momentarily obscured by a Hyena head helmet. Over one shoulder is a bundle of wood, which unceremoniously gets dumped in a pile just before the semi circle of Hyenas and instantly lit with a whoosh by the torch.

From behind the man's back a stringed instrument is pulled and in one fluid movement he sits down, long legs tucked neatly away as he begins to strum.

Instead of pleasant notes the instrument sounds discordant and painful to the ears, but the Hyenas love it, going quiet as the man begins to hum along. Then mid tune he stops, pushes back his furry helm and speaks to the crowd

"Ah...We have visitors amongst us...Strangers to our creed...Serious men and women I believe...Indeedy do."

He sniffs long and loud, his revealed face achingly thin beneath the shock of white hair, with snaggly teeth and what looks like a zig zag scar across one side of his dark, suntanned face.

"Bison and Rhino and ooooo the lovely sweet meat of High llama."

"What brings you here? You come to listen to a story, tell a joke, or cavort nakedly before my fire?....You'd better have gifts or there will be trouble..."
This message was last edited by the player at 11:32, Mon 18 Jan 2016.

In the Darkness Umbra circles and relays the proceedings to Ohanzee "Some gangly legged bloke wearing a hyena head just emerged from the cave."

"He's murdering a tune and wants gifts if you are thinking of joining us."
This message was last edited by the player at 11:27, Mon 18 Jan 2016.

In reply to Zowie (msg # 93):


Tarosh was just starting to nod off when the new comer emerges from the cave and when he hears his words he stiffens. "Who are you to be demanding gifts? especially if you want paying for that noise you just made." he looks thoughtful, "Though I might pay you not to make that noise near me."

"I am here for Oglod," says Salen, simply. "Is he asleep?"

"Tsk Tsk!....So rude."



"And straight to the point little Condor...Asleep? Shit faced more like it, riding his women folk like the randy little lizard he is....Come...Take a pull on this...."

Salen can see that in the man's hand is what looks like a stick, glowing at one end. He places it in his mouth, takes a long pull and whilst exhaling a massive cloud of smoke holds it out for the brave to take.

With his other hand the thin man pats the ground beside him "Take a seat Bison boy....Come smoke with me..."

Umbra continues to relay events through the link between familiar and master He's smoking some powerful stick that he's offering around. He says that Oglod is well. In fact likely high as one of your kites and doing as he does best with his women folk.
This message was last updated by the player at 13:20, Mon 18 Jan 2016.

Returning...

As Ohanzee heads back towards Oglod's gaff he stops by at his gear and retrieves from his trade goods the Tortoise shell lyre and gourd rattle that he won from the side bets with the High Tree clan members when the first met.

Walking back towards the side branch of the ravine he detunes the lyre If it was as bad as Umbra says then it stands to reason that was the Disorder shining through. That and the fact that he's hyena centric!

Outside Oglod's Gaff

Arriving on the scene it is pretty much as the bat described it with the strange man sitting centre and holding court. Ohanzee approaches and takes a seat near the fire offering up the rattle "Please accept this."

He looks about at the seated hyenas and suggests "I thought it appropriate because it can be played by a hyena, held in the mouth and shaken. Can I play a tune with you?" and he takes up the lyre. "Maybe one of the hyena can join in with the rattle?"
This message was last edited by the player at 15:35, Mon 18 Jan 2016.

Never one to shirk a smoking challenge when offered, Salen shrugged and made his way through the hyenas, back and forth, to the spot next to Zowie that the thin man had indicated.

I'm probably going to regret this.

The Condor brave sat down and took the pipe, then took a reasonable draw - neither too big nor too small - from the pipe.

Amara's features softened as the hyena man seemed not to be directly hostile, even though his children seemed aggressive. She regarded the man coolly watching his gait and posture for signs of aggressiveness "What kind of gift would be appropriate for one such as yourself?" she asked.

The laughing howls of the hyenas wake Kobal.  Peering at the commotion, he sits back down again.  "This guy plays even worse than Blue Arm does," he whispers to Hoskar, a hint of incredulity in his voice.  He'd made his way here because of the potential for combat.  At present, the cacophony from the newcomer's stringed instrument seems likely to do violence only to good taste.

He settles down to try to catch some rest again.

He blinks a couple of times, then farts loudly. He looks at the others and with a weak smile, "Must of been something I ate." another fart is heard, this time it lasts a good 10 seconds. He turns to Zowie and just as he's about to speak, yet another one squeaks out, "What have you done to me?" he takes a step towards him and lets rip again.

In reply to Kobal (msg # 102):

Grinning in the darkness, Hoskar murmurs back it's bad all right - up there with my dancing. Still, it'll keep me awake while I keep a watch on things.

I'll nudge you if there's trouble. Not that I expect you'll sleep much through that lot.

There may be smokables, but Issaries would give me a well-deserved boot if I went consorting with hyaena.

Between bouts of laughter at Tarosh's eruptions Ohanzee manages "Wooo, don't come any closer!"

"The air is thick enough with smoke, we don't need your fumes too!"

Outside Oglod's Gaff

The Hyena shaman's eyes narrow at Ohanzee sitting unbidden by the fire and ignores the rattle, which instead is taken from the Raven brave's hand by a rather large and smelly Hyena.

"You'd better keep up or you'll be running for your life...."



It tastes disgusting, like smoking the foulest dog turd kept under a Broo's rancid armpit.



Amara get's a wink in reply, the gesture leaving the Ranger knowing exactly what and who he thinks the gift should be.

As the scraggly man begins to tune his instrument, those watching can see that his patchwork suit of hide is made up of all the known herd beasts of Prax.

And it stinks of them too. All of him is covered except for his groin and arse, which unfortunately is open for all to see...

The man tries out a chord or two, Tarosh's farts keeping in time, whilst at his side the large Hyena crunches it's way through Ohanzee's rattle gift, spitting the shards this way and that with a satisfied air.

Ohanzee grins at the shaman apparently un-flustered by the obvious threat Let's show him how a Raven plays Eyota he thinks silently to the spirit bound within him.

The shaman plays a few chords in challenge and Ohanzee returns the challenge picking up the beat another level, his fingers flying over the lyre plucking and strumming faster and faster picking up the beat and racing ahead.

He stops and awaits the answering chords from the shaman which come thick and fast only to be answered by the Raven brave's own chords, the notes flowing from the instrument faster even than the first time. The fingers of his blue arm dancing over the strings at the neck of the instrument like a serpent writhing over rocks as it snakes through the Wastes.

The music dances back and forth between the two and Ohanzee begins to slow a little, but it is the twang of a breaking string that brings him to an abrupt halt!
This message was last edited by the player at 20:14, Mon 18 Jan 2016.

Henal sits back saying little as the man comes out of the cave and plays his music. He grins at Tarosh's discomfort.

Maybe you need to be careful what you say Tarosh.

He settles with his back against a rock to keep watching.

Ohanzee laughs again looking over at Tarosh "Well done for keeping up, I didn't think your arse could blow so fast!"

He barely acknowledges Henal's comment, but manages to glare at Ohanzee. Clearly frustrated and red with embarrassment, there's nothing he can do to stop his arse from playing its own tune, so he sits down and puts his head in his hands and silently prays to Thunderbird for the humiliation to stop.

Kobal shrinks further behind the rock, and tries to filter out the farting and noise to sleep.  Waha, Thunder Bird, preserve us from the stupidity of Raven...

The Hyena shaman doesn't stop playing, nor does he give Ohanzee the satisfaction of acknowledging a fine player. Instead the same discordant tune carries on.

With a leer on his face he begins to sing, horribly out of key and so high it makes the Hyenas gibber.

"A bunch of ugly Bison men, their Rhino slaves and stinking llamas.....Rode out upon the Waaaayssssssteees.

Wandering without a clue

Ranging far and wide.

The hapless youths, nothing more than sapless ...Glue?...No that doesn't fit....Bollox....Nothing more than earthen clods

ended up crucified and wifeless turds....

Do be do be do be do...."

Here he stops and vomits on the floor next to Salen, the Condor brave having gone deadly quite, his face a horrible shade of purple.

"So...Time for a story...My brethren here are waiting...And I suppose you lot are too?"

Ohanzee reties the string as the shaman sings his offensive song and as he does so he can't help but feel both admiration and disgust at the character What it must be like to be so given over to the Disorder in your soul that you go over totally to it. How liberating, but how separating too. There can be no friends except perhaps the hyena that are  drawn. Even they though have a pack but he seems to have no clan, just the pack that comes to him.

When the shaman stops singing and asks about the story Ohanzee speaks "Interesting as that would be I should go pay my respects to Oglod I think."

A spindly arm snaps out, it's long nailed hand grasping Ohanzee's own arm tightly

"What's the hurry Blue Arm? Never sitting still...Always up and down...Raven's little treasure.  You can't trick a trickster. It's story time and you've just volunteered...Be rude to leave so soon and Oglod's busy screwing."

With a final crunch the large hyena sat beside them finishes destroying the rattle and turns to Ohanzee and laughs. A laugh copied by it's brethren in the audience.

Those Rangers sitting amongst the Hyenas or nearby, notice that there's others sat amongst the living now....Ghost hyenas, drawn by magic and figures half beast, half man, their greedy eyes watching the living.

"A story...We want a story...We want a story....."The chant is picked up by the Hyenas, who on mass begin to yowl in time to the beat, matched by drums played by the scattering of Morokanth watching from above.

Ohanzee looks at the shaman, looks at the gathered watchers, both living and dead and looks up at the Morokanth above beating their drums.

He settles back comfortably and lets a yawn come freely as he replies "Early? it may be early for you but I've been awake a good long time!"

"Still, if everyone wants a story then it would be rude not to give them one."

He smiles "So you cannot trick a Trickster." he yawns again "Let me think a moment though, recall one deserving of such an attentive audience."
This message was last edited by the player at 12:13, Tue 19 Jan 2016.

Hoskar, lurking in cover, remains amused by proceedings serves you right for socialising with hyaena: no harmony there and no wonder Issaries dislikes them - who wouldn't on that showing? Total bastard. However, he stays alert for trouble with sling at the ready.

Sensing no imminent violence, he lets Kobal try to sleep, but listens out for whatever story the Raven brave might tell.

It wasn't good. It really wasn't good. Even for a veteran smoker, this was way beyond the pale.

His face turning a remarkable shade of deep purple Salen tried all he could to hold it together, but ultimately his cheeks inflated and with a horrible gurgle he sprayed vomit in an arc before him, and continued a moment or three before he eventually gave in to gasping for air, which was far from easy given the foul reeks all around him.

He handed back the smoke, his hands shaking slightly, and looked up at Zowie.

"Takes a little getting used to. I've tried worse."

He begins "You can't trick a Trickster."

"There was a time when Mallia was too strong disease spread through the land, man and beast alike fell to her spirits, Death was all about our land."

"There were not enough living to deal with the dead and corpses lay about unburied and un-burnt bloated under the heat of the Bright Treasure and spreading Mallia's gift to all who went near them."

"Waha called a moot and all the great khans who were not already fallen came and all the great spirits came too, all but Hyena that is."

"Hyena and his people were sleeping for they had consumed the body of Genert and the body of that giant that was enough to sustain them for an eternity."

"Waha was furious that Hyena ignored his call and he sent The Bull to wake him and bring him with his tail between his legs but Hyena just opened one eye at the coming storm and with a sigh arose wearily and moved into his den in the Earth and slept out the storm laughing in his sleep.

"When the The Bull returned alone Waha's anger was greater still, but Raven said to him I have an idea to rid the lands of the piled dead and to teach Hyena a lesson too."

"Waha and the Great Spirits and the Great khans listened as Raven spoke and one by one they smiled and Waha nodded when Raven had finished and said this was a good plan."

"Raven send Thunderbird and Condor past Hyenas den thelling then that as they passed by the den they were to speak aloud of the great feast that Waha had prepared for all of his guests and that it awaited till after the moot was over. He told Sunhawk to stay away because he is no fun and he always spoils the fun of others."

"As they did so Raven created a glamour over the dead to make their corpses smell sweet as honey and look like freshly slaughtered beasts and he then called to Little Brother telling him to blow the smell into Hyenas den."

"The smell was so good that it woke Hyena and awoke in him his appetite once more and as he awoke so too did all his children and they smelt the great feast and saw freshly slaughtered beasts."

"Hyena ran to the feast and fell upon it devouring the rotting dead as did his children all the time laughing that they had bettered Waha and the others at the moot, stolen their feast."

"They did not fall to Mallia's spirits because they had within them already the parts of Genert and even dead and divided his health sustained them."

"Of course Condor is all to easily fooled and he forgot that this was a trick and he swooped down and fell into the feast with as much vigour and when Condor's children saw this they too swooped down and joined the feast."

Ohanzee finishes smiling "Can't trick a Trickster?" His smile broadens "But then again once the hunger was awoken in Hyena and his children it never left them, and when carrion is not enough herd beasts are hunted. So who really had the last laugh?"

The Hyena shaman laughs out loud clapping Ohanzee violently on the back, then grabbing the braves shoulders plants a slobbering, teeth jarring kiss on his mouth

"Bravo, most excellent...Raven, what a clever fellow, and a tasty one too."

"Here you must allow me to give you a gift....What do you desire?"

He's obviously been charmed by the story and is bouncing up and down in his excitement.

Leaning closer he asks "The red headed brave with you, is she available for marriage?"

He makes no effort to stop Amara from hearing.
This message was last edited by the player at 16:51, Tue 19 Jan 2016.

Sharp-eared to events, he nudges Kobal. Think you'll want to hear this: the little dungball's just asked if Amara's available to wed. Either this should be fun or there'll be a fight.

Amara glanced dismissively at the shaman "Unlike some in our band I have standards. What do you think makes you worthy of my affection or attention?"

"Standards? I suppose you must, following in the footsteps of little brother...Stomp...Stomp...Stomp...Look at me I'm important! Strong in Movement like her god, so much so that hand changed and now serves another goddess....Red Hair....Red Tada's Eye.

You'll kill the one most dear to you....

Cause a war...

and find a treasure so dear that it will bring treachery to all who follow you...

But despite your revulsion to crave the wild Hyena, for of all beasts only he can lead you to salvation!"

Whilst talking the shaman rolls his eyes and leers suggestively at the Thunderbird brave.

"I think the only sight you have is clouded by the substance you are smoking." Amara's eyes narrowed "I serve many masters, gods and godesses, as do we all, but Vinga is the only I hold dear in my heart. I've killed many, by action and inaction and have already lost many dear to me and will lose yet more. Your words are those of a charlatan. Vague and mysterious without actually saying anything." Amara sighed "The words I share with others aren't easy for them to hear. I bow to noone because they say I must. I bow only to those who I feel deserve it. And as for treasure? The only true treasures I have I carry everywhere with me in my head. All else are trinkets that make life easier."

Amara placed her hands defiantly on her hips "But of all of your words, I cannot possibly understand why you think I would come to hyena or you? I think you lack an understanding of what I'm looking for in someone. It seems to have more of your smoke and desires in it than any knowledge of who I am."

She waved dismissively at the shaman "Go lose yourself some more in your pipe. When you get hungry I'll have some food ready for you all."

Ohanzee is too taken aback by the kiss and trying his best not to gag to pre-empt Amara's response but when it comes he isn't at all surprised by the tone or the content.

He can't help but smile at her repost, but so much of what the shaman says seeks so true and he mutters "Hyarn said as much. Said we should call him when the time is right." nodding his agreement.

He looks at the shaman again "I had a mind to get a more sturdy familiar, even considered a hyena though they are hard to come by and not welcome around the herds." he snorts and adds to himself "Though less so perhaps than rubble runners!"

This shaman might be crazy enough to help and he obviously deals with other Disorder spirits than Hyena! Then continuing "Can you help me contact Ratel? A honey badger would not be shunned by the clan" he grins broadly "Though it may be frowned upon!"

He shrugs "But if this is beyond what you intended then perhaps you can teach a charm to confound an enemy or make them too uncomfortable to act?" and he looks at Tarosh grinning widely.
This message was lightly edited by the player at 19:42, Tue 19 Jan 2016.

Having given up trying to stop his gaseous out pourings, Tarosh had started to slowly rocking back and fourth in time with them. He moans and clutches his guts when he hears Amara mentions food, and he gasps out "No!" when Ohanzee looks his way.

Amara muttered to herself as she started to gather what she needed to cook "Shaman! Smoke so much even condors are impressed. Don't know where he heard my hand was replaced by a Lunar priest, but his information is out of date. My Lunar hand is gone."

Kobal opens his eyes at Hoskar's nudging, though in truth he hadn't been asleep.  The sounds of retching had been too obscene to ignore, and it had taken concentration on his own part not to vomit himself.

"Amara won't fight him.  She's a Thunder Bird.  She has too much good taste to fight a trickster," he mumbles quietly.  He turns to one side and closes his eyes again.

"Want want want...Take take take.....I can help with all of these, but it means you must apprentice with me for a year and a day. Are you willing...Are you able..." at the last few words the man thrusts his hips suggestively, his surprisingly long tongue lolling out of his wide mouth.



" I know nothing of Priests, just what I can see with my all seeing sight. Your hand glows red for all who care to see, to see. A subtle allegiance, unlike old blue arm here, pulled this way and that, changing his mind like the rune that governs his soul. When the time comes he'll be too busy unraveling the mess and will miss all the fun!"

The contents removed from his stomach and the pounding in his head slowly decreasing Salen can actually sit straight back up once more, and even manage a smile. In fact, he actually feels better for the experience, though it is one he is in no hurry to try again.

Happy to return the favour, and also to get the taste of something infinitely better in his mouth, the Condor brave brings out his own pipe and lights it. After a healthy puff or two to get it going he offers it to Zowie. Which likely means he'll have to burn that pipe up and make a new one, but it was what is was.

Ohanzee tries to ignore the comments regarding him and also the lolling tongue of the shaman relieved that he is not trying to kiss him again! He replies to the questions "Willing? But of course. Able? Alas no, I have other commitments not least of which is my current apprenticeship to Feather Wait"

As Salen readies his own pipe Ohanzee pulls back from the fire to lean his back against the rock about the entrance to Oglod's cave.
This message was last edited by the player at 12:40, Wed 20 Jan 2016.

"Your vision is not so pure as others who have told me the taint is gone. It sounds to me as if all you are trying to do is to isolate me from my fellow rangers with talk of redness in my hand. Everything that made it once red is gone." Amara watched Zowie carefully "I'll be back with the others, cooking. If you wish to join us for food, you are welcome."

Henal stands up hearing Amara's words and starts walking back towards the camp. I'll come with you Amara. I'm getting hungry and Oglod won't be out till Bright Treasure rises

Accepting the pipe from Salen the shaman waves lazily at the departing braves, seemingly unconcerned, though both Amara and Henal feel his eyes on their backs.

Whoosh, the pipe is quickly finished and refilled with a pinch of something taken from one of several hide satchels hanging off the shaman's lanky shoulder.

"This will send you soaring Salen Dustchaser and no mistake....Where ever you wish to go..."

Back at the Gorge, Amara and Henal find everyone bar two of the Vingans, Sand Fox and Nixa awake, the four standing guard. The two rangers are met by a clattering of weapons being readied...

"What happened?"

"We met a hyena shaman. Nothing more." Amara was surprised that what they'd seen would be enough to cause concern. "Ohanzee and Salen are off in the winds with him. He's been invited to share dinner with us."

Amara walked to the center of the group and started cooking. "He's annoying, but I think dangerous enough to be respected." Amara started loading the pot with meat, seasoning it delicately as it started to heat.

"A hyena shaman? You think that's a good idea?" asked the Red Thorn brave.

"Personally? No. I think it's a horrible idea." Amara shrugged as she put some skullbush seeds on to toast "But he seems to want to marry me, and have his way with Ohanzee....and Salen is so close to the sky he's unable to walk. I might not think much of him, but I can see his power. Worthy of respect, even if I don't think he's a good idea."

"Ha he wants to marry you?" laughs Nixa's brother, who suddenly stops, goes red from embarrassment and apologies to Amara

"Sorry I din't mean it like that....I...erm...Yeah....So he offered you a bride price?"

2.30am

From his bedroll Greeshar lets out a grumble "Eh? Are you getting married?...Don't bother to wake me if you are...Now shut up I'm trying to sleep."

"No, I'm not married or betrothed. I was under the impression he asked the question to make trouble. Like most of his words. He is a hyena shaman after all." Amara said, glaring at her brother "Greeshar..." her voice tailed off as she sighed "No..never mind. I feel pity for whomever you will marry. The ones I will marry will be truly people to be reckoned with."

"More likely you'll become a Harpy...."

It's just Salen and Tarosh left with the shaman now, Ohanzee having fallen back into the darkness outside of the fire's light.

Whilst he waits for Salen's reply Tarosh finds himself being scrutinised by the odd Hyena man...

"You....Blue llama, knower of all things watery...You have a woman in your company. Dark haired...Dark skinned. Where is she from?"

In reply to Zowie (msg # 142):


Some time while the others were talking Tarosh's farting had subsided, but because he did not want to attract Zowie's attention, he decided not to mention it. He watches as their numbers thin, trying to think of a reason to leave, when Zowie speaks to him, "Erm, I don't know where she is from, I know where I met her but she may not be from there." He looks round at the hyenas and then back to the strange man, "Why do you follow Hyena? how do you survive by yourself?"

"By myself? I am never alone, for my family is everywhere.... Where ever there is herd beasts my family is there....And of course the Morokanth see me as a friend."

Here he indicates the watching Morokanth still sat on the lip of the canyon.

"She is not from there Blue llama brave...No, not at all."

In reply to Zowie (msg # 144):


He shrugs, "It doesn't matter to me where she is from, as long as she isn't chaos." he sighs, "but I'm guessing you'll tell me she's from somewhere terrible and try to divide us?"

Hoskar sighs quietly as the shaman's invited for a meal. Sort of hoped we'd be rid of him soon. That's all I need: going to get some sleep myself before anything else happens he mutters to Kobal before heading towards the camp to do exactly that; not to mention checking on his familiar.

Wake up, cat - your turn to keep your eyes open a bit. I'm exhausted.

"No, she Pavis girl...Old folk...Not the new. Reckon she once a Morokanth slave....Now she free yes?"

In reply to Zowie (msg # 147):

Outside Oglod's Gaff

"From Pavis? that's a far away place, would make sense that she was taken by slavers." he nods, "She is no longer a slave, so yes she is free, but she travels with us and when we get back to the Giant Finger Holes, I plan on marrying her." He looks closely at Zowie, "So to answer the unasked question, you can not have her"

Amara prepared the best meal she could with the provisions available, taking her time to prepare as tasty and appetising a meal as she could for the shaman and the others who would no doubt be hungry when they got back. After preparing the stew, she added some water to let it simmer and went to bed, asking Spot to watch over it and wake her up if it needed attention or if the others returned.

Half-asleep, Kobal nods and silently makes his way back to the camp as well, to rest.  No point sleeping by himself outside the cave, what with a trickster, two groups of hyenas and a number of morokanth nearby.

Tarosh and Salen are joined once more by Ohanzee and those that stay spend the rest of the night singing, smoking and sharing increasingly weirder stories.

Unlike the others back under the overhang at the Gorge those that stayed behind awake sometime after sun up, to a deserted box canyon, no trace of either shaman or hyenas.

Overhang, Rhino Gorge...

It's a beautiful day, with nothing more important to do than hanging out, mending armour, lazy meals and chewing the fat. The overhang is alive with animated conversations, snores from still sleeping Rangers and the smell of freshly baked flat breads.

Amara's meal from the early hours of the morning had been demolished by ravenous braves and now those those not laying sprawled out, are as mentioned attending to chores, trying their hand at fishing or entertaining the two young Sky watcher children...

Ohanzee wakes late and stretches looking about with some surprise as he realises that the old boy and his hyenas are all gone! "They're gone already?"

He sighs "Did they sneak off without either of you knowing? I don't know whether I'm glad or disappointed."

He gathers together his belongings "Shall we go see what the others are up to? Salen you going to see Oglod later, when the Bright Treasure is at its highest perhaps?" He looks up past the gorge walls to the sky above "Which isn't too long away by the looks of it!"

When he eventually awakens after a late night, Hoskar yawns, stretches, and looks round him. Right he observes. I wanted a look in those caves: see if we can revivie copperman. He looks around. Where's Tarosh? Want a word with him: Kinamasi said she might be interested in the caves, and I don't want to look like I'm trying to horn in on things.

He chuckles quietly at his own awful pun, and looks around, seeking Tarosh.

Those wishing to examine the tomb of the Mostali, cross the gorge and are soon traipsing down the beautifully coloured ravine to it's entrance, the cave before the imposing door just as they left it, empty except for their footprints and drag marks from removing the bodies of the dead Bison rider and Pavis sage.

The door is opened easily enough, presumably since the death of the guardian the traps have not been reset, and peering in the Rangers see the overhead panels flickering to life, their pale light illuminating the entrance room and the three open arches leading to the room of murals on the left with it's pit trap and many secret compartments, the tomb of the Dwarf straight ahead and to the right the storage room, filled with crates and where someone had earlier smashed through the far wall to gain entrance.

"Try him in there." Ohanzee suggests pointing at the storeroom. "He came in and out through there so maybe that's where he gets the magic to sustain himself?" And having said this Ohanzee wanders into the store room remembering all too well not to tread anywhere but where they have discovered is safe.

He checks that they have not missed anything from within the crates during their previous visit.

Outside Oglod's Gaff

He wakes up with a start and looks round, wondering what disturbed his sleep. He realises that it was a combination of Bright Treasure and Ohanzee. As he gets up he checks that Zowie didn't steal anything from him while he slept, he shakes his head in answer to Ohanzee's question and heads back to the camp. Kinamasi approaches him and gives him a bowl of stew and mentions that Hoskar is looking for him. Once he has finished his breakfast he finds Hoskar, "Kinamasi said you offered to show her the caves?" He smiles, "It'll be nice for her to be doing something other than looking after the camp"

In reply to Tarosh Long Neck (msg # 157):

Hoskar smiles relievedly at Tarosh's comment. I'll ask her along, then. Didn;t want you to think I was getting up to any funny business behind your back, what with yesterday. By the way, if you heard her scream last evening apologies for any worries: she found copperman in my baggage and thought he was a threat.

He ambles off to find Kinamasi and head to the mostali caves. When we're in there, tread where I tread: there's traps around but we know where they are, we think. Oh, and let me know if you see any odd prongs. There's some weird holes in copperman we've never figured out. Maybe if we find something that matches them...

Finding the crates empty the Raven brave says "This would be a good place to store anything that we don't want to lug around, especially if we put a warning up outside the door about bad magic and bad spirits. And if we can fill that hole somehow."

He exits the room again "I'm going to go try to find Bigmouth's den. I don't fancy setting off the trap to get there and I remember where I saw him on the ravine wall that night before he attacked. I'm going to climb up and see if I can fin the way to his home from the outside."

"If anyone wants to smash open that rectangular stone there is the enchanted maul of Dark Claw." and he leaves.


Bringing a rope Ohanzee heads for the rock face below where he saw the large shadow of the creature and tries to climb up looking for the ledge and an entrance.

In reply to Hoskar Two-Feather (msg # 158):

"What with the fun we had with that weird little man, I'd forgotten about her screaming, I'm glad it wasn't anything to worry about." He looks round and catches Kinamasi's eye and beckons her over, "Have fun in the caves" She smiles at him and after giving him a quick kiss follows Hoskar.

She walks confidently next to Hoskar, "So what's in these caves? I'll make sure I tread where you tread. How did you find them?" As she talks she looks round the caves, holding up her torch so she can see as much as possible.

Although his lungs feel full of fresh air and he feels contented after a sound sleep, Salen finds his head is still pounding a little and his stomach is gurgling audibly, and uncomfortably.

Going to take most of the day to recover from that crap I smoked. Oh well.

"Oglod? Yes, later, when the Bright Treasure is up high as you say," he replies to Ohanzee's query. Not far off, but may as well get something to eat first. The Condor brave heads slowly back to camp and enjoys a late breakfast, then wonders what to do next. He isn't particularly bothered by the tomb, and instead opts to follow Ohanzee scaling the rock face.


"Need a hand there? I'm a useful climber, at least until it becomes a crucial act, then my hands tend to get jumpy!"

"Sure, more the merrier." Ohanzee replies "Before the attack by Bigmouth I saw him up there, I'm sure of it. So there likely is another way in, the way he goes, erm went. Since he got there then it might be easier following back where he might have come as we seem to have missed fining his home from the inside."

Investigating the cliff face turns up nothing at first, until Salen discovers the pit trap's exit, which had previously deposited several of them in the lake previously.

It's large enough to enter and crawl into.

As for the Guardian's possible exit nothing can be found.

Whilst in the storage room Hoskar discovers, after an hour of gentle prodding, several hidden compartments, each unfortunately empty. One of them though has an indentation that would fit the copper man exactly. Set in the rock is an array of copper tubes and several raised round...Buttons?

Once Hoskar and Kinamasi have headed to the caves Tarosh spends some time sorting through his gear and enjoying the chance to relax. He keeps half an eye on Ohanzee and Salen while they are visible, but doesn't worry about it when they move out of sight.

Those remaining see that the Harpies are flying in circles above the gorge.

Condor could find paths where others could not, it was the way. But while Salen was pleased to find the exit from the pit trap they had 'enjoyed' previously there appeared to be nothing beyond it. He crawled in and had another good look around, just in case.

Outside

Taking a seat Ohanzee waits for Salen to crawl into the cave and report any findings "I'll keep an eye open. Holler if you find anything."

He looks out over the gorge below, the Vingan girls going about their business and likewise the Sky Watchers too. Day's getting older. Be time to go see Oglod soon. What were those tunnels in the rubble fields made by I wonder. Oglod said that the Mostali who used to be here were digging for something and instead found the smooth tunnels and danger. Wonder what they were digging for.

From up here those Vingans look even smaller! he glances up into the sky Wonder what we look like from up in the sky, what we look like to the harpies. Wonder what they are doing. I hope the queen is okay. Yeah, she must be, Morokanth to watch over them at night and pretty safe in the skies by day.

Mostly anyway. I wonder what happened to the wyvern that got away. Would have been interesting to have hatched out its egg.

He glances into the tunnel again "Found anything interesting?"

When he see's the harpies flying overhead, Tarosh steps out from under the overhang and shouts up to them, "Good morning, we plan to stay here today. Can you see any threats from up there?"

Salen finds nothing of interest, the tunnel curving upwards and too smooth to climb without wedging himself in with his back to the wall and using his feet on the other wall.



Though his voice carries far, the Harpies seem not to hear, but Tulox relays a message and the Queen dives down to land on the clifftop above the gorge, filling the immediate area with her brilliance...

"Greetings Tarosh....There is no immediate danger. A small force of Impala are heading South and there is sign of Bison riders to the South East.

We are happy to dally for another day, there is good hunting near here and we are happy"

In reply to GM (msg # 171):

As the Queen comes in to view, Tarosh smiles at the feeling of completeness her nearness produces. When she lands he bows and listens to her wise words, "It pleases me greatly that you and your followers are happy my Queen." He quickly glances round to make sure Kinamasi hasn't returned from the caves, "Is there anything you need my Queen?"

Outside

Seeing the queen swoop in Ohanzee smiles with joy. Her overheard news is good and it fills his heart that she is happy and well after the ordeal that she suffered. The news of good hunting though does remind him of something Perhaps my gift is not enough, it may be better to turn up with another offering tonight, just in case Grandmother Spider is feeling hungry and he calls across the gorge "Good day my queen. It fills my heart to see you well and to the point of bursting almost to hear that you are happy."

"It is nice to hear that hunting is good too, I have to catch a sacrifice for the guardian of this ravine." I better not tell her which one, not likely to be friends "Any chance that one of your people could help me?"

"You are most kind Tarosh, but no I am fine, thank you."





"Give my regards to Grandmother Spider...I think if you wish to appease her it is best that you catch your own...Perhaps an egg or something?"

The rest of the Sky Watcher folk stop what they are doing, watching the Queen whilst she talks and then on mass head to the end of the Gorge where they plan to give thanks to the Great Rhino spirit.

Since Hoskar's song to the camp the overhang has been cleaner than ever, the fires stronger and the water fresher.

Shrugging, Hoskar admits the facts. I'm afraid it was quite by chance. That little copper man thing was in the gorge when we arrived, and when we saw he lived in a crack in the wall we started poking around. Set off all sorts of traps: there's a chute that dumps you in the pond below, there were some things over a door we had to figure out how to open which...well I'm not quite sure what they did, but it was a damn big bang full of flying metal that could rip your head off.
And then there was the guardian. It ate bronze and attacked anyone who had it. Amara killed that.

He chatters on

These are like nothing I've seen before. he burbles, gesturing at the floor I've seen squarish buildings in Pavis of course, but these tiles are so precise. It's got to be Mostali work or I'm a dwarf myself. I'm told they've tunnelled out a lot of places, but all I've seen is this and what they show in public inside the wall; which isn't much.

Anyway, this place is something well worth seeing I reckon.



Oh dear. Another puzzle. I've never been good at these - not here, not under the tower either.

Think I might have found something! he calls to anyone in earshot. Think I'll get copperman, but I'll need help working out whether this has anything to do with him.

He heads back for the little copper chap, telling everyone he passes about his find.

He grins "Fair enough"

"I'm going to go set some traps" the brave calls to Hoskar "Then we should go see Oglod perhaps? We slept through most of the morning and the middle of the day fast approaches."

It would be difficult to work his way up the tunnel. Difficult, but not impossible. If the worst thing that would happen to Salen would be to slip and fall all the way back down to the pool, he could live (hopefully) with that.

And so up he went.

Some minutes later he popped up in the mural room, as the pit was still open and not reset. He lifted himself out of the hole and sat on the floor for a while.

Outside

"Let me come and see inside there and where the copperman came from" Henal replies to Hoskar. "I've heard your stories but never seen this place or the copperman living."

Hoskar leads the rest of the Rangers interested in seeing the tomb, clambering up and over the Western side of the ravine and finding the small, twisting crevice with ease. Down they go, single file. Overhead the walls close over to form a ceiling which every now and again reopens to allow brilliant shafts of light to shine down, meaning that for the present no other source of light is needed.

Arriving at the split in the crevice, Hoskar lights a torch which reveals a sloping and winding tunnel in the rock, leading off to the left, smooth walled and colourful.

At times the braves must bow their heads, but for the most part the ceiling is high enough to walk normally. Eventually after several tight turns they find themselves in a beautiful cave, with several other tunnels leading from it.



Straight ahead is the smooth slab of rock on one wall, it's surface carved and with several distinct runes in evidence.

Fire, Luck, Truth, Stasis and Movement.

The door to the tomb....

The Condor brave points out the splash of damage on the walls to either side of the door, made by an explosion, when a small spherical meal ball had fallen from a hole above the door. Luckily a trap now disarmed.

Having closed the door behind him when he'd left, Hoskar removes the long metal key from a pouch and begins to open the four corner locks, which causes the door to click open and with the gentlest of tugs swing outwards to reveal the entrance hall beyond.

Lights are already on, coming from odd panels in the ceiling and as they enter, keeping to the flagstones known to be safe, it can be seen that Salen is sat on the lip of the pit in the room to the left.

Leading the way to the right, Hoskar moves onwards carrying the limp copperman in his hands. This room, square like the others is partially filled with stone crates and jars, in some cases reaching to the ceiling. Then approaching a blank wall he hits a certain spot with his fist causing a section to slide back to reveal an indentation corresponding with the little constructs shape.
This message was last edited by the GM at 11:46, Sat 23 Jan 2016.

"What do we do now?"

Amara had spent most of the morning sleeping in. Rest after the exhausting travels and staying up late to cook the meal. She raised an eyebrow as she looked into the pot wondering if the shaman had eaten anything, but pleased in any case, that the food was welcomed by those who had eaten it. She looked around for a few moments wondering where Salen and the shaman had gotten to, before spending most of her morning with whispers, trying to find out if she'd learned anything more about Lightning Boy, and hopefully find out exactly what had passed between her and Greeshar in the Morokanth camp.

As the harpy queen arrived at the camp. Amara paid her respects "One last question, if I may, have you seen where Salen and The hyena shaman are?"

And then after planting some acacia seeds in the place where they'd buried those who had fallen at this place, Amara followed the others into the caverns. She blinked in surprise as she saw Salen sitting there "What have you been up to?"

The shaman explains that Lightning Boy, also known as Hosar, can be contacted at Hosar mountain in the Eiritha Hills, and that his lightning jumps between that and the nearby Spirit mountain during Storm season.

He was once a fire spirit but has since joined the storm pantheon, first appearing at the battle of the Pairing Stones, where he fought against the Uz, with Thunderbird and Morning Star. Whispers reminds Amara that she will be going to the Pairing Stones for her initiation to Vinga.

"Nothing passed between us, he is like a brother to me....I am celibate as you well know. He just stood by me and protected me, earning several beatings."

"Amara beloved...No I have seen no Hyena spirit since waking, but there are several packs in the vicinity...As for Salen? He was clambering up the side of the gorge but a moment ago..."

Brow furrowed in thought, Hoskar bites his lip.

You know, I'm not quite sure. I'm convinced he stopped because we took him away from something here, but I'm not good at these things. Looks like he fits in the hole, so the first thing I want to do is try putting him in it. With gentle and infinite care, he eases the lifeless form into the niche which he hopes will revive its happy cries of "drinky", examining the surroundings closely for any hint of how to proceed.

He smiles in pleasure at her words and then with a bit of reluctance calls out to Ohanzee, "I'll come with you to see Oglod, if your alright with that? What are we bringing as a sacrifice for him?"

She watches Hoskar place Copperman in the alcove and nods in approval, "It would seem that for whatever reason that he is meant to go there." She runs her fingers along the gap between Copperman and his hole, "What is going to happen to him now? I wonder what went in the other niches?"
This message was last edited by the player at 10:51, Mon 25 Jan 2016.

Ohanzee nods his head in response "Sure, the more the merrier. I should think that he'd be delighted with more of us giving him thanks."

"I'll help you with the traps first and with a bit of luck we may get something for the lizard king." He gets his javelins and his axes as well as his snares, "We should go in the other direction to your clansmen."

Still looking nervous, Hoskar shrugs. To be honest, I have no idea what I'm doing here. If simply being in there doesn't do anything for him, I guess I start messing with things nearby. Maybe he takes a while to get going: come to think of it, he did used to disappear from time to time.

As for the others, your guess is as good as mine there. The only other thing we ever saw emerge from here was massive and when it died...uh...was destroyed the explosion killed a man.

In reply to Hoskar Two-Feather (msg # 191):


She looks at Hoskar and smiles, "So we wait, yes?" She walks around the room looking at the crates, but not touching them, "If this thing does not need food, what is in these boxes?"
This message was last updated by the player at 13:22, Mon 25 Jan 2016.

With his expression as impassive as ever Salen answered in his usual unflustered manner.

"Climbed up here through the trap door, which was still open from last time. Ohanzee and I were looking for Bigmouth's lair, found this instead. Thought I'd wait here for all of you."

"We haven't long before Bright Treasure is at the highest, the best time to go see mighty Oglod" he replies "Just enough to set a few snares perhaps, I saw some tracks on the way in yesterday. Salen has a sable to gift him though so no great problem if we come up short."

Amara looked at Salen and rolled her eyes before sighing "The more secrets you keep, the less we can help you when you get in over your head." It didn't bother her excessively as she was still feeling happy after talking to the queen.

In reply to Ohanzee Shappa (msg # 194):

"As we have a gift for Oglod, we might as well set the snares after we have spoken to him. Lets get the sable and go." He looks round the ravine, "Is Salen coming with us?"

A small smile crept across Salen's face.

"Secrets? What secrets? I smoked a little with Zowie and then fell asleep outside Oglod's cave, as did Ohanzee. Other than that I had no dealings with the Hyena Shaman. I am not Raven, there are no tricks here."

If there was anything else to be said or questions to be asked, the Condor brave would leave it to others to raise them. For now he stood and prepared to leave the cave complex, though this time he left via the entrance rather than the pit shaft.

"I have to go see Oglod."

"So what exactly is the nature of relationship with the water spirit here then?" Amara asked, trying to prove a point, before leaving.

In reply to Kinamasi (msg # 192):

It's another mystery Hoskar opines. Should be safe enough opening one if you'd like, but I'll do it - don't want to see you hurt in here - they seem to be ordinary enough boxes. The ones we looked in had some sort of metal cylinder in there. Don't think we managed to open one of the cylinders.

I think people who needed food lived here once: why else would this little fellow be here to make drinks?

He prods at copperman gingerly to see if there's any sign of change yet.

As the Copperman is placed in the niche there is an audible click as if something has locked into place and then a low humming that seems to be coming from somewhere behind the wall.

Looking closely the Condor brave can see that several small flexible pipes have attached themselves to the little construct.

As for the buttons one of them has begun to glow red, pulsing slowly, whilst another, green in colour, glows brightly.

The stone crates are empty, having been fully scavenged by the Rangers on their last visit. As mentioned none of the metal cans had been opened yet, though Amara had in her possession a small tool to do so.

In the entrance way Salen stopped and looked back at Amara.

"It's complicated.

Initially I sought her help against Zakeen when I tried to...help...Kaonu, and so I had to give her something in return. She saw I was unafraid and could help her as much as she could help me, and so we made an accord.

As it turns out she is the daughter of Nauthair Sliabh, and getting her to the Giant Finger Holes will both help the waters there, find her a new and better home, and help with the Greening. The Serpents will return to the Wastes, wash them clean.

So it is all to our benefit, in our cause. As ever, my life and everything I do is for the Feathered Rivals, the Wandering Rangers."

The Condor brave paused a moment. If he was considering anything he did not show it, and when he spoke again his voice was as natural as could be.

"She is carrying our child. The quicksilver javelin Nauthair Sliabh gave me will be our daughter's weapon, as the Water Spirits fight to return Prax to what it once was.

And now you know."

Of all Salen says it is the news that he has a daughter with the Water spirit that Ohanzee finds the most impressive. And he laughs "Congratulations Salen you randy old bison!"

Apart from the two lights and the incessant hum, nothing much is happening with the little construct.

Surprisingly Kinamasi discovers something overlooked in the last search of the crates.

A closed metal cylinder, the length of a forearm, and as wide as Greeshar's. Four fifths along the length of it there is a crack that goes all the way around and seems to be very shallow and not a breakage.

Shaking it, the oasis woman finds that it sounds like there is liquid inside.

Amara paused for a moment, stunned by Salen's revelation. "Uh...I knew she was a little aggressive in her pursuit of men. I am a little surprised that you are sharing this news with us. I am pleased to hear you will be a father. I'm sure you will be a good one. Well done, Salen."

Having waited patiently, Hoskar finally makes a decision as Kinamasi is reaching for the cylinder, and tentatively pushes at the green light. Going to ignore red: moon colour

Looking around at the sound, he raises an eyebrow. Wow. Not seen one of those before. If I remember right, Amara has some sort of opening tool which might be handy.

In reply to Hoskar Two-Feather (msg # 206):


She runs her fingers along the metal cylinder, feeling for any lumps or bumps. Looking closely at the horizontal crack, she whispers half to herself and half to Hoskar, "I wonder if its like a gourd for carrying water?" Turning it so it is vertical with the crack towards the top, she grips the top and bottom and then tries to pull them apart, like pulling a stopper out of a flask.

...at the sight of which, Hoskar pales.

Wait! Stop!

So far, half the things in here have been dangerous. Killing dangerous sonetimes. If we're going to try and open it, give me time to check it.

Assuming nothing's gone "boom" he tries a charm to seek for traps as a first step.

The button depresses smoothly...

A hiss of compressed air comes from the tubes and then the humming changes to a sound that is reminiscent of a heart beating. The red light continues to pulse, but Hoskar could swear that it is changing ever so slightly to pink...

Standing close to the niche makes hair stand on end and there is a distinct smell of lightning in the air.



There's a fraction of give but nothing comes apart.



The spell comes back negative for the object, but several other flagstones glow brightly as do their corresponding ceiling tiles....and rather worryingly, one of the hidden drawers that Hoskar had previously opened registers as trapped too.

At Hoskar's shout, Kinamasi almost drops the cylinder. She turns slowly and scowls at him, "I almost dropped it," she rubs the smooth sides with one hand, "that would have marked it and ruined how it looks." She sniffs and then passes it to him, "Fine, you work out what its for." Kinamasi crosses her arms and watches Hoskar closely, "I want it back when you know what it does."

Tarosh goes to where the mounts are tethered and gets Salen's Sable and leads it to where they spent the night with Zowie, calling to Ohanzee as he goes, "Lets go, Bright Treasure is almost over head."

Kobal initially followed Hoskar and the others to the caves.  He'd heard stories of these caves, where Amara had lost her familiar.  At first, he planned to investigate each cave carefully.  Until Hoskar gave his warning about traps and walking only where he walked.

When Salen and Ohanzee leave to pay their respects to Oglod, Kobal follows.  Rather meet with a spirit than get messed up in sorcerous Mostali things.

Well something's happening for the little chap, I hope.


Sorry. I'm jumpy in here. You didn't see the explosions before. Flying metal - not unlike that thing - everywhere. One of us lost his life protecting the children we had with us.

Of course it's yours: you found it.

Having seen it's not trapped, he gingerly reaches round his shield, keeping it between both him and Kinamasi on the one hand and the...object...on the other, and tries to find a way to open it.

In reply to Hoskar Two-Feather (msg # 213):


Her eyes go wide at Hoskar's comment, "Why did you take children with you? Even what little I know of your adventures tells me that's a bad idea."

In reply to Kinamasi (msg # 214):

Pausing in his tentative efforts at the cylindrical thing, Hoskar glances round.

I'm not telling this very well, am I? Lots on my mind at once.

The time I'm talking of, we arrived here and found other Sky Watchers. It's one reason I like Ohanzee...even if he thinks I'm odd at best...he'd managed to keep more of our clan safe in the wastes including some children, and we met here with them - we'd just been attacked from outside actually - when a great big-mouthed thing - no other word for it but thing - came for us out of these caves. We'd not have brought children with us here on purpose, and they're safe with the clan now, but when the thing died it showered metal everywhere and one of us - another brave man like Tarosh: Fireborn, his name was, had a choice between saving himself or throwing himself in front of the children.

So he died he adds sadly; then brightens up I imagine Sun Hawk has rewarded him well for his bravery and honour.

You know, it's probably not a healthy idea what any of us are doing, but we think it's worth dying for. If we have to, that is; not by accident. Come to think of it, that memory's one reason I was so nervous just now - I'd rather not be responsible for a death, and certainly wouldn't want to have to explain to Tarosh afterwards if something went wrong.

In reply to Hoskar Two-Feather (msg # 215):


She smiles sweetly at him and puts her hand on his shoulder, "That is sweet of you, but I think if that cylinder goes bang like you said the traps did, then neither of us will be able to tell Tarosh anything." She winks at him, "If he was that brave, he would be here with us instead of doing women's work tidying up the camp." She laughs, "You said he," she takes her hand off of his shoulder and points to Copperman, "would disappear every so often and we're guessing this is what he was doing, yes? So we can leave him and you can show me more of the caves?" Kinamasi looks at one of the glowing parts of the roof, "I wonder how it does that, it looks like Bright Treasure more than it does a fire."

As the two folk chat Hoskar at last manages to open the object by twisting the top off slowly. It's ingenious really and Hoskar marvels at the workmanship.

As he does so an odd mist appears from the opening puffing up into both his and Kinamasi's faces, causing them to choke and try and cover their faces....

Amara's eyes narrowed at the hiss as she moved quickly to try to move the item away from Hoskar, hitting it with her shield to knock it far away.

Henal hearing the hiss backs away carefully trying to avoid the traps Hoskar has pointed out.

"Waha preserve us, what things of sorcery lurk in here"

Hoskar, his face a mess of red bumps from the cloud, just manages to move the flask out of the way of Amara's sudden shield bash.

Then gingerly putting it on the ground he steps back to reassess the situation.

Kinamasi had luckily managed to avoid the cloud's more damaging effects.

Yelling a pained aaach! as his face erupts, it is all Hoskar can do to put down the container; his every instinct being to use both hands to clutch at his face.

Retreating, his complexion a mess and eyes stinging, he still manages a small rueful grin; which causes fresh pustules to erupt. Oww

Through puffy, closing eyelids he glances to check Kinamasi seems to be safe, sighs in relief, and remarks See? This sort of thing happens all the time round here. You win though: next one I'll let you open yourself, and this one you're welcome to.

Despite trying to say this with as little mouth movement as possible, more of his facial bumps begin to weep serum through his scrubby beard from the slight irritation of speech; at which he finally shuts up to focus on healing himself.

Kinamasi tries to scream but she can't draw a breath to do so. She quickly steps backwards gasping for breath and her hands over her face as she collapses to her knees. After what seems a lifetime to her, she manages to suck down some much needed air and starts coughing, she glares at the others and manages to splutter, "What was that?" She paws at her throat with one hand as she fumbles for her canteen with the other, she just about manages to open it and gulps down some water to ease the burning sensation in her throat. She stays kneeling while her breathing returns to normal, "If someone will help me out of here, I'd like to go back to the camp now."

In reply to Kinamasi (msg # 222):

Although he just can't stop himself scratching madly at his face...especially the beard...the pustules seem eased by the use of a small magic, and Hoskar can pay attention enough to hear Kinamasi.

Gingerly, he puts the lid back on the 'thing' at arms length, then straightens up and nods.

Well said. I've had enough for the moment too. Think I'll put my face in the pool for an hour or so. He offers Kinamasi a rueful arm, adding Glad I yelled really. I'd never have been able to explain bringing you back to camp looking like I do now.

In reply to Hoskar Two-Feather (msg # 223):

She slowly stands up and takes Hoskar's arm, "I'm sure you'd have had no trouble explaining it, you're good with words." She gestures with her other arm, "Lead on, my saviour."

Is she flirting with me? Horn and hide! Tarosh would be within his rights to carve out my tripes if she is. That's got to stop, and stop right now.

Scratching away frantically at his armoured shoulder with his chin, his other hand being full of shield, he walks nervously back out supporting Kinamasi carefully, but as distantly as he can manage.

Saviour? Oh, that's a bit much. We just all help one another really, and you didn't seem like the warrior type after that scream yesterday.

In reply to Hoskar Two-Feather (msg # 225):

"But you are," she starts to giggle but it turns in to a cough, "If I'd opened it, I would probably be dead by now." Once they get out of the tomb and in to the caves leading to it, she manages to walk a bit straighter and lets go of Hoskar's arm, "I'll cook you something special for dinner as a thank you."

Amara rolled her eyes wondering how Tarosh would accept this behaviour from Kinimasi as she left the two, walking back down and towards the ruins they'd failed to explore. Spot watched the couple with a vagualy disinterested look before padding back towards the camp.

In reply to Kinamasi (msg # 226):

Hoskar looks briefly away, and overtly mimes a worried expression in Amara's direction; the back of his head to Kinamasi, which he covers with a particularly vigorous attempt to scratch the angle of his jaw on his shoulder. Damnit - Amara's not looking. Maybe her cat will notice at least.

Looking back, he replies evenly That's kind, but really anyone would have done it. We're like family, us lot.

His eyes widen briefly, and in nervy tones he adds just don't go giving Tarosh the wrong idea about today.

In reply to Hoskar Two-Feather (msg # 228):

She raises an eyebrow, "What wrong idea? That you saved me from" she gestures towards Hoskar's sore face and struggles for a nice way of describing his injury, "that? I'm glad that the others would have done the same thing and I'm sure Tarosh will thank you when I tell him." She thinks briefly, "Maybe one of the new comers has something that'll help ease the pain."

In reply to Kinamasi (msg # 229):

Looking a shade relieved despite his best efforts, Hoskar's smile re-emerges. Guess I'm still jumpy, but if someone as special to me as you are to Tarosh started doing extra cooking another man, I might just be thinking there's something fishy going on. Forget I said it.

Suppose I might get lucky with help for this face, but don't worry too much: it's a powerful itch, but my little bit of healing helped a lot.

He laughs suddenly.

Could be worse: it's not like it was a great face to begin with.

Exiting the side ravine talking with Tarosh, Ohanzee spots Amara wandering about the main section of Rhino Gouge and he calls out "Amara, keep out of there. Oglod's children are all annoyed at the moment, to the point of attacking any who come in."


He continues on to the camp at the overhang greeting those present "Keep out of Oglod's side ravine unless you want to get attacked by the lizards."

"They're all riled up because someone stole one of the old boy's eggs last night. I'm going hunting with Tarnesh, see if we can find something impressive enough to make Oglod perk up a bit."

He picks up one of his sling bags in which he keeps snares and other such items and puts a sack in it in case they can only bag something small.

As he prepares to leave he explains "Salen is talking with Oglod now, but none of the rest of us were able to cross over to his domain. If we can get a good offering though maybe Salen can take it to him for us when he gets out."

Amara looked exasperated, sighing as she followed Ohanzee into the camp. "Can't we just try to find out who stole the egg?" she glanced towards Oglods hovel "Or do we think it was Zowie?"

Tarosh grins at Amara's comment, "That's what I thought, it would be in keeping with what he is," he shrugs, "but if it was, then there's nothing we can do about it, so we're" he points in Ohanzee's direction as they walk back to the overhang, "going hunting to get another offering for Oglod, would you like to join us? Unless you can think of a way to find this egg"

"Rather than just accepting it's Zowie, perhaps we should at least look." Amara suggested "I think he'd be on our better side if we at least go look. If it was Zowie we can always come back with a sacrifice and explain that it was Zowie and he's too powerful for us to mess with."

In reply to Amara Brightsky (msg # 234):

He looks round the ravine, "Its a big area to search, where shall we start?" As he's turning he catch's sight of Hoskar, "What happened to you, you weren't trying to steal an egg where you?" He laughs, "Come to think about it, what does one of Oglod's eggs look like? I'm guessing its bigger than a normal rock lizard egg."

In reply to Tarosh Long Neck (msg # 235):

Releasing Kinamasi's arm, Hoskar indulges in a ferocious scratching of his neck; looking puzzled.

Egg? What? No! Condor and all that.

Someone's stolen an egg off Oglod? That's not on, egg stealing. I'd say it was hyaenas on principle, but he and Zowie seemed too friendly for that, and I didn't see anyone try anything last night. Wasn't watching all the way to dawn, of course.

Melock's not joined us, has he? He might try borrowing one just for shits and giggles.

I'd help the hunt but...well...had a problem with something from a container. If anyone wants me, I'll be dunking my face awhile. Ask Kinamasi about it: this is urgent.

Still rubbing at sore places, he heads to the pool; from which can shortly be overheard sighs of relief interspersed with the occasional "blub".

Amara looked condescendingly at Tarosh "Perhaps the first place to look might be where the egg last was. Some of us are skilled trackers, and even if we don't find anything specific there, knowing the circumstances of where it was kept and where the thief may go following the theft might make things easier."

"Not that I've seen, but you saying that does remind me that there is another Raven around." He glances at Ohanzee, but then walks over to Kinamasi, "Are you ok, what happened?"

She nods curtly, "I am fine, I'll tell you about it later. I think you need to find that egg quickly."

He puts his arm round Kinamasi and chuckles at Amara's comment, "You must be a master tracker to find anything of use by the cave, four of us have walked in and around the cave and there are countless lizards as well."

Amara glanced at Tarosh "I may not be a master, but I might be better than you and there might yet remain some signs of whoever did this."

In reply to Amara Brightsky (msg # 239):

"To be honest, I didn't even think of looking for tracks when we where told it was missing." He reaches for his canteen and takes a swig while he ponders what's been said, "How about you see if you can track whoever did this, while we hunt for another sacrifice and we can keep in contact through out cats."

"I wouldn't recommend it, Silica, Oglod's right hand man... erm lizard said to stay away until the others have calmed down, they wanted blood by the way they pinned us in and Silica agreed."

He shrugs "When Salen gets out he'd be a good bet to find anything and he can escort you in safely, with Oglod's blessing. But Tarosh is right, with us all traipsing in and out, not to mention the lizards, it's a long shot."
This message was last edited by the player at 17:10, Fri 29 Jan 2016.

From up above the overhang,  where they were keeping watch, Gloaming and Tarnessh lean over,  the latter calling out to those below
"What's going on?"

The young Raven brave starts walking towards the south entrance to the ravine "They'll fill you in, I'm off to see if I can get lucky." and he waves to the others as he heads off.

In reply to Tarnessh Listens-To-Silence (msg # 242):

Stepping out from under the overhang so he can see both the Sun Hawks, he tilts his head back, "One of Oglod's eggs was stolen last night and we're just trying to figure out what to do about it."

"Can we not go anywhere without trouble?" shouts back Tarnessh.

"Just spoke to one of the Harpies. She said that the Morokanth have trapped a small herd of Impala in a gully near here. To the East about a km."

In reply to Tarnessh Listens-To-Silence (msg # 245):

He laughs, "I know what you mean, but this time it's not our fault." He rubs the back of his neck, "At least I can't see how its our fault, if it is. Thank the harpies for me, I'll let Ohanzee know." He shouts after Ohanzee, "Did you hear what Tarnessh said?"

"Yeah, an impala herd trapped to the East. Let's get over there before they are all taken!"

"Hunting, that's something for a brave to do not risking their life in an enchanted hole in the ground."

Henal mounts up on Whiteblaze and joins the others going hunting.

As they head East Ohanzee asks the others "So when we get there what's your thinking? After the way we've been treated by the Morokanth lately I'm of a mind to just take one, don't feel much like trading for any."

"We can try talking first, but at the end of the day they want to travel with us for protection and it sounds like there's more than enough to go round."

He snorts a laugh "Don't reckon they'l stand in front of rhino and bison."

"For once you are talking sense" growls Greeshar, who with the enormous Akala had joined the hunting party of the Raven brave, Henal and Tarosh.
This message was last edited by the player at 05:52, Mon 01 Feb 2016.

Amara finding nothing of interest in the gorge, apart from several heron nests in the branches of some bushes, finds herself joined by the Vingan gang by the water's edge.

They begin washing in the shallows and Amara is asked when the Rangers plan to leave.

The grateful feel of cleansing water on his face. The warmth of the season. Coming up for air from time to time, and also to check around can't see anyone creeping up on me under there, the words of the campfire song run unbidden round Hoskar's mind and he begins humming a verse over and over.

Let the fire crackle
Let the fire sing
Cookfire and home fire
Seeing everything.

When he's soothed his face as much as can be usefully accomplished, he wanders back to the camp. Seeing everything. Starting yesterday, she deserves our thanks; and it's too late to join the hunt.

Mechanically, but with considerable gusto, he takes to cleaning everything he can lay his hands on about camp; probably much to the amusement of anyone watching as he partakes in 'womens work'. So they'll think me odd again. So what?

Even firestones splashed with spits and spots from cooking come in for his ministrations as he scrubs and polishes; trying for an effect even the most houseproud would be content with.

Let the fire crackle
Let the fire sing
Cookfire and home fire
Seeing everything.
This message was last edited by the player at 08:56, Mon 01 Feb 2016.

"If it was just the Morokanth I'd agree, but since some of the harpies are there we should at ask first." He rolls his shoulders to loosen up his muscles, "but we shouldn't take no for an answer." he laughs loudly.

Kinamasi waves Tarosh off and then starts to prepare lunch. When she see's Hoskar come back and start cleaning the camp she giggles softly to herself and carries on cooking, but she soon realises that she is humming along with his tune and then starts quietly sing along with him. "Let the fire crackle, Let the fire sing, Cook fire and home fire, Seeing everything." In a gap between verses she calls out to him, "My thanks for doing my chores today, I hope you don't expect me to go hunting this afternoon." She smiles, "because after what I found in the cave, I hate to think what I would find beyond the walls of this ravine."

The fire burns extra hot and the water kept in the clay pots is extra cool.... Hoskar senses the camp spirit and sees movement here and there on the very edge of vision. A flash of something amongst the stacks of firewood, a tinkle from the pots...

The hunting party finds the Morokanths easily, for there are a number of Vultures and Harpies circling the area and one of the latter glides over to guide them through the thin maze of ravines and canyons. The lithe white feathered creature is tiny and obviously excited by the good haul of beasts. She is smeared with blood and must have been in the thick of the butchering...

Arriving at the box canyon, the Rangers find all of Broken Claw's party hard at work cutting up several Impalas, the rest of the herd corralled behind them, kept secure by a wall of thorn bushes dragged there just for that purpose.

"Ah come to share the spoils" hollers the shaman happily as he throws several juicy tidbits to several Harpies who had just landed. Of their Queen there is no sign..

"Help yourself to what you need" and he sweeps his hand over the remaining dozen herd beasts.
This message was last edited by the player at 12:35, Mon 01 Feb 2016.