As he's riding, he looks behind and realizes with a sinking feeling that its only himself and Tarnessh, so he calls to him, "It would seem that its just us two against them," He points to the approaching riders, "we should slow down and plan something, instead of charging in when we're greatly outnumbered."

The Sun Hawk brave answers through gritted teeth "They killed my bird and freed my spirit", but even though angry Tarnessh can see the sense of what Tarosh says as he watches the six riders come closer.

All male and ranging in age from a young brave barely a teenager up to a lean, rangy looking warrior in his late forties, the Bison Riders draw closer, revealing themselves to be Red Thorns.

A hand is raised in peaceful greeting and the eldest brave speaks

"Hatha Thorn-Club of the Red Thorn Clan. I know who you are and wish to apologise for the death of your hawk...My son here did not think and has only recently learn a hunting charm. He meant no harm."

He indicates the youth, who looks crestfallen and embarrassed.

Hatha looks from Tarnessh to Tarosh, waiting for a reply. Tarnessh looks too angry to speak....
This message was last edited by the GM at 14:35, Tue 09 Feb 2016.

Straining his eyes ahead, Hoskar shakes his head. Not quite sure: half a dozen perhaps?

Reckon the two of us following would make it clear a fight wouldn't be worthwhile he opines, nudging Ram slowly forwards; hands empty of weapons.

"OK" Ohanzee replies and though he doesn't hand his lance to another he rides with it raised and un-threatening urging his beast to an equally un-threatening trot.

He nods, "That they did, though lets see what they want, and give the others chance to catch up."



He stares at both Hatha and his son for a moment, "Though our clans are at least on talking terms, his," he nods towards Tarnessh "and most of his friends," he jerks his thumb over his shoulder, "are enemies of yours. As you say, you know who we are, so it would be an easy thing to say it was an accident. While Tarnessh decides what he wants as payment, lets us sort out the formalities," He frees his lance and throws it, point first, in to the ground, "better I do this than he does it."

Ambling over

Still straining his far-sight, Hoskar suddenly smiles and turns to Ohanzee.
Think it might be alright. Looks as if they're talking, and it's Tarosh who's planted his lance not Tarnessh.

Think I'll just keep ambling over looking placid.

Hatha raises both hands in a peaceful gesture "I accept full responsibility and will offer two Bison from my herd."

This draws several startled looks from his clansmen and likely from Tarosh and Tarnessh too, as it's an outrageously good offer.

In reply to GM (msg # 341):


He blinks in surprise and turns to Tarnessh, "I know it doesn't come close to replacing Tulox as a companion and confidant, but the choice is yours. If it was Hisser they'd killed and I had to get a new familiar, well I don't know how forgiving I'd be." He thinks for a moment, "but resolving this peacefully would benefit the Rangers in the long term."

Tarnessh nods, fully realising the truth in what his friend and Hatha are both saying.

"I will accept this and will gift the Bison to my brother for his wedding."

To the boy he adds "A mistake easily made, though one that cost me a friend. I would talk to you back at the Earth Temple...Do not fear I shall not be punishing you."

Though outwardly calm now, the brave is still angry at the loss of his spirit.

As he finishes talking those Rangers moving forward to join their two companions arrive...
This message was last edited by the player at 18:54, Tue 09 Feb 2016.

"So it seems that you have things sorted." he looks back at the others "Since all is well may we join you in your camp? Safety in numbers and all that."

Hatha looks shocked at Ohanzee's words, the brave still digesting what Tarnessh had just said

"I ..Er...of course...Come gather your people...There seems to be a lot of you"

The Rangers can see he's already counting the cost of feeding so many guests and then his jaw drops as he spots the Harpies for what they are.

"What? Are they... We were confused by what they were....You travel with Chaos?"

His braves all begin to mutter, sending the four Rangers dark looks.

Ohanzee is still reading his reaction to the cost of feeding their band as he realises that their attention has been drawn to the Harpies. He smiles "No, they are pure and untainted. just as their kind were when first made to protect the Earth, as much enemies of Chaos as we are."

"You need not take the word of a Raven, Tarnessh will tell you as will any others with us."

He looks back to the Red Thorns "I will introduce you to their queen, but please I ask if you will join us, not host us, we have fair enough. We return to the Earth Temple, pilgrims who have completed our quest to destroy the Chaos Harpies... and more."

"No, will you join us in our return?"

He grins when he see's Hatha reaction to the Harpies, "While it's hard to believe that they are Pure and not of chaos, especially when you hear it from a Raven, for once he speaks the truth." He rubs the back of his neck, "The problem we are now faced with is that Tulox, Tarnessh's familiar, was going to go ahead of us and let the Earth Witch know that the harpies with us are friends. Do you have any Sunhawks who could go in his place and let her know."

"Well come join us then, we can at least are our fires and kumiss" he sounds relieved, but uncertain about the Harpies

"You're the Wandering Rangers so unlikely to be working with chaos...We will becoming back for the wedding for sure."


"I will send my brothers off at day break, they will arrive before you do as they are but two riders."

Ohanzee turns on his rhino towards the rest waiting behind and waves them forward then waits for their arrival.

Henal looks at the mass of bison riders in the distance.

"At least this time the Red Thorns didn't make it difficult, so lets enjoy their hospitality and then look to see how we can get Tarrnessh another familiar",
This message was last edited by the player at 06:29, Wed 10 Feb 2016.

The Rangers and their many companions ride, walk and fly over to where the Red Thorn sept has made their camp in the lee of a mesa.

Women, braves and children stop and stare as the odd group arrive, jaws dropping at the approach of the Harpies, which in many cases results in folk running off to hide.

Diplomatically the Harpy Queen instructs her people to roost above on the mesa, saying that they would keep watch from there, whilst the humans and Morkanths set up camp below. The latter set themselves apart, knowing that their presence, like the Harpies would not be welcomed. They didn't seem fazed by this, it being the normal way of the Wastes. Perhaps something that in time needed to be changed.

Hatha ensures that everyones' mounts are corralled safely, introduces the older members of his family and points to the several fires dotted about

"Please be seated and tell us your news."

The prospect of a telling of tales draws a large crowd of onlookers, each eager to hear the exploits of the strangers.

Arriving too late to hear details, Hoskar at least catches the crestfallen expression of a youth, and words like "mistake". Taking a guess at some details, he angles close to the young man on the ride away, hails him sympathetically, and murmurs softly I missed the details back there, but I've made many mistakes in my time. The worst was to dwell on them. Not sure if you're like me in that, but just wanted to say it was courageous of you to come forward to what might be enemies, to face up to what happened. Can't be sure, but I think one day I'll be proud to have met you. Anyway, I imagine you'll want to think. Won't keep you talking.

Unless there's any reply, he drifts his mount casually away.


Looking round the company, Hoskar wonders how or where to speak a beginning. First things first he takes a breath and recounts

It's a strange place to begin, but I must tell you of our least successful recent exploit, for there is within it a warning of chaos. Others will tell you of our successes, but that's not so much my tale - I was busy being dead awhile.

Anyhow, we were heading out from Hoofcrack and found ourselves benighted in a shallow valley near a mound. Without our Storm Bull, we sensed no ill until howls were heard and shapes were seen moving against the few stars. In the dark we were not at our best: we and the hidden foe hunted each other piecemeal. Somehow, they could bring warriors to a halt with their minds - a magic I at least could not undo. Seen when brought to bay, they were things from nightmare: bear-like but the heads...oh, the heads...all mouth and slaver and strangely-hued. I recall one cut down, then another touched my mind and I was helpless. It was like the void might be: endless hunger and gnawing on old kills never to be sated in this or any world. I was lucky and my comrades slew the creature, but others were not so fortunate; like a brave and true morokanth - Dark Claw - who journeyed with us.

We prevailed, but we must report the chaos that remains as we go - the last of their number we could not find though we hunted and hunted. We have lessened the one foe of all, but not exterminated it this time; and warning must be given.

He shakes his head sadly.

Now someone tell something of our true victories - I have taken the worst and most mournful of our recent tales first in duty, and our new friends need to hear joy from us also.
This message was last edited by the player at 09:14, Wed 10 Feb 2016.

Once he's settled both his high llama's and found a spot for Kinamasi and himself to sit, Tarosh starts on the offered kumiss while Hoskar passes on the news about their encounter with chaos. "It wasn't the only chaos we encountered, but it was the only one that got away. As we camped near the chaos harpy lair, we killed some dragon snails." He looks around the campfire at the Red Thorns, "We have some bad news for you clan, all bar one of the group that your shaman sent to kill the chaos harpies are dead, and the other one, well his body lives, but his mind is gone." He goes and finds the Red Thorn they found and brings him to the campfire, "maybe the Earth Witch can help?"

Ohanzee takes a seat by the fire and charges his pipe with the last of his supply of tobacco taking a stick from the edge of the fire and using the burning end to light the weed in the bowl. "Well as you know I'm sure" suck, suck, suck "we were tasked by the Earth Witch"  suck, suck

 "to deal with the Harpies who were plaguing the herds here about and spreading their filth and disease."   suck, suck, suck

The pipe is at last properly lit and the surface of the weed glowing with each draw so the Raven brave throws the stick onto the fire and takes a deep draw before passing it on to Hatha first.

"Well the first thing that we realised shortly after leaving was that Banyak Bulu had sent some of his personal braves ahead of us, no doubt to steal our thunder as it were." He sighs deeply shaking his head for effect "This was a mistake, a miscalculation on his part of their abilities I'm afraid, or perhaps on his preparations for them."

Ohanzee smiles "But in a round about way he did aid our quest through this action" and he places a hand on the bull-roarer about his neck "Though I'm sure it was not his intent and I'm afraid to say it ended badly for his braves." Now he looks at Hatha and the gathered from his sept "I hope that there were none of yours in their number for we were only able to rescue one of their number and I believe that the rest have all perished."

Turning to look about he asks the Sky Watcher children "Bring the man-gern forward" then he turns back to the Red Throns "Is he from your sept? If so you may have him and I'm sorry for his state, though rest assured that is nothing to do with us, but I will come to that in due time."

"We travelled with the Morokanth to Hoof Crack via the Rhino Rocklands and it is there that we met more Morokanth seeking to join with the Mud Claw clan because they had been burned out by a raging wildfire down by the great serpent." he glances at Tarnessh with a wry smile "Most unfortunate. There too that we were attacked by the foul Chaos Harpies. They almost took one or two of us, but we prevailed, taking them from the sky with missile and spell and then destroying the corrupt things."

"It was there too that we met more of our clan, Sky Watchers." he indicates the Rhino Riders "On we went with little further incident save witnessing the passing of a number of Ostrich Riders on their return from a quest there to best Mallia. That was unfortunate, for I got too close and lost my sight for a night and a day though I was not sure whether it would ever return!"

"Anyway it did. At Hoof Crack we traded with their shaman, the white skinned Broken Claw for items that might help our task and he gifted us with fetishes to ward against Mallia's displeasure when we faced the Harpies."

"From there we travelled on to the hills and our Seza remained behind to help Broken Claw deal with the wrath of the bested Mallia, her and one of our number as a protector. And this was a good job too because whilst we were gone their khan Zakeen Two Thumb returned with his braves. There is bad blood between many Rangers and him and he took this out on the Seza and her guardian. There is bad blood between him and Broken Claw too now." He looks about and leans forward speaking quieter, conspiratorially "Broken Claw has separated himself and his followers from the clan and goes to the Earth Temple seeking refuge. He says there is disagreement between him and this khan but you should know, their whole clan is gathering there, braves in numbers. Broken Claw says it is just to choose a new khan of khans, but that is surely not enough to cause such a rift between the two to drive off the shaman?"

He sits up again "But I'm telling it out of order. Where is that pipe, that's the last of my smoking weed and I'd like another go before that is gone!" he chides in a friendly manner.

"It was on our way to the hills that we witnessed the first pure, clean Harpy, a beautiful white feathered creature left dead in a tree. No sign of disease nor dirt upon her."

"Then, as Hoskar has said, we headed into the hills with one of their own, Dark Claw and soon after entering them we were set upon by the Jack-O-Bears. They came at us in the dark and picked us out one at a time with their control of the mind. Thus they sought to separate us and draw out our numbers to pick off easily. Thanks to the Sun Hawks though we were able to drive them back with the light and regroup and once prepared they were no match for us. We took the fight to their den and I myself killed the mother with a crossbow bolt in its arse!"

"It was in amongst the remains of the victims that we found this" he pats the bull-roarer again "that would prove so vital to our quest and perhaps came from Banyak Bulu"

"It was also with them that we found the poor wretch." he nods towards the crazed brave "They had him dancing like a puppet to try to distract us. I guess that they kept him alive so that his flesh was fresh, but his mind couldn't stay as fresh."

"There were giant ants too, but we managed to avoid them, and on into the hills our journey took us. As we went we were faced with the prospect of climbing the exposed cliff face to reach the Harpy lair, not a task to take lightly at the best of times, but even more so with the prospect of harpies picking us off the cliff side as we climbed!"

"So we followed a serpent, Nathair Sliabh the Mountain Serpent, deeper into the hills for the path along its banks was flat enough to bring the mounts. And it was as we passed along this river filled as it is with the filth of the place that it constantly must wash away that I had an idea. It has been there so long, perhaps it new a path that it had cut into the hills that travelled up high from a different time, something we could use to get closer to the lair undetected."

He snorts "It new such a way, but not what I was expecting. I summoned him and we spoke. We explained that our quest would aid him in lessening the filth by what the Harpies dropped at least and he agreed telling us to keep along our course. We found the place he spoke of, an ancient temple to the joining of Water and Earth to bring Fertility."

"There was a bit of an... erm accident and the ancient spirits of the place were awoke, the spirit of the River Priest and Earth Priestess. Feathers were soothed and offers made and accepted and the Wandering Rangers re-enacted the long since forgotten marriage of the River and the Earth. I was the River and Amara the Earth" he gestures at the redhead and smiles warmly

"The waters of the river rose up into the cave temple, then up still through a great circular chimney. Up we went, husband and wife, wedding guests, Wandering Rangers carried upon a great plug of life bringing river silt and water. We passed up and through the Hero world where we bettered Daga the drought and imprisoned him for a year."

The Raven brave coughs "Pass the kumiss, my throat is dry from this telling and there's a way to go!" He takes a deep drink before continuing. "Not all of us travelled on, some remained to guard the mounts and destroy more broo, but that is their tale to tell. Ours continues when we burst from the Hero World back into our own and erupted from the top of the shaft in a great spewing of watery mud."

He pauses a moment "It was good for us to have found this path, but not good perhaps for those of Banyak Bulu's braves who made it that far. We did not know, but we discovered that they were above where the shaft opened. If they were alive when we started the ceremony then they were not after our emergence, they were buried by the mud and water and we only discovered their remains by accident."

"We also discovered a great and ancient Whitewood tree, or rather the ceremony and the life giving that it brought awoke the tree. We spoke to the spirit of the tree, an ancient Aldryami and she wished us well on our task and bid us return to her when our task was complete."

"On we travelled, through the body, turned to stone by the Bull himself perhaps, of a gigantic Harpy! We thought it to be a statue only and a way to their lair at the top of the cliff unseen. It wasn't until we were inside what was likely once its belly that we discovered that it was still seeping its digestive juices!"

"Amara slipped there and quite literally fell from its arse!" he sniggers at the thought "And Tarosh followed. We carried on and climbed to its head where we smashed our way out the back of its skull and they climbed the cliff face. It was the Bull's day and his winds kept the creatures penned in. We fought them there and they captures Tarosh and withdrew into their tunnels."

"At this point we split, I called to the Bull and he answered, picking me up and hurling me to the top of the cliff. It was then that Gloaming apparently threw himself from the cliff, offering himself to the Bull in sacrifice for a successful mission. Anyway I lowered a rope so that Amara and Henal could climb up."

"We blocked they escape holes with nets whilst the others entered through the main tunnel and we all fought our way to the nest proper. Above we found the roost of their elders and I leapt in from above to dispatch them whilst the other two fired upon them and then climbed down the rope we brought."

"We rejoined in the others and prepared for the final push. But we had now discovered another beautiful pure breed Harpy and she told us of their queen, Hilimaz Mushen who their shaman was soon to sacrifice to their foul mother."

"We entered their inner sanctum and this is where the fight was hardest. Hoskar fell to a poisoned missile and started his journey to Condor's nest. Amara was greatly injured too. Their shaman began its evil rituals and summoned forth a great swarm of diseased spirits as well as an ancient ancestor spirit and I began spinning the bull-roarer. It drew all of these spirits to me and left the others free to deal with the living."

"With Raven's support, the power of the bull-roarer, my own innate link to the Spirit rune and a spirit arrow that I'd found at Hoof Crack I fought and destroyed those dozen or so things and the dozen more that came from the Harpy mother they summoned from the pit. Henal ran when it appeared, but the Bull entered him and he ran back all the faster!"

"The others together destroyed all those that remained, though a couple fled with eggs. We freed the queen and she brought back not just Hoskar, but Gloaming too."

"The day won we burnt the place and returned, first to the hidden valley of the dryad where she gifted us with knowledge and more, and then back via the River and Earth temple. Back to Hoof Crack which I have spoken of already and then via Rhino Gouge where tricks were played much to the amusement of and ancient Spider and an ancient Lizard and to here."
This message was last edited by the player at 15:21, Wed 10 Feb 2016.

Smiling and nodding at Ohanzee's telling of the Rangers' exploits, Hoskar finds himself some kumiss from supplies and drinks hard before passing the skin round to the Red Thorns.

As Ohanzee comes to a conclusion, Hoskar slaps his own forehead in sudden remembrance.

Funny you should mention spiders. Made me remember. No-one but Melock's heard this one.

It's not a tale of our exploits, but a curious bit of exotic lore picked up on my travels which I hope might entertain.

It's about Ongar the Unstung, and a valley in the far west.

Sometimes, there is a hidden valley shaded by the Gold Lamb on Sartar's marches; lush like a garden where the grain nigh-on reaps itself and Berry Boy runs its trackway verges throwing sweet fruits to weary travellers at day's end. Tellers claim that the moonrise there shows silver as if the light's blood has been taken from it and the husk dried clean, but tellers say many things that are hard to sift to truth. Untouched by Jaldon's raids, it is; for when his war-band was westfaring he clapped his teeth together so mightily the warriors turned from thoughts of easy plunder to look at him. "It is like the garden that was once ours and which the wastes may be again", was his message; as they turned aside in joyful sorrow to find a new war road...

OOC - see "Stories" for the rest

As the various stories are told the sick brave is examined, recognised and pronounced beyond anyones's healing ability to fix. On hearing that the Harpy Queen had brought back to life two of the Rangers it is asked why she didn't heal their clansman...

Both stories are met with rapturous applause and expectant periods of quiet, all in all a great showing by both Ohanzee and Hoskar, so much so that when they are finished small gifts are pushed into their hands and laps.

All eyes fix the other Rangers present, the crowd waiting for more...

Food is being prepared as all this goes on, large shanks of meat, grilled with herbs, fresh Bison milk and honey cakes baked on hot rocks.

Mordy has joined the septs guard dogs on the sidelines, scrapping over bones and chasing each other amongst the many various herd beasts' legs, watched by an unamused collection of Manul cats from the safety of pack bags, shrubs and from the tops of handy boulders.

Despite the harshness of the countryside, it makes for an idyllic scene, one all to easily shattered by the violent unexpectedness of the Wastes....

Ohanzee seems surprised by this question thinking for a moment before answering "That's a good question. I know there is magic to bring the dead back, though I have never heard of magic to bring the mind back..."

"I will speak with her, but even if she knows some such magic then I suspect there may well be a high price, her resurrections were a reward for her rescue. Banyak Bulu may well know the way himself and if not he is favoured by the Earth Witch and she may help if he is not prepared to pay whatever the price is to Hilimaz Mushen."

He thinks a moment longer and then adds "I have heard it said that the Morokanth know magics to turn the clever to dumb animals and to awaken the intelligence in dumb animals. Maybe Broken Claw can help."

Amara nodded, backing up Ohanzee as she touched his gift to her. "She is an ancient guardian of the Earth. I am sure if she could do something she'd have made mention of it and perhaps have set the price for it. I know that those who belong to the Earth know healing, but in my experience they can only heal the body." Amara sighed heavily "There are times when our clans are rivals, but I would never wish something like this on anyone. Perhaps the Earth Witch can do something, but I am not sure she can. In any case, it was the right thing to bring him back to his home, with so many of the others lost. At least they died well fighting chaos."

"As Ohanzee said, I think the Morokanth shaman might be your only hope, or one of the morokanth earth priestesses at the Temple."