For Kobal, the idea of Red Thorns as something other than a rival clan is a new thing, so he doesn't feel like entertaining their hosts, despite their hospitality.  Particularly given that his brother Tarnessh is still smarting from the loss of Tulox.

However, he does pass around what he has left of his kumiss, and introduces himself, as brave of the Prairie Thunder, and the betrothed.

"What news is there of the Giants Finger Holes since we left?  Even when we left, it had already changed so much from when we first arrived and..." he doesn't mention the Red Thorn shaman, "... found Lord Emesh-Ga."

"The Oasis is peaceful, since you have left all has been quiet with no visitors"

The Rangers can't help but think that it's not surprising that no one has visited since the Red Thorns hold the Oasis.

"Ask the Morokanth for help? You are joking surely? These creatures are not to be trusted nor dealt with by any way but by the sword" answers Hatha.

His people seem to agree as his words are met with much support.

Smiling regretfully, Hoskar murmurs diffidently to Hatha, not so loud as to be widely heard or to seem to want to gainsay a leader.

It seems there are morokanth and morokanth - a thing I for one never expected - like there are many sorts of Sky Watcher and Red Thorn. If someone two years ago had foretold our meeting to your khan or your shaman, would they have believed it possible? Yet here we are, sharing tales and friendship all thanks to a chance meeting and to your fine son.

He shrugs.

But then, I'm odd and I know it. Feel free to ignore me on this one.

Taking another swallow, he offers round the current skin of kumiss.

From the look on Hatha's face Hoskar can see that the man would be rather doing something else than sitting with the Rangers, but he manages a hospitable smile.

"Ah well, I sit with my chieftain's future son by marriage and I hope he will forgive what happened and remember my family in the future.."

He turns to those Prairie Thunder clansmen present and asks "Is it true you graze the Bison Khan's grasslands and that the Black Shield clan have joined you?"

It's dark now, and folk have begun to drift off to sleep or stand guard. It seems that the Red Thorns will do the night watch unless any of the Rangers insist.

With a stretch and a yawn Ohanzee says "I'm going to call it a night, still got some sleep to catch up on." and he rises to go sleep with the rest of the Sky Watcher sept but before leaving announces "Oh, no zapping any bats you might notice, my familiar will be out feeding."

Tarosh can't help but grin at this backhanded comment, "Well that could be for many reasons, not just because we're not there. I think all that can be told has been told about our trip to kill chaos." He watch's Ohanzee stand up and adds to his words of warning, "The same goes for Maul's." After a moments thought, he too stands up, "I'll help stand watch tonight, can't have too many eyes open." He sets up his sleeping gear for Kinamasi and once she is settled goes and stands watch by the mounts, while Hisser goes hunting beyond the firelight.

Seeing the look on Hatha's face and reading his impressions of Morokanth, Salen decides to share his tale of Kaonu's abduction and murder by Zakeen Two-Thumb, and his part in the event. He does not mention either of Aquamerina or Oglod by name, or Copperman at all, but speaks in as general a manner as he can. He hoped to both stoke hatred of the Morokanth among the Red Thorns, and to show that the Rangers - even alone - are not to be trifled with. And also that their allies are strong...

"The Black Shield joined us some time ago. We were strong stood alone, but together even the dawn trembles at our coming."

The Condor gives away no more details other than sweeping statements that may or not be true, if pressed, and is happy to pass around his own smokes and Kumiss and be as generous as their hosts. When the 'party' really dies down he will take a turn on guard duty, being as mistrustful of these Red Thorns as most of his companions.

Amara nodded wisely "The Black Shields can see the truth of our words and the proof of our work. They have chosen to see the garden reborn and join us as allies in this endeavour. For though we know pain at the prices exacted in restoring the garden, the price is worth paying. You've seen the miracle of the growth at the Earth Temple, other clans will join us when they see it and are witness to it. The numbers of wandering rangers will grow as the proof of our work grows. The Black Shields have vision." Amara shrugged "Perhaps the red thorns will join us too. We can hope. The green will only grow."

Those Red Thorns remaining about the fire seem sceptical to what the Rangers are saying, but there's no open hostility, and to be fair several even seem interested.

Throughout the meal and discussions the Vingans have been quite the entire time, which is unusual for them, though several mooch off into the darkness on some errand or another, whilst the rest of them sleep next to their mounts.

Finally a cactus owl hoots once as it hunts jerboa somewhere out in the darkness and then all is quiet...

Kobal nods in agreement.  My thoughts too, though better said than I could have.



Kobal smiles, though whether the smile quite reaches his eyes is another matter.  It's not that he bears the man any ill will; just that sitting down with a Red Thorn he's just met is still a new experience.  "I will remember the hospitality of you and your family, Hatha Thorn-Club."

As to forgiveness, well, in his mind, that's for the man to sort out with Tarnessh.



Kobal nods in agreement again, leaning forwards.  "Why, Sand Fox and Nixa from your clan have already joined us."  As Wandering Rangers anyway.  "Already they have many tales to tell.  And a share of our spoils, haha."

He draws back again, to take a mouthful of kumiss.  "I hope that my marriage to Jella will bring our clans together."  And he means it, even if it's still a strange thought that the two clans may not be rivals in future.

He stands.  "I'll help with the watch tonight.  We're grateful to find peace and hospitality from your family today.  Since we have been on a mission, we had little to share.  Helping with the watch is the least I can do to repay your generosity."  And at this point, his feelings about Red Thorns still mixed, the least is all that he feels like doing.

It's morning and the Red Thorns are up pre dawn readying their herd and preparing to get on the move once more. Hatha's two brothers left at a trot several hour earlier to bring the news of the Rangers and their imminent arrival back at the Giant Finger Holes and now it was time for the braves to organise their own departure...

There's a nip to the air and the shadows seem reluctant to leave, clinging onto physical objects and pooling about the ground. At the edge of vision strange shapes move and shift, odd illusions of humanoid or animal shape, distracting but perfectly normal on such a day.

From above comes the calls of awakening Harpies, who on mass dive off the top of the Mesa, spreading out to hunt. With a ruffle of feathers the Queen alights amongst the many people milling about, startling some Red Thorns and causing others to fall under her glamour.

"Another day of travel and we shall arrive, yes?" she asks in her harmonious voice.

Ohanzee immediately bows low at Hilimaz Mushen's arrival rising again with a smile "Good morning My Queen. Yes, Waha willing our journey today will be without great incident and we shall arrive."

"In the absence of Tulox Riders have been sent to announce our pending return and to speak to the Earth With of your arrival My Queen." He glances around for Tarnessh wondering how his mood is this morning after his loss last night.

Turning back to the Harpy he says "Please excuse me, I must prepare for the ride." and he returns to preparing his mount but asks the other Rangers "Who is going to take the part of Tada escorting the River and the Earth to his home?"
This message was last edited by the player at 10:03, Fri 12 Feb 2016.

Tarosh is helping Kinamasi break camp when the harpy queen comes in to sight. He stops and stares at her until Kinamasi kicks him in the shins a couple of times to get his attention, "We talked about this," she sniffs, "I'm beginning to think you don't care about me."
he face flush's red as he turns to face Kinamasi and put the queen out of his line of sight, "I'm sorry, I do care, it's just..." he coughs, "I'll try not to do it again."
She shakes her head sadly, "I know you'll try, but she seems to have a hold on you that you can't break. Just try not to be so obvious about it, its embarrassing." She kisses him, "Remember who keeps you warm at night," and then turns him towards the queen, "now go see what she wants."
As he walks towards the queen, Kinamasi frowns as she gets on with packing up, I wonder if the anyone at the Earth Temple can help break his enchantment with this harpy?

Tarosh walks briskly to the Queen, "Good morning my Queen," he bows his head in respect, "With your followers watching for trouble, we should have a safe journey."

Henal packs up his equipment and looks at Tarnessh to see how his clansman is dealing with the loss of his familiar.

He has spent the night being unusually quiet, not wanting to find himself confronting the Red Thorns with Kobal's wedding being so close.

He spends a few moments playing with his cats before speaking to them. "Remember to keep bringing me jerboa as sacrifices for my medicine bundle".

Tarnessh looks to be fine this morning, losing a familiar was a regular occurrence for those that travelled the Wastes and he seems to have got over his previous foul temper. He's even seen to give the killer of his hawk a small wave as the youth rides off with his father.

Coming back to join the others he stamps on a slow moving shadow and then stops to talk

"I do not wish to be Tada but I suggest it should be Kobal as he is to marry the chieftain's daughter."

Tarnessh is joined by Leaper, Gloaming, Sand Fox and Nixa, the latter to having spent the night with their own folk.

"It seems that whilst we have been gone there has been more inter fighting between the shaman and our chieftain. Banyak Bulu has withdrawn from the oasis with his Red warriors and is camped somewhere nearby."

Looking at Tarosh, Gloaming asks "Which one of us should tell Cantalas of the loss of his son?"

Both cats soon return with several of the Jerboas, amazingly still alive.

Ohanzee smiles at the news of the Red Thorn shaman "It seems to be becoming a common thing for a shaman to remove himself from his khan."

To Tarnessh he replies "A splendid idea!" as he steps to teh side giving a retreating shadow a place to hide below.

His early morning cheerfulness disappears when he hears Gloamings question, "I will and lets remember to keep Ohanzee away from him as well." When he hears Tarnessh's suggestion he nods in agreement, "It makes sense, that way the Red Thorns can all see why become allies with the Prairie Thunder clan makes sense."

Amara pondered over the question "Perhaps Tarnessh should tell him. As a truthspeaker, Tarnessh can tell him the truth of everything that happened. Cantelas is, I believe, the kind of man that expects honesty and candour."

Amara nodded her thanks to Nixa and Sand Fox for bringing the news "We should be careful on our approach to the Temple. Desperate men, do desperate things. It would not surprise me if he had the temerity to attack Tada, the Earth Queen and the Serpent King to try to raise his stature."

"I don't think the shaman would outrightly attack us...Never been the same since he went out East for a year" replies Nixa.

"Aye that's true. Though father says he was an odd one as a child. Seemed to be his calling to become an apprentice and then take over when his shaman was outlawed."

"I think it would be better if he heard it from his own clansmen first, though I'll certainly accompany you Tarosh."