"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?