Late at night Freezeday, Truth Week, Earth Season

Spells have been learned, crystals studied and wounds healed, and now the Rangers have congregated within their main hall. Scores of fat lamps flicker, illuminating the remains of a large dinner and a stack of empty Kumiss skins.

"One free day to your wedding Bison arse" laughs Greeshar, the stump of his leg resting on an Impala brave's skull that he'd found stuck in one of the trees outside.

"Suppose we should give you a send of eh?"

From the other side of the fire Whispers from the Sky Seza of the Skywatchers, sighs, pulling long black hair away from her pale face as she reaches for a bunch of dates

"Boozing and fighting...Sounds great..."

"I'll drink to that" Henal replies taking a swig from a skin of kumiss before offering it around the others.

"You wish you had a wife, Stumpy," laughs Kobal in response.  "Don't worry, Longhorn, you can't get rid of me that easily.  I'll visit you all in the bachelor's tent now and then, haha."

Takes the proffered skin from Henal, Hoskar is looking strangely meditative for the nature of the gathering. He seems maybe slightly far-away, head wreathed in smoke; which seems from its aroma to be mere tobakeh to relax the mind rather than any more potent concoction.

Putting the skin to his mouth, he tilts well back to drink before straightening back up.

Wiping his lips unusually fastidiously, he proffers the skin onwards; observing hope our Sun Hawks keep an eye out - don't want the bride to be marrying someone painted green or anything. He grins It's not that I don't trust you from experience of times like this, Melock - it's more that from experience I don't trust you at times like this he chortles, yet still with a faraway look.

Make sense of that if you can, mate.

A kaleidoscope of colours and patterns and images swirled through Salen's mind, testament to the empty kumiss skins and the large empty pipe around him. He was part of the gathering and yet not part of it, in his usual manner. He sat cross-legged staring into something only he could see, but there was at least a likely chance he could respond if and when he was prompted. Maybe.

He takes a small swig of kumiss and then passes the skin onwards, "You're learning." he has a mischievous twinkle in his eye, "but have you learnt enough?"

In reply to Melock (msg # 8):

Sprawling back, eyes half-closed in indolent enjoyment as errant curls of smoke play out from between his lips, Hoskar shakes his head slightly. Oh, I very much doubt it Melock. Besides, watching the fallout can be such fun.

He waves a hand dreamily round. One way I've maybe caught up on is not to fear; to act or to ask. Thinking of which... his gaze suddenly comes into sharp focus, pupils contracting ...so what did your return teach you while we were away, then?
This message was last edited by the player at 15:35, Thu 03 Mar 2016.

Amara entered the hall, moving to one side as she listened to the conversations around her. She nodded an Acknowledgement to Whispers before sitting down cross legged near the fire. She wrinkled her nose at the strong odour of the smoke in the room. "Has anything been decided? Kobal what would you want from us?"

In reply to Hoskar Two-Feather (msg # 9):

Having chosen to sit away from the fire in the shadows, not much can be seen of Melock's face as he sits next to Hoskar, "Not to fear? Well in that regard you've learnt more than I. What did my return teach me," he laughs, "other than I can't swim, always be nice to healers," He glances in Amara's direction, "and never miss up a chance to enjoy yourself, as you never know what's round the corner. Speaking of parties," he raises his voice so everyone can hear him, "I propose we spend the day before Kobal's enslavement... sorry I mean wedding, drinking and feasting. Its not as if we're short of food and Hoskar reckons Kobal should be painted green!"

"Actually," says Kobal, with a glint in his eye, "what I feel like is a raid, haha.  To take something to my bride.  But, unfortunately I don't think this is the time and place for raiding.  Instead, I think a whole lot of drinking sounds good.  There are different clans here, so we should drink.  A lot.  Of many different types of drinks.  Until our heads hurt.  Even more than headbutting, haha."



"You're one to talk!  Your woman is already with child!  And the Earth should be green," protests Kobal, "not people!  There's something else I'd like to do: learn more about my wife-to-be."  He beckons to Sand Fox and Nixa.  "What can you tell me about Jella?"

Without waiting for a response, he turns to Melock and leans forward.  "And I haven't even seen her yet.  Her father tells me she is in seclusion in preparation for the wedding."  He looks around conspiratorially, with a smile.  "This is something you Ravens could help me with...  I'd like to lay eyes on her before the ceremony.  Can you get me close so that I can at least see who I'll be marrying before the day?"
This message was last edited by the player at 02:37, Fri 04 Mar 2016.

Amara nodded "Well, there's plenty to drink here. Many types of khumiss" she smiled a hint of mischief in her eyes as she spoke out loud to the rest of the room "Including some made by the bison people....although we of the rhino clan might refer to it by our name for bison khumiss....water" she winked at Kobal to show she was teasing him.

"I doubt he'll let you near her Kobal. He's too close to getting something he values. If she's plain or a shrew, he does not wish to jeopardise all he has to gain. Me or Whispers might be able to get close. There is no reason not to allow us to see her."

"Well, we won't be drinking rhino kumiss.  Have you smelled it?  It smells like piss!  Actual piss!  And we'd still sober, haha!"



"Aye, I agree," he nods.  "That's why it has to be done some other way.  Look at me."  He stands up, and spreads his arms in exhibition, towering above most of the those assembled, though Greeshar and Akala are close in height.  "I can't just walk up and expect those Red Thorn women not to notice me.  That's why I need the Ravens to help me get close.  They're sneaky.  They think sneaky.  They might have some way."
This message was last edited by the player at 03:35, Fri 04 Mar 2016.

Ohanzee much improved, but is still scarred with rough skin all over but his blue arm. It gets second, even third looks from all all who are not used to it, a good thing for a shaman in the making. There is a concern that he has not voiced to any though, how will Tella react if, no when he sees her again? From his own people the young Raven brave's scars bring respect, but she is a foreigner used to their soft life and their strange ways.

Looking up from the skin he says to Kobal "You should have asked a few days ago. That sort of thing would have been far easier on Raven's night." before falling silent again as he takes another drink.

"Ah."  Disappointed.  "How am I supposed to know when Raven's night is?" he mumbles to himself.

He looks to the Red Thorn brothers to see if they can at least give him intelligence about the chieftain's daughter.

His voice carries a note of smugness when he replies, "Yes she is, but we chose each other and I know what she looks like," he laughs, "One of the few advantages of not being high up in the clan. It'd be easier to get her to come to you than getting you to see her," He mulls it over, "I'd be willing to try, as long as when I need rescuing, Amara doesn't beat me up."

"She's...You know...A girl" answers Sand Fox, looking to his brother for support.....

"Yeah...Um, nice personality....Sense of humour..."

Nixa is struggling by the looks of it.

"You're a lucky man."

Ohanzee listens to Nixa and Sand Fox struggling and makes up his own story between the lines "Sounds like you've struck lucky Kobal, great personality, great sense of humour, face like a bison's arse."

"No, she's not like that. She's just...The Chieftain's daughter and all that entails....*Laugh* Bison's arse....She's aloof and well kinda clumsy. But she's fun and nice and will just love Kobal, she always went for the big dumb ones..."

Having nodded assent to Melock, murmuring something quietly to him aside , it looks as if Hoskar might be going to rise to the bait about rhino kumiss: he takes a breath and opens his mouth, but then seems to think better of it, preferring to just listen...until the banter over Kobal's bride sounds a little sour.

He smiles an agreement to Sand Fox, and observes rather pointedly she sounds sweet, and a real keeper: it's joy and affection that count when you're sixty.

"And of course we're all likely to reach sixty then, Hoskar" Henal laughs.

 He stretch's and then reach's for another skin. "Its just bad luck for you Kobal that your not getting married to Shade, Brinna's daughter, cause she is very sweet and easy on the eyes." After a couple of swigs of kumiss, "Haven't we got some wine, and I'm sure we can acquire a good selection of drinks from the many clans that are here."

Sehana maneuvers into the cave to the sound of laughter.

She is dressed in the robes of a shaman's apprentice, white trimmed in yellow, with neither armor nor weapons.

She picks up a container of kumiss and pronounces loudly, "A toast to Kobal, on his first marriage. May his second be as blissful."
This message was last edited by the player at 12:05, Fri 04 Mar 2016.

Sand Fox and Nixa glad for the diversion quickly stand to return the toast.

In reply to Sehana (msg # 25):

He raises his skin of kumiss and joins in the toast, "To Kobal!" He looks Sehana up and down, "Just a suggestion, but you might want to make sure you have at least one weapon with you at all times. You never know when you'll need to rescue Ohanzee." he burps loudly, "I've normally got my sling and sword with me." he touch's his left wrist and pats his sword.

Sehana cannot help but grimace at the mention of Ohanzee. Were it not for her own pride, he would not be so horribly scarred. Still, she glances at Melock and says, "You are right, I should have brought a few javelins. Just in case."

In reply to Sehana (msg # 28):

"That'll be helpful if anyone else gets swallowed by that toad, though if we could get it on our side we wouldn't need to worry about it." he chuckles in the shadows, "Lets hope it doesn't try and join the wedding."

A darkness come quickly over Ohanzee's mood as he was about to rise and toast Kobal too. He sits forward and locks Melock with a stare "Be careful what you wish for, what forces you would call upon. Croak has tasted Chaos. He has turned on his oldest friend and tasted her."

"He is a greedy creature with no thought for anything but himself!"

He raises his skin to Kobal "To you and your bride to be." then sits back against the wall.

Pursing his lips momentarily at Henal's retort, Hoskar quickly resumes his habitual smile; casually responding well, we can hope; and why not: the tricky bit around here seems to be staying dead before joining in the toast to the upcoming nuptials.

To Kobal he intones formally Khan-son and helm-bearer; protector of the earth and staunch comrade. And to your wife-to-be: may you be joy and help to one another for and in the greening while life lasts.

Something stirs in the Condor brave's subconscious state, and he blinks his eyes and is suddenly fully alert and attentive.

"Always went for the big dumb ones?!" This time it is Salen's turn to roar with laughter. "Sounds like she's been around the oasis a few times! I guess it'd be fine if she was from an Impala tribe, but I can't say I'd noticed that the Red Thorns were all midgets! Here's to ya, Kobal!"

Salen raised a skin in toast to the groom-to-be, though he didn't bother standing up. After a healthy swig he turned to Ohanzee.

"So, this blue gem you found...inside Croak...what's up with that? What's our next move?"

"If it's the big dumb ones she prefers, you could try to get her married to Greeshar." Amara said with a grin towards her brother.

Ohanzee holds up the gem that he's been absent-mindedly holding in his left hand, as indeed he's been doing most of the time since retrieving it when his hands have been idle.

He looks into it as he speaks, any slight glow that it might give off lost in the flickering light of the many fat lamps "I was at the point of death when Eyota showed me this. It glowed ever so faintly, but in the darkness of Croak's belly it was enough for me to notice."

He looks from the gem to each of the Rangers there in turn as he continues "It was pretty and it didn't belong to me so I took it, as is Raven's way. And as I took it from Croak I ripped it from his belly where it had been sitting since that time so long ago when he took it."

"So long had it been sitting there that his guts had grown around it and the act of my ripping it from him caused him enough pain that he vomited me."

His gaze come back to the gem as he goes on "As I was laying there between this life and the next with this, a portion of her, clutched in my hands we were one and the same for a time. I was here just when the Chaos came for the first time, I endured it and I... I mean she endures it still."

Ohanzee tells them of the vision.

Amara spoke softly, hoping Ohanzee would see she was sorry for what she'd done to him. "I don't know what you've been through, or the significance of the jewel. Just tell me what you need and I'll do everything I can to help."

The Copper Man has not come to speak with me for a long time. He said he must go away to fight a great evil. He tried to tell me of this evil but his words were lost, what do I know of such things, what do I know of going away, I am here, I have always been here, I will always be here.

Screams! The frantic beat of wings and the legs carrying the shadow vanish into the element above. Beasts, humans, birds, I hear panicked cries! What is happening, why do they flee? My surface is shattered in a hundred places as the hooves and feet of the running try to make a run from one side of me to another. No, not through the middle little ones, I'm too deep there, too deep and too wide you are not strong enough swimmers, why do you throw your lives away?

ARGH! What is this feeling along my bank? It is... all possibilities and no future... it is change without no purpose but change itself... it is all corrupting... is this the evil the Copper one spoke of?

It infects those it touches, spreads through them if they give over to it, destroys them if they resist. Run, fly swim, get away all of you! I cannot run nor swim, nor fly, I have always been here I will always be here, I will endure.

ARGH! Deep, I will go deep, too deep for the corruption to follow. Come friends, come with me come deep. I will protect you all, come with me. My surface is touched not by the light of the Bright Treasure now it is covering with the smear of corruption and death. The young ones are trapped now, no where to swim to, the corruption comes from all sides and is nearly upon them. I must save their souls, I must swallow them and keep their souls clean within me to save them.

Come little ones, do not be afraid, swim deep with me and we shall endure together. Deeper, deeper, that's it, do not worry about the air, I will fill your lungs and you can stay safe with me, pure, clean, endure.

No Croak always the greedy one this you cannot eat come deep with me. No! Damn you you foolish creature I told you could not eat that, now it consumes you! ARGH! My old friend is no more, but what he has become even eats me! Deeper, I must go deeper with those I keep safe, deeper, keep clean, keep pure, keep them clean.

...



...



"You're one to talk, Scarface," Ohanzee's comment sending Kobal over the edge.  Kobal looks like he might take things further, when Sehana offers a toast.



Great, first less than stellar news.  Now I'm reminded of another marriage to another woman I haven't met...

He forces a smile to the Black Shield brave and returns the toast.



Kobal clenches and unclenches his fists.  Torn between punching Salen, and trying to restrain himself in the presence of the new recruits to the Wandering Rangers.

Instead to forces himself to listen to the now serious Ohanzee, and his story about the gem.

"So... we have to go deep into the water to bring back the spirit...?  Or maybe there are caves we can follow deeper below to find the source of the water...?"

Henal about to join in the ribaldry aimed at Kobal stops as he hears Ohanzee start speaking.

"So old Croak is touched by chaos then? But more important how do we go down to show the spirit that the waters are growing clean again and the chaos is being driven out?"

He shrugs at Ohanzee's outburst, "He sounds like he's got a lot in common with how others see us." Melock listens to the others and when Ohanzee tells them of his vision, he feels the spirits pain.



He looks over to Henal, "Just what I was thinking. If he is, and I know this makes me sound like Greeshar, then why are we sitting here instead of killing it? " Melock pauses long enough to gulp down some more kumiss, "Instead of drinking all day before Kobal's wedding, we should kill that beast, not only will it show Kobal's new family that he is a mighty warrior, but it will also help clean the temple."

"He is" Ohanzee replies to Henal and as he stands "Sure he must be dealt with, but as Ashfoot Earth Healer said, are we ready for that?"

Heading out towards the pool "But I am ready to try at least to see if we can contact Bisud'dha Pani. Coming?" and he heads for the pool.

Amara looked a touch concerned "If you feel that you're well enough to talk to her, I will accompany you."

Sehana thinks, The truth surely is a sharp blade. She wonders how the Black Shield clan will react to news that Kobal is already married, this very season, to a Red Thorn.


Sehana decides to invite herself along. Setting down the skin of kumiss, she follows the others who are leaving the cave.

Ohanzee notes the look of concern on Amara's ace and smiles as he responds to her "I don't know if we'll be able to break through to her, perhaps the gem needs to be attuned to a person's soul to work, but if it is a failure then at least we'll have tried."

"She's been trapped so long, as long as Gadesha at least, I have to try."

"We could do both together, while you try to contact the spirit the rest of us could flush the toad out and kill it." He stands and pats his pockets looking for something, "Doesn't one of you Sun Hawks know how to make a wall of light? If its made to face down in to the pool it'll light up any beasts and make them easier to kill. As there's not enough room if we're all by the pool, I'll go up top."

"I don't think we are ready to deal with old Croak yet, there is only so much we can do about such a huge creature and if one of us got swallowed and spat out under the water they'd surely die. Let us be more cunning than that, though that makes me sound like a Raven wanting to find tricks to win rather than just overcoming the enemy like a Thunderbird".

Amara pressed a small fish made of silver into Ohanzee's hand. "I think this might help you reach her more safely. I think my presence might disturb her, tied to the Earth as I am. I'll keep out of the water. Place it in your mouth and it will help you breathe...for a time. You do not have long to persuade her."

The pool is at the other end of the room where they now were, so it takes mere moments before the Rangers stand around the shimmering water. It's barely two metres across and under the light of the torches looks to be the same in depth. There are several leather buckets lying next to it and despite daily use it has never lessened in quantity.

Ohanzee takes the item with a smile "Thank you. I don't think I'll need it with the poolthe size it is, but thank you."

"She knew the Copper Warriors who lived here. Emesh-Ga might have known her."

The scarred young brave walks forward into the water, the gem clutched in his left hand a chant already on his lips.

Bisud'dha Pani, spirit of the oasis.
Bisud'dha Pani, who was always here.
Bisud'dha Pani, who is not forgotten.
Bisud'dha Pani, for you we're here.

You were here in the Green
You were here from the first
You were filled with Life
You quench all thirst.

Bisud'dha Pani, spirit of the oasis.
Bisud'dha Pani, who was always here.
Bisud'dha Pani, who is not forgotten.
Bisud'dha Pani, for you we're here.

Chaos came, you endured
Friends destroyed, you endured
Friend corrupted, you endured
Friend betrayed, you endured.

Bisud'dha Pani, spirit of the oasis.
Bisud'dha Pani, who was always here.
Bisud'dha Pani, who is not forgotten.
Bisud'dha Pani, for you we're here.

Deep you went, trapped away
Friends you took, hid away
Drowned but saved, taken away
Their souls you keep safe always.

Bisud'dha Pani, spirit of the oasis.
Bisud'dha Pani, who was always here.
Bisud'dha Pani, who is not forgotten.
Bisud'dha Pani, for you we're here.

Henal advances to the edge of the water but does not follow Ohanzee in. The diminutive brave joins in the chant and prepares himself to reach out to the spirit if it replies.

Amara listened carefully to Ohanzee's song, waiting until he was finished "If that does not stir her, then you may need to go fetch her. She has hidden herself for many years. Perhaps she fears coming back. Where she is, she is safe...perhaps she needs someone daring enough to try to reach her." Amara shrugged, not sure how she might react if she were in the oasis spirits place.

Sehana, bound only to speak the truth, knew that this spirit's liberation was the proper thing. In her passing Spiritspeech, she repeated the chorus.

Hanging back in the shadows, Melock just looks on in silence, his eyes darting around the group.

Voras is content to watch the proceedings and learn from them.  Things seem to go wrong very quickly around the Rangers and it's best to be on his toes.

Initially, Hoskar hangs back with Melock; drawing comfort from the closeness of an old friend with joined experiences as yet untold but as Ohanzee chants he finds his legs move him unbidden to stand beside, and slightly behind in token of support, another Raven; his lips taking the words and form of the chant...in unison at first, but then a harmony conterpointing with words beneath words; offered quietly so as not to overwhelm the main theme.

Bisud'dha Pani, spirit of the oasis.
Bisud'dha Pani, who was always here.
Bisud'dha Pani, who is not forgotten.
Bisud'dha Pani, for you we're here.

Deep we seek, bringing home
Friends returning to the day
Drowned but saved, come back in day
Their souls you keep safe alway.

Bisud'dha Pani, spirit of the oasis.
Bisud'dha Pani, who was always here.
Bisud'dha Pani, who is not forgotten.
Bisud'dha Pani, for you we're here.

Copper cometh, be renewed
Friends quest on, be renewed
Friend be cleansed, be renewed
Friend re-friended, be renewed.

Two-Feather seems more impressionable than he had been before. Again, tears course his face in joy; falling to the pool to mingle their hope with its sweet waters.
This message was last edited by the player at 09:04, Mon 07 Mar 2016.

Tarosh, his water runes glowing brightly joins Ohanzee in the water, his voice mixing in with the others.

It's a powerful moment and the water positively glows from the spiritual energy flowing into it.

But nothing happens, apart from everyone present feeling the faintest of faintest connections with something far, far away.

Ohanzee leaves the water, a slight quizzical look on his face as he approaches Amara first handing her back the small metal fish she fave him. He then addresses the others "We cannot break through. Not yet, but I felt the slightest of links perhaps, nothing more tangible than a wisp of smoke."

"There is much to do before we should even try again though. I sense that a proper link cannot be made until the other waters here are cleansed and even then not without forming a stronger link with Bisud'dha Pani first."

"The gem is a part of Bisud'dha Pani taken by Croak but even within the belly of that corrupt beast after all this time he could not destroy nor corrupt even such a small part of Bisud'dha Pani."

"This part of Bisud'dha Pani solidified within his belly after so long and I hope at least gave him bellyache!"

"I think attuning the gem might form enough of a link with Bisud'dha Pani to break through after the waters are cleaned, but I'm not certain."

"You must of been close to contacting Bisud'dha Pani because even I felt some sort of presence. Maybe the cleansing should start with the smallest pool and work upwards?" He looks unnerved when he hears about the two possessed Red Thorns,"I wonder if there is any connection to what we have been doing? "

In reply to Melock (msg # 57):

We did feel close to something for a moment, didn't we? Something old, very old and powerful and benign.

His wistful smile remaining, he raises an eyebrow. Wouldn't surprise me if things are the result of our work: we'll surely have caused a few ripples. Just hope the one who ran off isn't looking for that damnable Basmoli spirit.

When he hears of the possessed Red Thorns he is intrigued, especially by the one running off into the desert speaking of golden gods "There is too much here for it all to be coincidence. Our shared visions of the golden disk, the golden warriors from down by the Zola Fel who stole the disk from us. The talk of a fallen star from old spirits. And now this."

"I will speak to the possessed one who remains if I am permitted. Perhaps the Seza can help me make a deal with the possessing spirit, something to the benefit of it and the girl?"

As the evening passes by the Ten Tall Men join the group and talk with Tarnessh the young Raven brave is intrigued again though remembering the way he upset the joint High Llama and Agamori camp he keeps his distance.

After some time though he approaches with a small hide wrapped package and sits with them "Tarnessh I said we should talk, but things have been hectic since."

He unwraps the package to reveal an exact copy of the golden disk but this one wrought of stone looking from the Sun Hawk to the Ten Tall Men "We lost the original to save me from slave bracelets. I sensed that this would happen though and had a friend make a copy before we handed it over."

"If I am right this is what the foreigners call a map, it tells a path to follow to the site where a star fell to the Earth in ancient times. The golden god the possessed brave cried of as he ran into the desert, the same thing the golden warriors seek and the same thing that was visited by the renegade shaman of the Red Thorn Clan."

"It is important to or spirits, the Rivals and at least part of the reason they work together I think, so it is important to us. We may not have the magics of the disk itself any more, but we still have the map... if we only knew how to read it."

"Perhaps I can borrow it during Sun Hawk's Holy day. I will ask for guidance. The use of Divination would be most useful now."

The Sun Hawk shows the stone disc to Voras and Sehana, explaining that the original gold one was found by the Rangers and has been hunted by Yelmalions and their Impala allies of the Fire Feather clan, as it supposedly refers to a site called Lasseter's Reef, a holy place and possibly a resting place for a fallen Sky god.

"The Golden Disc was take here at the Giant Finger Holes by a contingent of Yelmalions after they successfully negotiated for it by following a myth of their god. Perhaps he others can explain all that went before?"

The stone disc is as wide as Kobal's hand when his fingers are splayed out. One side is a representation of the sun, it's centre filled with what the braves now understand to be writing.  Turning it over those looking can see that it is filled with small pictures and script. It shows a man leaving a domed building by a river and going on a journey towards the East. Bits are too scratched to be readable, but it shows him discovering a large rock with the Sky rune on it. He seems to be praying. There's various creatures depicted of the nasty variety and finally it shows him going back to the domed building and talking to many people and pointing to the East. Finally he is shown being buried.

"Unfortunately Haratt was the only one who could read the text and even then he'd either not shared what he'd found or not really understood what it was all about."

The Ten Tall men are certainly excited, eventually explaining that they followed the Yelmalions and that they have retreated to their homeland.

"The secret to this disc lies there or other places of power."

"An interesting story, indeed.  I'd love to hear it in detail another time."

Voras examines the disk closely, attempting to understand the meaning of the symbols that have been scribed upon it.

"Though I don't know the meaning of everything on here, perhaps we should prepare for a journey.  If nothing else, we will be able to learn something."

Ohanzee's hands the disc over, but when Tarnessh and Voras speak of deciphering the meaning he remembers the initiation vision sent him by Raven and cautions "You are welcome to borrow it, but only if you promise to share all that you decipher or learn of it. We might already have lost some advantage because Harratt deemed it better to keep whatever secrets he was able to glean from it to himself."

Then addressing the Ten Tall Men he speaks "We are to head to the walled place with the stone tents. There are powers there, men of learning who might know what it all means, but I'm not sure about taking it there and showing to them."

"There is another though, one like you but from over the sea who wields foreign spiritless magics. He might know and he has been happy to share knowledge before. He is strange, he seems to collect knowledge as we would collect herd beasts."

The young brave is quiet for a moment but then speaks again "Melock and I are going to dedicate a shrine here to Raven. I think the place to do that is in our Oath taking room and I think that you others should dedicate shrines to your own Rival spirits, a shrine in each of the four corners of the room."

"The Rivals have shown each of us that we should work together as they are prepared to do, to work together for the Earth. After all they brought us each together here for this purpose."

"I think too that we should extend the ceremony if Emesh-Ga would permit it. If the Wandering Rangers are so important to the Rivals and without the Rivals our band would not have come together, then I think that the oath taking should also include Rival choosing. A Rival should be chosen"" he shrugs "or perhaps the Rivals will make an appearance and do the choosing."

Pensive, Hoskar rubs his temples as he thinks through the implications of what is being said; eyes lighting up as he makes a connection with the walled city and the sun.

You know, there's a hill sacred to the Sun folks inside the walls. Not the new walls either - the old ones. Out by that part where the trees seem to move and the city's gone back to garden. Maybe we will learn something on our next journey. He pauses, mind working frantically at further connections. Maybe Kinamasi would know more - I recall someone saying she'd lived within those old walls.

Having exhausted his line of thought, he merely nods at the idea of shrines to the Rivals, then furrows his brow. The rivals underground? Odd. But then everything we do seems odd somehow.

He chuckles from the shadows, "Its a good story, remind me to tell you it one night once we're on the way back to the clan." He helps himself to yet another skin of kumiss, "I think the shrines to the Rivals should be above ground, open to the elements, that way anyone can use them."

"I'm not sure I agree with that. The wandering rangers are not a feathered rivals tradition. That we were picked by the rivals is one thing, but not every ranger was picked by one. It does not make them any less rangers than us, or make their sacrifices for the Green any less worthy. That a large number of us were picked and have become rangers is noteworthy, but we were picked before we became rangers. I fear you might alienate some of those who might otherwise care to join us." Amara commented.

Ohanzee leans back smiling with his eyes closed listening to the words of the others "Well for those of you who loose your connection to your Rival down here I feel pity. I for one have no such problem and I know from personal experience that Raven has no problem coming down here either."

He opens his eyes at Amara's words though "Ah, but is that just because they have not been approached about it, whether by man or spirit? Hmmm?" Closing his eyes again he lays back on his elbows "Most have already been followers of one Rival or another even if at a lower level than others. And when asked, those who have not been have expressed an interest in one Rival or another."

"The only ones who expressed an interest in the rivals were due to coaxing and cajoling on the part of those of us who felt our spirit needed more representation." Amara said accusingly "Those who were persuaded have not been visited by the rivals themselves or granted any of the gifts. Making it a part of joining the rangers is unnecessary. The rivals will visit those they really want. There are many spirits on the wastes. The rangers are supposed to be about inclusion, about restoring the green for all. Adding conditions that they must follow one of the rivals seems like a ridiculous barrier."

He doesn't sit back up this time "I didn't say must, I said should, but could would be a better word."

He smiles "And I quite agree, the way certain Thunderbirds have been using getting closer to you as a draw their Rival is quite atrocious!"

Amara scowled as she looked at Ohanzee "Now...what exactly do you mean by that." she said in an icy tone.

"I for one don't want a Raven shrine down here." He pauses for a moment, "We store a lot of gear in these caves, do we really want more Ravens down here?" he laughs which turns in to a lot of coughing.

"No! It's more than enough having to cope with you two!"

Whether Salen means that truly or not is hard to say, but he is grinning.

"Then you didn't miss me while you were harpy hunting?" His voice carries a hint of the smile that is hidden in shadows. "I can't speak for Ohanzee, but normally I don't steal off of friends."

"Surely any shrines should be under the clear skies where the rivals fly not buried deep in the ground. We might fight for the Earth but our strength comes from above where the mighty thunder can strike down chaos".

"This foolish argument is accomplishing nothing! I am new to the Rangers, so I will not take sides as to who should or should not be admitted to the order, but surely it can be discussed without such vitriol."

Voras glances back at the disk.  "I agree with those who say that the shrines to the Rivals should be above ground.  It feels wrong to worship Sun Hawk where one cannot even see the sun.  After an appropriate shrine has been constructed, I will ask Sun Hawk about the disk."

Kobal's first reaction to Ohanzee's suggestion of a Raven shrine within the Rangers' quarters had been to object.  But the other Rangers get in first with their arguments.  He holds his tongue and let the others have their say.  There are others in the group who are smarter than he is.

Only a Raven, who likes hiding, and darkness, would suggest a shrine in a cave.
This message was last edited by the player at 06:13, Thu 10 Mar 2016.

Still looking up at the ceiling of the cave he responds "Oh just something I overheard."

"Perhaps I misinterpreted it."

"Forget I said anything."



Ohanzee smiles "Not stealing from friends comes easier to some."




Looking from the ceiling to Voras quizzically he replies "You think this is an argument? You have had too sheltered a life, this is a discussion."

Then laying fully back and gazing up at the ceiling again he adds "You can ask Sun Hawk anything you want, but you will not be doing it with the disc until I get that promise to share what you learn."

Good grief this got us divided up more than I'd expected.

Although Hoskar's eyes widen through the debate, so does his smile.

Come, come now. Voras has a point here - we might be a bit less blunt he glances over at Voras as he speaks these words; adding although this really is how we usually get things done: squabble a bit and sort it out. Especially if the leaders we don't actually have turn out on different sides of things.

His gaze shifts to Ohanzee, seeming almost aplogetic. Afraid I'm with Melock and Amara on this one. As I've said before, I've been amazed how often the two of them manage to get hold of opposite ends of exactly the right rope for the job, and somehow a confined space and a new requirement for the Rangers feels...off, I guess. Not wrong, just uncomfortable somehow. After all, if a Rival wants to call someone, they've lots of opportunity.

"Think what you will.  I've always found that more gets done when backbiting is kept to a minimum," Voras replies coolly, though he continues with a slight smirk on his face. "Though I won't deny your wit is entertaining.  I've no problem agreeing to your demand, though I will not gainsay Sun Hawk should I be told to keep what I learn on a short leash."

Laying on his back still Ohanzee closes his eyes "No promise, no disc." is all he says in response.

Kobal inspects the cavern floor with great interest as Ohanzee and Amara discuss matters.

After Two-Feather speaks, he decides to chip in.  "Aye, the Feathered Rivals are the Air.  They will hear our prayers better above the ground."  Where we Dedra should be as well.  "After what happened with Cantalas and the Blue Llamas, I'm not sure the Earth Priestesses would be keen on Raven rituals within their temple complex either..."

From where she sits watching the exchange Whispers voice suddenly enters the mix, sharp and cutting

"So this is how you plan to work together...The feathered rivals making a bad thing good...By being rude to someone who wishes to join your ranks. Typical Raven and the cause of everyones' problems. He is a Sun Hawk and you call his honesty into question. You who bend the truth any which way you can.

The disc is not yours to hold on to, it's is the groups and was found before your time Ohanzee Shappa."

Tarnessh nods his head in reply "This is Sun magic and not your domain Raven."

The Agimori all shift slightly so that they can give Ohanzee the benefit of their combined stare...

Having kept his peace until now Gloaming speaks, his voice emotionless and cold

"Aye... Raven's darkness will hide what needs to be seen under Bright Treasure's gaze and if Voras says he can ask for Sun Hawk's divination than I say he should. It is our holy day after the wedding. Then would be a good time if he so wished. "

"While Whispers is right that Ohanzee wasn't there, another Raven was responsible for finding it." He leans out of the shadows, "It was with that self heating canteen I found. While I don't doubt a Sun Hawks word. At the time we found it we had an Impala brave with us, he refused to tell Greeshar what it said, which resulted in Greeshar killing him. So I think it must be a great secret, which means I want to know whats on it." He smiles as he relaxes back in to the dark. "Its time we find out what it says and Sun Hawks holy day would be a good day to find out."

Still laying on his back, Ohanzee now opens his eyes and pushes himself up to a seated position "Now this," he looks at Voras "This is getting towards being an argument."

Next he looks at the Seza "Strictly speaking this disc is new, it is not the one that was found before I joined, that is gone and this is a new one I got a friend to make."

He shakes his head "But that is besides the point, I do not doubt that any Sun Hawk would speak only truth, but what I do doubt is that they would share all they learn with the rest of us. And it is because we work together that I raise this.

"The information that the disc holds is important to all of us, Raven showed me this. He showed me that the information that it holds would be dangerous if not shared between all Rivals, that it would split friends apart. He showed Sun Hawk perched upon keeping it to himself and behind him a golden wheel whispering in his ear."

Ohanzee sighs looking at Whispers "I don't pick this fight to hinder our task, I pick it for the better of us all. Followers of every Rival should know all the secrets known to the others equally and if that means we all know nothing then so be it."

Looking back at Gloaming he adds "If this Raven wanted to keep the secrets just for Ravens then I'd have kept the disc secret, no one else knew I had a copy made."

He looks about at the others "There's a whole flock of Sun Hawks here, ask any of them if I'm lying. Ask all of them!"

In reply to Ohanzee Shappa (msg # 87):



Melock starts coughing violently, after about a minute it subsides. "Other points of view are also valid."

Momentarily looking upwards to the...roof where's the sky when you need it? Forgot where we were Hoskar has another try, with a new angle.

Think I might see a way through here. We know Sun Hawks tell the truth, right? And we know the Rivals govern their chosen, right? So what we're left with is Voras can't make a promise he might not be able to keep.

How about an undertaking to fully share whatever he finds unless Sun Hawk orders otherwise? In practice, that's what we'd be getting from absloutely anyone we ask anyway.

He looks round the group.

Seems to me it's that or we wait for you to be able to find out for yourself: you'll never have certainty you're being told everything from anyone, will you? he adds diffidently to Ohanzee.

Ohanzee listens with intererst to Hoskar's proposal and after a moment of consideeration responds "On the contrary, the right question to a fellow with a Sun Hawk about and we'd know. Something like Have you told us everything you have learnt about it?"

He looks at the gathered Sun Hawks "So Hoskar's suggestion works so long as you promise to tell whether you have kept back any information gathered about the disc."

"That way we'll know whether we need to take the disc elsewhere to discover the secrets you you might have been forced to keep."

Amara listened to the ongoing conversation saying nothing until Ohanzee had finished "In my experience, the lack of trust between rangers is the cause of our biggest issues. We are rangers first and foremost. Ohanzee, you have some valid points to make, but you are making your own in the wrong way. You are telling Sun Hawks that you do not trust them, yet if anything the ravens have more to prove here and the more dubious record of going away to do your own thing...something which you are profoundly guilty of.... even by your own words." Amara motioned towards the sunhawks. "You should hand it over to them and expect the answers you seek. You should have trust as a given... until they have been proven to break it."

"Ohanzee mentioned his vision with Sun Hawk and a Golden Wheel. Haratt was always talking to the spirit in that Golden coin of his. It was his grandfather. So your vision points at Haratt and no other."

"There were Impala braves with these Sun County folk you say? Fire Feathers? Perhaps it should be them that we are talking too. Catch a few and  see what's what."

"He deserved everything he got" growls Greeshar rubbing the stump off his leg and tapping the Impala brave's skull with the tip of his sword "Just like this one did..."

"I'd not made that connection before," He starts cleaning his new dagger, "I wonder if his grandfather was freed when he was possessed? If he was do you think you could summon him so we could ask him about it?" He nods at Greeshar's gruff reply, "That maybe so, but you could of waited until we'd got more information out of him."

Kobal had been trying to keep out of the discussions.  They were supposed to be getting drunk and butting heads, not discussing the finer points of a round stone slab.

"How did Raven show to you that the information would be dangerous if not shared between all Rivals, Blue Arm?  Is that what was actually shown to you?  Or is it just what you think was shown to you?  How do we know Raven wasn't having some fun with you?"

The suggestion that his half-brother Tarnessh would do something which would endanger the group was annoying as well.  "You know what could be dangerous?  When Ravens go off and do their own thing without telling the rest of us!"

Voras smiles at hearing Hoskar's suggestion.  "Yes, that's something that I can agree to.  Despite a bit of bickering, we're still all friends here.  I promise to share everything I learn should that not contradict with Sun Hawk's commands.  Knowledge benefits us all; secrets kept from allies so rarely do."
This message was last edited by the player at 05:37, Fri 11 Mar 2016.

"Why don't you summon him and ask?" comes back Greeshar with a snarl


"That's all you do Ohanzee, get in to trouble and wait for us to safe your skinny arse."

Of all the voices pitted against him Ohanzee seems to pay the most attention to Amara's, perhaps because she at least acknowledges his concern. He smiles at her replying "It is my nature and the nature of my Rival. And it is trust as a given that makes Thunderbird such an easy mark."


Ohanzee looks surprised at this and considers a moment "I never really spent any time with Harratt, no sooner had I met him than he was possessed and then gone. I didn't know that he had a golden coin that he spoke to." He adds perhaps a little grudgingly "I suppose that could be the meaning of the vision."

He hands the disc over though somewhat grudgingly "You can expect me to ask you if you have hidden anything you have learnt about the disc."



He smiles at Greeshar "And if I didn't then you'd have to find someone else to grumble about." His smile broadens "And we'd not have discovered the sept in the Rhino Rocklands, I'd not have found the spirit arrow that turned the battle against the harpy spirits, and..." he lays back again "Well I could go on, but I can't be bothered."

"I'm guessing it'd be easier to summon him where he died?" He looks across to Whispers from the Sky for conformation, "Which is slightly out of our way when we head back, but it might be worth doing, if we don't find out anything before we leave."

"You want to find the spirit of a dead Impala? He'll be with his ancestors and not someone I could find...Unless he's a ghost which might be possible as he was killed in cold blood."

"It's on the way back to the Grasslands."

In reply to Whispers from the Sky (msg # 101):

"If we don't find much out from the Sun Hawks, then I think its worth trying." He looks at Ohanzee and with a mocking tone asks him, "That's if you don't mind lending it again, unless you want to summon him?"

If Ohanzee is still awake he doesn't respond, laying there with his eyes closed.

Looking in Ohanzee's direction, Melock can't help but grin. He moves near the fire and puts a bowl of water on it to warm up, all the while glancing at Ohanzee to check he's still asleep. While its warming up, he moves so he's sitting next to Ohanzee. If Ohanzee doesn't show any sign of being awake, Melock gets the bowl of warm water and gently puts Ohanzee's left hand in it.

Ohanzee opens one eye a slit as Melock takes his hand and places it into the bowl of water then closes it again "I bathed plenty after being inside Old Croak mate."

"I would be flattered, but you're not my type. If you are missing your Bison girl so much then we've still some impala left, just make sure you hobble it well."

In reply to Ohanzee Shappa (msg # 105):

He chuckles, "Worth a try."

"Hey Kobal, fancy a head butting contest?"

Even somewhat inebriated (or perhaps moreso when inebriated), he's ready to butt heads.

Though he looks down at the brave, a foot shorter.  "Are you sure you're up for this, little man?"
This message had punctuation tweaked by the player at 08:54, Mon 14 Mar 2016.

In reply to Kobal (msg # 107):

A fairly drunk Melock tilts his head back to look Kobal in the eyes and has to step back, but manages to nod.

Kobal shrugs, but smiles all the same.  "I'll let you go first," he says magnanimously.

He stands straight, his full height, a full head taller than the brave, and waits grinning for Melock to try his best.

"Now that sounds like a proper thing for a pre wedding night. I'm in for a butting contest too." Henal says, getting to his feet.

Amara rolled her eyes wondering how Kobal's bride would take it when he appeared with bruises for the wedding.

Melock takes a step back to ready himself, while Kobal bends forward to improve his centre of gravity and plants his left foot firmly back to brace himself against the impending headbutt.

Melock steps in, throwing his head forward, but perhaps because he doesn't look completely sober, his step is awkward, placing his body in a bad position to connect properly with his opponent's head.

Kobal grins in satisfaction and takes three steps back.  A run up might help win on the first headbutt.  Charging in, he mis-judges just how much shorter Melock is, and his forehead manages to catch only the top of the brave's head.  It stings a bit, but no damage.

Round two.  When it comes, however, the Raven brave's second attempt is off-centre, glancing off the side of Kobal's head.

This time Kobal decides to stay where he is, and draw his head back instead, ready to throw his back and neck forward.  When his head comes crashing down, it connects with full force onto his opponent's head, sending Melock stumbling back and down.  For a moment, it seems the brave is out cold.  Kobal raises his arms in victory and howls.  But body in the ground moans and stirs.  Slowly, Melock staggers up, shaking his head clear, and stepping up for his third headbutt.

Still groggy, he steps up and grabs Kobal's head on both sides with his hands.  He draws back and releases.  But the contact is weak, and probably hurts Melock almost as much as Kobal.

Grinning again, Kobal wipes some spit from his mouth and stands erect, looking down on the other brave.  Pulling his head back, he brings it down onto the Raven, as if seeking to hammer him into the ground.  The connection isn't as good as the second attempt, but Melock staggers back clutching his head anyway.

"I have won!" declares Kobal, raising his arms again.

Now for Henal...

Henal steps up to challenge the victor.  One short man down.  An even shorter man steps up to take his place.

"I'll let you go first too," offers Kobal.

The two Thunder Birds square off against each other.  Having watched the previous competition, Henal knows he'll have to get a really good connection to beat the big man.  He pulls back and throws his body and head back as hard as possible.  But whereas the force is there, the control and direction is not.  The butt glances off the side of Kobal's head.

"My turn," says Kobal with an evil grin.

He draws his own torso and head back, bringing them down on Henal with full force.  The connection is perfect, flush on the opponent's head.  Henal staggers back one step, two.  Then his legs crumple beneath him and he collapses in a heap, unconscious.

"I have won again!" crows Kobal, strutting about the fire and beating his chest.  "Did you see that?" he says, to all who will listen.  "Two challengers, two victories, haha!"