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."