The look of surprise on Voras's face when Melock volunteers to take the longer punishment is obvious, but all he says is "Good, it is settled."

Then he bows to Emesh-Ga and says to the others "Let's get ready for travel then, we want to arrive before the Bright Treasure sets on this day."
This message was last edited by the player at 13:40, Fri 22 July 2016.

Amara paused for a moment, breathing in through her nose before sighing "We have a lot of ground to cover. You'll need to ride to keep up with us, you can't walk the whole way to Pavis." She nodded to show she approved of Melocks attempt at restitution.

"He'll just have to run" snorts Tarnessh with mirth

He looks puzzled at Amara's words, "But I've just given my word that I won't ride for a year, surely you can't expect me to break it in such a fashion?" He ignores Tarnessh's comment, "I know its along way, but for my penance to mean anything,  I'll have to walk there."

Hoskar looks up again to observe We can always treat the penitent like baggage to be carried should the need arise. I'd reckon it would be stupid to walk in fire season, so maybe review behaviour then.

He turns to face Melock again; adding pointedly yet with a fierce grin You extravagant man. Well spoken.

"You can take a seat behind me for some of the journey." Amara said. "We just have far to go, but your word is given....and once given should not be broken."

He smiles at Hoskars comment, "If you try that, I better not see you coming." Melock looks unimpressed by Amara's offer, "I'd say even being a passenger is riding, but I'm sure we can work something out." he glances at Salen, "You have a charm for moving faster don't you?"

"Aye," nods Kobal.  "He should definitely have to walk back amongst our clans."



Kobal frowns, but nods in acceptance.  Not riding for a year should bring sufficient shame.  Although this vow could slow down the Wandering Rangers as a group, there are ways around this where Melock would still feel the shame of not riding.  His eyes narrow.  "What share of your herd will you give her, Melock?  And how many bison does this mean?"  One must always be careful what a trickster says.



"You would trust a Raven to sit obediently behind you?" Kobal laughs.  "Maybe we should build a drag sled for one of our mounts to pull behind them.  Melock the Walker can sit there at need, as if he was one of the infirm of our clans, haha."

From bland neutrality, Hoskar's expression moves suddenly to one of worry. Wasn't planning on kidnapping you or knocking you out - just bundling you into a box. With your consent and everything.

He winks. Imagine an ambusher's surprise if an extra warrior suddenly burst from a box and joined the fray.

In reply to Kobal (msg # 39):

He looks over to the mooing herd, "I can't remember how many we've got here, but once gifts have been given, my share will be the same as everyone else and she'll get all of mine from this lot." Melock grins back at Hoskar, "That's ok then, though if they've got that close we in deep trouble."

"What about Wild Pastures?" asks Greeshar

He smiles sweetly at Greeshar, "Thank you for your concern, but I think she'll be impressed that I'm trying to make right my mistake. Besides, I have other gifts for her."

Amara raised an eyebrow at Kobals comment "I trust Melock to try to save his own hide. He knows what will happen to him if he does anything I do not approve of, so yes, in this case, he's trustworthy, through his sense of self preservation."

Melock laughs loud and long at Amara's words, when he manages to stop himself, he wipes a few tears from his eyes,  "I'm glad you think I have a sense of self preservation, though things I've done recently would cast doubt on your words." He smiles to show he's not trying to annoy her.

Amara nodded thoughtfully "Melock...you may not be especially good at looking after yourself, but it's Ohanzee that has the same self preservation instinct as a broo running into a Storm Bull sacred ceremony yelling that all Storm Bull worshippers and their God are as strong as a week old kitten."

In reply to Amara Brightsky (msg # 46):

He chuckles at Amara's description of Ohanzee, "He has been captured more than I have. For once I'm happy to loose to my fellow Raven." He looks around the camp, "I suppose we should get ready to leave."

In reply to Melock (msg # 47):

Chewing nervously on his own lower lip, Hoskar glances around, clears his throat, and observes tentatively Yes. I've been thinking about that, and about something Melock's uncle Elwood said while we were on watch.

If Bigmouth follows me back to the tribes, there could well be trouble; even assuming he's not killed on sight. You saw what happened when just a small group got too interested in him. Anything like that could be bad for the Rangers' standing and bad for us all.

Anyhow, Elwood suggested it might be a decent idea to take the creature straight to the Finger Holes temple, and the more I think the more I see sense in that...unless Melock really means to bind a spirit in him.

Know there's things to be done everywhere though: just seeing what everyone thought.

Guess I could do it by myself if I had to, but getting in past all those Red Thorns might be tricky.

He scans faces worriedly to see how the thought is received.
This message was last edited by the player at 12:06, Tue 26 July 2016.

In reply to Hoskar Two-Feather (msg # 48):

He smiles at Hoskar, "I would like to make him my familiar, but it'll not only need all of us to do it, but it'll delay us getting home." He rubs his chin in thought, "If you take him to the Earth Temple, I would go with you, but" he shrugs his shoulders, "as I'll be walking, I'll really slow you down and I said I would look after the rider."

"I will go with you" replies Sehana "and if we're quick we'll join the patrol. They were going there too."

Amara frowned at Melock "Given the chaos you've caused, I'd infinitely prefer you not take the thing as a familiar. Return to the temple to be a guardian there....or did you forget that you destroyed our attempts to appease the spirits and have them protect the temple too?"

In reply to Amara Brightsky (msg # 51):

He nods in acquiescence, "As you will." An expression of hurt flits across his face, "I think destroyed is a bit of an over statement." a sly smile appears, "and while I was recovering, I helped the temple."

Henal grimaces at the mention of the bigmouth as a familiar.

"That would cause too much trouble taking it as a familiar, it would likely make the tribes want to fight us on sight not work with us. Better left at the Finger Holes or with the short men at Pavis not out here with us."

Ohanzee frowns at the talk of making Morri-C a familiar, at least as much as he does of the likening him to a broo! Even though Melock seems to eventually agree not to he looks at his fellow Raven frowning.

Having made ready as the others finished their discussion of the suitable punishment of Melock, Ohanzee is mounted and ready to ride already.

He guides his sable towards the waiting Mostali thing and dismounts a few paces from it. There he dismounts and walks up to the thing talking softly as he goes before squatting in front of it.


He points towards the group he rode away from to get to the construct.

"We should certainly give Elwood's advice due weight.  I think it's best that the thing be left with the Earth Temple."  Or at least not with us.

Kobal shifts uneasily.  "It's best I don't go with you, I think.  What with... what happened to Jella...  It might make it harder to convince the Red Thorns to let us through.  Besides, the Black Shields are expecting me back with the clans..."  He doesn't relish the idea of heading in either direction.



As to Melock's idea of making a familiar of Morri-C, Kobal adds his voice.  "Aye, Henal.  It is too big, too unnatural, and too unknown, to travel everywhere with us."

Well I think that all amounts to a yes.

Right then. I assume that "as you wish" means you'll not be trying to bind something into Bigmouth then, Melock.

Thank you, Sehana: your presence should ease the passage to the temple. No worries, Kobal - know you've got things to put straight.

Anyone else coming? Luggage boy? Sehana's right - we'll have to move fast to catch the others.

He trots to his packing with alacrity.