While waiting for all traces of Bright Treasure to vanish from the sky, he sits on the stone slab and gently strokes Niemba, and speaking in a low soft voice I am here because of my bond with you, you are here because of your bond with me. Together we are here because of our bond with Grandmother Spider he starts to clear his mind and focus his senses on Niemba, looking at her, appreciating all the little patterns that seem to appear and disappear in her glossy hairs, listening to the rustling noise she makes when she moves, feeling the tickling sensations on his finger tips as he gently runs them along her back, breathing deeply he takes in her smell, one that before the bond started would have sent him in to a state of total panic, but now helps him focus his entire being on her. he will continue this until it is dark.

when the sky is dark, he will call out Amara, please start your drumming, once she does, he starts.
He places Niemba on the stone slab, then he picks up a lump of chard wood and, starting by the overhang, draws a circle 2 spear lengths across. Once the circle is complete he moves to where Niemba is and draws the runes of Darkness and Beast on the back of his right hand and then a spider on the back of his left hand. Starting next to her, he draws Darkness and Beast over and over again in long lines that join up and form a web that is two thirds of a spear across, as he is drawing it, he puts part of his spirit in to it, and visualises the web expanding and joining up with Grandmother Spiders web and she is watching them.
walking round the edge of the web he leans in and places the bustard behind Niemba, the bowl of kumiss to her right and the ostrich feather to her left, he then kneels in front of her and using his darkness fetish surrounds them in a dome of darkness that follows the outer edge of the circle.
Shaking the bone rattle in time with Amaras drum beats  Niemba,  I reaffirm our bond on this holy night, and ask you as one of Grandmother Spiders children, please help me contact her all the while keeping the image of Grandmother Spider on her web watching them in his mind

He raises his voice and sings
   Grandmother spider what will you do...
   When no ones there for you......
   Great killer of Chaos we are here for you
   When no others come to you....

   I hear spiders crawling
   Dying by others hands
   I hear spiders crawling
   Please Grandmother Spider help me
   Grandmother Spider ...Please don't eat me
   Grandmother Spider ...Please don't eat me

   Please help us Great spider
   I will help defend your children when they are threatened
   Please let us help each other
   In your mighty web...Deep in the dark
   Grandmother spider  ...please let us approach
   Grandmother spider  ...please let us approach

   I see your children, but I can't find you
   So please crawl out so I can see you
   I know your close but I can't find you
   So please crawl out so I can feed you

   I hear spiders crawling
   Dying by others hands
   I hear spiders crawling
   Please Grandmother Spider help me
   Grandmother Spider ...Please don't eat me
   Grandmother Spider ...Please don't eat me

He pauses briefly to refresh the dark dome.
Oh, Grandmother Spider, protector of her children.
I call to you, surrounded by the darkness that is your domain.
the darkness is alive with your children and rustles with whispers of your wisdom carried on their eight legs.
I give to you these offerings, food, drink, part of the fire tribe's own beast and parts of me he draws his dagger and cuts his hand and lets the blood fall on to the web for five seconds and then he quickly raps it in a bit of cloth to stop the bleeding while he is doing this he is giving her some of his spirit may these offerings pleases you and prove to you my devotion Mistress of all who have eight legs

Oh Great Raven
Your servant has flown
On her final journey
She's on her way home.

Oh Great Raven
Dowenhowee is gone
She's flying to you
Now this life is done.

Oh Great Raven
Spread your wings wide
You dark nest is waiting
Welcome her inside.

Oh Great Raven
Steal her away
And when things go missing
I'll know she's at play.

Raven funeral prayer by Ohanzee Shappa

Oglod, father of lizards
Here our prayer
We offer you thanks
For your help and your fare.

Great crocodile, tiny gecko
Your children are many
Their meat is good
It fills our bellies.

Their poison is strong
It could stop a rhino
You give it to us
To poison our arrow.

They dance on hot sand
Wave feet in the air
They hunt our yurts
Devour the pests there.

In the sand they burrow
Under rocks they rest
Their eggs they lay
Deep in their nests.

Your children so varied
Colours so many
Most coloured of all
The chameleon has any.

Oglod we have need
Please come to us now.
Father of Lizards
Come to us now.

Oglod summoning song by Ohanzee Sheppa.

Solitary soar recking naught of ruin
Sky-god's scion, partner of power
Fourth Friend before the bad times' beginning
Guide-giver, soar strong.

Came to the clarion reddened with wrath
Garden guard against predark demon
To face the foe of baleful breathing
Comes King Condor

Wide wounds grievous gained and given
Spur-spiked the terrible talons of chaos
Laid low was your lord, the price to be paid
Feather and faith, my master.

Soaring still with woe in waiting
Helm and hauberk rotten with rusting
Woe and warring till the world's renewing
True-trusting yet we fly.

A few verses Hoskar remembers from the longer, but still fragmentary, Condor Saga; told by Long-Soarer the Summer Fury Shaman.

Summons to Frog Woman

Frog Woman, Frog Woman
Hear our call.
Ribbit Croak Ribbit Croak
Frog Woman, Frog Woman
Come to us all
Ribbit Croak Ribbit Croak
Frog Woman, Frog Woman
Food is here
Ribbit Croak Ribbit Croak
Frog Woman, Frog Woman
Your children eat
Ribbit Croak Ribbit Croak
Frog Woman, Frog Woman
Flies a treat
Ribbit Croak Ribbit Croak
Frog Woman, Frog Woman
It ain't no joke
Ribbit Croak Ribbit Croak
Frog Woman, Frog Woman
Here's a place to soak
Ribbit Croak Ribbit Croak
Frog Woman, Frog Woman
Hear our call.
Ribbit Croak Ribbit Croak
Frog Woman, Frog Woman
Come to us all

Gather round children and I shall tell you the tale of Jolantar The Outcast and how without his sacrifices none of us would be here. It is a tale that most choose to forget but our tribe will always keep the memory alive.

Many ages ago after the Great Darkness, after Waha left this world and his people to live by his teachings and went to the god place, his work finished here there was relative peace. But with the passing generations tribes grew apart, split by annoyances become quarrels, quarrels become fights, fights become feuds. As children learn from their elders so the clans learnt from their tribes and even within tribes clan turned against clan.

It is much the same now, but now Waha’s people have learnt to look outside the tent for trouble as well as inside, back then they concentrated their gaze inwards and this left them unseeing of what was going one about them.

The clans noticed a particular chaos was spoiling their water holes, but they could find no way to clean it so they moved onto another and sent word to their Khan of the encroaching enemy. Their Khans tried to clean the waters but they could find no way and so they moved their tribes to others. And when there were no holes left on their lands they tried to take those of their neighbours.

The clans did not speak to each other and the tribes did not speak to each other for if they had they would have realised sooner the danger, realised that there was no use warring against each other because they had let all the waters become corrupted.

Finally the great khans realised their folly and they called a gathering of all of the tribes to discover a way to combat this threat. Of course all knew of the story of how Waha dug a channel to cleanse the block, but none could find a hero amongst their people who could claim to be able to emulate the great Waha in this. Even when they suggested it they could not agree on which watering hole should be cleaned first, for that tribe and those clans on the course of such a canal would prosper at the cost of the others.

Now the tribes were meeting along the Zola Fel for by now the only safe source of water was this river. A young brave by the name of Jolantar of the Rhino Tribe asked a simple question ”Why not ask the great river spirit for his help?” and the khans all laughed and ignored him and went back to their arguing.

At the moot hours turned to days, days to weeks and weeks to a season and still there was no progress until the khan of the Sable tribe make the same suggestion claiming it as his own. This time there was not the laughter for no other idea could be had so they went, the great khans and the great heroes of all the tribes to petition the Zola Fel but none could get even a negative response, all were ignored.

Jolantar, with nothing better to do rode Sharphorn along the banks of the river in search of food for times were hard. Then he came to a strange sight, a great spider was stuck its rear end held firmly in the mouth of a massive catfish. The spider was like Grandmother Spiders’ children that he had seen before, but the size of Sharphorn and by the looks of it had been hoping to catch dinner at the water’s edge but been caught instead.

There were scratches in the sand and a broken branch of a nearby tree discarded below the spider, likely it had managed to drag the catfish away from the water using that but with the branch broken it knew it could go no further and the catfish knew that if it released the spider it would surely be eaten!

”Help me boy! I am one of Waha’s people like you. This water thing, this fish is not one of us. It will make good eating for all of us. Help me and I will share!” He was about to strike the blow with his axe to end the fish when he saw great intelligence in its eyes and in his mind he heard a voice in his head pleading for mercy and offering ”Your people seek a cure for the corruption of their water, I can help.” and he could not strike in case the thing was truthful.

He could not risk going to his people for they were hungry and would likely just see food. His mount Sharphorn was a great beast with the strength to push the fish back into the water but Sharphorn would surely spike him as he did so and would surely sink in the mud as he tried. If he could walk on water Sharphorn could pull it back in but Jolantar had never even heard of such magics and he had no net to wrap around her.

A net! he thought and smiled then said to the spider ”I will not kill her and I would kill you, for Waha’s people kill each other all the time and you would kill me if you were hungry.” The spider trembled as he raised his axe to strike it’s head and pleaded ”Please do not kill me, I promise not to harm you!” and Jolantar stayed his hand but left the axe raised and ready as he said ”If you promise to spin me a net great enough to snare this fish then I will let you leave in peace”

The spider agreed and the fish released it and as it span the net put his blade to work cutting reeds and soaking them to cover the fish from the Bright Treasure’s sight. Then the spider left and Jolantar told the fish he would return before riding Sharphorn along the bank of the Zola Fel not knowing what he was looking for.

They soon came across an old man and an old woman arguing like an old married couple for that is what they were. Jolantar could not help but ask ”What are you arguing about?” The old man replied ”We have sacks of Holygrain to get to the other side of the river and cannot agree on the best way to do it.” and the old woman added ”I can command the earth with its great strength to throw the sacks over the river” “Yes, yes, yes” interrupted the man, but your earth cannot throw us over for we will die when we hit the other side! I can command the powerful water to hold us up and carry us across with the Holygrain” “Yes, yes, yes” interrupted the woman this time ”but your water will not hold us out of it and will soak the Holygrain and then it will spoil.” and they went on arguing as they were before.

Thinking hard for a moment Jolantar suggested ”Can you not work together?” and to the woman he said ”If your earth is so powerful can it carry both of you and the Holygrain?” and to the man ”And your water is strong, can it carry the earth whilst it holds you both and the Holygrain?”

The two looked at each other and whispered and then smiled and replied to Jolantar ”Thank you boy! What can we give you for helping us?” to which ”Let me borrow your water and your earth to help a friend.”

The couple nodded and the old man cut a reed and spat in the end of the hollow plant ”Tip this out and you will have my element plenty large enough to use.” and the woman picked up a pebble ”Cast this onto the ground and the earth shall obey you.” and then she held out a small pouch of the Holygrain and he said ”Take this too lad with our thanks.”

Riding swiftly back Jolantar uncovered the fish and cast the net of silk about it before securing the end to Sharphorn’s saddle and then emptied the reed into the water’s edge commanding ”Carry the earth that will hold Sharphorn and me.” and he threw the pebble on the ground commanding ”Make a platform on the water there to carry Sharphorn and me.” then he rode onto the platform and commanded the water to move out into the river carrying them and so Jolantar rescued the fish.

”Fish, all of the great khans, shamen and heroes amongst Waha’s people seek guidance from Zola Fel but none will he answer, not even to say no. Do you know why this would be so.”

The fish made a sound like a sigh ”Because they are Waha’s people, and Waha forced Zola Fel to wash the Block. He has not forgotten that and will not forgive. Now let me go.”

“Not so fast fish, that is not help enough.” and the fish struggled but the net was too strong and Sharphorn too strong also. ”You said you would help so now tell me how to clean the waters.”

The fish sighed and then said “Kinope, Zola Fel’s daughter has the power and to gain it one must win her hand but her father will never allow one of Waha’s own to wed her.” to which Jolantar replied ”I am of the Rhino tribe, I am an initiate of Orlanth and of Waha. If I must make such a sacrifice to save his people I will forswear the path of Waha.”

The fish nodded and said ”It is said that any who pass two tests can win her hand. First carry a drop of water from the source of the Zola Fel, Leaping Place Lake to the sea within a week. There may be many ways to do this but I suggest you talk to River Horse.”

“Secondly you must survive the testing by her sister Glubaw who will try to drown you and wash you away. I can grant you a spell to allow you to breathe in the water but do nothing to stop her washing you from the place.” Jolantar answered ”Give me your magic then fish and I shall free you as I promised.”

Now he went to the moot and told the khans of what had happened and that he wanted just the ability to control the earth one more time. They did not believe him but told the earth priestesses to grant him the power once.

Returning to the river Jolantar called out to River Horse and gave the beast the Holygrain and in exchange River Horse carried him. He leapt onto River Horse and rode swiftly to the head of the river where he gathered up a drop of water and then to the sea where he dropped it.

Then coming back he called on the earth to hold his feet tight and then made his petition to Glubaw and cast the fish’s magic. Try as she might she couldn’t drown him and she couldn’t dislodge him. Finally then he called to Zola Fel for Kinope’s hand and promised never again to worship Waha for the sake of his children. The trials had been bested and the river god could not say no so Jolantar took Kinope as his wife.

Kinope gave Jolantar catfish on their wedding day telling him ”Take a pair to each waterhole that was corrupted and the fish would eat the corruption.” and he looked at the fish which waited for him to take them up. ”But how will I get them to the water holes, there are many and they are scattered. The fish will not survive such a journey?”

With a smile Kinope replied ”The total distance may be great, but the distance from pool to pool is not so great surely, otherwise your beasts could not survive. Speak with Frog Woman she can teach you how to leap from pool to pool and you can visit them in no time at all and rush back to me.” thus Jolantar must return to her at the Zola Fel every Sea Season on Waterday to be with his wife.

He took the fish in a great leather bucket and went to plead with Frog Woman to help and she took pity on him and after promises were made she granted him her ability to leap so long as he spread her children through the land. So he took a second great bucket filled with her children and using Frog Woman’s magic leapt from water to water cleaning the pools and as he promised he took frogs to each one he visited. This is why there are frogs at most every water in Prax and often catfish too, though they are too often fished away by those without the knowledge.

When he went to tell the khans to tell them of his success and his sacrifice they were both thankful that he cleaned the pools and angry that he had turned from Waha even though he stuck by Waha's ways. So you see, this is why the other tribes will choose to forget Jolantar The Outcast, because he did what the khans could not and only by making a great sacrifice.
This message was last edited by the player at 18:54, Thu 26 Feb 2015.

How Tortoise Got His Shell

The old shaman drew heavily on his pipe, savoring the taste and effect of the herb, then smoke came from mouth and nose alike as he spoke. Listen to this tale and you might just learn something useful.

Tortoise has not always been as he is now. Back in the time he was a lizard like so many other lizards but, in his mind at least, better than the other lizards. He was faster then, not just faster than he is now, but faster than most all lizards, faster than most all creatures if you believed him.

Tortoise was far more dexterous than he is now, back then he had fine toes paws, very dexterous indeed and tipped with sharp claws, not the stubby paws he gets around on now.

Back then Tortoise had a fine sleek body, no shell and a most impressive set of teeth in a fine strong lizard jaw. If you want to picture him then the best thing to do is imagine the finest pack lizard you have ever seen and then think of that is a gern compared to how tortoise was, he was the Great Khan of lizards, or so he would have had you believe.

Whilst Tortoise was all of these things, all of these things were not all of Tortoise. He was also more prideful than all other lizards and most other creatures, more boastful and more condescending. In his eyes he knew he was the best at everything that mattered to him and because of this he had few friends.

Now one day Tortoise was basking on a rock enjoying the light and warmth of the Bright Treasure whilst playing idly with a particularly sparkling piece of stone and the stone kept catching the light of the Bright Treasure and throwing it back and forth, this way and that.

This reflected light caught the attention of Raven and we all know how Raven is drawn to shiny things so he flew down to take a look at what as flashing so enticingly. Now as Raven swooped in his wing crossed between Tortoise and the Bright Treasure and covered the lizard, albeit briefly with a shadow. This did not sit well with Tortoise who, as he was prone to do, spoke with ire and without thought. "Who dares come between me and the Bright Treasure? Who dares block his view of me when he likes so much to look down on me in admiration?"

Now Raven had landed next to the basking rock knew well the temper of Tortoise and still wanted so much to take a look at the sparkling thing. He knew full well about Tortoise, all knew about Tortoise and most avoided him, but because of the sparkling thing Raven bowed and tried "Please forgive me Great Tortoise. I was blinded on one side by your great beauty and on the other by the light of the Bright Treasure so all that I saw was the sparkling."

Tortoise was not impressed by this attempt to appease him and had a mind to teach Raven a lesson so he held up the sparkling thing up enticingly and he said "This little thing? It's nothing really, you can have it if you want."

To this Raven hopped up and down excitedly "Thank you Tortoise, you are so generous, so so generous" but he was cut off mid praise when Tortoise interrupted "All you have to do is win it from me."

Now Raven stopped hopping about and glared at the lizard and his mood darkened as Tortoise continued "So you might as well just flap off now as we both know you cannot beat me crow."

Raven didn't fly off though, he decided there and then to teach Tortoise a lesson "But Tortoise, everyone knows that you cannot be beaten, not at anything." and Tortoise was caught, Raven could read him so easily "But it is so very shiny."

"Tell me Tortoise, what kind of trials did you have in mind?" the great bird asked to Tortoise waved a paw dismissively "It matters not what as you can't win.” and he sneered at Raven with his lack of forepaws “Combat first you choose the weapon, not that you can hold one and stand at the same time." and Tortoise closed his eyes and smiled as he considered how he had hooked Raven knowing full well that the bird lacked paws to hold weapons no claws that could pierce his hide and no teeth whatsoever.

So Raven fell silent a while as he thought. Tortoise was fast and he was strong, he was many things but he was not wise and he had made a mistake in giving Raven the choice. Then after considering Raven cocked his head to one side and would have smiled had he a mouth rather than a beak.

"I choose beaks then" he responded to which Tortoise opened his eyes wide and glared "You choose a weapon that I have not, I've a mind to rip your beak off and beat you with it!" the lizard said angrily.

At this Raven took to the air and flapped out of reach, but called down to Tortoise "I'll get you a beak, less that is you are backing out of the deal, are afraid of losing?" and he started to fly higher calling loudly "Afraid Tortoise, afraid of losing to Raven?"

Tortoise could not stand this and he called back "Return if you can find a beak but no tricks Raven, get me a real beak and I'll teach you to mind your betters!"

Raven flew to find a friend of his, a bird whose children are now know to the dragon men as a fierce mount, sharp of tooth and claw eater of meat now, but then was a rather stubby beaked eater of seeds who could fly.

He found the bird perched in a tree eating fruit "Hello Unenlagia" he said "Tell me, don't you get bored of eating nothing but seeds and fruit all of the time? I mean, it's all well and good, but don't you ever fancy trying to eat meat, it is rather tasty and fills you so quickly that you don't have to eat so often. That leaves you far more time for the females." and Raven winked.

"I can't even if I wanted to" replied Unenlagia, "my stubby rounded beak is good only for breaking nuts and splitting fruit." and he went back to doing just that.

Raven cawed smugly "And what if I were to tell you that I could get Tortoise to swap his fine toothed snout for your beak? With that you could eat meat and the females would be falling over each other for your attentions!"

So Raven returned with Unenlagia father of demi birds and the trade was made, Tortoise was too proud to refuse the challenge and even if he was far less than impressed by the beak he was sure that on him it would be good enough a weapon to defeat Raven.

Unenlagia stayed to watch the combat and though Tortoise was fast, the beak was too clumsy and the Unenlagia didn't need to stay long to witness his defeat. Tortoise was too foolish to check on the terms of the trade and before he could demand his snout back Unenlagia was away to eat and find the ladies.

So that is how Tortoise lost his fine snout and gained his stubby beak and taste for plants. With the loss he got a little clumsier and Raven collected that little lost dexterity as he facilitated the trade. This is not the end of the tale though and if you stop picking your nose I'll tell the rest.

Tortoise was furious, furious and embarrassed and ashamed all rolled up together with confused at how this could have happened. Well, what an opportunity that was and Raven took it. "Tortoise, that is one trial and how lucky I was, but you have four more chance for your natural superiority to shine through... assuming you wish to continue and not give up?"

To this Tortoise raged so much that his skin flushed red all over and after he calmed enough Raven said "My choice then this time. Up there" and he pointed with his beak at the top of a cliff "There's a nest at the top and it just happens that in it at the moment are eggs. First one to get one of the eggs back down unbroken." Raven smiled "You are fast, reckon you can beat me to the top and back then?"

Tortoise protested "You'll just fly, hardly fair when I have to climb!" and it was true So Raven replied "If we start together at the foot of the cliff then it'll be fair, you can climb straight up but I'll have to fly back and forth to make it up there."

This was good enough for Tortoise and he nodded to which Raven added "Want to sweeten the deal with a little side wager, if you dare? I'm sure that I can get your snout back if you dare wager anything for it?"

"Dare?! If I dare?!" Tortoise was outraged, so much so that he didn't even realise he was tapping his claws on the rock but as the tap, tap, tap registered he looked down at his feet and frowned "My claws" he said knowing in his heart that he was fast enough, that he'd win back his snout and with a snort added with derision "If I cannot climb faster than you I don't deserve them!"

"Excellent!" said Raven "I'll go arrange it with Unenlagia." and off he flew to find the bird. It didn't take long before he spotted Unenlagia trying to impress the ladies, but they would just laugh at him.

"You look terrible Unenlagia, have you lost weight?" to which the bird replied in a rather annoyed voice </blue>"Raven. A fine beak to attract the females you said. They just laugh and to top it all I'm starving! Sure I can eat meat now and don’t have to eat so often if I do, but I can’t catch any!”</blue>

Inside Raven smiled “Ah. Well it just so happens that I’ve come to offer you a nice set of claws to go with that impressive snout. A matching set as they are Tortoise’s fine claws. With those you’ll have absolutely no problem at all catching all that you want to eat. Far more energy to go chasing those ladies.” and Raven winked at Unenlagia who snapped up the offer.

Together Unenlagia and Raven flew back to the base of the cliff where Tortoise waited and then the race started. Tortoise was off in a flash, climbing higher and higher and almost straight up whilst Raven had to circle in his ascent or would end up miles from the nest. Tortoise was easily the first to the nest and grabbed an egg. But then came the descent, far harder for Tortoise who had to carry the egg in his new beak and climb slowly and carefully so as not to drop or crack it.

Tortoise was about half way back down when Raven finally reached the nest and picked up an egg carefully in his claws. Then a flap to the cliff edge and he folded back his wings, plummeting downwards, before spreading them again as he passed Tortoise. A few frantic flaps and he slowed enough to place the egg on the ground seconds before Tortoise arrived.

Unenlagia jumped for joy as Raven took Tortoises claws and placed them on the bird saying as he did so “Here you are Unenlagia, try your teeth and your claws on these, celebrate with an egg or two.”

Unenlagia cracked open the eggs and devoured the contents as Tortoise wept at his loss and Raven laughed though at just what was unclear. Then as Unenlagia ate, so engrossed that he was oblivious to everything Raven spoke “Well Tortoise, one last challenge and the chance to win it all back unless you want to call it a day and quit now. Your choice this time of course.”

Tortoise stopped crying and blurted out "Race! I'll beat you in a race, none of your flying mind, just legs to be used for this one." and it was Tortoise’s turn to laugh as Raven's legs were no match for his own and he was sure that he would win this one, get all that was his back.

Raven considered and considered, should it have been he who should have stopped whilst ahead instead of offering Tortoise the last chance to win all back? There was no way he could beat Tortoise in a running race, the lizard was so fast that he could run across water!

Raven was kicking himself but then he spied Grandfather Gazelle and he looked at Unenlagia who by this time looked like the things that the dragon people ride. Imagine the ancestor of all ostriches with the claws of a hawk on its legs and feathered arms, for the wings were turned to arms to take the fore claws. To this add a toothed beak more like a pack lizard’s snout and you’ve got the idea, the father off all demi-birds.

Raven hoped onto Grandfather Gazelle’s horns and gripped tightly, then said to Unenlagia “I hope you are enjoying the eggs, your favorite wife used to be very proud of her clutch.” Unenlagia looked at Raven in shock and then anger and ran after him. Grandfather Gazelle, saw the monstrosity charging him and ran. “First to the <insert place here> Tortoise.” shouted Raven and the poor lizard realized he’d been tricked again, Raven was using legs, just not his own!

Tortoise took off as fast as he could but Raven and Grandfather Gazelle had quite a lead. He ran so fast he caught up, so fast that he was wearing his legs down. Shorter and shorter they got until his belly was dragging on the ground. Grandfather Gazelle was too tired to carry on, but so was Unenlagia who called after them “I’ll eat you and yours when I catch you!”

Raven hopped off and could now walk faster than Tortoise so he won of course and when Tortoise finally crawled up he was weeping. “Raven you have beaten me both fairly and with tricks and I have lost everything. And now Unenlagia will hunt me down and if not him then another. I cannot run, I cannot climb, I cannot fight, I will surely be killed.”

Raven felt sorry for the creature who had lost everything but gained humility and so he fetched clay from the banks of a nearby oasis, mixed it with some acacia sap from Grandmother Thorntree with his feet, rolled it into a ball and then dropped so that the bottom flattened. Then he pecked a hole right through it and said to Tortoise “Here, climb into this when danger comes and you can hide. Bright Treasure will soon bake it solid.”

Tortoise climbed in and the wisdom he had learnt told him to remain within and this is why tortoises now have beak like mouths, short stumpy legs and move so slowly with their shells on their backs.

And the Shiny thing you might ask? Well, as is Raven's way he had lost interest and flew off without it. Maybe one you you will discover what it is.
This message was last edited by the player at 21:11, Mon 20 Oct 2014.

Saxaul Summonings

By the time the others join him Ohanzee has drawn a large earth rune around the Saxaul and in the four corners he has drawn the Runes of Darkness, Sky, Water and Spirit.

Now with his digging stick he sits nearest to the Darkness corner and begins to rhythmically dig for the parasitic plants that draw the life from the tree and as he does so he chants.

Wise and kind Saxaul
To you the birds fly
Your roots in the Darkness
Your crown in the Sky

From Darkness you bring water
You draw it from deep
To your bark you bring it
To your leaves the beasts eat

Wise and kind Saxaul
To you the birds fly
Your roots in the Darkness
Your crown in the Sky

You care for your children
Bring life where there is none
We’ll care for your roots
Dig till the job is done

Wise and kind Saxaul
To you the birds fly
Your roots in the Darkness
Your crown in the Sky

We’ll take Goyo
Take him away
Leave your child clean
Help her today

Wise and kind Saxaul
To you the birds fly
Your roots in the Darkness
Your crown in the Sky

This message was last edited by the GM at 09:49, Fri 09 Jan 2015.

Tada and the Beautiful Woman (Original on Simon Phipp's page http://www.soltakss.com/marriage.html)

Tada was the archetypal Hero of Prax, even more so than Waha. There are many tales told of Tada and one of the most enduring is of Tada's marriage to the Beautiful Woman. Each clan knows of this tale and tells it slightly differently, but each tale has a common core. Quite often, the clan storytellers include the exploits of clan heroes and ancestors who have performed this HeroQuest and so mix the original myth with their own cultural myths.
The Myth

Tada spots a beautiful woman when visiting a friendly camp, he speaks to her but her family hide her away in a tent. Since Tada remains in camp for a while, the woman's family cannot keep her hidden and so they meet again. As they speak, Tada tells how great he is, tells of the Chaos he has killed, shows what a good rider, hunter, fighter, singer and dancer he is. As they walk through the camp, Tada shows the Woman how he can protect her and be a good husband and provider and she shows him how she can care for the herds and do woman's work. They know that the Woman's clan will not agree to any relationship between her and Tada for he is a foreigner, even though they were both from Prax, so they tried to find another way. Tada gives the Woman a place on his saddle and she tells him where she will be. Tada rides to the woman's camp and pulls her onto his saddle, beating off her relatives. He ties her to his saddle and to his hands. Tada and his Woman ride to his camp, or simply set up camp on the Plains, and enter into union. Sometimes they simply consummate on the saddle in nomadic style. Afterwards, the Woman's family come to Tada in force and demand her return, but he rides off. There is a long chase where Tada visits each of the Holy Sites of Prax with the Beautiful Woman and they speak to all they find. Eventually, the Beautiful Woman's family catch up with them and challenge them under the Law, but each of the Judges find for Tada and the Beautiful Woman.

The Quest

This Quest is normally used as a Practice Run Quest by young braves who want to marry a woman whose family disapproves of them. However, it can be used as an Otherworld Quest to gain a magical wife, or even as a God Time Quest to force a mythic marriage between two spirits, heroes or deities. Here, I will only outline the Practice Run version, as the others will follow from this.

Once this Quest is set in motion, the salient points of the Quest will begin to occur. The Questor will meet a woman, usually the woman he desires, sometimes a new woman; they will engage in wooing and maybe courtship; if this goes well, they may exchange gifts and marry. At each stage, the Quest can only continue if the participants agree at each stage, so this Quest is dependant on the actions of all participants.

Meeting

Normally, men who take part in this Quest already know the woman they wish to marry, so this Quest will engineer a meeting. In the event that the man is looking for a new wife then the Quest will cause a meeting to happen.

The HeroQuestor will come to a strange place, maybe a camp maybe an oasis, village or town. When he wanders through the place, he will bump into the Beautiful Woman. He must perform some deed to make himself stand out so that she notices him. She must also perform a deed to ensure that he notices her.

If neither of these is performed, the Quest can go no further and will end.

This Station can be used elsewhere to cause the HeroQuestor to meet a Beautiful Woman.

Wooing

The HeroQuestor, having performed a deed to be noticed, must now show why he is a good mate and to attract the Woman. Normally, in Nomad style, he will boast of his past deeds, show off his riding skills, his fighting skills, his singing and dancing skills. The GM must judge as to how impressive these deeds are and how the Woman will be influenced.

If the HeroQuestor does not impress the Woman, the Quest can go no further and will end.

This Station can be used elsewhere to make someone notice the HeroQuestor and to make them be impressed.

Courtship

The HeroQuestor and the Woman must now show what they can offer each other. Normally, the HeroQuestor shows what a good hunter and warrior he is and how well he can guard the Woman. In return, the Woman tries to convince the Questor that she will make a good wife, how well she can cook, what a good herdswoman she is and how good she is at dancing. As before, the GM should determine how well the participants interact.

If the HeroQuestor and the Woman do not convince each other of their worth, the Quest can go no further and will end.

This Station can be used elsewhere to show the worth of the Questor.

Gift Exchange

Quite often, the Questor performs this Quest because he is not wealthy and has no power, so he has little to give as a wedding gift. Normally, he offers what he has - a place with him, in his heart and on his saddle, to remain with the Woman and share his life with her. She normally gives the promise of being there for him, of sharing his life and allowing him to take her away. Of course, the participants may well also exchange tokens, magical gifts or whatever as extra gifts. The GM should determine whether the gifts are successful, but this stage is almost always successful.

This Station can be used elsewhere to force the exchange of gifts and promises and all that entails. It is sometimes used to defuse a difficult situation by forcing a gift exchange and the consequent obligations.

Marriage

The HeroQuestor must ride into the place and sweep the Woman off her feet, taking her on his saddle and riding away. He must tie her to his saddle and to himself so that she cannot be snatched away by her family. These deeds require a good deal of nomad skill, from the riding, the capture, tying the Woman and the escape. Quite often, this involves some combat as he sometimes has to fight his way into the camp and fight his way out of the camp. Once he has escaped, he must use his skills to evade capture and to move far enough away that the Woman's family cannot catch him.

If the Woman is snatched back or the Questor is captured then the Quest cannot continue and is over. The consequences of capture may be death, enslavement or mutilation. If the Woman is snatched back but the Questor escapes, then he merely loses face.

This Station may be used to capture or abduct a person from captivity or from their clan or family. It generally attracts some opposition, but is more often than not successful.

Consummation

Once the Questor and the Woman have moved far enough from the Woman's home, they can consummate the marriage. This is not merely the physical act of consummation, which is normally performed either on the move, for instance if the Questor rides a large animal such as a bison, high llama or rhino, or at the Questor's camp, but also includes the cementing of the marriage. Normally, the Questor and the Woman spend time together avoiding her relatives and travelling to various places as they grow closer to each other and get to know each other, showing others that they belong together.

At some stage, they will be caught by the Woman's family and have to prove their love for each other. If they are not in love, the marriage will fail as the Woman will return to her family. However, this rarely happens as the Quest in itself causes the Woman to be inclined to remain with the Questor.

This Station may be used to seal a relationship, to make it difficult to break and to be robust.

Summary

This HeroQuest does not have Stations that are combat oriented, it does not give special abilities or provide cult advancement. However, it does enable a relationship to grow and to be sealed. The Stations on this Quest can be used elsewhere, with a little imagination, and many Praxians know this Quest and use portions of it elsewhere.

Fairly often, the Beautiful Woman also invokes a HeroQuest to attract a Strong Warrior to take her away with him and make her his wife. When this happens, the male is brought involuntarily into the HeroQuest and performs all the stations without realising what is happening. When this happens, the marriage is often more successful than when the male initiates the Quest.

Planting Tamarisk near the Stone Tower.
link to a message in this game

Song for summoning Quicksand - The Sucker

Funeral chant for Wandering Ranger

Go now Wandering Ranger
Your time here is gone.
Rest now Wandering Ranger
Your trials here are done.
Leave now Wandering Ranger
Your God calls you home.

Stay now Wandering Ranger
Bamled Horse Killer's stories be sung.
Stay here Wandering Ranger
Your ash feed the Earth.
Forever here Wandering Ranger
The Green be your home!

Hyena summoning song

Brother Hyena there's food to eat
Brother Trickster come share our meat
Brother Hyena come share this calf
Brother Trickster come share a laugh

Wandering Rangers call to you
Guardians of the Earth made anew
Bound by Copper the Rivals four
Destined to green the land once more

Brother Hyena there's food to eat
Brother Trickster come share our meat
Brother Hyena come share this calf
Brother Trickster come share a laugh

Brother Hyena in Darkness you ate
Genert's body before it was too late
From Chaos's grasp you keep it safe
You carry it still through the Wastes

Brother Hyena there's food to eat
Brother Trickster come share our meat
Brother Hyena come share this calf
Brother Trickster come share a laugh

Game will grow fat as the land grows green
Plenty of meat as once was seen
For too long you've had nothing but blame
Join us in this and spread your fame

Brother Hyena there's food to eat
Brother Trickster come share our meat
Brother Hyena come share this calf
Brother Trickster come share a laugh

Brother Hyena we share a cause
The land to mend for two feet and four paws
Together, for better we can act
Come to us now join our pack

Brother Hyena there's food to eat
Brother Trickster come share our meat
Brother Hyena come share this calf
Brother Trickster come share a laugh

Each Godday of Death week is a seasonal holy day and festival. On these holy days there is a knotting and blessing ceremony where new things are tied in to the Wastelands.

Each holy day at dawn, gathered initiates chant the Song of Rising Waha:

Waha, Waha
The herds are our life blood, we would die for them
Waha, Waha
Our Khan’s are the chosen ones, we would die for them
Waha, Waha
Our boys are our future, we would die for them
Waha, Waha
Our families are precious, we would die for them
Waha, Waha
Our ancestors are wise, we would die for them
Waha, Waha
Waha is all, we would die for him
Waha, Waha

Offerings
At all rituals and ceremonies, food and drink is offered to the society’s spirits. Blessed knotwork is often left at the site of ceremonies.

(quoting David Scott over at Glorantha.com)

Great Rhino
Father true
Man and beast
We honour you

Horn sharp
Head down
Thundering hooves
Shake the ground

When you charge
The ground shakes
When you charge
Your enemies quake

Horn sharp
Head down
Thundering hooves
Shake the ground

Run them through
Send them flying
Pound them down
Hear their crying

Horn sharp
Head down
Thundering hooves
Shake the ground

Spirits come
Charge with us
Ancestor all
Feel the rush

Horn sharp
Head down
Thundering hooves
Shake the ground

Rhinos wild
Charge with us
Rhinos all
Kick up dust

Horn sharp
Head down
Thundering hooves
Shake the ground

Founding Father
Example to all
Watch us ride
Proud and tall

Horn sharp
Head down
Thundering hooves
Shake the ground

This message was last edited by the player at 18:04, Wed 16 Dec 2015.

Wondrous hunter
Cunning cat
In ambush you wait
To spring your trap

Deadly bite
Knife like claws
Eyes so bright
Silent paws

Whiskers twitch
Taste the scent
On prey you pounce
It's body rent

Deadly bite
Knife like claws
Eyes so bright
Silent paws

Ancient spirit
Spawn of Manul
In times of old
Our people called

Deadly bite
Knife like claws
Eyes so bright
Silent paws

Those times were gone
Our people scattered
Times were hard
Our tribe was tattered

Deadly bite
Knife like claws
Eyes so bright
Silent paws

But now we grow
Quests are done
Great Rhino hears
Our time again will come

Deadly bite
Knife like claws
Eyes so bright
Silent paws

Your den found new
We come again
Renew our bond
We come as friends

Deadly bite
Knife like claws
Eyes so bright
Silent paws

Ancient spirit
Spawn of Manul
With your kin
We'll again walk tall

Deadly bite
Knife like claws
Eyes so bright
Silent paws

A song to the River


Mountain Serpent
Child of Seolinthur,
From Genert's Garden emergent
Under Bright Treasure shimmer.

Through Sandstorm you wind
Along your path from old
The mountain entwine
What memories you hold.

Life you bring
To this barren land
About you birds sing
Plants grow from the sand.

Cleanser of the land
We are too
Child of Seolinthur
Wandering Rangers pray to you.

For Earth we fight
To make it green
Without Water's might
This will never be seen.

To destroy foul Harpies
We journey to this place
One time Earth avengers
They have fallen from grace.

Filth they spread
And disease too
We must must fix this
For Earth and for you.

Mountain Serpent
Child of Seolinthur
Our prayers are fervent
Our intentions are pure.

Song for the wedding of the Serpent and the Earth.

Earth:
Come to me serpent
Come to me here
Come to me Water
Come to me dear.

Water:
Earth calls to me
Her song so sweet
I flow to her now
This beauty to meet.

Earth:
Travel my land
Follow my call
Serpent so grand
To these hills so tall

Water:
Over rocks and sand
I follow her call
This serpent so grand
To those hills so tall

Earth:
From Darkness come
Come take my hand
Water and Earth
Bring life to the land.

Water:
From Darkness I come
I snake through the land
Your call I hear
Come take my hand.

Earth:
Gifts I offer you
A sign of my love
Be my protector
Take me up above.

Water:
Gifts are given
Life will be spread
Blood into Water
Water run red.

Earth:
Come my Water king
Your waters bring life
The land we will green
Make me your wife.

Water:
Come my Earth queen
Our seed we will spread
A river of life
Come lye in my bed.

All:
Gifts are given
Dowry paid
The two united
Vows are made

Blood is given
Water runs red
Life is renewed
Seed is spread.

Up through the Earth
Waters rise
Up through the Earth
Reach for the sky.

Water and Earth
Man and Wife
King and Queen
Spreading their life.

The land is fertile
Green spreads about
From this hole in the Earth
On Water's spout.

Honey in me
Calling to belief
Golden tears that I bleed
For all the need in me

Honey in me
Calling to the seed
Golden liquid that I drink
For all I need to think

Honey in me
Calling to be freed
Golden wings that aim to soar
For all I need and more

Honey in me
Calling to my creed
Golden embers on the roam
For finding my way home.

Ohanzee Summoning Grandmother Spider

Ohanzee tethers the offering to the ground making sure that the animal is secured and cannot break free during the ceremony. He then scrapes on the floor a circle large enough to sit in and then the greater part of a second smaller circle that is joined to it such that they form the head and abdomen of a spider. Then taking four smooth polished black riverbed stones he places those on the head as though eyes of this spider. Next he scratches two curved fangs protruding from the head, long and ending in sharp points.

Now around this he draws a circle, then another and another and as he does each one he chants a line of his summoning until eight concentric circles surround the head and abdomen, the outer one reaching almost to the tethered beast.

One for Darkness where your home is spun.
Two for your fangs, that bite sharp and true.
Three for your eyes many, everything to see.
Four for your venom, too powerful to cure.
Five for your blessing, for which we strive.
Six for you web, where you enemies stick.
Seven for Waha's net, you pulled to the heavens.
Eight for times' strands, in which you hold fate.

Now he moves to stand in the centre still holding the long stick with which he has scratched the marks and he looks forward from his position in the centre of the abdomen looking over the head at the sacrifice. He places the amulet on the centre of the head and chants again making an eighth turn between each line of the chant and scratching a line from just outside the outer circle up to the scratched abdomen.

Grandmother Spider I call to you
Grandmother Spider come to me
Grandmother Spider I bring you food
Grandmother Spider come to me
Grandmother Spider I call you through
Grandmother Spider come to me
Grandmother Spider I wait for you
Grandmother Spider come to me

Having turned full circle he now stands in the centre of the spider sitting in its web with its legs outstretched and is facing the sacrifice again. Now he uses the stick to rhythmically thumps the ground as he repeats the first verse again.

One for Darkness where your home is spun.
Two for your fangs, that bite sharp and true.
Three for your eyes many, everything to see.
Four for your venom, too powerful to cure.
Five for your blessing, for which we strive.
Six for you web, where you enemies stick.
Seven for Waha's net, you pulled to the heavens.
Eight for times' strands, in which you hold fate.

This message was last edited by the player at 20:49, Fri 18 Dec 2015.