Making another quick sweep the owl returns once more "I spied Dorcha, Melock's bat familiar. He is dead, with an arrow piercing it's side. I will not go any closer in case i get hit."

"Waha's beard!  This is not good.  Try to talk to them first?  Or charge in?" Kobal looks around.

In reply to Kobal (msg # 943):

Hoskar scratches the back of his neck, behind his helmet, thinking hard.

Well. Maybe if I go in front while you keep me in sight and rescue range what with me having this heavy armour, with the shield in front of me and the old Walkabout fetish dangling from it, while shouting "Hello there! Baboon friends!"?

If I get greeted, we're in peacefully. If I get a hail of missiles hopefully the armour will take most of them and we'll know roughly where they are and I can scarper back.

Of course, any magical protection anyone could put on Ram here would be appreciated.

He shrugs.

As long as we have a plan we all follow, I've no really strong view.

'Would Melock have tried to talk to start with?' Temush asks. 'There are more than two of us this time, that might change their minds, but we lose the chance to storm in. One of them's a good shot to hit Dorcha'.

"Since when did baboons use bows and arrows?" Ohanzee points out.

Hoskar's charm comes back positive, lighting up well over a dozen life forms in the farmhouse. The vegetation behind is too far away.

Where the Rangers now are, is about 15 m from the edge of the date plantation and the farmhouse looks to be a further 20m. Because of the trees it's hard to see much.

"I thought of the Walkabout Troop as well," says Kobal.  "We'll have to hope they're allies of the Troop, or at least not enemies.  But I think we all ride out at once.  A show of force."



Kobal turns to Temush.  "I think Melock would've talked first.  He's not the best with a sword."  He smiles.  "Besides, these baboons may have Melock and Amara.  If we go in force, they may think twice about shooting at us.  They've lost one of their band.  Do they want to lose more?"

He pulls his staff out of its straps on the back of Black Hoof then nudges his mount forward, watching to see if the others follow.  But for good measure he mutters a few cantrips under this breath, to protect both himself and his bison.  And he rides past Hoskar, patting a hand on Ram's hindquarters, a sheen of magic momentarily coating the rhino as well.
This message was last edited by the player at 10:41, Fri 24 Feb 2017.

The Rangers ride forward and as they reach the edge of the vegetation they spy the dead Baboon, lying on his back.

Kobal instantly recognises it as Hash Fa'Kash the Baboon he had bonded with way back in Sea Season at the Singing Safe Place, where the original Rangers had met the Walkabout Troop.

At the sight of a dead Baboon - not one he recognises - Hoskar grimaces. Something's not right here. Time for a charge?
This message was last edited by the player at 11:42, Fri 24 Feb 2017.

Ohanzee is feeling empowered on his mount, but it's still his way to try to get information before charging in. "You really don't want us coming in as enemies! So send our friends out!"

Henal calls on the power in Rikki to cast protection on Ram, himself and his zebra. "Hopefully they will talk rather than fight now they see all of us".

Grinning fiercely, Hoskar adds in a tone carrying only to the rangers Looks like those walls wouldn't stand up to a good charge by our rhinos. How about we smash a new way in if they don't play nice? Save us getting targeted at the door.

At Ohanzee's shout the whole area goes quiet, with even the birds frightened into silence.

Ohanzee asks Hoskar "Can you sense friends too? Or perhaps just the living? That would do, are there more living than there are enemies, because it'd be a shame to squash Amara and Melock. And where are their mounts?"

In reply to Ohanzee Shappa (msg # 955):

"I can detect the living" Henal replies to Ohanzee.

In reply to Henal Longgrass (msg # 956):

Nice one Hoskar grins. I can't, but if there's more life than enemies - over a dozen enemies - we'll have an idea where our friends are.
This message was last edited by the player at 17:05, Fri 24 Feb 2017.

Various detect charms are cast and the results are that the farmhouse houses 12 living enemies and the vegetation someway past, another six living enemies

"You know what I reckon? We've got ourselves on the edge of a fight between the settlers over that way and a group of baboons holed up in the shack."

"And I reckon the others did too. Don't know which ones I hate most, but the arrows would be from the settlers, they're the ones who use them. So it's settlers who killed them if they're dead, Killed Dorcha at least."
This message was last edited by the player at 18:14, Fri 24 Feb 2017.

Then he raises his shield and lance preparing a charm on his mace which hands ready as a secondary weapon.

He then leans forward on the rhino and speaks "Right Feldspar, we're going to hurt some folk who want to hurt us and likely have hurt others of our herd. Let's smash them!"
This message was last edited by the player at 18:47, Fri 24 Feb 2017.

"Makes sense, Ohanzee," Kobal nods.  "Though it could be the settlers in the building, and the baboons outside."

He rides forward, just a few paces out of the vegetation, and calls out to the building.  "We are the Wandering Rangers, friends of the Walkabout Troop.  I am Kobal, son of Colnar Three Steps.  We are looking for two of our friends."  He holds his staff out before him, but also his shield on his left arm, ready to raise it in defence at the first sign of any missile being launched at him.
This message was last edited by the player at 02:54, Sat 25 Feb 2017.

At the appearance of Kobal and his announcement a commotion starts within the building and then there's Baboons erupting out of doorways and holes in the roof, waving to Kobal to come closer.

It's the Walkabout troop alright.

Kobal looks back at his fellow Rangers and crosses the clearing to the building, looking out for any potential attacks from elsewhere.  Clearly, the baboon are wary of leaving their shelter.

"It is good to see you mob again.  The Great Khan watch over you.  Where is your lord Snikka Iron Claw?  And why does my friend Hash Fa'Kash lie beyond, his body open to vultures and hyenas?"

From out of the front door comes a cloud of smoke, in it's centre 'Ot Po'Tato, the Troops Oakfed shaman

"Welcome Kobal, it is good to see you. Snikka Iron Claw is with Baba Ganough, a half days travel to the South."

At the mention of Hash he clicks his fingers, sending two of the young male Baboons to collect their fallen companion.

"The golden beards killed him, second time he's been killed now if youse remember. They'd captured two of your folk and suspected that we and them had burnt this stead. Wan't us. We wus just looking for grub and loot."

Another smaller group of Baboons, young children mainly, appear from the vegetation behind.
This message was last edited by the GM at 06:55, Sat 25 Feb 2017.

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