Temush makes no move to leave the group but as he passes Melock he points two fingers at his own eyes and then at the buildings below, giving a shrug. He continues on after Angelika.

The young Raven brave notes Amara slip away and smiles to himself No chance she'll hear at least. Still. He leans in and speaks to the bearded sage again.

He pauses and looks the man over a moment then continues

"If you're coming, hurry up. I intend to be back quickly." Amara instructed her familiar to relay to Melock.

Melock slows Stinky down so he's alongside Amara, "I'll follow you Red."

Amara and Melock vanish behind some boulders....

Meanwhile the travellers continue on their way and not soon afterwards all present hear a loud bellow of an animal coming from somewhere ahead.

Hoskar's two Rhinos snort back in reply and then begin to back up slightly. It's behaviour quickly matched by all the other animals in the caravan.

"Ah yes" sweats the bearded scribe "I think that can be...." and he stop shorts at the sound of the unseen animal.
This message was last edited by the GM at 16:00, Mon 20 Feb 2017.

Temush reduces his distance from Angelika and scans his quadrant of the perimeter for potential threats.

"Could it be... Ohanzee mutters quite forgetting the sage who, fortuitously, has fallen silent.

With a click click click of his tongue in the side of his mouth he tries to urge the zebra on against it's desire to back away from the sound.

Initially disquieted from his mounts' unease, Hoskar looks around muttering his usual charm to seek foes. Regardless of the outcome, he yells Once I ate from Dadki. Is that you, friend?

From his position on the flank of the caravan, Kobal urges Black Hoof forward to the front, a charm on his lips, ready to harden his skin should the sound turn into danger.

Hoskar's shout fades into the distance with no reply, though those moving forward come face to face with a solitary large and angry looking two horned Rhino. Except to Ohanzee and Hoskar it isn't....

It bellows again loudly, the sound coming out as a rumbling roar.

Those observing it can see that the skin looks as if made from stone, and it's eyes glitter like quartz.

Kobal nudges Black Hoof closer to Angelika, but otherwise holds his position.  Better to let rhino riders deal with this creature first.

"Is is... in a gorge as Great Rhino showed me, but certainly not what I was thinking!" Ohanzee mutters and then turns to hand the reins of his zebra to the closest rider "Here, hold my mount for me."

He slips from the beast and moves to stand before it where he bows to the rhino without taking is eyes from it and then speaks to it in the language of the Earth "Greetings mighty Rhino. We are honoured to meet with you."

Horn and hide. Expect one miracle, get another. Ages gone walking among us.

Slower to respond than Ohanzee, confounded expectations leading to startled inaction, Hoskar dithers a moment uncertain whether to follow or hold back.

Don't want to look like a threat. Let Ohanzee lead here. Issaries bless this meeting for harmony, Great Rhino bless this meeting for power

Taking a deep breath, he comes to a decision. Remaining mounted, he edges forward to within half a dozen rhino-lengths of the beast; chanting softly yet with a penetrating tone not unlike the low rumble he uses to quiet Ram in moments of stress

Horns of the earth
Horns of great stone
Honour your worth
The world be your home.

Horns of great stone
Blessing from earth
The world be your home
Hail to your worth.


Unless the chant is greeted with signs of anger, he repeats it worshipfully over and over, a backdrop to the meeting of power.

The beast tosses it's head, snorting loudly, then takes two threatening steps forward. It seems to be looking for something as it fixes each Ranger with it's twinkling eyes for a short period.

Hoskar's singing works in mollifying it and then with one more snort it trots up to Ohanzee, nudging the brave gently with it's massive head.

All signs of agitation vanish and the brave is able to run a hand over it's stone skin, marvelling at it's thickness.

As the beast gets acquainted with Ohanzee the rest of the Caravan arrives, everyone eager to see such a rare and dangerous beast.

"Amazing. Absolutely amazing. Not in my wildest dreams. You are just amazing!" Ohanzee says to himself, to the Granite Rhino, to anyone and no one as he incredibly thick skin "So smooth. So big, but if you stood still amongst the rocks and boulders you'd all but disappear."

Not having heard of such a beast before, Kobal says to Emesh-Ga, "Captain, is this some creature from the Green Age?"

"These animals were often seen when I walked these lands, they and many other wonderful creatures. Made by the Mostali before my time, but they breed true. Surly and aggressive they would make a fine mount."

Angelika moves closer, a look of wonder on her face "I have seen one before drinking at an oasis many years ago. My husband said that they were rare and to be avoided as their tempers are without match. He said no blade could pierce their stony hide."

"Amara, come look at this wondrous creature."

Oh shit, thinks Kobal.  He nudges Black Hoof forward a few paces, not too far to make the stone rhino nervous.  He calls out loudly to Ohanzee, "Do you think it will suffer you to ride it?"

"Ride it?" asks the priestess, seemingly stunned at such an idea.

"Well I am honored to meet you. I am Ohanzee but perhaps Great Rhino told you this when he brought you too this place. You are a great beat indeed, a fine companion and you will certainly protect the herd!"

He scratches the creature's nose unsure if he can even feel that through the stone skin and turns to call back to Kobal "I should think so. Great Rhino showed me this place when I petitioned him for a beast that could look after our herd when I was away. I was not thinking of such a beast, but then who am I to know what I am thinking of often."

The beast rubs his head on Ohanzee, nearly sending the brave to the ground. It seems docile enough to be ridden...

For the moment it looks as if Angelika has forgotten about Amara.

The two scribes have moved closer to, both scribbling furiously with quills on scraps of parchment. At their side sits Goodfeather atop his Ostrich, Lunar signs in both eyes...