In reply to Greeshar Longhorn (msg # 293):
"The only stories I hear of Tripanander are of hunger. I do not think he can be satiated by burying the tail of the leaping bear. I am no shaman, it might be Kaonu is right. Even talking to him might give us some idea of who would twist his creatures against us. I would wait until tonight when we are back with the others. I think this would be safer after talking to the clan shaman."

After the pyre had been built and lit and the body of the warrior had burnt to ashes rising in the sky, Amara began the rite. Not truly knowing all of the rite, she did her best.

"Your ashes burn upon the fire
the wind it blows upon the pyre
Orlanth is waiting in the sky
your passing has drawn his eye
into his presence we will sing
to commend you to the storm king

The wind shall carry you to his call
To take your place in Orlanths hall
pass away from us in peace
and take the seat at his feast
to join his side in the righteous fight
that his foes will fall beneath his might."

As the gust of wind stoked the fire, taking the blaze to new heights, Amara shouted to the wind. "We send our brother to you. Tarkalor Even Hand of the Kheldon Tribe, may your foes run scattered before you."
This message was last edited by the player at 03:39, Thu 19 Sept 2013.

Greeshar listens to Kobal's words calmly. He accepts the praise, and replies, "I acknowledge, you are brave, and can fight. You add to the strength of your clan." But his demeanor changes when Kobal brings up insults. Then the young rhino rider gets red in the face, and struggles to keep his voice low.

“You insult me first! I am not afraid to trade insults, or blows! I did not strike you then, and spoil the gathering for the others. And I will not strike you now,” he adds, looking down at the man's leg. “As you say. The clans come first.”

His scowl starts to fade as an idea dawns upon him. “We wrestle for the hard leather, later. But we have a drinking contest when we next have kumiss!” He laughs wickedly, low in his throat. “I will have you puking your guts out, and I will laugh!" His mirth fades slightly as he adds,  "Or you will, it matters not.”

Greeshar stands expectantly, waiting for Kobal's answer.

Greeshar accepts his sister's advice without question, in part because the idea he proposed wasn't really his. “Good, we will let a shaman decide what to do about Tripanandar. But I do not know when that will be. I will keep the tail for now, then. The rest of the carcass we lay out for Tamarisk Man.”

When Amara is ready, he stands at her side with a burning brand. He lets Fireborn set the pyre alight, but once it is well-lit in several places he tosses his brand in after. He keeps rhythm by knocking the horn shaft of his rhino prod against his shield, and lets his sister chant as the smoke rises. He watches with some concern as he notes the sun moving across the sky, urging him to mount up and ride on.
This message was last edited by the player at 05:41, Thu 19 Sept 2013.

Hacha nods to Kobal's suggestion, and lays the staff and the bag in front of the pyre. He'll keep half an eye on the ceremony, half an eye on the surrounding area.

"I insulted you?!"  Waha's Beard, is this man touched?!  "I asked you about your name!  If you feel your name is an insult, Longhorn, why do you wear it?!"  Kobal hisses.  "You are lucky.  But for the hyenas, I would have left the imprint of my forehead on your face last night!"

"A contest, yes, I will make you eat your words in front of the others!  Once we are back at camp!  But not kumiss, it is a weak drink.  Firewater maybe...  Or..."  He smiles smugly, "...headbutting!  Prepare yourself!"  Kobal walks off, smiling to himself.  I'll show this Longhorn.  Longhorn?  No, he's Longwinded.  Talks tough, but we bison riders are men of action!

He continues collecting firewood, but rather than climb the rocks with his newly healed leg, stands solemnly at ground level with Black Hoof and the stray family bison when Amara conducts the ceremony.  I don't know these strange Orlanthi rituals anyway.
This message was last edited by the player at 08:40, Thu 19 Sept 2013.

Melock stirs when the dead man's belongings are placed before him by Hacha Lor, eyes opening where he lies upon the ground. His whistling words are translated by Kaonu, who says that the man's belongings are for them all, and that Melock will know what's what.

He falls silent once more.

The funeral takes place with all present save Kobal who guards the mounts below, his Thunder Bird companions lending their Storm voices to that of their compatriot Amara, her own clear voice ringing loud and true, accompanied by Greeshar's rhythmic banging.

The smoke from Fireborn's fire, is whipped away,  forming it's own individual cloud up high, which counter to the wind, begins to sail off to the West.

There's silence for a while, as each gathers their thoughts perhaps, for it's been a full on morning to say the least.

Impala Tracks.

Hyena's too, with their accompanying human prints.

Desecrated offerings meant to appease an ancient predator spirit. By whom? The finger points at Impala, thanks to dung dropped in bowls of food.

Found Bison, one living, always a good thing, and one dead. The killer soon chased down and killed.

Friendly spirit's talked to and a not so friendly one sent to his rightful home.

And now? A continuation of their patrol, using whatever light is left, to search for an ancient haven, named Singing Safe Spot, for a well earned rest and perhaps the answering of some questions....

Melock, propped up against a rock by the pyre, splutters, eyes opening, their own natural colour having replaced those of the invader....

He's back.

In reply to Kobal (msg # 300):


Hey, Greeshar and Kobal, if you want to contest, I propose you the "3 Feathered Rivals Contest". Don't ask what it is about, just tell me if you both accept.

Wellcome, Melock. How was it as you were away ?

On hearing Kaonu's words, Kobal turns to the spirit, right fist on his chest and bows slightly to the spirit in acknowledgment.  It should not have attacked Melock, but this gift is an honourable act.



Kobal flushes in embarrassment.  He'd thought he'd kept his voice low enough, but clearly this wasn't the case.  It'd been hard to keep his calm in the face of Greeshar's words.  Damn that Kaonu, always the clever one.

"I will accept.  I am not afraid."  He says the last part pointedly, with a glance at Greeshar.  But we both have Thunder Bird feathers.  I wonder what this 3 Feathered Rivals Contest is...  Kaonu seems to know more about these spirits than me...  "But we should leave this until we return to camp.  Our clans have tasked us with a mission and every minute we get farther behind.  Already Yelm is passing overhead."



"Melock!  How are you, brother?"  He grabs him in a fierce hug, slaps him on the shoulder.  "Are you okay?  What did this Takulor, Tarkaloh (strange name) want?"

Amara smiled as she reached out to help Melock gain his feet. "Welcome back to us Melock. I hope the ghost did not harm you. He has passed on in peace and left gifts to thank us for setting him to peace." Amara looked around "We can settle all remaining accounts and decide what to do with the belonings at the resting place the Tamarisk man suggested. Let's get moving while daylight remains."

Amara packed her belonging and mounted Thunderfoot, ready to move on.
This message was last edited by the player at 15:29, Thu 19 Sept 2013.

In reply to Kaonu Windspeaker (msg # 302):







Good to be back, thank you for sending Tarkalor Even Hand to his ancestors, he was very grateful I think he had been trap here a long time
He looks around a bit, So how long was I out? Did I miss anything? Next time I try and look at a corpse can someone please stop me
Melock will hand Kaonu 2 bone arrow heads these are for you brother, these are what killed Tarkalor. There is a griffin feather in a tube for Fireborn He reaches down to pick up the staff and passes it to Kobal. Greeshar he said the knife is yours, and for you Amara look in the ashes there is a ring for you Melock rummages about in the back pack and pulls out a glass jar and this is for Hacha then he takes the pouch of sling stones and adds it to his own back pack the rest we can divide up this evening around the camp fire. I told him about the leaping bear but he seemed more concerned about meeting his ancestors, but he did give a warning as he left and it was beware the bloody Thorn
This message was last edited by the player at 15:27, Thu 19 Sept 2013.

Amara raised an eyebrow at Melock. "I am touched he thought of us all and gifts we should have individually in this and while the circumstance was troubling and not entirely friendly. I am glad he has passed into the Wind." she went to explore the ashes as Melock suggested to look for the ring. "So he told you nothing of who placed the mark on the beast?" Amara packed the skin to her rhino. "We'll have good stories to tell tonight. We defeated a leaping bear, called two spirits as allies and sent one to the wind. If I hadn't been here and taken a part in it, I think I would be thinking we were being too boastful."

Fireborn smiles as he accepts the tube containing the griffin feather from Melock..."It is good to see that you are yourself again brother!"

In reply to Amara Brightsky (msg # 306):

Its good that this happened to more than one of us because no one in the tribe would think it could happen as it did. Melock will collect his gear and packs it back on to Stinky, He looks round looking for something, hesitantly asks Fireborn  I think I drop my sword in the cave, could you go and get it for me?

Fireborn replies as he picks up a burning brand for light..."Sure, you just relax here. You have been through much." He then goes off in search of Melock's sword.

In reply to Fireborn (msg # 309):

Thank you brother, its has been a strange day He goes and sits back down by Tarkalor's back pack and mutters to himself If thats what shamans have to deal with every day I really need to find a better way to deal with spirits

Greeshar watched the smoke climb into the sky. He smiled inwardly as he thought of Kobal standing alone at the base of the height. 'Head-butting! His head is hard enough, I guess, so he thinks he will win!'

As he descends with the others, and Kaonu makes his proposal, the rhino rider considers. 'An unknown contest? What could he have in mind?' Nonetheless, when Kobal attempts to get a rise out of him, Greeshar replies hotly, “Whatever the contest, you should fear me! I agree, Kaonu; it shall be as you say.” His blood boiling, the young man can't wait to rub Kobal's sneering face into the dirt.

Distracted somewhat by his red thoughts, he comes back to the present as the others greet Melock. Startled at the man's words, he touches the blade at his belt. 'For me? What a thing to say. And now I bear metal, like a hero of old.' The young man stands, considering, then places a hand on Melock's shoulder and squeezes. He looks long into the bison rider's face, shrugs, and says, “It is good to have you back.”

Greeshar then returns to the mighty Stoneskin, re-orders his gear, and climbs aboard. “How long to this sacred place we camp?” he asks of no one in particular. “Let's move.”

Amara finds the ring amongst the still hot ashes, hooking it out with her javelin point. Gingerly picking it up she finds that it is cool to the touch. It's a man's ring, thick and made for a thumb, two runes engraved on it's outer surface: Storm and Movement.


By her side Kaonu accepts the stone arrow heads, which Melock had woken with clutched in his hands, having passed over from the other side with his spirit. They are feather light, as thin as the wall that separated the Spirit World from the Mundane.


A golden feather is held up to the sun by Fireborn, once he returns clutching Melock's dropped blade. He has no idea of it's significance though he suspects that it has something to do with his own Feathered rival.


A staff is offered to Kobal, as tall as he is and sturdy too. A helpful gift seeing as his leg is weak. It suits him. Lending a look of power and weight to his words.


Melock takes a pouch full of stones. Ammunition for his sling, from a river far away.


Greeshar looks on, a sleek blade at his belt, sharp edged along one side, unlike those worn by men of the Wastes.  He has Hu metal. The only one of the patrol. 'Nuf said.


And finally an empty glass jar for Hacha Lor.....


The braves, having appeased the dead man, laid out the meat of the Leaping Bear and collected their gear, move out once everyone is ready. Fireborn mentions that the cave was empty, and that he checked the third tunnel, saying that it had lead outside to the Southern most side of the rocks.

Westward....On patrol again. Eyes open for lost Bisons, Impala braves and predators.

And the arches of Singing Safe Spot.

Amara beamed with delight at her ring, placing it carefully on her left thumb. It had a sense of power and gravitas, making her devotion to Vinga stronger. She felt proud of her trinket, resolving to show it to Angelika once they returned to the rest of the clan.

In reply to Greeshar Longhorn (msg # 311):



I don't know, but I think we better get a move on if we are to find it before Yelm leaves us. I suggest the same pairings and positions as before with that Melock gets up on Stinky, ready to go

Once Hacha has collected his bison, he'll lead it a short distance away from the dead one. He'll begin gathering dry wood, and leaves to build a pyre.
This message was last edited by the player at 02:29, Fri 20 Sept 2013.

Why me? Kobal wonders.  He had not expected the staff to be for him.  He feels a bit of embarrassment, having first been wary of Tarkalor.  A fine looking staff.  He grips it in his hands, feeling the weight, and assays a few swings.  Good balance.  He pictures sweeping enemies off their feet, cracking a few skulls.  Greeshar, heh heh.

I knew that sling and those stones would go to Melock.

Collecting his lance, he returns to Black Hoof to store his lance, staff and rope before climbing into his saddle.



"Aye," he sits on Black Hoof, waiting for the others head off first.

"Hacha, leave it.  Your thoughts are noble, but it's not necessary, and we should be off.  Look to the living, not the dead.  Erambrath will not be angry with us.  The Mother knows this is the way of the wilderness."

Hacha notices the bison has been taken care of.  "Alright, let's ride."
This message was last edited by the player at 10:31, Fri 04 Oct 2013.

"Look It's smoke"

*Smack*

"Ouch...What'cha do that for?"

"Because I can see that's it's fecking smoke, numbskull."

"What'll we do?"

"Go get the lads."

*Smack*

"And that one's just for luck..."

Greeshar takes his accustomed place in the scouting pack, nudging the mighty Stoneskin along with his prod, fingering the hilt of his new blade with the other.

“Odd, that the dead stranger should bequeath his blade to me,” he says quietly. “Why would he do so? I am no kin, and I did nothing for him.”

The young brave tries to stay alert for signs of prey as he rides along, but his mind is not on the task.

'The sun moves quickly, and we have yet to reach this sacred place. Also the sky is smudged with our smoke.'

“We should make haste,” he says, and moves the mighty Stoneskin into a faster gait. The beast bellows in argument, but finally accepts the prodding and lumbers forward a bit more quickly than before.