Hoskar's brow stays clouded as he absorbs Kobal's comments.

Real Dedra? Why you... ...his voice tails off as thought comes back to replace emotion... actually, you are right. Two-foot here is fitting nowhere. Like this now: I am getting back to talking citywise.  That is why we are clashing sometimes, isn't it? I work off a different...not sure how to say this right...starting place. Hope we can agree no-harm in it even if we're not understanding one another always.

And you are right about ideas too. if we are getting offers, grab them. A place to stay costs and costs again. I am doubting the zebra riders can help much: they are probably ending up in the Rubble with other Zebra riders. Zebra pens in there by the wall, nomads not much welcome just the horse-in-bondage.

He nods at Temush's questions and adds a speech he has long-prepared.

Yes. Sun Hawk cannot be lying. Silence if you must is sounding right.

In general, we are asking the gate guards what's what: rules change. When I am there last, it is like this.

First thing to remember is not to start anything. Big weapons sheathed - preferably tied in - and they ban heavy armour. If you are having to defend yourself, words first then defensive stuff second. Fight and you are probably getting the blame as a stranger whoever really starts it. Running away while yelling for the watch smells cowardly but is keeping you out of the salt mines. If you are making a mistake - damaging a citizen or running off with a citizen's goods or talking too loud about Orlanth - they are likely making sure it is not happening again with wood and nails.

If a Lunar is telling you to do something, you are doing it pronto. With a "yes sir" if you can face it. Same goes for the little Enlo they're getting to run the watch. As I think of these, Enlo are not banned in there but might be getting job offers for the night watch.

Next thing is there's often a curfew. Break it at your risk. They are worrying about things like burglaries: out after curfew means you are up to no good.

I am expecting us to be getting a fair bit of abuse. Nomads aren't well-liked and the city folk are thinking they have good reason: past attacks on the walls and so forth. I just about get by, being only half disliked. Stand your round like a good 'un and booze helps make links. Not too much booze, though, or next thing you are knowing is someone is inviting you to an "honest game of chance" and you lose your hauberk.

Thinking of which, we should be hiding our kit too. If Adius back downriver was right about Melock's boots, us having skinned a couple of maybe-lunar wyverns for shields and armour will not go down too well.

Key ways to stay out of trouble: keep to curfew, don't fight, don't look tooled up for a fight, don't kill, don't steal, when you buy you pay up, pretend to respect authority even if you don't feel it. Oh, and remember the Lunars like the Sunny Boys.

His smile comes back. You see? It's nothing like being out here. On the up-side, they are clean, you usually are not getting mugged apart from some bad areas, the gate guard are usually telling newcomers the rules honestly on the way in, they do like a drink, and if we're lucky we'll be sleeping somewhere as safe as it comes and right next to a great place for booze - Becx's floor if I am able to wangle it. She is not one to give with one hand without taking with the other, mind you - even to me - expect chores at least.

His eyes take on a faraway look for a moment Ohh, just you wait to try the beer in Lilina's next door to mum's place. Cheap, does the job, and you can use it to clean armour in an emergency.

He pauses for breath a moment, his planned talk complete, then adds

I am not knowing where to find the tree folk, but am guessing the far end of the rubble from the new city. Are you there when I tell of my boat ride down the Zola Fel? Last part, one bank was full of plants. Thought I saw a walking tree on a bridge.

Lastly, he makes a wry face and concludes It is the mounts that worry me most. Size of this lot we would fill every stable in the place and spend all our loot for the joy of it. My only thought is to pump mother for ideas on who can be trusted with them. One or two, and she is knowing this guy called Salty. Runs a stable. Not the best, but Mother keeps him honest with our beasts. No way is he stabling all this lot, though, and it still costs.

Anyone else got questions? Otherwise, I am getting on with packing away kit and making myself city-looking. And keeping an eye out for game.

I will go where the Snowspear says if she has a use for me, but if not I would like to meet Hoskar's Ma. My own may be gone from this world, but I can still set to the chores of those of my friends, (though there may be some tough jobs on the list from what you say of her lines of trade). I would not take up that much space, but would she have room for so many of us?

When do we need to be at Pairing Stone for Red?

Kobal listens to Hoskar's briefing, and nods at the words.  They make sense.

Talking too loud about Orlanth?  I never talk about him anyway...

'Yes sir' to a Lunar?  Ha, fat chance.

Past attacks on the walls?  They shouldn't have come onto our land in the first place.

He looks at his Yelmalian hauberk.  Probably have to change it.  Probably some Sun worshippers there who'll look at it wrong.  And need to change the wyvern hide shield too.

Kobal keeps an eye on Hoskar as the rhino brave makes himself 'city-looking' and tries to mimic his style.

To no one in particular, he says, "Those trollkin should be able to help find the trolls who took Delenda.  She'd be the most pressing thing we need to do.  Who knows when the trolls will decide to kill or eat her.  Or both."



"Chores?"  Kobal chips in.  "We are braves now, in the bachelors' tent.  Some of us with our own tents now.  We're not children still under our parents' tent!"  He shrugs.  "But if that's what we'll need to do, so be it..."
This message was last edited by the player at 09:09, Thu 14 Sept 2017.

Temush smiles at Kobal's comment but his eyes look sad.

Getting back to Hoskar's hints he asks
"So can I wear my shield on my back when we're though the walls? It has the ghost marks for my big heal charm.

Just as well I see what game my throw sticks can take on the way in. Hawk knows what sort of field jailed muck those town folks eat. No slight on your hearth Hoskar, but it must make it hard to find good grub"

In reply to Temush Blinking-cloud (msg # 953):

Back to placidity, Hoskar grins in reply. The food's...different. You are probably hating it at first. Farmed or traded-for. Lots of grain - bit like oasis folk. There's at least one thing you should be trying though. Place called Bob's Bisonburgers, selling...well, you are able to guess. They are enjoying a friendly nomad or two hanging around in there - we are useful to show off if some Storm Bull type is wanting money back and is claiming "this never had Peaceful Cut", you see.

Afraid the game is about bribes. A few birds for the gate guards' pot and we are maybe getting away without giving them anything else like money for the straight word and easy-in. Any spare would likely keep mother sweet.

When I am there last, slung shields are fine. Mostly. If they are liking you. Might want to put it in a big bag, though like I'll be doing with the Earth Knight's one - sort of says you are not wanting to whack someone on the head with it. If not allowed, I've got the healing armlet...which this jerkin covers up nicely what with it coming off a wyvern.

Anyway, ride as we talk. Time waits for none of us.
This message was last edited by the player at 11:48, Thu 14 Sept 2017.

Ohanzee hadn't turned, nor stopped his mount, but Feldspar did seem to slow a little and the Raven's head did seem to be cocked slightly to the side as though he might be listening to the conversation behind him.

As it waned a little he twisted on his mount "Should we speak like that too, at Bobs Bison Burgers they are enjoying a friendly nomad or two hanging around? I'm not there, for all I know they are enjoying a good fight!" he shrugs.

Then with a smile "Angelika will get us in and I expect find a place to stay. I'll work out my debt at the Orlanth temple and the rest will come as it comes it always does."

His smile turns to a grin "Seems I can boil down the advice to 'don't get caught'".

In reply to Ohanzee Shappa (msg # 955):

Raising a hand in agreement, Hoskar chortles quietly as he urges Ram to go faster and catch up. Not getting caught will do. Just don't piss off anyone too important or they are asking the gods for the lowdown.

Henal yawning and weary listens to Hoskar's words. "Sounds like we don't even need to be a raven to get into trouble there. I can cover up the wyvern hide shield but I don't have that much metal armour to hide. Lets keep seeing if there is anything that we can catch for little bribes like a proper nomad."

"Cats, keep watch for small stuff we can hunt, but not jerboa sized"

"Then imagine how much trouble a Raven could get into there."  Kobal rolls his eyes.  "I'll wager we'll need to save a Raven at least five times at Pavis or the Big Rubble, haha."

Like Henal, he asks his manul cat familiar to be alert for potential game.

"Five times, between the two of us?" Melock laughs, "Maybe each. Though I will do my best not to be caught."

Kobal looks back, his face betraying no emotion.  "I hope that's not a promise.  Or a threat."

Looking Kobal up and down, Melock shakes his head, "Why would it be a threat? I don't every plan to be caught."
This message had punctuation tweaked by the player at 12:33, Tue 19 Sept 2017.

"No, I mean that the rest of us will have to rescue to five times each..."

In reply to Kobal (msg # 962):

As he hurries ahead, Hoskar responds Keep up as we go or we are having a bad night. Seriously: we are speaking before, Melock. If you are getting this wrong there is every likelihood none of us is powerful enough to save things. Emesh-Ga isn't likely powerful enough to save things even. Feel the urge for tricks, paint Amara blue while she sleeps and you'll be safer than if the shepelkirt's men are catching you up to a trick. Life or death time. Choose life. Choose a role. Choose a way. Choose safety and have a view to be waiting for the rubble. Choose something happy. Choose gambling if you must.

He pauses a moment, fixing Melock with the most intense look the Raven brave has ever seen albeit from distance as he seeks to forge ahead Do not be choosing to piss off the Lunars in their lair or you'll be of the opinion it is better to find out Wild Pastures is having teeth in her intimates.
This message was last edited by the player at 18:31, Thu 21 Sept 2017.

Melock flinches at Hoskar's hard stare, but in response he tilts his head slightly to the left, "That's a lot of choices, are you trying to confuse me? So if I choose a life that leads me in to a role that leads me to act a certain way that makes me happy, I'll be safe?" he shakes his head as he rubs his temples, "I'm getting a headache just thinking about it." A smile blossoms on his face, "I like your idea about painting Amara blue while she sleeps. Have you got any paint I can have and do you want to help? Who told you about Wild Pastures party trick?" He urges Stinky to speed up so he can catch up with Hoskar, "Lead the way O wise one."

In reply to Melock (msg # 964):

For a moment Hoskar seems confused, then throws back his head and laughs as he rides. Laughs like the green heart's healing against a broken land.

And I thought I overthink! Just remember not to get caught if you break the rules he gasps as he forges on.
This message was last edited by the player at 19:23, Mon 25 Sept 2017.

Amara nudged Ohanzee "I think....Hoskar's gone native. You can almost see that he's thinking like one of them"  she waved a dismissive hand in the air "I have my own things to be doing in Pavis and although there are some things which we must do together like free Delenda and return the wood spirits greetings to the aldryami, there are also things which we must do apart."

His laughter joins Hoskar's, "I doubt I'll forget something like that, though I don't think it'll help me much if they do catch me."



"At the moment I only have one secret mission you lot can't know about." He smiles sweetly at the others, "but if I can find Choway, who knows what else I'll get roped in to."

Shaking his head slightly, with nothing to add, Hoskar focuses on getting moving and looking for any game he can spot en route This is meaning you too, cat. Anything you are catching which humans might scoff and which you are not consuming for yourself, we are needing it.

Ohanzee has been listening to the ebb and flow of the conversation and smiling, but now he speaks "Five each! So we are owed five rescues from you Kobal, five from Amara, five from Hoskar, etcetera?! We'd be hard pressed to hold you to that if we were there for a whole season!"

Amara glared at both Ohanzee and Melock "I think" she said slowly and above the flow of conversation to make sure she was well understood "that you'll find my obligations to you both well and truly paid."

Setting off once more, following a well worn track, the Rangers find that the countryside is now totally cultivated. There's few folk about thanks to the dreary, cold weather and a Northerly wind that seems to ignore even the thickest of clothing.

Small steads are passed, their walls manned by spear carrying men, who watch the group of nomads suspiciously as they travel towards the distant and so far unseen city.

No wild game is spied, though the Manul cats return, each with several dead farm fowl in their bloody mouths, leaving behind the barking of furious dogs and occasional shouts.

Well done Haaro, thinks Kobal with a smile and internal chuckle.  They steal our land, then complain if we take one or two birds.  The fowl disappear into a saddle bag on Black Hoof.
This message was last edited by the player at 23:23, Mon 02 Oct 2017.

Better than nothing, Four-Paws. Well done, my friend for passing form. Enough, I think. Sleep now sleep well on Ram's strong skin. Nighted skies are nigh.

Henal pets the cats after tucking the chicken inside his gear. "Nice to see some of the colonists things coming to us now. Time for you to rest now cats while we ride on to Pavis.