After the emptiness of the Wastes, the walled town seems oppressive and cramped. There are people everywhere, and more leave their adobe houses to stand and stare at the new arrivals. Despite being well known the Duck is made fun of and the nomads whispered about behind hands and scarfs.

What ever work had been taking place in the outlying fields and town itself had stopped for the day, and the air was now filled with the smell of dung fires, evening meals and the unwashed bodies of nigh on a thousand souls.

Large cats of a type not known to the Praxians prowl the rooftops, and alleyways are filled with cages of fowl, singing birds and domesticated rabbits. The clack of looms come from darkened doorways and small children run this way and that.

Over the rooftops can be seen a tarnished golden dome of a Yelmalion Temple, behind which rises a multi-towered brick building, which must be the residence of the Chieftain and his household. From the same direction comes the sound of chanting and cymbals, suggesting another temple of some sort.

Despite the noise, the bark of someone issuing orders can be heard in the distance, the shouted words foreign and recognisably Lunar. There's also the stink of large amounts of Sable that wafts over everything, and there down one street can be seen a group of riders dismounting from their beasts. Part of the enemy garrison no doubt, at the end of a patrol, the open doors of their stables, dark and foreboding...

Henal spits down on the ground and says "Sables" rolling his eyes as they move past the street to the barracks. "Good to be inside for protecting our beasts, but it feels funny not being able to ride away when we need to. Just glad our friends can't see me on this zebra".

Smiling happily, or so it seems damn you, Beaky you want to lose me to keep your secrets then, Hoskar heads for the inn waved at by his mentor-in-Issaries; following a decently trodden road between squared buildings.

Seeing himself eyed up and down by a passing man with yellow jerkin and his plump wife - or at least one assumes she has such a relationship from the linking of arms and the giggles and the bared breast of an earth matron - Hoskar remarks It is such a relief to be back in a town. Bless your harvest on a whim as he reaches the door. Ducking [sic] under the lintel, he heads in and looks around; unsurprised that things fall silent as he heads for what looks like the bar. My greetings he says in passable Trade. Do you have rooms for a trader? Looking around briefly and seeing nothing beyond his means, he adds Drinks on me: gods bless being out of the dust of the east. He casually produces a golden Wheel from up his sleeve, placing it upon the bar. I imagine this might pay.

Angelika, once inside the walled town, is quickly escorted off by Deskor Darvenossson, whilst his men show where the Rangers can corral their beasts. She tells her escort that she'll send for them later and to find themselves somewhere to stay. It seems that Melock has been forgotten about...

"I'll cover your costs...And will ask for a Priestess for Ohanzee" Is the last thing she says.


"Your beasts will be safe here" says one of the Garhound men in passable Praxian. He and his fellow warriors  are watching the Rangers with wary, though not hostile eyes. The braves had come in with a vouched for Vingan Priestess, so must be trustworthy...Though they seem unsure about the dead man that the Rangers have with them.

"There's room for you in the Silent Partner Tavern, back a ways, owner has a room he rents out in a house out the back. Not much, but will do youse for your stay. Anyone you ask will show you the place. It's on the main road that leads to the gate."

He points to the weapons carried by the braves "No need for them, though nowt will be said about a personal blade. Just don't think you can use them and not be punished.

Aye and keep clear of the Antelope Lancers. Nothing more than they'd like than sending a bunch of youse to the salt mines.

That is our Lightbringer Temple, which it looks like you are in need of. The deadman with you looks to be Orlanthi, yes? There is a visiting Chalana Arroy Priest, so you are in luck..."

The Rangers find themselves in an open space, filled with corrals and nearby Shrines to Waha, Storm Bull and Eiritha. The totems, covered with recent offerings. Overlooking them is the high walled temple of the Lightbringers, it's sides brightly painted with scenes of the Gods and their myths.

As they take in their bearings noise from a nearby building leads them to believe it's a place of refreshment...Shouts, a crash of crockery and a rousing cheer. Several older men come out to piss against the town wall, staggering as they go.

Having started to leave, the Garhound warrior stops and looks at the building "That be Will's place. He serves food and grog."  Then he and his mates are gone, leaving the Rangers to themselves for now.
This message was last edited by the GM at 19:47, Sat 18 Mar 2017.

Temush settles his ostrich in the corral and unstraps his pack of valuables. "I'll  see if the White Ladies are short of any of these herbs when we take Ohanzee to them " he says to himself, then he waits for Kobal to say who should do what.

At the appearance of such a large sum of money, everything goes quiet. Then grabbing both coin and the moment the slightly crosseyed proprietor takes Hoskar by the arm and sits him down at a rickety table.

Leaning in he whispers "I'd not be showing coin like that around if I were you. Been a hard few weeks for everyone, and winters ahead. You'll be safe here though as I presume you just came in with Goodfeather's mob."

Then louder he calls to another man who'd been watching from a doorway "Food and wine for the dusty traveller Hank, then go and clean out the guest room."

Back to Hoskar he adds "There's a storage room across the courtyard, I'll make sure you have all that you need, for your stay."

Turning to other customers "Travellers paid for your drinks. See that you leave him alone."

"I will first go to the Sun Temple with the child. She should not stay with us whilst we are in this town. It would be better if she was with her own people. Then I will go to the Lightbringer Temple."

Delenda unhooks her own possessions and takes Avalarn by the hand.
This message was last edited by the player at 08:29, Sun 19 Mar 2017.

There's the clatter of hooves outside, at the rear of the tavern, and the sounds of familiar voices. The Zebra riders who work for Goodfeather.

Melock watches Angelika head off with a conflicted look on his face. Unsure what to do he follows the others to the corral and settles Stinky next to Stomp, "Go see the healers now Temush, the quicker we bring Ohanzee back the better, if they want more than herbs and words come find me." Melock looks round what he can see of the settlement, "This place is almost as bad as Corflu, at least it doesn't smell of fish." He sighs, "I suppose I need to follow orders for once." Melock pats Temush's head as he walks past him and heads back the way they came.

The manor house where Angelika was heading is just behind the nearby Lightbringer temple. Heading that way Melock finds himself being tailed by half a dozen young kids who'd been watching the Rangers from the nearest houses.

He doesn't understand a word they're saying except for some of the choicest Praxian swear words that they seem to be practising on him.

Damn, I should have grabbed the puppets from my bags. Melock smiles at them and carries on walking. As he walks past the Light Bringers temple, he pauses to look at some of the paintings.
This message was last edited by the player at 18:53, Sun 19 Mar 2017.

Temush Snorts as Melock pats him on the head but says nothing, perhaps keen not to derail Melock's flush of responsibility. He is still looking to Kobal for a lead but now looks from close to _Ohanzee and Amara in the expectation of going with them to the Lightbringer Temple. As Amara claims to speak their language it seems likely she will be going that way. If she makes a move he will follow (unless he has first been told to go somewhere else).

Henal quickly makes his zebra secure and goes over to pray at the Waha shrine, before he looks to head into town.

Father Waha help us find a healer that can bring back Ohnanzee so we can complete our mission to being back the Green to the wastes.
This message was last edited by the player at 22:34, Sun 19 Mar 2017.

Amara waited to see if anyone wished to accompany her to the Lightbringers temple. She was impatient to be going. She left behind her sword and axe, but took her javelins, suspecting people might accept her more readily as a Vinga follower.

She moved at a swift pace to the temple, pausing only to allow Temush to catch up.

As he's trying to make sense of the images on the side of the Light Bringers temple, Melock goes to scratch his neck and brushes up against something furry, "How'd I forget I'm using them to keep my neck warm?" He shakes his head and turns to the kids, "Do you know anything other than swear words?" Whilst he's talking he has both hands behind his back, Melock quickly brings his right arm in front of him with a leaping bear puppet on it and makes a roaring noise and steps towards the kids.

Kobal watches Delenda head off with the girl.  He's got no interest going near another building of the sun worshippers.  Good riddance to the girl.  Hopefully she decides to stay here when we leave.



"Good idea," Kobal calls out after him.  "Angelika said she'd find a priestess for us.  Let us know once that's arranged."  To his manul cat his says out loud so that the other Rangers can hear, "Haaro, go with Melock.  Once the priestess is arranged, let me know."  Then telepathically, And keep any eye on Melock.



A drink would be good about now, after the day's ride, but Kobal's not in the mood at the moment, with Ohanzee on his mind.  He sets off after the impatient Amara - praying at the shrine to Waha will have to wait.  Catching up, he says, "Don't you think we should wait for Angelika to make the introduction?  That will improve the chances that the priestess will agree, and hopefully reduce the cost.  A few hours won't make much difference.  That would be better for Ohanzee."
This message was last edited by the player at 02:20, Mon 20 Mar 2017.

Great, now I'm a wetnurse to this Raven.  Still, the cat obeys and bounds off, then settles into a walking pace beside Melock.

In reply to GM (msg # 6):

Hoskar grins broadly. My thanks for both the room and the warning. Thought you might have space he observes. To be honest, I don't usually carry gold he lies pleasantly but I need friends in a hurry, or at least people who will talk to me. he lowers his voice a little if they don't drink the lot, or I don't sleep the lot away in your rooms, take a cut and anything spare find a friend who's in need and give them a leg up from Pavis Becx's agent.

His gaze scans the room, trying to size up who's there.

I'm expecting some friends along too. Think you might know the trade caravan in question. At the sound of approaching hooves, his smile gets still broader. That'll be them, I'm guessing - but right now there's two things I really need. One's a bath. I stink like a hoplite's crotch. Daresay a modestly fastidious Baboon would stay upwind of me right now. The other's to try and find a healer. Friend of mine came down with a bad case of dead lately.

Anyone able to point me in the right direction?
This message was last edited by the player at 08:44, Mon 20 Mar 2017.

The kids scream on mass, darting this way and that, though their initial panic changes to laughter once they realise they are puppets. Hands are clapped and grins widened as they clammer for a show. The noise brings several adults from the Lightbringer temple out to see what the commotion is too.



Sticky hands are soon petting the Manul cat, which to it's alarm spies several large and foreign looking cats assembling on the roof of the Temple to stare down at him.

Tails flick and hisses begin to arise...
This message was last edited by the GM at 12:33, Mon 20 Mar 2017.