Morning

Another quiet night, a rare thing indeed for the Wandering Rangers…

Those sleeping are woken by the gentle sounds of their mounts and the noises of the kettle boiling. There's a welcome brew and some piping hot bread baked by Long Grass, better than any other bread the braves had tasted before.

"Condor secret" is all the Shaman says before moving to ready the mounts.

Sitting up, those not on guard duty find that the Earth Witch is crouched by the embers of the fire, bare legged and with a smile splitting her broad face.

It seems that she has been there a while.

"Morning, I came to say farewell…'Till later in the year, and to thank you once more for what you have done here. Word has been sent out and there will be others coming soon enough. Your people will be most proud of your achievements."

Amara stretched having enjoyed on of the better nights sleeps she's had in a long time. Amara yawned taking her time to raise to consciousness and the beckoning day. Last night was very comfortable. The warmth of a fire followed by the warmth of a bed. Amara took the time to wash her arms and face to clear off the dust before dressing in her armour for the day. When she was ready she joined Noita at the circle, eating the bread long Grass had prepared. She smiled, trying to decipher the secret to the bread, she could tell almost every ingredient, but there was something she couldn't place. She smiled in appreciation for the feast.

"You might see some of us a little earlier than that, but not for long." Amara said to the Witch. "We have a proposal for you."

Save for a grateful nod to Melock as he is handed the shield, Hoskar has spent a quiet night; often pacing on watch alone. The look of his eyes suggests he may not have slept, has been thinking hard, and has found his thoughts about himself unpalatable.

Seeing the Earth Witch, he winces; but he still approaches the fire; nervously, as if unsure of his welcome.

Glancing round then averting his gaze to the embers, he speaks in a low voice to no-one in particular. Yesterday I was shown a part of my true face, as it were reflected in polished copper. It was not a happy sight, but I am grateful to have seen it so clearly. His head drops further still.

After the passage of three or four heartbeats, he glances around the company. Has there been a decision? What next?

The Earth witch gives Hoskar a wide smile "Well you acted in true Rhino style so don't worry. Your Father would more than likely have been proud…Of the intentions at any rate.

It…It is good that you are amongst your people again. Life with the settled people makes one over think, addles the mind of a true Rhino. You need the open plains, a lance in your hand and blood at your feet. Your skin needs to harden like your Rhino, impervious to barbs of both bone and tongue.

Raise your head. Your Father didn't wallow in self pity so neither should you. You are a Sky Watcher…So look to the Sky, not the ground.

Now….."

She turns to Amara and the others

"I'm all ears."

after he passes Hoskar the shield, he sees Fireborn's glance, but carries on with what he was doing. Before he settles in for the night he'll make sure he has a moment alone with Fireborn I saw that look earlier, if you wanted the shield you should of said something, bit late now though

While he's on watch he'll get Niemba to go a little distance and tell him what she can see, so he can get used to her descriptions of things. He'll watch her hunt as well, making a note of what she likes.

He awakes to the smell of Long Grasses bread cooking, which instantly makes him feel hungry, and he is delighted to discover that it tastes even better than it smells Long Grass, this bread is so tasty. A condor secret? well if that's the case, I think either Salen or Hoskar will be cooking this for breakfast everyday he says with a cheeky grin on his face, before taking another bite.

Hearing Amara start to tell the Earth Witch about the plan, he turns to listen

Amara spoke, feeling enthusiastic "On our way to visit the great rhino, we came across a well cared for place of rest only a day away. The problem is that there's a water spirit and a spirit of another kind there. Since it's on a direct travelling route to the rhino high lands, and the water spirit seems to be fond of seducing travellers, we were wondering if we could persuade them to come here, would you be willing to have them stay here."

The Earth Witch interrogates the braves until she is satisfied that she has gathered all the relevant information and then sits for a while, poking the coals of the fire with a long stick.

"The water is dirty, contaminated by unclean waste, algae and by it seems a large creature of some sort. I had given it some thought myself as it like the caves needs to be cleansed.

But first let us deal with Oglod….He is a spirit not dealt with much anymore, but he like all of nature deserve his worship. I have no problem if this becomes a place for him. Go talk to him and ask that he keeps the lizards in line. You may be surprised and find that he is already tied to this place.

Now for your seductive water nymph. That would be up to her if she wants to come here and why she would leave her present place I do not know.

As for the water…There is a way, one that involves a journey to the West and the Zola Fel. He has a daughter. Kinope is her name. You should go see her, she has a shrine deep within the New Bog."

"That's a fair long way…..Though there's been whispers at home that we're heading that way once the grazing has gone. I heard my father say that it was time for us to be testing the waters once more."

Fireborn seems excited at the prospective. For that means pushing against the invaders and their allies and ultimately wealth and prestige.

Amara hoped it would be easier. It might be a long time before the braves reached the Zola Fel and she wanted to do this now. They needed to go home and rest up and spend time with family, before they did the rest of these things. "It would mean the waters might take longer than expected to clear, Noita. We only offer her this place, as to keep her where she is there's a risk that most travellers to the rhino lands might fall under her spell. We need every rhino rider there is."

"This is where I may be off some help"

It's the shaman, who sits down cross-legged by the fire.

"Tis true that the clan has been thinking about returning to the valley, not immediately, but in the near future. The river valley will of course need to be scouted beforehand….I can of course suggest to the Khan who I think might be best suited to this job….."

Hooking the copper kettle out of the fire he asks

"Another brew before we go?
This message was last edited by the GM at 14:22, Tue 06 May 2014.