Blearing awake at the sound of Salen's yell, Hoskar's hand gropes first for his sword as his eyes rove round to check on the safety of his cat. He winces as he sees a fast-disappearing feline. Think I didn't see that? Ohh we'll be having a word later missy.

Somewhat on edge having tried but largely failed to be a calming voice last night, he looks to see where Melock might be. That's not exactly the way to mollify people, you know. Want me to cook you that thing for breakfast, or what?

As his master's bedroll goes running off, Mordy lifts his sleep head and springs to his paws, head instantly twisting in the direction of the fleeing bedroll. His every instinct has him ready to take off after it at a dead run, but His Master's Voice is all he can hear, loud and clear.

"Don't. Even. Think. About it."

Mordy whines in resigned protest, and lies back down.

He leaps to his feet when he hears Salens shout, when he sees the speeding bed roll, he curses under his breath and charges after it, "KEEP CLEAR, ITS GOT NASTY TEETH!" he shouts as a general warning.

Ohanzee just watches and laughs as he sings an impromptu song

” The runaway bedroll ran round the camp
And it growled Grrrrrrr, rrrrrrr!

The runaway bedroll ran round the camp
And it growled Grrrrrrr, rrrrrrr!

The runaway bedroll ran round the camp
Pots and pans flying clackety crack
And it growled, growled, growled, growled, growled Grrrrrrr, rrrrrrr!”

He manages to close the distance by dodging the other way round the ostrich and leaping over the scattered cooking pots. With a mighty jump he lands on top of the bedroll and quickly wraps it round its occupant, he runs back to his bed roll and with the aid of the last jerboa half and accompanied by lots more growling, he gets it back in its saddlebag. He picks up Salens bedroll, "Thanks for babysitting Salen, you can have your bedroll back" and hands it back to him.

Whilst readying his bison Haratt asks "Does that thing have a name yet Melock?"

Maybe we should take a vote: I'm sure Salen and I would have some interesting suggestions, he mutters sourly while preparing for the ride ahead.

In reply to Haratt Goldhand (msg # 180):

"Name?" he smiles at the Sunhawk and holds up his left hand "I dont even know what sex it is, I'm too scared to check. If I manage to get a spirit in it, then I'll name it, until then I dont want to get too attached in case I have to kill it"

Haratt nods his head in reply and continues to fix the girth belt on his Bison. Once done he mounts up.

"I'll stay at the back today. Worried we'll get hit just before we get home." He points at the chaotic camp "be just the right day for it too."

The Wandering Rangers set forth once more, this time on the final leg of the journey. For many of them this is a familiar patch of desert as they'd now travelled along it several times, it being where their original patrol had ended too.

It's not long before they come to the boulder field, where in it's centre they'd first met the Big Pecker Clan and it's welcoming Khan Sky Bone Blue.

His people were either dead, slaves or worse, though Ohanzee had found signs that a few at escaped....Hopefully. The sole survivor that they new about was the lone ostrich tied to the back of Oberon, Haratt's Bison.

But the rocks had held a different group on their return North on the way to the Rhino Rocklands.

Zakeen Two Thumb and the Black Mud Clan. Little did they know what evil that Rune Lord would get up to....

And now, here they were again. On the other side a few hours away they would find their families, lovers, rulers and fellow clan members.
This message was last edited by the GM at 17:09, Wed 03 Sept 2014.

"I think we should go through, like we did last time. A couple of us can go ahead as scouts to check out the centre area first." he looks round to check for agreement, "I'll go, who wants to come with me?"

"I'll go. You'll mess things up if you go on your own." Amara stated from her mount.

Amara and Melock lead the party into the boulder field which under a constant barrage of detect spells and inquisitive spirit questioning seems empty of any threats.

The two scouts are someway ahead when they reach the empty clearing and are the only ones to see the strange swirling at it's centre. A localised wind picks up, spiralling about the space, picking up grit and sand, which begins to coalesce into a rough ghostly humanoid figure.

It begins to move quickly towards them.

Looking back no one else from the mounted party can be seen, hidden by the many jumbled rocks and boulders.

In reply to GM (msg # 187):

Still recovering from the shock that Amara had spoken to him and volunteered to go with him, "Air spirits are Thunder Bird's domain, any ideas?" Then he starts backing towards the boulders, whilst keeping the spirit in view

Amara shook her head. "No, and my arrowhead that can hurt spirits is melted. This is not something we can defeat." Amara watched the spirit, wondering if she did have anything that could keep it at bay, regretting the fact they'd not collected more acacia wood.

Ohanzee urges his mount forward with some urgency to see if his help is needed.

The spirit rushes forward and in a giant leap lands on Amara's Bison, it's ever moving face inches from her own. Melock backtracking  and Ohanzee rushing in behind see this, but are unable to intervene.

Amara's face changed to an expression of emotional pain and empathy as she faced the spirit. "I'm sorry. We saw signs of your valiant fight, but we never saw anything that we could act on. How can I help you?" she asked, trying in spirit speech.

As Amara speaks the rest of the group begin to file into the clearing, giving the Thunderbird brave a wide berth due to the terrifying apparition in front of her.

Those close by can hear it's voice, though only Melock recognises it.

"My people are dead. You must avenge us. We made pacts. Avenge us. Hunt down our killers."

Amara answered cautiously "Tell us more of what happened here and to your tribe. What happened? So far we've not met any still alive that can recount the tale, though there may be some still alive from your tribe."

The ghost shakes his head as if to clear it "Ambushed by Broo, they must have been trailing us. Didn't see the signs, we'd lost a few braves hunting...Took us by surprise...Disgusting...Killed us...ALL!"

He shouts the last word, his face filled with rage, spectral hands grabbing Amara by her shoulders, their icy touch almost burning her despite the armour.

"AVENGE US!....YOU MUST!"


His voice returns to a normal level

"Went to the West. Heard one say the River, as he cut my throat...."

Amara nodded "We are due to head to the river after we've been home and we are sworn to destroy chaos in all of its forms Sky Bone Blue. We will try to avenge your tribe Khan. We have deep regret in your loss. Hopefully, one day your clan's name will rise again."

"I place you and your companions under a geas to avenge my people...To track down the Broo who killed us. Fail and you will be cursed...."

And without further ado the ghost backflips, turns into a thin spiral of air and rushes up Thunderfoot's nostrils.

The Bison snorts several times, does and odd dance and then calms down.

Salen rides up, his face a grimace from catching a glimpse of a ghost baboon.

"What have you gotten us into now, Amara?"

Moving on the group soon clear the boulder field, the sense of anticipation now palpable, filling the air with an excited buzz, overshadowing the recent appearance of the ghost and his placement  of a binding geas on the group.

Just another happening to add to the list of things to do

On the other side they run into a small group of Bison riders from the Praire Thunder Clan, they're out rounding up strays and on seeing the party ride up quickly shouting their greetings, remarking that a search party had been gathered, slated to leave on the morrow, lead by Kobal and Greeshar.

One of them immediately rides off ahead to alert the two clans of the news, a charm of mobility speeding the youth on his way. The others, with strays in tow, join the Rangers sharing news of their families and pressing question after question on the returning braves. The well laden rhinos and strangers amongst the group draw special attention, Kimimela blushing at the compliments.

General news seems ot be good, though Melock hears that his ageing grandmother passed away several weeks ago and that Juhoon has been linked to Nausyas the Iron Bull and there is talk of marriage. Salen's learns that his older brother's wife has had a boy. It's also mentioned that the few Rhinos in camp are all in great health and the females pregnant, a fact attributed to the party's visit to the Rhino Grasslands.

And there ahead is the camp.... A sea of tents covering the plain ahead and smoke from a hundred fires filling the sky. And the sounds! A thousand head of Bison, dogs and herd beasts from all the nations, each bellowing, barking and mooing.

To one side Bright Treasure's evening rays sparkle off the thin ribbons of water that still remain from when the Wicked Writher was defeated, ensuring lasting water for the year; bull rushes and plants vibrant along it's banks, it's water filled with fish, frogs and wading birds. An idyllic scene and one much needed after the harshness of their travels.

Now visible amongst the nearest tents is a throng of people, their voices heard shearing the news of the approaching Rangers. Warriors mount up and ride out, sent on their way on a wave of ululations.

There's Greeshar riding next to Kobal, with Tarnessh, Henal and half a dozen others surrounding them....

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