The Rangers get under way once more, moving through the hot, biting wind, blowing from the South West. The sand and grit smashing into the right hand rear of each of the riders.

There's no sign of game, but Salen points out a small protected area filled with Arrowstalk plants.

With roots looking similar to arrowheads, the plants at this time of year can be cultivated and the roots stored. When mashed they are used as a poultice for arrow wounds, especially when poisoned or infected.

"Shall we stop and harvest some?" suggest the Sun Hawk brave removing his scarf for enough time to speak.

He'd noticed the return of Brinna's Cowpecker and was on the alert for trouble. He manoeuvred himself to be at the front of the group, his lance and shield at the ready.

"We are laden down with loot and I am worried about thieves." he adds to those of his friends close enough to hear.

Sand Fox and Nixa have fallen back to join Amara where they share stories, joke and vie for her attention.

Their Aunt Brinna watches their antics, her face and emotions hidden by her scarf.

In reply to Haratt Goldhand (msg # 2):

He pauses telling Shade about how they killed the Chaos Cactus, "though they could come in handy, like you say we are a big target, so it may be best not to." Once he's voiced his thoughts, fully expecting no one to put any value on his opinion, he gets back to tell Shade about the adventures they have had, but he doesn't tell her about the Mostali tomb or Copperman. If she asks about the shields, he'll tell her they found them on the way to Rhino Gorge.

"Yes," replies Salen to Haratt. "These plants are both rare and very useful, so lets quickly gather as many as we can."

And he dismounts from Kohana and sets about doing just that.

Brinna offers up a small prayer as the plants are dug up. It's a reasonable haul considering the size of the patch and the priestess takes 1/10 as tithe.

Amara seemed animated and bright as she chatted, shared jokes and laughed with Nixa and Sand Fox. As the group stopped to collect the roots she dismounted to help. Asking Emesh Ga some of the words as she worked.

She beamed from ear to ear as she stood up after collecting the arrow stalk plants. She looked towards Nixa and Red Fox and said to their mother "I am giving them strong arrows for you." as she passed the tither to them.
This message was last edited by the player at 12:41, Tue 19 Aug 2014.

"And so you are Amara" replies the Priestess taking the proffered roots, which she places in her saddle bags.

As she does there's a warning shout from Haratt and the sound of approaching riders.

Surprisingly it is Zonta and the rest of Ohanzee's sept, with them are a few Red Thorn Riders, led by Red Knee. He greets his Aunt and his cousins and the assembled Wandering Rangers, though he  stays clear of the Black Shields.

"Greetings, my father had word of new pastures to the North so we moved at dawn, he gives his apologies not to see his wife's nephew again and wishes you all good fortune and safe travels."

He and the other brothers then circle Brinna and prepare to move off.

Zonta and the others move over to join their friends, greeting the Black Shields and looking quizzically at the young braves as if to ask What has been going on?

The Rangers can't help but notice the neutral looks on all three Rhino elders, who as one turn and thank their escort. Kimimela looks weirded out.

As they leave, Melock takes Shades hand and kisses it, "I hope to see you soon Shade, hopefully in Earth Season, when we return this way" when they have left, he rides over to Hoskar, leaning towards him because of the driving dust,  "You cant really notice any smell other than your rhino."

"My thanks to your father, my uncle, and may your new pastures be bountiful and blessed. Until we meet again, Aunt Brinna."

Salen rides over to give his aunt one last hug, and then waves the Red Thorns away. Then he lifts his scarf back over his mouth and nose and rides out again.

Ohanzee greets the sept and is pleasant enough to the Red Thorns thanking them for playing host to the sept and for seeing them safely back. Once they have departed though and there is no danger of being overheard he asks ”What has happened?”

Hoskar nods, just the once, face impassive.
Don't talk to me about smells, you. I'll likely remember why we're friends in an hour or two, but right now I'm still full of the smell of flying dung and incontinent jackrabbits. Got hands like a city washerwoman too.
Still, at least you didn't filch the shield. I suppose that's something. We not need anger Emesh-Goo.

There seems to be a bit of an argument taking place between Sand Fox, Nixa and Red Knee as the Red Thorns depart, but whatever is going on is soon hidden by the swirling wind.



And once again the group is under way, this time heading South East to try and find their previous route that had taken them North all those weeks before.



Zonta rides close to Ohanzee, with Kimimela behind. His mother had sat on one of the new Rhinos, that surprisingly despite it's wildness had accepted both numerous saddle bags and a rider. Perhaps it had been the Ranger's previous ceremony at the Rhino Rocklands that had meant the new Rhinos were so docile and happy with their new lot in life....

In between blasts of wind the Vingan informs Ohanzee and through him the others what had occurred

"Everything was fine, that night I sat up with The Lance, retelling old stories, some of which involved hunting in the Rubble for that White Lance that seems to have interested your friends. That and other things we discussed though he was tight lipped when it came to his Clan. They seem to be flexing their muscles at the moment. He and his family are moving South looking for grazing and it wouldn't surprise me if they had their eyes on the Bison grasslands. Sometime in the night there was a disturbance, some news that awoke some of the men and I saw a light on in their tent. Then at Dawn they began packing up and we were told that we had to go straight away."

She rides for a bit

"That Jarga Thorn Hair....His men, they looked ready for trouble and there were several new ones in the morning. Reckon they'd come in late at night , perhaps they had been out somewhere when we first arrived...Who knows?

Trouble's brewing. The Lance was almost apologetic when he said goodbye."

She points to the laden Rhinos  amongst them

"And Brinna and her family saw all these. Quite a haul"



Hoskar finds that both Iye and Maska have decided to ride with him, perched on both Kor and Ram. He can occasionally hear them rooting about his gear, laughing or more worrying going quiet.

"Trouble indeed, but it started brewing before we left perhaps. Jarga sent his son Two Lance off as we prepared to headout, he said for lostbison but he was not telling the truth."

He looks at the laden mounts and suggests "We should hurry, he did not know what the haul was but he must have guessed there would be one after he heard of the death of the shaman. And Darga tried to hide his annoyance that word had already gone to the clan of this."

Amara nodded her assent, waiting until after the group had parted company "We should hurry. I doubt that Brinna would sanction such a raid, after she saw how the other Earth Priestesses deferred to us, but she's unlikely to be happy at events taking place there and her influence may not be strong in this. We should break our route direct home by leading in a different direction."

"Which way do you suggest?" asks Haratt. He points roughly South West "This way will bring us to where you say you killed the Chaos cactus and found the Golden disc."

He looks to Salen and Hoskar knowing that they will find find the quickest and safest route.

Acknowledging his comrade's trust with a smile: I've not been here before, but I think I can find the way here. Give me a few moments.

He turns to his cousins with a quizzical look. And while I'm thinking, you might want to be telling me what's so exciting in my gear. Other people have ears too, you know. If you've found the Horn of Plenty back there, it's time to tell me about it. He suddenly grins hugely, and adds with a ripple of laughter in his voice I knew I had the thing around here somewhere, but clean forgot where I stashed it. Still clowning, he slaps the palm of his hand against his forehead.

Iye returns the laugh "We ain't taking anything, we promised. But I reckon Maska there's got the Horn...Mwaa ha ha."

He points at a clearly embarrassed Maska, who is holding in his hands several thin clay tablets engraved with some of the finer points of Ulerian worship.

"I ....found them in your saddle bags Hoskar...Amongst the Trade goods from Pavis."

With Hoskar leading the way with Salen's help, the group trudges off towards the South East, heading for the camp of the Chaos Cactus, the long dead Yelmalion, Tak Eelaa and Yarbu.....

Much of the surrounding countryside is obscured by clouds of flying sand, small mesas and strange rock formations. It's totally inhospitable with little vegetation.
This message was last edited by the GM at 18:10, Wed 20 Aug 2014.

"Something else to hurry us along - there are tracks crossing the path here, a group of pack lizards from the look of it, a few days old...perhaps older..."

Salen points out the tracks and passes the information on, but does not slow down.

Ohanzee urges Wihakayda forward to the closest ranger and speaks quietly "There are things keeping track with us on both sides, can't make out what, they're vary good at hiding. Pass it on."

"Sable shit"

Haratt prepares a charm and readies a javelin.

"Should we form up, bring the fight to them or make for safety?"

He looks around at the Mesas and piles of rock trying to see if there's a defensible spot somewhere near.

Directly ahead is some raised ground that might hold the entire group, or beyond it several small mesas side by side with narrow and defensible gaps between.

Long Cast and his men form up and begin to cast spells both protective and detective.

"We are being stalked. What are your plans Rangers? You move slowly with so much weight." Long Cast looks to the sky "We have perhaps an hour of light left."

"I can take my men and try and force their hand."