In reply to GM (msg # 15):

Henal asks his familiar "Rikki are there spirits behind us?"

"There are spirits everywhere, house spirits, familiars, bound spirits and allied spirits. It is too hard to tell Boss."

As they cross the courtyard Ohanzee keeps an eye on the darkened entrance to the other alleyway, just in case ny come from there.

Melock leans in close to Henal "You two carry on, I'll drop in to the shadows and see who's feet we can hear." He steps away from the others and walks quickly towards the healing hall for twenty paces, then turns round and walks slowly back the way he came, hoping to catch sight of whoever seems to be following them.

In reply to Rikki (msg # 18):

"Probably too many smells for you to make out anything particular about those following"

Kobal ignores his scaredy cat and continues on towards Geo's.



Stay close to me, Haaro.  Kobal's about to reply curtly to the hoods when Hoskar speaks up to ward off them off.



He continues into the alleyway that leads to Parade Way South, Haaro padding closely beside him, looking back at the alynxes every now and then.  "Nicely done, Two-Feather," he mutters under his breath.  Nearly there.

Out in front, Hoskar flushes slightly at Kobal's compliment.

Thank you he murmurs. I do try to listen to what you tell me.

One more street to duck across he adds, composing himself again.

Kobal chuckles quietly.  "You're the only one who listens to what I say.  Melock and Ohanzee - might as well try to catch the wind with your hand.  Amara - who would dare tell her what to do?  (Don't tell her I said that.)  Henal - we grew together, so he does his own thing as often as not.  Temush - Sun Hawks always seem to see things differently."
This message was last edited by the player at 01:55, Tue 13 Mar 2018.

Amara looked out of the corner of her eyes at Kobal "Perhaps if you used words wisely, Khan to be... then I might pay more attention to them." she said with an edge to her voice, before it softened "But as Kobal said. Good work Hoskar....I just...I find it strange that we must tolerate these people who think they hold some threat over us."

Startled by Amara's voice, Kobal gives a momentary embarrassed smile before replying.  "Words are like the wind - gone in an instant.  They are not the Dedra way.  Even more so to we Thunder Birds - action is more important that words, haha."

Continuing to scan the alleyway and approaching main street for possible threats, he says quietly, "But I see dealing with these people sort of like being in Corflu.  We need to stay our swords because of our goals.  Right now, we need to avoid action to get these trolls to the temple."  He remembers to look up at the second storey of buildings now and then in case an attack should come from above.

Amara sighed "Without words, we are nothing. Words are an action of their own kind. They sign compacts more binding than a blood oath, give more comfort than khumiss and begin wars in which many die. Words are actions, Kobal."

He considers this as a moment as they walk on.  "You talk of signing.  If words are so important, Waha would have taught us how to make those squiggles that outsiders make.  The Khan of Khans showed us how to make knots.  That is enough.  The rest of what he taught was how to do things."

In reply to Kobal (msg # 28):

Think about your scars Hoskar mutters as he walks warily. Every one a commitment you can't take back. Every one a written part of you.

Now please can we focus before we get jumped.

Amara rolled her eyes at Kobal "Those knots you tie are the exact same as the writing foreigners use." she looked sullen as she responded to Hoskar "I rather suspect some of our number are hoping we get jumped."

"Don't worry," Kobal smiles in the darkness, "I can look around and talk at the same time.  In any event, Haaro here has better eyes and ears than the rest of us."

Nevertheless, he holds his tongue after that and lets Amara have the last word on writing.

At the fore of the group Hoskar, Amara and Kobal peer both directions on to Parade Way south, coming from the direction of the Pavis temple  is a largish group, carrying torches. It looks to be a local well to do family on its way home, with servants and several bodyguards. They'll draw level in a few moments...

At the rear of the group Melock sees several men spilling from the alleyway leading to Geos. Tough looking townsfolk, descendants of the those from the West. Both Henal and Temush see them too.

In the Dark courtyard, Ohanzee, Grundar and the two Trolls are left waiting for the word to go forward.
This message was last edited by the GM at 12:23, Tue 20 Mar 2018.

Kobal turns slowly, slowly ambles back the way he came, not wanting to wait at the end of the alleyway and make the bodyguards and servants nervous, nor wanting to make the trolls behind him nervous either.  He lingers in the alleyway, waiting for the procession to pass.

Hoskar nods when he sees Kobal amble back up the alley. Nicely done he murmurs, retreating likewise.

Just waiting for a party to pass by. Slight holdup. Doesn't look like a threat

Still at the head of the alleyway, but hidden by shadows Amara spots two heavily cloaked people break off from the family group and head down the alleyway between the Healing hall and the Argan Argar temple.

Amara winced as she saw the shapes depart the group and waited to whisper to the others. "Be prepared. We have at least two opponents waiting for us....and they may be heavily armed. It was hard to make out." she whispered her charm to protect herself.

Kobal walks back down the alleyway until he can make out the shapes of the party following behind them.  He makes a show of patting the hilt of his sword a couple of times, but not drawing it.  In the Darkness, the Rangers might not make out his action, but hopefully the trolls will.  Returning to beside Amara, he too employs charms, of bison hide and bison gore, drawing energy from Haaro.

Stopping to check the laces on his boots, Melock watches the group from Geo's alley to see if they are going the same way as the Rangers.

Henal keeps a close eye on the group behind trying to see if they are following. He mutters a charm of protection calling on Rikki's power.

In reply to Amara Brightsky (msg # 37):

Hoskar nods. There's two ways round that block he murmurs. maybe we should go the way round they didn't use.