"That's a good point," says Kobal.  He frowns.  "But..."  He tries to think things through.  "...most people have a ransom.  I don't think the fact that Delenda has a ransom make us seem weaker than most other people.  At least I hope so.  In any event, unless someone comes up with a better plan, I think bidding at the auction is the most likely to succeed."

"I guess we could see who wins the bid, and then jump them...?"



"Ah okay.  That's quite a distance from where we are."  He nods.  "Are we going to be riding there?" he asks hopefully.  "Or will our mounts be too tempting to the trolls...?"
This message was last edited by the player at 13:50, Wed 18 Apr 2018.

"Which comes back to my first point" Ohanzee replies to Kobal "Her random is known to be 30 sable. we pay any more we are known as a soft touch."

Henal says "for all the struggles we might have had with Delenda we should still pay the ransom or slave price. I would not be sure that we could fight the trolls instead so we are better to pay it.

Grinning broadly, Hoskar winks at Ohanzee and tries to angle towards him, Melock and Grundar. When he's in easy earshot of all three, he observes My valuation was for elderly meat beasts. Do you Ravens think we could get away with claiming the ransom was double or triple that? If we value the ransom as riding beasts or even trained animals we can spend a lot more and look like winners even if we're not.

Looking unusual serious and tense, "She's a fellow defender of the Earth. As far as I'm concerned, we should pay as much for her as we're willing to pay for one of us." Melock rolls his shoulders to relax them, "If any of you don't feel like paying, don't, I'm sure the rest of us can cover it, but have a long hard think on how upset that axe maiden might get when she finds out."

Henal tries to lighten the mood "and for all the men remember what the axe sisters like to take for trophies"

He sighs, "Sorry Hoskar, didn't mean to ignore you. What quality of beast they bring will say a lot about how much they value Delenda, I'm sure you'd be better at taking them up than us Ravens, but while you are doing that, maybe they loose a few from the back of their herd." He chuckles, "No doubt it'll be an interesting day."



Melock nods, "and Henal knows as well as I do, how close we came to that fate ourselves."

Temush waves his hands around a bit. "Oh, I don't baulk at a price." he says "And in fact I like to goal that we fork out to get 'one of us' back. That's all fine if ours is the bid that wins. If it's not, well I don't want that to be 'cause we went at it half arsed. We need to check with Becx how those folk who have her run these things, make sure we don't put a foot wrong. But best not talk more of it now, bars have ears... "

"Maybe we could sweeten any bid with a troop of trollkin.  Perhaps trolls would prefer trollkin to riding beasts," Kobal smiles at Amara.

The Rangers are soon winding their way deeper in to the quarter, where several locals wave at Ohanzee, whilst others stare at the nomads in distrust.

Grundar is able to point everyone in the right direction, heading through an alley by the side of the Teelo Norri temple and in to an L shaped courtyard.

Ahead is the doorway into Goldfang's Grotto, guarded by two heavy set goons and several potted palm trees. From the opening comes flashing lights and the ground shaking Duff Duff of the sound system...

Grundar's all excited, You're going to love this place, it's amazing! There's dryads, ducks, dancers, fish, music, beer, everything! This is the place to be. Everything's in here, and when I say everything, he finishes with a wink I mean everything. He grins like an adolescent brave, which let's face it he was not so long ago. This is going to be so much fun, I tell you. If you don't mind, however, I might just stand in the middle after the last time I came here.

Fun? asks Hoskar with a grin. Thought as much. Hang onto your money, everyone.

How do we hear over that banging? Talk through familiars?

Conversation? That's not what you come here for!

Amara sighed, speaking quietly as she walked "Her clan had a path set in stone for her, as I once did. Delenda chose a different path, as I did. Should her clan pay her ransom and not us, then they may push her back onto that path as an obligation. We were the people that opened her path to a different way and she took it.... and not withstanding any more, she is my friend. I will do everything I have to, to see her safe and freed from obligation to her clan. Remember....she will be queen of her clan someday. She may well be the bridge between us and some of the sable clans when we try to reunite them. She's seen our work and knows the power of what we're doing." she shrugged "I mean... I'd prefer to get her from the Uz without bloodshed, but if I have to go through them to get her back, I will. Maybe if the aldryami are unwilling to help us, they might give us some ideas to improve our chances at negotiation for an early release." she looked around speaking more quietly "Remember her true worth is probably higher than Kobals. If there are a number of bids, there is only so high we might go."

"Higher than mine?  Ha!  I've been marked by the Khan of Khans himself!"  Kobal doesn't press the matter though.

At the Grotto, he peers through the doorway, past the goons.  Amazing indeed.  Weird.  "'Beer'?  Do they have kumiss?" he asks no one in particular.  He waits for Grundar or Hoskar to lead the way.
This message was last edited by the player at 06:14, Fri 20 Apr 2018.

Two sets of eyes bore into the assembled Rangers, and as Grundar steps forward one of them grabs his collar.

"Not you sunshine...Boss wants to have a little chat wiv youse. Rest of you in yer go, ladies' drinks are free. No fighting nor touching the staff.

Band's just started, it's the Tomorrow-Kanths and Mar-lean on vocals. Entrance is 5 clacks each...."

Kobal thinks he can smell the scent of some weed coming from inside the Grotto.

He looks at Grundar.  "You going to need any help?"

Keen to check out this den of anything you can want Ohanzee ignores Grundar's predicament and handing over the requested coins walks in to the place.

Pausing just inside the entrance he looks about taking in all with the eyes of a young brave and a Raven at that. Well sickly speaking with the eyes of a dead Enlo!

link to a message in this game
This message was last edited by the GM at 12:28, Fri 20 Apr 2018.

The Rangers are alone once more and are able to exchange news on the walk home....

Your chap from the Moon ranks knows more of those scribes Hoskar asked of than he cares to tell... Temush says confidentially

"Not really a surprise as they aren't our friends in the Lunar forces". Henal mutters.

"Did anyone find out anything interesting while Grundar and me distracted those lying lunars?"

Looking around everyone notices that Ohanzee is gone...Again.

Yeah, I'd like to know if losing my winnings was worth it! exclaims Grundar, Also, one of the officers muttered in my ear something about an ostrich feather. He was a bit tipsy at the time. Does that mean anything to any of you? asks Grundar, before realising that Ohanzee is gone. Wasn't Ohanzee with you earlier?