Amara smiled, before glancing at the others and realising they were besotted with the dryad. She kicked Ohanzee under the table, but not hard to remind them they were here to do something more than just watch the dryad.

Kobal frowns.  He can't take alcohol made by Moon Worshippers back to the clan.  He keeps watching the performance.

The dryad sings several songs, accompanied now by the backing band and then taking a break she sashays over to the Rangers' table and sits down on a quickly acquired chair.

"Greetings. It seems we are to meet for business."

Ohanzee friends at Amara, but quickly returns his attention to the Dryad with a quiet This is business

Then as she finishes her stint and joins them Ohanzee smiles and mutters "Beautiful"

Then flushing slightly at realising he just said that out loud he speaks "Yes, than you for joining us. it I is a long story, but the short of it is we have awoken an ancient spirit in the Wastes and carry a message and a gift from her to the Aldryami here."

He fishes inside his clothes to retrieve the seed that he reverently shows her.

Kobal raises briefly from his seat to give a little bow and a smile.  "Greetings.  I am Kobal.  I think my friend here, Hoskar Two-Feather, also has a proposal to profit both you and himself."

He looks at the rhino rider, hoping that Hoskar is sober enough to talk.

"I was under the belief that this was about something else" replies the Dryad as Ohanzee shows the seed "May I hold it?"



"Ah it was a Hoskar I was expecting. You have money to back up your request?"

Ohanzee pauses a moment glancing at Amara then offers it to Tassels with "Hoskar had the business dealing to be done, Amara and i were hoping you could help with our task by way of an invite or telling is how to find then... safely, or anything."

She takes the seed and holds it for several moments before answering "It is a powerful seed. You can give it to me and I will ensure that it gets to the Garden."

At the back of the booth, Hoskar rises and makes a bow. It is a blessing to meet you he opens respectfully to Tassels. However, his bow knocks his thighs against the table in the confined space, and he finds himself sitting back down rather more heavily than he'd intended.

Not used to mixing drink with the local smokes. Heady stuff he observes ruefully. But yes, we have money. Trade has been good this past week. Are we okay to talk here?

Ohanzee holds his hand or for the seed and is about to speak again when Hoskar does so and asks about whether it is safe. He closed his mouth.

Then hand still held out "There is more to tell if it is safe to speak."

Reluctantly the Dryad passes the seed back.

"We can go upstairs to a private booth. There is one ready for us."

Noting the Dryad's reluctance, Hoskar's face takes on something of a sentimental expression.
We can speak freer in private for sure. Of course, the nut belongs to your kin. Reckon we can discuss that more away from prying ears. It's a thing of beauty alright: by comparison, anything else matters less.

Grundar is deposited at the foot of the stairs by the goon who dragged him upstairs earlier. It is crudely and roughly done, and he grunts as he gets up to his feet. Swiftly though, he composes himself, the usual grin reappears as he says to no one in particular Well that didn't go so badly did it. I knew we could do business. With that he waves at the Rangers and saunters over with what he hopes is a bit of a self-assured swagger.

Ohanzee tucks the seed safely away again before rising to go to the suggested private room, waiting to be shown the way.
This message was last edited by the GM at 07:00, Wed 25 Apr 2018.

The Rangers are just getting up to go when one of the Lunar officers approaches, a quizzical look on his face...
This message was last edited by the GM at 18:13, Tue 24 Apr 2018.

In reply to GM (msg # 45):

Melock starts to smile as he recognizes the officer, but then it wavers when he fully remembers, "Adius, I didn't think I'd be seeing you again."

But I for one am glad to see you somewhere healthy Hoskar adds seamlessly. I still owe you that drink from when we first met. Un-kept promises trouble me.

Assuming you're not working right now, that is. he adds with a smile.

Henal looks perturbed by the approach of the lunar officer, only relaxing a little hearing Melock and Hoskar speak. Then looking again and recognising Atius he smiles and greets him. "You speak our language any better now?"
This message was last edited by the player at 20:06, Tue 24 Apr 2018.

"Adius!" Ohanzee exclaims "Did you come up reiver with Tella's family then?"

The  officer greets everyone cordially, signalling to his two companions to come over and join the table. More gin is brought, this time pre chilled and with accompanying plates of food.

He gives Tassels  a warm greeting "You were divine as usual my dear" before answering the Rangers



"Aye a little better"


"And I hope you are staying out of trouble" *Wink*



"I'll put this gin on your tab then...You have been well and have found trade?"

Tassels eyes widen in warning at this, looking straight at Hoskar.


"Well funny you should say that for she and her family are the reason I am here."

"Ah, come sit, sit." This is to his brother officers, two tough looking men, dark of skin and with the walk of warriors "Scyles and Skunxa, good friends and trustworthy swordsmen, I met this group down in Corflu." he adds pointing at the Rangers.

"I served with Skunxa for many years and Scyles here has just arrived in country."

The two men nod warily at the braves.
This message was last edited by the player at 06:43, Wed 25 Apr 2018.

Ohanzee declines any more gin with "Stuff's too strong for a country bumpkin like me, already feeling a little woozy."

He sits down again with an apologetic glance to Tassels.

"You know for foreigners some of you guys aren't all bad." he says in a friendly voice and with a smile.

"At least you've escaped the flies with this move. What you doing now then, surely you can get back to whatever soldiering you normally do now that you've seen then safely here?"

Adius, Scyles and Skunxa, I'm Grundar, relative to some and I hope a friend to all here. Good to meet you.

Having introduced himself, he turns to the dryad and grins foolishly, and wonderful to meet you once again! My exploits here before have just earned me a few bumps and bruises, but it was worth everyone to have met you.

Once the introductions are done, he turns to Melock and quietly asks, So what's been going on while I was sorting out Goldfang?

Melock nods at Adius, "Always, though trouble does it's best to find me." Turning to Grundar, "Sorting out Goldfang were you?" He grins and gestures to the table, "We've been sorting out the important things, drinks, smokes and food." Melock glances at Adius and Tassels, "and good company of course."

Hoskar's smile gets still bigger.

Gentlemen he greets Scyles and Skunxa. I hope you find the city to your taste. At least there's no rivermouth flies.

He nods contentedly as Adius questions his trade success. Corflu was certainly a friend to me. Tidy profit on some tea from the market, helped out some good citizens at the sun temple, and the journey here was good for picking up the odd artifact. I'm still not rich, but it's wonderful what you can make by moving things around to where they're wanted and selling information. For old sake's sake, you can have a bit of that for free when we have a moment.

His smile drops away to be replaced with a look of concern. Thinking of moving around, one other thing has been worrying me. Do you know if those two scribes, Miles and...what was it...Sicarium I think...got here okay? Decent guys, had to send them on upriver while we detoured.

In reply to Melock (msg # 53):

Didn't I tell you this was a great place! Goldfang and I are working together now, see, he flashes the golden baboon tooth he has tucked away safely, now that we've come to an understanding. It's opening up all sorts of opportunities for fun and profit, but more about that later, for now, what's the story with these guys?
This message had punctuation tweaked by the player at 10:33, Wed 25 Apr 2018.