Melock grins, "We could lighten their purses before we beat them up with a few games of chance." he laughs, "if we do it well enough, they might start the fight."

Henal smiles, "so that would be an initiation test for Grundar then?"

"I've seen him play, they won't stand a chance. Even if they can handle loosing, all it needs is some obvious cheating to start the fight."

In reply to Melock (msg # 41):

Hey, I never cheat!

Not obviously anyway... To ask me to do so would be to dishonour me, although, I guess this is for a good cause. He grins, Either way, I'm sure if wanted I can cause a rumble - although I thought this was not supposed to be a subtle fight, aren't they meant to know why they're being roughed up. Let me take their money, and their purses, and then let's knock some sense into them so they know we're on top all around.

"As long as one of them is awake once we've beaten them up, we can deliver our message."

With that the Wandering Rangers head off to the stables to collect their mounts, though they must wait nearly two hours as they are collected from outside the city walls. All are well fed and healthy. Death Ostrich seems to be a stable favourite.

It is now nearly three o'clock in the afternoon. The ride to the Sable camp will take a half hour, depending on how busy the gates and bridge are.

The Rangers ride out of the small gate and down the steep track towards the new Lunar bridge, where the soldiers wave them on without a second glance.  As before there's a light drizzle and as they approach the other side in single file, they can see that the three Royal Pavis guards must be sheltering in the guard post, for no one stands in their way.

"These must be the ones Orlgar mentioned," Kobal says in a low voice.  "But if we take them on now, there may be a big party waiting for us when we try to return, or try to enter Badside."  He kicks Black Hoof on past the guardhouse.

Indeed, and I've no desire to hang about in the rain, even if it is good to wash some of the Pavis grime away.

"Agreed, lets get a move on and go see the sables." He nudges Stinky forward and follows Kobal
This message was last edited by the player at 19:04, Tue 29 May 2018.

Passing the guardhouse, a square, single story building, the Rangers can see three men huddled about a small brazier, none of whom look up at the travellers. Then it's up a small track and there huddled along the huge wall of the Big Rubble is the shanty town of Badside.

Thanks to the weather it's pretty deserted and before they get closer the braves turn left towards the now visible camp of the Sables.

This time they're spotted, a half dozen riders trot out of the encampment and make their way towards the group. Armed and more than likely dangerous.

As the two groups approach each other, Kobal relaxes his grip on his lance and shield.  He reins in Black Hoof a reasonable distance in front of the Sables, lance tip pointed up to the Sky, and waits for them to stop too.
This message was last edited by the player at 01:54, Wed 30 May 2018.

Amara sat at Kobals side "I hope you know what you're doing."

"Nope," replies Kobal, still looking ahead at the approaching Sables.  "But it'll work out somehow.  I'm thinking maybe if we drop Becx's name somewhere, if necessary, that might help, since she trades with them."

In reply to Kobal (msg # 52):

Hoskar winces. No mentioning Becx if you can help it, please. If they think she's involved and there's reprisals, she'll be a sitting durulz. Stock. Shop. Dinky little fire.

In reply to Hoskar Two-Feather (msg # 53):

If anybody burns Becx's place I'll bloody well burn theirs back, and some, growls Grundar, his heckles raised, She's a good woman and has done nothing but help me since I arrived in Pavis. He stops to think a bit, Well, to be honest, I suspect she has used me a bit as well, he scratches his head thoughtfully, but that's ok, she deserved to get something out of taking a scruffy urchin like me in unannounced.

Melock pulls alongside Kobal and Amara to help present a strong first impression to the sables, "Hopefully they'll want to talk, not fight. " he drops his voice,"Are we telling them the truth about Delenda?"

In reply to Grundar (msg # 54):

Hoskar smiles gratefully. That's her alright. Noble idea, kind and so on. My thanks. Little use if her assets are up in smoke, of course. Silence is best.
This message had punctuation tweaked by the player at 18:29, Wed 30 May 2018.

Henal pulls up his zebra muttering "No way to make a decent impression on one of these, can't wait to get back to a proper mount". Then he settles himself aiming to look fierce but not threatening with his lance and shield in hand.

Kobal nods at Hoskar's words.  "We can mention the Garhound clan if we need to, instead, perhaps."



"That depends on how much Temush feels like talking, I think," Kobal says with a slight smile.



Kobal looks over and his slight smile turns into a short laugh.  Henal looks so pitiful sitting on a small zebra, where he's normally mounted on a grand bison.  "No one forced you to do this."
This message was last edited by the player at 02:10, Thu 31 May 2018.

Melock looks over to Temush, "I think you should guard the rear Temush, just in case anyone tries to sneak up on us."

The Sables break into a gallop and circle the Wandering Rangers once before coming to a stop in front of them. Then one brave breaks off and charges, at the last moment throwing down his lance into the ground in challenge so that it stands quivering before the group.

"Who will fight me!" he shouts a sneer on his face.

These braves are from the Rock Speakers, not Delenda's clan.

Kobal keeps his eyes on the brave, with a slight smile on his face.  Although ready to kick Black Hoof forward, he holds his place a moment, waiting to see if any of the others wants to take up the challenge.

Though Melock smiles at the challenging brave, he shakes his head, "Wouldn't be a fair fight."

Grundar scowls and wonders if he should rise to the challenge. He clenches his weapons, but then resists the urge. At the moment he isn't officially one of the Rangers and he doesn't want to snub them by stealing their challenge. Besides the shadows are more his terrain.