A horn from the gates of Jelmine sounds out, alerting the town that one of the patrols has been seen returning.  After ten minutes, the horn sounds again, and the gates open.  The Murval patrol has returned.

Danbal, with other warriors and elders, come to greet Farin.  Danbal asks the warrior, "so Farin, what did you see today?  Are there still threats, or have things calmed?"  He eyes one of the men who has a young woman on the horse with them.

Farin tells the chieftain about the attack on the Broo, then points back toward the man riding a zebra.  "As you can see, my son Vastos has returned to us.  It seems his marriage did not work out, but that is a story for his mother to hear."

Danbal walks over to Vastos, and smiles, "it is good to have the children of Jelmine return at this dark time.  This cannot be one of your daughters.  Is she a ward of yours?"

Eldresa can be seen walking down the hill toward the patrol.

There is nothing quite like coming home again after a long absence, almost two years for Vastos. Faces, some visibly a little older, most not much changes at all, but all familiar except for a few. That feeling of simply belonging settles of him as he road up to the gates behind his father, and it settled his heart. Little Earth settled her head against his shoulder, arms tight around his middle.

"We're home, this is where we are supposed to be", he said quietly to her.

Vastos was dismounting just as Danbal came over. "No, this is my ward. She just wandered in to town one day and is now my ward. She doesn't speak, so I don't know her name or clan, but I call her Little Earth.", he smiled a little lopsided smile. "It made sense at the time, and she doesn't seem to mind. I expect Desola will want to see her". The girl in question, who looks to be around 14 or so, stand a half-step behind the young Elmali warrior, holding on his sleeve with one brown hand. Without paying much attention to Danbal her dark gaze sweeps over the area and the people.

Danbal is about to say something when Eldresa comes over to the group.  Little Earth seems to watch focus on her as she gets closer.  She seems focused on Danbal, and has not yet noticed your presence.

"Danbal, Farin, there has been another incident with the spirit world.  One of Sandien's apprentices has," she waves her right hand in the air, "slipped out of his body or something.  He is only talking in Fire Speech, and Desola seems to think that he should stay with the Murval for the time being."  She seems more than a little irritated.  That is about the time she notices Vastos.

Eldresa comes over to her nephew with a big smile on her face, and gives him a warm hug.  "Welcome home Vastos."  Looking up at Farin, she says, "I am sure your father is glad to have you home."  Then in a softer voice while she hugs, she adds, "even if he will not admit it."

Returning the hug Vastos replied quietly "He wasn't too bad, could have been worse." He then pulled out of the embrace gently and smiled at her. It's good to see you though, Eldresa. I've missed you. All of you". It was true too, he hadn't quite realised how much he had missed his home town, the familiar faces, the familiar sights and smells and he could feel some part of him relax a little, some little tension he hadn't been aware of suddenly gone.
He was just about to ask her about the apprentice only speaking in Firespeech when Little Earth too a step closer to them, a look of intense concentration on her small face. Hesitantly, completely ignoring Vastos for now, she reached for Eldresa's face, fingertips just brushing the older woman's cheek.

Vastos grabbed her hand and held it gently but firmly. "This is Little Earth" he repeated, unsure if his aunt had heard as he had introduced the girl to Danbal. "Would you take her to Desola, I think she would like to see her. Ernalda favours her, the women back home.", he paused briefly before he continued "The women of the Yellow Feathers saw something I think, but wouldn't tell me exactly what". He quickly told his ward who Eldresa was.

"Why don't you come as well Vastos.  The girl has obviously bonded to you."  She says, as Little Earth strokes her cheek.  Eldresa smiles at the girl, who eagerly smiles back and giggles.

Eldresa looks to Danbal, "can I tell Desola that you consent?  As the matriarch of Murval, I will consent."

Danbal says, "you know as well as I that if Desola wants something, the decision has already been made.  You have maintained the formality though," he says with a smile.  "You have my consent, but you may want to check in with Sandien.  Sometimes Desola forgets that we are all bound to Daka Fal was well."

Turning to Vastos, Danbal says, "go with Eldresa.  I am sure your family can care for your mount and bags."  He says the last with a stern look to Farin.  While still looking at Farin, he says, "Desola likes to welcome the children of Jelmine home."

--->  Going to Sandien's house thread.

Murval Compound

Tamarkorda has been staying with the Murval family.
Vastos has come home and is warmly greeted by family and friends.  Two days after he returned, Eldresa asks to take Little Earth to the Earth Temple.  It seems Desola is ready to meet the young girl.  As this is the Earth Temple, only women may enter, though Vastos is welcome to come and stand outside.

Bartien's Workshop

Oligur journeys with Bingling and Sanuzi (if he can get them both to join him) to see the redsmith.
(OOC he will try to use his man rune affinity for the discussion)
"Hallloo, good Bartien! It's me again. Wait, before you shut your door, look I bring with me the wise and good Sanuzi, a young man so fortunate as to have been born here in Jelmine. And surely you remember mighty Bingling here? I certainly hope so, after all, while he came here as a humble merchant he has proven himself, as I see it, as one of the mightiest warriors in Jelmine's grand and illustrious history. You saw with your own eyes how bravely and fiercely he fought off those plant monsters, risking all for this great town and its greater people (not to mention its wonderful healer). You saw the courage and skill with which he dispatched those broos who sought to disrupt the event at the earth temple, defending Inkarne and the  rest of the good temple servants. But what you did not witness was the way in which his very sneeze helped to find the bronze girl, how his fearsome teeth opened the passage to recover her, or his greatness of spirit in fight the chaos demon where when the rest of us cowered in the dirt like worms, (for indeed the malice of that creature was awful and overwhelming) he roused us all to great deeds, bringing mace and jaw against that awful beast.
Why I think I heard some of the towns children singing his praises on the way over here.
Now Bartien, you know me to be a man of few words, and so I shall cut to the point, as always. This fine, noble, heroic Uz lost something of great value while fighting the chaos demon that has been attacking the town. That's right, he sacrificed not only a sizable piece of his .. bicuspid? Or something, Smile please, Bingling

(Oligur winces a bit at the sight)

but also his mighty mace! Now this renowned enchanted weapon is believed to be passed down by succession from generation after generation from Argan Agar himself, or rather from one of his lieutenants (or one of their lieutenants) but in any case, its destruction was a terrible loss. The good news is that even the foul chaos demon did not much harm the lead head of his weapon, and only the strength matrix was fouled. Now Bingling here is in no way lacking in strength, nor requiring any augmentations, I mean, look at him! But for reasons of sentiment, and in light of his great service to Jelmine (which can never be repaid but can be honored through a small act like this ) ... can you repair his mace please?"
Oligur looks to Sanuzi for backup.

In reply to Oligur Jaffez (msg # 26):

Bingling blinks, trills, chuckles, and sneezes at the compliment.

"Truth: I sell mushrooms. And I help friends."

He nods at Bartien.

"Your town is my friend. The Garlins are my friends."

He looks at the Lunar infantryman, and chuckles again.

"Yes. This soldier is my friend, too. Your words do kindness, Friend Oligur."

He then turns back to to Bartien.

"Bartien metal-dancer, son of Almirin, Runemaster of Gustbran Bonesmith: please fix a new shaft to my mace."

He shows Bartien the splintered shaft.

"I could ask the Mothers of Earth, your folk and mine, to mend it with a word and a scar. But they are busy as Sacred Time nears. And while you are busy as Sacred Time nears, too, you are also a Runemaster of things such as these. Tell me your gifting demand to fix this mace, and then I shall know when you finish that it is the mace that it should be. Please."

He then kneels before Bartien, holding the broken shaft and macehead in his hands.

In reply to Bingling Hyxloriz (msg # 27):

If Bartien fixes Bingling's mace, he'll stand aside with Oligur.

"Friend Oligur, I consulted with our priest Magora. It is much as I said; we Uz were happy in Wonderhome until the Sun died and we fled Yelm's burning shame. The Green Time was, and I have no doubt that some of us danced on the slopes of the Spike. But I do not have many tales."

Bingling shrugs.

"It was before our Curse. It was before most were Uzko like me or Enlo like Gulk; though I think Argan Argar wears my form and watches over Enlo because we two forms best suit this surface place. But I doubt that the Uz of Wonderhome were that different than now. I am as they, they are as we."

Bingling smiles a human smile and touches his tusk.

"But since we live after the Namings, we have better stories and can be better stories."

He nods at Oligur.

"We are each living the 'I Fought, We Won' battle every time the Reborn Scourger crosses the skies, and every night that Xentha wraps the lands in her cool and soothing caress. I am glad to follow her son Argan Argar, God of Trade, because I find the best stories, the newest dances, and new friends like you, my Lunar."

Bartien has his arms crossed as Oligur comes to him.  He looks over the troll and nods to Sanuzi.

Oligur makes his appeal, and stonefaced, Bartien listens.  "Today you are not a man of few words."

He then lets out a boisterous laugh, "today you could twist the world with your tongue."  He clasps Oligur on the back.

"Let me see that mace."  He is most concerned with the mace head.  He looks it over, turnings it one way than another.  The head itself is heavy, but he seems to have no difficulty holding it.

"What was the original haft made from?"

In reply to Narrator (msg # 29):

Bingling looks at the shattered haft.

"I am sorry. It is not mushroom? It is not aldryabone? I am not sure."

Bartien says, "let me have the mace head.  I'll see what I can do that will make it strong again."

In reply to Narrator (msg # 31):

Bingling entrusts it to him.

"Thank you."

In reply to Bingling Hyxloriz (msg # 32):

"Excellent, excellent, thank you good Bartien. And, uh, by the by, my earlier offer still stands, eh?"

When  they head out of the redsmith's shop, Oligur says to Bingling: "Say, friend, when you return to the Uz camp, do you think you might ask about the fate of that sharp little souvenir you brought back from the cave? Unless I am the only one who's uncomfortable that it might be floating about somewhere..."

In reply to Oligur Jaffez (msg # 33):

Bingling nods at Oligur.

"Correct. Very dangerous. I cannot tell you where it is, because I was careful to not know."

In reply to Oligur, Bartien replies, "I have not forgotten.  Danbal will make a decision after Sacred Week."

Tamarkorda is placid while in the Murval's care. He spends most of his time hanging around with the horses, watching them, working with any that show problems in temperament, or lameness, sometimes riding his Goldeneye out to bring back herbiage and browse for medicinal or motivational supplements. He seems to have stopped using a saddle, and carries only his bow, leaving the broadsword behind. He is quiet, still only speaking Firespeech but now mostly keeping his thoughts to himself.

He adds his good wishes towards the end of Vastos's welcome party and silently acknowledges Little Earth's presence.

Zeti finds Nadakar and asks him to come and translate to Desola for her. Finding the Earth Witch and explaining her the reason for the visit she begins.

”There was a certain hero in my line, an Uzko called Kurzag. He was not a member the line but he appeared and he vanished, all within a generation but he left his mark through those who followed.”

“The first time he stepped into our history was one night in Darkseason, a nothing, a slave. But he had the audacity to look upon her, he set eyes upon the Great Mother of our clan he fell in love immediately. He resolved there and then that she would love him.”

“Now this is not surprising for the Great Mother was a great creature indeed, an offspring it is said from the Inner Darkness itself! And the wonders she possessed, the most stunning of which was a cloak of feathers. The cloak was made from a creature unknown, extinct, and though it was surely dead it sang still. A whispering song as it moved and feather brushed against feather. And she could fly through the darkness on that cloak!”

Kurzag won his freedom and worked his way through the ranks of the males of our clan, taking part in many quests and at last catching the eye the Mother. She told him that the way that he could win her love was to bring her something that does not exist.”

“Now he was at first stumped by this, but it is said that as she walked away her cloak sang to him, a different song to that heard by any other ears, and he resolved there and then to bring her the creature that it was made from.”

“He consulted the wisest in the clan and all said that the creature has not existed since the days that you call the Green Age. So that is where he resolved to go and spoke with those same wise Uz on how he might accomplish the task.”

“Ready at last Kurzag gathered about him those who he had quested before and he set out into the other world. He went to Subere first for she surely would know how he could get there and back. There he made deals with the Inner Darkness and was one with her as she taught him what was needed for whilst all Darkness was named in that Age he was from the age of Time and would lose himself.”

“She wove from the Darkness itself a cloak for him and told him that as long as he stayed within it then he would be complete within the Darkness. Then she sent him to the mother of Time for her blessing would be needed for this task. But before he left she gave him one last gift, a box of lead with enchantments upon it that she told him could not be opened until his quest was done.”

“Kurzag next went to Arachne Solara and bargained with her. It is not known what bargain was made, but Kurzag later quested greatly for reasons that he would speak nothing of save say that it was for Time. And when he left the great weaver he did so with a net made of silk spun by the goddess herself.“

“Prepared at last he next made his way to the Last Drop of Darkness, for the Styx was always there, there before the Green Age. He payed Jeset, but the cost was greater than normal, for rather than ferry Kurzag across they let the Styx carry them back before time where she flowed, and they landed in the Green Age.”

“There Kurzag, protected by the cloak of Darkness searched for the creature, found it and trapped it in the silken net. He returned with it to, drawn by the songs of those left behind, voices he recognised for he was no shaman and had no fetch to anchor him.”

“The voices he followed over the Styx were one he recognised, but from an earlier Time. He returned to our clan years before he left. In the Lead box was a child, his child with the Inner Darkness, our Great Mother. The creature, now subject to Time grew with the child, aged and died and the cloak was made from its remains.”

“This was a mighty quest, but though it went so well it did not go as expected; Kurzag won her love, but as a father. He was lost to our clan fulfilling the costs he had incurred in another quest, lost before he was born.”

Zeti looks at Desola ”Is this helpful? There is more relating to the creature they found and how it was caught, but that does not seem relevant. It is likely extinct because Kurzag took it from the Green Age so there was nothing to breed. That is the first warning, changes go both ways. Kurzag left in one Time and returned earlier, that is another warning.”

Zeti goes to the large square stone building embedded in the hillside, but does not find Desola.  Instead, a woman in her forties comes forward.  She is wearing the insignia of an Earth Priestess.

She looks at Zeti and Nadakar, giving Nadakar an inquisitive stare, before saying in perfect Dark Speech:

"Greetings child of Darkness.  I am Kalisla, wife of Variton, the leader of the Garlin, and Priestess of Ernalda.  How may I assist you today?"  Zeti would have heard of the Garlin family by now, and their affinity to the Darkness Rune.

When you ask for Desola, Zeti responds, "I am sorry, but Desola is in isolation currently.  She may not appear until the night when we transition into Sacred Week.  Is there something I can assist you with?"

Nadakar says, "it seems you do not need me as an interpreter Zeti, but I will stay for support.  I would suggest that you speak with Priestess Kalisla as she will be able to convey any information or request to Mistress Desola."

Kalisla looks curiously at Nadakar's use of Mistress to describe Desola, but says to Zeti, "yes, we are all one with the Great Earth Mother.  Any confidence you give to me will be given to our High Priestess, and I will answer any question you may have."

Assuming Zeti tells Kalisla the story...
When Zeti speaks the name Arachne Solara, a chill goes down her spine.

Kalisla listens closely, asks a few questions, and then repeats the story back to you, making sure it is correct.  Once she has it, she says, "thank you Zeti of the Blue Plateau.  I have never heard this story before, but I am sure it is one my family will remember."  Then she looks concerned.

"Mother Desola has been speaking of the Green Age since the corpse of a young woman was brought to us.  She has been grief-stricken since then.  I will convey your story to Desola."

OOC: She does. Is it Zeti's or Kalisla's spine that shivers run down?

Zeti nods "Perhaps this is why she was asking for ceremonies and stories about it." she says and then bids her farewell.

It was Zeti that felt the chill.

As they leave, but when she thinks that they are out of earshot she says to Nadakar "Did you feel anything? I've heard that story before and told it too, but something was different, felt different this time."

"It was when I mentioned her name, the Weaver of Time, I felt a cold shiver down my spine."

"Interesting.  I have no answer save that the awakening of the Dragon shook the world.  Maybe it shook something loose."

Zeti walks on nodding "Yes maybe", but it is not comforting to think that the waking of the dragon might have shaken loose such things as that goddess!

She turns her attention to her previous musings on the mixed runes and asks "May I speak with you on another subject, I have been thinking about the combined rune that we witnessed."

"I spoke to Gulk on this and she said that I should speak to Preceptor Idovanus for an answer, but I do not know him. I know you, we have travelled together, and you seem to know the same things that he would."

Assuming he does not object Zeti repeats her thoughts on Chaos as the combined runes in the age before Time.