This interlude covers the time between your return and the start of Sacred Week.  The other patrols that were sent out had returned either before you or within a day of your return.  Most of them had no major encounters, but those that went toward the Hollow and Skyfall Lake were beset upon by broo, other creatures, and spirits.  The group that went toward Snake Pipe Hollow mentioned that their scout claimed to have seen a Walktapus moving from the hollow into the hills (Jelmine is at the Eastern end of the hills, and the tabooed stead you visited is within these hills).

There is not enough time to practice, but there is time to solidify the the skills that you used (i.e., skill and power rolls).

If you are part of one of the religions in town, or close enough, you will be invited to help prepare for sacred week (the Elmal followers will grudgingly accept a follower of Yelmalio, but will try to show you why Elmal is stronger and braver).

There are some NPCs that I know people want to speak with, so we will do it here unless it needs to go to private threads.

'Ere! Are you calling me a follower of little stick boy? 'cause I'm too hot-blooded to mind a cold sun.

In reply to Tamarkorda (msg # 2):

Bingling hides his smirk at the mention of the spear...

Although Tamarkorda's faith in Kargzant is weakened after his experience in the cave, he is neither wavering nor intolerant in his devotion. He will receive a little Elmali proselytizing politely (it's their home ground now even if it used to be part of the Pure-horse range). He will not take any actions that disrupt the Elmal preparations and will help enthusiastically wherever the traditions align. He may use his native chants at times (in Pure-horse tongue or in translation) but only sotto voce [hopefully no "He omits 'filioque'!" incidents].

Personally, I don't subscribe to the Kargzant is Yelmalio or Elmal is Yelmalio schools of thought. I'm not even convinced that Antirius is Yelmalio, though I sympathise with a publishers wish to make the best uses of a 'limited' 100 cult 'Gods of Glorantha' tome by not focusing on angels on pin heads!

((OOC

:D I had to look that up, that's fascinating.))

((OOC
That was a souvenir of reading Agent of Byzantium many years ago. I think it was the first Harry Turtledove alternative history that I came across. It may be worth a look if light historical capers are your thing. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Agent_of_Byzantium

Sorry about the mixed posting by the way. I sort of interpreted 'Interlude' as all being OOC ))

In reply to Narrator (msg # 1):

Upon hearing of Sandien's whereabouts, Sanuzi will head over to the Lunar outpost and beg entry. He will not impose upon Oligur's friendly attitude, but make his case to see Sandien as an underling who has an urgent report to a superior.

Some of this may bleed over into other threads.  If you have something you want to do during the interlude, please tell me.

Henetha goes to the temple to help Desola prepare the body.

Update: There are a few private threads going.  I'll post more general events tomorrow afternoon.

Waterday, Illusion Week, Storm Season (the day after everyone returns).
12 days til the start of Sacred Time.

OOC:  this is to set the stage for the next meeting.  Consider what you will want to bring to the table during this discussion.

At midday, Danbal, Chief of Jelmine, calls the Elders together at the courtyard of the Earth Temple to discuss recent events.  Due to the support Commander Jalmon has given, he and a contingent of Lunar soldiers are invited.  Along with them comes Idovanus.

OOC: Continue with actions in other threads as needed.

Danbal has gathered the town Elders together, along with a contingent from the Lunar fort and the Uz, to discuss the demon that threatens the town, and the demon that the group found in the caves close to town.  When they gather, Desola and the priestesses come to join the gathering.

The day is growing colder, and the sky is filling with gray clouds.

"We have not faced the demons in a few days, and we must prepare for their return.  Sandien is unfortunately occupied with the Lunar Uz shaman."

Zelda seems ready to explode at the mention of Gulk, but holds it in for now.

"Hopefully Sandien will return to us with the wisdom of the Spirit Realm, but until then, we need to make plans.  Sacred Time is fast upon us, and we need to strengthen the spiritual defenses of the town.  We also need to prepare to send some off to again face the demon in the cave.  We must also discover why we are under attack at this time.  What god have we offended?"

Desola speaks, "we have offended none of the gods or goddesses that we have followed for generations.  This is an evil that came into our world with the Dragon rose over the land."  She looks to Danbal, "but you are correct that we need to prepare.  Our traditional rituals will not aid us in this new crisis.  We must consider other stories to tell, other rites to perform, even the ancient rites that are rarely performed."

"Do you mean the full Lightbringer's Quest?", says Farin too eagerly.  "Do you suggest we send a team to attempt that legendary feat?"

"None would be foolhardy enough to dare follow that story," says Danbal.

To which Desola adds, "and it is not the story that will help us here.  We do not seek to bring the dead back to life.  No, we must ask our gods for insight and remember the stories rarely told.  There we will find a key."

"Then each night let each family tell the stories they remember, one may aid us."  Looking to the group, "if you know stories of your people, speak them.  They may help us."

OOC:  basically Danbal and Desola are looking for HeroQuest stories that would aid the people now.  Stories such as Elmal defends the stead.  Some of you may know the Glorantha heroquest stories, but that is not critical.  Feel free to suggest stories that are unique.  This is setting the stage for your group to perform a Sacred Time hero quest (with a few NPCs).  Your group will be one of three attempting a HeroQuest for the town during Sacred Time.

Tamarkorda steps forward to speak while while people shuffle their feet and whisper amongst themselves.

"This is not a  quest that I think we should do now (it is best with a seventh son of a seventh son) but one of us has to start the tales, and it is quite a good tale to know, and while I tell it you can work out which tale you might want to set forth next.

After we left the dead city the gods rode with us and showed us how to survive, but as time went by and the One Clan out-witted or avoided more of their enemies (like Yenfar the Capturer, Orvadrudus the Chiller and Zakmat the Duck) the gods left us alone more often and we had to sort out more of our problems by ourselves.

When we left the city most of us had been cavalry who had always enjoyed the status of  Witnesses or Officers. We took our wives and children with us so there were not many spare horses and to ride away you had to have a horse, and to have a horse you had to be a leader, or a leader’s relative, or if you were lucky, a groom or a favoured servant.

That made life difficult once we had left. Everyone wanted to be in charge, no one wanted to do the work that had been servants’ work back in the city. Even those who had been servants said things were different now and if we were all going to pull our weight on the journey no one should have all the heavy loads all the time.

Soon no one would agree to do anything they were asked even if it meant there were no tents at night and no porridge in the morning. Things cleared up if enemies attacked but once the danger was past everyone started squabbling again, which was no good.

Some people saw the problem and appealed to Hyalor but he just flashed them the shiny tablet again which did not seem to solve anything.

So the next time Josad rode with the clan these people put the problem to him, which was a good idea because he was used to thinking a way out of problems that the headmen and servants had only moaned about.

To begin with he cleared up the One Clan into seven sensible families which was the best number to have. He showed this by splitting himself into seven Josads. Each Josad picked a family head who was good in battle but also had a second string to his bow and was known for insight, bravery, hospitality, ethics, practicality, godliness or lore.

He made sure that no family was too big or too small, too important or too insignificant. A lot of people stayed with the bloodline that they knew but he showed others why their relatives were those they had not thought of as kin, and this was the start of joining bloodlines though adoption.

The seven Josads took their seven families into seven different dells to explain and expound to them how things could be better deliberated.

Each of the seven Josads split into three Josads, a tall Josad a strong Josad and a grey Josad (who some people wrongly call the bent Joasd because one of them was bald and one of them was white. But not all of them were bent either and even the ones that were liked being reminded of it even less than being grey (or white, or bald)).

The twenty one Josads showed the people that each had obligations, to perfect, to act, and to instruct.

Then the Josads showed how a household would work, respecting blood ties and an elder to remind them what the Josads had explained, aided by other elders to help remember the right answer to each right problem and to sort the wrong problems into the nearest right problem. These house elders and their descendants would be like nobles. They would decide war or peace and amass tribute. Others would support them the way officers, headmen and servants had supported nobles.

Those that the Josads had appointed to the less prestigious but equally necessary tasks objected strongly as if they had not been listening to the Josad’s explanation at all, so each of the twenty one Josads split into eleven Josads and rushed out of their dell to fight the other hundred and ninety eight Josads of the other six families until all of the Josads were slain, to show where that sort of nonsense ended up. From all the hacked up bits he reformed into the originals (that is the seven Josads) and they separated out their seven families again and said “This is what happens if no one leads and no one follows.“

“When you fight yourselves you will only please Raven, but when you fight together, you yourselves will be pleased.”

One Josad said “If you fight at the right time your will be remembered in the story tents of all the clans that come after”. One Josad said “If you fight the fiercest you will have foreigners as slaves to do the tiresome things”. One Josad said “If you fight with the best words your opponents will not even know you have fought them”. One Josad said “if you fight your battles in you head seven times before you fight them with your hands you will have seven times fewer wounds and seven times seven fewer funerals.” One Josad said “Fight in the fruit-trees, and in the fish-holes. Fight in the beehives and the kumis skins. Fight in the fire-pits - you will never feel hunger.” One Josad said “Fight to protect the sunpath and the earth caves not for gold plaques and copper coins”. One Josad said “Remember all the fights you fought, and those your fathers fought and those their neighbours fought, but don’t fight them again, once was enough.”  None of these was the same Josad (though of course they were all the same Josad to begin with)

Then seven Henedras appeared and they told the seven Josads why they had picked a poor dell for their audience, and had not chosen to stand in the best light and were even wearing the wrong clothes for the time of year, and the Seven Josads dragged their feet and looked uncomfortable and said of course they had meant to ask the seven Henedra’s advice but the One Clan had been calling them and seemed to be in a bind, and the seven Henedras smiled and nodded and said of course they knew that, and they were sure it was an unaccustomedl oversight.

Then the fourteen gods and goddesses rode back with the seven families until they were one clan again and the seven Henedras merged and the seven Josads joined themselves back into the original and authentic Josad.

Our ancestors were amazed at the wise teachings that Josad had set out so straightforwardly, and they asked if he had any other counsel to give them before he and Henedra rode back to the sky together, Josad nodded and then he looked at Henedra and she nodded back and said “Josad’s lesson has not just been about how you can get along in your families and as a clan but how the time comes for things to split up. One day this clan of yours will need to separate into many, not,” (she sniffed) “always seven, but many, and this can be done naturally and is in fact a thing to be celebrated even if it may not feel like that at the time.”
Josad looked pleased and said “So when that day comes, (you will know it when it arrives)  just call on me or on Henedra and we will lay it out for you as we always have and always will.
Plainly, precisely, and in just as many parts as necessary
(unlike Hyalor with his perpetual pesky tablet)."

Tamarkorda bows to indicate that his tale is done and looks for the next person to speak

In reply to Tamarkorda (msg # 13):

Bingling nods along to Tamorkorda's tale.

In actuality, he is trying to think of a way to re-tell the story of Bina Bang, her Dehori mate Lord Lurker in Darkness, and their son Pikat Yaraboom -- but with a magical bite rather than Yaraboom's left hand of doom. Alas, Bingling's stumped, so far.

Oligur listens with great interest to Tamarkorda's story, wishing he himself was as talented a storyteller. 
((OOC I'm not going to try to put in my own {or Oligur's} words))
Oligur does his best to tell the story of the Goddess's glorious ascent; her ambush and defeat by Wakboth; of her encounter with Arachne Solara; of how she achieved illumination when she freed Nysalor; of how she tamed the Sky Bear; how she at last defeated Wakboth and rode to victory on the Crimson Bat... as illustrated by these cakes
http://www.pensee.com/dunham/glorantha/con5/cakes.html

"Now that I think of it " Tamarkorda says, "I do know one tale that has a truestone in it.  The Sun Ring clan have done it as a quest but they had a flying horse that they could use from a quest they did with Gamara in earlier years. It involves flying up to the sky and winning contests against the bird spirits that grant access. Sometimes you can offer them things made of their rune metal instead of having to win a round of the contest. It can clean a true-stone, or make the quester 'gifted', some say it can exchange an enchanted silver egg for a true-stone. "

This is the bedtime story version which we all know very well:

Zenagar had a favourite pebble which would look after his magic and his good luck for him. But one day he lost it on the heath and Skylark found it.
“Whose egg is this?” Skylark chirped “This heath is my place and this egg does not belong to me and my kind”
Skylark was quite indignant and picked the pebble up and took it to his mate to make sure it did not belong there.
“Whose egg is this?” chirped Skylark’s mate “This nest is my place and that egg does not belong here. Get rid of it”

Skylark saw a shape overhead so he flew upward singing “My eggs are the goodliest, no one here has eggs as goodly as mine” and as he rose he recognised Raven
“Whose egg is this?” said Raven “It’s quite shiny. Perhaps you should give it to me I have a place where I keep shiny things safe”
Raven made a bowl of his wings and Skylark saw a dark sky with no sun or planets and few stars that could glint off the shiny things”
“No thank you Raven” Skylark said, “I wish to find where this egg came from and stop it happening again” (and in his head he said ‘and I don’t want you to get a taste for lark eggs’)

Skylark saw another shape overhead so he flew upward singing “My eggs are the shiniest, no one here has eggs as shiny as mine” and as he rose he recognised Stormcock
“Whose egg is this?” said Stormcock “It’s quite swirly. Perhaps you should give it to me I have a place where I keep swirly things swift”
Stormcock made a bowl of his wings and Skylark saw a dull sky with no sun and gale force winds that blew the swirly things about”
“No thank you Stormcock” Skylark said, “I wish to find where this egg came from and stop it happening again” (and in his head he said ‘I don’t want you to visit and blow my nest away’)

Skylark saw another shape overhead so he flew upward singing “My eggs are the swirliest, no one here has eggs as swirly as mine” and as he rose he recognised Unnek the buzzard
“Whose egg is this?” said Unnek “It’s quite spotty. Perhaps I will hold onto it. I have a place where I keep spotty things cool”
Unnek made a bowl of his wings and Skylark saw a dim sky with a weak sun where the were lots of dead things and flies and maggots”
“No thank you Unnek” Skylark said, “I wish to find where this egg came from and stop it happening again” (and in his head he said ‘I bet you’d eat me if I stayed still long enough’)

Skylark saw another shape overhead so he flew upward singing “My eggs are the spottiest, no one here has eggs as spotty as mine” and as he rose he recognised Vrok the hawk
“Whose egg is this?” said Vrok “It’s quite pearly. Perhaps I shall take it. I have a place where I keep pearly things light”
Vrok made a bowl of his wings and Skylark saw a brilliant sky where the sun seemed extra large and many beautiful shapes glowed mysteriously”
“No thank you Vrok” Skylark said, “I wish to find where this egg came from and stop it happening again” (and in his head he said ‘I know you’d eat me if you felt hungrier’)

Skylark saw another shape overhead so he flew upward singing “My eggs are the pearliest, no one here has eggs as pearly as mine” and as he rose he recognised Swallow
“Whose egg is this?” said Swallow “It’s quite healthy. Perhaps you should give it to me. I have a place where I keep healthy things warm”
Swallow made a bowl of his wings and Skylark saw a red sky where full of dust and heat where many warm things waited to come alive”
“No thank you Swallow” Skylark said, “I wish to find where this egg came from and stop it happening again” (and in his head he said ‘I wonder if these things ever get free’)

Skylark saw another shape overhead so he flew upward singing “My eggs are the healthiest, no one here has eggs as healthy as mine” and as he rose he recognised Grandfather Loon
“Whose egg is this?” said Loon “It’s quite pretty. Perhaps you should give it to me. I have a place where I keep pretty things clean”
Grandfather Loon made a bowl of his wings and Skylark saw a cloudy sky filled with rain falling straight down with no wind to move it”
“No thank you Grandfather” Skylark said, “I wish to find where this egg came from and stop it happening again” (and in his head he said ‘Only a Loon likes to stay out in the rain’)

Skylark saw another shape overhead so he flew upward singing “My eggs are the prettiest, no one here has eggs as pretty as mine” and as he rose he recognised Crane
“You have come far with that egg, little Skylark” said Crane “Have you now decided what it is that you seek? truth? knowledge? or wisdom?”
Crane made a bowl of his wings and there Skylark saw no sky, no light or dark, no up or down, no before”
“Thank you Crane” Skylark said, “I wish to find truth” (and in his head he said ‘what good is knowledge that I don’t know is true? and what would my mate say if I became wise’)

Crane clacked his bill once and skylark realised that the pebble had never really been an egg to begin with, and he felt very tired and then slightly disappointed.
Down he fell, down past Loon, down past Swallow. Vrok looked a little hunger now, and Skylark roused himself to thrust away from him travelling very very fast.
The wind pulled at his wings as he spiralled by Unnek, but now he began to glide more than to fall, and he circled round Stormcock and Raven as he looked for his own heath.
When he got there, he heard Zenagar singing a lament for his lost luck, and, moved, he flew down to wipe a tear from his eye. When he dropped the stone, Zenagar saw it and was amazed.

And that is why we are happy whenever we hear Skylark sing over the heath

"I don't know how a quest can do these things with true-stone, but my Uncle the Shaman said that he thought that Crane in this story was Grandfather Loon's mother and that she was a dragon, so maybe that's how. The Sun Ring like Seven Foals Vale and that's not far from Dragonspine Ridge... He also said Crane might eat you if you went to her in the wrong frame of mind."

The people are grateful for Tamarkorda's stories, and show much appreciation.  They are far more hesitant when Oligur speaks of the Goddess, though a few actively listen.

Danbal then stands to give a story.

Dini is the name of the high valleys where the earliest tribes lived.  They had lived separately from each other for many years, each with their friends and animals.  then Durev brought them together, and as a group, they moved down from the valleys to the more fertile lands below.

Mavorela is the name of the area where the herds stopped and calved.  The tribes stayed there for a while before moving on.  The lands of wide valleys with low hills between, and many trees but few Aldryami.  Some people stayed behind here with their heards and wandered among the hills.  They were the Mavorelans.  Others kept moving forward.

Envorela was the next land where people stopped.  Again, many calves were born, and so many lambs that it is called Ewe Fields.  Barntar's wife was tired, so Barntar built the first cabin.  Other people stayed, and Bartar developed the farming we know today.

Kerofinela was the next objective.  Kero Fin was the mother of Orlanth, but Orlanth was driven away from her years earlier by a fierce monster, the dragon Sh'hakarzeel.  Now Orlanth gathers his fellows about him, armed with his most potent weapons, and goes to confront his enemy.

Sh'hakarzeel rose and fought Orlanth.  Their fight opens the huge mountain gap called Dragon Pass.  Orlanth is badly wounded, but he kills the monster, which vomits out the cloud sheep as it thrased about in its death throes.

Other lesser dragons are destroyed by heroes, and the last of the Draconic race flies far to the east where they hide under the land and water.  Kero Fin heals her son.

Vingkot, one of Orlanth's sons, led his people into the new lands.  When his people got there, Orlanth spoke from the huge lenticular cloud that hovered above the mountain.  Elmal stood overhead.  The people settled nearby and built their steads there.  They were later called the Vinghotlings, after their leader.  His other kin moved on to the north.  He and his people built the first steads with longhouses.

Desola stands and tells a story about the Green Age

One day, the men saw the women getting barley for dinner.  The women were breaking it off with their hands.  The men saw how they might help, and so they took out their knives and they went into the fields.  They used their knives and grabbed a handful of stalks, and cut them all off at once.  The women were impressed, and the work was done quickly.

However, that night everyone heard the pitiful sound of someone seeping with great and terrible pain.  When they went to see who it was, they found the goddess Pela, daughter of  Esrola, crying.  "It is the knives," she said, "they are the things which hurt me.  I will weep whenever I am cut that way."  So after that, no one used knives again to cut grain.

Vesmortha one day was bearing the jaw of a sakkar that her husband used as a saw.  She was marveling how the creature would later be resurrected, as everything was when it was dedicated to Hallo the seed goddess.  Yet even now the jaw, in its transitory state, brought further change and creation to the world by helping to cut wood.

And from this, Hallo spoke to Vesmortha, who bent and tried to cut the grass with the jaw.  Though good for hard wood, the teeth only got stalks caught between them.  Hallo spoke again.  Vesmortha then set bits of obsidian blade into the curved handle.  Then she took it back to her sisters.

"The shape is like the white moon," she said, "and as long as you use this shape to harvest our sister Pela, she will return just like the moon does. The women used the obsidian covered jaw to harvest the grain, and Pela was not hurt, but the men were angry again, not knowing the secret information of the women.  So they refused to help in the harvesting unless they could use their knives.  And that was refused, of course, so some of the men took it as an opportunity not to work at all.

One day the men said that they wished to make a great feast for the women.  They went to their singing places and after a month of great effort, returned with many hares, deer, and other creatures to eat.  The women were very happy, and after it was all gone, they wanted to do it again.  "We will come back in a month," said the men, "and feast again."

The women were unhappy with waiting so long, and when the men were gone one of them said, "it is too bad that they do not ask us about these things."  She was Verg, or Sow, and she called her children all to her and they were cut up, cooked, and eaten in a great feast, for the women knew that these seedlings would be reborn.  The women had so much food to each that when the men came back with their hares, pheasants, and deer, none of the women were in a mood to eat.  "You have such difficult ways of doing things," said the women to the men.

The men, of course, were hurt and angry.  They went away to the woods with their feast and shared it with the wild creatures and the homeless.  They stayed out of the wilds for a while and sang about Grandfather Vagath, the father of Gagarth, the wild hunter.  After a while, they came back home.

One day it grew cold.  The men wanted to protect the people, so they conferred on what to do.  They took their tools and went into the woods where they chopped trees, collected vines, and gather piles of brush.  They dragged these back to their camps, where they built the first huts that anyone had ever made.  They were dark inside, so they built small fires inside for light and heat.

"That would probably be a good thing," said the women, "if we were assailed by evil gods, but we have these to keep us warm these days."  And they showed the men that they had cloaks, and boots, and sleeves, and leggings for when it was cold.  The men were envious of these things because they really liked to move around freely if they could.  The women would not share the secret, but agreed instead to make clothing for the men if they wanted it, and if they would share the hut space, which they did.

But the men did not like being bested again.  They were often just away from their huts, sulking, because they had found another thing they could not do.  Some were so outraged that they swore they would never bother with women again and took pleasure and company only with other men, but most men just sulked as they still do today when there is nothing for them to do.

One day some strangers came camp.  They were people, but they spoke a strange tongue no one had ever heard, and no one could make sense of it.  They were treated the same way that all newcomers were always treated, but these newcomers did not know anything about behaving, good manners, or hospitality.

The strangers were only curious at first, going into huts and taking little things.  When no one responded to their rude behavior, they grew contemptuous.  They showed that they had no respect.  In the Women's Sacred Hut, the strangers seized a pair of baskets, a pair of jars, a horn, and the Yernzil rattles. 

The women were frightened and screamed, and in their huts and tents, the men heard it and grabbed their spears.  They ran out and saw that the strangers were stealing things and manhandling the women.  Then the men whooped and threatened the strangers with gestures and buffets.  The strangers got angry and acted like they had finally found a behavior that they understood.  They shouted back and made faces.  Finally, their leader seized a woman, and Protector smashed him with a stone club.  There was a big fight with many cracked heads and broken legs, until at last the strangers ran away, crying.  For a change, the men did not feel useless.

"Now this," said Protector to the women, "is something we can do!"

And with regrets, the women agreed.

(As the story precedes, the men begin to sulk.  They have obviously heard this before and don't like it that the men couldn't do anything, but all the men rejoice at the end of the story that they were the heroes.  Desola shakes her head, and you feel that she gets this response whenever the story is told)

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.