"Maybe we could rig some sort of a sling out of the ropes we moved that big metal lid with" Norajia says "If it stood up to that it should hold Mabwe easily enough, if Thangar still has it that is."

"I don't fancy taking this covering apart until Thangar arrives with the mounts, or we get desperate to move. It's got to be some help in keeping our heat in. "

"I wonder how much time has passed? I didn't say goodbye to my girls properly (only Vara). They'll be worried if there's been no word from me in a season or two."

The moon is full. While Yelm has risen, his light does not bring much warmth.

<OOC: Let me know if you plan to stay put and wait for Thangar or do something else, and I'll advance the scene tomorrow>

"I agree," says Lemak.  "We should stay and wait for Thangar.  Hopefully Mabwe will awake by then."  While they wait, he inspects the metal, looking to see if there's a way to dismantle it, and take some with them.  Not that he's fully relaxed with the lizard around.  Every now and then, he looks back at the lizard to make sure it's not trying anything dangerous.

You spend the entire Wildday waiting in the cold with no sign of Thangar.

<OOC: In the accelerated training of this campaign you have enough downtime that you can go ahead and make POW and skills checks if you have any>

There is no sign of danger today except Tuari spots a hyena that wanders by in the distance and looks at your party, and then prances off. 
The clouds remain completely motionless in the sky and indeed have held the same shape and position since you emerged.
The Dragonewt appears patient and seems loyal to Norajia after receiving the seed pod... you think.
Lemak is able to pry some bronze off of the still closed door but it's difficult work, at least without the proper tools.
Mabwe remains in a trance but you believe he is healthy.
At about midday however, Mabwe flinches suddenly and you notice a large nasty welt appear on his right jaw.

Yelm sets in the distant west.

Lemak inspects the morokanth's wound.  "Well, I guess that confirms that his spirit is travelling."

He catches Norajia's eye a moment.  Presumably she'll look after Mabwe better than he can.

Then he returns to trying to pry as much metal as he can off the door.

Norajia frowns when she sees the damage to Mabwe's jaw and she gets some salves and ointments from her medical bag to treat it. There's no noticeable change to Mabwe's condition though.

<OOC - 07:57, Today: Norajia rolled 91 using 1d100.  first aid (Mabwe) .>

As Yelm starts to sink in the sky she goes to see if there is any sign of movement on the horizon. "Where is Thangar?" she says, "We can't sit here and die of thirst"

You keep Mabwe as comfortable as possible through the night.
On Godday, something week, something season, Norajia spots the familiar site of dust being kicked up by hooves on the distant western horizon.

Norajia calls the others and points out the dust column that she has seen in the west

Lemak stops his investigation of the metal, and stands up, both hands on his dagger-axe, but loosely, ready in case it's not Thangar that approaches.  In particular he tries to make out any sight of Lobber.

As the cluster approaches you see Thangar's impala with a heap of furs sitting on top of it and decide Thangar must be under those furs.
Lobber the high llama, Odina the bison, and Chastity the sable are all present.
They seem to have been well cared with their brushed coats but you have seen them fatter.
Neither the zebra nor the second sable are present, but there is another mount--a bolo lizard.
Thangar hops off his impala and greets you warmly.  His head has been unshaven and the top knot is a foot longer than when you last saw him. His face is also a bit thinner.
"You're alive! That llama spirit told me to come, and here you are!"

As the visitors draw up Norajia bursts into tears and starts running over to her sable.

<OOC It's called Modesty not Chastity, by the way (there are limits) >

But, noticing the changes in appearance, she diverts to hug Thangar first.

"Thangar you're a true comrade! How long have you waited? Are you alright? Where have you been? What's going on?"

Gesturing at the icy weather she belatedly realises that she won't get any answers unless she stops asking questions, and steps back to give the Impala the floor.

<OOC: Haha, oops>

Thangar hands a baked squash to Norajia and hands some pemican to Lemak, Tuari, and reluctantly to Vorrik.

He holds a second squash out to Mabwe, and notices his collapsed state for the first time.

The little impala rider clears his throat, and begins.
"Well, when you descended I waited for hours before calling down, even venturing to take a few steps into the cavern, but I heard nothing in reply. I made camp, but I spotted some bandits in the distance and thought it best to conceal the entrance lest you be killed from behind.
After a few more days I knew that the mounts would need water and feed, so I left a message for you and, with reluctance and uncertainty, headed to Moonbroth.
I never gave up hope and visited each week to see if anything was different.
Then the winds stopped blowing, from some Lunar trick, and this unending winter began.
That was more than 2 years ago! 
I brought furs and water and tucked them in the camouflage, I am glad you found them.
Things are grim in the plains, in the oases--everywhere. In spite of the hardships here I have done my best to care for the mounts, and I think you'll find your possessions intact, except I may have eaten some of the rations. You would have too! 
It has been ages, but here we are together again, eh?" 

Vorrik asks "Where are my sable and my zebra? And what in the seven hells is that?" he asks, indicating the bolo lizard.

Lemak takes the pemican gratefully and gives Thangar a friendly headbutt, pemican in one hand, then releases the brave, going to check on Lobber.



Lemak chokes on a mouthful of food and spits it out, staring at Thangar, all thoughts of thanking him for looking after Lobber forgotten.  "Great Bull's balls!  2 years?!  What has happened?!  Have you have any word of my clan, the Silver Fleece?"

He ignores Vorrik's questions.
This message was last edited by the player at 01:36, Wed 02 Dec 2020.

A woman of the plains, Norajia feels that she has seen and heard enough to know the answer. Still tearful, she moves quietly to stand in front of Vorrik. Looking at his feet, she bites her lower lip before meeting his gaze.

<OOC: before I forget, Lemak is able to pry about 200L worth of bronze from the door so far>




"All of the clans have suffered; your clan has done better than most, from the little I have heard. As for this winter without end, it was Lunar sorcery!" (he spits). "Orlanth is said to be down in the underworld, and the winds have stopped."
He squints at the Western horizon. "I have a friend who should be joining us, but he said not to wait."

To Vorrik, Thangar says, "I sold those animals. I figured both could go to a better master, er, meaning no offense. I had to survive for these last two years, you know.  But I didn't forget you outlander, I was able to obtain Fiko here." he adds, cheerfully, indicating the lizard.

Norajia raises an eyebrow at Thangar's reply, and rubs Vorrik's arm, "It looks fast!" she says in tones of approval "You will be quite the expert on Praxian beasts at this rate"

"We have a new... companion too." she tells Thangar, "We found Klanth-and-utumna down in the underground. He wants to protect something that we brought back."

<OOC: \^_^/>



Lemak frowns at the words, but at least the Silver Fleece seem to have survived - suffering being a part of the Wastes.  "And what of Shollak Sees-Far?  We were going to head back to him.  But if two years have passed, is he still in the same place or has he moved on?  And is the Block the same, or has Lunar sorcery extended there?"



If Vorrik was one of the Dedra, Lemak would understand the pain of losing one's mount.  But there was clearly no connection between the outlander and the sable nor the zebra.  So he just claps hands on Vorrik's shoulders and turns him to look at the lizard.  "I think it likes you!"



"I think Mabwe said it was a dragonewt," chips in Lemak.  "And that's apparently a real dragon scale next to it.  It doesn't appear to speak Praxian, but speaks Tradetalk."

Mabwe opens his eyes wide and at the same point a semicircular curved bone with reticulated skin of an unfamiliar animal stretched tightly over it, decorated with feathers and bronze bells appears in his paw.

He looks about at the others as he rises, flinching a little as he puts weight onto his left leg. He looks at Thangar, seemingly unsurprised to find him here "Thangar, it is good to know that you have survived these bad years. I assume that you have told them how long it has been?"

In reply to Mabwe (msg # 238):

"Ah, you're well, good Morokanth! My friends, and also Vorrik. Reunited once more!
Yes, you have been in that hole for 2 long years. A little over, actually."

To Lemak he replies "I don't know the fate of Shollak, didn't he say that he wouldn't be there, but that we should bring what we find to whoever was at the tree when we get there? Or something?"

<OOC: It's been a while (although not as long as in the rest of Glorantha) but that was message 67 in Block and Roll>

Mabwe smiles "Shollak is well, looks more spritely than when you last saw him. My old mentor too, Forntiss, she is well also. They were a great help to me."

He rubs at his left leg and then looks up again and adds, as though it is of no significance "Oh, the are dead though of course. Gave themselves over so others might live still."

"We should still head back there though. It is important." He looks past them at something not there, nods and then adds "And the Dragon will awaken soon."

Norajia's eyebrows do a little dance of surprise, concern and appreciation

Norajia coughs violently, and takes a  while to straighten up and regain her breath "Do   you" Hf hf "need" Hf "aid" Hf "on" Hf "leg?" she asks Mabwe semi-coherently.

After clearing her throat a few more times, she adds "In the vision dream of the Lunar attack, my girls were only a few years older than I expected them to be." Ahem " If two years are gone already, then we may not have much time do finish whatever has to be done."

"We better leave then, now that your mounts are here. It is nothing significant, time will heal it."

"Hmm, keep an eye on it. Ankles and wrists take a long time to heal left to themselves.

 Should we try and close this metal thing before we go? I'd quite like my bedding back, what's left of it"

Norajia approaches Fiko and inspects him or her cautiously. She does not seem familiar with Bolo lizards, but at least can try to learn something from the way the tack is put together. After a couple of minutes she shakes her head, none the wiser.

<OOC - 21:00, Today: Norajia rolled 66 using 1d100.  Devise (understand Bolo lizard tack) - fail.>

Tuari had rushed over to check Ondari over he seemed older but well cared for "It is good to see you brother you have been missed." he ran his hand over the big bulls horns with a smile.

"Thangar thank you for taking care of our brothers and sisters.  You have been a loyal friend and I am in your debt.  When you call Ondari and I will be there.  Now Mabwe is right we should start moving for we have tarried over long.  I still don't understand how years have passed."

"Well I suppose you're right. The bedding is probably frozen solid on there - it's time to go. Maybe Lobber can carry the scale."

"We are all in Thangar's debt as Tuari says." She glances sympathetically at Vorrik who may be less convinced " What about your friend Thangar? will he be able to follow our tracks?"

"Let's get you mounted Vorrik, I'll hold its halter. I don't know anything about riding two-legs. I guess you have to be more careful about balance, especially if you try to make a turn. I wonder what a bolo lizard eats?" She tries to look at Fiko's teeth, but does not actually touch its mouth