Freeze Day, Disorder Week, Sea Season, 1616

[kwll]

Jargian approaches, leaving Eda at a distance for now.

[BackworldTraveller]

Who are you and why do you roam our plains?

[kwll]

"Hello, I am Jargian of Rockwater, a nearby village. I come to see the head of your tribe. Can you lead me to him?"

[BackworldTraveller]

And why do two villagers seek our camp? Are you bored of your village life?

[kwll]

"We seek your help. The red moon is active in the area. Please hurry, we don't have much time!"

[BackworldTraveller]

The Group look a little surprised at the forthright demeanour of the villagers.

(They are usually nervous and either belligerent or obsequious - Curt they aren't)

You are an unusual villager - I will take you into the circle -but you must leave your weapons with your apprentice who will remain outside with our warriors.

Our chief will decide what we do with you.

[kwll]

Jargian accepts and gives his weapon to Eda, then follows the group of nomads.

[BackworldTraveller]

JArgian accepts and gives his weapon to Eda, then follows the group of nomads.

Eda is left with a warrior - She afoot and him on a massive Llama. She decides to be friendly and offers him a piece of cheese. This flummoxes the stern guardian a bit.

Jargian is taken, under escort, the last few hundred metres to the camp. Five tents surround a central area of rock outcrop on which a fire is smouldering wetly...Clearly a larger affair earlier, but now reduced to a small remnant.

Our Chief - Yandarin the Lark - and our Shaman - Usua the Younger.

The two are almost the opposite of the stereotype of the Riders the village has. Yandarin is young (most chiefs you have met are much older) and Usua seems to be incredibly fat - The tough life of the barbarian doesn't seem to have positively affected his physique. And then you realise he's sitting because he's missing both legs at the knees!

Welcome to our camp. We promised the head of the village we would watch here, but weren't expecting anyone to call. What brings you to dare the terrors of the Llama People?

[kwll]

"I wouldn't do it if I hadn't a good reason to. The red moon is on the move, and wants to take over the river. A challenge has been issued, and by a strange concourse of circumstances, I have been designated as the Zola Fel's champion. However, there is no way I can succeed without your help. And I know that you have more interest to help rather than the opposite."

Then Jargian proceeds to explain the sequence of events which led to the current situation, sparing the unimportant details but insisting on the urgency of tracking the sable.

"You are the only defenders of of Prax in the area who can help in time. Can you spare at least a few warriors for this endeavor?"

[BackworldTraveller]

"I wouldn't do it if I hadn't a good reason to. The red moon is on the move, and wants to take over the river. A challenge has been issued, and by a strange concourse of circumstances, I have been designated as the Zola Fel's champion. However, there is no way I can succeed without your help. And I know that you have more interest to help rather than the opposite."

Then Jargian proceeds to explain the sequence of events which led to the current situation, sparing the unimportant details but insisting on the urgency of tracking the sable.

"You are the only defenders of of Prax in the area who can help in time. Can you spare at least a few warriors for this endeavor?"

Yandarin answers

This is a strange request and odd circumstance. You and your companion may take your rest at the fire and we will discuss what we shall do.

And with that the pair vanish into their tent - leaving you in the camp with a number of women and children and a small group of herders. One is sent to fetch Eda and her guard. It stops raining.

As Eda arrives, some chanting can be heard from the leader's tent.

[kwll]

Jargian accepts any accomodation given to him, looks at the sky when it stops raining and waits. After a while he scratches his head and gets up. Trying as much as possible to hide his impatience, he asks to the closest tribesman or woman: "How long do you think they might stay in this tent?"

[BackworldTraveller]

There is the sound of chanting - and eventually the tent door opens emitting a cloud of smoke.

Our ancestors made many arrangements. The River gives us water and we wouldn't want to lose that gift. You may take "Longlegs" (he points to an ugly looking High Llama) and we will send messages to our allies of your mission. If you can best those treacherous Sables, that would please me well.

They must come here to pick up the tracks of the quarry. We may be able to delay their start. And if you can hide the trail on rock or in water - or disguise it that will help delay the inevitable. But a White Sable isn't easy to hide. Everyone will talk of it's passing. Good luck with keeping everyone quiet.

My second wife is preparing food for your journey. Many groups will feed you if you have the time, but "Longlegs" can carry many days food in case you don't.

We are only a small tribe. I can spare two to help if I'm to distract the hunters here. Warriors or Trackers or one of each?

[kwll]

"I can track a sable alright. That's what I do. Delaying the enemy is probably of greater value right now."

Jargian looks at Eda, then at the Llama. "Will the Llama be able to carry us both?" he asks, after a short pause.

[BackworldTraveller]

"I can track a sable alright. That's what I do. Delaying the enemy is probably of greater value right now."

Jargian looks at Eda, then at the Llama. "Will the Llama be able to carry us both?" he asks, after a short pause.

He will, and he'll be happy to be ridden again!
Androrkar, Dorale, Saddle up! Aid this Hero until his death or the end of the season!

Everyone else - time to break camp!


And the place dissolves around you.

Dorale is the young (female) warrior that was guarding Eda. Androrkar (male) is a Follower of Waha. Each has a Llama - Androkar's looks old while Dorale's is younger. Both have pole-arms and Androrkar also has a bow. Dorale appears to have a set of Javelins. Each is seen off by members of the clan.

Eda is struggling with the saddle and the unfamiliar creature...but it appears fairly docile but probably isn't above playing tricks.


Androkar

[BackworldTraveller]

The Llama Herd!

As Jargian and Eda might hope to look when mounted

[kwll]

Jargian makes an attempt to climb on the Llama. If and when he succeeds he thanks the tribe leaders before heading off to where he last saw the sable with Eda. Along the way he indicates to Dorale and Androrkar where the sable riders might be. "Stay safe, and do what you can!" he tells them before the part ways.

Then he starts looking for tracks of the running animal.

[BackworldTraveller]

The High Llama can be the fastest of the cavalry beasts on the plains - and Androrkar and Dorale prove this as their beasts rush north to observe the ford.

From the vantage point of the Llama's back, Jargian can see much further than he could from the ground - but notes that the broken ground nearer the river still needs careful searching - the availability of water means it has a lot of scrub; the cliffs and slopes block visibility. Eda seems to have some facility with the creature but Jargian finds the

So what is your plan for keeping on the trail of this creature? We don't want to lose it as we sleep, or signal it's position to the Sable Riders by our presence. And how are those two fighters going to get back in contact with us when they find the Lunars?

We have two observers to the north and a bunch of raiders doing who knows what to delay the inevitable behind us. But how much time will that buy? Will they actually stand up to Lunar Allies in Lunar Lands?

And what do we do with the Sable itself. Just allow it to wander or do we herd it?

[kwll]

Jargian thinks for a while, then, when they reach the first tracks of the fleeing sable, he goes down and tells Eda: "I need to stay down to track our target. Stay away from me by a good distance for a while, but keep me in sight. Try to go back and forth in the direction of these Llama rider warriors. Come to me at my signal. In any case, if someone menacing is approaching, come my way. Else try not to point them at me."

After a while, he adds: "I understand this might be a bit confusing. Did you understand?"

[BackworldTraveller]

Maybe.

I'm acting as rider between you and the scouts at the ford. And I'm not to come near if I can be seen?

I guess I can do that - though it's hard to hide a Llama!

And with that, she goads the Llama off into the scrub, heading north-east.

The Sable is leaving tracks - and moving south-east - parallel to the river and up-hill - but the river is visible, in places, so presumably anyone on the far back could see the Sable too.

Please roll for tracking for the midday period.

The rest of the area is quiet. The sunshine has brought the birds out but they haven't started marking territories yet so their song is muted and mostly limited to alarms as you pass.

In the far, far distance you can see the smoke of the settlement at the ford - but somehow the rest of the landscape looks empty and lonely. You know the place is full of wildlife and (probably) nomads, but at present, you are definitely alone.

[kwll]

After seeing Eda gone, Jargian concentrates on tracking the sable.