"Dalyndra ... Zara ... Oko ..." Clint repeats each name as is it pronounced and snaps a half-bow to each person indicated, in turn, turning his eyes purposefully toward the ground in a show of trust with each bow.

"Thank you, all of you, for the welcome and the offer of food. I have just finished a journeycake to assuage the edge of hunger, but I could honestly do with some real food, cooked by hands other than my own. Even by my standards, my cooking leaves much to be desired, so I do it as little as possible." A quick grimace to illustrate his point, then a smile as he moves farther into the light of the fire.

"If you don't mind,. though, first I would like to see that my mount, Ponk, is unburdened and somewhat more comfortable, then I will happily join you. Turning to the bear he says laughingly, "Friend Osonaar, you have been singled out as worthy of attention in your own right. Please remember that we are amongst those who deserve courtesy and manners, such as you can give. We have been invited to dine. Would you sit back from food that I offer you? I think not." Clint moved to remove bundle, saddle, blanket, and bridle, leaving Ponk to happily munch grass after a quick rubdown.

Oso, at Clint's admonishment, looked at Dalyndra, then at Zara, as if saying. "What did I do that he should speak to me thus?", but before rising, the bear sat up on his haunches and leaned slightly to the left as he raised his right paw and grunted lightly twice. Then he rose and approached the fire and the food, sniffing the air as he approached. Oso rounded the fire and then sat near Zara, nudged her with his muzzle and snuffled quietly, then waited as he watched her prepare the offered food.

This elicited a short blurt of laughter from Clint's direction. "Typical! His idea of the correct amount of courtesy is self-determined and never the same. But at least he is willing to show it, so I need not apologize for him." Done settling Ponk in, he approaches the fire himself. Gone is the cap, showing his white-gold hair in a horse-braid, tied with a leather string. "Like me, he seems to sense not the slightest hint of danger here, hidden or otherwise. For this I also thank you. What has been prepared is more than I hunger for, but I shall do my best to be worthy of it."

Clint starts to eat, slowly at first. "My complements to the chef, or chefs, if more than one." His efforts at eating then gradually increase to the point of a barely-contained rush to finish the meal. When finished, he sighs deeply and says quietly, "Now will I apologize. For myself. The meal was of such quality and taste that I fair wolfed it down. I must have looked for all the world like a starving beggar downing what he could, not knowing when he would eat next. Even Oso has shown more manners than me in this." Again he smiles, this time somewhat sheepishly. Hearing his name yet again, Osonaar, raises his head briefly before going back to work on his own portion of the repast offered.

After the introductions Oko will add ”Welcome Clint of the East Wood The rest of the horses are over there” and he will point where they are. “I have put out some grains for them as well as a few apple bits. The mule is a bit snappish but the rest are friendly”

With that he will go over to where the fruit tarts are and pick one up. Munching on it he will check the horses to see if they were done with the grains he had placed out. Picking up the now empty bucket her will put some more grains in it and cut up another apple for the new horse.

To be safe Oko will approach Clint and hand him the bucket of grains. “I might scare him If I were to approach him before he got used to me. Here are some grains and an apple for your horse.” He will give the bucket to Clint then move off quietly away from the fire light to keep watch.

Thank you for you compliments to the chefs, in this case Zara and I put together this meal but Oko does a good job of cooking also." You can call me just Dae (day) if you want. The young warrior woman offered. She brings over a tray of fruit tarts, Ik you would like some more or if your companion Oso would like a few, please feel free to take some more."

Dae returns to the fire to clean up from dinner. "Zara you take first watch, Oko second, I will take third. When and if Moraglin comes back in time she can have last watch. Clint would you join us for the night and share watches that way everyone can get some needed rest? "

(clint's response)

"What brings you to this area so near the Barrens?" Are you currently on a mission or quest. I ask because we have lost our Ranger that started with us and could use another if you are free to travel with us. Truth be told though it will be a journey fraught with trials and tribulations if not downright danger." Dae comes back and sits near Clint and watches him closely.

"I tell you thin ahead of time but I will say no more unless you plan to travel with us because of the nature of our mission. If you can't. so be it." She finishes and waits for Clint's response.

Her clear light sky blue eyes regard him with a steady look however it suggested nothing but an interest in his response.

Clint accepted the bucket of grain from Oko with a nod of thanks and a smile, then turned to see to Ponk. Time enough for Oko to find out how steady Ponk was. Clint had already decided that these people were here for a purpose, and any purpose at all was reason enough for him to ask if he could aid them.

At the tray of tarts, Clint smiles and takes one, saying, "After all that, one should suffice to fill any gaps left by that tasty and filling bounty offered me. As for Osonaar, I daresay that in one sitting he could eat what would be a week's supplies for one like us. But I will not gainsay him the opportunity to eat what he can, but only so much as you can afford to part with. Fear no reprisal from him if his bounty here is cut short. He will accept what he can get, gladly and quietly. I have seen him go for nearly a week without so much as a field mouse, which I could not do. Not even close."

"As for a turn at the watch? I look forward to it, and gladly. Just let me know when you wish me to be alert and I will be so."

"Honestly, I had thought myself retired, and happily so. But there came upon me a wanderlust and an undirected wish to do -- ummm, something of worth -- that's about the best way I can put it. I packed my "possibles" and let chance determine my direction just as it has determined that I meet you in this place. And chance it is, but also coincidence, or whatever other name you care to give it. I knew that I was riding toward the Barrens and held trepidations about it. But I figured that if the Barrens were to be the death of me, it would have happened years ago. When I was much younger, I and others passed through a narrow portion of the Barrens farther south and east of here, on our way home." A wistful look crossed his face, but he shook his head and continued ...

"Your purpose is your own, but I will be more than happy to accept it as mine, too, for I ventured forth seeking a purpose. You have what I seek, as simple as that. I imagine I'll have questions, but there will be time, I imagine, to get most of them answered. So, to answer the unasked question, I would indeed like to travel with you and be a part of whatever you intend to do, whenever you intend to do it."

A smile of remembrance came again to Clint's face. "Ah, the travels of youth! Former associates of mine, who crossed the Barrens with me those many years ago, were these ... " And he indicated each name by touching a finger on one hand for each of them:

"Rachel, Ray of the Morninglord, cleric of the Light and cook extraordinaire. Almost as good as you two." He nods to Dae and Zara.
"Vanna the White, Paladin and Hand of the Warlord, defender of those who could not defend themselves, "
"Charles, son of Bronze, warrior, wielder of the greataxe he calls ToeCutter, "
"Bradd of the Pits, warrior, former pit-fighting slave who was freed by our order and asked to join and serve as payment, "
"And Justine Du Timberlake, bard, her talents had become so useful and opportune we had come to call her 'Just In Time' ".

"We called ourselves the Other Hand, one of ten associated adventuring groups financed by, and under the patronage of, the Order of the Dragon's Paw. The Dragon's Paw was disbanded some eleven years ago, under edict, and I have not seen my compaions since. I sometimes wonder, though ..."

Clint shakes his head again, "But that was then and this is now. I am here and, if allowed, at your service."

"The Order of the Dragon's Paw, an apropos name." Zara took a honey cake and held it out to the bear. Truth be told Zara and Dae did cook up the stew from Zara's mother's recipe, but not this night, for Dae's mother had needed a substantial quanity to create a pot of unemptying stew. They warmed the pot for effect, but the stew was serveable is as from the pot, the magic of the pot kept it at the right temperature.

When it seemed all were full of the stew, Zara put on the lid and attached the heavy wire bails so that the lid could not be taken off. She banked the fire for the night and prepared her bedroll.

"Clint if you take a watch then each of us only have to do about 1 1/2-2 hours apiece."

Zara says this while climbing a tree taking up a position in the crook of two major branches to watch over the camp. "Full Great Moon tonight," she commented. The landscape around them was washed in silver with only a bit of red glow coming from their fire.

"I can take the Second watch" was a reply from off to the side of the camp away from the fire light. The voice is Oko's and was a bit low but clear enough to be heard by all.

Nodding as if he had been spoken to, Clint said, "Fine. Osonaar and I will take final watch, so we can be bright eyed and ready when you all arise. C'mon, bre'r bear, let's find us a patch of ground so snooze upon. And this time, you get to be the pillow ..."

Dae turned to the Ranger. Thank for taking a watch. It is much appreciated. Just to let you know we have another party member that should be returning at any time. She is Mystic Theurge by the name of Moraglin. A bit on the flamboyant side She wears black robes with red and purple accents and is half-felani. Introduce yourself and if necessary wake one of us to corroborate your presence here. I don't expect any trouble but when in doubt wake us up..

Clint is on third watch when Moraglin returned.

The moon course for the night had just about run across the star filled sky and ws now slipping beyond the distant mountains when Moraglin arrived back in camp. She was tired, cold and hungry but most of all dirty and she hated that most of all. She didn't thing she could light a match stick in her present condition. Almost every point of magic and divine power that she had been granted for the day had been used all she had saved ws that tast teleport back to the camp site.

She pulled out her flying carpet and commanded her mattress and bed roll out. No one had seem to be up on watch until she saw a strange figure in the night accompanied by what looked like an animated fur rug until it resolved it self into a large bear walking with the man.

"Who, may I ask, are you?" her voice resounded clearly in the quiet camp.

Before Clint stands a tall elegant looking woman in black robes with designs and runes of red and purple like some eeird fire at the edges of them. Her hair is black as night, her eyes green-gold. and her features though refined are not all human or all Felani. Her hand is on a slender wand that she is drawing out of a sheath on her belt.

Clint was surprised at the lack of warning from his two companions, who he knew to have far better senses than his own. Maybe they sensed no danger or harm from her, but a warning would have been nice. He was more than a little chagrinned at failing his watch so miserably. But it was what it was. An unknown intrusion. Because of a forewarning about an absent companion, it should be easily handled, but he wondered at his own failure ...

As Clint rises, he smiles, his eyes showing a seriousness of purpose, a wariness, but no fear. He stands slowly, hands out from his body and palms turned toward the woman. He speaks quietly, purposely not raising his voice to awaken the camp.

"I am a wanderer seeking a purpose, one who the fates decreed should cross paths with the people here. My name is Clint Estenvoode. The sleepers here mentioned to me that one of their group was absent, and would return, and for me to awaken them to vouch for me. For you to be sure of my purpose and intent here, I suggest you waken one of your comrades, if they are such. If they are not your comrades, you, I, and they will know, and I can assure you that things will not go well if that happens. I and my furry companion Osinaar will remain where we are and watch until needed, vouchsafed, or sent away, as the case may be."

A green, feathered woodsman's cap fell, seemingly unnoticed, from his left knee as he stood. He wore light brown studded armor over which was worn a Mithril Mail shirt. At his wrists were finely made silver bracers with copper inlays. His white-blonde hair was pulled back in a loose horse-braid, and the firelight showed his light blue eyes clearly, Those eyes indicated elven descent, but not elven purity. His ears had only a vestigial point at the top. which also indicated, to the knowing, heritage of another race as well. Even in the firelight, it could be seen that he who rose was past. but not long past, niddle-age. A number of relatively minor scars showed on the face and hands as light streaks on moderately-tanned skin. The smile-lines on the face, and the patience and practiced moves used to indicate inoffensiveness also showed years of experience.

The black bear who rose to all fours next to the "breed" was obviously wary, but also not nervous. The animal looked at the man briefly, then raised his head to sniff the air in the direction of the woman before lowering it to watch her.

Questions, questions and more questions

Oko is normally a light sleeper. So when he hears 2 voices talking in the night he wakes up. One voice is Moraglin and the other is Clint’s, both people have distinctive voices. Oko will stand up from his spot at the base of the tree where he was napping wrapped in his cloak. Quietly he walks over to Moraglin and softly says her name before he reaches out to clasps her shoulder.

“Morrraglin, was everything OK in town?” He would have asked more but his hand was conveying the fact that she was shaking (exhausted or mad?) . “This man is Clint he joined us this evening afterr you left to rrreturn that monsterr. He is standing thirrd watch for us. He is not an enemy. Why don’t you rrrest a bit? We can talk afterr you had done so. If you need some food I have a few lunches packed away, just ask”

He is hoping she was tired but why was she? All she had to do was return that monster of a horse to its owner and by her manner earlier that was not a hard task to do. So Why the late return and exhaustion? What could have caused her to get dirty and sweaty? He definitely smelt sweat mixed in with dirt along with her normal scent.




edit for time referance

Moraglin listen to the first part only of Oko's words. She was exhausted.

"Okay, then Ranger. You keep watch I am going to bed and woe to the person that disturbs my rest. Just keep your critter down wind from me. I can shut off sound and light but I haven't master shutting off smells."

Oko,I will tell you in the morning what happened. We have big problems ahead."

Moraglin arrangers her bedding, pulls a comforter from her bag of holding and stasis and arranges it all. She starts to undress but pauses after taking off her outer robes. Her figure is clearly evident in a dress that clings tightly to her torso with a deep cleavage but flowed away from her body from the hips down. She is curvaceous in all the right places. She turns back to both men and suddenly there is a area of darkness the engulfs her bed about 10 feet in diameter around it.

"Sorry no peeking and I won't be able to hear you either. So you will have to come into the darkness to wake me."

All you can hear is a yawn starts and then be abruptly cut off.

Moraglin listen to the first part only of Oko's words. She was exhausted.

"Okay, then Ranger. You keep watch I am going to bed and woe to the person that disturbs my rest. Just keep your critter down wind from me. I can shut off sound and light but I haven't master shutting off smells."

“Oko, I will tell you in the morning what happened. We have big problems ahead."

Moraglin arranges her bedding and pulls out her bag of holding and stasis and calls out a comforter and arranges it all. She starts to undress but pauses after taking off her outer robes. Her figure is clearly evident in a dress that clings tightly to her torso with a deep cleavage but flow away from her body from the hips down. She is curvaceous in all in the right places. She turns back to both men and suddenly there is an area of darkness that engulfs her bed about 10 feet in diameter around it.
Clint will hear a very soft “Drrratts” from Oko when the darkness surrounds Moraglin and her bed.

"Sorry no peeking and I won't be able to hear you either. So you will have to come into the darkness to wake me."

All you can hear is a yawn start up and then abruptly cut off.
Speaking softly to avoid waking up the others, Oko will tell Clint,

“Clint, that one is Morrraglin, our missing parrty memberrr. She is a magic userrr.”
Looking at the night sky a bit he adds, “It is some time beforre dawn I’ll go back to napping. Oso does not smell, in fact he is cleanerr then most bearrrrs, so do not take herr words about him to hearrrt.”

Oko will stop and watch Clint’s hat closely for a moment. Like a cat that spotted something moving, He was sure it had moved a bit. Then look back at Clint like nothing had happened.

“You good for the rest of the watch? “ He will ask Clint.

(Clint will see Oko look at his hat a couple more times while he goes back to the spot he was at before and settle down to sleep again.)

Clint simply listens to Moraglin's tirade in silence, letting the "smell" reference drop unanswered. She was angry about something, that much was clear. Clint would find out what he needed to know about that in good time, he was sure of it. But he had learned that you simply do not ply an angry female with questions and expect direct -- or even truthful -- answers. Silence was sometimes the best comment to make to anger.

He smiled wide and knowingly at Oko's exclamation when the area around Moraglin went dark. To Oko's comment about Oso, he simply stated quietly, "I know and you know, and I think she knows as well, but words spoken in the heat of anger are not always diplomatic or courteous. I know enough to take no offense, and Oso cares not enough to take offense. I'm fine for the rest of the watch. Rest well and easy."

When it seems Oko had settled in, Clint took a short step backward and looked down at his cap to see why Oko kept glancing back at it. He waits a few seconds to determine if there may be danger in his next action before bending to pick it up by the point at the front of the cap with two fingers, lifting it carefully and cautiously, but without stepping forward again.

For one brief moment time stood still. As Clint lifted his cap, a small furry brown body with a narrow snout, round pink ears and beady black eyes stared up at the Ranger. Then there was a flurry of feet and a naked pink tail and the meadow mouse dove for it hole in the ground. That was the only animal encounter Clint was to have for the night.

As the sky lightened in the east a small body stirred, the covers twisted and turned and finally a head come out from under them. Tussled golden hair fell into the teen's face, which she blew back with a tongue directed breath.

"Chilly," she said and then ducked back under the blanket for what seem minuted of rustling about until the the blankets came up and then she let them drop. She stood in a new outfit and then stepped out of the pile of bedding.

She blew a couple of breaths is the brisk morning air, watching it coalesce into vapor.

"Cloud making," she stated look over her shoulder seeing he was watching.

"Now, time for breakfast." She reaches into a bag and pulls out a pot that was to big for it. More amazing is the fact that steam is rising from it.

"Oops." what follows is a table, chairs, untensiles and then she sets the pot onto the table. Picking up a ladle she begins to bang the side of the pot.

"Wakey, Wakey, Breakfast is waiting." Zara then goes to Dae's and Oko's beds and yanks the coverings off them.

Looking about she sees the veil of darkness and walks into it. Moments later she comes out. "Wow, is she in a mood, she must be real tired."