Needs some editing

Mike Holmes Okhfels rises later than normal, to the sounds of alarm in the camp. Mike Holmes Men rush about the tents furiously. Mike Holmes Somebody shouts, "Fire!" Okhfels Okhfels quickly dons his undertunic and rushes out of the tent. Okhfels Okhfels looks for the smoke. Mike Holmes To the south by the lake a huge plume of black rises, and the distinctly acrid smell of swamp burning reaches Okhfels nose on the winds coming from the southwest Okhfels Okhfels heads for the smoke. Rahkleth "Damnation..." Rahkleth mutters. "That's never a good sign." He rises and heads for the smoke at a trot. Okhfels Okhfels takes charge of the defense of the camp against the fire. Egani As Okhfels nears the fire, he notices Egani directing some men in fighting the fire at the source. Nearby, Sebastian is talking to what appears to be an elf. Mike Holmes Jilliams, previously leading the men, gives over command to Okhfels.

• Rahkleth hefts his spear onto his shoulder and moves to see how close the fire is burning to the camp and see what he might do to help keep it away.

Okhfels Okhfels charges into the front lines of the firefighting effort, knowing that he can get closer than anyone else. Mike Holmes The soldiers of Kaitaine follow Okhfel's example, and commands, and soon a bucket brigade has been formed. Mike Holmes Okhfels at the end of it hefting water faster than the line can get it to him Rahkleth Rahkleth joins the "bucket brigade" and begins splashing or beating the fire out to the best of his ability. "Who's the elf?" He wonders absently before continuing his work. Mike Holmes Just then Artanis comes striding up in confident elf fashion, though by the look of him he's not entirely well.

• Artanis keeps back, watching absent mindedly. From time to time, he will take a puff on his long pipe.

Egani Egani arrives at the camp-side of the fire, filthy with sweat and soot. Upon examining the efforts, he begins helping by cutting a break in the long grasses that are burning toward the camp. Okhfels Once the fire is mostly under control, Okhfels takes stock of any injuries or other losses that were sustained. Mike Holmes Looking north, Okhfels sees that the fire has leapt across the clearing, some embers lighting the grasses there. The fire now closes on the goat pens, and many of the Rhiani are trying to fight the flames there. Okhfels Okhfels pelts through the camp, towards the goat pens. Mike Holmes Most of the men follow, a few staying behind to keep the fire from starting up again near the colony. Rahkleth Rahkleth lets Okhfels deal with the goats and begins directing men where to dig fire-breaks and watching for new flare-ups. Mike Holmes As Okhfels starts fighting the fire to prevent it to get from the pens, Nurek runs up. Mike Holmes "I know this isn't a good time," he says. "But the goblins are on the move again." Okhfels "How far away are they?" Egani In the background, Egani is augmenting Okhfels' fire-fighting efforts with a ritual. Mike Holmes Nurek, his dark features twisting as he spits it out, "Not far - and I'm not sure I saw them all." Okhfels "Ash and smoke! Alright... go find Alshor. Have him round up the troop. If you see Dhazari, tell him I want to talk to him, too." Mike Holmes Nurek nods and runs off. Rahkleth Rahkleth watches the goat pens and notes Nurek but keeps his mind to the task at hand. Mike Holmes Nurek notes the glance and stops to speak to Rahkleth. "You are a warrior, amongst your people, no? Mike Holmes Rahkleth can tell that this assumption is based purely on his appearance, and Nurek's canny senses. Mike Holmes One of the soldiers running past Artanis looking for a bucket gives him a stare and sends an offhand comment, "What are you just standing there for?!?" Rahkleth "Yes. I... am." Rahkleth nods to Nurek. "Are you in need of warriors at the moment?"

• Artanis does not seem to have noticed the soldier. Nevertheless, the pipe is now empty and he tucks it back into a pouch. He seems a bit more interested in what's happening around him now.

Mike Holmes "Z'taar's left testicle! Need does not begin..." replies Nurek slowing for a moment to see if Rahkleth will follow. Rahkleth Rahkleth drops his bucket and retrieves his spear from nearby to follow Nurek. "Where are we headed and for what purpose?" Mike Holmes "There are goblins near. We must fight!" he relates as he begins moving again with a strange loping gait. Rahkleth "Aren't there always..." The warrior growls under his breath. "Lead on. I am with you." Mike Holmes * Mike Holmes Nurek returns with Alshor, Dhazari and Alshor as Okhfels has just managed to get the fire under control in this area. Dhazari says, "We've got the fire stopped before the camp. It's still going on here and there, however. What do yu want, Okhfels?" Okhfels "Has Nurek told you about the goblins?" Rahkleth "Yes. What is the plan?" Rahkleth asks. Mike Holmes Dhazari nods Okhfels Okhfels shoots Rahkleth a "Am I talking to you?" glance. Okhfels "I think we should assemble the warriors, and put the hunters and able women and boys to fighting the fires." Rahkleth Rahkleth shrugs and looks around unconcerned. Mike Holmes Dhazari shoots Okhfels a glance back. "But it was we who lead the raid against the goblins last time. Shouldn't we lead the attack again?" Mike Holmes He then softens a bit understanding the need to divide the forces. He still has a look of consternation on his face, however. Okhfels "I know it means a lot to you, Dhazari." Okhfels "You go talk to your people, and I will get the Kaitani ready. Nurek, see what you can do to find out where our enemy is." Mike Holmes Nurek nods as usual. He turns to Rahkleth, "Care to do some scouting? Can you keep up?" Rahkleth "These swamps are strange to me. Goblins are not. I will keep up."

Mike Holmes Rahkleth and Nurek climb a rocky crag to see if they can spot the goblins from a ways off. Rahkleth notes the various fetishes that Nurek carries. From his short stay in the camp, he's never seen this dark skinned stranger, but he must be one of the rumored Vajaari. Mike Holmes But those peoples are supposed to be a most violent tribal people. From all rumor. Mike Holmes Not the sort that would seem to participate in a colony of foreigners. Rahkleth At least Rahkleth is used to violence and the other man doesn't seem violent at the moment. "Who spotted the goblins first, friend?" Rahkleth asks as they climb. The Tethite is used to climbing so at least this part of the expedition is familiar. Mike Holmes "I spotted them first," he says offhandedly. Then turning to Rahkleth smiling, "The Ikaiti have only one good scout, and the Rhiani hunters are OK...but I'm better than all of them." Rahkleth "Well then, you're probably better than me too." Rahkleth return the smile for a second. "Still, I'm useful should things turn ugly and I do have sharp eyes. How many did you notice when you spotted them?" Mike Holmes Turning back to the climb Nurek enigmatically says, "Lots." Rahkleth "Great." Rahkleth sighs and begins to mutter quietly. "It's always lots. Never just 1 or 2..." Mike Holmes As they reach the top of the crag, Rahkleth suddenly gets an idea of what "Lots" means. Below them a mass of several hundred goblins surges forth trying to stay in the shade of the rock massif they're on. The sun seems to really bother them. Rahkleth "How many warriors do we have?" Rahkleth keeps his eyes on the goblins and unconsciously lowers his voice. "Somehow I don't think it's enough, is it?" Mike Holmes Nurek makes a non-committal sound. "We've defeated many before. They're small, though very tough for their size. Also if you catch them in daylight they tend to run off quick... but this is a lot. And..." Rahkleth "Small, tough and there seems to be an endless supply of them. Damnation." Rahkleth looks over to Nurek. "Perhaps I should return with their numbers and direction of travel... or perhaps we could cause some trouble for our friends below while staying ahead of them? I've no ranged weapons but hit and run works well in the bright light against them." Mike Holmes Nurek nods in appreciation of the suggestion. He seems to very much like the idea. "If we get caught, however, we'll be mobbed. There'll be no hope." Rahkleth "Let's not get caught then." Rahkleth shrugs and hefts his spear. Rahkleth "At least they're short and half blind. Outrunning them shouldn't be too difficult." Mike Holmes No, that's not a problem, says Nurek his grin getting very broad as he puts a bit of fur between his teeth, and pulls out two very nasty looking long knives. As Rahkleth watches, Nurek seems almost to change subtly, gaining a feline cast to him, and he takes off running straight down the cliff at the goblins. Rahkleth "Bear shit... so much for a plan..." Rahkleth growls and follows as quickly as possible. Mike Holmes The next two hours are an eternity for Rahkleth and Nurek, dodging from rock to rock, slaying goblins wholesale as they can without being mobbed. A couple of times the goblins try to form some sort of plan to capture them, but every time the pair are one step ahead. After a while the goblins cease their march entirely to deal with the threat, and that's when Nurek and Rahkelth decide to wander off. Mike Holmes Later the Rhiani note the remarkably filthiness of the two covered in blood as they return to the ranks of the horsemen. Curious, not one of the Rhiani asks what happened. Rahkleth Rahkleth finally catches his breath after the last mad dash and nods to Nurek. "That was a good day." Mike Holmes Nurek agrees, nodding once more. "You fight well. And it's not just that Tethite mass, either. Something burns in you. It's that the goblins have your city, no?"

Mike Holmes Okhfels is met by the Rhiani warriors as they come out of the camp. Farnock, one of the superiors amongst them comes forward to Okhfels. "I will be leading this battle today. This is likely not a raid, but may turn into an acutal battle. We need Rhiani horse tactics to win." Okhfels Okhfels nods. "Alright." Mike Holmes "Do you...." Farnock looks very uncomfortable and does not want to ask the question on his mind. He's not hiding this at all, of course. Okhfels "Yes, I do." Okhfels grins. "My men and I are best holding a spot of ground." Mike Holmes "I have an extra beast, I mean, if..." he struggles some more. Okhfels "Do I ride? No. We don't have horses in Teth. We measure ourselves by steel instead." Mike Holmes Farnock nods curtly and moves away quickly. Okhfels Okhfels shakes his head. He sighs and turns to his men. Okhfels "Alright, men, we're going to show that guy what we're made of today. It's a good bet that at least some of those goblins are going to try to get into camp and raise trouble..." Mike Holmes Dhazari comes riding up, "Dung of the Stallion, Okhfels, we can't have you in the rear. I think we need to introduce you to the spirits of the Rhiani. If we leave now, we can have you a full member by sundown, a man like you." Okhfels "I'm not Riani, Dhazari." Okhfels "Why does everyone want to make me one? Mike Holmes Dhazari looks a little insulted, "Why would anyone not want to be one?" Mike Holmes He sits up very straight in his saddle, to be taller than Okhfels. Okhfels Okhfels shakes his head. "Dhazari... I'm my own man. You've got two choices. You, and your people... you can either keep treating me like a child, or you can open your eyes. I'm not going to make it easy for you." Mike Holmes Dhazari thinks. Okhfels "So no, Dhazari. I don't want to become a Rhiani. I'll earn your respect the hard way." Mike Holmes Dhazari looks as if he's going to protest, but instead closes his mouth, nods, and rides off to join the warriors. Okhfels Okhfels goes back to his men. Mike Holmes Jilliams looks at Okhfels as he returns, "Isadora is back at the colony ensuring that more fires don't break out. She said to follow your orders, of course." Mike Holmes "I wonder..." Okhfels "Good man, Jilliams. What are you thinking?" Mike Holmes "What if the Rhiani leave?" Jilliams says. "It's more than possible." Okhfels "They're welcome to go. I won't keep anyone here who doesn't want to stay." Mike Holmes "Not all of the soldiers will stay either," he says looking around at the men about them wondering which will stay. "Many have families." Mike Holmes Jilliams has a family, too. Okhfels "But that island out there says to me that something special is going to happen here. I know I don't want to miss it." Okhfels "And I'll bet there are more folk coming from Teth." Okhfels "This isn't the time for talking about the future." Mike Holmes Jilliams tilts his head in near agreement - a very Ikaiti gesture. "As you say." Okhfels "So let's start talking about goblins instead."

Mike Holmes The goblins, delayed by the scouts, come in the late afternoon, and the ranks swell with those who are done fighting fires. The stage is set. Mike Holmes "It's damned odd," says Jilliams for about the fifth time today in reference to the daylight attack. "Why now?" Okhfels "It doesn't make any sense." Mike Holmes As the gobins get out of the hills into the valley, the Rhiani make their first charge. Mike Holmes "Maybe there are more due to arrive when night falls," says Jilliams, and a soldier nearby blanches at the notion. Okhfels "Or else they are befuddled by that yellow fog." Mike Holmes Jilliams noting the deleterious effects that his comments are having on morale quickly agrees with Okhfels, "Yes. Certainly. I'll bet that's it." Mike Holmes The Rhiani line throws their chegains before them, and the valley is filled with the eerie sound of nearly one hundred of these things all wailing at their own pace. Mike Holmes Dozens of goblins fall in the wake of the passing steel, and the goblin line, formerly ragged, becomes undetectable as a line. Mike Holmes Then the Rhiani hit. Mike Holmes Small goblin bodies literally fly everywhere. The Rhiani charge seems hardly slowed by the impact as they lay about them with their scimitars and spears (in the case of the hunters). Mike Holmes Eventually the goblins start to assemble some mass, but before they have to reduce speed, the Rhiani move away and remass for another charge. Mike Holmes They come in at another angle, and smash the line again with seeming impunity. It seems that they may be able to slay every goblin without loss. The only thing that the goblins have going for them is that, for some reason, they refuse to run. Though this only seems to mean a surer death at this point. Mike Holmes And then... Mike Holmes As the third charge progresses, suddenly something huge comes over the horizon. Next to it, a goblin priest/shaman wearing odd robes and carrying a staff, strides with pride. It's charge seems to be nothing less than a boulder walking on two massive legs, split in two with a "mouth" that snaps down like thunder. The thing is about five times Okhfels height. Mike Holmes The Rhiani warriors come off their charge, and amass once again. They confer for a moment. And then, deciding that they must, they charge the thing, trying to get around the goblin mass to it. Okhfels "They should be going after the priest."

Mike Holmes Sebastian runs towards Laura's tent when he sees her seated in the clearing to the north with Belnif, the Rhiani shaman, along with several other people. Sebastian Sebastian pauses to watch for a moment. Strangely hesitant to interrupt. Mike Holmes The group seems to be chanting, and something seems to be forming in the middle of the circle. Sebastian Sebastian settles back for a moment, hoping to remain unnoticed as he watches. Mike Holmes The group seems far too engrossed to notice Sebastian, who is hard to note anyhow in such a situation. Mike Holmes Soon it appears as if everyone in the circle is fading from sight slowly. Sebastian Sebastian glances around uncomfortably, almost as if he feels he's intruding where he is not welcome. Mike Holmes As they're nearly out of sight, Sebastian hers a cry from Laura. Mike Holmes To Sebastian's ears, it sounds as though perhaps something is about to accost her. Sebastian Sebastian steps forward, still hesitant. Trying to ascertain what is going on. Mike Holmes From inside the cloud Sebastian still can't make out anything clearly other than some frenzied movement, and sounds that would indicate some sort of fight is going on. Sebastian Sebastian bites his lip in a long moment of indecision then steps gingerly into the cloud. Mike Holmes The world swirls all around Sebastian and for a moment he loses all notion of direction. Then things begin to come into focus, and he sees a towering being of flame trying to leap across a small stream to where Laura is trapped against large rock. Opposite the being from her, Belnif and the other Rhiani are still attempting to chant to the thing. Sebastian Sebastian takes another moment in an attempt to figure out why Laura is facing a giant flaming thing alone. Mike Holmes His height allowing him to see over the tents, Artanis sees the spirit circle, a somewhat glowing cloud in a cleariung to the north. Artanis Moved by some subconscious impetus, Artanis heads off toward the circle. Artanis Leaving the firefighets behind, unhaided. Mike Holmes Inside the spirit world, Belnif calls out to Laura, "chant with us! It must be appeased!" Sebastian Sebastian stands watching. Searching for something useful he might do to assist. Mike Holmes Laura seems to petrified by the giant flame thing to do anything but protect herself with her arms. She cries out again as the thing leans at her across the stream. Belnif cries out to Sebastian seeing him there, "Join the chant!" Sebastian Sebastian looks at Belnif with a rare expression of disbelief. Then he recovers and listens, attempting to discern the patterns of the chant. Mike Holmes Laura recovers from the latest assault by the thing long enough to note Sebastian standing there. "Sebastian!" she shouts to him desperately throwing out her arms for him to come ang get her.

• Artanis arrives at the center of the stone circle, intrigued but decidedly absent minded.

Sebastian For the first time since he stumbled into the ritual Sebastian doesn't hesitate. He rushes to Laura hoping he can do something. As he runs he continues trying to pick out the pattern of the chant.

• Artanis then starts humming a song, as if trying to follow a distant song echoing off the stone pillars.

Artanis The world warps around Artanis, as if wrapping in on him and he appears beside Sebastian, as he picks up the same chant as the human. Egani Watching Artanis enter the unattended portal, Egani considers his options: follow the skulking elf or force the portal shut -- trapping him on the other side.

• Egani watches the essential flow carefully as he approaches and decides to step through.

Mike Holmes As Egani focuses his symbolic sight, he finds that he can't make any sense of anything about him.

• Artanis draws his rune engraved sword. The swishing sound is accorded to his singing, playing as some kind of accompaniment.

Egani Steeling himself for the confusion, he procedes through the portal anyway. Damn the confusion!

• Artanis charges towards the being of flame, intent on distracting it with his subtle combat manoeuvres.

Mike Holmes The flame spirit spins around trying to follow the elf, giving Sebastian some space to get at Laura.

• Artanis half dodges, half dances in circles around the flaming entity, always keeping the stream to one side so as to cover himself.

Mike Holmes Sebastian , his small size hiding significant power, manages to leap across the stream, and in a fluid motion grasp Laura, and carry her over the stream, as they move to get behind Belnif's apparent protection, the thing lashes out at them. But Sebastian is too quick, and has Laura behind the chanting folks who hold the spirit at bay in moments.

• Egani joins the Rhiani chant, not knowing if it will do good or harm.

Sebastian Sebastian holds Laura tightly, waiting for her catch her breath. Sebastian Sebastian whispers into Laura's hair, "You are safe now, my love. Safe." Mike Holmes The fire spirit turns it's attention on Artanis now, and starts burning in his direction.

• Egani is standing by to assist Artanis.
• Artanis changes his stance, going more defensive. He starts singing an eerie dirge, the sword and free hand moving to its flow.

Mike Holmes Laura looks at Sebastian, staring into his eyes. "You...you came for me!" Mike Holmes Then after a moment, "Sebastian, I'll follow you anywhere. Just say the word." Sebastian Sebastian tenses. His face betrays surprise. And deep consideration, as if a decision he had thought already made was now in question. Mike Holmes The Rhiani redouble their efforts, and Belnif manages to say in between lines, "Trying to assuage it, to put it out!" Mike Holmes Laura, waiting for an answer begins to chant with the Rhiani. Her face becoming very serene as she does so. Somehow she seems at home here.

• Artanis does not hear Belnif's advice, and luges forward, focused on his enemy.