With a flourish Sekastia throws open the sturdy wooden chest and pulls out a swath of gray silk. With one hand she raises the shimmering garment for all to see and the assembled Moagari nobles all lean forward, or turn their heads, to try to get the best possible view of the mysterious gift. Ogdalaan is entranced as well, his eyes glimmering with naked greed.

"Behold," Sekastia proclaims. "The Shroud of Kuth, crafted by shamen of the most ancient horse tribes at the First Dawn when Yelm at last emerged from the Underworld. It has long been lost, stolen from your forebears by the hands of the Darkening Believers. Thus do we return the Shroud of Kuth to its rightful owner."

Playing along with Sekastia's presentation, Lothos reverently takes hold of the Shroud and kneels before Ogdalaan who marvels at the garment before laying it across his lap.

"Behold," Sekastia declares while producing what appears to be an intricately tooled leather belt. "The Leopard Coil. From the steaming jungles of Kaijiki the great champion Magdaru, great grand sire of the mighty Ogdalaan, returned with this, the soul of the Leopard King. At the Battle of Lost Valor was Magdaru slain and his body never found. Yet the Leopard Coil remains and thus do we return it to its rightful owner."

Again the precious object is handed to Ogdalaan who is clearly overwhelmed by the magnitude of the gifts.

"Behold," Sekastia concludes, holding aloft a slender rod of white bone, scintillating blue inscriptions shimmering along its length and the warm tent air turning to frost around it. "Galewing, crafted from the thigh bone of the demon Waer Zhaguul by the hand of Cataen, Queen of the Falcon Riders. It was she that led the Moagari across the Dry West to settle among the Vheldings, and it was the Vheldings that violated her tomb and stole her treasures. Thus do we return Galewing to its rightful owner."

Ogdalaan stares at the priceless gifts that have fallen into his possession, each potent beyond anything he has seen before, but also artifacts plucked from the stories of his youth. The Moagari chieftain remains silent with reverence, as do the assembled nobles.

"And so do we, the Ertrani, fulfill our promise to you, great Ogdalaan." Sekastia bows and returns to her seat among the companions.

Rhal Dvash doesn't miss a beat, and in a moment is on his feet.

"These are magnificent objects for certain great sovereign. Yet one cannot ignore that they belonged to the Moagari, your ancestors. One cannot give away what one does not own in the first place. One may give shelter and a meal to one that returns a wayward horse, but to tear down one's tent and follow the stranger over the horizon is madness."

The Rhusai ambassador addresses those gathered in the tent as much as Ogdalaan himself. The Moagari chieftain listens with one ear but is still marveling over the magical objects in his lap.

Suddenly the smile on Rhal Dvash's face disappears and he turns on the companions. He jabs an accusatory finger at them and snarls like an angry jackal.

"Now is the time for you to reveal the secret you have hidden, Ertrani. Now you must tell what you know to be true of the future the Moagari will have in your accursed land - that they will be conquered by the Empire across the sea."

This snaps Ogdalaan out of his trance, and much of the Moagari nobles as well. Whispers turn to angry shouts as many of the proud nomads rise to their knees, and some to their feet, to loudly protest the prognostication.

"Tell them!" Rhal Dvash shouts over the heads of the companions continuing to jab his finger at them like a dagger. "Our seers have divined this cruel fate into which you would lead the Moagari. Tell them it is true, or step forward and swear by the Lord of Oaths that it is not!"

Edited by: Jubilex at: 9/12/05 8:09 am

Pogar could hardly see a barn from inside the barn, but Nryl's eyes are keen. No one in the tent is making any overt move toward the companions, but if a fight broke out it would likely go poorly for them. The companions are unarmed and despite their strength and resilience are in close proximity to some of the most experienced and well equiped warriors in the entire tribe.