The citizens of Osthens were a nervous and uneasy people. The oracle who dwells in the Cleft of Turos had recently begun to speak prophesy of the most disturbing kind. The Prophesy anticipated a new time of troubles for the city and for all of the Oronin Valley.

 Twice the forest to break her streets, once to mark the rise, once to mark the fall...

 Osthens is a city of sturdy stone walls and buildings because it had once been destroyed by the Talargs - creatures of the wild forest that mocked the form of human beings. Talargs had not troubled the Oronin Valley for over a thousand years, and most folks believed them to be creatures that live only in myth and legend. Now the townsfolk look past their walls to the wild forest beyond and wonder what fearful mysteries it might hold.

The Rhugandy brothers entered town weary after several days of travel through the hills of Jhor. The Rhugandy tribute caravan was parked outside the city, and Astarov forbade cousin Erianda to leave its confines. She pleaded and cajoled but could not break his resolve. Seeing that the child was determined to cause trouble, Asterov assigned his brothers to watch over her while he took care of business in town.

Lexmarcus had other plans, though, and made his way through the city to the Cleft of Turos, a holy site where an oracle interprets the Voice of the Shaker. Lex paid a generous donation to the temple, and asked the following question: "When will I see my father again." Priests poured libations into the crack and chanted the ancient words of power. Soon a deep rumbling echoed up from the deep and an acrid haze filled the air. The Oracle continued to chant quietly, and drifted into a trance. At last the rumbling ended and the oracle spoke - I have listened to the voice of the Shaker and breathed his sacred breath. His will has been made known to me, and bids me speak as follows:

“When the Dragon bites the Reaching Moon, and White Bull heeds the rebel wind,
Then shall the Feathered Child his father see, in the glory of the wandering sun.”

Lexmarcus was not pleased with this result. A dragon biting the Reaching Moon? That sounded as unlikely as it was ominous. The White Bull heeds the rebel wind? Was this some Bisosae hero of Invisible Orlanth? And who is the Feathered Child? What is the wandering sun? Lex returned to his brothers in a sour mood. He determined to ask his holy patron for advice. Once back at the caravan, he produced the sacred bowl and filled it with water blessed by Lady Charmain, goddess of the pure water of life. He chanted the sacred words over the water and the image of Oberon the Magi appeared. Sadly, Magi Oberon could not shed light upon the mysterious pronouncement of the oracle. He did have a mission for Lexmarcus to undertake, however.

One of the other noble houses taking their tribute to Glamour was in possession of a magical item that the magi needed to study. Lexmarcus was to capture the item and bring it to Minstinus where an agent would pick it up. Any other booty Lexmarcus acquired was his to keep. The caravan was currently on the road between Osthens and Minstinus, and could be discretely attacked out in the countryside. Lex leaped at the chance to work out his frustrations in a holy cause, and asked his brother Frulimon to assist him. Stavas had to remain behind to watch over Erianda. The pair of Hazar-knights and their followers rode off into the night.

Meanwhile, Leonardo decided to pay a visit to his uncle Tomas. He found the sirdar of Arampult surrounded by beautiful women at a well appointed inn. Leo eyed the ladies with open lust and boasted of the lovemaking prowess gifted to him by Bentus, High God of Pleasure. Tomas claimed that Turos was the true Source of Manhood, and his virility was the essence of what every woman desired. There was only one way to deicide the matter! Volunteers were accepted for the challenge, and each man endeavored to convince the fair judges of the greatness of their respective gods. It soon became apparent that Tomas wielded a manhood of heroic proportions. Women swooned from the heat of his passionate embrace. They begged him to be the father of their unborn children, and he rose to the challenge again and again.

Leonardo wielded the Power of Pleasure to the best of his ability, but in truth he was only an initiate and so lacked the potency of Tomas' devotion. Anticipating this, Leo whispered sweet nothings in his judges' ears and convinced them that less is sometimes more. Still, he could not bring them to the height of ecstasy needed to out perform his rival. Leo's bag of tricks was not exhausted, though. Into each woman's wine he slipped a magical mixture of rare herbs and animal extracts that heightened their pleasure and gave them such sensitivity that his slightest touch buried them under an avalanche of sensation. Having done all he could to ensure his success, Leo connived to ensure the failure of his adversary. He slipped a different blend of herbs into Tomas' wine, and soon the great man lay upon his pillows embarrassed and confused. The contest was over. Leo was the champion.

Astarov spent a much more sedate evening having dinner with the Sirdar of Osthens and his court. When the social call was concluded, Astarov returned to the camp and discovered that his brothers had disserted their post. Only Stavas remained, having alone struggled to keep young Erianda out of trouble.  He did not know where the others had gone, but had been visited by the ghosts of the forgotten graveyard that the caravan was inadvertently parked upon. The ghosts told him much of the long history of Osthens, and were fearful of what might happen to their descendants. Astarov grew increasingly disturbed as he listened to Stavas, and then searched the area for Lexmarkus' soldiers who he wished to interrogate. Having failed at this, he marched over to Leonardo's Wagon of Wine and Women and knocked on the door. Leo's head courtesan answered and invited him inside. Although Astarov remained within for some time, he did not uncover the information that he sought.

Leo returned later that night tired, but with the satisfaction of a job, if not well done, then at least well enjoyed. He found Lord Astarov snoozing in the Pleasure Wagon and was deeply amused. His head courtesan told him the secret she had kept from Astarov, and Leo set off to save his brothers from their own foolish sense of adventure. Astarov remained asleep, a satisfied smile resting comfortably upon his face.

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