You travel through the foothills and down into the narrow valley.
Silent Valley(#1351RJh)
Contents:
Shadow-of-Blood
Eligio Sacateca
Falcon's Wing
August
Kasie
Shows-the-Way
Erik
Elan
Anne
Soren
John
Aerin
Joseph
Andrea
Obvious exits:
Cave Foothills
Aerin adds a couple of spirals onto her cheeks, then heavily outlines the scar on her face.
Anne also fails to move towards the paints, staying more or less still; only her head and her fingers are moving, the one to let her look around and the others drumming against the opposite arm.
Aerin murmers. "If anyone cares to use the Woad I have, they are welcome to it.
Andrea motions Sepdet to her side, even as she watches Falcon's Wing.
Falcon's Wing thinks water is rather a better match for him, yes. If theurges aren't required, that is.
Sepdet paces over to her place silently, flashing Andrea a tense, eager smile.
Erik turns slightly and rests a hand on Kasie's shoulder.
Shadow-of-Blood can do that as well. Earth is a good, solid element.
Kasie turns her face upwards towards Erik and gives him a smile before takes a tiny step forward, coming a little closer to even with him. With his hand in place, she seems more at ease as she watches the going-ons.
Andrea sighs with relief. She motions the others around, according to their stated preference. ~Eligio and Derrick. Aerin and Paul. Shadow-of-Blood and Defends-Wolves. Anne and Erik.~ The Gaian almost hesitates on the last, as it puts the Fury elder with a male metis. But she moves on. ~Elan, Soren, and Joseph. And Sepdet and myself.~
Aerin looks over her shoulder at Kasie. "C'mere a second"
Stormchaser circles the sky near the cave where the fetish is being kept before lighting on a branch nearby, eyeing the gathering critically.
Anne objects immediately, "Me and _Erik_? Is there no one else?"
John has connected.
Sepdet's own preparations have already been made: tattered clothes shed for the evening, replaced by a simple undyed linen shift, and a gold Eye painted on her forehead. She stands relaxed and self-contained with hands loose at her sides, attention fixed upon Quiet's voice as her eyes rest comfortably upon the western horizon.
From afar, to Seeker, Eligio Sacateca, Shows-the-Way, Anne, Soren, Joseph, Erik, Aerin, John, Kasie, Sepdet, August, Elan, Falcon's Wing, and Shadow-of-Blood, Andrea sighs. Guys, I'm enjoying the hell out of this, but I should probably take it OOC after I deal with Anne's objection, unless you think people will patiently wait through another half-hour of roleplay for us. :) John's disconnect brings me to the first point. If the person you are partnered with disconnects, please pose for them. :)
Aerin looks around the group. "Can we not put aside the differences at this point?
Erik tightens up, accidentally squeezing Kasie's shoulder for a moment. His head turns toward the Fury, but he makes no sound. Quiet-rhya is the chief ritualist here, after all.
Kasie takes a step forward, turning her to glance questioningly at Erik at the tightened hand. She nods, stepping back into place, wrongly asuming he was reacting to Aerin's request.
Falcon's Wing sidles over to Eligio quietly.
Andrea regards Anne seriously. She slips back into English. "Tonight, of all nights, we must be whole. Erik wished the aspect of air. If you don't think you can work with him, you may ask someone to exchange with you."
Aerin turns to Katie and quickly paints a protection rune on one arm and a STag symbol on the other.
Seeker gathers Paul and any other guardians off to the side of the ritualists.
August moves towards Seeker, watching him for cues.
Andrea pages all: I slorped Paul, unless he objects, Seeker. :)
Erik glances down at the Fianna cub, then lets go his grip, patting her shoulder with an apologetic murmur.
Aerin looks down at Kasie. "I know that you're only going to be watching, but it's best that you be protected as well.
Anne's eyes are smoldering already. "I would rather work with Derrick."
Aerin turns back to to the group.
Kasie misses the pat and the soft sorry. She blinks as she watched with surprised expression the woman applying thick paint to her arms. She does, however, hold still for it.
Kasie ohs softly and nods to Aerin, having missed the whole Erik-Anne interplay.
Eligio Sacateca raises an eyebrow and turns towards Anne, expectantly. His face is neither bemused nor judgemental; querying would be a better description for the mask that sits upon it.
Andrea nods. She says evenly, "Eligio, will you change to air? Anne will take water?" She doesn't seem at all angered, but a soft touch of resignation does reside in her expression for those that know her well.
Elan joins Soren and Joseph, concentrating on the Rite ahead.
+weather
Currently on this breezy and hot summer twilight in the general St. Claire area, it is 81 degrees Fahrenheit (27.2 degrees Celsius). The wind is coming from the east-northeast at 9.25 mph. The ground is wet. Skies are clear with no chance of precipitation.
Sepdet sighs and hums something vague and soothing under her breath, studying the ebb and flow between those participating with patient thoughtfulness.
Aerin makes her way over to Paul.
To the pack, Sepdet is glad you two are here. It's been so long a wait. I wish Sky's Laughter and Wayfinder could dance with us too, though they are with us in spirit.
Eligio Sacateca says softly, "Gently falling, like rain, is the peace we make among ourselves." Then louder, "But rain is both air and water. Uktena can be mist as well as the water's depths. Shadow as well as form. Very well."
From afar, to Andrea and Sepdet, Eligio Sacateca hrms. That didn't come out right. Whatever. Sure.
Seeker looks at August. Patrol the route from here to the caern. If you see the enemy, return here at once, do not engage. Do you understand?
Falcon's Wing sidles over towards Anne, instead, showing no reaction in particular to this turn of events.
Shows-the-Way smiles at Aerin and nods to her.
Erik gives Kasie's shoulder another light pat and moves to stand near the Uktena elder. He still says nothing, but those who know him can read relief in his movements; apparently, he didn't wish to be paired with Anne any more than Anne wished to be paired with him.
Anne gives Eligio a cool look, moving to meet Derrick halfway even before the theurge finishes speaking. "Water it is, then," murmurs the Galliard.
Aerin nods in greeting.
August dips his head to Seeker. "Understood, Seeker-rhya."
August contorts and blurs as he is transformed.
August shifts into Lupus form.
Kasie's head raises as Erik moves off. She follows him, but only with her eyes.
Aerin kneels down to become Eye to Eye with Paul. "If we haven't met, I am Aerin, Runs-With-Moon, and Theurge for the Fianna."
Shows-the-Way contorts and blurs as he is transformed.
Shows-the-Way shifts into Homid form.
Set.
Falcon's Wing looks up at his Alpha. This ought to be interesting.
August disappears up the beaten trail between the trunks of the pine trees.
August has left.
Aerin stands again as the form she is talking to , blurs and shifts to Homid.
John makes his way over to Shadow-of-Blood, looking a bit tense. He closes hs eyes, preparing for the evening's ritual.
Joseph turns to his two companions of the Rite and takes a deep breath. Witha brief look at his packmates, he awaits Quiet;s further instructions.
Seeker hurries off himself to the Wheel to report to the guardians there.
Elan looks a bit worried as the cub, August, goes off. He turns back to clearing his mind for the rituals ahead.
Seeker disappears up the beaten trail between the trunks of the pine trees.
Seeker has left.
Paul changes back to his breed form and says with a quiet /human/ smile, "Paul Shows-the-Way, or Seshemw. Fostern Philodox of the Silent striders, and child of the east wind Kshema." He makes an effort to rise in synch with Aerin's standing back up and says, "Glad to know you now."
Aerin chuckles. "Well met, Paul. I'm from Belfast, Ireland."
Seeker enters the valley from the surrounding foothills.
Seeker has arrived.
Alexandra silently slips toward her nearest tribesmate.
Seeker patrols the perimeter of the valley, keeping an eye on the surrounding forests and mountainsi pages all: A center folk will indicate when the summoning starts, and I'll page too.
Aerin closes her eyes and inhales deeply, mentally preparing herself for the Rite.
Aken-Bennu enters the valley from the surrounding foothills.
Aken-Bennu has arrived.
Scab-Survivor has arrived.
Paul leans over and murmurs something to Alexandra, shaking his head.
Aken-Bennu contorts and blurs as he is transformed.
Aken-Bennu shifts into Homid form.
Erik inhales a deep breath and lets it out, shoulders straightening a bit.
Alexandra nods to Paul and slips back away from the area of the Rite, to join in the outer patrolling.
Jeau arrives behind Seeker, an interval of time behind him.
Sepdet, standing at Andrea's left side, signs something quickly and firmly after noting Alexandra's presence.
Long distance to Seeker, Paul, Jeau, and Alexandra: Sepdet signs quietly, /This Rite is dangerous, and some of us could be killed. There is no shame in sitting this one out, cub, but do as your h eart bids./
Quiet explains the details of the rite, until she's certain everyone understands. She looks around a last time.
Elan nods agreement, already in low conversation with Joseph and Soren.
From afar, to Seeker, Paul, Jeau, and Sepdet, Alexandra doesn't want to sit it out, but understands the need for more mature garou. That's why I'm going out to patrol with Seeker. THERE, at least, I can contribute.
You paged Seeker, Paul, Jeau, and Alexandra with '
Aerin listens intently to the instructions, making sure she's got all of them straight.
Shadow-of-Blood chuffs his understanding of the ritual.
Paul nods quietly, looking fairly comfortable.
Andrea motions. ~Then let us go to the shadow.~ She looks at the defenders, ~Seeker, if you will go to the caern to tell those there to meet us in the Umbra?~
Seeker nods and heads off again.
Seeker disappears up the beaten trail between the trunks of the pine trees.
Seeker has left.
From afar, to Seeker, Paul, Jeau, and Sepdet, Alexandra nods. Thanks. Except when being stupid, I prefer to stick to where I can do the best work. And right now, that's in the Realm.
[everybody moves to...]
Umbra: Center of the Caern
Contents:
Chugs
Peacekeeper
Cup-Breaker
Serves-Honor
Windsoul
Thunder's Claws
Echen
August
Joshua
Moondancer
Soren
Seeker
Defends-Wolves
Quiet
Soulcatcher
Runs-With-Moon
Anne
Elan
Erik
Seshemw
Eligio Sacateca
Shadow-of-Blood
Aken-Bennu
Scab-Survivor
Obvious exits:
North SouthEast West
By the pool to the southeast, Alexandra stands one step to the rear and right of Seeker, her staff held comfortably in her hand.
Wears-the-Woad comes into the center of the clearing from the pool to the southeast.
Wears-the-Woad has arrived.
Joshua takes up a place towards the north of the umbral center. He flexes his claws once or twice, as if getting used to thier feel.
Cup-Breaker steps over to stand beside Serves-Honor, with a quick movement of her head to indicate Windsoul should come too.
Thunder's Claws moves over to the western side of the Wheel to take up guard.
Runs-With-Moon flexes her muscles, then checks her claws.
Moondancer settles comfortably in position near Seeker.
Moondancer twists the staff near one end, and 12 inches of steel slides out with a soft silken snik.
Wears-the-Woad moves with his packmate, swinging his arms experimentally.
Eligio Sacateca orients himself, standing in place for a long moment. Starting in the place the Wendigo once attributed to Winter, he does a quick circuit of the medicine Wheel. Slipping in around and between the various Garou, his thoughts focussed inward, he finally stops where he began and turns to face the centre.
Aken-Bennu joins with his packmates, Cup-Breaker and Windsoul.
Andrea stands in the center, waiting for the milling to settle. Sepdet remains by her side.
Windsoul follows Cup-Breaker, standing on the other side of Serves-honor.
Scab-Survivor sets himsel.
Chugs moves in tandem with Wears-the-Woad, bending down to drag claws along a stone, before taking up his position to Thunder's Claws's Right. He growls low in his throat to his packmates.
Soulcatcher takes up a position near the Tablestone, with Soren and the Gnawer Elan flanking him in a triangle.
Peacekeeper whispers back to the Alpha lowly, looking around at the group.
By the pool to the southeast, Falcon's Wing shifts nervously, the jug that he took out of his knapsack earlier at his side.
Erik's masked face turns as the tall Metis follows the Uktena elder with his eyes. When Eligio has returned to Winter's place, Erik straightens, arms dropping to hang at his sides.
Serves-Honor frowns at the presence of cubs amidst the assembly, but as they are not of his Tribe, it is not his concern. He leads Rise of Mercury to an area that looks thinly guarded, in accord with whatever orders the Warder gives him.
By the pool to the southeast, Dillan appears in a glimmer of light.
By the pool to the southeast, Rholeen appears in a glimmer of light.
Elan takes a few deep controlled breaths, calming himself in an old ritual. He lightly touches Soren and Soulcatcher to his side.
Elan contorts and blurs as he is transformed.
Scab-Survivor takes a moment to find some bare stone (not the tablestone) and scratch his claws alon's side afterwards.
Elan sparkles and blurs, shifting into Crinos form.
Runs-In-Shadows speaks quietly with Robert after Brian is finished. The Warder nods and whispers something back, and the Get rises into the sky. Hovering about thirty feet in the air, he and Whitestreak keep watch from above.
Shadow-of-Blood looks around the caern and goes with Defends-Wolves to the Umbral earth mound, the pair taking a position atop it.
Defends-Wolves makes his way toward the Earth Mound, taking deep breaths to focus himself for the upcoming ritual.
By the pool to the southeast, Stormcloud comes out of the woods to the south.
Stormcloud comes into the center of the clearing from the pool to the southeast.
Stormcloud has arrived.
Runs-With-Moon joins Sshmew
By the pool to the southeast, Dillan and Rholeen shimmer into the shadow near the pool. They're late. Nothing unexpected, there.
Sepdet watches as everyone physically and mentally prepares themselves. She breaks her thin-lipped formal expression to shoot Quiet a trusting, encouraging smile and a quick touch on one elbow before returning to her waiting stance.
Echen nods slightly to Peacekeeper, the movement something of an assent. He then moves away from the Warder, somewhat incongruously taking up a position alone near the western edge of the Wheel, facing in the direction of the scab. Perhaps this is not as strange as it first seems, though -- none of his pack are here.
Seeker moves to the south edge of the clearing, scanning the woods there.
Scab-Survivor stands at Andrea's side, guarding her.
Moondancer joins Seeker in the south, slightly to the west of his position.
[Mass exodus of defenders of outer perimeter]
Seshemw stands with both clawed hands on his staff, eyes looking through the trees opposite him as he drops into a relaxed near-trance. Ready to begin.
Midnight circles widdershins once in place, the glyphs still clearly visible as are the triple-claw scars on his shoulder.
Andrea spreads her arms wide. Her yellow-furred body is decorated with a single glyph: the circle of Gaia on her forhead. Her voice is strong. ~We are the Garou. We are the sept of the Wheel Renewed. We are every tribe, every breed, every auspice, joined in one community. One circle. One Wheel. Our Wheel has been broken. We gather tonight to make it anew.~ She motions at the pairs at the elental points of the medicine circle, then at the three in the triangle, ending with a touch to her own chest. ~We will call the healing.~ She motions to the others. ~You will defend us. Your strength is no less important than ours. Let us begin.~
Scab-Survivor leaves the caern clearing for the woods to the north.
Scab-Survivor has left.
Andrea pages: Ping. Babble a little about the need for healing, wax poetic, then point to spring and start. :)
Wears-the-Woad leaves the caern clearing for the woods to the north.
Wears-the-Woad has left.
Sepdet holds up her hands, softer voice following her elder's, ~Phoenix guide us tonight as we bring rebirth, renewal, a second time to this Wheel hallowed by our ancestors and elders. Without this Wheel's strength and crossing of ways, Gaia is a lesser place. Let us rebuild from ashes and ease this caern's ache once and for all. Let us call in the spring.~ She looks to those by the pool expectantly.
By the pool to the southeast, As the spring is called, Anne picks up three flowers, uprooted with some of their roots still visible, and crouches down to hollow out a hole for them, tamping the earth down afterwards. "As spring is for new birth, and flowers come again to the world in spring, so do I plant these." Derrick gives them a cursory glance, and crouches down to fill his jug. Pouring part of it back into the pool, part of it onto himself, and part of it onto the ground, he says, "The symbol is the truth."
Andrea moves her gaze from the pool to the fire, saying, ~And so the season turns, and so the Wheel moves on.~
Seshemw takes a step forward. ~And now Summer. Maturity and growth, the warm months of the Mother's greatest strength. Certainty and life, preparing and strengthening for the hard times to come. See how Gaia's wealth surrounds you at the height of her strength!~ he finishes as he guestures to indicate the spirits of trees and foliage visible to all sides. As he falls silent, Runs-With-Moon intones, ~The symbol is truth.~ and extinguishes her flaring torch with the bare flesh and fur of her other hand.
Sepdet's voice warms to her calling as the rite proceeds, turning towards Earth. ~Autumn of harvest, fall into the circle!~
Shadow-of-Blood calls out to the cicrle in an even voice, ~The season of harvest, of reaping the fruits of the spring's labors. We offer thanks to Gaia for her harvest given here already, and remain to reap the harvest of this night's work.~ Defends-Wolves says solemnly, ~The symbol is the truth.~
Defends-Wolveskneels down, cupping a clawed hand as he does so. He reaches down to the mound and scoops up a handful of earth, leaving a hole a few inches deep. He clenches the dark earth tightly in his fist.
You paged Shadow-of-Blood with 'Nice. ;) I was stammering for words when I started; I'm _so_ rusty.'.
Andrea nods again, turning her gaze to the swirling winds. ~So dawn must turn to day, and day to night. And so the wheel must turn, so that the sun may rise.~
Erik's tenor voice lifts in a since high, pure note which turns into an aetherical chant, singing of winter cold, the sleep of the earth as it waits to be born anew. As he sings, the Umbral light around him and the Uktena dims, until they can barely be seen; then the voice cuts off in mid-note and mid-word.
The blackness tears away in shreds and tatters, not lifting gently like the coming of dawn but as silken threads ripped asunder. Rain Walker, transformed in the darkness, towers over Erik, one huge Crinos claw around the other's throat: cutting off the wind and all hope of rebirth. ~The symbol is the truth,~ he rumbles in cold tones.
Those who glace out to the rim of the circle can see that several Wyrm-twisted spirits have emerged from the forest, obviously rotting as they walk: a wolf to the north, a tree to the east, and a coyote to the south.
Pack> Soulcatcher says "Leejio scares me. ;)"
At almost the same time, all movement in the Umbral caern stills. No wind blows, and the grass stops waving. For the briefest of moments, even the dancing Lunes about the edge stop in their ever-changing pirouettes.
Andrea spreads her arms again. ~We stand here, within the circle, but the circle is gone. The symbols are broken, leaving naked truth. We are outside time, outside space, and we must redraw what the ancients have wrought. We must renew the consecration of this place to Gaia, by the power of its bond to her, and our bond to her. In this, we call to the watchers of this caern. We call to the spirits that are our fathers and mothers, our friends and allies. We call: Buffalo!~
Soulcatcher reaches to the ground, gathering a handful of the good earth of the caern. He scatters this in the air and kicks up a little more into a fine, small dust cloud as he starts to dance. He calls to Buffalo, ~Father Buffalo, our Wisdom, come join us and lend your strength and will to our goal tonight.~ No further words does the Wendigo use, though he continues with a wordless song and his enigmatic dance in the dirt.
Sepdet's alto firms and rings out with a touch of defiance, although she keeps her voice slow, steady, and calm. She looks towards the Medicine Wheel, not the threats outside, as she calls, ~Knowing what has been, remembered and forgotten, bearing news of things to come, bright Magpie, we call thee!~
Shadow Eyes raises his voice in song, and an almost perfect imitation of a magpie's call. He issues a long high-pitched cry and then gestures his arms wide, claws outstretched. A handful of shiney pebbles, bright in the Unbral night, cascade out like stars as he tries to attact the totems attention. ~I call Magpie! Come lend your sight and wisdom to the Wheel!~
By the pool to the southeast, Dillan has disconnected.
Andrea very deliberately takes notice of the fighting outside the Wheel, her jawline tight as she looks around. Her voice, if anything, grows louder and firmer. ~But power is nothing without strength. As those that surround us bleed for the Wheel, let the mother of claws come and scream for us her Rage. Cougar, we call you!~
Midnight turns outward away from the center of the Wheel, having shifted down to lupus earlier. To Cougar he howls of the solitary hunter, the young hunt of spring, the bounteous feast of summer, the crisp strike of autumn, and the dead hollow of winter. To Cougar, Midnight calls a high, rolling howl that seeks and summons her to come to the Wheel Renewed. The howl echoes and fades out into the odd, umbral silence.
As the three totems are called, the still caern flutters with life momentarily. A huge half-visible Buffalo towers in the air, snorting mist into the night Umbra. With the sound of millions of wings, a Magpie appears and lands on the buffalo's shoulder. Finally, a Cougar's cry echoes through the caern, announcing her persence, and she appears by the buffalo's side. The three totems watch the ritual at the caern impassively, though the observant may detect a hint of intensity in their gaze.
Quiet pages: Invoke Gaia. You know, you need to challenge up one of these days. ;)
You paged Quiet with: Sepdet hasn't DONE anything in eons; damn anubis syndrome. :) Okay.
Sepdet fixes her gaze with respectful pride upon the spirits made manifest, cupping the air towards them with her hands and tapping the ground once with a toe as she sings out, ~Mother! Gaia, for whom we live, fight, die and dance, pray and believe, do and dream...be with us now in this your cauldron, this your womb, this your Wheel!~
Seshemw straightens a little, hands tightening on the wood they hold. Eyes wide in the moonlight, watching those leading from the center.
Quiet all: Okay, here's where we get into blood and gnosis-spending. Prepare to drain dry. :)
Runs-With-Moon ignores the left hand that was burnt while extinguishing the torch and watches in awe and respect to the Totems that appear.
Quiet picks up the call, ~We ask of you your life-blood. Your strength. We do not ask without giving.~ She takes her free hand, the wooden Wyld fetish in her left, and claws her own cheeks on both sides. ~We give our blood. We give our strength. We live only for you, and your defense. Ask, and we will give.~ As she speaks, she continues to claw her fur. Blood drips from her chin, though she has to make an effort to draw deeper than the most superficial scratches.
Right outside the Wheel, the fight begins in earnest, with the defenders attacking the Wyrm-turned nature spirits and banes that came out of the forest behind them. The melee explodes, but some may notice that one particular bane towards the pool seems to be missed in the intensity of the battle.
Midnight contorts and blurs as he is transformed.
Seshemw rests his staff against the point of his muzzle, and crosses his arms over his chest. Claws parting the fur at both shoulders as he gathers himself to pull them through his own flesh.
Midnight shifts into Crinos form.
Sepdet draws upwards and goes black and angular as she follows the Ritemistress' lead, slicing into the brand over her heart. White moon-curved claws dig deep with a hard, fierce strike before she has time to brace or doubt.
+shift crinos
Sepdet contorts and blurs as she is transformed.
Runs-With-Moon kneels down on one knee, setting the wood she holds in the ground, then flexhes her claws over her chest.
You shift into Crinos form.
Midnight rises upward into crinos, his claws quickly rending deep and ragged wounds across his chest, no pain registering on his muzzle, only the deepest of growls rising in his throat. The claws tear through the glyph of Cougar and Uktena, blood rushing into the claw-torn trenches before running in rivulets down his chest.
Shadow Eyes raises a single hand, and a musical chanting voice, deep and rich with the power of the War Form. ~In this the very Eye of Gaia, may Her Wheel open wide to receive our blood and prayers. I am honored to be a tear in that Eye.~ His claw slashes down, and it appears as if he's done nothing. Then over his heart, blood wells in a Crescent moon shape, pouring forth to wet the ground.
Shadow-of-Blood slashes a quick slice across his chest, coincidentally (or not) leaving the glyph of the Red Talonson his chest, the blood dripping into his red-black fur.
Runs-With-Moon sinks her claws in to half their length into her chest and begind to rend her fur and skin, leaving deep gashes.
Erik seems to have expected something like this, but the Metis still hasn't shifted forms. Instead, he pushes up his left sleeve, baring corpse-pallid flesh stretched tight over a sticklike forearm. His other hand, armed with a small but effective pocket knife, slashes into the stringy flesh. Bright red blood streams from the cut, which he keeps open with repeated digs of the steel blade.
Seshemw draws his arms down abruptly, howling as claws dig perhaps a little deeper than he likes. Only the slightest hesitation before his mustered will gets the claws moving again, tracing parallel furrows in an X from shoulders to hips before tearing free into open air again.
Runs-With-Moon raises her claws to her face and draws her claws through the fur and skin on her face, leaving 4 deep farrows on either side.
Shadow Eyes shivers as a soft foxfire-like glow laps over him, as he spills his blood and Power out for the Wheel to receive.
Runs-With-Moon howls as her blood coats her chest, dripping down to the ground to pool there, she rends her thighs as a last slash.
Defends-Wolves reaches toward his shoulder with his right hand, claws digging three deep cuts diagonally down his chest, stopping as he reaches his lower ribs. He howls long and his blood drips to the ground.
By the pool to the southeast, Falcon's Wing throws back his head and gives a howl as he runs his claws down each forearm. Knowing his own intolerance for pain, he grits his teeth and does it again. Harder. He kneels by the pool and lets the blood drip into it as he watches, silent now.
Seshemw catches his weight with both hands on wooden staff, but almost finishes the collapse all the same. Blood streaming from the deep gashes.
Quiet all: Bleed bleed bleed. See ritualists bleed. Bleed, ritualists, bleed. Page me with a 'done.' please. :) When you are. :)
Runs-With-Moon kneels on both knees, letting her blood and her Power flame true.
Runs-With-Moon rakes her sides to the bone.
Rain Walker tilts back his head and looses a guttural howl into the night. The same claws that earlier encircled Erik's neck wrap gently about his own sides, the Uktena holding himself momentarily in a bear hug. Then, with violent motion that chokes off his own howl with a snarl of pain, he pierces his sides with his own claws and heaves inward, opening four deep gashes on each side that start almost at his spine and wrap around to meet over his abdomen. Blood pours freely. No gentle pulse of crimson, this, but a spurt and torrent of vivid red.
Erik sways slightly, head lowered and body tense against the pain, but doggedly he continues to spill his blood out for the caern.
Sepdet howls clearly as she clenches fists til each palm runs red, then opens them to the sky, ~Partake of our spirit, spirits Three. Let power bled from this holy place be replenished by our life's blood.~
with 'Done.'.
Midnight lifts his forearms upward, twin slashes across the thick meat of them, blood spurting in canto with his heart and his howl, blood joining with the others in a red spraying haze whose mutual scent fills every garou nostril.
p Quiet: Sepdet twitches a bit. Sometimes these vampire-rites worry me.
Runs-With-Moon watches the three spirits through her single eye. Her life's blood flows freely down her kneeling form.
Soulcatcher doesn't bother with a knife, prefering his claws this time. The Wendigo slashes a nice gash across his chest and stomach and feeds the earth as he continues to dance.
Pack> Sepdet . o O (NICE???!!!)
The totems towering in the air seem to gain in strength, then diminsh somewhat, as if they, too, were giving of themselves to aid in strengthening the caern.
Pack> Soulcatcher says "Well, clean. :)"
Outside, the fight continues against insectoid banes, the corrupted nature spirits, and other anemless dreads. The bane towards the pool has reached the circle of defenders, but is still unattacked and approaching the caern proper.
Seshemw sags a little more against the staff, then reaches down with a long arm and rakes up the outside of one leg deliberately. Then takes hold of the staff with that hand, and repeats the new raking on the other side. Once he's back to being braced against the staff, it's plain to see he's done about as much damage to himself as he can without just falling over. It's equally plain that he's either not got a handle on what kills a crinos, bloodloss wise, or he's trusting in the spirits to finish before he does.
Rain Walker's dark eyes haze, fur from his waist downwards sticky with a red thickness that continues to flow long after his initial outpouring of strength. He remains upright for a suprising amount of time given the amount of red pooling at his feet, longer than one might expect of most Garou at the Sept except perhaps for Echen or a few others. Then, without warning, the huge form drops to its knees, unable to sustain the upright position any longer. Long arms wrap around his body to hold in what little life remains.
Pack> Seshemw says "We just take this WAY too seriously."
By the pool to the southeast, Anne tightens her jaw, shifts to Crinos, and rakes herself in a strong, uncompromising strike, bleeding quickly and freely from the arms, shoulders, and back.
Runs-With-Moon picks up what is left ot he torch and struggles to her feet to stand, bleeding.
Quiet rubs the fetish in the blood on her chest from her wounded shoulders, then holds it aloft. If she sees the approaching bane, she's still ignoring it. ~Spirit of the Wyld, we release you from your prison to offer you a greater destiny. Be alive and awake to give aid unto your sister Gaia. We offer Her embrace. You of potential and untainted growth, we beg your aid in growing this caern to its potential. As you are freed, let Gaia's strength increase once again. So it is spoken, so might it tilts the fetish back slightly. She then lowers it in a whistling powerful strike against the tablestone. The bloody wood splinters with an unnaturally loud crack.
Seshemw continues to sag against his staff, drooping lower with the passing moments. But, of course, without the prop he'd have collapsed a long time ago.
Erik sways, and then topples like a lone pine tree, crumpling to his hands and knees, the knife hanging limply in his nerveless fingers. Blood streams from his forearm to join that which has already soaked the Umbral ground around him and spattered his clothes. Then the wound begins to close, but slowly.
Defends-Wolves slips to one knee, blood still pouring from the cuts rending his chest. His eyes remain dimly focused on those in the center of the caern.
Soulcatcher's fur turns red with blood as the Wendigo sinks to one knee from faintness. His mixes with Uktena, and Gaian, and Gnawer and Strider, all seeping into the hungry earth of the Wheel beneath their feet. His eyes come up to see the shattering of the fetish.
Runs-With-Moon watches the fetish shatter and she wobbles slightly, then falls to her knees once again.
Midnight looks up from where he has sagged to his knees, blood drenched but not faint. His growl is low, an echo, ~The Symbol is the Truth.~
Shadow Eyes narrows his eyes as he scans the area just beyond the ritual ground. He's weakened, with blood still pouring from the wound over his heart, but as it begins to close, he stands once more to witness the shattering of the fetish. His claws flex, anxious. ~The Symbol is the Truth,~ he intones in a low rumble.
As the fetish breaks, the still air suddenly explodes in a whirlwind of motion, and a presence emerges. It is now small, now large, of all colors and none, constantly moving, constantly changing. To darts from ritualist to ritualist, then to the totems, growing to their height then shrinking back down. It swirls around the caern several times, the lunes growing brighter in its wake, then dimmer as it moves on. It hovers a moment over the very center of the Umbral caern, where the table stone would stand in the Realm, then flashes into the ground. A small earthquake rumbles through the area, then the wind once again picks up, and all returns.
Pack> Seshemw thinks we have a new Heart.
Runs-With-Moon watches the entity with awe, following it with her eye.
Sepdet uncharacteristically loses balance and folds, taking care not to fall on the chalk medicine Wheel. On hands and knees in wolf-pose if not form, she lifts her head and ears weakly to taste and honor the chaotic spirit-wind of change.
Shadow Eyes closes his eyes, knowing that not seeing raw chaos is the same as seeing. He throws back his head and revels in the wind against his fur.
On the ground, the chaotic meandering symbol for the Wyld flashes once, then several times, then dims once again. Perhaps, though, it continues to glow a little more in the Umbral moonlight. The totems slowly fade, and the sounds of battle can be more strongly heard.
Runs-With-Moon lays back over her bended knees, exposing her chest to the Umbral Sky and inhales deeply of the howling wind.
Erik shivers slightly as the presence washes over and past him, but doesn't lift his head. The gouging knife-cuts on his inner forearm continue to close slowly, but the loss of blood leaves the Metis with barely no strength left at all.
By the pool to the southeast, Falcon's Wing stays where he is, kneeling near the water, and puts one hand on the ground and one hand in the water, just in time for the earthquake, and the wind.
Seshemw lets loose a howl only a hair'swidth from a whimper, just barely audible, tail wagging as the spirit grounds itself much like the Heart was once torn loose. The sight bringing closure to that earlier witnessing at least for him. That effort helps to finish his slow collapse to end up sprawled with his muzzle pointed towards the center, his staff beneath his body. Eyes staying open with effort to see what comes next.
You paged Falcon's Wing with 'oo. Nice.'.
From afar, Falcon's Wing didn't have a chance to get any fire involved, though. Ah, weel.
Quiet pants, her hands trembling very slightly as she graps the broken and empty husk. Finally, she drops it. She kneels and traces the center symbols with her own blood, before finally straightening and turning to watch the fight. The gift that she and her packmate share keep them on their feet while many of the other rite participants slump.
Shadow-of-Blood watches the Wyld spirit dart and shimmer about the caern, then disappear. He continues watching for a small while before shifting into a more stable form to remain somewhat standing.
Shadow-of-Blood contorts and blurs as he is transformed.
Shadow-of-Blood shifts into Hispo form.
Rain Walker seems to miss all of the fireworks, the older Uktena having buried his face into the ground, snout pressed hard into the dirt. The circle of the medicine wheel lies inches from his face but no movement mars its powdered surface, no lifeless twitches brush across its sacred lines. Only the occasional stirring of the earth under his snorted breath indicates that while he seems to have missed the fireworks, they will not be the last he ever has a chance to see.
The sounds of the night, and of the battle, slowly filter back into your hearing. For now, though, the caern seems to sleep. Those still conscious can feel it deep underneath, though. Somehow, somewhere, something is happening, but slowly.
Nemo pages all: Only that. It seems to be working somehow, especially to those with a close connecti, Sepdet, & Joseph, but it's not an immediate thing.
Midnight turns toward the fight, muzzle widening in a feral battle-grin. The Get theurge looks over , seeking an answer in her eyes.
Runs-With-Moon rises up to her original kneeling position, then makes sure her partner is ok before watching the fight.
Quiet shakes her head to Midnight. She says, aloud, ~We're two of the only ones that can still move. Come. We need to draw everyone out of danger, to the center.~ The Gaian puts her words into action by moving first to Eligio.
Seshemw lays still, breathing shallowly. He manages to flick his ears without making it worse, but doesn't otherwise move. He does get out a whisper, ~I hope the fighters win without getting as hurt as I just did to myself."
Quiet pages all: Okay, so 'out of danger' displays a naive optimism in the fighters. ;)
Shadow Eyes comes back to himself, the light-headedness of so much blood lost so fast starting to recede like the tide going out. ~I am fleet, and ready to run, also.~
Soulcatcher winces at Quiet's remarks. With effort, the Wendigo hauls himself shakily to his feet and without sparing any words, he moves to pick up his packmate, Shows the Way.
Erik stirs a bit, then manages to sit up and pocket the knife. That's all he manages however, and it looks as though he's going to fall over at any minute.
Seshemw whispers, ~I'll mend. I'll have to. Next time, someone put cork on my claws at least a little.~
Midnight accompanies Quiet, moving toward Erik with purpose and some strength. He lends that strength to Erik. ~To the center.~
Seshemw looks like he's inwardly berating himself for overdoing, but his ears stand a little higher despite the pain. His pennance paid.
Runs-With-Moon murmers to Seshemw. "Can you move? Or do you need help?"
Shadow-of-Blood stands still on the Earth Mound. Like Erik, it seems as if that is taking all that he has.
motions for the stronger to help the weaker. She waits for Soren to come and help her, then th, at least, is visibly trembling and apparently bone-tired, from the pauses she has to take to move the crinos.
By the pool to the southeast, Falcon's Wing stays where he is, staring at the water contemplatively.
Runs-With-Moon helps Seshemw to twards the stone circle.
Seshemw whispers, ~I can crawl?~ He sets mind to movement, and does manage to start making a very slow way to the middle, his movements causing a bit more bloodloss.
Erik accepts Midnight's help and with it is moved into the center of the caern with the others.
Seshemw makes it to the middle much easier with Aerin's help, allowing her to assist others.
Shadow Eyes nods and moves to check on Defends-Wolves, then helps Falcon's Wing into the center from where he lays by the pool.
Defends-Wolves manages to regain hs feet, the effects of blood loss slowing, though it seems that is all he'll be able to manage for the moment.
in moving his mentor, the Uktena Rainwalker.
Runs-With-Moon looks around as Seshemw finds his way out, then goes to Shadow-Of-Blood and helps support him.
Sepdet doesn't get up, but does at least help bulldoze or tug those brought close to the middle where she's crouched. A few steadying words, more hummed than spoken, are all she has breath for.
By the pool to the southeast, Falcon's Wing shakes his head vaguely at Elan, but then moves inward after being prodded a bit.
Falcon's Wing comes into the center of the clearing from the pool to the southeast.
Falcon's Wing has arrived.
Runs-With-Moon murmers. "You look beat."
Erik drops onto his side on the Umbral ground and, after weakly pushing his sleeve back down over his wasted arm, goes still, breathing slowly.
To the pack, Seshemw whispers to the faint breeze, ~We did good. God, I wish it didn't hurt so much.~
Falcon's Wing contorts and blurs as he is transformed.
Falcon's Wing shifts into Lupus form.
Rain Walker leaves a quickly-congealing trail of red behind him as he is half-dragged into the centre.
@pemit Quiet=One of Sepdet's mutters, perhaps evidence of her own lightheadedness, sounds suspiciously like, "Heya, Quiet always wanted us to have Coggie slumber party. Damn noisy neighbors."
looks out over the fight after all the rite participants are in the center, blinking her dark eyes dully. Her hands lean on the wound the dragging broke open on Eligio, using pressure where she has no spiritual strength left. Seeing more fighters standing than not, she stays where she is.
Shadow Eyes checks on Erik next, seeing he's been moved and has stopped bleeding for the most part. He busies himself in moving people and helping them stretch out. Finally, he returns to crouch by Quiet. ~What now?~ He cocks his head and perks his ears. ~/Something/ is happening, down there...~
Runs-With-Moon walks with Shadow-of-Blood, making sure he gets to the Center before checking to make sure everyone else is inside.
Quiet pages all: Thank all of you for an /amazingly/ smooth ritual. Do you realize, we had eleven people, and it went that well. I mean, wow! Congrats, everyone! :)
Seshemw whispers, ~Wait, see, mend. Wounds take time to heal once the energy's there. I know /I'm/ not going to leap back up anytime real soon tonight.~
Quiet pages all: Er, Thirteen people, counting me and Seppie. I is good at math, really.
Sepdet pages all: "With Quiet shepherding things at appropriate moments. Ooo, good number!
Soulcatcher finally collapses himself, breathing shallowly and barely managing to sit upright.
Quiet all: Thank YOU, Nemo, for helping us pull off such an interesting Rite!
Defends-Wolves makes his way to the center, staggering more than a little as he looks over those gathered at the center then turns his attention toward the battle to the north.
Runs-With-Moon collapses onto the ground after making sure everyone else is safe, crawling into the Cente.
Sepdet curls up at Eligio's head, too tired to play formal or aloof anymore, and begins to sing by his ear in a low, soft murmur that could almost be mistaken for the sound of distant surf, untroubled--or defying--any more immediate threats.
Abruptly, the ground shakes again, nearly as strong as before.
Runs-With-Moon glances up at the earthquake.
Falcon's Wing puts a hand on the ground, surprised.
Shadow Eyes looks up and tenses, watching the center where the spirit entered.
Sepdet grins at the ground, murmuring rather childishly to no one in particular, ~Here we go!~
Runs-With-Moon raises her head weakly to watch where the rumbling was coming from.
Seshemw whispers to the ground, ~Strong is the heart tree watered by the life of its caretakers. Be strong again.~
Defends-Wolves falls to the ground, landing rather unceremoniously on his rump. He waits silently in anticipation.
Soulcatcher is too tired to do more than offer a toothy grin to his packmate's voiced giddiness. He, too though, touches the ground with a hand, carefully.
Shadow Eyes puts both palms to the ground, waiting.
Runs-With-Moon closes her single eye and whispers four words with the last of her strength: " So Mote It Be!"
Erik doesn't show any movement in reaction to the earthquake. After several minutes, his breathing slows further, and the Metis' form shimmers, reverting to breed as he finally loses consciousness from the ordeal.
The shuddering stops, suddenly as it hit. The Wyld symbol seems to flash again (or maybe it's just lune-light), and calm returns to the night and the caern, for the moment.
Erik contorts and blurs as he is transformed.
Erik shifts into Crinos form.
Seshemw curls up a little, and looks like he's on the edge of sleeping or passing out for a while.
Runs-With-Moon gives a great shuddering breath then seems to collapse where she is.
Falcon's Wing curls up with his tail over his nose and watches the fight worridly.
Shadow Eyes stalks around the center of the caern suprisingly silently, as he watches the fight and tries to spot possible breaks or stragglers coming towards the ritual area.
Sepdet whispers indistinctly towards the Fang, ~What do you see? My eyes are a little tired... and the caern keeps hopping like a pup with a new toy...~
Seshemw whispers into the ground wearily, ~Isn't that exactly what it is?~
Midnight addresses Quiet. ~Sit. I will watch your back.~
Falcon's Wing takes his tail off his nose. I can't really... I think they may have defeated everything in sight. But my eyesight is less than precise.
Shadow Eyes stills stalks about, and then blurs into the near-wolf.
Shadow Eyes contorts and blurs as he is transformed.
Quiet looks at Midnight for nearly twenty seconds. She then does as he says, wedging herself between Soulcatcher and Rain Walker. She stares at her hands, then closes her eyes.
Shadow Eyes sparkles and blurs, shifting into Hispo form.
Even as Falcon's Wing looks, a loud splash sounds, and water splatters outwards as a flaming ball gets thrown into it.
Falcon's Wing blinks. Or not. Someone just got thrown into water. I wonder if Stormcloud is there.
Seshemw flops his head over to look towards the pool. ~eh?~
Shadow Eyes shakes himself. This form is better for fighting, since our totem loves it so. He growls in the direction of the Pool. It is good I dragged you from there, hmm?
You paged Alexandra with 'Did you just get flung into the pool, or...?'.
Alexandra pages: Yep. Peacekeeper made a perfect throw. :)
Falcon's Wing sits up. Stormcloud, he explains, shifting to Hispo, ~Used to heave people into water about once a week.~
Falcon's Wing contorts and blurs as he is transformed.
Falcon's Wing shifts into Hispo form.
Defends-Wolves turns his head toward the pool, beginning to rise to his feet.
Seshemw chuffs, ~On fire?~
Falcon's Wing whurfs. ~Well, not anymore.~
Sepdet lifts her head, trying not to sound too drunk. ~Someone get her,~ she pleads softly with less giddiness and more pain.
Seshemw rumbles something about onion beer sounding good about now.
Shadow Eyes shifts his senses into high gear, sniffing for enemies. What is going on out there, he wonders, since he now has better-than-wolf sight and smell.
Apparently, aside from the defending Garou themselves, nothing stirs within sensing range.
Shadow Eyes pads towards the Pool, to retrieve the fallen person.
Others from the defenders are already examining the body in the pool.
Shadow Eyes heads southeast toward the pool.
Shadow Eyes has left.
By the pool to the southeast, Alexandra floats in the pool, thoroughly unconscious.
By the pool to the southeast, Shadow Eyes pads in and drags Alexandra out of the Pool before she drowns.
By the pool to the southeast, Shadow Eyes contorts and blurs as he is transformed.
By the pool to the southeast, Shadow Eyes sparkles and blurs, shifting into Crinos form.
By the pool to the southeast, Shadow Eyes shift and gingerly picks up Alexandra, and carries her back to the Center, where healers are.
Shadow Eyes comes into the center of the clearing from the pool to the southeast.
Shadow Eyes has arrived.
Alexandra comes into the center of the clearing from the pool to the southeast.
Alexandra has arrived.
Seshemw asks softly, ~She still breathing?~
Alexandra is carried in by Shadow Eyes
Shadow Eyes shift homid
Shadow Eyes contorts and blurs as he is transformed.
Shadow Eyes sparkles and blurs, shifting into Homid form.
Falcon's Wing says, ~Yikes.~
Seshemw mutters as he manages to focus on Alexandra's form, ~Striders and fire. What IS it with us?~
Elan rolls her over carefully, having dealt with mundane burn victems before. He looks to the others, quickly. "She's gonna need healing. Anyone got anything at all left?" He checks her pulse and breathing, working calmly and quietly.
Defends-Wolves looks over at the Strider cub, a worried expression on his face.
Quiet makes an effort. Finally, she very slowly makes the shift to lupus. She says wearily. Peacekeeper. Get Peacekeeper.
Quiet contorts and blurs as she is transformed.
Quiet shifts into Lupus form.
Alexandra wheezes like a worn-out steam engine.
Seshemw closes his eyes tightly, ears flat to his head.
Falcon's Wing perks his ears up. ~I'll go get him.
Falcon's Wing heads southeast toward the pool.
Falcon's Wing has left.
By the pool to the southeast, Falcon's Wing walks around the side of the pool and heads into the southern woods.
Sepdet sighs and shakes her head, moving over to sit beside Alexandra. She sets her hands quietly on the least burned portion of the cub's skin, sighs, and passes Paul a tired glance. ~This part never gets any easier.~
Alexandra pages all: There IS no least burned portion.
Seshemw pages all: There's probably some that's charcoal, some that's 'only' second degree.
Echen comes into the clearing out of the northern woods.
Echen has arrived.
Peacekeeper comes into the clearing out of the northern woods.
Peacekeeper has arrived.
Stormcloud comes into the clearing out of the northern woods.
Stormcloud has arrived.
Scab-Survivor comes into the clearing out of the northern woods.
Scab-Survivor has arrived.
Falcon's Wing comes into the clearing out of the northern woods.
Falcon's Wing has arrived.
August comes into the clearing out of the northern woods.
August has arrived.
Joshua comes into the clearing out of the northern woods.
Joshua has arrived.
Esther comes into the clearing out of the northern woods.
Esther has arrived.
Crystal comes into the clearing out of the northern woods.
Crystal has arrived.
Thunder's Claws comes into the clearing out of the northern woods.
Thunder's Claws has arrived.
Wears-the-Woad comes into the clearing out of the northern woods.
Wears-the-Woad has arrived.
Wears-the-Woad has disconnected.
Elan does what he can for Alexandra, until the healers can get to her.
Midnight has disconnected.
+shift glabro
Sepdet contorts and blurs as she is transformed.
You shift into Glabro form.
Seshemw looks up wearily, in the pile of ritualists in the center, and mutters to Elan, ~Leave be. She'll keep for the healers or not, but leave be till then.~
Elan nods to the Strider, looking worried. "The only thing I can try to do is make her comfortable. She needs magic, or one hell of a burn unit."
Peacekeeper walks over to Alexandra's badly burned form and kneels beside her.
Thunder's Claws snorts at Elan. ~The Touch'll fix her up.~
[Net burp....Robert healed Alexandra.]
Peacekeeper pages all: Peacekeeper looks at everyone's wounds, trying to determin if anyone looks like they have been Crippled, as if by Polio, or if the wounding just looks as if people have been Mauled, as if by a bear. ;)
Brian pages all: What about Incapacitated, as if by a taser?
Anne puts her head up to look at Crystal. "Feel like shit. Did it work?" The last is directed towards Quiet.
Alexandra laughs weakly, quickly collapsing into wracking coughs. "Feel like hell....
Esther doesn't interrupt the elders, but rejoins her pack, keeping watch at the north of the caern until something else more useful shows itself.
Seshemw pages all: I'm down to that there 'crawl around and look stupid' level. Just above tasered.
Esther has disconnected.
Falcon's Wing mumbles, ~Ask Firewalker about that one, for sure.~
Seshemw pages all: Of course, I did it all to MYSELF< so... Healing may or may not be appropriate.
Quiet doesn't seem to have noticed the question. Her eyes are closed again, and she lets the bussle around her wash over her like senseless static. She doesn't even pay attention to Brian, sitting as she is next to Rain Walker.
Slowly, Brian withdraws shaking hands from Eligio's body and tries to stand. He's not quite successful at first, but does have the presence of mind to shift into a healing form -- where the transferred wounds begin to heal away. "When I see Oaken next I'm going to slap him in the head for ever turning me onto this gift," he mutters, another private joke of sorts.
Sepdet peels open an eye at Brian and snorts, loudly, before murmuring to her cub, ~Shhhh. You paid too much for this lesson.~
Seeker comes into the clearing out of the northern woods.
Seeker has arrived.
August slowly lifts his head and lets it fall back again. ~Interesting.~
Long distance to Peacekeeper: Sepdet will take a "mauled" for 6 gnosis. :)
Alexandra coughs, smiling weakly, and reaches for her two closest tribesmates.
Elan pages all: Night. IC, I just stay here and help with the healing, doing what I can.
Sepdet rouses her attention briefly from the singed Strider to focus upon Anne. ~I don't feel the wound anymore. What's there instead now...~ she smiles thinly. ~Well, we shall see. Wyld should be giving us an interesting ride for a while, at least.~
Nemo pages: Be careful what you say. :) You never know when it'll look like prophecy later.
Soulcatcher manages to open his eyes and look around tiredly.
Falcon's Wing says, ~Did with the Egg, too. I miss my private wind.~
You paged Nemo with 'Do you know how fucking _hard_ it is to say thing that come true without sounding as obvious as counsellor Troi!!??? Horus and Anu had it easy. They helped _run_ the fucking place.'.
After his body heals itself of what it can, Brian takes up a watch position at the edge of the caern. He stays there all night, guarding the Wheel and those who are too weak or injured to leave on their own power.
Brian has disconnected.
Stormcloud closes his eyes, lifting his muzzle slightly into the air, testing the Umbral wind.
Crystal soon returns to the compound, to rest and heal.
Crystal has disconnected.
Peacekeeper nods to Quiet and Sepdet, then looks around at the rest of the theurges. ~Engling hunt soon,~ he says decisively before kneelsing by the Strider. ~One more, thanks to Iustus,~ he says, placing a hand on Sepdet. It, too, glows in the now-familiar slow white glow that fades a little more quickly this time. He walks over and takes watch position opposite Brian, remaining there the rest of the night.
