Sepdet is quiet and somewhat withdrawn on the way, but keeps a very tight hold on your forearm.
Sebek talks quietly on the ride there about books he's read. He find a few books in the trash somewhere.
Sepdet waits patiently until there are no cars or bystanders before slipping into the forest, and dropping to lupus.
Sebek pages: Found, rather. Charlie and the Chocolate Factory, f'rinstance.
Sebek appears from the underbrush.
Sebek has arrived.
+shift lupus
Sepdet contorts and blurs as she is transformed.
You shift into Lupus form.
Set.
Sebek contorts and blurs as he is transformed.
Sebek shifts and contorts, changing into Lupus.
Sebek follows his sister in shifting, happy to be in the outdoors, even if it is cold.
In the distance, Thorn can be heard to howl, ~Crescent moons, gather at the Alpha's compound!~
Sebek glances in the direction of the howl. You should go.
Sepdet whuffs mischievously, tempted to lead you there, but...she'll be good. At least they will all meet her /brother/ when this is done.
Sepdet sniffs the edge of the stream, and then her ears fall faintly. Oh. Dylan is not here. This is his place. He keeps it almost as pretty as my caern.
Sepdet nuzzles. Stand guard. Or explore. You can smell the wards...and you will be nearby, so you should be safe. You know where I will be.
You paged Soulcatcher with 'North...'.
Sebek will ~Yell~ really loud if he gets scared or hurt. You do the same, okay?
Kosh appears from the underbrush.
Kosh has arrived.
Rholeen appears from the underbrush.
Rholeen has arrived.
Kosh enters from the darkness and bows.
Sebek steps in front of his sister, growling menacingly at the two new arrivals.
Sepdet's tail wags wistfully. I will. Be well, my brother. She nuzzles the young jackal wistfully, and then straightens as the others show. She gives Kosh a gentle whuff, but her eyes are bright as she looks up at Rholeen. Tribesmate. This is my brother.
Sepdet's ears prick a little at the growl. Easy, Sen. These are other crescents.
Sebek relaxes. Oh. He looks at the two apologetically. Sorry.
Kosh bows once more to Sepdet's brother. No offense taken.
Rholeen smiles at Sepdet, and then backs away from the protective wolf. "Um...I better be going."
Soulcatcher appears from the underbrush.
Soulcatcher has arrived.
Rholeen nods once again, and continues on her way.
Sepdet gives Sebek one last glance. Introduce yourself to any who give challenge, and say you are my responsibility.
Soulcatcher gruffs. Men. Careful.
Rholeen heads southwest, along a faint trail through the woods.
Rholeen has left.
Sebek nods. Okay.
Kosh looks about. "For caution." With that, he closes his eyes.
Kosh contorts and blurs as he is transformed.
Kosh shifts into Lupus form.
Sebek glances at Soulcatcher, then his head dips down to the floor of the forest in mute apology.
Sepdet shivers at Joseph's words.
Soulcatcher confirms. To the south. Surveyors.
Sebek senses "Sepdet is worried the humans may see you, but trusts you to keep out of sight."
Kosh shakes himself briefly. He bows his muzzle to Soulcatcher.
You sense Sebek will be quiet.
In the distance, Blight-Render can be heard to howl, ~Wind Fang and Isaac are children no longer. They stand among us as true Garou.~
Soulcatcher heads southwest, along a faint trail through the woods.
Soulcatcher has left.
sw
You follow the trail to a clearing in the distance.
The Alpha's Compound(#2075RAMh)
This clearing has recently undergone a bit of construction, though it seems that at least some attempt has been made to keep the new structures harmonious with the landscape around them. The central area is dominated by a cookfire; in the southwest corner a shelter has been dug into the earth and covered, while to the northwest, an open-air cabin of sorts has been built. Except for the area around the fire, it seems nature has been allowed to take its course. However, a student of such things might think that some minimal landscaping or planning has been done, for the meadowlike profusion of grasses and other plants has an unusually high concentration of brilliant flowers, which attract a number of bees and butterflies.
A faint trail leads off to the east, and a bit north.
Contents:
Soulcatcher
Rholeen
Thorn
Bundle of evidence
Obvious exits:
Faint Trail
Kosh enters the compound.
Kosh has arrived.
Rholeen heads into the clearing, and then stops dead in her tracks. She watches the creature before her carefully, "Um...hi."
Sebek enters the compound.
Sebek has arrived.
Sebek leaves the compound.
Sebek has left.
Sebek pages to Thorn, Soulcatcher, Sepdet, Kosh, and Rholeen: Oops. Sorry 'bout that.
Kosh dips his muzzle to all in the compound. Greetings.
Sebek pages: Rut roh.
Sepdet dips her nose to Thorn, then bumps Joseph's shoulder. She told Sebek to keep guard in case humans start getting too close, since she had to get him to escort her here. He is dark. He knows how to hide.
Thorn and Andrea nod their greetings as Kosh and Sepdet arrive. Thorn looks at Sepdet and smiles. ~Good evening, Groundskeeper.~
You paged Sebek with 'Tell them you are hiding in the underbrush...you're dark, they shouldn't see you.'.
Sebek pages: I am. ;)
Thorn glances towards Soulcatcher, smiling a quick hello.
You paged Sebek with 'Spy on them! Coyote-brother. Hee hee. (Hug)'.
From afar, Sebek was thinking...wolverine.
You paged Sebek with 'Eep. Probably more apt.'.
Rholeen nods tenatively towards Thorn. "I'm Rholeen, Silent Strider. I'm not sure we've met."
Thorn and Andrea are seated together on a fallen tree. They seem content to wait paitentily as the other Theurges arrive. Thorn stands and offers Rholeen his hand. "I don't believe we have. I am Thorn-Slowly-Wins. It's a pleasure to meet you." He tucks the odd bone structure he carries under his left arm.
Thorn pages: Mind if I have you conduct the summoning of the Wyldlings?
Kosh looks to the others. Is is safe to be ourselves?
l thorn
The pale, fearsome creature before you stands some nine feet tall and bends the earth with its quarter ton of mass. Hairless, bone white skin sheathes a man-like form warped into an image of canine ferocity. Vicious, colorless talons tip its huge hands; it stands on similarly clawed paws, attached to the back-jointed hind legs of a vastly oversized hound. A whiplike tail balances the weight of its overhanging arms, thick enough to serve as a club. Thick muscle cords the heavy limbs and torso, visibly shifting and massing beneath translucent skin--indeed, the entire horrifying body seems a weapon crafted of pure white fury.
Carrying:
Bone perch
Thorn contorts and blurs as he is transformed.
Thorn shifts into Homid form.
Thorn pages to Soulcatcher, Sepdet, Kosh, and Rholeen: Sorry, forgot which form I was in.
You paged Thorn with 'Uh, IC, I'm really not that well-grounded, having just had a bit of a shock, but Sepdet can probably pull it off.'.
You paged Thorn with 'In a pinch, and with help. OOC, sure.'.
Thorn pages: We can have the @emitted Quiet help you, if you like. :-)
Kosh nods and takes Thorn's cue.
Rholeen takes Thorn's hand in hers, greatful she doesn't have to graw hold of his massive claw. She then shakes it a bit, unsure what else to do with it.
Kosh contorts and blurs as he is transformed.
Kosh shifts into Homid form.
Sepdet looks towards Thorn, waiting for the introduction to be over. Rholeen was my student, she adds with a soft whuff. She suggested that we vary the wind-spirits with fog, and other weather, if we can possibly manage, lest the humans become suspicious of sudden strange unnatural winds.
Kosh pages to Thorn, Soulcatcher, Sepdet, and Rholeen: Please note that Kosh did not bring his computer.
Shadow-Catcher enters the compound.
Shadow-Catcher has arrived.
Shadow-Catcher trots into the Alpha's Compound.
Thorn returns the handshake, almost as if confirming that Rholeen did the right thing. After releasing her hand, he looks around and nods to himself. "Well, a good gathering, I think." He nods again as Shadow-Catcher arrives and then addresses the group. "It is time, I think, for us to step into the Umbra."
Shadow-Catcher whuffs a greeting to those she knows.
Kosh bows to the new arrival.
You sense Rholeen signs, "Who was the growler with you?"
Sepdet twitches at a question of her tribesmate's signing, and looks up with rather bleak eyes. That is my own brother. You will meet him soon.
Blight-Render enters the compound.
Blight-Render has arrived.
Blight-Render lumbers in.
You paged Thorn with 'Caern, I assume?And will you be here to puppet falcons and foo?'.
Blight-Render seems a bit tired.
Shadow-Catcher requests clarification on the goals of those gathered.
Thorn pauses, blinking a few times at Shadow-Catcher's question. "Ah... I thought that information had been passed along. I need your," he gestures with one hand at the assembly, "aid. The goal is to extend the Caern's confusion wards into the sky, to work against the helicopters."
Kosh listens intently, eyes shadowed.
Shadow-Catcher would be pleased to assist.
Blight-Render contorts and blurs as he is transformed.
Blight-Render shifts into Lupus form.
Sepdet's ears flicker, and she dances to one side impatiently.
Rholeen senses "Sepdet seems a bit weird tonight. :/"
Blight-Render takes a smaller form, and thumps down on his side. I am tired. Called down Crow. Healed Blacktooth. Very tired.
Thorn says "To do this, we need a spirit to lend the ward's Wyldlings the power of flight. I intend to summon Falcon and ask her aid. Andrea here," he nods to his packmate, "and Sepdet will lead the summoning of the Wyldlings."
Blight-Render eyes the children of Raccoon and Coyote. He doesn't comment.
Thorn pages to Soulcatcher, Sepdet, Kosh, Shadow-Catcher, Rholeen, and Blight-Render: For those of you extending your willing suspensions, Andrea is here ICly and being @emitted OOCly.
Thorn glances towards Blight-Render. ~If you are tired, then it might be best if you just remain in reserve. If that is acceptable?~
Blight-Render grunts in the affirmative.
Sepdet attempts to settle herself, but the young Strider's constant motion tonight from nose to tail-tip seems rather fitting to the spirit of wyldlings, as well as her own totem.
Thorn glances around the throng once again, then steps off onto the faint path, leading the way. "Come, then, those who can help. We will breach the Gauntlet through the Caern's pool. Step quickly, and don't linger. Those of you free to take lupus, do so and keep under cover."
Sepdet zips off without waiting, scout's nose and dark pelt vanishing instantly and silently under the cover of shadows.
Thorn leaves the compound.
Thorn has left.
Rholeen frowns slightly, and bows her head to Thorn.
Blight-Render leaves the compound.
Blight-Render has left.
ne
You head through the tall grass toward the center of the clearing. The air fairly crackles with spiritual energy the closer you get to the center.
Umbra: Center of the Caern
The thick grasses surrounding this place suddenly give way to solid granite in a perfect circle some twenty yards across. An eerie chill runs up your spine, instincts atingle as an undiscernable presence fills the air. Lunes dance wildly on the air, lighting the place brightly and casting odd shadows about the clearing. At the center of the stone circle a broad Medicine Circle has been drawn in brightly colored chalks and sand, one Great Ring embracing a second smaller circle. Inscribed within the greater ring are stylized representations of each of the Totems of the Garou, and at the cardinal directions stand the symbols of the elements. Within the center of the Medicine Circle a triangle has been laid in silver dust, seven feet on a side. At each point the symbols of each of the Triat have been drawn, The Wyld, Weaver, and Wyrm each adding its primal power to the binding.
The air here is charged with silent anticipation, as if a power long forgotten finally stirs. Even the least perceptive can feel the eerie presence of the place, sense the strength buried deep within the Earth. Power reverberates through the Earth's shell like the song of distant thunder, rumbling so deeply it must be felt rather than heard.
Contents:
Thorn
Obvious exits:
North SouthEast West
By the pool to the southeast, Rholeen appears in a glimmer of light.
Sepdet glances up at the sky nervously, does a twitchy step to one side, and pulls herself into her form of habit. As she settles into shape her eyes and face seem oddly strained, but a moment later the expression is patiently veiled behind her Strider mask.
+shift glabro
Sepdet contorts and blurs as she is transformed.
You shift into Glabro form.
By the pool to the southeast, Kosh appears in a glimmer of light.
Thorn contorts and blurs as he is transformed.
Thorn shifts into Crinos form.
Sepdet begins outlining a faint circle of rather odd objects in a wide circle outside of the Medicine Wheel-- feathers, small rocks, dust, bones, bits of vine, milkweed fluff, moss, bark, and less recognizable things.
Blight-Render comes into the center of the clearing from the pool to the southeast.
Blight-Render has arrived.
Kosh comes into the center of the clearing from the pool to the southeast.
Kosh has arrived.
Rholeen comes into the center of the clearing from the pool to the southeast.
Rholeen has arrived.
Blight-Render follows along, slowly.
By the pool to the southeast, Shadow-Catcher appears in a glimmer of light.
Rholeen contorts and blurs as she is transformed.
Rholeen shifts into Homid form.
Shadow-Catcher comes into the center of the clearing from the pool to the southeast.
Shadow-Catcher has arrived.
Thorn's form expands explosively as the Metis returns to his birth-form. He lifts the Bone and gut structure and thrusts it's point into the earth next to the symbol of Falcon.
Thorn dropped Bone perch.
Sepdet speaks in a low soft voice as she makes preparations. ~We are going to call the Falcon, sky-friend and watcher. We are going to call the Wyldings, who can baffle the human air-cars with wind, fog, ice on their wings, and shifting air currents too subtle for them to sense they are being pulled off course. For this I ask you to focus on the wyld, the forest, and the eddy and flow of the seasons and wind you have come to know during your travels beyond human places.~
By the pool to the southeast, Eligio Sacateca appears in a glimmer of light.
Rholeen stands back up, and rubs her arms fiercely...whether because of the cold or something else remains unsure. She then nods slowly to Sepdet's words.
By the pool to the southeast, Eligio Sacateca makes his way into the centre, his face a mask. Tight and hard to read.
Sepdet lifts her head and walks to the center, kneeling silently to face the Wyld's sign for a moment. Then she nods to Quiet and takes her place beside the Voice, her hands loosely at her sides, examining each of the theurges' faces with calm reassurance.
Kosh bows his muzzle, eyes liquid gold and unreadable.
Thorn steps forward to meet Eligio. As he walks, he shifts back into the human form.
Thorn contorts and blurs as he is transformed.
Thorn shifts into Homid form.
Shadow-Catcher is calm, her white hairs sparkling in the Lunes' light.
Thorn speaks quietly to the Warder.
Thorn heads southeast toward the pool.
Thorn has left.
By the pool to the southeast, Eligio Sacateca nods to Thorn.
By the pool to the southeast, Eligio Sacateca forces himself to calm, allowing the worry lines to ease from his forehead. ~If I have the strength. It has not been an easy few days.~
By the pool to the southeast, Anubis appears in a glimmer of light.
By the pool to the southeast, Thorn takes a half-step back and bows his head. ~Very well. Sepdet and Andrea lead the summoning of the Wyldlings. I lead the summoning of Falcon. Your aid would impress the Totem, I believe.~
By the pool to the southeast, Anubis freezes in place, not wanting to interrupt the Theurges in their work.
By the pool to the southeast, Persephone appears in a glimmer of light.
Sepdet holds out her hands, beckoning people to take up places around the circle, facing the Medicine Wheel. ~If you have tokens of Falcon, or something that speaks to you of the Wyld, set them before you.~
By the pool to the southeast, Anubis sees they are still in the pre-summoning stages, and skirts the area.
Anubis comes into the center of the clearing from the pool to the southeast.
Anubis has arrived.
Anubis heads westward, toward the edge of the clearing.
Anubis has left.
By the pool to the southeast, Eligio Sacateca nods, slightly. "By all means. You are the Ritemaster."
By the pool to the southeast, Persephone nods wearily to the three by the pool. Looking to the Warder, she simply says, "She has been sent, with Phoebe's aid. Gaia help her."
On the western edge of the clearing, Anubis heads westward, disappearing rapidly into the woods.
Thorn pages: Since you're working with her, maybe you could take over @emitting Andrea?
By the pool to the southeast, Thorn glances towards Anubis, his expression unreadable, then turns his attention to Persephone. "Will you be joining the effort?"
From afar, to Sepdet, Kosh, Shadow-Catcher, and Rholeen, Blight-Render is falling asleep here. BR quietly watches, lending a bit ofaid where he can.
Blight-Render goes home.
Blight-Render has left.
By the pool to the southeast, Persephone considers, then nods again. "I am somewhat spent, but I will lend what aid I can."
Rholeen stands facing the Wheel, moving slightly to one side until she believes herself to be in a good position.
Shadow-Catcher looks around the Wheel, considering.
By the pool to the southeast, Thorn lowers his head, but not his gaze. He then turns and walks back to the center.
Thorn comes into the center of the clearing from the pool to the southeast.
Thorn has arrived.
By the pool to the southeast, Eligio Sacateca accepts these words from Persephone, then heads into the centre.
Eligio Sacateca comes into the center of the clearing from the pool to the southeast.
Eligio Sacateca has arrived.
Kosh feels his home form would serve this gathering more than his current one.
Kosh contorts and blurs as he is transformed.
Kosh shifts into Homid form.
Andrea stands silently by the Groundskeeper, waiting for people to take their places.
Thorn pages: Basic form, I figure, is Falcon at the center and a ring of Wyldlings. Sound good?
You paged Thorn with 'Aye aye, keptin.'.
From afar, Anubis looks at you confusedly.
Persephone comes into the center of the clearing from the pool to the southeast.
Persephone has arrived.
Kosh silently moves a comfortable area, half in the shadows. He inhales, a strange musical sound following his breath.
Shadow-Catcher settles into place, her bright eyes watching the Groundskeeper.
Eligio Sacateca stands by the Ritemaster. He silently strips to the waist, Crow hairpipes being the only protection he leaves on his upper body.
Thorn crouches down near the bone structure. A pale hand reaches into paler robes and produces a small wooden statue. He places the figurine at the base of the structure; it is a stylized carving of a falcon. Touching both hands to his forehead in obesiance, the Ritemaster moves back three paces, still facing the perch.
Sepdet tugs her gaze from Anubis, composure cracking slightly, and takes a deep breath. Glancing at Quiet, then to Thorn, she begins a soft, low opening hum, at the same instant that Andrea begins to chant a mischievous, dancing whispered melody.
Thorn gestures to Rholeen. ~Stand there.~ He gestures to his left side, opposite Eligio. ~And Kosh, you stand next to the Warder. Both of you face the perch.~ The Ritemaster looks at Persephone and Shadow-Catcher. ~Assist Sepdet and Quiet, if you will, follow their lead. You will be summoning the Wyldlings.~
Eligio Sacateca uses a small pot of pigment to paint Owl's glyph on one cheek and the mark of Uktena on the other. There is a stirring about his shoulders and black shadows hover there, insubstantial, outstretching until they overshadow both Kosh and Thorn.
Rholeen goes to stand where Thorn points...her attention divided between him, Sepdet, and the figurine.
Kosh nods. His voice shadowed by a strange musical sound, he says. "Understood." Kosh takes his place by the Warder, carefully, as if his every step was part of a delicate ritual.
You paged Rholeen with 'Thorn thinks you're falcon material.Be honored. :)'.
Persephone goes over to stand beside the Groundskeeper and takes up her own variant of chanting, a low chant that sounds like neither Garou nor English.
Thorn turns his attention to Kosh, Rholeen, and Eligio. ~We ask for Falcon to join us. We must be humble before her, for her wisdom is greater than ours.~ The Ritemaster lowers to his knees.
Kosh, slowly and reverently, lowers himself to his knees. His eyes gaze upon the ground.
Eligio Sacateca follows Thorn without comment, dropping to his knees. A faint breeze stirs the ground as the shadows move and twist of their own volition, fanning to keep his balance. Finally, he pulls them in closer to his own shoulders.
Shadow-Catcher joins the Groundskeeper, and begins a low growl-like thrum.
Rholeen also lowers herself, her eyes studying the ground.
Sepdet passes Andrea a faint grin and nods, pausing her hum for a moment to offer a few last words. ~Okay. Got your rhythm.~ She looks back at Persephone and Chrysti. ~Wyldlings,~ she notes softly, ~like to dance, sing, and do all sorts of crazy things. We'll try not to distract Falcon too much, okay?~
Thorn raises his arms in an expansive gesture, his voice rings out in metallic tones, *Mighty Falcon, guide of Gaia's Warriors! We beg your attendance!*
Quiet smirks faintly at the coyote's words and takes a step back, to give the Falcon-summoners room. She begins to weave the wild dancing tune faster, as the second theurge joins in, shuttling in and out of the Strider's soft hum and Shadow-catcher's growling rhythm.
Eligio Sacateca echoes the Ritemaster's call. *Keen-eyed Falcon, Master of the Air! We need your strength and your wisdom.*
Persephone nods to the Mistress of Challenges and the Groundskeeper, her chant picking up its pace a little as she shuffles around a little.
Rholeen brings her hands to her chest, almost unconsciously clasping her hands in prayers. Her voice is lost to the night...soft and gentle...and yet her face is set with a look of careful concentration.
Sepdet does a half-turn away from Quiet and casts her head up, grinning with eyes half-closed at the sky. *Wind-dancers, snow and ice, dust, fog, and fox fire! Air spirits that rustle leaves when no wind is near! Snow that falls from a near-cloudless sky! Wyldlings that baffle and confuse and delight, we call you in to join us, to dance with us tonight!*
Thorn draws his arms in and lowers his forehead to the ground. *Swift Falcon, death-from-above, your children need your strength!*
Kosh bows his head. Speaking in a strange, musical voice he follows the words of his betters. *Falcon. We entreat you...spread your wings. Cast your shadow across our hearts.*
Thorn holds still, forehead on the ground. He begins a litany of murmured prayers, rhythmic words, all barely audible.
Shadow-Catcher's eyes are very bright and she dances in place a little, continuing to thrum.
Quiet too begins a dance, her soft chant catching and skipping as the wind begins to pick up and cause the lighter of Sepdet's wyld-offerings to drift and eddy at people's feet. *Gaia's children, Wyldlings, we entreat you with our spirits. There are intruders to your forest who must be led astray. Come then, and we will show you sport.*
From afar, to Soulcatcher and Sepdet, Thorn smiles. "No problem. We've got a decent sized group. Thanks for trying to come."
Eligio Sacateca flicks his eyes to Thorn then back to the figurine. The shadows about his back arch up and then push down strongly against the ground, flattening the grass as he calls, *Honourable Falcon, talons-of-strength, we seek your knowledge.*
Kosh lowers himself to the ground, forhead touching the earth in the fashion of the Chinese,a sign of respect and reverence. His voice, a symphony of whirling sound, sings *Great Falcon. Honor us with your presence. Enlighten us with your wisdom.* Around him, shadows swarm. A faint glow peers from beneath his clothes.
Rholeen places her palms to the ground, and also lowers her head to the ground. Her voice remains soft, yet full of entreaty. *Falcon, sky warrior...I hope you can hear our words. Come and help us.*
Persephone holds up her bow, the moonsilver on the ebony glinting in Luna's light as the Fury sways slightly and dances. *Wyld Children, relations to Phoebe, cousins of Lunes, wonders of creations, creators of fun, we call to you this night under our mutual cousin. Let Her light your way here, dance down her beams, and we will play with you and show you fun.*
Shadow-Catcher shifts again, moving in a little dancing patter, She rumbles, her eyes raised to the heavens, ~Wyldlings, come dance!~
A piercing shriek slices like a knife through the night. High overhead, a circling form momentarily eclipses the moon.
A flurry of small green lights like lightning bugs caught in a dust-devil heralds the arrival of a few Wyldlings, whipping irreverantly around the outer circle of dancers, between legs, past noses, brushing ears and fur and hair. A few smaller ground Wyldlings, mostly of the shambling, mossy type, peek out with glittering eyes from the sheltered edge of the Wheel, attracted by all the excitement.
Thorn lifts his head from the ground and peers up into the sky. He spreads his arms wide in a gesture of welcome. *Join us, mighty Falcon!*
@Doing 1 Coon.1 Kit. Add Crescents&Chaos.Stir Well.
Set.
Kosh follows the Ritemaster, head lifted to the sky. His eyes stream skyward, arms open wide as the form passes overhead. *Falcon...Join us...* his symphonic voice calls.
Eligio Sacateca echoes the calls of his companions.
Rholeen looks up, searching the sky for signs of the great spirit, *Hey, come on down! Lend us a hand...*
From afar, Rholeen args. "Boy that was hard to type. I hope people don't think I'm being silly."
Persephone smiles and gives herself in to dancing with the Wyldings as they appear, their colours changing her chiton to green, yellow, orange, and whatever colour they are at the moment. She switches from Spirit Speech back to Greek, then back to the first, ending with, *Call your relations, the Children of the Wyld, the random ones of creation, dancing Wyldlings. Come to your cousins, the Garou, and dance with the ones who have forgotten you.*
The circling raptor draws in its wings and plummets towards the earth. To those looking skyward, the raptor seems to be descending directly towards them.
Sepdet redoubles the volume of her hum and intersperses it with short bursts of wordless yips, face split into an almost inhuman toothy grin as she drops into a scampering dance which is nearly a game of tag with the other theurge leading the Rite.
Long distance to Thorn: Sepdet boggles at the combination of dignified Rite and insanity, and hopes the contrast isn't too jarring.
Thorn pages: The eye of the storm, my dear. :-)
Shadow-Catcher twists, and crouches, springing playfully after the nearest Wyldlings, her ears pricked in pleasure, leaping back as they dart towards her.
Quiet grins at Sepdet, her mismatched eyes twinkling with glee as the two dance around each other and the other two theurges, the Wyldlings flitting in and among all of them.
At the last instant, it unfurls its wings and settles, elegantly, onto the perch provided. *I do not like being called away from my hunting.* The voice is pervasive, imperious.
Gusts of wind toss the lunes into a merry dance around the outer circle, and now a few handfulls of snow are mixed in. One fairly flings itself in the brown Strider's face, causing the desert-born crescent to sputter and sneeze, covering a hand over her mouth to keep from interrupting the Falcon's words. Gathering slowly up from the depths of the forest floor, a low dignified carpet of fog rolls in, swirling and eddying below the minor chaos and thinning out as it drifts across the still center.
From afar, Persephone tagteams a little on the Wyldlings and Quiet. :)
You paged Persephone with 'Many thanks. :) Raccoon and Coyote really need to play tag sometime in less strained circumstances.'.
Eligio Sacateca pulls his vague and insubstantial wings in tight against his back and bows his head, respectfully.
Kosh closes his eyes and bows at the waist, a humble samurai showing the utmost respect to his Shogun.
Thorn swallows tightly, as if his throat were dry. He glances at Rholeen, then at Eligio. Finally he faces Falcon and bows his head deeply. *We have need of your aid, Great Falcon.*
Rholeen lowers her gaze, quite willing to have Thorn take the brunt of the spirit's attention.
The huge bird preens its feathers in an almost dismissive gesture. *I gathered, Mule-Elder. Tell me what you need, and quickly.*
Eligio Sacateca pages to Thorn, Persephone, Sepdet, Kosh, Shadow-Catcher, and Rholeen: sepdet, thorn=:occasionally is struck by an urge to turn around, drop his pants, and moon one of the higher totems.
From afar, to Eligio Sacateca, Persephone, Sepdet, Kosh, Shadow-Catcher, and Rholeen, Thorn laughs. "I would pay to see that."
As Persephone dances, the form of a large flaming wheel appears behind her, with eyes along the outer rim. The eyes look around for a time, then the form goes to slide around with the Lunes around the circle, fitting into their dance perfectly. She notices him and smiles softly as she spins, her chiton flaring outward. The fog rolls up and rises a bit more around the other Wyldings, who cavort around the theurges. They take no particular shape, changing form as the whim and the dance suits them.
Thorn swallows tightly, once again. *Well...* he looks around, meeting Sepdet's eyes momentarily, *the Veil, and this Caern, are in danger. Humans have taken to the air and spy upon us. The Wyldlings guard the ground for us, turning the humans about, but they have no wings to take them to the air. We ask for your aid, lifting those Wyldings willing to guard this Caern to the sky.*
Persephone bares her throat to Falcon every time the dance turns her so that she faces the totem, then lowers it again as she spins.
At that, several small glade children--scrub children? of various species and shapes rustle at the clearing's edge on stiltlike legs of sticks, decked out in the last shivering dried leaves. A few mushrooms seem to have sprouted up through the fog, large, white, and swaying eerily.
The black, sharp eyes of the great Totem follow the cavorting creatures and spirits that surround her. *You wish _me_... to carry _these_?* She flips her wing in an expansive gesture.
The firefly-looking Wyldlings twist around Quiet's face, their shadows forming what looks for just a moment like a mask around her eyes. Her expression drops for just a moment at Falcon's words, but she quickly recovers and continues her dance with the other three and the many others appearing from ground and sky.
Thorn , surprisingly, pales even further. He nods carefully, once. *The caern must be protected.*
Shadow-Catcher continues to dance with the Wyldlings, only marginally noticing Falcon and her words.
Sepdet tilts her head up, eyes gleaming, keeping remarks carefully checked behind a coyote's best poker face. *The wind may carry the Falcon, but the Falcon can command the wind,* she notes softly.
Kosh's posture changes not an inch, radiating humility and respect. He continues his deep bow, eyes low, muscles as unmoving as granite.
The falcon folds her wing back against her side, carefully. *I will not be bound to this, but I will help. Providing...* She settles her intense gaze on each of the Garou present, one by one. *you do something in return.*
Rholeen listens to the Falcon's words carefully, and restrains herself from looking up in curiousity. Instead she focuses again on ground before her.
Thorn bows his head in deference, and, perhaps, resignation. *Tell us your price.*
From afar, to Soulcatcher and Sepdet, Sebek sighs. "I don't think I should stay. I'm rather ill and I need my sleep..."
The spirit waits a while before responding, perhaps to maintain the sense of tension. When she speaks, her elegant voice is cold. *Swear, each of you, to end this threat. Preserve the Veil and this Caern.*
Thorn answers quickly, earnestly, *I swear.*
Kosh bows further and touches his head to the ground. *So I swear,* his voice sings, a swirl of musical noise, ernest and dedicated.
Rholeen glances up at the spirit, and takes a deep breath. * I swear. The caern and the Veil will be protected. * She then lowers her head again respectfully.
Sepdet goes still, mist swirling about her bare feet, and slips the necklace off from around her throat, holding it up so that ankh dangling freely. *It was sworn long ago, when a Strider chose to stay,* she murmurs quietly.
Shadow-Catcher twists her head about to look at Falcon. *Done* she cries cheerfully.
