Message 16: Wed Nov 1 12:25:24 (read) From: eccles [To: caligari] sod the mail I'll do it in goofey: Assuming that you get to go on your long trip, caern elders (and Kezaih) suggest doing it the mortal way for a way, and then running. Basically they suggest going by train to about Alice Springs and then visiting the uktena, then running north to a blackfury protectorate and moonbridging the rest of the way. Message 14: Wed Nov 1 12:35:13 (read) From: eccles [To: caligari] Well, getting near the centre of australia gives plenty of chance to run across the truly wyld bits and get back in time for tea. It gives you a chance to run the distance to the uktena caern at *mumble* and then from there to the blackfuries in the north Then moonbridge to Sept of Five Hands, then chat and then get back.... From: eccles [To: caligari] [nodnod] Cool bananas. Ok, well, the elders are a little leery about two lupus going off on their own on a train and there is some subtle kind "are you sure you have everything?" kind of friendly mothering - Given that you're both < 5 years old, the homids concern might be understandable :) The trip there is uneventful. Keziah spends a lot of time staring out the windows, and doesn't speak a lot... Message 11: Wed Nov 1 12:46:59 (read) From: eccles [To: caligari] *grin* Yes, but they /raised/ Keziah and she's trouble :) Its not the wyldness that worries them (only a little - much like parents with 17/18 year olds on a trip), its the little homid things. Thats ok, me too - back afterwards. (kata tjuta! That's the uktena caern :) Message 9: Wed Nov 1 14:50:56 (read) From: eccles [To: caligari] ...In any case, as the train pulls into the 1st station over the NT border, Keziah suggests getting off here and running. Its about half a day's run to the nearest uktena caern, where you have agreed to meet Tjinderi. They have also agreed to let Keziah near the caern without hassling her. Message 8: Wed Nov 1 14:55:45 (read) From: caligari [To: eccles] How much farther does the train go? How close would we be if we stayed on? I'm not inclined to stay aboard. I need to ensure that my position is secure, though, and that Keziah understands the situation. So I need to be sure of what we are doing, and be sure that the decision to run is *mine*. Message 6: Wed Nov 1 14:57:13 (read) From: eccles [To: caligari] The train probably gets a bit closer, but not any amount that is appreciable. Keziah probably doesn't stop to wait for you. The conversation would most likely run "(jump up) Let's get off here. (jog towards door off train)" From: eccles [To: caligari] (fwiw: sense wyld comes up with "yes" with Keziah :-) Message 3: Wed Nov 1 15:00:15 (read) From: caligari [To: eccles] Ok. I have no problem with leaving here. I want to lead, though, and to watch out where we are going. What can Keiketi tell me about where we are? I'll try to show Keziah some techniques for long-distance running. Loping strides and such. And listen to what she has to say as well. Message 2: Wed Nov 1 15:06:01 (read) From: eccles [To: caligari] Keiketi (Keiteki?) will probably be a little while catching up - ser is not able to race along at the speeds you were going. The impression you are getting is that Keiketi is taking shortcuts though, and won't be long... Leading... yes.... Keziah's stance definately does not indicate deference, but neither does it indicate superior standing. Its a weird thing to pick up from a lupus. She probably has some trouble keeping up for a while before getting the hang of it. Faint grumbling about too long in the city, and then sprinting off more or less the direction you were going, then coming back, etc. Stretching. As a rule, she doesn't say a lot. Most of the conversation you've had on the way has been about things that you've passed - Keziah will often point some item of interest out to you (although you might have noticed it already, its not like she's super observant :) and then not say anything else.... Message 2: Wed Nov 1 15:10:11 (read) From: caligari [To: eccles] I think Chasing can indentify with what he sees in her (rightly or not). ITs been a while since he's run like this, and he does miss it. And I'm not sure he's been in a non-hommid dominated situation for some time. He'd like to tell her about his earliest memories, before the hommid village. When he was a wolf alone. He doesn't recall it all, and its more senses than coherent, but that should suit lupus. He wants to win her over. It'll take time, but he's patient. Message 1: Wed Nov 1 15:15:48 (read) From: eccles [To: caligari] I'm figuring the two of you just run for some time. Its the beginning of the rainy season, and there is a slight haze of green to everything, so everything smells fresh and wyld and good. Keiketi eventually catches up, but the umbra and the realm differ so severely that he may as well be miles away. Keziah sits and listens politely - not human polite where they are just waiting for you to speak, but lupus polite - taking everything in that you say... but she does not contribute much back. Its not an indifference or distance, she's very personable. Its just that she seems not to have much to say beyond "look there" "What's that?" and "its getting hot" Running to the uktena caern won't take more than 1/2 a day, but the distance to the BF protectorate is much longer, and perhaps she will unwind then... Message 21: Wed Nov 1 15:24:26 (read) From: caligari [To: eccles] Rainy season? December? I would have expected heat and sun. I figured on telling my story while we were running... I'm not expecting instant stuff. Chasing is using the chance to look back himself on his early life. And it provides a foundation for later explaining his move to the hommid tribe, and why it is important to him. He's not trying to preach in all this, but to help make sense of himself, and explain how he lives in both worlds (and multiple cultures). He sees Keziah as very much "apart" in a way he has felt many times (and sort of still does). He wants to try to say "me too" and offer a sense of brotherhood. A wild lone wolf brotherhood. A "this is my run, but I recognise you" sort of brotherhood. A "if a you cannot take the boar down alone, you know where to find me" sort of brotherhood... (this is fun!) He's happy for some silence as well. Message 4: Wed Nov 1 15:30:20 (read) From: eccles [To: caligari] heaviest rain is jan/feb... Mmmm. Remembering that Keziah /is/ a blackfury, perhaps brotherhood is not the best word ;) ... It almost feels like Keziah is trying to get away from the homidness that she is part of - she's a wyld wolf living the in themiddle of the weaver. Ok, by the end of this day, you're getting close to the Uktena caern - you start to recognise some of the markers that the Uktena use to spell out "ours".... Message 16: Wed Nov 1 15:37:45 (read) From: caligari [To: eccles] I'm figuring my communication with her is Lupus-esque, so I'd not be using biased terms like "brotherhood". That's part of why I gave the list of "like this" suggestions... :) I'll have to tell her later about Tokyo - the wyld in the weaver land - and how much it terrified and impressed Chasing. The reverence is unlike most hommid societies, and the wyld florishes, but only in places, and the weaver covers the rest like you cannot imagine. But that is for another time... We'd best make our presence know in the appropriate fashion. I'll not point out the signs, and pass a few (if we are not in danger of going too far), before indicating we must stop and make ourselves known. I'll try to select a place to stop where her inquisitive mind cannot find an Uktena sign that indicated why we stopped. :) From: eccles [To: caligari] I know - just teasing :) Mmm. that's somethign to remember.... After the second 'ring', her body language changes a lot, and you can tell that she "knows" she's on someone else's territory. She drops back and to one side of you, letting you lead on appropriately. If you indicate that she should wait somewhere, she'll find somewhere to rest nearby.... Message 13: Wed Nov 1 15:43:22 (read) From: caligari [To: eccles] I'm going to be seeing into her tribe's caern, so she *is* coming into this one, as far as I'm concerned. Unless a local says no, of course. But my feeling is that she's here with me. I'll even do her the honor of introducing her to Tjinderi, when the time is right. :) Message 1: Wed Nov 1 15:47:19 (read) From: eccles [To: caligari] mmm. Ok, its probably been made clear to you both beforehand that Keziah is not welcome in the caern proper, and will have to remain out on the bawn, and you will not be welcome in the Blackfury caern (either as an uktena or a male). This isn't tooo unusual - even amongst the same tribe, different caerns maintain a certain amount of caution about outsiders. Partially this is to avoid situations like X was kidnapped by Dancers and his brain was sucked out to get locations of caerns :) Message 1: Wed Nov 1 15:48:44 (read) From: caligari [To: eccles] Sure, I can see that. I guess I mean she comes as far as she's allowed. terminology. Message 2: Wed Nov 1 15:49:55 (read) From: eccles [To: caligari] Neato. ok, you get let through the secret defenses and Tjinderi is there (psuedo)waiting for you..... Message 5: Wed Nov 1 15:51:18 (read) From: caligari [To: eccles] It warms my heart to see her again! It strikes me that she might be displeased with somethings that HA did, so I'm warry for a dark mood... Message 1: Wed Nov 1 15:57:15 (read) From: eccles [To: caligari] She seems her normal self (Tjinderi Knowing-Smile :-) and there is no mention of mages getting away. Instead she's more than interested in hearing about everything you've seen and heard in the last fortnight or so (mostly the christian stuff). she pays a fair amount of attention to the events near Mullewa too... She is a little disappointed that there has been no bunyip stuff, but given its only been 14 days, who's surprised. Tjinderi is also interested in your impressions of Cossack adn the other sept elders. Her attitude to the pack Holistic Approach is... understanding, although she shares your concern about the change in leadership... Message 3: Wed Nov 1 16:06:13 (read) From: caligari [To: eccles] I'm as complete in my telling as I can be. I hope I have a selection of the personal effects of Polly and/or the other mages to give her, and I'm meticulous in all I can recall about the symbols and signs I saw and where, and which were like which others. And all I can recall about "how mages work". My expressions of doubt about pack and sept leaders have to be tinged with appropriate respect for their positions. Concerns, not criticisms, for example. I assume Keziah is nowhere near any of this discussion! And that I did get to introduce her formally and all. If there's been a dream.... I'd tel Tjin about that as well. and that we all get it (if that's the case)... I'm guessing here. I'd like to talk to theurge and wise types (Tjin herself?) about mages and magic. And I'd like to learn how to sense magic, as it seems to be quite important here. But I want to pass my info on to those who might know what Message 2: Wed Nov 1 16:06:13 (read) From: caligari [To: eccles] it all means, and find out what I can about what it all means. I'll express disappointment at the pack's naieve assumption that the mage would help us find Polly first and then help with the BSDs later. Chasing was wondering several times why we didn't get something out of Christian before helping him with Polly further... Message 2: Wed Nov 1 16:12:57 (read) From: eccles [To: caligari] [nodnod] you got at least one item of each. The symbols you can do, but "how mages work" is reliant on what you knew already - to have time to return to your pack, you needed to leave the next day, so it might be a bit biased. :) I understand - you remain honourable. Tjinderi wishes your impressions, not your thoughts... Nope, Keziah is outside the bawn still. She has been given directions to run to somewhere nearby where there is water and game, and that you will come and see her soon. Perhaps Tjinderi will come at the same time. Yep, big dreamy dream. Er, that's right, you haven't experienced it before. Its all technicolour :) Tjinderi is a ragabash, but there are people here that you can talk to, and with Tj's backing, they summon the caern totem to teach you Sense Magic. wrt: getting something from polly first, there was some sense early Message 1: Wed Nov 1 16:12:57 (read) From: eccles [To: caligari] on that the pack also wished to find polly, and talk to her about the "wirrenun" Message 1: Wed Nov 1 16:18:19 (read) From: caligari [To: eccles] Can Keiteki be watching over Keziah? I don't want to lose her... "How mages work" was just a rendering of what we were told by Christian and had sussed out ourselves, nothing more. Observations. Sure the pack wanted to find Polly, but the deal was "we help you find Polly and you help us find BSDs", wasn't it? I just think that we should have said, "ok we've done a bit of this, now your turn to do a bit for us to show your good intent". We did a lot for him, and he almost nothing for us. That's really bad. We should have pushed his hand earlier and got something back before we gave more. That's all. I didn't push it, but it crossed my mind several times. Message 1: Wed Nov 1 16:20:04 (read) From: eccles [To: caligari] re: keiteki. Yep yep. [nodnod] That's fine. That was the gist of it. That was the agreement that you came up with on the Saturday night. Basically all that had happened up to then was some vague probing around. Sunday was spent seriously considering how to go about it and Monday was when things blew up. So, to be fair, Christian didn't really get a chance to help out much... ---- From: caligari [To: eccles] It did all happen faster than I recall (given the number of sessions)... :) But we did hit several "we can't get farther on this" bits where we might have pushed for him to do something for us while we debated our next step.... :) From: eccles [To: caligari] Given it started back in june, yes :) [nodnod] true, there were. Ok, braindumping at Tjinderi and learning sense magic probabaly takes most of the rest of the night, leaving you tired (but happy/comfortable?) by an hour or two before dawn. Keiteki and Keziah were playing some sort of game for a while, but have drifted off to 'sleep'... From: caligari [To: eccles] I expect it still feels good to be back around my "mentor". Did I get a chance to ask Tjin if she has any message for the furies? I might explain the way I see it as important to gain the trust of others and find out what they know and put ourselves in a position to call upon them or be called upon when needed. I'd be inclined to return to hang with Keziah as she's here in my name, and as my guest, in a way. Unless that'd be odd for me to sleep there. Its not my caern, after all. I'm figuring the lack of sleep is not going to hamper me too much... Message 1: Wed Nov 1 16:32:08 (read) From: eccles [To: caligari] Tjinderi is full of... well, not full of praise, but appreciative of your achievements and forgiving of your lapses (if any :). Tjinderi does have a message for them, which basically is some greetings and a sort of recognition of their loss, referring to the pack from 100 years ago. Its an odd message, but simple and friendly.. Hanging with keziah is a fine thing. And sleep is good for you if you are going to be running for days and days. :) Message 1: Wed Nov 1 16:34:52 (read) From: caligari [To: eccles] Sleep is well worth it, but I do have a resilient nature and good stamina, and I'm used to the long runs. Won't skip on sleep when its available, but I can leave it if I need to. Like if Kez gets up early and needs watching... :) Message 1: Wed Nov 1 16:38:35 (read) From: eccles [To: caligari] You can dognap for a while, say an hour past dawn or so, and then do the same while running :) She's not /that/ much trouble. Ok, night passes, Keziah seems content to follow your lead while you are here.... From: caligari [To: eccles] Well... our real mission lies through the moon bridge and on to the other c caern... or was it a run on from here to a black furies caern and through *that* moon bridge... Or is the offer to stay here longer one we should be considering? Are there further wise people I can speak with about magic stuff? Oh, is this Tjin's sept/home? Have I been here before? From: eccles [To: caligari] If you speak to Keziah about it, she seems keen to move on a bit. In fact, one of the uktena there is Jacky Gecko, and he offers to give you a lift part way in a plan. Keziah is very much in favour of this, and is more verbose than you've seen her for a while - she has never been flying before and wants to try it..... Nope, Tjinderi's home sept is in the Kimberley's. Message 1: Wed Nov 1 16:49:25 (read) From: caligari [To: eccles] Thought it wasn't out here. (Tjin's caern). I'm happy to go on. Not too keen on the plane, but if Kez is animated then I'm willing to try it. I imagine Chasing has been trapped in metal tubes in the sky before, given his continent-hoping... :) Did I get to introduce Kez to Tjin? Do we have a contact at the next caern? Message 1: Wed Nov 1 16:56:09 (read) From: eccles [To: caligari] er, Wolf Creek Crater, for what its worth. Keziah is very fired with the idea :) Yep, if you want to take the time. Tjinderi is happy enough to meet her formally. Maureen Keenan, rn3 BF homid galliard is the sept leader of the sept that Keziah wants to go to. essage 1: Wed Nov 1 16:58:40 (read) From: caligari [To: eccles] "that Kez wants to go to"? This is on our trip plan, right? I want Kez to be introduced to Tjin. I'm proud of Tjin, and I'm trying to prove my friendship to Kez. So its important, sorta. Let's jump the plane then. So long Keteiki, again... :) Message 2: Wed Nov 1 17:05:07 (read) From: eccles [To: caligari] trip plan, yep :) Ok, that's cool. They do meet, and greet each other formally. There is some brief talk about people they know and things that they do, about Keziah's pack, but there's no deep connection between the two of them :) Actually, Keiteki can follow more easily higher up :) Jacky Gecko is a garroulous fellow, and cheerfully points out landmarks and stuff. He often knows the dreamtime stories of each one (or at least the basic framework of the story) and has a knack for yelling them while still being a storyteller. Unlike you're other trips in the steel tubes int he sky, this is a bit less weavery - maybe its the pilot? Keziah is fascinated by the dials in front of the plane too. She has a sort of conversation with Jacky about them, but stops him from explaining them. The longest speech you've ever heard from her basically says that Message 1: Wed Nov 1 17:05:07 (read) From: eccles [To: caligari] to her they bounce around and change with no rhyme or reason, even though they mean something to him. However, its the interpreting that make them of the weaver - to her they are wyld. And its the same with her pack mates to some degree. Christine sits and plays with money, and the back and flow of it all is very wild - until she sits down and interprets that. So Keziah likes to watch, but not to be part of it.... From: caligari [To: eccles] V cool. I will have to tell her about Tokyo. I'll collect some of the stories he's telling, in general form. I think Chasing likes stories and legends. Its the galliard stuff he likes. Being able to see the sky helps with the metal tube stuff. Where some people would be more afraid, I think the sense of being there is what makes it ok to Chasing. "Kez? Does that mean there is wyld in everything unless we spoil it by trying to make 'sense' of it?" Message 1: Wed Nov 1 17:13:42 (read) From: eccles [To: caligari] Yeah, now might be a good time for that.... she listens and nods, saying that it is the same. a thin shell of weaver, over a seething chaos (my words, not hers :). Stories, check. Keziah blinks at you. "Keziah. Understanding is not the problem. I understand plants. Put the brown end in the ground, the green end out the top. Its the organising that takes some of the wyld away." From: caligari [To: eccles] "But its wanting to organize it that does that. Before that everything is Wyld, isn't it? That's why Tokyo works and does not work. They have organized their wilds, but at the same time they have not tried to look at them as anything other than wyld and they treasure that because it is not formal. So they can impose structure and preserve wild." All spoken quite quickly, as he makes links, perhaps more animated than *he's* been in her presence. From: eccles [To: caligari] Keziah sits for a bit, obviously thinking.... "I don't think you can stop humans organising. They like to do it, and its not bad, its just... organised. So... you have to shake that up some. Make them organise it in lots of different ways. Make it mixed up again. Like [points out window] that's a hill with some brown bits, and they've called it Bill's Hill or something. But its also [looks at Jacky]" Jacky "er... that's one of the tracks left behind by an Ancestor." Keziah. "See? And its probably 'that hill' to someone down there. Lots of ways.
Landing with Jacky. Running for a day or so, stop for the night. Big storm brews up. Keziah reveals that she has also some connections to the Bunyip, having been a member of Infinite Paths, but not liked Mathias' arrogance and pride in the task, so she left. Storm is probably Bunyip related. Much fear and confusion in the Umbra and the Realm. Seperated from Keziah. Attacked by something (er, probably Bunyip, but it happened so fast that it might have actually been Keziah....). Visions: a reptilian eye opening in the darkness; the cracking stone being swalled by desert; spider suspended by a long thread in the darkness and a heart beat; an aboriginal man crying and wailing over the bodies of mixed group of homids and thylacines). Recover and find Keziah, covered in blood.
Run to the edge of Black Fury territory. Maureen Keenan, big stockwoman. Some chatting and all. Stories. Moonbridge to Five Hands. Meet Christina Merakis, the Sept leader, as well as Gail and Snaps-at-Snow again. Kimu explains his presence, bemusing the Furies a little, but passing on the messages from Cossack and Tjinderi. Keziah says that she is here to ask if she may select a suitable mate, which causes Kimu to cough a little. Keziah goes off to the caern centre, Kimu is directed to a cave above the sea. Other Furies (the rest of Mist Treaders) come and join him for an evening of stories and goodwill. Chasing-the-Night mentions his quest for the Heart of the Wyld. One of the Furies says that she heard a story once where it was stolen and brought to Australia by a Bone Gnawer about 100 years ago, but that's about it. Keziah joins eventually. Very bon homie.
While somewhere alone, Kimu notices a pink and gold dragon spiralling down out of the sky. Knowing the Uktena tribe's alliance with such spirits, he waits for it to come to him. He greets it and the spirit says that it has a message from his mistress. They spirit changes subtly and Tjinderi's presence is there. She asks him about Thomas' reaction to their negotiations and then seems surprised that Thomas had not really commented on them, other than to say that the pack owe the Uktena a favour. She explains that she pressed him hard to ensure that they knew that the services of the Uktena were not to be treated lightly, but with the proper respect. Kimu and her chat for a bit about matters relevant to the current situation, including his imminent takeover of the Umbral garden. Kimu also says that he intends to learn spirit speech and is lightly chastised by Tjinderi for acting a bit out of auspice. He is suitably contrite. They chat a bit more and then the dragon spirals away.
After having sent off details about awakening the cave paintings in the fae cave to the Uktena, Kimu receives a message back from Tjinderi via wind spirit. She basically says that it is hard and dangerous to awaken the spirits of paintings, and it may be that the fae nature of the cave paintings made it possible to see what the pack claim to have seen. Chasing-the-Night is bade to be watch and see what sorts of paintings the pack awaken, and how it is done by the pack.
Kimu makes some attempts during the break to try and get involved with the Wurundgeri Tribal Association with the support of Nadine and some of the other Elders, but one day Melissa Freedom and Waits-on-a-Hill show up and ask him to stop....
Message 21: Tue Jun 12 10:30:49 (read) From: caligari [To: eccles] I'd love to know what progress [the Sept of Reconciliation] have been making, and try to work *with* them - i.e. offer my help to them. Are we not part of that sept too? (I'm always shaky on what septs we are part of)? Message 8: Tue Jun 12 10:33:40 (read) From: eccles [To: caligari] They are fairly close about the whole thing, and only really say that they have been making progress helping the koori's out, and they will be open when there is a firm understanding. Nope, you're members of Sleeping Lore, Scars Atoned and Rippling Waters. Reconciliation is the CoG sept in Healesville, Hidden Green is the Glasswalker/Shadowlord sept in Collins St and Grinding Stone is Get/Blackfury/Silverfang sept in the Brisbane Ranges (bit south of Bacchus Marsh). Message 20: Tue Jun 12 10:36:10 (read) From: caligari [To: eccles] Can Brett help me to get into things more? How's his connections to Reconcilliation? To what extent are the Sleeping Lore sept unwilling to pursue this on their own, or my behalf? I think its still useful for us to have our own contacts, but if the sept is not behind me I'd be a fool to push the point. But of they perhaps see things my way, they might be willing to stand behind me. And its not like I'm doing a lot... Can Reconcilliation stop me from volunteering to help at the koori place? Message 7: Tue Jun 12 10:37:48 (read) From: eccles [To: caligari] (where they = Waits-on-a-Hill (lu, Ah, Fi, 2) and Melissa Freedom (Ho, Ga, CoG, 3) who come to Sleeping Lore) Brett is spending a lot of time at Reconciliation, he might know some about them... Nadine seemed fairly keen for this to go ahead, and the rest of the Elders weren't opposed. Nope, not really - Waits-on-a-Hill phrased it as "we would appreciate it if you weren't involved" Message 19: Tue Jun 12 10:40:51 (read) From: caligari [To: eccles] They are talking to me directly? Or to the sept? Despite my rank I have no direct input into the sept policy, and will desist if told by them to do so... Can I press the point with them there in front of me, to find out why they are so insistent? I want to make it clear I want to help, and not cause difficulty, and will be moved by reasons. Are they around for a while (giving me a chance to talk with Brett and Nadine, at least)? Message 6: Tue Jun 12 10:42:58 (read) From: eccles [To: caligari] They came by moonbridge and asked to speak to you directly, without insisting on sept people being around you. Waits-on-a-Hill says "This is a delicate matter for us, and we would like to not complicate it unnecessarily. Liam perhaps should not have given Brett a contact number, as he caused some consternation already." Both Melissa and Waits-on-a-Hill have school expressions. You could mentally contact Brett, or ask them to wait while you speak to Nadine... Message 18: Tue Jun 12 10:48:38 (read) From: caligari [To: eccles] Mentally contacting Brett seems to be a good start. "What is so delicate about volunteering to help the local indeginous people who are so badly treated by this society? This is a subject about which I feel strongly as an individual, as well as as a representative of this holy sept. I don't want to cause any difficulties for your sept, but for me to turn my back on these people who need so much and recieve so little, I will need more." Or something like that, perhaps with some of the silver tongue that Kimu (not Liam) should be able to muster. He sees this as an important negotiation, as it is with another sept, and is also the first challenge he's had to face as a higher ranking Galliard. It goes to the heart of his place here, so he doesn't want to back down, and also doesn't want to cause a major situation. Diplomacy... Message 4: Tue Jun 12 10:52:04 (read) From: eccles [To: caligari] Brett can tell you that Melissa is mostly concenred with ecological issues, as well as feminist stuff. Waits-on-a-Hill he hasn't had much to do with, but he's from the same pack... "We're not asking you to turn your back, just to step away for a time until things are more certain." Melissa is silent, Waits-on-a-Hill doing all the talking. Message 10: Tue Jun 12 11:00:53 (read) From: caligari [To: eccles] "I still fail to see how my aid, as a concerned individual, should have any bearing on the work that your people are doing here. Its not as though I will be tearing down any greater plans you have in motion. I'm simply helping those who need help. How does this threaten your .... plans?" Limu is conscious of the perception of the Uktena as having nefarious plans, and is hoping to turn that impression back on Waits... Kimu is being open, and they are being veiled. Addressing Melissa, to some extent: "We all have the best interests of the ancient people, and caretakers of this land, at heart, right? And more hands will make their task easier. They have enough trouble as it is keeping the ravages of corporations and modern society from the land to which they are so closely linked, right? I only want to help them in whatever small way I am able to, as a representative of a similarly marginalized native people, torn from the land they were born to tend." Or something... Trying to get Melissa on side, or at least into the conversation. Kimu wants to know what her place in this discussion is. Is Brett around the Sept? Could he talk to Nadine and get her opinion? Message 3: Tue Jun 12 11:04:48 (read) From: eccles [To: caligari] You get the distinct feeling that they are not really listening to anything other than the fact you are arguing. Melissa touches Waits-on-a-Hill on the shoulder and says to you 'thank you'. Both of them leave, heading towards where Ends-the-Quiet usually is, obviously intending to leave. No, Brett is at Grinding Stone with Malajimbarra today. Message 7: Tue Jun 12 11:04:56 (read) From: caligari [To: eccles] It dawns on me/Kimu that perhaps the problem here is that they are planing to use the koori as fall guys for some stand to protect the land, selling them out or putting them in the line of fire to take the heat. Hmmmm. Message 6: Tue Jun 12 11:05:20 (read) From: caligari [To: eccles] Is it rude of them to leave like this? Message 2: Tue Jun 12 11:06:08 (read) From: eccles [To: caligari] mmm, that doesn't seem likely to be something that yon standard child of giaa would be involved in, but maybe. About as rude as it would be for humans... Melissa didn't have much rancour in her voice when she said 'thank you', it was quiet and fairly gentle... Message 5: Tue Jun 12 11:08:06 (read) From: caligari [To: eccles] Is there some sort of ritual/tradition that I could call upon to get them to stay a while and talk (about other stuff). Like a Japanese Tea Ceremonyu level of thing. Sharing , or welcoming, or soemthing. "You have travelled such a long distance, I would be remiss not to offer you...." something that they'd be rude to reject if offered.... ??? Message 1: Tue Jun 12 11:12:18 (read) From: eccles [To: caligari] hmmm. There probably is somethign ainu-esque... If you make tentative advances in that way, Melissa speaks again and says "thank you, but we have things that require our presence. we were passing through and should continue" Message 3: Tue Jun 12 11:17:40 (read) From: caligari [To: eccles] "Perhaps another time, then, when we are all able to sit and talk. I value face-to-face communications with those of other ... devotions. Sharing of ideas and stories is important to any ... open dialogue between people and groups. Any ... long-term reconcilliation." Plus some sort of formal-esque farewell. He'd like to be there with Ends- the-Quiet to see them off, if possible. Then go talk to Nadine (as an interested party and elder) about what to do. He thinks it is more important than ever to stay in touch with the koori, but not as important to advance his position there. Simply being around and helping in small ways to stay in touch and see what's up. "If it was important enough for them to travel down here, but not important enough for them to talk about it directly, it is something we don't want to lose sight of..." "the request was a personal one, and not one to the sept. that is important too. They *can* ask the sept to silence me, but did not..." Message 1: Tue Jun 12 11:21:59 (read) From: eccles [To: caligari] Waits-on-the-Hill and Melissa sort of nod, agreeing, but not exactly voicing that. They don't really talk all the way to Ends-the-Quiet, who raises one eyebrow at the odd tension in the air, but opens a Moonbridge for them to go home. Nadine is in the zoo, and easy enough to find. She is faintly disparaging of the Children of Gaia "It might be that they want to keep things close to their chest. They can be a bit holier than thou - "/You/ won't be able to understand, we will". " She frowns a bit. "Which might indicate that its not something that their sept knows about or perhaps there's not a unamity there. Odd... yeah, I don't see them having much to say about you just volunteering as if you were a human there to help out" Message 1: Tue Jun 12 11:25:51 (read) From: caligari [To: eccles] "Then I will continue to help. It is good for me. It feels like something I should do for those of my own kin who are no more. And it can't hurt to keep an eye on the situation in case something goes wrong with Waits and Melissa's plans..." "I'm not even sure there was agreement between Melissa and Waits..." I should ask Brett to find out more about what Waits, and what he might be up to... Message 8: Tue Jun 12 11:27:04 (read) From: eccles [To: caligari] cool, ok. Message 17: Tue Jun 12 11:27:29 (read) From: caligari [To: eccles] So Kimu'll continue to show up to meetings... :)
From: caligari [To: eccles] Kimu's going to need to send a message... "Den mother... The Sept of Reconcilliation are up to something with the local koori, and have forbade me (at least) from even the most basic help[ and contact with them. It worries me that they would require such exclusive access, and would be so unwilling to to even explain the nature of the situation. There are too many such hidden agendas. A request of the import they make it out to be, should be accompanied by at least some explanation. For a time I felt that I was perhaps reflecting something of my own lost heritage in helping the ancient people of this land. To have that chance taken from me; and without explanation..." From: eccles [To: caligari] Return message comes within the week "The Children of Gaia believe that the Uktena have denied them of something which did not belong to them, and this is their way of expressing this petty hurt. Be strong, and seek opportunities to prove that you are as honourable and wise as I know you are. Like children, they will forget this hurt in time, and turn to you again." From: caligari [To: eccles] "Turning a wrong into another wrong leads only to sorrow. They should know that. If they have such a hurt in their past, they should not be looking to address it with petty denials here, but addressing the source of their problems. They breed no good will with such a gesture. Whether they understand it or not, their petty action has taken something important from me. That it was a petty concern of theirs only makes the wound knit less smoothly. But at least I shall not be lead by such petty motives in the future. That is not the way of the Uktena, nor the way of my Aniu kin. Thank you for at least clearing this up for me, Mother." From: caligari [To: eccles] So, Kimu will need to look into the past of the Reconcilliation sept (it is moderately young, yes?) or that pack... And find some small but significant event. He'll set about making an impressive, but appropriate, piece or song of commemoration. He's not going to go all out, as he did with the Hive attack, but he will channel his frustrations into creating something positive for them. Then, if possible, present it to them, perhaps through Brett, or with him, when next he goes there. A gift for them. From: eccles [To: caligari] Hmmm. It might be misinterpretted if you were to immediately go and ask a whole load of questions about Reconciliation, because you will have to ask them directly really (other septs know a little, but only the major eventS). However, checking about your own Sept reveals a little of the event that Tjinderi mentioned. In July 98, the Killer of Children was captured with the assistence of Infinite Paths and two members of Grinding Stone (Malajimbarra and another). The Reconciliation sept saught some assistence from the Uktena in keeping it bound, but the Uktena insisted they could do so most effectively on their own territory. The story is told to you that the Uktena took the issue to the Jindabyne Council, who ruled that the spirit was to be given to the Uktena... From: caligari [To: eccles] I figured that was what Tjinderi was refering to... As all Kimu needs is some major event to commemorate, he shouldn't need to snoop around too much. It need not be an indepth and well-researched piece, simply something that reflects their sept or pack in a positive light and might benefit from an elaborate telling...
During the negotiations, Chasing-the-Night feels a tug on the talen necklace he uses to communicate with his secret Uktena masters. He surreptiously wanders away and activates the talen that is reacting. The dragon spirit that would normally take his message explands out from the tooth and wraps itself around him, and curls up so that it is facing him. Tjinderi's voice speaks "What are you doing?"
Kimu tries to explain the situation and Tjinderi says that the contested caern is not in any particular danger at this current time. However, it does effectively draw Get and Talon attention away from certain projects of the Uktena - who are, after all, caught between Protectorates for both tribes. It would be a considerable inconvenience to the Uktena if the issue was resolved, and - as long as there is no danger to the caern - she instructs Kimu to work to ensure that there is no resolution. Chasing-the-Night returns that without a resolution, their quest is in danger of being unfulfilled, and Tjinderi offers them access to some of the Uktena hidden knowledge instead - their considerable spiritual knowledge will be able to find a substitute spirit
Chasing-the-Night agrees. He attempts to pursuade Thomas that Holistic Approach could find other avatars of Gaia - he doesn't know of one directly, but he knows that one exists and others might be able to help them. Chasing-the-Night tries to strongly take the Red Talon side during the negotiations by staying with Crookpaw and trying to encourage the Talon's to believe that their concerns will never be properly addressed by the Get - that they cannot, in good conscience allow the caern to fall into under the Get, and that thus any sorm of callenge resolution is unacceptable, as the possibility of a Get outcome is unacceptable.
Chasing-the-Night slips away from the caern after Carla has sworn to the agreement and sends a message to Tjinderi, explaining that the matter has been resolved in favour of the Get despite his efforts.
Chasing-the-Night spends most of his time hanging at the Sept, attempting to incarnate the essence of their trip in a physical form.
On the Wednesday night, Kimu feels a voice, or a call, pulling him north. It repeats, getting more demanding. Chasing-the-Night mentally calls Thomas, who comes and meets him - Thomas says that he can't feel anything. Kimu decides to go along with the call and they head north from the Sept through the Umbra.
A couple of hours of running puts them outside the city and into Wylderness. They run through the dark forests as mists rise. Chasing-the-Night looks around and realises Thomas has gone. The call continues, pulling him further north, so he shrugs and moves on.
Chasing-the-Night reaches a small gotto, with a fall picturesquely cascading down into a deep pool. As he watches, a horned feline head rears out of the water, followed by a blue-green serpant's body - it is Uktena, Kimu's totem. Chasing-the-Night greets his tribal totem with wide eyes, and starts to ask what he may do to serve. Uktena's eerie gaze eats its way into his mind and Kimu can feel the spirit delving into his very being....
....washing up on a river bank, Kimu is surprised by the strength of the warm sunlight. The river appears to be a material one, and reasonably clean. Chasing-the-Night scrambles out of the river's course and tries to figure out where he is. After 30 mins of searching, it becomes clear that he is in the Yarra river, but a long way north of the city. Getting back to Melbourne is not traumatic, and the mental link is reestablished shortly. Chasing-the-Night has only been missing for a night, and he says that it was nothing major. Much pack staring.
As they are leaving the Council, Kimu feels a presence at his left side. He glances there and sees Tjinderi, although the others cannot obviously see her. She speaks into his mind, saying that while the matter is finished here, it may still be of interest to others, and that he knows where to find her. She fades away again.
From: caligari [To: eccles] So, here's my thinking for the game... Kimu moved to Tokyo after his kinfolk were wiped out by Japanese curs... There he might have interacted with garou who were familar with methods of containing wyld without undo weaver (I'm figuring any semblance of balance in Tokyo must be as a result of that sort thing). Or, at least he might know of such folk by reputation. I figure that his departure from Tokyo was amicable - he hated living in the land of those who crushed his kinfolk, and hated the opression of the waver-ified city, but probably spent his time in a temple/nature setting, in one of these islands of wyld-influence; his inner quest drove him onwards, rather than any bad experience... So, he could go to Tokyo and search out someone, or the knowledge they require. Or he could communicate with those in Tokyo for the same reasons. It is possible that such a quest might be possible as a rank 4 challenge, as well. But that's not his primary concern. It is important to him to be recognized as rank 4, but part of that desire for recognition is tied up in his sense of honor and respect, and not measuring up in those terms does not make pushing to be recognized sit well with him. Those in the pack who are pressing on with their challenges (most of them, it seems) rankle him somewhat, actually - they should accept the hand that their situation has dealt them, and learn from the mistakes they all made... Which brings me to the second part... I would very much like for him to relate some of his life iwth his kinfolk, or at least the events that I see surounding their deaths and his first failure as a pack leader... at least as I see them. But I'm not sure about: whether the story will met with your idea of what might have happened... whether telling such a story is a good idea (it sure is private)... I have time to write it up (I don't think I'd do it justice spoken at the table)... From: eccles [To: caligari] Ok, wrt to Tokyo. Its tricky. Canon WoD is that the East is full of all sorts of weirdshapeshifters and supernaturals, instead of werewolves and the like. They would probably dominate Tokyo. That's not necessarily how I'd run it, but I haven't given it much thought. It occurs to me that in such a situation, some uktena could find themselves involved, and these are the folks you spent time with. (er, this is just me thinking out loud, rather than picking @ backstory ;) Re: tokyo/uktena help - do you really want to have to go to the uktena again and say "hey, we need your help because our city caern (The one you think is a waste of time and resources) is in a bit of danger from something mystic"....? ok, that's a possibility... I dunno how much actual rolaplying stuff would be possible there, just because i know only a minimal amount about japan... If you want to relate the story of what happened, writing it down is good for me - I'm always happy to stick fragments of other people's writing in the chronology... we can bounce stuff back and forth if its a bit clashy with my perceptions of things? I know what you mean about pushign the challenge - if events had happened further time ago, it wouldn't be so bad, but making a scene 3 days before a moot and then challenging seems a bit odd. heh - you could /try/ suggesting it for the honour of the pack that no one challenges this moot, adn to be patient... it might be an interesting sort of thang to see int he game... From: eccles [To: caligari] And, looking at it from a mechanical pov, it might be the sort of thing that works pretty well as a rank 4 challenge... From: caligari [To: eccles] :) Course the irony of telling the pack to "settle" and then challenging for rank 4 oneself... :) Do you figure that Kimu has talked to Cosack about this Tokyo thing at this point, suggesting that he might be in a position to get some info from there? Message 5: Fri Feb 14 14:12:07 (read) From: eccles [To: caligari] *grin* You don't have to do it straight away Er, lets say that this might be the last moot before another big downtime :) SO you could challege in the next downtime bit,. um, i had thought that he'd kept his council for the nonce, as things seemed to be strange but not extreme until the last session... Message 16: Fri Feb 14 14:15:33 (read) From: caligari [To: eccles] ok.Kimu did talk with Cosack late in the last session. Could they have had a conversation in which Kimu said something like: "I may know where to find the sort of information we need to contain this wyld properly. It would take time to do. I'd probably have to go alone. There would not be danger, only diplomacy... And it would go better if I had some position in the caern, perhaps..." (I can drop the position thing, if that is totally out of the tone of the world, or I'm just not getting the politics of caerns and stuff... Message 3: Fri Feb 14 14:18:51 (read) From: eccles [To: caligari] Its ... most appropriate to challenge at a moot. But you could do it anytime. AH, yes, duh. Um. I like the discussion :) Caern positions - um, i don't mind that chasing-the-ngiht is always looking for a chance to take it up, its kind of cool - I don't know that it will actually ever happen. But the struggle itself woukd be an interesting thing... the positions exist, its just that they are normally only important at the moots, so the current elders tend to pass them around :) Message 9: Fri Feb 14 14:32:03 (read) From: caligari [To: eccles] Assuming Cosack says something non-commital or discouraging about the position, Kimu has an response prepared: "I know the position I want - Keeper of the Chronicles" [Liams rationale (totally no-cannon, I'm sure): Such a position is an ancient one, not often ever used in modern caerns, certainly not Bone- Gnawer ones; Kimu knows of it, and figures that the elders might be willing to give him such an irrelevant position. It would give him a foot in the door, in general, as well as giving him a bit more validity in his discussions with the Tokyo Uktena. I figure the Keeper of the Chronicle is responsible for keeping an exhaustive record of the actions of the caern and its packs. Such records were once more important than they are now. Although to Kimu such records are power itself (the whole "he who controls history controls everything" schtick).] ... "Such a course of action *by our caern* would demonstrate our resource- fullness to the the other garou. We would control a valuable and unique expression of the wyld, and would have demonstrated the knowledge to control it. We'd be in a position to study it, offer access to it to others. We need this sort of thing. Of course, the responsibility for such a thing would have to be given to a caern elder, preferably one who was not too powerful; more of a puppet than a real elder - one in a decorative position, rather than one of power..." Or something. Perhaps Kimu should be less machiavellian, but he's lost Tjinderi (at least in his own mind) and he sees a real need to make a strong place for himself. He sees Bret's strong links to the Glade child as a threat (to his own power, and to the caern - Bret is too unpredictable and strong-willed to exert such control over something this important). He needs the force of the caern elders and garou structure to back up and (any) claim he wants to make. Ideally, he needs to put himself into the caern structure to isolate himself agains teh vagaries of the pack's destiny and choice of pack leader, as well as to make his own place secure with respect to the glade child... Or something... :) (I can back a lot of this out of Kimu, if it makes things easier, or I'm heading in a direction that is not really viable). (Oh, I forgot to add in Kimu's rationale, that he figures that now, shortly after *challenging the Uktena tribal elder* he has the most chance of getting people to think of him as less of a shady Uktena, and perhaps worthy of their trust. As time passes he losses that advantage, and becomes more like an untrustworthy Uketna again in their eyes... He needs to do something now to get "inside" if at all he can. I've been trying to work out what that could be....) From: eccles [To: caligari] Cossack: "Ok, let's try something out. If you can sit down and learn the history of the caern, and the packs that are and have been part of it, to my and the other Elders satisfaction, we can start discussing the possibility of re-instating that position, hows that?" "Right now the wyld leak is... concerning, but not urgent. If we need to take more direct steps, then a temporary appointment could be a made to a particular position... such as what happens at a moot. But until then...."
While the pack are at the Sept, Melissa approaches Chasing-the-Night and says that she is thinking of leaving the pack. He is a bit taken aback, but asks why. She says that she has been feeling more and more like she does not fit - mostly due to being left out of the trip to the Bunyip homeland, but also other bits and pieces. Kimu manages to get her to admit that she doesn't think Brett has a lot of respect for her either - she was aware of a background amount of suspicion regarding her friendship with Ben Phillips (Glasswalker at Hidden Green) mostly coming from Brett and to have him.. well, anyway.
Mel doesn't really want him to bring this up with the other pack members, but she thought she'd give him a headsup now. She hasn't made a decision yet, and she doesn't have anywhere else planned to go... she is just thinking about it.
Kimu goes and thinks himself...
From: caligari [To: eccles] So here's what I'm thinking. Uktena are sorta native spritual and Kimu's background is a native people, and Garou are kinda spiritual themselves. So he should take Mellissa on a sort of vision quest sorta thing. I figure it'd work like this. The two of them set out without any stuff (items of any sort, other than clothing). They run for most of a day, perhaps stopping along the way to spar a bit (to tire them out). They reach a predefinited remote-ish location. Kimu does his hidden glen ritual to set up a space where they will not be disturbed, and they select a hidden location (cave is idea). They do not have food or water (most likely). They build a fire and enact ritualistic things. The culmination of this is contacting a spirit of some sort. I'm figuring the aspirant has to catch it herself, and as part of the ritual it agrees to effectively Message 2: Thu Feb 27 16:07:43 (read) From: caligari [To: eccles] act as a mirror for her. It reflects back only what is in her already, but it does so without prejudice - it allows her to see herself through clear eyes. She's a exhausted and such. She faces herself spiritually and perhaps comes away with a clearer picture of her inner state and who she is. I figure that once they reach the cave or whatever the rest takes a full day, and they emerge from the cave on moonrise of the next day, probably they go on a quick hunt, eat, and its all over. They are away two days and two full nights. Does that sound reasonable? Would Melissa be interested? Are there places that they could go around Victoria? Could they do this without having to make a fuss about it (to the rest of the pack or the caern? Whadaya think? From: eccles [To: caligari] regarding Melissa and spirit quests: >Does that sound reasonable? Yes. >Would Melissa be interested? You can probably talk her around to it. >Are there places that they could go around Victoria? Indubitably. Alternatively, this is the sort of thing that might be better in the Umbra, and possibly in an Umbral realm... >Could they do this without having to make a fuss about it (to the rest of >the pack or the caern? I can see it not beign a fuss, per se, but it prob won't be able to happen without anyone knowing/noticing >Whadaya think? It might not happen before the next Great Downtime.... Message 3: Tue Mar 11 16:04:52 (read) From: caligari [To: eccles] Re: Umbra I was sort of thinking of it as a bit more .. prosaic (?) than that... While there are spirits involved, it is more of a human native culture ritual (carried out with more awareness of what is actually going on) than a garou ritual. Something that he learned from the kinfolk, not the garou. Something hommid, not lupus. So something he'd feel better about sharing with someone rooted in human society (even though the cutlures are miles apart). Re: not making a fuss More a matter of "we don't have to get permission" than anything. It would be bad if we had to say something that amounted to "Melissa is unsure about her place in the pack and the world - we thought we'd go and have a vision quest thing; her and the uktenna..." I'd rather something like "Melissa and I are going to be aware for the next two days; we would like not to be bothered on the mental link unless it is unavoidable; we will be going west, and will be safe." That sort of thing. I don't want to make a deal out of Melissa's situation until she knows what she wants to do. Doubts are the sort of thing that can make someone feel very "outside" if they are public. That's also why doing it soon (or at the very least thinking about it and talking with her about it) would be best - so that she is able to deal with this without having it ruin her life... So, Ideally I'd like Kimu to discreetly raise the idea with her, to get her impressions, as soon as possible, and not in front of the rest of the pack, just off to the side. Then Kimu could ask around about a suitable place, and that sort of thing, and they can wait for an appropriate time. ... or something like that. I'd like to impress her with Kimu's consideration. A sort of "he's been thinking about this for me" sort of thing... It is important to him that she Message 1: Tue Mar 11 16:04:53 (read) From: caligari [To: eccles] feels that Kimu *does* care, and about what is right for her (and *her* finding that out, not being instructed), not what anyone else thinks. He definitely doesn't want her to feel that she's on her own with the weight of this. But he also doesn't want to publicly do anything, as that will only make it harder for her.
While Kimu is outside the farmhouse, Jane Red-Feather approaches him and suggests they go for a short walk. She mentions the previous Jindabyne Council challenge, and says that it left Chasing-the-Night in an unenviable position. However, they are both Uktena of the world, moreso perhaps than Tjinderi - not a criticism, just an observation - and she doesn't think that the greater Uktena tribe will be particular upset with him. Chasing-the-Night mentions that he was visited/summoned by Uktena just before the Council - he hadn't realised until now that it might have been related.
Jane mostly just seems to want to catch up on recent events, she doesn't direct the conversation any direction particularly. As its getting dark, she says she has to return to the caern and wishes him well.