Dominique rolls over onto her back, writhing against a handy stick on the grass. Die feeble itch, die. "Looks pretty dormant to me. If it didn't retaliate immediately, I'm guessing it won't." Matthias shakes his head. "Until we hit it again. Ian pretty much let us know this was our problem, at least that much is a move in the right direction. chances are whatever is in there is going to eventually get annoyed at us knocking on its door."
Dominique rolls back over onto her belly, going back to staring at the grass, "Well, sure. I think it's mage-related. For what that's worth." Matthias nods. "I'd tend to agree. The banes certainly didn't seem to be expecting it to be here." Again the thin smile. "Perhaps my one-armed friend will be inside. We've unfinished business." "You want to get whupped again? Going to let me help skin the... thing... this time?" Dominique idly throws leaves through the 'wall', watching them fall to the other side unharmed.
Matthias glances across to you at this point. "I want you to be careful around these things. Chances are its not going to be an easy fight and none of us seem to work real well together in combat situations yet." He shakes his head. "We've been lucky so far." Dominique meets your gaze steadily, "I want *you* to be careful around these things. You were nearly little more than strawberry jam on the pavement outside." And how would she pay the rent, then? "Maybe this is just the chance for a little group practice."
Matthias chuckles faintly and shakes his head. "This group." His smile fades quickly. "We've got problems enough with just not killing each other half the time. I haven't heard of many other packs that come so close to raging at each other." He shakes his head again. "As much as Moonflower is preferential to Mikel, I'm not sure of her leadership abilities." Dominique's shoulders rise and fall in a suppressed sigh. "She certainly seems to have troubles keeping Mikel in line. And in getting Angus to just .shut. .up." Matthias nods slowly. "It will be time soon. Just a little longer. I only hope its not the death of us all before then."
Dominique's eyes take on a pearlescent sheen as she makes the half-hourly check into the real world. "Doubt it. We're all too damn stubborn to let it happen. Unless we argue ourselves to death first." Her eyes track things invisible to you. "So what're your plans to controlling this unruly mob?" Matthias glances back to the 'wall'. "They've each got their strengths and each believe they're doing the right thing. That should be their strength but instead it tears them apart. The challenge has to be just and seen as such by the rest of the pack. That will be the first hurdle. After that it shouldn't be too difficult to have each contribute, without killing one another." Dominique reports absently as she returns her vision to this realm, "Everything's normal" Her fingers scratch at the dirt, plucking out a few strands of grass, "And you're going to get everyone to acknowledge one another's strengths exactly 'how'?" Matthias nods absently to your reports, glancing around the Umbra himself, as if to check an invisible perimeter. "Have each of them use their own abilities and respect what each other can do." His expression still grim as he explains. "Moonflower is the cautious one, possibly one of the reasons we're not dead yet. She respects planning and control. Angus is passionate and that gives him strength. Convince him he's doing the right thing and you'll get no argument from him. Mikel simply needs to be given a longer leash, long enough that he doesn't realise he is leashed. Sometimes brute force is needed, he needs to fail of his own accord, from his own planning before he'll accept suggestions of another."
Dominique shreds those little blades of grass, releasing their grassspirits. "It's convincing Angus of anything which is a problem. And Mikal on a longer leash just gives him more space to do damage before he's reigned in. He's more than likely going to self-destruct anyway." Matthias stares intently at a part of the invisible wall a moment then shakes his head. "You don't convince Angus. You let him convince himself, all you have to do is supply the right path for him to follow. Mikel's a win or lose situation. We've got an obligation, like it or not, to prevent him from self-destruction. He'll either learn or get himself killed. Some of that has to be his own responsibility. Our responsibility is to the pack first, the individual second." He turns and smiles very quickly to you. "With some noticeable exceptions."
Dominique corrects you gently, "To Gaia first." A forefinger is raised, "And I do rather hope it's not noticed. The Litany..." She really doesn't need to say anything more, the awkward grin is enough. One shoulder lifts in a half-shrug, "Maybe I can bind Mikal with a spirit of obedience or somesuch." It's a flippant suggestion. Matthias nods. "Always to Gaia first." His statement holds a tone of the obvious. "We're nothing without that purpose." His voice changes to one slightly more scornful. "A Litany eons old which causes more harm sometimes than good. It's become more about the words than the meaning or reasons to so many now. And even the reasons are not always as applicable." He simply shakes his head, breathing calmly and changing the conversation again. "There's be hell to pay if the binding broke."
Dominique's SilverFang training comes to the fore for a brief moment, "A Litany which has served us well for quite some time." Her body shakes in a full-form shrug, "But its meaning has been forgotten to some, true." A flash of her usual indecisiveness. "Maybe we could send him away before the binding broke. Say... gaffertape him on a train to Adelaide." A note of scorn enters her tone. Matthias winces visibly and shakes his head. "An event we're going to be known for for some time. Between that and constantly running to Cossack, its a surprise Brett even approached us at the Council."
Dominique muses absently, "Maybe our infamy hadn't spread quite that far at the time." She rises to a sitting position, brushing at the twigs sticking to her top, "And may I say I'm so looking forward to entering the Fianna den for a weekend of revegetation. All those sneering noses. They're as bad as the Sha... SilverFangs sometimes." Matthias's smile is thin. "And the bunyip think its time to return?" He shakes his head. "Tolerance amongst our races hasn't come nearly as far as I think they would hope."
Dominique's gaze travels the stick-scraped line about the Umbral invisible wall. "Maybe its return will have them pull up their socks. Don't wanna be seen as being lax before the reappearance of the great shame." She gives a soft puff of laughter, "And then, of course, there's the great wolf representing whoever is 'keeping an eye on us'. Bet they're getting an eyefull!" Matthias turns back to the wall. "Unfortunately we can only deal with the visible threats at the moment." He stares at the invisible wall. "And those invisible problems we can actually find. All we can do is act as we should." "Act as we think we should." The slight temperance on your words is murmured softly. "The problem is figuring out how we oughta act."
Dominique's head swings about to gaze at you a while. "The moot isn't too far off." Matthias nods again. "I know. That should be an interesting event. I'm sure there'll be some politics involved in that. At least our claim to the new sept is valid." Some politics? Muuuuch politics. "Which moot do we attend or are we going to be lucky and have them on different days?" Dominique watches the wall. The invisible wall. Which doesn't do anything. Matthias shakes his head. "Not sure how it works. We'll be at the new sept moot though. That much is reasonably assured. For us not to be at the opening moot would be derelict." "And stupid." Dominique seems fond of dropping on addenda to your statements. Matthias smiles, tight-lipped and nods. "That too." He sighs and shakes his head. "This is getting us nowhere."
Dominique throws a twig through the wall by way of emphasis. Matthias glances up at the sky and stands. "Come on. Time for Angus and Moonflower to watch. I'll buy us late lunch." Dominique murmurs, "My rich hero." Standing, she brushes off leaf debris before ambling over to you. "Sounds like a plan to me." Matthias smiles and nods. His eyes glaze a moment then focus once more. "It's clear. Come on." He takes your hand, squeezes it and passes through the veil with you. Schwooom.
Suddenly there is a feeling almost like a whipcrack and both of them feel gnosis being drawn from the area and projected out into the darkness beyond the creek. At the same time, the aboriginal's chants change, and he thrusts a shield-like object into the air. Mathias tries to feel for wyrm and is overwhelmed. Some speculation that he is using Polly to help him.
Another, and then another whipcrack of spiritual force. Mathias and Dom split up and head out into the darkness to try and help combat whatever it is. Dominique is confronted by images of her mother, chewing on something ex-human. She changes form without choice and butchers the images, but collapses afterwards. Mathias sees images of Bill Keys, his head smashed into thousands of pieces, but he easily defeats them, then runs over to Dominique. As he kneels next to her, they both become aware of the looming forms of the Sept Leaders. Each of them is larger than life. A snarling Cossack points at them and roars "You have broken the most sacred of our laws. Garou must not mate with Garou. You are cast out! Spurned! Discarded!". Dominique breaks and runs, but Mathias stays kneeling. There is another whipcrack, and Dominique crashes to the ground.
The scene:
A broad green paddock stretches out towards a low hill in the distance.
It's nighttime and the only light shed is from the remote lights;
there is no moon. A womanchild stands in the midst of the paddock.
Eccles says "ok.... from memory, the giant sept elders had just wavered and vanished... Dom ran off into the darkness, and there was a spiritual whipcrack and then the noise of her running and yelling stopped..."
Eccles says "Nasty thing is still there, in the darkness.... in the direction Dom ran..."
Dom: The cold starts to seep into your bones, laying on the ground. It's bitterly cold, even for a June night with no clouds.
Instict. Protective Instinct. Mathias moves as quickly as possible to the body of his fallen comrade and friend. Dark eyes flash with the hint of controlled rage as he stares out into the encroaching darkness. Jaws widen and his neck arches back. A howl of defiance, a cry aimed to chill the darkened souls of what is threatening them both.
Dominique lies face down in the long grass, sprawled awkwardly.
GAME: Mathias does call of the wild (Mathias to Mathias Dominique Eccles) The roll is: 3 4 4 6 9
The howl is swallowed by the darkness, an insignificant drop in an infinite ocean. The brief dutch courage it affords you is quickly drained away by a spiritual cold.
Mathias's snarling expression is briefly broken as his howl is swallowed, again quickly replaced with a note of defiance. A glance back towards the way he and Dom have come, followed by another stare into the unknown darkness before him. A decision made, the fallen pack mate more important in the instant of his decision. He crouches low and scoops up the fallen woman, somewhat undigfiedly throwing her over his shoulder in preparation to leave.
Dominique is in her homid form, and is a light burden while you wear the Crinos. Your brief glance behind you reveals the implicit safety of civilisation, of the light. However, between you and there, you can faintly pick out the outline of Polly, still standing rigidly.
A breeze blows from the direction of Polly... it carries with it a strange smell, unpleasant but somehow familiar...
Mathias's head turns as he begins to stride towards the creek, choosing a potential threat over a known one. Carrying Dom towards what he hopes to be safety.
Game: Mathias does a what-the-heck-is-that smell (Mathias to Mathias Dominique Eccles) The roll is: 4 4 5 7 7 7
The wind carries the scent of Angus... but mixed with a scent of death and decay. The ground arounds you changes in character... where before it was rich, green grass, it seems now to be dry and dead, sussurating in the wind.
Mathias's head lifts, scenting something on the wind, something he thought never to scent again and is less than enthusiased to do so now. A growl as the muscles in his legs tighten in an attempt to carry him faster towards the 'stench', previous plan temporarily abandonned.
Following the familiar-yet-wrong scent of your fallen packmate is simply in the Crinos - your feet fall into step and you chart your way across the landscape almost automatically, guided by your nose.
Mathias checks the light weight upon his shoulder, concern for Dom still aparent even in the midst of his 'hunt'. Eyes search the darkness for any sight of that which he seeks, also for the girl, his first instinct that of protection.
However, after a time, you realise that the direction that the scent is coming from has been changing as you move. You are now heading away from Polly and the lights of the suburbia, and into the darkness. You have only moved about 50 metres, but it was in a fairly tight turn - you are more or less back where you started in terms of distance to Polly, but about 50 metres further along to the south, and heading into the hills.
Dominique is still breathing, but shallowly. She is obviously out cold,.
A realisation flashes, Mathias finds himself torn. To pursue the corruption or protect the fallen. A fait growl of frustration and a narrowing of purpose. He will not be drawn away by the trickery of the wyrm, nor divided from Dom in a hunt he can only lose and a trap that would only engulf him. Turning again he begins to move back towards the somewhat more protected ground, pushing himself harder to make up for the distraction.
Angus's voice.... "Maaathias." Ahead.
Mathias's growl deepens again, shaking his head as if to dismiss the voice. His eyes focus on the terrain alone rather than seeking the sound of his tormentor. If it will come to him then he will face it, if not he will not be tempted from his path.
"Why did you fail me? My packmate. It is as you have been told - we follow you, into death. And there will be so many more....
The voice grows closer, but there is still no physical presence.
Angus's voice... "Poor Dominique... did she follow you somewhere dangerous? And she has paid the blood price for you, hasn't she?
Mathias's jaw tightens, eyes still fixed ahead and towards the ground. His words between breathes, short clipped and edged with rage. "Angus died honourably but foolishly. Do not disgrace him with this falicy!" Domonique is held a fraction tighter at the taunting words, steps still carrying him to towards what he hopes will be some protection.
Game: Mathias rolls rage (Mathias to Mathias Dominique Eccles) The roll is: 1 2 4 4 4 9
Angus's voice "Oh, have I upset you with the truth... the point is, I died. There's no honour in death, no glory. I died because you chose poorly. Walks-between-Paths told you truthfully, your companions will fall, one by one.
As you trudge onwards, the voice seems to say just out of your immediate sight. From time to time you hear movement through the dead grass, and a silhoutte ahread
Mathias's snarl turns to almost a smile. "Away from me, foul thing. Your own words have betrayed you. The choice was none but Angus's. He chose to attack with thought or planning, he doomed himself, his honour and courage all that saved Moonflower from the same. Present yourself or be silent!" His stride never breaking, the words not even a distraction but merely words whilst he draws closer to his goal.
From ahead, there is a snarl of Rage, pure and simple. For a brief moment, you see Angus's crinos form, bloated enormously with decay and looming above you, snarling, about to strike... (more)
Game: Mathias rolls rage (Mathias to Mathias Dominique Eccles) The roll is: 2 3 4 7 8 9 (Mathias to Mathias Dominique Eccles) The roll is: 2 3 4 6 6 10
The deformed Crinoid shape shudders and starts to unravel. However, it does not completely disintergrate, and when the rushing noise fades, it turns towards Polly with a gurgling laugh.
"So this form gives you trouble then...." It cackles again, a noise filled with no amusement, but only horror.
Mathias's head snaps up at the looming shadow, the grin spreading across his jaws, eyes glinting darkly. Instead of slowing his body coils low as if to duck the whiplash of gnosis, using the creature as a shield. Domonique if left to slide to the ground as he prepares to leap into the decaying mass, action only held back by its words aimed at the girl.
The shambler begins to run towards the creek, on all fours, to the accompaniment of cracking and tearing sounds as its incomplete body begins to reform.
Mathias's growl is now that of a hunter once more. Domonique scooped up in one arm as the coiled muscles of his legs propel him after the reforming creature with a single intent.
Mathias leaps into the back of the creature, Dom gripped under one arm for fear of leaving her unprotected so close to the darkness. His other arm outstretched, claws pointed forward like a blade.
As your claws pass through it, you realise that it is not like living flesh - there is little resistance to your blow, but the spume of body matter than is torn out does little to slow the shambling mockery of Angus down.
Mathias's growl builds in his throat, not yet released in fury, as he lets Domonique slide to the dark ground. Both arms raise, claws out stretched as he attempts to grapple the thing to teh ground.
The massive blow tears out the spine and most of the abdomen of the false Angus. Within, black liquid flows and gurlges, oozing like viscious oil. The thing seemingly ignores this damage, and turns to smash at you...
Packmate fallen and the unknown girl under threat, all Mathias can do is fight. In his mind both must be protected, his actions bordering on wild, claws flashing as he drives himself further against the creature.
The massive blow starts as the creature begins to turn and finishes as it smacks you in the head, flipping you off your feet and leaving you with sparkling patches in front of your head. Weirdly, like the things flesh, its blow seems to be almost hollow, of straw. You come to rest several metres away, against a tree, as the creature turns back and heads for creek and Polly.
Mathias's body lands heavily agaist the tree, the cracking sound unclear whther it comes from the tree or broken bones. By sheer will, and in some small part due to the nature of garou, he pushes himself back to his feet, growling deep in his throat and leaping after the creature again, attempting to scoop Dom up once more.
Mathias's eyes focus on the retreating figure even as his legs fold down in preparation to leap.
Dom: Your entire body feels like it has been smashed flat. You are lyying in long grass somewhere, perhaps where you fell. You are in homid form. Around you is a chittering sensation - nothing so palpable as sound. Off to one side if a snarl and then you see Mathias leap out into the dark.
Dominique groans softly and attempts to convince her body that it wants to move.
Your blow enters low on the abdomen again, tearing at the huge wound you have already created. As you wrench up, you feel the body come to pieces, shredding and flying into the air. The body disintegrates and the pieces disolve, with a brief flicker of black-red light.
You feel the darkness withdraw, pulling back and away. Not gone, simply forced to retreat and regroup?
Mathias's head arches back as if to howl in victory as the creature disintigrates. A moments hesitation and he lowers his head again in silence, a single glace over the fields to where Polly stands. Turning in silence he moves back towards Dom.
In the darkness, you can barely make out the still figure, still standing....
Dominique lurches to her feet, prepared to do battle ... only to find nothing but grass and a gore-spattered Mathias. One eyebrow raises wordlessly at her fellow garou. Nostrils flare as she checks for any more nasties lurking in the darkness.
Dominique murmurs softly, "It's still out there," to Mathias, once she gets within his hearing range.
Mathias stops as he sees Dom rise, simply nodding to her as he glances towards the darkness. "We've bought a few minutes. I don't know how much time exactly." His breath a little laboured, though hard to tell when looking at an 8' killing machine. He nods to Dom's words. "I didn't think it would be that easy to destroy whatever it is that's out there.
At a rough guess, it is about 2am...
Dominique motions towards Polly, "No need for silence now." In her usual manner, she suggests rather than orders, "Perhaps we should join forces."
Mathias glances towards Polly again and shakes his head. "Not in this realm. We're too exposed and we've been lucky so far. The Umbra may hold more answers."
Dominique's fingers press over her forehead, "You'll get no arguments from me." This time.
Mathias nods and offers his hand to Dom. "Your turn, Dom."
The world shifts as you translate your physical self to ephemera...
The new scene:
Lilydale Umbra
Lightly forested, the Umbra here is the edge of the weaver domain that
is Melbourne. Behind you, where Polly stands you can see the faint
light of a camp fire, and hear faint chanting. In front of you is only
darkness.
You stand in light forest, mixed gum and teatree in this flood plain. The creek is no one clear channel, but many mixed marshy rivlets.
In the distance you can still hear the chanting, and a faint glow in the otherwise black light gives away the camp fire.
Mathias shifts and there is the faint pop of muscle and bone as he concentrates and shifts his form down to that of the homid.
Dominique glances about, checking that all is as it was. Again, the check for wyrm presence.
In the darkness, you can both sense that the wyrm presence in the Realm also exists in the Umbra, equally as strong.
Mathias shudders and grits his teeth. "It's still here," he says quietly. Shaking his head he steps forward towards the sound of the chanting. "Let's go. We cannot do this alone."
Dominique frowns sharply at what her soul tells her. She, too, heads towards the campfire, side by side to her packmate.
As you splash through the creekets and across to dry land, the chanting begins to ascend again, rising to a cresendo.
Mathias stops as the chanting rises to a crescendo once more, he reaches out for Dom to do the same. "Let it come this time."
Dominique mutters a quiet, "You don't know how hard this hits." She draws to a stop, peering towards the figure. "Maybe if we got to his other side before he lets loose again, it might not catch us."
The surge is far, far stronger in the Umbra than in the real world. Ahead of you, tree spirits blur and distort as gnosis is drained from the surrounds and then driven forth towards the darkness, generating a strange false light, almost ultraviolet. Both of you feel deafened, despite the lack of actual noise - the sound rings in your souls.
If the blow had been aimed at yourselves, it would have crushed you and left nothing but a shatter shell. Yet the dark absorbs it, pushed back, but not destroyed.
If Dominique had ears in this form, they'd be flattened against her skull with the passing of the force. "It's not enough. We need to help... to do more." Frustration lends urgency to her tone.
Mathias gasps and shudders as the wake moves past. He shakes his head again. "Such force and still not enough. We need to move now, whilst the force builds again." Almost immediately he begins to move around and towards the chanting figure. Still walking but more rapidly so.
The surge fades and dies, leaving silence. The sense of dark fades - it is a presence still, but it sits sullenly, rather than probing at the defense raised against it. The feeling of wyrm retreats in a way that defies normal space - the edges seem to curl in to a point, yet there is no sense of movement. The dark is far away, yet close enough to sense you.
Ahead, the chanting breaks off into a hacking cough.
Mathias swears softly, glancing towards Dom. "I hope you've memorised more of that chant than I have."
Dominique's shoulders lift in a shrug, "If my brain hadn't been turned to jelly... perhaps." Fear has a way of twisting your memories ass-backwards. She slows unconsciously as they near the campfire.
Mathias nods slowly, also slowing. "All we can do is offer our aid and hope the past will not cloud all the eyes present." He watches Doma moment, ensuring she is ready before they close the final distance to the campfire.
As you approach, the fire has died down to coals alone. The aboriginal man sits on a log, head between his knees, obviously weary beyond belief. The paint, etched so lovingly on hisself earlier, is smeared with sweat. The shield lies near him, not dropped, but not placed with due car either.
Mathias reaches out to stop stop Dom at the edge of the campfire. His voice low and calm, "We do not approach without invitation." He turns away from Dom to regard the man in a moment of silence.
Aboriginal's head raises and gazes at you with eyes sunken with exhaustion.
Aboriginal speaks to Dominique in the way of spirits. "Kill me then."
Aboriginal's head slumps down.
Dominique can't help but stop. Even in this time of danger, to be this close ... she's awe-struck. Rapidly replaced by confusion; a flick of her attention to Mathias, "We come to help you, not hurt you."
Mathias slowly holds his arms before him, palms outspread. "Whatever you think of us, or think you know of us, one thing remains true. We seek you no harm and offer our aid in whatever ways possible." He nods briefly to Dom at her words and turns back to the man again.
Aboriginal speaks muffledly. "Why should I believe those who slay their kin."
Aboriginal raises his head again. "You came and killed all my family. You killed the wirrenun. You kill the land.
Aboriginal says "Why should you not kill me?"
Mathias says "Because it would mean that none have learned."
While this pained conversation occurs, Dominique can't help but keep an eye on the lurking darkness; just the occasional glance to be sure it isn't making a comeback.
Aboriginal says "You stop to learn only to take more."
The darkness is remaining at its far-away-close point.
Mathias says "How is it you know what it is that we now wish?"
Aboriginal says "You haven't changed. You remain the same. You sweep out of the distance and bring the death of land with you."
"There has been enough killing, enough taking. This is the time to change." Dominique, without quite the same glib tongue as Mathias, speaks with simple words, "Help us to do better. We want to... help."
Mathias nods slowly. "Perhaps that is true." He bows low. "Teach us ryah"
Aboriginal says "No. You want to know the secrets. But you don't understand the bargain."
Aboriginal says "You came and asked our secrets. We saw your heart, and saw that you collect secrets like warspears, to use against others. The wirrenun sent you away. Then you came and killed the wirrenun, and took the families."
Mathias says "Teach us the bargain. Teach us so that we understand." Aboriginal says "It is too late. You know it in your head, but not in your heart."
Mathias says "Do you kill the child of one who comits a crime?"
Aboriginal says "The child is told what its parent did wrong. Who is left to show, when the children bring such power with them. The land bent to their bidding."
Mathias says "You are left. You are here."
Aboriginal says "I am here because the land needs me."
Mindspeakily to Mathias > Dom says, "Should we mention our saving of the caern, to demonstrate our past goodwill?"
Mathias nods. "We would give ourselves to the land. It is time for others to learn this too. Jirrawan has returned, will you not do the same?" Mathias speaks quietly and with patience. "The land needs all who would aid it."
Dominique repeats, "We are here to help."
Aboriginal says "You demonstrate your faith by defeating evil you brought with you?"
Mathias nods slowly. "We seek to learn how not to carry the evil with us. What would you hace us do?"
Aboriginal says "I have seen you, in my sleep. You rush out with all your secrets, all your magic, and fight against the blackness you brought with you, the congratulate yourselves on your courage."
Dominique looks askance at Mathias as she adds her own in, "There was evil here before we came. You would have us just stand by and let it come, doing nothing to stop it at all?"
Aboriginal sighs.
Mathias nods slowly again. "I have seen this too." He glance across to Dom as she speaks then turns back to the man. "We seek a way to not bring the darkness."
Aboriginal says "Our world had its evil. That", he jestures outward "was here before you. But it is of the land. It is a thing born of ndark, and night and fear."
Aboriginal says "Without fear, there is no courage. You see yourselves as champions of the land, full of courage. The girl, I see her as brave. She has no claws, no strength. She stands afraid, not knowing what comes for her. But she remains."
Mindspeakily to Mathias > Dom suggests, "At the least, he is near exhaustion. I would be happy to donate my gnosis if I thought it would defeat the wyrm which comes. You think he would accept?"
Mathias speaks softly, as though confessing. "We revel in what we see are our triumphs, not knowing they are more times false and simply self-congratulating. Many have forgotten the land and now only see the battles and their false glory. This cannot be the way for us any longer but these first steps are on a path we cannot even see." He regards the man quietly. "In truth we are perhaps afraid of what it will hold for us."
Aboriginal regards you, his head cocked a little.
Aboriginal says "Others spoke like this, when they first came. We were slow to trust, and did not tell them our secrets. Then they joined with the others, who came with tooth and claw, and killed our kin."
Dominique manages a sad smile, "I am afraid. /We/ are afraid."
Aboriginal snorts at Dom. "Afraid? You rush in, and fight.
Aboriginal says "You don't understand enough to be afraid."
"A plant may be damaged, shrivelled by fire. But with time, rain, sun, nourishment from the earth, it grows again." Dominique throws another glance to the darkness, "Why can't now be a time of rebirth? /Teach/ us. You scorn us for our ignorance but do not show us how to see our way to understanding!"
Aboriginal says "I scorn you? I loathe the very sight of you. You came, and killed my family, told my children that the ways of the land were wrong, took them from the land."
Mathias turns to Dom again, controlling the urge to frown. "Dom. Enough." His voice not raised but clearly admonishing. Mathias turns back to the man. "Those that came before us would not admit to fear. Would not see the path. I fear I still cannot see it clearly. I fear that we must cast off everything we believe to truly understand. And yet we must still move forward, regardless of this fear if anything is to change."
He looks at Mathias "You speak the words, but you don't understand."
Mathias says "I do not understand it all. No. I seek to, before the darkness consumes us completely."
Aboriginal says "You have lost control of your kin. They ravage the land night and day and you cannot hear her screams. They free that" he points to the darkness, "and you notice nothing. How many children must it take before you rush in, with your false courage and try and fight it, giving it your strength, as you did tonight."
The fire dies further, dull red coals bearly casting any light, despite their heat.
Dominique steps back and away, hands thrown up in the air. She's been smacked around, had her own nightmares lurch up out of the darkness and physically attack her, there's only two of the pack present and inspiration is coming to an end, "I don't know what else to do." It starts soft, "I am /sorry/ that our ancestors tore you apart. I am /sorry/ we aren't what we should be. I am /sorry/ we don't understand. There is so much to be done and...", still so soft, and a sigh, "... I can't see the way forward."
Aboriginal looks at Dom. "Maybe you should try listening rather than looking." Aboriginal continues to speak to Dom. "The land sense you. I can hear it. It talks to you. You need to know how to listen, not to ask.
Mathias says "We are children. Children with more power than we know how to control. Children who simply fight amongst each other, ignorant of the damage we do. We have no parents to guide us, no teachers to teach us. We cannot teach those that come after us or before us."
Mathias glances back to Dom and steps slowly towards her. He holds out a hand for her to bring her a little closer. Looking back to the man he lowers himself to the ground, sitting patiently. "We will listen."
Aboriginal sighs. "Children.
Aboriginal says "Not to me."
Aboriginal says "Now you give me false modesty? To put your
responsibilities aside and take the manner of children?"
Dominique turns back to the tired, painted man. She moves up to stand at Mathias' shoulder.
Aboriginal shakes his head. "The land speaks to you and you seek answers outside yourself. " Aboriginal says "Perhaps.... perhaps... I hear you, you mean the things you say... but your people ...." He shakes his head. "They seek to posess the land." Aboriginal says "And you cannot be trusted past the moment you say the words."
Mathias shakes his head. "I do not seek to put any resposnsibility aside. We only wish to understand what our responsibility is." He nods slowly to the man's words. "We are of our people and we are of ourselves."
Aboriginal says "You stand here, in this place... I cannot tell you what you should do. You should know. It should be in your heart, and in your head and in your bones."
Mathias nods. "But we have to hear it in ourselves." Dominique draws in a breath and looks around her. Born in the real world, she starts with real world senses.
Aboriginal sighs.
Aboriginal looks more tired than ever. "I need to rest. It may come
again tomorrow. Now it is free, I am the only one left who remembers.
Mindspeakily to Mathias> Dom suggests a number of things, "Summoning/bonding. Changing to wolf as a more natural form. Donating gnosis directly to the land."
Mathias sits in silence for a long time, simply watching the man. He nods. "May we aid you in this?"
Aboriginal looks at you. "You took the wirrenun. They confined it a time ago. What can you possibly do to aid me? Aboriginal says "Return to me the wirrenun."
Mathias nods slowly. "We have seen them. They may only return when they are angry at present."
Aboriginal says "Your people took stone from the land, and broke the words. They did this knowing they should not. There are no wirrenun left to write the words. The Killer-of-Children will stay free."
Dominique listens. To the aboriginal, to Mathias, to the chaos of thoughts within her mind.
Mathias nods again. "If we are able, we ask the wirrenun to return, to aid you."
Aboriginal looks at you with hatred again, shaking his head "You took them all. The old, the fit. The children. The kin. They are all dead. I have no family.
Mathias shakes his head again. "We have been told they are not yet ready to return. That they are watching too."
Aboriginal starts to almost waver, becoming semi-translucent. "I rest now. You listen to the land, see if you can be more than your parents.
Mathias nods, watching the man as he fades. "We will. And we will return if you will allow us."
The campfire and his shield start to fade. Much as with the wyrm spirit, there is a feeling of moving without travelling any distance. In the blink of an eye, he is gone.
Dominique murmurs, "Let him go. We will be here for him tomorrow." Now it is her turn to warn Mathias to silence. More than her parents? Dom dreams of it being so.
There is a following sensation, felt only in the spirit. It almost like feeling another slip into sleep, into dreams.
You are alone in the Umbra
Mathias stares at the open space for a long time before speaking. "How could we be so wrong."
Dominique asks the obvious, "/What/ or who is a wirrenun?"
Dominique has a thought, holds up a finger and checks the real world, eyes taking on that pearlescent sheen.
Mathias doesn't turn to face Dom, still speaking quietly. "The bunyip."
It takes a moment or two for your eyes to focus in the Realm. When you have, you can see that the sky has cleared over... and Polly is lying slumped on the ground.
Mathias turns to Dom, noticing her actions. "Is she still there?"
Dominique speaks without hearing, "Polly is down. We should get her back to the house before daylight, check she's ok."
Mathias stands slowly and reaches for Dom's hand, nodding. "At least if she's asleep she won't attack us this time. Shall we?"
Dominique lets her senses return to the Umbra. Dominique wordlessly takes the other's hand and draws him through.
The Realm is as cold as the Umbra, but without the cover from the rising breeze. Polly is slumped on the ground, seemingly unconscious.
Mathias blinks and reaches down to gently lift the girl. "Best watch for any neighbours as we get closer tot he house. All I hope is that Polly left a door open to get back in."
Dominique moves to Polly's side, separating from Mathias. "Let me look at her first. Just to be sure she's okay."
As you pick Polly up, you can see that she is almost grey, and very very cold.
Mathias frowns slightly as he notices the girls skin. "He was right though. what are in comparisson to her?" He shakes his head and waits for Dom before moving towards the house.
Dominique keeps an eye out for nosy neighbours and snakes in the grass as they move towards the house. Back door or window open? They'd hate to have to add /another/ charge of breaking and entering to their list.
As you approach the back fence (barbed wire), you can't see any lights on in any of the nearby houses, including Polly's. No snakes at 3am in winter either.
You climb the fence easily enough and check the back door - its open. You sneak in and drop Polly in her bed, covering her with a couple of blankets. She doesn't seem to have an electric blanket, but she does have a waterbottle. You heat the hotwater bottle and sneak out, back to car, and then back home.
Dominique sneakies off, plans already forming, being discussed, being thrown out or revamped.
In January, Mathias and Dominique spend one Moot at Rippling Waters. They tell the story of the events leading up to Sydney, and the entire Sept is affected by the mood presented. Once Mathias has finished, it is a while before even the usually resilient members of Rippling Waters return to their festive air. Raids-The-Roost is told off for stealing chickens. Bret raises the topic of the Dianna representative on the Jindabyne Council. Bret freels that Fingal is senile and intractable and an obstruction to getting anything done for the Fianna. There is a discussion of ramifications and consequences and possible challengers. Someone mentions Mae Fischer, which Bret thinks is a great idea. Mae does not seem to think that it's a such a good idea, and says that she will consider it. Kinfolk turn up and the party begins.
At midnight the Revel begins. Dom and Mathias are walking through a small hamlet near the Caern, heading back along the highway. They see a drunk guy stagger out in front of an oncoming truck. Dom leaps to the rescue, and body slams the guy out the way - he kind of staggers to one side, but she ends up face down in mud. The truck, in the meantime, has jackknifed and slid almost over Mathias before he leaps out of the way. The drunk guy says "wow" as the driver of the truck comes up and abuses the hell out of him. Eventually the driver is placated and Mathias and Dom introduce themselves to Joe. Joe has been bought lots of drinks by his friends, although he doesn't remember who they were. He's trying to find his way home. He is pretty sure where it is, but is happy to have the company. He suggests they could keep drinking to Dom who sort of smiles and nods. He tries to suggest the same to Mathias, but he seems to be laying on the ground, holding his head - a sign from the shops they are walking past has come loose, and bashed Mathias on the head.
Joe keeps up a fairly cheery monologue as they convey him home. They are trying to read his licence and figure out where he lives when the street light above them blows. Mathias jumps and comes down on a nail, driving it into his foot. He jumps up and down before falling into the culvert and getting wet and muddy. Dom stands in dog shit. They eventually get Joe back home, where he is very insistent that they come in while he opens the door. Finally, the front door is opened, Joe makes an expanisive jesture and falls down, fairly much unconscious. Dom resists the urge to put the boot in when a small figure appears, like a shaggy wooky, but only 6 inches tall. He says that his name is Bill, and that its just having fun. He says its time to go home now and disappears.
When they get back to Rippling Waters, they speak to Bret about the events of the night. Bret says that 'Bill' was probaly a low Fae, with whom the Fianna have some affinity. They are rarely found in the real world, but appear around moots sometimes.
Mathias and Dominique head out into the bush, looking for the dreamtime. They go wolf and run through the Realm and the Umbra for many many weeks, and have many adventures.
At some point, they are running along a moon path, and come to what feels like a crossroads domain - as they step into it, there is a distinct sinking-like feeling and the bubble expands. They now stand within a stone circle, with pillars made of rounded red sandstone. Within the circle is an old aboriginal woman, a thylacine and a crinos form bunyip. They proceed to a have a tense-challenged discussion, which basically encompasses the concepts that they always will have been here, that they were both called and came here on their own, and that they are seeking something. The discussion also includes the fact that they have been set on the Way to return the bunyip, and that they have a hole in their souls.
The two of them eventually are told to leave. They do, and appear in a winter-forest. A raven turns up and leads them to a dark, gothic stone castle. They are met by Lady Marianna, who is obviously not human. The winter-forest and surrounds are her domain as one of the Fae, and she invites them to stay for a few days. She is very interested in the world outside and is unfailingly polite. Mathias is given the oppurtunity to train with her knights. Dom asks about Fae magic. Lady Marianna is extremely interested in the outside world, and obviously is somewhat trapped here in this world.
After a few nights, they decide to ride out and head home. Marianna sees them off to the edge of her Realm. Just as they go to leave, she finishes her four-day glamour spell, and gently takes control of their souls. She instructs them to forget about her visit to her Realm.