IC: The Sun Never Sets, IC thread for The Sun Never Sets Options

[phlapjack77]

We come because we have heard rumors of those that have strayed.

Those that claim to cleanse, yet in reality have started down the path of defilement.

It is always a dangerous path to tread, to those who think as we do.

[Tecumseh]

K'wa'iti scoffs. "Eagle, you fail to see that the defilement of which you speak is the cleansing that you seek. You must take wing and fly, both to reconnect to your better nature, and to better see what Man has wrought below."

[phlapjack77]

Smohalla smiles.

Very poetic. I think you are better with words than you admit to.

You have given me much to think about.

But I think you have an incomplete view of that which is mankind.

My friends here, they give proof that not all of mankind is evil.

My people, they are proof that metahumans can live in peace with Mother Earth.

What do you suggest I seek, flying high above? What will I see?

[Tecumseh]

The shifter laughs disbelievingly. "Eagle, you jest. Surely you know of the forests stripped bare, of the mountains with sheared tops, hillsides gutted and abandoned. Even mighty Talol here was undone at the behest of man. They are a ravenous species, insatiable and out of balance --"

Ellie steps forward, waving her arms, eager to head off the disagreement before it escalates. "Hold, friends. Peace," she implores, interrupting the wolf mid-sentence. "Our conflict lies elsewhere," she says quickly to maintain her momentum, "not with the good souls here tonight. Let us calm ourselves and break bread together. It is our appetite which makes us irritable when we should be openhearted." She holds her hands out to each side, like a policewoman directing traffic.

She turns to see everything prepared. "Dinner is served, if you would have it."

[pbangarth]

"You're right, Ellie. Jake often reminds me that the world looks better on a full stomach. And hospitality is something to be respected. Time enough later to come to the truth of things." Stogie relaxes, and Jake settles back down, still alert.

[phlapjack77]

Yes, dinner sounds like a good idea.

Smohalla notes Ellie's effort to cut off the wolf's speech.

The words the wolf was about to utter...

Well, it seemed the rumors were not far from the truth.

Smohalla shakes his head a little and prepares for dinner.

[Tecumseh]

The shifter changes back into wolf form and stalks out into the forest with a huff. You sit around the fire, the heat warding off the creeping chill of the coming night. It's past dusk now; the stars emerge slowly from the blackness above. The moon is just past the third quarter; you can see it between the clouds and the dark silhouettes of the treetops. It will be a new moon within the week.

Dinner is fish stew. It would be excellent if it weren't for the awkward silence surrounding you. Ellie has lost the wind in her sails; Hester and Selene are no more talkative than they have been. Ellie occasionally breaks the silence by asking if everything is to your liking or whether you would care for seconds. There's plenty for Jake, should he care for any. She stares into her own bowl sadly, the weight of the preceding conversation heavy on her. She looks into the woods occasionally, hoping to catch a glimpse of K'wa'iti, but he doesn't return to the group. Ellie absentmindedly scratches Jake's ears in the shifter's absence.

[phlapjack77]

Ellie, you know my story of the mines.

You know Stogie's story of revenge, Ellesar's story of betrayal.

Please, would you honor us by telling us yours?

[Tecumseh]

"Oh, what's to tell really," Ellie says somewhat dejectedly, staring down into her bowl. The bowls and utensils are carved out of wood and stand in stark contrast to the ceramic tea service you had in your hands not long ago. Still, the carving is well-done and the wood itself is handsome.

Ellie stirs her bowl absentmindedly for a quiet minute, steam rising from the broth. "I had a pretty normal life," she says. "Got good grades, went to college even, got married, settled down in a quiet part of town." She scrunches up her face, looking off into the trees without making eye contact with anybody. "Had kids, played the homemaker. Kids grew up and went off. I might even be a grandmother now, but I don't know for sure. It's been a few years..." She trails off as she looks around the campsite, contemplating her new existence.

"The Gift arrived late in life. It was a shock, I assure you! But what can you do when the great God and Goddess call? You answer; there is no other option. They guided me to my new family." She looks back to Hester and Selene. "They guide me still."

She sighs. Not a sad sigh, just contemplative and reminiscent. "It was hard at first, but it helped so much to have people to look up to. The stories I heard about you, Sky-Father, helped me to persevere. It eased my mind that wise men such as yourself were leading the way down the path I had been instructed to follow. I've been a fan of yours for years; your actions have inspired us in our efforts to cleanse the land. You have been our silent partner all along." She smiles at Smohalla shyly.

Her voice returns from its far-away memories. "But we're stronger now. We're organized and have a plan. I think we can achieve something truly great within our lifetimes. The struggle will outlive us, almost certainly, but that is the nature of a revolution: you win or you die. But, as K'wa'iti says, death comes for us all, so we might as well try to win before it does."

[phlapjack77]

You honor me.

We will do what we can, to help you and your family.

But let us not talk of death so much, but of life!

We are alive, and should be thankful to the Great Spirit for his gift.

Smohalla's voice takes on a light tone.

Do you have dessert prepared?

Because I know Stogie to be a masterful chef...

[pbangarth]

Stogie takes Smohalla's cue. "I have a little cinnamon and some sugar in my pack. Maybe I could help whip something up?" He looks at Hester and Selene, with a twinkle in his eye. Jake catches the drift of Stogie's teasing playfulness, and starts wagging his tail.

[AtroposReborn]

Ellesar looks to Stogie as he speaks of sweets. "I heard no mention of this Gift while we journeyed together," he jests. "I look forward to tasting your skill."

He turns to Ellie. "Your talk of family is warming to my heart. You should take care to enjoy the time you have with both of your families. I noticed you did not say much regarding your partner. Where is he? Tending to your home while you are away?"

[Tecumseh]

Ellie's face twists a bit at Ellesar's question, her lips puckered and pulled to the side of her mouth. "The Gift requires sacrifices of us all," she says with a downcast expression. "I have not seen him in some time. The change divided us, I am sorry to say. I wish him well, wherever his path has lead him."

She puts on a brave smile and stands. "I am not the first person this has happened too, and I am better able to handle it than most. On that note, the ladies and I must excuse ourselves for a short while. We have evening rituals to conduct. Please, stay here and keep yourselves warm. If you feel so moved to make dessert, you'll find some apples in that gunny sack over there. They were grown not far from here. They would be excellent cooked with some cinnamon and sugar."

Ellie excuses herself. Hester and Selene stand wordlessly and accompany her into the darkness. They don't take any light with them; evidently their metahuman eyes provide enough guidance in the forested blackness. Their spirits retire to the astral plane, their services complete. The camp is yours for the time being.

[phlapjack77]

After the Sisters have withdrawn, Smohalla speaks.

I feel we can trust them to not disturb us as we talk.

We are their guests - they will honor this bond.

He pauses for a moment, thoughtfully.

In truth, I worry more about the Wolf than the Sisters.

[pbangarth]

Stogie sets about creating an apple compôte, using the fire expertly to boil water and cook skinned apples. He even finds a couple of sticks of cloves. "That's the secret, boys. The cloves.

"I don't know what to think. Ellie makes a passionate argument, but that kind of passion can blind a person to his own flaws. Maybe we need to find out more about their plans, to determine whether they pose the threat our employer says they do. Gunny said he wants the Sisters stopped before they kill again. If they don't kill anymore, we've done what we signed on for, no?"

[AtroposReborn]

Ellesar turns to face Smohalla as he speaks. "They all seem quite set in their ways. The wolfman is more rough around the edges but I trust the two who keep quite least."

[phlapjack77]

I worry about the influence the Wolf seems to have.

He is obsessed with death, influencing the Sisters with his obsession.

If the stories are to be believed, the Sisters were once well-received.

People saw them as benevolent, even helpful.

Now, though, they seem to view some deaths as unimportant, to be sneered at.

The words of my friend the ork shaman still ring in my head.

He said these Sisters used tainted Magic.

[pbangarth]

"It does sound weird that the Sisters expect to be killed by the wolf when their 'work is done'. How do you think the wolf would be able to influence the Sisters?"

[phlapjack77]

I am not sure.

Is his influence magical in nature, or merely the influence of a true believer?

I would be interested to know how long the Wolf has known the Sisters.

Whether their companionship coincides with the change in the Sisters direction.

Smohalla looks at Ellesar.

Your point about the other two Sisters could have deeper meaning.

If the Wolf was having some kind of influence, it's effects would be most pronounced on the lesser personalities.

[pbangarth]

"If the influence were magical, we should be able to see it on the astral. I didn't notice anything before, but I wasn't looking for it. And the astral background here is weird. Hard to figure out what it is. Maybe it's the place itself that is doing it to them."

Stogie checks the apples. "Ready soon."

[AtroposReborn]

"Yes, this place has an eerie feeling about it. Perhaps it is cursed. I think that getting to know more about the relationship between the wolfman and the sisters would be wise, but best done discreetly. If he is smooth enough to convince them that their actions require assisted suicide then we should not underestimate him."

[phlapjack77]

Yes, I agree - we must learn more about the Wolf.

Which of us would be best suited to this?

And we must decide our next course of action.

Should we continue to press with our questions?

Ask for their plans for Seattle?

Or just take our information and be satisfied.

It would be dangerous to force anything from them at the moment.

[AtroposReborn]

Ellesar looks off into the darkness of the night.

"I would imagine that a fellow changer would be the most fitting to speak with the wolfman. However if he is somehow controlling the sisters then you would be a potential problem to his goals, considering how the sisters regard you in such good terms. On the topic of our next move there isn't much we can do. We need to decide whether or not to continue with our mission."

[pbangarth]

"If he were an ordinary wolf, I'd have a good chance to figure him out, but as a sentient, he's out of my understanding. Sort of human, but not. Beats me in that regard. But if I had a good look at his aura, I might be able to figure something out. Next time he shows up, I'll take a stab at it. Hope he doesn't notice. Once I get a good look at him astrally, I might be able to find a trace of his nature on the Sisters. That would be a serious clue. Once again, though, if they notice me checking them out ...." Stogie's voice trails off.

[phlapjack77]

Perhaps we can create a distraction.

I could tell a story of my people.

Ellesar, can you think of anything else?