IC: The Sun Never Sets, IC thread for The Sun Never Sets |
IC: The Sun Never Sets, IC thread for The Sun Never Sets |
Jan 25 2013, 06:05 AM
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#676
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Runner Group: Members Posts: 3,473 Joined: 24-May 10 From: Beijing Member No.: 18,611 |
It seems we will have to go meet him on his terms.
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Jan 25 2013, 09:32 PM
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#677
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Moving Target Group: Members Posts: 318 Joined: 22-September 11 From: Columbia Member No.: 38,630 |
"Sounds easy enough," Ellesar declares frankly. He sets his jaw and heads into the shallow water of the river.
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Jan 26 2013, 01:35 AM
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#678
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Old Man of the North Group: Dumpshocked Posts: 10,090 Joined: 14-August 03 From: Just north of the Centre of the Universe Member No.: 5,463 |
Stogie follows Ellesar, Jake at his side. Wet feet aside, the crossing is no problem. Together, he and Jake stride to the man with Lady. "My name is Stogie. This is my buddy, Jake. I found Lady over there in the trees early this morning. She looks happy to see you."
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Jan 26 2013, 07:21 AM
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#679
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Runner Group: Members Posts: 3,473 Joined: 24-May 10 From: Beijing Member No.: 18,611 |
Smohalla stays at the camp, keeping an eye on the proceedings from his warm spot by the fire.
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Jan 26 2013, 07:23 AM
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#680
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Runner Group: Members Posts: 3,293 Joined: 1-September 11 From: Seattle Member No.: 37,075 |
Ellesar bravely traverses the river, the water lapping eagerly at his ankles. Unfazed, he leads Stogie and Jake to the far side where they emerge from the gurgling brook to a hero's welcome. The man rushes over to meet them, showering them with gratuitous thanks and effusive praise.
"This is unbelievable!" he says, shaking the men's hands enthusiastically. "I had given up all hope! This is remarkable, just truly remarkable. I just ... I don't ... I can't..." He trips over his words, emotion welling up in his eyes. "Thank you. Really, just thank you." He bends over and composes himself by vigorously rubbing Lady's head and neck. "Who's a lucky Lady? Who is? You are!" She brushes him back with a deft lick of her tongue. "Who's getting a commlink of her own for Christmas? You are!" After an embarrassingly long spell of appreciation for you interspersed with fawning affection for Lady, he finally introduces himself as Taft. He doesn't look particularly native, but neither does Ellesar. Historically, the blood requirements to establish oneself as "native" were so generously low that many men and women were able to remain in Salish-Shidhe even if, by all outward appearances, they were as white and chubby as this fellow. "I am in your debt, truly I am. Is there anything I can do for you? Is there anything you need? Are you here for a reason or were you just passing by town? Can I give you a lift? Just say the word!" |
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Jan 28 2013, 08:20 AM
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#681
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Old Man of the North Group: Dumpshocked Posts: 10,090 Joined: 14-August 03 From: Just north of the Centre of the Universe Member No.: 5,463 |
"Well, I'm glad you have your good friend back. We are wondering if you know anything about what happened to the town here. Did you see what happened?"
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Jan 28 2013, 09:00 AM
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#682
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Runner Group: Members Posts: 3,473 Joined: 24-May 10 From: Beijing Member No.: 18,611 |
The fire burns down a little, putting off less heat than before.
A few branches thrown from the small pile nearby blaze up nicely. Smohalla holds his hands out to the flames, his eyes on the meeting across the river. |
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Jan 28 2013, 09:09 AM
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#683
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Runner Group: Members Posts: 3,293 Joined: 1-September 11 From: Seattle Member No.: 37,075 |
"Did I see what happened? No, no, I was at home on my ranch. I bring Lady up here because it's closer than driving to North Bend for a dog groomer. I left her overnight for a style cut, nail trimming, teeth brushing, a bath - shampoo, conditioner, blow dry - ear plucking, ear cleaning... the works! We call it doggy day camp. But then I got the call the next morning saying the place had caught fire, so I raced straight here. I didn't know he meant the whole town! I mean, look at this place -" He hold his hands out and twists around, indicating the scorched earth of the town. "The destruction was total! The guy said that he barely had time to get out of the place himself - his house was attached to the business. He said he was having a strange dream when he woke up and saw his place was on fire. He said he staggered outside just before the roof collapsed. Said he didn't have time to let any of the animals out. I believed him! All the residents were wandering around that morning in a daze, trying to pick things out of the rubble; everyone had the same story about how fast it happened, how nobody had any time to react. I didn't spend any time looking for Lady... didn't want to foster false hopes..." He starts to choke up at the memory of it. His eyes well slightly and he snuffles, but he recomposes himself by looking at Lady. "But of course now I wish I had. Might have saved myself a couple weeks of sleepless nights."
He kneels down awkwardly next to Lady to pet her a little more, his aura reflecting both intense relief and a sense of disbelief at his luck. "But can you believe it that nobody was hurt? A guardian angel must have been protecting the residents here. I overheard several people mention that they heard a little voice in their head telling them to wake up. One guy said a little munchkin appeared to him in his dream and kept kicking him in the shin until he woke up. Another guy said he dreamed his brother came into the room and said it was time for school. He panicked and woke up. He's 30 years old - hasn't been in school for a dozen years! I'm a practical man, not quick to believe in miracles... but in this day and age? You'd have to be a fool not to." |
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Jan 28 2013, 02:16 PM
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#684
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Moving Target Group: Members Posts: 318 Joined: 22-September 11 From: Columbia Member No.: 38,630 |
Ellesar waits patiently through the man's speech, contemplating the idea of taking a photo of the dog's owner. Hearing the story come to a close the elf speaks up. "Well, that's certainly an interesting tale, if it's true. Would you happen to have a way to contact the guy who owned the store? I think a first-hand experience would help us find what we're looking for."
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Jan 28 2013, 07:46 PM
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#685
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Runner Group: Members Posts: 3,293 Joined: 1-September 11 From: Seattle Member No.: 37,075 |
Taft scratches his head. "Well, I can give you his business number. I doubt he'll answer, given the current state of his business, but you could leave a message or send something to his inbox, I suppose."
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Jan 30 2013, 05:43 AM
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#686
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Runner Group: Members Posts: 3,473 Joined: 24-May 10 From: Beijing Member No.: 18,611 |
Snippets of conversation are captured by the wind, lofted high and landing occasionally where Smohalla might hear them.
branch...destruction...bubble...sleepless fights....business number...I oppose... Smohalla's eyes narrow. Perhaps he should learn lip-reading. His eyes certainly are sharp enough. |
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Feb 5 2013, 01:07 AM
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#687
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Old Man of the North Group: Dumpshocked Posts: 10,090 Joined: 14-August 03 From: Just north of the Centre of the Universe Member No.: 5,463 |
Stogie perks up at the mention of warning dreams. Ahah. So, we're tending towards the Sisters' side of the story, now.
"What you've said is already helpful. Thanks. Yeah, pass me the contact info and I'll see what the man has to say. He may have other dogs around here that need to find a home." He opens up an ARO for Taft to load the contact information. "I'm glad Lady and you found each other. If you don't mind, could you give me your info, too? I'd like to drop in on you after a while to check in on Lady. I kinda feel connected to her, now." |
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Feb 6 2013, 06:19 AM
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#688
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Runner Group: Members Posts: 3,293 Joined: 1-September 11 From: Seattle Member No.: 37,075 |
Taft readily passes along his contact information as well as the contact information for the dog grooming business, Happy Tails. The proprietor's name is Billy Winkler.
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Feb 7 2013, 04:50 AM
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#689
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Runner Group: Members Posts: 3,473 Joined: 24-May 10 From: Beijing Member No.: 18,611 |
The magic of this place is foul.
Smohalla feels coated by it, infected with the taint. He'll be happy when they can return to the pure mana of the mountains. These thoughts lead him to think of his tribe, the Shahptian Wanapum. Perhaps he should have a visit with them, make sure they are all well. |
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Feb 17 2013, 06:22 AM
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#690
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Runner Group: Members Posts: 3,293 Joined: 1-September 11 From: Seattle Member No.: 37,075 |
Taft, not knowing what else to say, bids Lady to jump in the car. She does so, assuming a perch on the passenger's seat. Taft pulls his great mass into the driver's seat of the luxury SUV and drives off with a grateful wave.
Smohalla sits on the ground, his back against a log. He closes his eyes and lets his chin touch his chest as his shoulders slump. He separates himself from the material world as his aquiline-astral self soars away. In a matter of seconds, his spirit has crossed the Cascades. Very soon he finds himself at the convergence of the Snake and Columbia rivers. It is the ancestral land of the Shahptian Wanapum. Smohalla quickly finds his adopted home. He sees some of the tribe going about their early-morning business. Smohalla manifests among them, causing many to pause what they are doing. They come over to greet him and ask after his health. They are good. The rivers have been abundant this season. The Chinook have just finished their spawning, and the Shahptian Wanapum caught many. Smohalla can see filleted fish all around him, propped up against fires for smoking and curing for the winter. Coho season is underway, and the tribesman are off to their nets to receive what the rivers will provide. They are content. What might they do for Smohalla? |
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Feb 17 2013, 02:17 PM
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#691
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Runner Group: Members Posts: 3,473 Joined: 24-May 10 From: Beijing Member No.: 18,611 |
I am glad to see that my people prosper, The Great Spirit smiles on us.
In my travels I have thought on you, my brothers and sisters. It seems there is no cause for concern. Smohalla spends time conversing with his tribe, learning of births and deaths and betrothals and acts of bravery and cowardice. A small part of him misses this life, wishes he could have been content to live out his years with these people of the rivers. Yet the pull of his spirit vision tugs at him ever stronger. Saying his goodbyes, he vanishes from the lands of the Shahptian Wanapum and returns to his new tribe in Greenwater |
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Feb 17 2013, 02:46 PM
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#692
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Old Man of the North Group: Dumpshocked Posts: 10,090 Joined: 14-August 03 From: Just north of the Centre of the Universe Member No.: 5,463 |
Stogie waves goodbye to Lady and her human, and says, "I'll give the groomer a call and see what he can tell us about the events around the fire. Taft's account seems to give weight to what the Sisters are saying. Murdering terrorists wouldn't have sent dreams to warn the townspeople."
He calls Billy Winkler's number. |
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Feb 20 2013, 06:50 AM
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#693
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Runner Group: Members Posts: 3,293 Joined: 1-September 11 From: Seattle Member No.: 37,075 |
Stogie places the call while Smohalla is out. There is no answer; the call goes to voice mail.
A tired, depressed voice reads the following message: "Hello. You have reached Happy Tails Dog Boarding and Day Care. We are closed indefinitely due to a catastrophic fire. We apologize for the inconvenience. Happy tails to you, 'till we meet again." There is an audible sigh before the recording disconnects. There is no invitation to do so, but Stogie figures that he can leave a voice or a text message. Whether or not the owner is actively checking the account, or would choose to respond, are separate matters. |
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Feb 22 2013, 03:48 AM
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#694
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Old Man of the North Group: Dumpshocked Posts: 10,090 Joined: 14-August 03 From: Just north of the Centre of the Universe Member No.: 5,463 |
Stogie decides to leave a message. "Hello, Mr. Winkler. My name is Stogie. I'm standing in the middle of Greenwater. It's ..." Stogie checks and gives time and date. Things like that get confused in the forest. "A Mr. Taft gave me your number. I found his dog Lady out here and got a hold of him to return her. He told me a little about what happened here in the town, but I'd like to hear more if you can take the time to talk with me. And if you know of any other animals that went missing, maybe I can check around. I have a knack with dogs and may be able to bring more back home."
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Feb 25 2013, 06:05 AM
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#695
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Runner Group: Members Posts: 3,473 Joined: 24-May 10 From: Beijing Member No.: 18,611 |
Smohalla returns from his journey and settles back in to his body that hasn't moved an inch.
Seeing the others still engaged with whatever it is they're doing on the other side of the river, he decides to make himself useful. A quick walk brings him to the edge of the water where he calls out to his companions. I will go and buy the items Ellie requested. I will be back shortly. With this said Smohalla heads back towards town. He hopes he can find some kind of general store still open. This thought gives him a moments pause. Surely Ellie remembers this town, the one the Sisters themselves destroyed not that long ago. Well, only a walk in to the wreckage that is Greenwater will decide matters. List in hand, the eagle shaman continues walking. |
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Feb 25 2013, 10:17 AM
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#696
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Runner Group: Members Posts: 3,293 Joined: 1-September 11 From: Seattle Member No.: 37,075 |
Smohalla walks into town and finds nothing left. Give the Sisters an A for Effort - there's not a stick standing in Greenwater. Everything is heaps of ash and scorched metal. There's no place to buy a pack of gum, let alone imported English teas. If Smohalla wishes to walk in a real town - as in, a town that exists - he will have to continue down the road (and past the Seattle border) to Enumclaw, 34 kilometers to the west.
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Feb 25 2013, 10:39 AM
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#697
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Runner Group: Members Posts: 3,473 Joined: 24-May 10 From: Beijing Member No.: 18,611 |
Smohalla walks through the rubble that was Greenwater, lost in thought.
Did Ellie misunderstand where the trio were headed? Or maybe she wasn't aware of the devastation that was wrought? A storm of possibilities raged between the eagle's ears. He continued his wandering, allowing the spirit of the moment to guide him. |
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Feb 26 2013, 04:02 PM
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#698
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Runner Group: Members Posts: 3,473 Joined: 24-May 10 From: Beijing Member No.: 18,611 |
Wandering takes the eagle shifter in a random pattern through the destruction that was Greenwater.
Here was a firehouse, there was a church, over there a goods store, next door a block of housing. He can imagine children playing in the yard over there. The playground now a burnt and crumbling wreck. So much lost, so much gone. Smohalla shakes his head sadly. This is not what he fights for. This is the opposite of all he wishes to accomplish. He heads back to the campsite where he hopes his teammates have better news. |
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Feb 27 2013, 12:32 AM
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#699
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Runner Group: Members Posts: 3,293 Joined: 1-September 11 From: Seattle Member No.: 37,075 |
Even though he doesn't walk very fast, it doesn't take long for Smohalla to wander the length of town, which is only two kilometers from end to end. The devastation is total and, for the most part, there's been no effort to clean any of it up. He can see Llewellyn's place, which has been tidied up somewhat, but the rest of the plots look untouched. Perhaps people will rebuild in the spring, after the winter snows have come and gone. Or perhaps the town has been dug up by the root and now there's nothing left to regrow. The mana acts as a clamp on Smohalla's chest. Maybe one day the mana of the forest and mountains will reclaim this place, but for now the scene is dominated by fear and heartbreak. True, these people only lost their possessions, not their lives, but a home is more than a possession. Material things sometimes transcend their baser natures, receiving meaning and emotional value from the metahuman world. As a dual-natured being, Smohalla knows this better than most.
Stogie, seeing that Smohalla has wandered off for a moment, does a lap around the campsite with Jake looking for traces of other dogs that may have escaped. Using his heightened senses, he inhales deeply, searching for scents. Neither Jake nor Stogie can detect any other domesticated dogs, but scent of wolves is distinct and recent. Stogie returns to town, cross-referencing a now-dated map of the town from his commlink with the apocalyptic scene in front of him. He finds the location of the dog grooming store and treads onto the rubble. Again, he breathes deeply, afraid of what he might find but still compelled to search for it. To his relief, there is no trace of burned hair or bodies. Were the other dogs able to escape as well, or has time simply erased the evidence of their destruction? If they escaped, wouldn't Billy have seen or heard them? If not, would they have survived in the forest? The fate of the other dogs is uncertain, but it's troubling nonetheless. Ellesar follows the others, documenting everything thoroughly with his camera. The catastrophe resonates deeply with him, conjuring angry and despondent memories of what happened to his family in Chicago. Ares itself could not have flattened this town more effectively than the Sisters did. He notes that there's little sign of an investigation here, but what was there to investigate? The cause seems clear. What to do about it is the tougher question. |
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Feb 27 2013, 04:13 AM
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#700
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Runner Group: Members Posts: 3,473 Joined: 24-May 10 From: Beijing Member No.: 18,611 |
Clutching at his chest as though he is having a heart attack, Smohalla stumbles back in to camp and collapses near the fire.
The sense of fear and heartache became overwhelming on the astral in the remains of the town. As a dual-natured being he had no way to shut himself off from the painful memories of Greenwater's loss. Smohalla forces his breathing to slow, bringing his hammering heartbeat down to normal levels for a were-eagle. He runs through his centering techniques, calming and composing himself before opening his eyes and taking a sip of water. Surely there must be a way to cleanse the mana of this place, to bring about a healing on the astral as well as the physical. He is lost in contemplation when his teammates return to the campsite. |
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