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

[phlapjack77]

Riding the thermals in a state of bliss, Smohalla begins to feel the exhaustion from the previous night's activity.

He attempts to catch some drafts that will help keep him aloft with less effort on his own part.

Despite his advanced age his eyesight is still sharp as ever as he continues scanning the terrain below.

[Tecumseh]

Hester and Selene give guttural grumbles to Stogie's use of Or'zet. He can't quite tell if they're inclined to respond in turn or if he's affronted them with "their" language.

Ellie listens to Stogie's report, puts her hands on her hips, and gives him a mildly annoyed look.

"Now see here. If what you say about this bounty is true, then we're wanted women, the countryside is crawling with bounty hunters, we're not safe anywhere, and there will never be a good morning to go shopping again."

She huffs a bit. "You know darn well that we can't run a proper eco-terrorist operation without flour, sugar, eggs, and tea." Stogie blinks once, trying to detect any irony in her voice; he doesn't find any. He gets the impression that not shopping is a worse prospect than shopping and having to kill four men to do it.

"Besides," she says with a proud jut of her chin, "I like our odds. And we have some tricks up our sleeves too, don't we ladies?" She gives a curt nod to finalize the point. Hester and Selene smirk at the prospect, not at all deterred by the notion of some fisticuffs.

[Tecumseh]

Ellesar manages to spot a few ground animals. There's nothing alarming, like a team of trained bounty hunters, or a cannibalistic Infected troll. At least, none that Ellesar sees.

Smohalla, on the other hand, sees quite well. He doesn't spy Toothy from the air, nor any hikers that might fall victim to Toothy. What does Toothy do in the long winter months when tourists are few and far between? A disconcerting thought.

Smohalla finally makes it over the final ridge to see North Bend. The clouds have moved in and visibility is dropping. He gives a pass over the field where the men were but they're gone. It's the same field where you met Gunny several days ago. Smohalla sees tire tracks in the dirt so he follows those until they reach an asphalt road. He loses the trail there, not able to follow them on pavement. As best he can tell they drove back into town, but that's not much help. He passes over the small downtown area but doesn't see the men, their vehicle, or any astral trace of them. Are they on their way already? Or are they just out of sight for the moment?

Smohalla lands in a tree top to rest and consider the situation. Just days ago he was at this place to hear about the bounty from Gunny, and now he's back with quite a different objective in mind. What would he do if he found Gunny? Could Gunny be convinced? Or removed? Or is he just the messenger, the Johnson for some larger organization? Resolving this will not be easy.

[phlapjack77]

The failure to locate the men weighed on Smohalla's mind.

The only comfort was that it seemed they weren't headed towards the Sisters yet.

Although the idea of them fetching reinforcements unsettled him again.

After a brief rest he takes to the skies once again.

He will return to the camp with no news of the runners.

[AtroposReborn]

Despite receiving no signals from Stogie, Ellesar returns to the campsite. He's a bit more at ease having not seen any signs of danger. He strides into the clearing with an expression of anticipation. "Oh, good morning ladies. I was not aware that you were up already."

[Tecumseh]

Stogie and Ellesar:

[ Spoiler ]

"Yes, we're up and we're off!" Ellie announces with early morning vigor and a pump of her fist. She looks determined to leave presently. The women wave their hands in a witch-like fashion. Stogie's sixth (seventh?) sense can feel the mana at the site suddenly contract and then expand.

Stogie:

[ Spoiler ]

Switching to his astral sight, he sees spirits lingering invisibly next to the Sisters. The spirits have a strong, almost menacing aura, looking far too large to be easily controlled by the comparatively smaller (Magic-wise) Sisters. The spirits spin their powers around the Sisters, obeying without resistance or question.

The Sisters fade almost imperceptibly, the light seeming to shift to cloak them ever-so-subtly. Ellie twitches her nose like a bunny and then the Sisters rocket off into the forest like the had been shot out of a cannon! Stogie and Ellesar exchange a look, both of them reminded of being caught up and carried along by Smohalla's air spirit during the pursuit of Toothy. It seems the Sisters know the same trick.

Smohalla:

[ Spoiler ]

Smohalla is returning to the camp from North Bend - flying almost due south - when, out of the corner of his eye, he spots some unusual movement below the trees. Swooping down to take a closer look, he spies the Sisters dashing along almost as fast as he is flying. On the astral, he can see spirits accompanying them. They're smaller spirits that what he has seen with the Sisters in the past. These spirits look much more in line with the Sisters' capabilities rather than the overbearing, almost threatening spirits that get summoned at their camp. The Sisters notice him and slow down, pausing in a small clearing. He distinctly sees Ellie wave at him, seemingly to beckon him to land and talk. Hmm, did he remember to bring his loincloth this morning?

[phlapjack77]

Smohalla lands in the clearing near the Sisters and shifts into human form.

Modesty is not on his mind, but rather curiosity.

He approaches the trio and smiles a greeting.

Good day to you, Sisters.

Where do you travel to?

[Tecumseh]

Smohalla:

[ Spoiler ]

"We are going to the Stuffer Shack," Ellie tells Smohalla. "Is there anything you need, or anything you would like for dinner? There's an excellent butcher we know. Do you like lamb?"

After appealing to his appetite, Ellie ventures on.

"There's something else we would ask you, Sky-Father. The ladies and I were discussing it last night and we have come to an agreement that we would like to invite you into our rituals." Smohalla glances at Hester and Selene but doesn't notice any resistance to Ellie's use of the word "we". Whatever she's proposing, they seem on board with it.

"Our magicks are powerful, Sky-Father, but they are unfocused. We believe that you could help concentrate our efforts. It would require some additional effort on your part" - she makes this point delicately - "but we feel that it would be mutually beneficial. We would teach you the appropriate rituals, although I must be honest that it would take months to master them - but the potential that we have here is limitless. All we need is the determination and the persistence to pursue it!"

The three women watch Smohalla intently.

[phlapjack77]

I would be honored to join you in your rituals.

This is an opportunity to broaden my understanding and relationship with the Great Spirit.

Also we will be able to work together to see Mother Earth healed.

Safe travels to you, and we will speak more when you return.

And thank you for the offer, but today I will find my own meat.

With a final farewell, Smohalla shifts and takes to the skies.

The mention of lamb has his stomach rumbling - he will hunt before returning to the campsite.

[Tecumseh]

Smohalla flies back. He scouts the mountainsides but is unable to come up with anything more interesting than a squirrel. That the squirrel was up and about and not hibernating is notable in itself, likely another sign of the Indian summer. But the dry spell will end soon, and the winter snows will blanket the area. There will be little game in the snow-covered mountains. The Sisters don't seem to be living off the land, which could be a vulnerability whenever they need to restock.

Smohalla returns to the camp to find Stogie and Ellesar and Jake. Smohalla looks down at the bedraggled squirrel and then looks at Jake. Hmm.

[pbangarth]

As the Sisters rush off into the wilderness, Stogie remarks to Ellesar, "Some days I kind of wish I had that kind of magic. Really amazing things they can do. But it doesn't last long. I have a great time doing some of the things I do, especially the connection I have with Jake... had with all of my dogs." A sadness comes over his face.

"So, I'm content with what I have. There are things I experience the Sisters never will.

"I gotta say, though, life here in the mountains is going to get pretty cramped once the snows come. Unless the Sisters have a way of keeping the paths open, we who don't fly could be trapped here for the duration of the winter. I don't know about you, but I don't much fancy being stuck here in this camp for a few months till the paths open up in the spring. Not sure how we are going to carry on a working relationship with the Sisters if they do stay here and we don't. Unless, I guess, they fly out."

[phlapjack77]

Returning to camp, Smohalla seeks out his companions to report his findings.

I saw no trace of the others headed this direction.

They drove their vehicle onto a road going towards the town of North Bend, and there I lost their trail.

Smohalla eyes Jake, assensing the canine coming as naturally to the eagle shifter as riding a thermal.

Something is different with the dog. Was his bond to the Great Spirit stronger now than before?

The shaman holds the squirrel out to Jake.

If you can count for me how many are in your pack, you may have this for your breakfast.

[pbangarth]

Jake eyes the squirrel intently. Stogie decides to have some fun. Jake... pack mates ...bark ...

Jake looks at Stogie with a cocked head, then *bark* at Smohalla.

Again... *bark* at Ellesar.

Again ... *bark* at Stogie.

Again ... *run in a circle chasing tail* ... *sit* ... *bark*

[phlapjack77]

Very good Jake! You've earned your reward.

Smohalla smiles at Jake, and leaves the squirrel on the ground at the dog's feet.

All the while eyeing Jake with a speculative eye.

If the mana was so potent here...

Was it possible that Jake might be on the path to full sentience as well?

To his 2-legged teammates, Smohalla says

I saw the Sisters in the forest, on their way to retrieve fresh supplies

[AtroposReborn]

"This is turning out to be a fun-filled day," Ellesar remarks. "The Sisters are flying about, potentially showing their faces off to the world, and we're stuck worrying whether we'll be stuck here six feet deep in snow or put six feet into the ground by an enemy we can't find." He sighs loudly to show his distaste for the situation. "Not to mention all the little details that we've yet to flesh out. It would seem the spirits have it out for us, eh gentlemen?"

The elf reaches into pocket and grabs one of his knives. In one swift motion the sleek metal blade sails from his hand towards a nearby tree. As the knife strikes Ellesar begins to laugh as his mood lightens abruptly. "But who has time to fret? There's so much we have yet to do. Now, what's first on our agenda?" He smiles wide as he glances around at the others.

[phlapjack77]

A good question.

We can't spend all of our time in fear of attack.

Yet we should also be aware of the possibility.

Are there things we can do to prepare ourselves?

I would like to try to commune with the spirits of the place.

Perhaps they can aid in the defense.

Other than that I have no knowledge of what to do.

[Tecumseh]

Smohalla's question hangs in the cold mountain air before the group, the puffs of his breath floating visibly before dissipating to rejoin the frosty sky.

The sun cracks through the clouds periodically throughout the day, but it's so low on the horizon that it's largely blocked by the surrounding mountains and ridges. The Indian summer is fading and it takes an extra bit of effort to pull yourself away from the campfire. Stogie is familiar with the weather patterns around these parts and his best guess is that the first snows are on their way, maybe even within the next day or two. They're overdue as it is.

Lunch is hard to scrape up. The nearby lake has a few small fish but the crusty edges of the water tell you that it will freeze over soon. Jake's squirrel gets turned into a poor-man's stew with what little remains of the Sisters' potatoes and carrots, but it's meager fare.

The sun has passed behind a cliff and the sky is rapidly darkening by the time your stomach signals it's time for dinner. Almost on cue, three figures emerge silently from the forest. Visibly they look nothing like the Sisters but astrally it's clear that it's them. Ellie is in the lead, looking something like the old crone from Snow White. She clucks and cackles her success, leading Hester and Selene - who have been transformed to look like men - back from their shopping expedition. Ellie throws off her traveling cloak and drops her spell, stepping into the light of the campfire with a mischievous glint in her eye. The spell falls from Hester and Selene too as they shrug off their large burlap sacks. Jake races around, barking at first in alarm and then later in anticipation of what mysteries await within the bags. He dips his nose down into one, his hindquarters raised with his tail swishing about excitedly.

"Yoo hoo! We're back!" Ellie greets you with a wave. "Dinner's ready!" She proudly produces two paper bags. One says "Bee Burgers" and the other says "McHugh's".

"We weren't sure if you had a preference," she says to explain the two different bags. She unbags the items quickly but pauses momentarily to cast a small spell over the food before passing it around. The food is hot to the touch, leading you to think she just reheated it magically. Ellie takes her seat on her log in front of the fire, crossing her legs and unwrapping her cheeseburger. It's an incongruous scene - this small, immaculate matron sitting in the November woods enjoying a hot fast food burger from who knows how far away - but her contented sigh lets you know she's not thinking too hard about it.

"So," so says between bites, taking care not to speak with her mouth full, "what did you do today?" She takes a sip of her milkshake through a straw.

[phlapjack77]

The eagle shifter waves off the offer of food with a polite gesture.

We've been discussing how best to protect this land.

Also, it is obvious that winter is coming.

Do you have plans for wintering here?

We should prepare for this.

[pbangarth]

Stogie considers how much to tell. Well, if they are to be teammates, they will find out soon enough. His gaze moves to include the men, who don't know yet either.

"Last night an amazing thing happened. I developed a link to the mana totally different from anything else I ever experienced. If I concentrate, even without opening to the astral I can... feel... the mana and the energy coming from the mountain and moving on in a line out over the horizon. I think ... I think... the mountain just Initiated me!"

[AtroposReborn]

Ellesar starts at the thought of fast food. How long had it been since he had a burger? Odd that the sisters of the forest on the mountain would be eating such processed food. Not that he would complain, of course. Food would soon be even more scarce than it already was for them with winter drawing near. The news of Stogie's initiation only brought his expression of surprise out further.

"Well, that's quite the news. I'm sure you will use your power wisely." He gives Stogie a small smile before turning to the sisters. "Thank you for the food, once again. I think we're all just happy to be eating. As the sky father here says, we have spent most of the day wondering about the wanderers from last night. How was your shopping adventure?"

[phlapjack77]

To Stogie's statement, Smohalla nods his head slightly.

This could explain the difference he sees in Jake.

It seemed they were all benefiting from proximity to such a powerful source of mana.

[Tecumseh]

Ellie lights up with a pleased look at Stogie's news. "Why, that's wonderful!" she exclaims, with so much enthusiasm that he momentarily wonders if he's being mocked. "That's really very special," she continues. "I remember my first initiation so clearly." She trails off, lost in thought for a moment while she bites her hamburger again.

"Our shopping trip was very productive, thank you," she answers Ellesar. "Root vegetables, apples, mmm... autumn! So cozy." She gazes contentedly at the fire. "We'll have to do some baking!"

She turns to Smohalla. "I dare say that we shall bear the winter tolerably well, Sky-Father. It will be our fourth in this location. Magic makes life considerably easier, as you know." She gestures to the ever-burning fire, which seems to crackle a little bit more in response. "It is not without its risks, but those risks protect us as well, do they not?" She looks to Ellesar, as if to confirm her tactical thinking. "The snows insulate us, barricading us from these men that concern you. I would not expect them after the first storm of the season. Lowlanders are generally poor at winter mountain survival."

Hester and Selene smirk at the thought, likely imagining frozen corpses of street samurai littering the river valley leading to Greenwater.

[phlapjack77]

Smohalla smiles at Ellie's mild rebuke.

I meant no disrespect to you three or your abilities to survive.

Only now with double the mouths to feed, perhaps more planning would be needed.

We four are experienced in living with nature ourselves.

And so I foresee no great trouble in this area.

He pauses for a moment.

As long as we are prepared for what comes next.

Your actions recently, as well as our actions in the near future, are sure to draw more attention.

Snows and cold wind might not be enough to keep us safe this winter.

[AtroposReborn]

Ellesar's face lights up. "Wonderful, I haven't had any decent baked goods since my wife was taken from me. She was quite the cook; her pastries always held a special place in my stomach. I look forward to seeing what you have in mind. Which reminds me, is our friend the wolf not going to join us this evening? I imagine we should want him here to discuss our plans for the winter if you deem him an ally."

[pbangarth]

Stogie smiles at Ellie's dig. Like when he tells the teenagers, 'Yeah, I remember when I had my first beer, too.'

"Actually, it's not my first. But definitely my weirdest." He looks around the camp and the surrounding wilderness. "I think we have to take this threat a little more seriously than we have so far. The losers have come and gone, but there are some very dangerous people out there. And if the money is good enough, they will come after you no matter how much snow. They will have machines like you haven't seen, and magic like you have never faced. Ones like that came for me and mine, and I had nothing to stop them."

A moment of silence and staring off into space ensues. "But we are strong, and we know they are coming. I, for one, look forward to a little sparring with the thugs. Sisters, I'm ready to party."