2020.06.17 How to Summon

How to Summon - A learning experience.
The Ritemaster of the Pit of Shattered Souls goes over some of the basics with Jackson, a new Cliath in town.
IC Date	June 17th, 2020
IC Time	Noon-ish
Players	Jackson, Russ
Location	Cobre Desert - Old Desert Ranch
Spheres	Wyrm, BSD

The ranch house is quiet in the middle of the day, from inside the old building the occasional cough or groan can be heard as the majority of his party-hard kinfolk are still passed out.

The yard is empty except for a couple, a man in overalls and a woman in denim cutoffs and a tank top, working on the pond and tending to some of the trash from last nights party, gathering it and sorting through the bigger pieces. Russ is seated on his porch, on a wicker bench with a tin cup of something hot near at hand on an endtable. He is smoking a long neck pipe and looking out over the desert beyond his property, the bittersweet scent of weed smoke lingers in the air around him. Jackson walks up slowly there was not a sign of his arrival just bamf there is a man walking towards the ranch, his hand inside of the pockets of his leather jacket. A pair of black shades expensive covering his silver eyes, as he moves forward removing the reybands. As he slides them into the inner pocket of the leather jacket, as he produces a handrolled joint as placing it between his teeth, with a snarl of pleasure. His lighter is next gold plated as he lights it up slowly, the smell of freshly picked weed filling the air, with a hint of pleasure in his eyes as he slides forward now step by slow step as he rises a hand in greetings."I was told the ritemaster could be found out here. I'm a new transplated family member, I hope I found the right place?"

Russ doesn't move but his gaze does shift casually to the area where Jackson meant to cross through the Gauntlet and he watches him with a lazy sort of calmness. Russ is at home and he doesn't have his hat on at the moment so a pair of short Puckish curlycues can be seen poking out of his hairline. His mirrored aviator sunglasses are also currently hooked onto his shirt collar which leaves his mismatched eyes visible as he stares at the approaching stranger. Russ gestures with his blunt at the wicker chair on the other side of the porch, "Have a seat." He nods and picks up his tin mug for a sip before commenting, "You've found me." Without an fanfare or warmth.

Jackson nods slowly as he tilts his head downwards out of respect a slight gesutre but there none the less."It is good to meet you, I'm The Posions, Black Spiral Dancer, Born under the Crescent moon, Claith. Newly arrived working with one Mr. Gray out in a place of Father. Told to report to you for education." His voice is cold, as he moves upwards slowly towards the chair sinking into as he exhales the smoke into the air, it is tinged blue as he grins at Russ."It is lovely to meet you, I hope I enjoy this." His vocie still cold but with a hint of mirth, as he waits now watching the other.

Russ odd eyes narrow down to a suspicious cast as Jackson offers his name and, yet, the smile on his face is almost friendly. He openly studies the new arrival and eventually breaks focus so he may offer his own introduction, "AnguDa'Staagra, Ritemaster in the Pit of Shattered Souls. I've been called the Son of Angu and the Whipping Boy of Lady Aife, an Elder Spiral now and no less dedicated to Pain and Suffering." He offers a wane but obviously well meant grin as he admits with sarcastic turn, "Forgive me, if I hope you don't."

Russ taps his blunt into the wind, sending the ash dancing away across the porch as he watches Jackson, saying eventually, "Ah, you work for The Company." Its a rhetorical question and Russ follows it up with, "Dosen't surprise me, them calling you in, they can always use more Theurges." His accent is Scottish in origin and still rather thick around certain vowel sounds. "Why Poison?"

"Cause it's what I do, I Posion others, by drugs, by drink, I make them all corrupted a little drip by drip." With that a cruel smile slowly spreads over Jackson's lips, as his eyes lock on to Russ."My skills are making Drugs, operation, the medical world. I was very skilled back in New York, but now I have come here to play my hand at the game of corruption." His fingers are in a pair of gloves that have tatoos on them, as you look it is of course the flesh of an unlucky soul, as he grins slowly watching Russ."Does that answer your question?"

"How fitting." Russ responds to the explanation and his well meant smile is slipping into something that might actually be genuine but no less cruel. "And what a useful skillset for The Company... I'd be glad to help you learn. Cliath, you said? So I assume we'll be starting with the basics." Russ takes another drag from the half gone blunt and then inhales through his nose thoughtfully pulling the smoke in deeper, "So-" A pause and then an exhale laced in speech, "Can you make Talens and Summon spirits?"

Jackson shakes his head slowly with a little chuckle."I can't I have some of my drugs from NYC, still that I made with my friend put the goodies in so to speak. I was suppose to learn but we got raid, he is dead so now I sit before you. I wish to learn it now, to no longer need help with my tasks." His voice is cold, as he grins at the man as he places a dagger on the table it is a curved middle eastern blade."I took that after killing a man, that refused to sell my products, his skull felt so good as I crushed it with my boot. It is a gift to you for lessons, I hope you enjoy it."

Russ is listening and he looks over at the dagger, picking it up and setting his blunt into an ashtray to free his hands up as he examines the blade, "I enjoy stolen gifts..." The nods of thanks that follows next is unspoken but evident in the way he carefully places the dagger beside him on his wicker bench to claim it. "That is where we will start-" Without any warning Russ begins the lesson and he motions for Jackson to look around waving at the yard easily as he comments, "My yard is full of spirits, you can't see them without trying to peek but they are there.." Russ looks off in the direction of the pond on the far side of the yard. "Why don't we try a water spirit?" He shifts his attention back to Jackson, "I personally prefer working with Banes but not everything is going to always be that easy."

There is a short pause and then Russ continues to the lesson, "I want you to picture an opening in the Gauntlet, a channel or a door, a way to pass easily to the other side. In your mind's eye I need you to see that door and then open it... once its open call the spirit."

Jackson focuses on the work as he starts to try with a wicked smile glad that Russ enjoys the gift, as his eyes narrow trying so hard. He is biting into his lower lip, a line of blood is spilling but then he is able to do it, as he looks over at the other side of the world."I'm doing it." The voice is soft, as he grins slowly that blood is dripping as the wound is slowly sealing up on thebottom lip, as he nods slowly with a wicked little chuckle."Trying to call it to me." The voice is starts to speak now in the langue of the Spirts, as he is making sweet promises to it, all the things he will do to honor it, all such lies.

Russ nods and he can feel the opening that's been created even if its not readily visible to either of them, "You did, yeah." Russ nods, looking over at the pong and then back to Cliath. "Now imagine your will going through that door and coming back out with a water gaffling, a small one..."

Over near the pond a splishysplashy something appears on the bank of the river and then rolls its way over to the porch like an amorpheous blob of bluish-clear water. It can be heard, without a face or a mouth, speaking in the language of spirits with an unpleasant drip... drip... drip.. in the back of the brain. <<Hot... dry....>> It complains as it rolls over the yard and gets closer, <<So.... dry here...>> It crashes into the steps and spills outward onto the porch as a series of droplets that slowly gather again. Moving intelligently across the wood and coming together in the form of a puddle.

Jackson smiles down at the creature as he walks over picking up a bucket filled with water as he moves towards it softly cooing with a pelasure. The words honeyed, as the bucket is placed down in the path of the puddle, as Jackson beams down trying to be oh soi friendly for now.

Russ watches on silently and he nods with a smirk as Jackson opts for the bucket, speaking softly, "Chiminage, nice."

The water gaffling accepts the offered chiminage and it rolls itself into the bucket, bending in an arc and defying the normal limits of gravity as it moves through the air with an intelligence. <<Honor...>> It sounds unsure but it moves fully into the bucket as if to escape the dry, <<Audience...>> The bucket trembles and then the voice speaks again, <<Which... things...?>> Its seems hesitant but it has nod fled the area and it remains in the bucket with a curious ripple.

Jackson watches as he thinks for a moment with a wicked little smile, as he drops down to whisper into the bucket.<Knowledge of course, great knowledge.> His voice is soft, as he starts to make a deal.

Jackson watches as he thinks for a moment with a wicked little smile, as he drops down to whisper into the bucket.<Knowledge of course, great knowledge.> His voice is soft, as he starts to make a deal.

The bucket seems to tremble again and the spirit's fear radiates out of the water as it speaks again, <<Speak quickly.... I miss... my home..>> When Jackson asks for a gift the water spirit obliges, <<Return me to the pond and I will grant bless you with eyes to see.>>

Jackson walks over to the pond slowly taking his time, lifting the bucket as he grins moving sloshing the water back and forth.<You will do this, or I will leave you in the desert. Baking hot, death will take you.> The voice is hissed out, as the throws the spirit back into the pond with a wicked howl of laughter, he is in his element Russ watches as the deed is done and the spirit is returned home, the Elder nods appreciatively and speaks loudly enough to be heard from across the yard, "Good job. You knew exactly what to do, once I showed you the path to take." He dips a hand into his pocket to pull out a pack of clove cigarettes and he lights one to chase the blunt he just finished. "That's the mark of a promising Theurge." He waves him back over, "Enough lessons for today though... tell me how that felt? Was it hard to push through and open the door?"

Jackson walks back towards the porch as he thinks on the words, as he tries to find them as he sits down taking out a black cigrette placing it in his mouth, as he lights it slowly with his lighter."It was like I did not have enough connect to dominate the world into submission, I need more power." His voice is cold, as he exhales the smoke into the air, filled with the smell of cloves mixed with pepermint under that his tabacoo."I make these myself, call it death sticks if you wish one?"

"Sure, I'll take one." Russ won't taste the peppermint but he smokes clove cigarettes for the tactile lip burn they provide and he accepts the offered smoke with a curious look and he presses it to his lips for a taste. He can't smell the cloves or the peppermint because of his Anosmia, his lifelong Metis flaw, but he seems to appreciate the gift and he tucks it behind his ear for later. "More power is probably true, you were born Homid? I assume? It always takes longer for those of us born as men to shed that burden and tap into the Gnosis around us."

Jackson nods slowly as he exhales the smoke into the air with a wicked chuckle as he nods again with an evil little laugh."Now then, you are right born on two legs, in rural Pennsylvania." His hand is removing the smoke from his lips, as he fires off a burst of smoke shaped like a skull into the air."I see, there has been little time for me to study the ways of the spiral. I have spent too much time focused on helping the company, not enough on myself. That changes now."

"Mm." Russ says when Jackson confirms his suspicions, "I was born on the Northern tip of the Scottish isle in an acient breeding pit, Pit of the Blood Moors. Metis get sent out into the world from there every few years. They only let the breeding stock stay.." He relates some of his history with a casual tone, "But that was some years ago, moved to the states in early 2012." The skull trick get a smirk, "Cool trick." The words about leaving the company to find self enlightenment earn a respectful nod from Russ, "That's why they are always lacking Theurges, we're the moon that understand the depths of self and that sometimes finding those depths means walking a lonely path."

Jackson watches the other man as he exhales another perfect skull, as he thinks of the right words."Through that lonely pain we service our father, we honor him and we help push the path. We are the ones, that help with all our wonderful gifts. I have enjoyed my time under this moon, I find most people kinfolk or even other dancers have little to say worth hearing, so I don't mind the lonely path." His voice is warm, but those silver eyes oh so cold as he grins at the man as he fires off another spurt into the air."You have been here for sometime, I'm told prospect is an odd place, I need to be careful mind of those that hunt us."

"Its true, I'm getting a bit long in the tooth for a Metis... and Prospect isn't the worst place to call home." Russ shrugs and finishes his cold coffe, when the cup is empty he notices it and whistles a sharp wolf-whistle. A few minutes later a groggy looking fellow with a pair of goggles on his head and another set on his eyes open the front door and stumbles out onto the porch. "Ah, Jake, be useful and get me another coffee-" He looks over the Jackson, "Want a coffee, beer or something?" Jake waits there looking like a dazed party rat who has been awake approximately since that wolf-whistle sounded. Russ continues his explanation about Prospect unbothered by the lingering Kinfolk, "There is alot of spiritual activity around here and alot of money for those who are after that sort of thing." Russ chuckles, "Stick around long enough and they start listening... then they start expecting you to talk and before you know it... you're leading them."

Jackson watches the new arrival as he speaks cold as ice."Coffee, black like my skin." His voice is rough, as he listens now to Russ his eyes turning slowly over the man with a wicked little chuckle, his hand is bringing the cigrette to his lips to take a long inhale of the smoke."I see, that is the way of all things. I'm enjoying it here so far, I have meet a few odd skilled people." A look of something odd flashes over his face, as he adjust himself on the chiar trying to get comfy, as he nods again slowly."Leading, is something we need lackinh of most hives, I have seen why we got raided back in NYC."

"As for the hunters, I find they don't bother me much but I live my life close to the Pit and its those that get caught up in human affairs who really have to worrry." Russ gestures at his little empire, "I don't need much but I protect what is mine fiercely, have you met Eris? She's my Beta."

Jake rushes off to get the coffees and there is some clattering and crashing in the kitchen as people start to wake up to the smell of coffee brewing inside the ranch house. Russ might be misreading the situation but he nods, commenting, "That's why I like wicker chairs, never can get too comfortable."

Jackson watches the man dashes off as he grins at Russ, as he is now comfy exhaling the smoke once more into the air."Now than, it is more the check up was rough." His voice is soft, as he flicks the cigrette off into the sand."I see, well I will be out in prospect making contacts, to sell my drugs and to do other work. I will be careful, I wish to have a long life ahead of me, not cut short before I can aid the fatther. I have not meet Eris, I will try to do so shortly."

Russ nods at the mention of selling drugs, "Good work, the Father's work, but oi- yeah- be careful. Prospect has its fair share of cops and Hunters that would love to see you go down. I can teach you some tricks for protecting yourself out there... eventually I can teach you how to bring things and people into the Umbra with you en masse. Might really help with the drug traffic."

Jake comes out a few minutes later with mugs of steaming coffee and he snarks at Russ, "Permission to pass the fuck back out now?" Russ nods and waves him away, saying as he leaves, "Tell Slavic to bring the car back around.. I haven't seen him in two days. I want my damn truck." Jackson takes the mug sipping it slowly with a nod towards Jake with a little chuckle, as he flicks a bag of coke towards Jake."Present for later, I made it myself." With that he turns towards Russ."I make Coke, Weed, Heroin, LSD, Molly, Extasy, Black dancer." His voice is soft, as he lists them counting with his finger with a wicked chuckle."Than, I can make more tradational drugs to heal and help, that sounds very helpful. I tend to sell to suplliers, more than the joe on the street." Jake skirts back around with a cartoonish, "Oh gee-golly, thank you sir!" to scoop up the coke and Russ speaks up, "Hey-hey that's not going to melt his brain or anything, right? I fully support the use of all drugs but I need these mother fuckers alive, not dead."

Jackson nods towards Jake as he grins at the man, as he looks over Russ."No, it is normal coke. Nothing odd I don't kill or fuck with those in the service of the father."

Jake, the heathen, is gone without bothering to find out the full effects of the coke and Russ doesn't bother to call him back outside when Jackson admits its safe, "Fine. Good." He nods and takes a sip of his coffee, allowing it to let him relax again and he stares out into the desert with a grin, flicking the butt of his burned out cigarette into the yard. "Smart, selling to suppliers." He slow nods and then admits, "Some of my kinfolk sell drugs and a few others just squat here, artists, runaways, we had a whole punk band crashing here last summer. They know they have to upkeep the house if they want to stay here, its a good relationship but that's the extent of the contact I want with Man's world. I try to keep my distance from The Company. Mr. Grey is an old packmate of mine."

"We were Cliath together, grew up together.." Russ adds, as an afterthought.

Jackson nods slowly as he thinks on the info for a moment with a nodding of his head."I see, you were packmates and grow up in the father's love toghter. Who is in your pack now?" His hand is brings the cigarette to his lips slowly, as he takes a sharp inhale of the smoke into his lungs. Jackson has reconnected.

"Just Eris, we are a pack of two and plan to stay that way until we find anyone worthy enough... our other packmates went their seperate ways years ago and we haven't found replacements yet." Russ inhales thoughtfully through his nose and takes another sip of coffee before saying, "When you've seen what we've seen and been through the trials we've endured together..." He shakes his head, "The Labyrinth will explain all the things I can't to you with words, when you are ready."

Jackson nods slowly as exhales the smoke, after taking another sip of the coffee."Makes sense, I hope you are safe and well. Pack is something, I'm going to form of if I can find like minded crafters. I wish to make a forging pack, making things for the hive, warrior things, snmeaky things, all sorts of fun little tools. It will be for the father, to help us find the way in the dark, to strike out to mark our own."

"That's a noble goal.." Russ nods and smiles, both hands wrapped around the coffee just holding it for a while between sips and his overall demeanor is very conversational, "I can teach you plenty about talen and fetish making, I made a Bane Klaive last year and I was looking for someone worthy of taking it on. Perhaps if you make it to Fostern? We'll get you one."

Jackson grins slowly with a wicked smile, as his eyes light up."I enjoy violence, very much. It's something I'm skilled in despite my moon, I enjoy killing harming spilling the blood, that would be a large help." The voice is filled with pure joy, his eyes lighting up to bright silver."I find such pleasure, in violence death and blood, as well as corruption. Father, is good to server."

Russ downs the rest of his coffee quickly and pushes to his feet, "Take your time, finish the coffee and come find me in a few hours after nightfall. We'll work on hunting down night spirits and lunes, its good practice for making talens." Russ offers in his nicest voice which is still a touch too smarmy for most, stalking off in the direction of the barn, "I have to get some work done in the meantime."