2024.02.09 Mending Burned Bridges
| 2024.02.09 Mending Burned Bridges | |
|---|---|
| Stephen finally presents a powerful fetish to the Shadow Lords to make amends for his mating one of their kinfolk without their say in the matter. | |
| IC Date | 02.09.2024 |
| IC Time | Day |
| Players | Abril, Stephen, Iris, Daciana, Evonna |
| Location | Ritual Clearing - Deep Forest; Sept of the Enduring Spirit |
| Spheres | Garou |
So its been several months since the original problems arose between Stephen and the Shadow Lords, and perhaps its fitting that outside, its overcast and cold and looking like it wants to rain and storm - potentially very good Shadow Lord Weather. Stephen has given up on spectacle and has asked Abril and any other SLs that are still in the area to please come to the caern's mystic circle so he can complete the task he was given several months ago. Whenever Abril actually arrives, its to a cleared clearing where just Stephen and Daciana are perched on one of the sitting stones, with Stephen holding a backpack in his lap while they wait and perhaps chat a little.
It's a little awkward for Daciana to be seated, she appears to be well over nine months pregnant but that's what happens when you're expecting a damn *litter* pretty much. One hand is extended out to Stephen, fingers wrapped around his leg as if using him for the balance that she's needing right now. Her hair has multiple amount of braids through it, speaking of the Get of Fenris style as one of them surely got a hold of her hair it seems. She flutters her eyelids partially close as a murmur passes beneath her breath before her eyes open as she glances over to silently check in on Stephen.
Grandfather Thunder would perhaps prefer some actual thunder, but Shadow Lords will take what they can get in terms of appropriately gloomy and potentially ominous seeming weather. Abril arrives on her four feet, the lupus shadowed above by the near-ever present Crow-spirit. Her head tilts as she arrives to the circle and sees just Stephen and Daciana. She pauses before entering the circle properly, a clear look as if asking if they should be waiting for any more?
When Abril appears, Stephen lumbers to his feet and leans a little to place a hand on Daciana's shoulder, as if to tell her she's fine not trying to struggle to her feet for this and stand for a long time. With that assurance given, he straightens up a bit while still holding on to his backpack and calls out to Abril, "No, please, come on in. I find it a little ironic that, while numerous voices rose up loudly around things when this first transpired, now there are only a few of us remaining, so I thought now and here would be the best place, so the spirits and our ancestors can at least bear witness to what goes on. I understand that over the months that have passed, you and perhaps Kaz seem to be the only remaining Lords in the area? I am afraid I think I suffer from the same problem, as maybe Sergei is the only tribemate still here, and he can be...mmm...hard to locate lately."
<< It is strange,>> Abril says as she pads on in to the circle, giving a respectful duck of her head to the Adren and a friendly sniffle to Daciana where she's seated. << There are few Shadow Lords present now, though Hakken seem to flourish. Distant cousins though, differ in about as many ways as they are similar. >>
At first, Daciana attempts to rise to a stance - well, as much as she *can*. There's a slight shift, a look down then there's that feeling of the hand against her shoulder that brings her to look up towards Stephen with a look of defeat. There's no getting up for her on her own. Her head shifts back towards Abril, lowering it into a clear sign of respect within a nod as her eyes drape downwards for a prolonged moment before lifting up to look once more.
Stephen nods slowly at Abril's words and glances back at Daciana, smiling softly at her before reaching out to pet her hair. Turning his attention back to Abril, he murmurs, "As the problem existed between us, I had thought it would be good to have an Elder witness this exchange, but here at the caern should be good and honorable enough for the Nation. Again, I acknowledge that my actions were at fault and I should have spoken to the leadership of your Tribe at the time and worked out an appropriate chiminage for taking one of your own as my mate. Because that was not done, it is appropriate that now I offer the Shadow Lords something far beyond what might have been negotiated for that honor at the time, and I was tasked to come up with something that fits what the Lords find useful. I will not try to say this is 'adequate compensation' for losing a pure blooded kinfolk, as that insults kinfolk as some sort of pricee commodity. Instead I hope this thing that I have worked to put together, represents a boon to Shadow Lord power and a tool they can use to their own ends."
Mercy's Messenger has arrived.
Evonna has arrived.
Iris got lost and forgot time was a thing, but she blunders her way into the ritual clearing eventually! Better slightly late than never. And possibly in the company of Evonna as well, who knows. She smiles and waves when she sees some of her favorite peeps around!
Evonna arrives just in time to begin to hear things happening with Iris, and she remains a few steps back letting them all handle this as it all seems very proper and well done so far. She keeps her hands low at her sides, open, but watching. A small wave in greeting is given, but not interupting the proceedings.
The touch against her hair brings her chin to lift partially back up towards Stephen's direction. It's clear the fondness that she holds for her mate, even without words and simple way of her watching him as the resto f her face remains neutral. The sight of both Evonna and Iris brings Daciana's attention towards their direction, offering a bow of herh ead in greetings before turning to watch her mate's declaration.
Abril stands solemnly in front of Stephen, the black furred lupus listening closely as he lays out the reason for the summons, the wrongs done and efforts to make amends. There's the ever so slight glance towards Iris and Evonna as the Elders come in, but she doesn't swerve from the proceedings to greet them. << Nation cannot be just a single tribe. We go stronger together, even if sometimes we stumble. We learn. We grow. I have no claim to being a leader of my tribe or anything else. But if the Elders approve, I can keep in trust. Care for tool, respect the spirit within. And if it'd serve best another of Grandfather Thunder's children, ensure it is handed over as well. >>
Stephen nods slowly at that and takes in a deep breath. While he glances over at Evonna's and Iris' entrance, he doesn't stop to say anything to either of them. This is entirely up to him to take care of, so he stops there to unfasten the backpack and draw out a carefully wrapped bundle. Setting the pack away, he unwraps the cloth to reveal a crafted torc of gold and black metal that ends with angry dragon maws at either tip, who have been given jeweled eyes. Reverently holding it in both hands, he offers this to Abril and explains, "You came along with me on the trip to the Carpathians, so some of this is already familiar to you, but I present the Shadow Lords, with you as acknowledged safekeeper of the item, with 'The Power Behind The Throne'. Golden Eagle himself has agreed to inhabit this item and will lend his power of persuasion to whoever wears and awakens it. They will find that any gifts they may wish to use after gaining his aid, will be remakably successful. Almost as if they did not have to expend effort. They will become an amazing force of persuasion to others, as long as they do not lean too often and too heavily upon Eagle's help."
Evonna looks over the exchange and smiles. "If only more could handle things so gracefully." But the Garou way.. Get way.. it happens.
In silence for the time being does Daciana remain, here yes fixated on the exchange as it begins to occur while she remains.. stuck.. in her seat. As Stephen extends out his hands with the fetish, anyone looking towards her direction can visibly see that sudden press of movement against her abdomen that accompanies a grimace crossing her face and a muted noise attempting to escape from within her stomach. One hand lifts upwards swiftly pressing against her stomach as her eyes retract just in time to catch the wink from Iris as she grasps at the side of her stomach where the movement came from. Irritation flashes momentarily followed by that look of pain seconds before until she settles into neutrality as her eyes stretch back towards Stephen and Abril.
Abril shifts up to homid form to accept the torc as human hands are so much better for reverent inspection of a fetish than just like... slobbering over it. And a thorough inspection of it is given indeed before she gives a slow nod. "Like any tool, do not want be dependent on it. Aid, not crutch. But good aid. Strong." Which is followed by a look over towards the uncomfortable and very, very, VERY pregnant Daciana. "And you will have strong young soon?"
Stephen shoots a glance over at Daciana when Abril asks about the children and allows a small hint of amusment to touch his face, "Not as soon as Daciana would like, but soon, yes. We are temporarily residing with the Get after they honored us with offering a place, in anticipation of the help we will need with raising three young ones, when neither of us has had such experience before. I expect we will both look much more, ah, tired, by this time next month."
Iris snorts a quiet laugh at the poor couple's plight and grins. "I'm so glad everything's worked out nicely!" is what she says though, rather than poking any fun at the poor kids. "I brought celebratory sammiches, by the by." She whips a paper bag out of her Bigass Purse. It's just PB&J, nothing fancy, but there's a lot of it.
Evonna nods, "I would expect them any day. Rarely do multiples arrive on time, normally quite early. They must be quite strong to still not be born at this point which bodes well for them. Although I feel for you, Daciana, to have what is certainly a war in there brewing." She smiles to Iris with her offering, "Is there anything you do not have within there?"
Daciana glances up towards Stephen as he answers, and it's clear she's not arguing against that statement - it's all too true. Then her eyes move back over towards Abril's direction as she bows her head. "Three new children of Grandfather Thunder. One is.." She purses her lips as she glances down at her stomach then back up towards Abril. "One makes themselves known when in presence of fetishes. Or they take turns. I can not tell them apart yet." Daciana's head turns towards Evonna, nodding her head. "Yes, seven and a half months pregnant. Been waiting for their arrival. It is hard to tell what is contractions with all the movement and not experiencing it before."
"I was one of litter of six," Abril offers not-at-all-helpfully. Though if sammichs are getting handled out, curiosity demands she try one of the purse-sandwiches. But she was not at all prepared for the PB of the PB&J. She'll be chewing for a good long while.
Stephen nods slowly at that, "I've been informed that homid litters are more, ah, high-maintenance than wolf litters, so there is more work in raising them when they are very tiny. If one of them ends up with the temperament of a garou, that will just make the matter more interesting." He seems to have relaxed a bit since the fetish was accepted, taking in a deep breath before adding, "I am sure when they are born, everyone will hear them from a long distance off."
