2017.10: The Search for Merlin

The Search for Merlin
Rite of the Totem: Terminal Velocity searches for Merlin
IC Date	October, 2017
Players	Ada, Brooke, Dragomir, Halona, Mary-Sue, Terminal Velocity
Location	The highest peak near Prospect
Spheres	Gaian Garou

Dragomir assembles the pack on the day of the ritual - having previously made arrangements with Journey to meet at the destination. A glance is given to each and nodding to them, "Today we seek Merlin.. we prove that we are worthy of being his Children and ask him to guide us." He lifts his hand to point towards the mountain, "First we climb.. we hike the highest peak where those of Falcon's brood would make nest. We bring the offerings.." he points towards the small cages of mice. "We will release them at the highest point, and follow the Rite Master's lead across the Gauntlet."

Dragomir hoists his backpack up on his shoulders, and asks, "Any questions?"

Ada fidgets with her clothing, with her bracelets, with anything she can set her fingers to. She's wearing slightly heavier clothes than usual, complete with a canteen on her hip. Two of them, actually, one quite distinct from the other. One hand often strays to the Fetish she's carrying, as if she's afraid it will go tumbling loose and disappear at any moment.

"No sir," she says licking her lips. She should have brought chapstick.

Journey awaits the Pack the Sept Ritual area, mushing some concoction in a mortar and pestle, awaiting the Pack to come. Upon their approach he points in a circle about him, "Stand here in a circle. this compound, each will apply to their eyelids, and then as one, you will move across the Gauntlet into the Umbra. Merlin will be there and place your Pack on the path to covenant with Merlin and the Pack. Make ready for this." He continues mushing the smelly mixture until everyone is in place.

Brooke heeds her alpha's call, and stands before him ready for the ritual. "I am ready to follow your lead, and bring honor to Merlin, Gaia, the Sept, and our Pack." She has a pack with her, and a canteen. When they arrive at the Sept Ritual area, she follows the Elder's instructions and humbles herself before him as she listens and makes herself ready for this important next step.

Halona has no questions. She doesn't fidget. She has no supplies. She sits, in her lupus form, tall and straight, ready. There may be just the faintest waggle of her tail here and there out of eagerness. When Journey directs, she moves over to stand in the circle, briefly nosing her Alpha and then each of the others as she passes them before she comes to her spot.

Dragomir leads the long hike up the mountain, and upon arriving and hearing Journey's explanation he nods and arranges the pack to sit in the semi-circle by moon phase around the circle - him opposite to Journey. Ada and Brooke to either side of him, respectfully. Mary-sue next to Brooke, and Halona next to Ada. He lowers into position, smearing the mixture over his eyes as Journey has instructed when given the opportunity.

Ada listens attentively, then nods. She knows it'll be a little bit hard for Halona to do the application of the eye marks in her birth skin, so, unless Journey or Halona ( or someone ) interdicts, she'll help the wolf out. Either way, she'll do herself next, applying the mixture in little crescent moon shapes that are far too deliberately done to be sheer coincidence. She bows her head, readying for the journey in solemn silence, perhaps meditation. Who knows with Theurges.

Journey nods, passing the concoction around. It smells.. strong and not good. Still, on it goes and Journey gestures to the center of the circle, "Link up. hands, paws whatever." He says, letting the Pack connect with one another, forming a chain, and nods. "And." He says, "Step sideways." He instructs. As the gauntlet passes over them, the gunk on their eyes becomes warm and tingles as the Pack moves into the Umbra to meet Merlin and embark on their quest. Such things are best left between Pack and Totem.

"Good luck kids." He says, then starts cleaning up.

Dragomir reaches out for Brooke and Ada's hands, grasping them firmly and the pack is linked he growls with excitement, "Together we step." (presumably a shiny surface is near) and he focuses his spiritual self through the reflection into the Near Umbra. Keeping his hands clasped with his pack mates so they can pull each other through the gauntlet.

Upon the other side, he looks about to check to make sure everyone is accounted for and the pack is together still.

Brooke takes her turn with the concoction and smears it over her eyes as well. She passes it to Mary-Sue next. When instructed, she takes Dragomir's hand, and waits for Mary-Sue to take her hand. Once they are all connected, and take their step together into the Umbra, she looks first to her Alpha and then to the rest of the pack to be sure they are together and ready to continue on this quest.

Mary Sue follows the instructions in smearing over her eyes. She carefully holds Ada's hand when offered so as not to accidently crush anything as that would be a terrible start to a quest. Once they're together in the Umbra Mary looks around quickly. She assumes the pack made it through but her gaze is now seeking threats or any unexpected challenges. The young Fenris thrums with rage here in the Umbra salivating with the prospect of quests and challenges to overcome.

Ada takes Drago's hand with a nervous smile, and exchanges a short look with Mary-Sue as they link together. Crossing the Gauntlet for her is like touching the void, reaching through her third eye and pulling herself inside out. The bubble of reality pops and she snaps to alertness in the land of spirit.

Halona lets Ada smear the stuff on her eyes, tail flicking just once. For her link up, she offers an ear and a tail and she steps when she's commanded to. Once they're across, she retrieves her tail and turns slowly in a full circle, checking out the area, nose lifted, eyes sharp and alert as she waits for more.

Dragomir smiles once everyone is across safely, and then he shifts into Hispo and growls and barks at them all, <<If we are worthy.. Merlin has left us clues.. now we must find them and follow them to meet him.>> The wolf's white head reaches back, and he emits a howl to announce their arrival. <<Stay close.. work together.. let's find Merlin brothers and sisters.>>

Brooke nods to Dragomir and follows her alphas lead, shifting into Hispo. <<Lead the way, my alpha.>> She pads up next to his side, and looks to the others to join them, ready for the next part of this noble quest to find Merlin.

Ada breaks the pattern, but only just. She shifts up into Crinos, a form just a tad more ungainly, but one she chooses for a variety of reasons. The most obvious is that the tongue lends itself more toward a vocal speech pattern than the wolf forms. If she's going to be talking, she'd rather do it with her tongue than her body. If she's going to fight, she'd rather hands than paws. <<Higher,>> Cloud-Control suggests. <<Where Merlin will be able to see more, sit safe on a high perch. Where sky meets earth.>>

As the pack work together, heading 'higher' into the Near Umbral plane to chase Merlin - there comes small signs of the spiritual spoor left by Merlin to follow. The pack runs together for what may seem like a long time, finally lead a tree overlooking a cliff. At the top of the tree is what is left of a nest, the rest seems to have fallen off the side. A large great horned owl is perched nearby the nest, with its beak sifting through the nest and tearing at the branches.

The silvery white wolf comes to slow down, turning its head towards the others in the pack to see their reactions. His eyes return to the nest, and he chuffs lightly, <<The spoor led us here.>>

Mary shifts from the huge Hispo that she followed with the pack as they hunted and up to Glabro as she watches the owl. She glances to the Dragomir wolf and nods at the Owl that is rooting through what they might need to search. "Talk, make submit, or chase?" the way she vibrates and flexes her clawed fingers indicates her vote on the matter.

Cloud-Control follows the pack, moving a little slower than the others due to her chosen form. Or maybe it is to just have a nice fan of body-wolves out in front of her. She comes bounding up when they slow, and skids to a halt, surveying the scene. OK, just on appearances? That *looks* bad, but.

<<Is it tainted?>> She asks her Alpha in a low rumbly whisper. <<If not, we should probably chat with it before anything else. Journey-rhya would not appreciate us leaping in where an owl is concerned.>>

Hushed Blaze follows her Alpha and when he slows and points to the nest and the owl, she steps around him a few steps to see it from another angle. <<We must be careful, and respect Merlin. If it is tainted, this is our first test to be sure we catch and purify this raptor. We should try to speak with it first.>>

Halona steps a little closer, looking up at the bird, her head tipped wolfishly to one side. <<It is beautiful, regardless. Hello, mighty Owl.>> She can't sense Wyrm, herself, so for now, she just errs on the side of respect.

The silvery white wolf shakes his head and chuffs, << I do not sense the presence of the Wyrm. >> and he will sit back on his haunches and lifts his head to look around, trying to get a better idea of what's going on. <<Circle the tree.>>

The large great horned owl lifts its head from the nest it was rutting around inside of and looks over towards the wolves. As Like the Wind moves closer, the bird lifts its head to peer towards her, head coiling to the side clockwise until almost inverted to look at her. Perhaps it does not understand her.

The silvery white wolf looks towards Skadi's and barks lightly, "Hushed Blaze is right.. we cannot harm this Owl if we are to win Merlin's favor.. " Though Halona will also notice, that is a falcon's nest when she gets closer, and not an owl's.

The owl has obviously noticed them, that's for sure. There's not going to be any element of surprise lost by saying hello, and so, that is exactly what Cloud-Control does as they gather around the tree. She keeps her posture loose, as relaxed as a Crinos can be, and looks at the spirit with a respectful bow of her head. -Honored Owl,- she says, speaking in Spirit Tongue. She gestures to Halona. -She was paying you a greeting, but she does not know how to speak in the Shadow.-

-We,` she issues another gesture, encapsulating the entire pack, -Travel beneath Merlin's sky, seeking to right a grave wrong.-

Mary-Sue begins pacing back and forth on one side of the tree. "There is more than one way to establish dominance." but she lets the Theurge of the nascent pack do their duty without interference on her part.

Hushed Blaze moves further to the side, watching the owl and helping to form a circle around it. Once in place, she sits back and watches carefully and pays attention to details. Listening to Cloud-Control speak to the Owl, she is impressed by her choice of words. <<Good Job, Cloud-Control. We honor this Owl until he does something to make us concerned or take action.>>

Halona pauses as the owl takes notice of her. She squints a little and looks more closely at the nest. <<That is a falcon's nest,>> she wuffs quietly, moving around the circle quietly, saying nothing more for now.

The great horned owl turns its head back upright, and then it spins again as the wings unruffle for a moment and its gaze fixates on Ada with some recognition to the speech.

- What grave wrong to seek and find, at root of tallest tree? Is Falcon's brood to be confined, So why would you seek me? -

The owl hoots and whirrs, for those that do not have Spirit Speech. The bird of prey steps along the branch, a half step away from the nest to peer around. It's head twisting completely around to see that he is surrounded, before coming back to rest properly.

The silvery white wolf barks lowly, <<This is Cloud-Control's domain.. we follow her wisdom. In the meantime, sniff around.. see if we can find any trace of Merlin. If that is Merlin's nest, why would it leave it unattended?">>

Cloud-Control glances at Halona and Hushed Blaze, managing a quick, if distracted smile that looks kind of weird on a Crinos muzzle. <<OK,>> she says to Halona. Then she resettles her attention on the owl.

-Noble sprit, we do not wish with you to fight, we follow only the Falcon's flight.-

She quirks her head in another, slighter bow. She deliberately turns her attention to the nest, then says, ~I feel as though we may be seeking the same prey. Owls are far too wise to seek conflict without reason.-

Hushed Blaze stares at the nest after hearing it is a falcon's nest. <<Could Merlin want us to find him? Or is Merlin in danger? We must check every detail we can. Can someone see what is in the nest now that the owl has stepped out?>> She sniffs around the tree, looking for any other clues.

The silvery white wolf listens, seeming to be able to understand the owl as well. He chuffs towards Ada, <<Confined?.. what does Owl mean by confined?>>

Hushed Blaze looks close and finds feathers, and looks to the others with concern. <<Between what I have found and what the Owl has said, I think Merlin has been taken...bird napped. We must find him! No further harm can come to him!>> A low growl comes from her. <<Who would dare do this?>>

Halona lifts her nose slightly then snuffles the feathers and then circles a few times here and there and then growls quietly. <<If these belong to Merlin.>> She snuffles around here and there, circling wider and wider and then she snuffs the air a few times. <<I think I've picked up his trail. Come, Family.>>

Cloud-Control looks at her Alpha. Before she can speak, her Tribe mate pipes up, her attention turns to Hushed Blaze. Pointing, Cloud-Control says, <<I believe that she is on the right track.>> Hearing Halona's words, her ears flicker. She gives Owl one last, respectful bow of her head, then turns to trail after Halona. <<Follow that wolf!>>

The pack follows the trail, to find Merlin waiting for them. The falcon-brood inclines its beak in their direction and offers, <<You all worked together to track me down. You showed restraint at the sight of another bird of prey. You listened as respected each other equally as a pack should. You are all worthy to be packed, and I will bind you as my Children together so you may embrace my power and draw upon me for guidance. Go now, Terminal Velocity.. you are recognized as my pack.>>