2019.08.27 Rune Casting

Rune Casting
Aaryn casts the runes for Zyler .
IC Date	8/27/2019
IC Time	Morning
Players	Aaryn, Zyler, Royan, Theron, Micah Starnes
Location	The Longhouse Yard
Prp/Tp	Zyler's Quest
Spheres	Garou, Gaian

As Zyler arrives at the longhouse this morning, the skies are heavy with clouds. In fact, if one did not know the weather of San Diego better, it might seem that rainfall was imminent. Just past the stonework pillars naming these lands, "Ravenscar", there is a clearing with several newly-erected buildings. The largest of these, of course, is the Longhouse; Home to the pack known as Frostbite. Just to the left of this large structure is an Oak tree, the sort of ancient tree with branches that tangle outward, reaching for something unseen. Beneath this Oak tree is a stone firepit and round wooden table. The firepit smolders with the scent of juniper and cedar.

xxxxxStanding just under the tree, looking out towards the path's mouth, is Aaryn. She is dressed in a long white linen dress with long sleeves, another shorter green dress over it, held by straps that are fastened with pewter ravens. Her hair is down, tangled with braids held in place by tiny pieces of carved bones. She stands with her hands clasped in front of her, as if she had been waiting on Zyler. Upon closer inspection, she wears two white paint marks on her face, on either side of her chin like painted tusks. Her eyes are lined in a dark grey paint./font>

xxxxxAnd as if by cue, as if there was no other time but now that he was supposed to arrive and be here, from the sky comes the raven. That large black bird with its mighty wing-span spiralling down. There is no great flutter of wings. There is no loud ruckus at his arrival. No, the large bird simply glides in from the sky, taking a path that has him passing once above Aaryn before he makes a graceful, silent landing in the great oak tree. Wings fold up along his body and to this, he leans forward a bit before he lets out a loud, drawn out Kraaa that rings twice from his beak. A greeting, perhaps, to the Spirits. To Zyler. To the clouds in the sky.

xxxxxMicah is nearby, rolling out some rain barrels, just in case. He looks like he has recently had a shower himself, his hair is damp and brushed back smooth against his scalp. The roan pit bull seems to be following him around, albeit in the umbra and not in the physical realm. When he realizes that they have company, he sets the rain barrel he is currently moving aside, dusts his hands off and heads over to where Ryn has been waiting. There, he picks up a set of bongo drums with an owl decorated on the side and begins to settle into a comfortable sitting position. The dog, in the umbra, finds a good place to stand guard over the whole affair.

xxxxxZyler walks along silently, black trench coat floating lightly with those steps as he approaches that place he's been at once before. Black gaze contemplates those who are there before him, the caw causing him to glance upward at the chatty bird as well for a moment. He rolls a shoulder and walks towards where Aaryn waits for him, stopping across from her with that simple look. He showed up. That was something, right?

xxxxxAaryn smiles, his effort not being lost on her. "Welcome, Zyler," she says and takes a step back towards the table,gently motioning for him to follow. "There is a tradition our people practice," she says, "that I hope you will accept as a symbol of our good will towards you." She motions toward a seat and slides a wooden tray towards Zyler. There's a fresh loaf of black bread on the tray, still hot from baking. Aaryn picks up a ceramic bowl, takes a pinch of salt from the bowl and sprinkles it over the bread. She holds the bowl out to Zyler, "we stand equal here, as such, will you please salt the bread?" she asks.

xxxxxMicah waits for a signal from Aaryn, but when she gives it, he will begin softly drumming a beat. Until then, he simply waits, respectfully quiet and not 'mouthy' as Zyler has come to expect. Occassionally his lips do seem to move over words spoken to himself or... someone not physically present.

xxxxxThe Raven shifts slowly to the side on the branch up in the tree, changing his vantage point just a little bit. The bird has his eyes upon the proceedings and, as if knowing the gravity of the situation, choses to remain quiet after those initial loud calls. He does not remain still, however, his head moving as his perspective changes, his eyes darting from place to place to take in the details.

xxxxxZyler studies Aaryn at her beckoning. He follows along as requested, walking over to study the bread, then glance at Micah. Huh. Not mouthy this time? Facinating. Looking back to Aaryn, there is a moment's hesitation there, before he would reach out, taking that salt to sprinkle it across the bread as directed. He's not interjecting, watching closely as Aaryn leads that rite.

xxxxxAaryn nods to Zyler and offers him another tusked smile and a bow of her head that actually seems respectful. "Zyler," she begins, "in order to maybe give us some insight as to where to start in helping you find out why you were sent here, I'd like to cast your runes. Will you allow it?"

xxxxxOminous. Thought-provoking? Just plain eerie? The raven lets out a long, deep and strange sounding kraaa to those words uttered by Aaryn, as if the significance of what she said was more then it sounded like. He does just that one, long kraa though, and no more. He falls silent, watching still.

xxxxxMicah beats the drum softly, watching and listening to Aaryn and Zyler. In particular, he watches how Zyler reacts to each request, trying, and failing, to figure out the enigma that is Zyler's moods and decision amking.

xxxxxZyler ignores the bird for the moment. The drums from Micah adding into that mood. He contemplates Aaryn for a long moment, face unreadable as he stares at her steadily. Finally, he gives a firm nod of his head in acceptance. He's not crossed his arms or anything. So it seems he's not necessarily hostile to all of this. But there is a definite feel of wariness.

xxxxxAaryn moves to take a seat at the table, down from Micah and across from a seat to which she indicates for Zyler. She slides a cloth bag off her belt and hold it in her hands for a few moments. She would give Zyler time to decide to accept or reject the offered seat across from her as she exhales and settles her shoulders, letting her gaze drift momentarily into a place beyond where they are physically gathered. The drums continue on for a moment, extending time. Finally, Aaryn blinks and inhales again. She looks upwards towards the Raven, letting its black eyed gaze inspect her before abruptly upturning the bag of runes on the table. Of the pieces of carved bone, 5 are upright...

xxxxxAs Aaryn upturns the bag, Micah gives a roll to the beat and hard *thump* for emphasis and maybe a bit of drama. Then, after a small pause, he begins anew, the beat slightly different but still simple. The drumming in an accompaniment after all, not the show.

xxxxxWhen Aaryn upturns the bag, the raven spreads his large wings widely. He balances like that a few moments, casting a shadow over Aaryn and the runes before his wings fold back up together. His beak clicks in the air once, twice..

xxxxxZyler listens and watches, finally taking that seat offered to him. He simply waits, quite patiently. He is a theurge, afterall, he recognizes that these things can take time to get handles and so he lets Aaryn do what she will. Focused himself, but still only watching, to see the results.

xxxxxTheron hasnt moved at all through all of this. He sits to the side, his sword across his lap in its scabbard. His gaze a mix of intense thought amd curiousity as the ancient practice of reading the runes begins. To a Fenrir hailing from the Sept of the Troll Slayers, this is a way of life.

xxxxxAaryn places a fingertip on a rune that simply looks like an arrow. She slides it toward Zyler. "You are represented by the God, Tyr," she says with a bit of a wry smile. "Tyr was brave enough to put his hand in the mouth of Fenris to do what had to be done. I respect that you are allowing yourself to be surrounded by the Fenrir. You are brave enough to trust us in what you seek, even though you may be wary of the consequences."

xxxxxAnd when she presents the Teiwaz rune, the large raven leans his head down to knock his beat at the bark of the tree four times. Its loud, audible taps. The raven then lifts his head once more, peering down at the rune. Watching. Still silent, apart from the other sounds.

xxxxxMicah allows a wry smile to creep across his face, but he doesn't say what he is thinking, out loud where anyone can hear it in any case. He continues to drum.

xxxxxZyler studied her closely, watching her silently as she'd provide that rune that represents him. He nods a little in answer. Accepting her statement about what it means as he continues to watch the casting of the runes and what they forecast.

xxxxxTheron smiles just slightly, his gaze remaining on Aaryn, watching the runecaster more than Zyler. Absently his fingers glide along his sword, petting his favorite weapon.

xxxxxThe next piece of bone to be slid over toward Zyler looks a bit like a 'Y' with a line parting the center. "Algiz," Aaryn says thoughtfully. "So... A journey. One that appears to be fruitful for you..." Still, there's a curious look on her face as she regards this rune.

xxxxxMicah furrows his brow as he drums, quietly ruminating to himself. He did, after all, offer his services as a tracker and hunter. He remains quiet, no wishing to disturb his sister's concentration.

xxxxxA shift, Theron moves the sword from one leg to the other, just a shift for comfort. His gaze watching with interest but understanding the runes only as far as Aaryn tells them.

xxxxxAaryn glances up a Zyler with furrowed brow. "Something about protection.... Either someone stepping up to offer you protection along this journey of yours or..." another pause, "you taking up the shield for another." She regards him closely, but then turns back to the next bone.

xxxxxCommon Raven remains still for the time being, apart from his head. It is difficult for a bird to not move its head, especially a bird that is looking at so many things as this one is. But now, he keeps quiet. No knocking on the bark.

xxxxxZyler continues to listen, watch closely. He stares at the rune as Aaryn explains and nods slowly. It's only now, finally after this bit of time has passed that Zyler would speak for the first time in this visit. "I hunt for what I am to protect." It seems straight forward. His voice is steady enough as he continues that contemplation.

xxxxxAaryn watches Zyler, accepting his statement before pulling the next bone away from the pile and sliding it to him. It looks like a 'Z'... Until she slowly turns it the 'correct' way. And then, it resembles a lightning bolt. "This is the rune that represents why you were called to Prospect," she says. "Or, 'pushed'? As you call it, perhaps? It's the rune, 'Sol'. Or, sun." She muses over it, "Son?" She questions, "Perhaps a birthright?"

xxxxxThere's a shadow of wing cover that adds to the cloudiness of the day as the rather Uncommon Raven spreads his wings in silence over those gathered below him. Regardless of the rune that is cast, there is no sun to be found on this day.

xxxxxZyler studies it, pursing his lips, then just shakes his head a little. "Lightning. Grandfather Thunder. Shadow Lord. Yes? Yes. Something tied to it. Strong. Yes. Pushed. Told. Went with. Yes?"

xxxxxAaryn studies Zyler a moment, listening to his words, but also trying to grasp his intention... What's not being said, in body language, in what his eyes and movements say. She looks at the rune and turns it, under her finger... Upright, then tilted. The way it came out of the bag... She pauses and looks towards Micah, giving an actual waring growl at him for some reason. When she returns her attention to the runes, however, the frustration is absent from her features. "Perhaps..." She would nod to Zyler. "Perhaps the reason you were sent here is strongly linked to your heritage?" She'd nod, "let's keep that in mind, then." And then she tugs the slanted 'F' out and slides it toward Zyler. "Asa," she says, looking up at Zyler. "It appears you have something very strong following in your wake. Something that would see you fail. Something.... Old? From the Old Country?" She looks back up to Zyler.

xxxxxIt's subtle in most situations, but in this one, it's quite obvious. That mention of Old has his entire body tense, hands ball into fist as he stares at the rune. Hard. Every ounce of that glare that if it was any stronger might ash that rune itself. "Yes. I know it well." Whatever byplay happen between Micah and Aaryn was simply ignored. His focus, of course, was on that reading.

xxxxxAaryn studies Zyler for a long moment, her forehead creasing with unspoken concern. She lets the gravity of that remain as she pulls the final bone forward. This one looks a bit like a tree branch, with two arms slanted up. "Feoh," she says. She lets the ambiguous name hang in the air in a heavy silence before she says, solemnly. "The cattle. A sacrifice to be made." She inhales and regards Zyler directly, "Zyler. For what it is worth, I gave my word, as a Godhi, to the Elder that I would walk alongside you in this. I intend to keep that promise." She lifts a hand to pause before adding, "perhaps one day I, too, will need help walking out of a storm. I am happy to accept your aide in kind as payment, if that time ever comes. Do you still accept my help?"

xxxxxZyler eyes the rune for a long moment in silent contemplation. He frowns, then shakes his head slightly. Attention shifts to Aaryn then and pause at her hand held up, while studying her. Finally he tilts his head to the side. "Seem to think I refuse help. Seem to think I want to be alone. That's not truth. I'm Garou. I don't work alone. I work with pack. Have to find those worthy to help." He tilts his head up a little towards her, eyeing her. "Friend. Forign. Not normal. Yes? Shadow Lord taught there are no friends. Just users. Payment for any aid. Now. later. It always comes due." He'd study her for a moment more before giving a slight nod. "I have already accepted your help. I have already offered payment. That does not change. Will not change. I stick by my word when given. Yes?"

xxxxxAaryn nods and seems to relax a bit. Perhaps those words needed to be spoken again... Here? Now? She smiles as she stands and gathers a metal cup. "We offer you the Hospitality of the Get," she says as she pours a bit of chilled red wine and sits it in front of Zyler before following suit with a cup for herself, Micah and Theron. "Until you have succeeded in this quest, you are welcome here, with us... Among us. This is no time to be without a pack." She breaks the bread, giving equal pieces to thise present, starting with Zyler.

xxxxxZyler watches the food and wine, eyes narrowed slightly in quiet contemplation. He eyes Aaryn for a moment, that draws into two. Finally. Slowly, would he pick up that wine, swirling it lightly in the cup, inhaling it's aroma, before delicately sipping it.