22.09.30:Portent Stone

Portent Stone
Reno crafting his first Fetish
IC Date	2022:09:30
IC Time	18:00
Players	Reno, Iris, Rhapsody, Sean
Location	Caern - Ritual Clearing
Prp/Tp	Finding the Way Home
Spheres	Gaian Garou
Theme Song	Cool Water - Bob Nolan

The rite of cleansing surely got done this morning or something, so hooray for steps to skip! Once they get back to the caern and head on down the path to the ritual zone, Iris heads over to the edge of the clearing and goes through some packs left sitting there. "If you ever discover at the last minute that you're out of something simple, you can probably find what you need over here. Incense, dried herbs, dishes, some stones, that sorta thing. When you set this up, go back to that unfortunate date analogy. Like dinner and candles doesn't work because it's a spirit, but you get the jist."

Reno nods. "So I need some petals and things to juggle." He remembers. "I don't think a bucket would be nice enough for a vessel for the water." He goes over to one of the altars and it's indented. "Would using the altar be enough or should I find something else?" He asks.

Uhhhhh..." Iris says, searching through stuff to try and find Reno some options, "Well there's that, this, or this! Pick whichever thing you think it would appriciate!" She holds up a brass bowl with some scalloping around the rim, and a glass bowl with a marbled finish. "Light on the decoration, but you've got some options there. Here, have a look and a feel and decide which fits the bill best for you, and I'll go get you some clean water. Dress your stage up a bit!"

Reno takes both bowls and holds them, examining them closely. When Iris comes back, he's chosen the glass bowl. He's also got some rose petals in a pile and a couple of candles at the corners of the altar. He's also picked up several pieces of rock crystal and have them sitting on the edge as well. Three of them clumped together near the front too. He's standing in front of it, examining his handywork.

It takes a hot minute, but Iris arrives with a jug of stream water, and a bottle of wine held awkwardly in both hands, with a little snifter glass held in her lips. "Mmmm!" she says to alert Reno of her presence and get his help with the heavy jug and what not. Once he does helpful things and her mouth is glass free she says, "Hey that looks nice!" with a head nod towards the altar.

Of course he helps, once he hears her return. He grins, "Wine for us or the elemental?" He teases. But he takes the wine and glass, pouring it and setting it next to the bowl. "Hopefully the candles will cause the crystals to sparkle." He says to Iris. "I saved three to juggle with, if needed, and rose petals to put on the water." It's several different colors too. He looks at things and smiles. "Thank you."

"Both!" Iris says with a shrug and a grin. She and Reno are over by an altar that's been decorated with a marbled glass bowl in an indent, a little pile of pretty rocks, a little pile of rose petals, there's candles lit, I think incense is burning, it's a good old fashioned summoning about to happen! He's got a fat jug of water, she's got a bottle of wine and a teeny little glass, that she's setting down. "OH! Hang on, hang on..." she says, and runs back towards the free-to-use ritual stuff over on the side lines to dig dig dig through things, eventually coming back with a little bitty glass dish. She sets that upside down in the middle of Reno's water bowl, with lots of room between it and the bigger bowl's edge. "Put your crystals up on that, get the water right up to the edge, and that'll get the refracted light right down in the water where it can play with it!"

Yes, Reno does that! He sets the bowl and crystals up. He sets the crystals on the top of the bowl. He then pours the bowl full of water till it's all but running over the edge. He looks the altar over one last time, putting the rose petals in the water as well. He lights the candles and sets them so the light in the crystals refracts into the water. He pulls a pouch off his belt and opens it. He reverently takes out a palm sized piece of blue quartz that's been carved with runes and inlaid with zinc. He sets it in front of the bowl, which lets the candle light dance in the quartz's prism as well. He takes a step back and looks at it.

Rhapsody quietly enters tonight, with a basket in her hands. It is full of some jars with dried herbs and leaves of plants in them, a bundle of branches, some assorted flowers, a bag of something, and a few bottles of soil and various other liquids. Thankfully all is labeled, as she start to remove them all and put them into the free-to-use ritual stuff. Always a good thing to replenish and share when she can. "Good evening, and blessing on you both. Just bringing a few things to share."

Iris waves to her tribemate when she comes in doing helpful Theurge things, "Hey! Reno's puttin together a fetish, you wanna stay and watch? And like, be back up if things go super wrong?" She gives Reno's set up an approving nod, then turns to put her hands on his shoulders and say, "Okay boy, it's game time now. Remember what I told you about the spirit you're summoning, and when you're beginning your negotiations, be respectful but equal, be *honest* and from the heart, and make sure it knows what it's signing up for. You're gonna do great! Take a deep breath and get centered." And with that last pep talk given, she steps back and out of the way, taking the opened bottle of wine with her.

Looking over, Reno bows his head to Rhapsody. "Blessing upon you as well." Reno says to her. He gives Mercy a look at the 'super wrong' comment. He takes a deep breath and listens to her. "They're playful, like simple gifts, maybe even do some juggling for it." He lets Iris walk away and he turns back to the altar. He folds his hands together in front of him, settling himself into a meditative, focused state.

Rhapsody looks over what they are doing and smiles, "Aaah, summoning. You looking for water elementals? They are my favorite. Absolutely love it when I sing to them. I'll be here, ready to help if needed."

Once centered, Reno takes a deep breath and lifts his head. He looks to Rhapsody. He bows his head, "Thank you. Hoping I get this right." He says, with a little humility. "But it sounds as if water elementals are easy to deal with."

Iris settles herself down well out of the way but still close enough to see, hear, and be of use if absolutely needed. She pats the ground beside her for Rhapsody, has a sip of the wine from the bottle and passes it to the other Fury if she's interested. She says nothing, but she looks confident in Reno.

Rhapsody takes a seat next to Irisa, ready to watch. The bottle offered, she will take a sip and enjoy the show! She's projecting all the good vibes toward this summoning!

Not flashy, the Stargazer begins the ritual. He lights the candles, waffs the incense over the water and steps back, head bowed a bit in meditation. He begins the summoning, softly chanting a mantra lifting his voice to cross into the umbra. It's soft at first, but soon his voice grows in confidence and courage as he calls out, in the spirit's language, asking it to come and hear his plea.

It takes a minute for anything to happen, you gotta work your spell before it gets out there and finds the ear its aimed at. But after a little while the water in the bowl begins to ripple and move, a bubble rising up that slides around the bowl's glass island with the crystals atop it. Candle light sends little rainbow patches through the water and the rose petals floating atop it swirl gently and make the light spots flicker in and out. The burble of water laughter comes from the bowl, the spirit having arrived in a good mood and just taking a moment to explore the water bowl and play with its offerings a bit.

Rhapsody and Iris are sitting out of the way and sharing a bottle of wine while Reno is over at an altar decorated with a bowl of water and those above mentioned accessories. There's incense and candles, and a teeny little glass of wine in offering for the spirit, as well as a blue quartz disk with etchings and inlayed zinc set before the spirit's bowl.

The chanting continues, Reno moves towards the altar and picks up the three crystals on the altar and steps back in a fluid movement. With the sound of laughter, he starts to juggle the stones, his mantra taking on a light and playful tone. He doesn't stop, waiting to see the spirits reaction.

The water rises up in a fluid yet blobby state, taking on only the most vague impression of a face with a rose petal stuck to it. As Reno juggles, the face slides down into the bowl again, and an arch of water rises up from one side, over the island of crystal bits, and down into the other side of the bowl. The arch flows with a supernatural grace that an average fountain couldn't manage on its own, sending the rose petals up and over to show the Stargazer that it can juggle too. Gentle, almost childish laughter that sounds like the tinkle of a zen fountain comes from the bowl, having fun playing a bit of copy-cat with Reno. Iris leans to really, really quietly and not at all interruptingly tell Rhapsody, "Everybody loves juggling!" while sharing vino.

There a soft laugh from Reno. An honest laugh. He sways a bit from side to side, mirroring the Elemental. "Welcome." Reno says, speaking to the spirit in it's language. He bows his head to the spirit, careful with his juggling. "Thank you for gracing me with your presence, great spirit of water!" Reno says humbly to the Elemental. He watches and listens to the spirit. He's in no hurry, nervous, but staying focused and calm.

Rhapsody giggles softly, "It certainly is entertaining! Water elementals would love that." She is all smiles, enjoying this. Never a dull moment when summoning an elemental and providing entertainment for them all!

Sean comes wandering through and pauses to lean quietly and watch what the hell's going on

Oooooh, it's a great spirit! Well in that case it might as well complicate stuff up. The arch twists around, a small and delicate spray is added, rose petals are blooping around in a twisty water slide and the occasional little rainbow speck is flung out from all the reflective power the altar has right now. Betcha cant do THAT, wolf-man! ~What do you need?~ It's direct and to the point, but in an innocent and not at all rude sort of way, happy to be here and to play, but just as happy to help out someone that makes it such a nice gift, too. And some smarts helps, no one ever just summons a spirit for a play date. Iris waves down low to try and get Sean's attention without interrupting Reno, to invite him over to the Judgey Theurge club. She waggles the bottle of wine in case she needs to sweeten the deal.

Allowing the crystals to land in his hand, Reno sets them on the altar. He offers up some gnosis as a gift as well to the spirit. "I can make almost mimick my form to look like a wave has passed over me." Reno teases back to the spirit. He sets the crystals down. "I humble myself before you to ask for a small favor."

Rhapsody offers a seat next to them to Sean, as they watch Reno talk to the spirit. Where is the popcorn guys??

Physically bonding to a fire spirit makes Sean's affiliation with water, a little weaker than it might normally be, but he's amused, regardless, so he wanders in Iris's direction and plops himself down beside her.

The water giggles as though it'd like to see that, but favors are being requested and it's in good enough cheer that it opts to listen to business before pleasure. ~I am a great spirit, I can do many favors!~ For all that it sounds like a childish thing, it's probably not nearly so young, and even gafflings have some considerable oomph, so it's 50/50 as to whether it's just playing with Reno's earlier words or not. Iris passes the wine to Sean and leans around Rhapsody to really quietly fill him in on what's going on, "Making a fetish for path finding."

With a bow, Reno says, "I seek places that can be as deep and mysterious as your depths." Reno says to the spirit. "I craft a fetish that mirros a gift from Ruatma. To find guidance in your reflections." Reno offers, still stroking the Elemental's ego but speaking the truth to it.

Rhapsody watches and listens as Reno speaks to the spirit. She nods as he seems truthful and giving to the spirit. As Sean joins them, she bows her head to the Athro, but keeps quiet.

Sean takes the wine and has a nice swig, then passes it on. He cocks his head a little to the side to watch and you know goddamn good and well that he's criticizing every single move, gesture, THOUGHT. But no pressure Reno. Nope

The water elemental considers for a moment, swishing in its bowl and really thinking the whole thing over, occasionally popping that vague face form up so Reno knows he's getting eyeballed, so to speak. Eventually it slides up from the bowl and shapes itself into something almost but not quiet human looking. Something about the shape of the watery limbs, or maybe it's the length, possibly something in the posture? There's uncanny valley vibe all over it. The hue of the water darkens as it reflects the light away from itself, still transparent but more remeniscent of that deep earth water, pools sheltered in caverns that have never been seen, rivers that have never seen the sun, and holding secrets no one's ever heard. When it speaks again, its voice is older, colder, not unfriendly, just different, channeling the vibe of a distant watery world and the mysterious patron of watery things. ~You may try to bind me,~ it says, ~But I demand calm if I am to be heard from within this vessel.~ Its consent given, its liquid posture shifts ever so slightly in preparation for the battle of wills before its binding.

There is nothing but focus from Reno. To him, there's only him and the elemental. He bows and gestures to the vessel. "I will spend time in meditation, so my mind will be still like a calm lake while I listen to your visions." Reno says. He bows to the spirt at the offer of binding. "May you find this vessel pleasing." He says to the spirit. Then Reno begins the contest, taking and making a gesture of swirling water and pushing it towards the vessel.

Rhapsody loves this part. She reaches to see if the wine bottle is available, and if she finds it she'll take a drink and hand it back. But otherwise, she's immersed in the ritual taking place.

One of the elemental's oddly shaped hands reforms itself into something resembling a sword, or maybe a liquid icecicle. There's no attack or anything, it just holds itself calm and still, merely making a point that if Reno fails, it's going to gently, playfully stab him. The contest itself is all a matter of will and spirit so there's no amazing fireworks or flying face kicks to see. Still, there's clearly a battle of sorts going on between Stargazer and Water spirit, its watery form rippling as if thumped now and again before it suddenly lurches forward and spills over the edge of the water bowl in a sploooosh, taking some of the offered water with it as it washes over the fetish vessel and possibly also onto Reno's toes. The spirit is gone, the feeling or aura of it shifted to the quartz disk instead where it shifts and moves inside, making itself comfortable.

Sean remains still and quiet, running his perfectly normal thumb over his gold-etched finger as he watches. His attention shifts when the spirit moves and he nods a little, waiting for his turn with the wine

It's a good thing Reno's hardheaded! He seems completely focused. Even when the water splashes over, he doesn't seem to let up quite yet. Not till the spirits seems to have shifted does he finally stop. He takes a step towards the altar and drops to his knees before it, head bowed. Either in reverence, exhaustion, or both.

Rhapsody sees the glint from Sean's finger in the corner of her eye and turns quickly to look at it and make sure she is seeing it correctly. There is an appreciation and question on her face with it, but she is not going to interupt the ritual.

When the spirit is pulled into the fetish vessel, Iris throws her hands up in a silent 'Woooo!' for the success, having a celebratory wine sip and passing it down the line. She'd actually cheer, but like you gotta give a bro a second before you start whipping out the congratulations! Don't wanna just startle a guy like that. "I think that went pretty well!" she says quietly to her fellow mystics.

Sean catches the movement of Rhapsody out of the corner of his eye and he lifts his hand, holding it out for her to examine, though he never quite looks away from what's going on. Also! His eyebrows have more or less grown back in and he has a light shadow of a beard.

It's a moment or two. Reno murmurs a soft prayer to the spirit and again, feeds it Gnosis inside the vessel. He stands up and reaches to touch the quartz. He picks it up and turns to Iris and Rhapsody. He blinks, and Sean. He looks a little haggard, but none the worse for wear. But then he wasn't summoning a sun, so maybe it's a little different. He holds it out in presentation, "The Portent Stone." He says to the Mystical Judges.

"Very well done, Reno!" Iris says, and points at wherever the wine bottle's ended up, saying, "Good presentation all around. Have a victory sip and we'll clean up the ritual stuff once you've caught your breath and stuff. It'll take your new tool a minute to get settled down and useable, but it should be comfortable by morning.

Sean nods a little. "Now you just have to purify it and let it settle in and you're good. Good work. Here pretty soon, you'll have your very first fetish." He grins at Rhapsody. "Athro challenge. I'll tell you all about it." He holds up the bottle to Reno and lets Rhapsody continue to admire his beautiful finger.

Reno bows deeply to the Theurges. He does take the wine though and a healthy chug. He hands the bottle back and takes a deep breath. He looks to Sean and nods, "I remember watching you, and how you fought. I have a whole new level of respect for all of you and the wonders you craft." He says with reverence. He looks down to the fetish in his hand.

Rhapsody smiles, "The hard part is done, the persuading, convincing, making good with the spirit. Now just have to have some patience." She goes back to Sean's finger, "I want to hear all about this. Sounds like quite a story behind it. For now though, it I do need to get going. I just came to drop off goodies for the free to use ritual materials, and got the treat of watching this! Now to get my own ideas together for something new." She rises, collecting her empty basket. "It was good to see you all. Have a blessed evening."

Iris says while standing up and giving Reno a good pat on the shoulder as she moves past him, "Protect that! You don't wanna be the dingus that broke a fetish by accidentally dropping it down some stairs or something. Sounds like something I'd do." She heads over towards the altar to blow out the candles and scoop up crystals, doing some tidying.

Sean nods. "Congrats. You are now a mama chicken. Watch it CLOSE.. like Iris said." He smirks and reaches for the bottle of wine. "Ask my about my first batch of Screamers I ever made. I thought I was going to go deaf."

Listening, Reno nods to everything that's being said, absorbing it all. He looks to the stone again and then slips it back into the pouch on his belt. "Screamers?" He asks, but also turns back to help clean up the altar. It was his ritual after all. "I don't know if I need a drink, a nap or drink myself into a nap." Reno says with a chuckle. He does inquire, "And a stronger spirit, like what you did, Broken Claw'rhya, could drain you completely?"

"When we get this all cleaned up I'll give you a hug. Dunno if it'll help, angry boy, but we'll see!" She lets Reno deal with the crystals and getting them back into his own supplies, while she takes the wine and petal-y water over to pour in the bushes for some thirsty roots to absorb. Those dishes she walks back to the free-for-use basic supplies off on the sidelines. "Did you not bring ear plugs? The intercom lizards like to yell directly in my face some times, I ALMOST feel your pain, but I bet making those talens was a lot worse!"

Sean nods to Reno. "Screamers. Where I was, there were a lot of kinfolk getting attacked. It wasn't the safest area. I made talens that would alert any Garou within a large radius. I dropped an entire batch. It's LOUDER to Garou and even louder still when they explode on your feet." He nods to Reno. "If I lost, it could have killed me." HE snorts a little. "Hell, if I WON it could still kill me."

"I don't think I'll ever be ready for that kind of work." Reno admits. Once things are picked up, "One step closer." He says to Iris with a satisfied tone. "Talens are ... theoretically easier to do?" He asks. That's probably wrong, but what would you expect from a Philodox. He winces a bit at the thought of Screamers going off at his feet. "Thankfully I've never been that clumsy."

"Depends entirely on the talen and the spirit you're working with." Iris answers, "Some are super rough, others not so much. That's what they invented Theurges for, so you can make someone else do it." she adds with a grin and a wink. Alright! Let's get a sammich and go relax, guys!"