2023.05.02:LearningTime
| Learning Time | |
|---|---|
| Evan learns some from Irsa | |
| IC Date | 05/02/23 |
| IC Time | Morning |
| Players | Irsa, Evan |
| Location | The Caern in the Woods |
| Prp/Tp | None |
| Spheres | Gaian Garou |
| Theme Song | None |
It's a few hours before noon, and the sept is busy with activity. Breakfast has been served, volunteers are cleaning thing up, and the leftovers are being kept warm near the cookfires. A large, scarred dire wolf is not far from the place, dozing away soundly in a thicket of small trees. She's picked a nice place: it's out of the way, nice and cool, but not too far away from easy food and water. Her paws twitch slightly as she sleeps.
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A lanky barely adult example of canis rufus comes scampering along back to the gathering meadow from whatever errand he'd been on. He finds himself a spot to flop, not too far from Irsa >>So nice here.<<
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Enormous Wolf snorts awake as someone blunders into the space, head snapping up with her ears standing straight up, her nose working furiously as she tries to place the newcomer. >> Oh, it is you,<< she replies, relaxing immediately. >> It is nice here, yes. Did you have meat and water? << she asks the Galliard. >> There was a hunt earlier this morning, and the pack pulled down a very, very nice boar. There is bacon and flat things, with the sweet sap. << This is apparently wolf for 'maple syrup'. That's kinda exactly what it is. No fake stuff at this sept!
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Collector-of-Tales nods at the older wolf >>The food is so good. And the water is so slow and still. And so quiet.<< The last bit there sounds particularly blissful >>And the man-place is so far I can spend time on four legs without having to worry about being seen.<<
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Seen this close up, it's apparent Hammer-Tooth isn't much older than Collector-of-Tales. She still has that lean, rangy look many newly-adult wolves have, despite all her impressive scars. Those speak of hard use, more than age. This sept is one of those where rank comes swiftly. >> When I come from, there is nothing but the Ape's stone dens. There are very few green spaces, but they are sick with the Weaver's webs, or poisoned by the Enemy.<< Her voice sounds a touch wistful. >> Still, it was home, and a good place to learn how to be a Garou. The lessons of why we must fight for Gaia were all around us. But here, here? It is green, and good, and I could not believe they would allow a Gnawer of Bones to den here. They have been kind, and have taught me many things.<< She growls out an amused chuff. >> My teachers are very good. And one is strange, who you have met. She is the one who brought you here. <<
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Collector-of-Tales wriggles to rub on the grass some before flopping still again >>Does she really have a star boat? I was told or warned that if I went on a trip on that boat I could go far far far away from here on the other side of the sky even.<<
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Enormous Wolf's jaw part in a wolfish grin. >> She does. I have been on her starwind-tree-thing, and have even travelled with her. She has taken many Garou, an even a lynx-shifter, on many wonderful trips. We travelled several weeks ago to The Land of Eternal Ice, where penguins and seals lair, far to the south of here. Another time, we visited the Fenrir lands, and her own Tribe's lands to visit an old stone-spirit-den. << This is clearly wolf for 'temple'. >> But the most recent trip was to visit the goat-spirit Pan, and bargain for a gift from him. That was very fun, with all the stupid-drink.<<
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Collector-of-Tales gets up and ZOOOMS in a tight circle a couple times and then flops back down >>Oh wow. So many adventures. That's why I wanted to come here. I have made progress on making new friends but no adventures yet. Just starting with patrols. And I knowwwwww boring patrols are good. But still.<<
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>> Oh, there are always adventures, << Hammer-Tooth agrees with a bone-cracking yawn. >> When the time comes for you to join a pack and have more of your own, you have good choices. There is another Talesinger here, different from you, but you are both new and want to do things. You could always form a pack together. There are the Frog Brothers -- I do not know if they are seeking or want another packmate, but they are also new and very amusing. Their alpha is the older brother, who you have met. There is my pack, who lairs in the city and strikes from the cover of Fog against the Wyrm and the Weaver. And there is Ever-Changing, Mercy's Messenger'rhya's pack, but I do not know if she is ready for more members. Packs are hard for her, after her last wolf-pack left, without howling 'good-hunting'. <<
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Collector-of-Tales also yawns, its contagious, and says >>This place has more of us by a lot than my old den. I have met the older Frog brother, he's so much fun. I gotta meet his brother but I think we'll get along fine. And you're amazing of course I still need to meet the rest of your pack too. I bet I'll get along with them too though. I'm very good at making friends. Mercy's Messenger...she's a lot. I think I like her too though.<<
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Enormous Wolf's jaws part in another wolfish smile. >> You have time to decide whatever you wish. But now, I must ask you -- how is your knowledge of Rites? I know all new wolves are told to learn three. <<
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Collector-of-Tales nods enthusiastically >>I always meant to come here, even if I didn't think I'd get here so soon. So I made sure to learn the Three. Its part of the tales that get told about this place. I should learn more rites and learn more about rites. And get to know more spirits and their blessings. And I need to find somewhere to get the rest of the song-making-tools I need to practice before I forget too much. I only brought the one you've already seen. I guess to do my work I only really need my voice but still....<<
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Enormous Wolf pricks up her ears, not sure if she's understood correctly. That's what questions are for, though! >> You know of the Three, but know only Talisman Dedication so far? Or do you speak of a fetish for something I have already seen? <<
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Enormous Wolf says, “Or do you mean the bark thing that makes howls?”
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Collector-of-Tales tilts his head and considers >>I know all three of the rites. I also know how to make songs with boxes of wood and wire. Several different kinds. I only have one kind, I need six more. And That's just for the ones I know well.<<
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Enormous Wolf chuffs, glad to have cleared that up. >> You are already ahead of many who come here. When I first came here, I only knew two of the three. I had advantage as a spirit-moon. << She turns her head and gnaws on her flank, dislodging a tuft of loose winter fur. It's shedding season, there's probably loose floofs all over the caern from other Garou. >> Are there any Rites you wish to learn? We have many who are wiling to teach, myself and Protector-of-Hope among them. She is the mystic for our pack, since I must lead. <<
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Collector-of-Tales wriggles in the grass some more as he considers the question >>Questing Stone. Tracking good skill for everyone to have yes? Not specific to one moon job.<<
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>> It is a good Rite to learn, << Hammer-Tooth agrees. >> It is one I have taught before, but that cub is no longer here. If you have time today, I will gladly teach you. I only ask one thing in return-- tell a tale to another today, who needs some lightening of heart. The moon grows fat, and tempers will soon grow short. Garou and Kinfolk alike need tales and songs more than anything. <<
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Collector-of-Tales gives a yip of affirmation >>Done and done. Its the part of my moon's job I am best at. It may take me a bit to get the hang of the rite but I will do my best!<<
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Enormous Wolf chuffs and rises to her feet. >> Good! That is all any wolf can do. I will show you how to do the Rite, and you will need to try many times on your own. It is a simpler Rite to learn. Be patient, and it will come in time. Come with me to the Ritual Clearing, and take your birthform there. We will need ape-paws for this Rite. << And with that, she pads off in that direction.
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Collector-of-Tales snorts with ammusement as he gets to his feet and follows along >>I suppose thumbs have to be good for something right?<< Enormous Wolf follows the narrow stone path to the ritual clearing.
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Transition to the Ritual Clearing
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Enormous Wolf pads through the clearing, approaching an area near the back that's closer to the treeline. Several other theurges are hard at work here, and look up briefly to greet the new arrivals before they return to their tasks. Hammer-Tooth shifts back to her birthform and sets down her pack. "Go on an' pull up a seat. So! Who've ya met, who ain't an Elder or office-holder so far?" she asks, as she sits down and rummages through her pack. Toothmarks are along the edge of the olive-green leather, weird.
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Evan isnt' really a smooth or fast shapeshifter but its getting back to his breed form so its not too hard and doesn't take too long. And his guitar appears from wherever its dedication sends it and he settles it in his lap, absently checking its tuning as he answers "You, Jack, Jackie, Trey, Sean, Richard, Natalie. Sean was there when I went to check in with Isla but he still matches the qualifications you gave."
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Irsa nods as she unfolds a well-worn ground cloth with a snap of her wrist. "Did Natalie give ya her full introduction?" she asks, as she begins laying out a number of things atop the cloth -- heavy-duty thread in several colors, a spool of braided sinew, several large needles, a few rusting metal nuts, and a collection of small polished river stones (already pierced for holes), a pair of scissors and well-worn jack knife.
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Evan nods at Irsa and grins "Yeah, explained that she's a cheetah shifter and they're called Swara. So now I've met two different fera, so that's neat." He's watching all the stuff getting laid out curiously but he keeps his fidgeting to the guitar...is that the 'thundercats' theme?
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Irsa grins when she places the tune. "Yeah, she is. Richard's Black Fury Kinfolk, which I reckon got mentioned then." She rolls her shoulders in a shrug. "It ain't traditional, but that's th' way it is here." She beckons Evan closer to check out the items. "So, Questing Stone. You're tryin' to locate someone with this Rite, but how d'ya do that? Well, you gotta know their name, one. Second, it's best if you got somethin' that belongs to them, or was a part of 'em, like a tuft of fur or hair. And third, it homes in on their essence. 'How does that even work, Hammer-Tooth?' ya might ask. Simple. You use a locater t' point the way, and a dowsing stone is th' most ancient version of that." She brushes a hand over the items on the cloth. "Pick out a piece of thread-whatever to support your lode item. My Tribe tend to' use rustin' nuts like these, and those snap-chains as th' thread. But we're City folk, and everyone's different. Try and use somethin' that calls to you, it's easiest t' focus that way."
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Evan goes for the spool of braided sinew "This reminds me of the braided cord that we used when one of the septs makers tried to teach my how to make my own instrument straps. So its the sort of thing I already think of as a connection between me and a tool. An actual riverstone would probably be good, though the rivers around here are probably easier to get along with than the Saint Lawrence."
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Irsa nods towards the items. "Go on and take 'em, then. You need th' tools, so consider it a starting ritualist present." She's sitting with her legs crossed, and rests her scarred hands on her knees. "Close your eyes and picture an object you've seen, that ain't far from here. Pick somethin' that would have been moved, for best results. Get th' name of that and what it looks like in your mind, then close your eyes and feel for it. Some call that 'mind's eye', some call that 'soul' or 'heart'. Doesn't matter what y' call it, it's pretty much th' same thing. Mind ya, this is a low-level Rite, so it won't lead you to th' exact spot where th' target lies. It'll only give you a general location. Which is good, if ya ask me. Cliaths learnin' the location of a city's vampire leader and followin' it right to his den would be suicidal."
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Evan nods at Irsa and considers as he takes up the stone and the cord, setting up his dowsing stone "The pouch of jerky one of the folks I went on patrol with gave me and I left it back in the cabin I'm using. Wait, that's probably a bad example because I already know where it is....hmmm What about the Patrol Captain? I know him well enough to picture him clearly and while he's gotta be around here somewhere I don't know exactly where?"
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"That'll work!" Irsa confirms. "He won't be annoyed or nothin', so give him a whirl." She says nothing else for a bit, letting Evan settle in to try this out for himself.
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Evan nods and takes up the dowsing stone and stares at it for a moment before remembering the instructions and he closes his eyes as he tries to focus on what the Patrol Captain looks like and his name. And he gets and scrunched up look of concentration on his face as he triiiiesssssssss.
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Irsa has no problem with chillin' as long as Evan needs for this. She quietly breaks out her sketchbook as the Fianna focuses, working out some final revisions for Mercy's present. She's cleverly positioned the sketchbook so none of the other Garou can spy on her work, like a cunning Rat. It takes a while, but the lodestone thrums slightly, beginning to pull in a certain direction.
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Evan feels the stone start to pull and then it goes taut and swings up to bounce the stone off his knuckles. His eyes open with an "Ow! That wasn't supposed to happen. I'll try again."
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Irsa grins. "Took me a while t' learn that one myself. Ya should have seen me with Summoning. For some reason I got Bindin' down, no problem. But Summoning? That took me well over a month t' learn, and a lotta good ritual items wasted. Sometimes, it just don't happen."
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Evan nods and sighs before settling down to concentrate and try again. As long as it takes.
