As the group enters the ruins of the village, one of the women notices them and gives a small cry.

Immediately the white folk all drop what they're doing, run to the grave pits, and form a circle. The bearded man with the bible stops reading, and takes a few steps toward Thunder Walker and Sky Hawk, who are the nearest to them. He walks slowly and cautiously, raising his arms above his head.

"How, brother Indian." He says slowly. "I don't know if you speak English, but we ain't armed. We didn't do this. Please, find it in your heathen soul not to attack us, and let ol' Brother Saul speak his piece."

"I do speak your language, and I have not come here to do violence, but to learn what has happened to these people," he said, gesturing to the grim scene before them.

"I am called Thunder Walker, and this one is known as Sky Hawk," he said. "Speak your piece on what has happened here."

Brother Saul breathers a visible sigh of relief. "Well, thank the lord. But as for what happened here, I can't rightly say. Our flock here was on pilgrimage to one of your people's holy sites, so that we may spread the Lord's word, but we heard shooting across the plains. By the time we got here, well...the shooting was done. We saw riders headed for the butte." he looks at the bodies. "But there are a couple bodies here that don't look like they belong to your people. I don't know much about Indian tribes, but I think these folk are from different ones than yours."

"You have shown the dead here care and respect, and I thank you for that. We can see the bodies and tell them apart, and perform the proper burial rites. But I must warn you that you and your people here are in violation of the treaty, being so far from Deadwood. It is not likely you will encounter a warm reception from many in these lands, and certainly not as peaceful a one as you receive from the two of us. And if you travel to the site I think you mean to go to, it may be your lives," he said.

"I do not mean this to threaten you, but as an offering of peace and thanks. I would not wish harm to come to you, and after you show me what needs to be seen and perhaps tell me how many riders there were, you and your people should travel straight for Deadwood before something ill comes of it."

"I thank you for the warning, but we have head that before." Brother Saul says. "And yet we must still travel on, even as Jesus traveled to his death on Golgotha hill. He knew he was to die, and knew that he must die to take on humanity's sins and purify the world. The word of God must be spread, brother. If we are to be martyrs for the lord, let us at least save a few souls from the pit before we do."

"And sister Belinda's still out here!" one of the girls pipes up.

Saul nods. "Aye. Even if we wanted to return to Deadwood, our dear Sister Belinda is still missing. She has been truly blessed by the Lord, but He saw fit to test her. She stepped between a drunken miner and an old Sioux, and tried to call on the Lord's grace to stop the brawl. I-I was looking at her face, and I saw something break. There was a sadness in her eyes...and then she fled into the wilderness. She always talked of traveling to the holy place of the Sioux, and I feel she may have come this way in her search to regain the Lord's favor. We came here because we felt someone may have seen her...but the Lord had other plans."

By now, Wovoka, Horn Chips, Xiaohan, Moses, and the other two braves have reached the village.

Horn Chips sees the group of pilgrims and spits. [Language unknown: "Me, Holoro? Po belin, ioio illstrain en intive-evecon!"]

[Language unknown: "E ai loho oveproain namen et stiestamehasshe ver oulus!"] Wovoka says. [Language unknown: "Ndth fo elthu!"]

[Language unknown: "A u, erst no iondpo ie res ectes. Was onth ut thripr ingtr ev ecstad ers orticaion."] Horn Chips says, and nods to the two braves accompanying them. They begin to unlimber their bows.

[Language unknown: "Estng senc som mailtr!?"] Sky Hawk cries as he sees the braves readying weapons. [Language unknown: "Diomwe ame meck il werantsta!"]

[Language unknown: "Tiate ncero ]trespassing." Horn Chips says, spitting the English word like a curse. [Language unknown: "K a ev fomaol i sa redre ertase, sa ilho uree yinhasthi a Ofthusas. P liek era dinughastthaich."]

Xiao catches the angered shaman's attention with a short, apologetic bow. [Language unknown: "Meisdi, si re, p ted ha ni ousi houev tr as ingughers ers fonc'ntasosai, nier aiset ca ceeen weunlo noom'sswe m on llet int wa poivha inset. Plstli enttr omemenalltra, to sibece arad whe ol ncetll di thi...ou virversta lo sa anlies."]

Warily, the little Chinese straightens, looking over at Wovoka. [Language unknown: "Li m we nathi nginet?"] Then to Moses, so carefully: "Please tell Quaker go home: I think they listen to Moses, where arrows look like enemy and Devil for them to fight against."

Moses seems to be staring vacantly into the distant, nodding to himself, slowly, from time to time.
"Oh, Lord... Moses has come too late."
Tears run down the giant's face.
Then, as if pulled back into the present, he points towards a small wood, a few hundred yards away from the village.

"They came from there. Black Riders on black horses, a hundred abreast with saber and rifle and torch and fell upon this village like a torrent of burning water.
We have seen and fought them before. The creatures of War travel faster than mortal means allow."

He turns and points into another direction.
"Then there was a group of indians, but not of this village. They were drawn here by the rising smoke, wearing the blue coats of the Union army, with hair like axe blades."
He traces a thin line across the middle of his scalp from his eyes to the back of his head.
The prophet sinks to his knees.
"And then the Sioux returned from hunting, a small group. They saw the Union indians and attacked them, gave them chase."

He shakes his head. "The seed of distrust has been sown. This is a great victory for War."
This message was last edited by the player at 12:41, Wed 31 Oct 2012.

Thunder Walker's expression hardened somewhat. It was clear that he was not getting through to the foolish man before him, so he imbued his words with dire meaning as he proceeded to issue a final warning. "We have heard the words of your Lord spoken to us before, by the same men that have broken treaty after treaty, that have killed our people, raped our women, slaughtered the buffalo that we may starve to death, and given us in trade gifts filled with disease so that our people would die. These are the acts of the men who have come before you talking of this Lord. And it is only by the power of the spirits and following our ancient traditions that we still live and that we have overcome, despite the acts wrought upon us by the followers of your book."

"Oh, I know there are good men among you, otherwise we would not be having this conversation at all. Yet...here you are again, violating the treaty - knowing that you do so, and intending to bring your blasphemy to the holy sites of our people. Even if you think that foolishly breaking treaties is a good way to begin with our people, think about how it will end. Your presence here may incite war, death and violence for those other than you as the tension between people here has been growing. You court death for yourselves, and for many others. No one here will hear your words, and you will be killed, or perhaps tied to a horse and dragged all the way back to Deadwood. At the end of your journey there, you may or may not be alive but at least there will be those to bury you in your tradition."

He paused, to give his last words dire meaning. "Leave, or this will be the end that all these people with you will face."

OOC:
14:15, Today: Thunder Walker rolled 2,5 using d4,d6, rerolling max with rolls of 2,5. Intimidate. Trying to scare him into returning to Deadwood.

Xiaohan gingerly touches Moses' shoulder, then crouches beside him. "Moses, Moses, please he doesn't cry here...there too much cause for weeping, too much for us few and strangers to give dead justice in grieving: you give it to the...God, He knew these. We will help with ceremony, but first need to help with...talking, and with hands."

Xiao shifts and offers a hand mostly covered by sleeve to encourage/help pull Moses back to his feet, tense against the prospect of being grabbed. "Come - faster we send all the ghosts and all the Quaker home, faster we get Wovoka to where he can teach all the people, so they are protected. No mortal can just run to fight damn-yankees all over. Please." The little stray dares look at Moses' face, just for a second.

Brother Saul quails at Thunder Walker's harsh words.

"I...I..." he says, fumbling for a coherent reply. Then he looks to the sky, as if beseeching an answer from the Heavens.

Eventually he sighs. "Yes...I see. I have been monumentally foolish, and for what it's worth, I'm sorry." He looks back at Thunder Walkers. "But Sister Belinda is still out there. And if what the giant negro says is true, then she may have wandered between two angry forces. I swear to you this--once Sister Belinda is safe, we shall turn back, and return to Deadwood. Please, help us save her!"

((OOC: 15:15, Today: Brother Saul rolled 1 using 1d6, rerolling max with rolls of 1. resisting Intimidate. Not only does Thunder Walker cow him, he also gets a Raise.))

---

[Language unknown: "Mandinave!"] Horn Chips hisses as Moses makes the gesture of the hatchet-haired men.

 Wovoka says.

Horn Chips nods. [Language unknown: "It. No Her Metona aveveniou outur illoesachi Romwition ilhou nghine nteur. Ic anitch nceca undin Nantio Korersugh nt ati os enwh Ion Iohipe!"]

Wovoka shakes his head in disappointment. [Language unknown: "Ho, Ss Ereicaeve. Ecarar on ni? Is Nteereevehat tra ne ta aveicatiopro icieiv di ma Bestie. Is taiv diset nd p pl Eauoution heutit la ustote! Ratch Paompa miand e essovetedill atevorpropro ek!"]

[Language unknown: "Ckheceur!?"] Horn Chips scoffs. [Language unknown: "Ar Menamewas evead ithwitect miat heee'iess! Ec fi thomi acwiaies nondth tinstaandardnce pr laant Aitic Etmosi rirowa rut Plmohe! Al Wheev Chriie sible eemi ilutelhe ndac ri vorlesear ne etre intwhiure et se wehend oernc onsfortin ar!"]

[Language unknown: "Derwithou pe iouus atni? Bear notie thobletioven ous wh Continmen Enomte! Ourel ie m ion Ulfoha ort oulvenlin stabe Ardvenortiou! Di ad allom Onsichwilant unnde intli t int Comioners ect erseaukorrutres, in for Yinnteman ichoreart, ie t ion allita icaul isour osetom! Ess Ec Sonichardent stvor!"] Wovoka lays a hand on Horn Chips' shoulder. [Language unknown: "Virdayund...ch sanho ore somvenore ard ainentect Nceuresta, sind meneveven liadas, wa re comresati ut p ate re werratyin dinec naiver? Wityinwas, ometinore...latencard ilse tiotioure to uress whnce. Ted any utilos erai. Ri nihe eraer ieers wasmenpre astwilwas ur, ica en wi ering ulee Ersius."]

Horn Chips gives Wovoka a stricken look, the sighs. [Language unknown: "Sswhe. Ilos tahang. Er nde urncis."] He looks over at the flock of pilgrims. [Language unknown: "Der omun an ulwh?"]

Moses grabs Li's arm to pull himself up, almost pulling the small chinese down instead. He steadies him and nods, then turns to Thunder Walker and the white man.

"Brother Saul. The Lord tells Moses that he wants you gone, now, from this place, to not risk angering the Sioux any more. Their holy place is not open to you."
His continues somewhat softer: "It may very well be in the future."
Then, louder again: "We will find your sister and take her to safety. You have the promise of the Lord's most humble servant."

Moses wipes away his tears, having regained his composure.

Thunder Walker maintained a fierce appearance and could see the fear and trepidation in the man's eyes as he spoke, and hoped that the fear would be enough to stop his people from walking into their own graves, and maybe even to persuade them to leave for Deadwood.

"The giant negro calls himself Moses, and he is a man of your book. You would do well to heed his words," was all he added, taking only a moment to remove the war club from his belt and casually inspect it before replacing it. He hoped the man would think of being on the receiving end of such a grisly weapon. He then left Moses with the man Brother Saul, and returned to where Wovoka and Horn Chips were.

---

[Language unknown: "I ngacee Of trpl amesonithnotlin wa hanipa day tha aveoulthu'menate of aveestbleverort tisa oureennceenc et Omlilomo,"] he said to Horn Chips and Wovoka when he was near enough.

Xiaohan surrupticiously rolls the bullet-bruised shoulder in Moses' wake and heads for the fringes of the camp in the opposite direction to the one Moses declared the damn-yankees came from.

Anyone fallen among the trees - to hope there would be wounded hiding was probably too much - might well have been missed by the gatherers.

[[19:21, Today: Tan Xiaohan rolled 5,2 using d8,d6, rerolling max with rolls of 5,2. Notice?]]

Brother Saul bows his head at Moses. "Yes...forgive me. We shall depart." He calls all the pilgrims together, and together they begin heading out to the southwest, toward Deadwood.

[Language unknown: "Ho arte siin tedichyin ri stioreday ort iv onla olho,]" Horn Chips says as he watches the procession, then turns to the two braves. [Language unknown: "Enchaswil Iouomecon, An ur hi p arereavir leeen. Ivacth Ticourthi tais nciourmo ul ortpo a e St Ecpabe."]

The braves nod, and one of them follows the group at a respectful distance.

Now what?
This message was last edited by the player at 04:25, Sat 03 Nov 2012.

Xiaohan stares wide-eyed at the spot beside the stand of trees, then trots over there, slowing a few steps from the daylight ghost.

In reply to Tan Xiaohan (msg # 30):

The ghostly figure points to a hole at the base of the trees. It looks like an animal den of some sort, but it's just large enough for someone of Xiaohan's size to wiggle into...perhaps a child took shelter there?

Xiao, confused but reasonably confident the ghost is benign, bows respectfully and crouches by the hole, prepared to fetch out a body but wary of anything alive in there.

[Language unknown: "M isstr ateas? Ort ess?"] Xiaohan asks softly in case, trying to see. If there's no answer or sign of movement the slight Chinese will indeed squeeze in there.

Moses turns to Wovoka.
"Moses will gladly help with the funeral rights, if you teach me the words, Wovoka. The Lord does not care how the souls of the departed are sent to his heavenly gates, but Moses knows that it matters to those they left behind."

[Language unknown: "Ma ntlin heric day acne but antepl, oleau k setanythe m ie ngelan re po witiverom ons stieil iswinc icitic n el ni she estis. Es anio ion arewitich en behat latio he lande unutmo. Molear llad nd ati ailes earmi sti rope, ateil U evio si ta k a se lihead mosint ience unaifo at redbleear a Art Ateateing,"] he said, speaking to Wovoka and Horn Chips, though he was certain Moses would hear as well. Somehow, Moses seemed to understand their language as well, but this no longer surprised Thunder Walker.

"We shall make the time to bury them properly." Wovoka says to Moses and Thunder Walker. "But you should travel on. Find Chief Little Bear and his riders, and stop them from making a terrible mistake. Find this Sister Belinda and help her find her way home. We shall catch up when we have finished here."

((OOC: If you want to go after the riders, you can make a Tracking roll, +2 for tracking more than 5 individuals.))

Thunder Walker nodded, and wordlessly gestured for Moses to follow him. "Stay behind me as we go, Moses. I do not need your large footprints obscuring the tracks," he said, not unkindly, but in a matter of fact way.  He began a keen study of the ground. The departure of a large party would not be hard to notice, and he was confident of his ability to follow them. Unlimbering his war club in one hand, he knelt to study the ground for the signs of passage. Anything that touched Mother Earth left signs upon her surface, and anything that brushed through grasses, bushes and forests told stories of their journey. Over the years, he had become something of a master in reading these signs, and sometimes - like now - they seemed to leap out of him, as if he were reading one of the white man's books.

OOC:

+2 for tracking more than 5 individuals
+2 for Wilderness Man

10:40, Today: Thunder Walker rolled 7,15 using d6+4,d6+4, rerolling max with rolls of 3,(6+5)11. Trackin'.

Moses remains where he is, apparently prepared to give Thunder Walker a few paces head start.
He clasps the forearm of Wovoka with his, nodding a farewell, smiling at the other braves, then turns to follow Thunder Walker, but stops.
"Thunder Walker, wait! Where has our young chinese comrade gone to?"

Thunder Walker stopped and looked around. "I do not know where the boy has run off to," he said, scowling. He turned to Wovoka.

"Wovoka, do you wish Li to remain behind with yourself and Horn Chips, or should the youth journey with us?"

"Moses thinks he should come with us, Thunder Walker."

Wovoka looks around, confused. "I thought Li was with you." he says.