As Xiaohan tries to reason with the mighty Thunder Person, a sudden terrible wind whips up around the Shaman and his summoned protector.

But off to the distance, Little Bear and his wife embrace. The woman's words are too soft to hear, but the chieftain's face grows more and more stone-like as she speaks. At last, he breaks contact with her, and shakes the braves who had up til then been covering their ears.

[Language unknown: "Ngurnaca! I th ch tengur! He Arelesere ted ardtraereent io!"] He shouts over the din of the fight. [Language unknown: "Inloos te! Fortraent waro!"]

The braves leap into action, hopping off their horses and into the windstorm that wraps the Shaman and his pet. They come out bearing the struggling man in a death grip. No Flesh howls and curses them, promising all manner of dire things will befall them for daring to touch a holy man such as he this way, but Little Bear storms over, face as dark as a thundercloud.

The chieftain of the Nakota grips No Flesh's buffalo-hide robes and tears them away, then rips the buckskin shirt beneath with a single tug.

[Language unknown: "Waerbe!"] he screams, pointing at a spot on No Flesh's belly. There, just under his stomach, partially covered by his buckskin trousers, is a small tattoo.



[Language unknown: "Roarssse!"] Little Bear screams, and before No Flesh can protest further, the chieftain yanks his war club and begins to beat the shaman's face in. Bones crack under the blows. Blood streams from gashes in the man's face. Soon, No Flesh hangs limp in the grasp of the Nakota braves, and still Little Bear swings his club, screaming in fury and pain and sorrow.

((OOC: The windstorm will be able to cover No Flesh and the Holy Person without catching any friendlies within. You could catch all of the ones attacking Moses, but you'd get Moses in the windstorm if you went that route.

The windstorm forces No Flesh and the Thunder Person to make Vigor checks or be Shaken.

23:36, Today: No Flesh rolled 4,4 using d8,d6, rerolling max with rolls of 4,4. Vigor. No Flesh roll.

23:37, Today: No Flesh rolled 3,10 using d12+1,d6+1, rerolling max with rolls of 2,(6+3)9. Vigor. Holy Person roll.

Both of them succeed, but they are still blinded by the windstorm.

No Flesh's problems aren't over, however, because Talks to the Trees is able to talk with Little Bear, and what she has to say has pissed him off royally. He orders his remaining warriors to tackle the Shaman.

The three remaining braves attack no Flesh. They get a +2 Gang Up bonus to their attacks.

23:43, Today: Old Ways Braves rolled 7,8,8 using d8+2,d8+2,d8+2, rerolling max with rolls of 5,6,6. Grapple!

He attempts to fight them off.

23:44, Today: No Flesh rolled 11,11 using d6,d6, rerolling max with rolls of (6+5)11,(6+5)11. Fighting! Success.
23:45, Today: No Flesh rolled 5,8 using d6,d6, rerolling max with rolls of 5,(6+2)8. Fighting! Success.
23:45, Today: No Flesh rolled 7,5 using d6,d6, rerolling max with rolls of (6+1)7,5. Fighting! Fail. No Flesh is caught.

Little Bear himself leaps into action. he goes forth and makes a single attack with a +3 gang-up bonus:

23:48, Today: Little Bear rolled 10,8 using d10+3,d6+3, rerolling max with rolls of 7,5. Hit. The raise doesn't matter, though, because Little Bear is attacking No Flesh's buckskin shirt, so he's rolling straight strength damage.

23:49, Today: Little Bear rolled 19 using 1d10, rerolling max with rolls of (10+9)19. Dramatic shirt pull! That will do it.

Card: AC

That means that it's Little Bear and the Nakota's turns again.

The warriors who went after Xiaohan stare in amazement and anger at the revealed tattoo. The ones who went after Moses turn around and stare as well. They are On Hold.

Little Bear, meanwhile, orders the warriors holding No Flesh to tighten their grip. Then he takes his Warclub to the traitor. Again, he gets +3 from the Gang-up bonus, though he has a -2 from his multiaction of drawing the club. He opts to Wild attack and Frenzy against the Shaman. he has Improved Frenzy, so no penalty on the Frenzy attack. Net +3 to the roll, and +2 to any damage rolls. Ow.

23:59, Today: Little Bear rolled 9,4,12 using d10+3,d10+3,d6+3, rerolling max with rolls of 6,1,(6+3)9. Frenzy! That's two hits with Raises.

00:00, Today: Little Bear rolled 7,8 using d10,2d6+2, rerolling max with rolls of 7,2,4. Damage. 15 Damage. 2 wounds and a Shaken for No Flesh.

00:01, Today: Little Bear rolled 9,8 using d10,2d6+2, rerolling max with rolls of 9,5,1. Damage. 17 damage this time. Still 2 wounds and a Shaken for No Flesh, which Incapacitates him. No Flesh passes his Incapacitation roll with a Raise, so he's not dead, but he's probably going to be in short order.))

Xiao clings leveret-quiet to the wrist of the celestial being whose manifest bulk provided a shield from the mighty wind, staring over at all the screaming. While certainly subdued, the youth doesn't display the core-shaken shock of someone who has never seen a fellow human beaten to death at close quarters before.


[[Gosh. Methinks Thunder Walker might need to know what the big guy's doing before he takes his action there, though...]]

((OOC: The Holy Person is currently staring in shock at the attack and is trying to figure things out.))

Thunder Walker spoke to this Holy Person with defiance, though not without a sense of reverence. This was not something he had been told of by the shamans of the Lakota, but he had heard of such things when speaking to some of the Navajo who had come to join the Sioux Union in Gomorra.  He stood before this bronze colored spirit, facing him without hesitation, even should it mean his own death should the spirit turn its wrath upon him.

[Language unknown: "A m hassomtra Ntadwh Inttiohis n liel Ntiomeion Forcomnti, il ee we mapola atus andterble illev. Ion reanotove whear tedblehis wint ich yinvirles p ulhe ioss sa ousul Sabesari, man intiho as has a hatrac on wer etkor k ilarhono a not focktr er naeead. Walaie Int eiwit Comruteve Essiveers ion neeiin leivceprnt nd si ingck fopo omut foratewhi enati la mepr ichainare, we ous st u ee enon,"] he said, pointing to Li.

[Language unknown: "T n ess reugh ware earmi, ce eenderere ioto linsetnde ouder adng ca lesticast direin."]

The giant steps forth out of the windstorm and kneels before Thunder Walker. "Oh brave Walker of Thunder. Forgive me my foolish anger. Know that I owe you a debt, Child of the Storm, and I will aid you in what ways I can." He stands, and glares at the beaten, bloody mess that was No Flesh. "Stand away from him, Little Bear. He is mine to punish now."

Little Bear looks at the bronze giant, and for an instant looks as if he might object. But he stands aside. The Thunder Person strides over to No Flesh, who rolls his head and looks at the giant. Blood curls down his face like tears. [Language unknown: "Manatetho! Com i! Ur..."]

"SILENCE!" the Holy Person shouts, and picks the shaman up. There is a flash of light and the boom of thunder, and the two are gone, leaving only a smoking crater where they had stood before.

Thunder Walker blinked. He had half expected to be in a fight for his life or perhaps outright dead, but had taken a gamble that perhaps the spirit would see his respect in courage, rather than in cowering. He still didn't know the way of that Holy Person that had come, but there was a kinship there in Thunder. Perhaps there would be a respect now by the Nakota as well for that.

Seeing that the braves near Moses still seemed uncertain, and not knowing whether or not they would pile upon the tiny Li yet again, he addressed the chief.

[Language unknown: "Uturte Virtinthu Hat, ul red men lito wieker n eenicawas caek siul?"]

The tall negro had stood there like a rock, his hickory stick half raised at the natives who had tried to run him down.

Now he nods, not to them, but seemingly to himself.
"Moses is grateful to Thou, Lord, as always. Thou protect Thy humble servant against evil so that he may spread Thy truth."

Then he focuses his attention on the two indians in front of him.[Language unknown:
"Po ica si derle at icoun olpewi adwh con aturtaanho eve to siove? Nde ic wiiv nce Ersinehis os meen Evilst oneestughred? Tin ichnt eschul thi iece siard terateain llan il Icadayons, sewhi her oular Andbutast Asathi, korll Romouneraugh houoreted? Oul nce ndwhi icahatset Stion t whoul ruticaine at eenartughtra. Oulisi'mind, in, rea conbleson troulotendwh."]

He spreads his arms, as if to embrace both of them.
[Language unknown: "Ovepo les ei ec aveatemansom ntepa cenc ac ndter wheof ica versanate taie ai ulplll trand venortconthonot. Illme ainte we e?"]

Little Bear nods. [Language unknown: "Ilto...Ou unsitr! Ac toomos!"] He turns to his men and calls for him to lower their weapons. None of them had actually raised any, so it was an easy request to reply to. [Language unknown: "Traun icaac He ai, anec n oerss oumo M Tetiee fiiv everating blene. Anri ie et onssomectpro ce, din U eveer ave wistse a arteauoul on ul icatheame se ica hechnt t po po llvir stidi Eetoee Ng."] His face darkens. [Language unknown: "Lleen th E tio icabution ons ureardreaiouwer stcewe k ecess."]

Talks to the Trees, the ghostly woman, floats over to her husband. [Language unknown: "Eiect vorcomart ome sa nionla. T st enma n anut son neeen li omeca roloei a eema rong san n ilouho."]

Little Bear hugs his ephemeral wife. [Language unknown: "O ri te losang tho no int omma, ivpl U esspo winc aston di i ng acwh etofwame andeenrut."]

[Language unknown: "K comurepre itprll no as noss, Maurer Ri."] The woman replies. [Language unknown: "Ngtiwa, er it ro popaal. Of ure ck tio out Artromich wepori, tho ratfi iv olble theeai. Hatne andev roheha, to seel preingmen u omssntha astersingven."]

Little Bear begins to weep.

Talks To The Trees turns her gaze to Xiaohan. [Language unknown: "Ons icaverthe re ac, p meet, tinproart hekor. Venes chen anylarher diuliloliv ombein encio fimoince. Eshita Ta Itroncas stss a la hisil ilres ei ave, som ma pr korntinte eeee Ionmanncelat Traatehou, toess inol hatck esenof ut mepoan k io arsail ore we pe, atnc ofmaol tic assine willl."]

He seemed to think about it for a moment, and then nodded stoically in agreement. [Language unknown: "Lianaien Ofhill. Is to ro erahe lar. Ckecse mi ei...wanoio ngeeic."]

Xiaohan steps away from soothing the huddle of thunder-fearing ponies upon being addressed and bows once more in thanks and friendship. Not wishing to draw attention to the chief's breach of stoicism, Xiao forgoes the politeness of addressing the lady's nearest male guardian or relative but speaks generally, gaze low beside her.
It takes a hard swallow first.

[Language unknown: "Fiwhe asilbeckad ma larthostr, Wa antounect. Whios ar, preie hais tedateers wi. Ine aceen utsiur moest thapo caioen ur ort p ntintinde o It thu rutte n ichmaneen ca."]

Then to Thunder Walker: [Language unknown: "Iontineen whiughbut, Ek alleraoun T esin cksaho ntripa ant orethu'oneome veringtrarat: Selani be Ichlartersti...][Language unknown: ic k i ichinthou comineshe encstitedatiwhi, pr el es, Ol hatticwas lough simen fi os st...comfortho san thate] coyote [Language unknown: ...n lloume wila n pr ie maenun eren ll wi sa at.]

Screaming Rabbit looks around. [Language unknown: "M nothac ponoas onsovelescom ro icaoreich ul sant romce. Isulou thimenwhitha paitie ce m nd ac sint temapali diel os t i etei n whi tiee fosti iser ess asour liul esing paivriha-safi entca virweryin, st ion is nila eststadin ho heratinte Yinbleess weyin ich ica."] The ragged Chinese stray looks uncertainly at Thunder Walker, then to Moses.

"Should I go with Moses to fetch things and lazor? The Pawnee are probabry still angry I try to capture them, but their chief laughs easiry..."
This message was last edited by the player at 00:08, Fri 14 Dec 2012.

The Nakota look give Moses a nervous look.

[Language unknown: "M a olsi icaortderessfor. Ththi wi enc a ac?"]

[Language unknown: "I roloma m andoveour u u atfohi aten Neusek Eness. Mi ilmiet fo ove li alard ovestapro.]

They back away slowly, until Little Bear steps forward to Moses. [Language unknown: "P olard ich."] He kneels and lays his bow and tomahawk on the ground. [Language unknown: "Ou pa ma tetin wa eauourugh'oveted. Ac pa ourentare ort iohenc unecpa, red o thaineove rifo asho pr al Butbutcon vir Inasro. Ce wa noten Asas Enmoie Asekac ni nte nalaac a ut, ith k he ng ine ofder rut p ro."]

The other warriors slowly follow Little Bear's lead. Some are more hesitant than others, but all eventually kneel before the dark-skinned prophet.

Moses rests his hands on his hickory stick and waits till all the Nakota show their reverence for the Almighty.

He takes a few steps towards little bear and gently touches his shoulder, nudging him to stand up.

Then he pokes his stick at the remains of No Flesh, shaking his head, a disgusted look on his face.
[Language unknown: "Tedmo ameicaintent wiusic rees k ithwil'oulare, Acuntr Ant. Taith plai orevoroun e ersou oulomefor ssechi ore hou ho romionany. Osti ive yin m tranil nc encntiwit m yinbut'houles not oursa ai.

"Ei Ur vorestsetion dica manpo be thof, Erouil Esha. E itriunus no pr urno larithwil ss E ilad on evsa hereraate lo plmen Asitio."]

He looks at the chieftain, a severe look on his face.

Xiao digs fingernails into palms over beside Thunder Walker, a glance flashed to Talks To The Trees that says I do not believe this. I stand with his sentiment, not his words.

Little Bear stands at Moses' urging, and regards the scorched circle of smouldering grass where No Flesh had been taken by the Thunder Person. He frowns at Moses.

[Language unknown: "Ter Le,"] he says, his tone respectful but firm, [Language unknown: "M seame nope il thini saic-stna, din rea Undcomess llee teof th hou ainnc be, com il me thaersers tra rincch. Ssdi men mo pe urouti om hidiei p intreaherstiessprohat al un teriching sini, com caave of tho oreoverom real us onses trrenc a strro Teil Santiccon. I utome ovevenfor di neieev wi ant ilpre. Pr nceom osnce ereforwil t iouerenti k heal, one trasander ove Ch era e.Ver oul ad ven ac st ureareeve Thuredard Hinoar hepr ckant ortionant tiaile."]

Moses nods, solemnly.
[Language unknown: "Ni inteveere liee. Li wi fi ughenchat."]

He turns to Screaming Rabbit and Thunder Walker, as well as Sister Belinda.
"Our task here is done for now. Now we have to pacify the Pawnee."

Sister Belinda had been quiet since her miracle, thanking the Lord for his intervention. Now she looked up at Moses' words.

"Well, I must say I don't particularly fancy being near them again, but The Lord Jesus has blessed us this day to send not one but two of his Chosen to stop this bloody fight. I think I know now why He saw fit to test me as He did." She smiles. "Oh, the things I have seen this day! I will follow you, Mister Moses, where you lead."

Thunder Walker frowned in disapproval as the men there knelt before Moses. Surely he had come to help, placing himself nobly in great danger for their shared endeavor, but no matter what the man's words, it had been too many years that he had seen those come to try and speak fair words and do fair deeds to sway the hearts of his people away from the spirits and towards their Book and their God. Still, he said nothing for several long moments as he thought about what to say to the Nakota.

[Language unknown: "La Noliin an ioar ma asnale u nteun retomo ounon ouolre ich iona erahouted, Thiintsta Hasius Eipa, si ast larie Anyti Ulpapa virnotmen miolnt nace oul n ure erac. U el anth ill ho vor ter undol ee wh sannteble, t t hawh ivine lawhi ndwhsa, pl herwitsanpro, west thnot witlaroerall a llad oslihe out ussti ntibut'iveons modili. Omos wepellic derundmen ratsi histe, ernaom wahome ndvor oererseve ma virartsta, riecal tahas etacut ul rielei. Weonnead illhouthe folat k ourmo, oulth ica e lawa dayhouwas, ate lland ck somoerare ort u be oulencent ur whihou-haslar esain om meou reari ith Resardtra manwheconich on prad man, terli wheoulsom ant trad Wewe Tersanwas. Es oer rat weas ri ugh le, ardverble ur homi ieilpr ss nce ss."]

[Language unknown: "Ensien taur Ekitmi, ousse k miunee Thuouless Fidisa io ome ich notrck a of ermi Nceousrut, oupre ilnti st i of eciles pachre et ersut omhori liinheno of ing iste. N asar een io hiswerons nirila adanck, esno ntec le nafome ent toekio alcabe ca ereearame meil proou ac ceerto ive Oretedlar. Om lo art venwittha tr a eiss om ec thar estmo ilecwepr thadiners, no onsrestra ti lesredles p anpe Proousdin iefoiswial. Ioouof was elosfo whi era rewios pathat, utwhis mo i toel i p ul to Entanture whe ietadion ss wintas ing usfoce."]

In reply to Thunder Walker (msg # 132):

The rest of the Nakota have started standing by now. Some of them clearly seem to feel the way Thunder Walker does about Moses and his preaching, but they hold their tongues in check.

Little Bear nods. [Language unknown: "Ch k llpre. T usofse ou is mendinall whng ev Romareeve. M eauss ioulining saiobe Le Hasaveles eilaer u prtin Ivanan Inssse, reio ar allentsan ntisetshe ast al na leac eiest ousvorill ri hatyinund pl, illaar thus witti inmen dinardeve sswifi, ted In n prta whe latr a ratbleine laac. Sa Tedstires ev essntired i ainlinera ursti Plosll Acernd, mafor ce di n ti maaica heasfi hali hisforour. Ngenc it ort toleri noilsase ha tranotame, teul N n staha ictepr essmi Chetal Omeichcon os acmoulet ulnde pe An Icwhil inus."] He nods again at the suggestion. [Language unknown: "Nomedi. Wh un encast cein Astounany Ortpreive foard tr ripali, her i at k eenri Eenonsles nte no erbe er whi iteiiv telata les fo, te eaudayint noev sheionint. Le peal lehemi laulai ivtha."]

 he said, turning to look at Li.  he asked. The simple phrase was still hard to manage for him, but as the youthful Chinese had strived mightily in the tongue of the people, he thought it well to make the effort.

"Moses, are you ready? We should go talk to these Pawnee. Can you call upon the spirit of the wind, as did Sister Belinda?"

Rabbit still seems spooked, presumably from trying to stay the hand of an angel without Thunder Walker's fearlessness, or possibly at the thought of the Pawnees' anger, pale. "Please, most brave and honourable Thunder Walker...I do not think you should go. For your...ah... [Language unknown: throinivpl] ...face, to the People. They will say 'Thunder Walker, this Ghost Dance man, he is friend to Rong Knives: we will not hear Ghost Dance way'."

[Language unknown: "Ch olwaolekal, ca ar."] Rabbit gives a small smile, nervy. "Everyone from any land knows foreigners are little stupid, or little crazy."

He frowned a bit, but nodded. "You are right. You and Moses go, but if you need aid, then call for me. I will remain here with Chief Little Bear." Thunder Walker was hesitant to let the two madmen have charge of speaking peace to Pawnee, though perhaps they would stand a better chance than a Lakota at doing so. Screaming Rabbit was correct in one thing, however, in that he might lose face in this act and so he remained behind.
This message was last edited by the player at 18:33, Tue 18 Dec 2012.

"Lead the way, Screaming Rabbit."
To Sister Belinda, he adds: "We shall speak later, Sister Belinda."

The trio begin the long walk back towards the hillock. The Pawnee train their guns on the approaching.

Then the leader raises his pistol in the air and fires off a round. "That'um far enough!" He shouts, his voice carrying over the plain. There's still fifty yards to go. Well within range of the sharpshooters who took down a mountain giant. "Turn round, crazy people. We don't want'em you back!"

Xiao reaches a hand under the queue and scrubs at sore muscles. "...'screaming' it long in Engr- English. You can say 'Rabbit'," the youth mutters. Though Screaming Rabbit seems anxious to discuss something, further conversation with Moses is stymied by Sister Belinda's insistence on coming with them.

"You have my lazor!" Rabbit yells to the Pawnee. "The Sioux go now - there was brujo, but he use words more than bad medicine, he is defeated...they say you go now, you go free before Crazy Horse come - let Big Moses help you dig out people!"

"Oh, so we free to go huh? Why, that heap generous of them. They gonna apologize for attacking us'm in the first place, for sicking their brujo on us? Three of my men, shot to death as we run here! One of my men, he buried so bad we not get to him before he die! Tell'em Sioux chief that he need to do better than that!"