[Language unknown: "N li attrro pre whanofwear wasainame. To Witarestr O Paone Ilhese osma tioateeen, p caad, a stni e ngmita."] The chief replies. [Language unknown: "Butateugh i inhoun a. Lesvirere on lediek sian redwa us ort venlarhis. N icou ckho m thutiorestha man io ekie ar nachtoit heweck eve Anseel, som evpr iles ma re. Ill nialat, O nclisi wime we nc ers re os staoneanyand. M o unave osie ce tersanoul M Adssad artureint wasreseau Ieiv Acatfo, lltr U anleol mesom ieckwh m th iless. la som com ich virfo is...ou ch wheof llisof N a urpa."]

Meanwhile, Sky Hawk nods at Moses in greeting. "And how do you fare, brother Moses?" He asks in English.

Rabbit, in the meantime, sees Wovoka near the creek, washing himself. He notices the little stray, and nods. "Screaming Rabbit. It is good to see you. When you vanished, I feared something terrible might have happened to you. But here you are...I feel a new power in you. You have spoken with the spirits, and they have given you a name. what did they have to say to you?"

[Language unknown: "Ck stiiveers, pabewa. Ce o tichil ndol na romherera mathar u iou ofmiut undtedher naetmo mi, onssi latvirbut t n eauhoulinandent beni eepa elniis ne trwa tangck, Re icaortiou. Lewi e hi Maenit intbutanyoer oness no earas lar unpeho, tho omeardome as ta tring thelarent ersev notnt ill. Ore in usstr ch io ndical ac butureentthu m os p omehaswit ughtinant, ess o vor tepe ndeivetedtra leilti nce butwheromoneain n Ul Ichureman ar un anyut of mi chlo-antaer rom butortiou urutol m,"] he said, speaking to the Nakota chief.

Rabbit takes a moment to find speech, unused to being cared about. "I...aporogise, holy Wovoka."

Rabbit finds a place to stand and address the prophet comfortably whilst he finishes cleaning himself and gets dressed, even daring to lean against a tree, grateful for the use of English. "...I met with Wanbli Luja and an old coyote-man called Laughs At Darkness, who were dancing the dead home...Laughs At Darkness made me name the virtues of the Cardinal Directions and taught me the Ghost Dance."

"We danced a very long time, until the sweat ran off my body...then he gave me food, sat around with the dead who were left, and told me he had a message for you. Th-that it wourd test your faith, and your purpose." Rabbit swallows on a throat abruptly dry, watching Wovoka.

"He said women must join the Ghost Dance. E-even hory circle dance itself." Rabbit forces a slow breath. "There will be a woman disguised who will be at Bear Butte. She wishes to join dance with pure heart, berieving the cause, but she is not an old woman, and when she gets to shadow of the mountain, she find her blood comes. But she cannot go back."

Joining a bare statement on to the message was less than lying, though it made them sound related. Rabbit keeps looking at the prophet, watching his reactions. If he guesses, so be it. Better if he does not. If I am alone, mishap or discovery will fall on my neck, not the fate of the Ghost Dance. "Laughs At Darkness taught me a short-dance, to pass the steps to you: it line up energy of...blood going away...with a circle dance, so it makes dance more powerful, not...tangled. I swear on my own head this is true, though I am no great medicine leader."

Moses nods, taking a sip of water.
"The Lord has blessed His humble servant with a night of fitful rest. Now Moses has breakfast among friends and allies. What more could one man ask of the Almighty?"

He cocks his head as he catches some words of Rabbit's talk with Wovoka, but doesn't interfere.
"And what about yourself, Sky Hawk? What do you expect of this day?"

@Thunder Walker

[Language unknown: "Areti tha, reaeresti. Noha ng prma wema ortoerwil ll Iv Notoreour peom."] Little Bear says, and stands. He heads toward one of the less damaged sod huts, motioning for the Lakota brave to follow along.

---

@Moses

"I do not know. Good things, perhaps. Today Wovoka will share his vision with the Wicasas, and perhaps we will see the Ghost Dance spread." Sky Hawk says. "But I worry. The shouting brave and what is left of his warriors are still out there. The Black Riders are out there as well. And there may yet be more hidden vipers like the shaman who turned his medicine to the Raven's will rather than his people's. What could turn men so hateful and cruel? My own friend Little Crow, whom I knew since we were young, took up the Raven's ways. I thought I knew him, but then he turned on us. He was the one who drew that loud one and his men to us. he was the one who shot me in the back when I rode for help. What could poison a man's heart so?"

---

@Screaming Rabbit

"A vision quest. A good omen." Wovoka says. He listens to Rabbit's tale, then looks the youth over. He's quiet a moment, as he rubs his jaw in thought. "I see. The time has come, then, for the Old Ways themselves to bend. Many women have gained the spirit's blessing since The Reckoning. It is not unusual for them to be granted powerful medicine, yet there are many who cling to the old ways. I understand this woman's reluctance to be so open with her gifts. The Wicasas are powerful old men. They can be intimidating, and it may be difficult to convince them to embrace the changes to their world."

he smiles. "Show me the steps of this dance, please. I will have to learn it quickly."

Rabbit keeps his gaze awhile, tensed against namesake trembling, then looks away, down at a clump of bright fungus across the creek. "It better that she hides herself, I think...superstitions themselves can make bad will to corrupt dance, Laughs At Darkness told me this. This way, Wovoka can tell them a thing must be done, and dance...and when there is no bad effect, tell them why the thing was done and as the spirits said, and remain blameless."

Licking dry lips, Rabbit looks back to Wovoka. "I...I think as she believes, the woman wourd sooner offer her head to be cut off than to hurt the Ghost Dance." The little stray nods and moves to a flatter space of ground, taking a moment to forget the thud of blood and tension of nerves and asking the sacred earth to hear.

Rabbit dances.

Moses takes a sip from his coffee, pondering the question.
"A lot of wrongs have been done to your people, Sky Hawk. And it is always easier to hate, to seek revenge, to exact the same wrong on those that have wronged you. Easier than to forgive and seek solace in the Lord's embrace.
Moses does not condone this hate. But he understands. He understands all too well."

Thunder Walker rose to his feet, taking a moment to perform some basic stretches. The night had not proven as restful as he might have hoped, though these were not restful days to say the least. He nodded his agreement to what Little Bear said, and followed the Nakota chief, though he loosened the war club at his belt.

In reply to Tan Xiaohan (msg # 10):

"The world is changing. It would be better for the Wicasas to realize this sooner rather than later. But I will do as...she...asks, and let her reveal herself in her own time." Wovoka says. he watches Rabbit dance, paying special attention to the placement of the youth's feet, then attempts the moves himself.

He's a quick study, but he's going to need at least a few hours to perfect the movements.
This message was last edited by the player at 08:12, Tue 02 Apr 2013.

In reply to Thunder Walker (msg # 12):

No Flesh's lodge was cramped, dark, and a bit chilly after a night with no fire lit within. Some of the sod had been damaged by the fires when the village had been attacked, but aside from the soot, the lodge was in perfect shape inside.

The space was cramped with two people searching through it. The rooms was packed with furs, leathers, carved bones, and strips of herbs. Pots containing powders and mixes for paints were stacked along the walls, and Thunder Walker could hardly make sense of it all.

But he does spot something odd...a piece of paper hidden in the fire pit. It looked like it was to be used as kindling for a fire, but as luck would have it, the fire hadn't been lit.

The paper had a number of strange symbols on it. It looked like...English. Or Russian. Or...he wasn't sure, exactly. But he recognized the symbol of the Raven on it, near the end like a signature.

[Language unknown: "Mo re we ensaofwh ec."] Little Bear says behind him. [Language unknown: "Il redconhat th enc evevirherpro ca preno. Herounthu it linvirvir est Ithourcon, tr Asdin Lehema, k icro e..."]

He trails off and goes to examine a fetish dangling from the ceiling. Frowning, he tugs it...and something hidden in the rafters of the sod house tumbles down and rolls into the fire pit.

[Language unknown: "Dinntibut Aretinwhi arearttha a!"] Little Bear hisses, and pulls Thunder Walker back.

There, in the firepit, is a Union blue kepi hat. Inside the hat is a skull, painted with dark designs.

((OOC: you might be able to get more information about the letter you found with a Smarts roll, when you have time to examine it.))
This message was last edited by the player at 09:20, Tue 02 Apr 2013.

"I think..." Rabbit says, demonstrating steps, "-that even wise sages are still old men, and reject what they have not seen done before. If they perform dance," dance dance "without their whole spirit in it, and it goes badly, they would blame it on the new thing." Rabbit made light words of potential accusations of ceremony-poisoning and the punishments for witchcraft on sacred ground that would follow, but it took concentration not to physically heed the fear.

"...if it goes well, and they told after what is passed, there is...ah..precedent. I am sure the woman - even though we don' know her - would stand forward to that." Dancing, Rabbit tries to swallow down the thought and allows a shiver to run shoulder to shoulder and take memory with it.

Thunder Walker said I might make a good brave. He is so mighty and so fearless: I hope I can do something to earn his praise again, before he hates me. I will lie to no-one, though I must decieve them.
This message was last edited by the player at 16:42, Tue 02 Apr 2013.

Sky Hawk nods, and is silent for a moment. He looks absently at some of the scars on the big man's chest.

After a moment, he stands. "Tell me...I have heard that your people come from far over the waters. You were brought to this land as a slave. You escaped...why did you not try to return home?"

[Language unknown: "Ce itnaad inein Ioncomthe, o i t isne, bebe Wiine Andectlar poder behe. Eenth hine les lela ac herovewer nipena,"] he said, folding the paper and tucking it into his belt. A thought had come to him while looking at it, though it seemed to flit away from him. He would spend more time on it later, and hopefully the thought would return.

When the skull fell, he nearly recoiled from the thing. [Language unknown: "Hous po u men haelle. To ofma iock ch il ere on, n rutis und are out ec proastwhe, our om nclin si venionman isthpepe Us Anyingwil thi ortblereasonshe."] Reaching down, he lifted the hat gingerly, not wanting to touch the skull itself.

15:35, Tue 02 Apr 2013: Thunder Walker rolled 7,2 using d8,d6, rerolling max ((7,2)).
This message was last edited by the player at 20:36, Tue 02 Apr 2013.

The thought tickled at Thunder Walker's mind...he'd seen that script before. It was...of course! It was the Cherokee language. The only native language to have a written form made by actual Native Americans, rather than translations made by other cultures. He'd seen some during his time with the Sioux Union. The perfect script to suit the prejudices of those in the Raven cult. And, like a code, impossible to translate without a key. If you couldn't speak Cherokee, or at least read it, the message would be indecipherable.

[Language unknown: "T, notsonour!"] Little Bear says, slapping Thunder Walker's hand away from the hat.

Moses furrows his brow, as if confused.
"Slave? No... Moses was never a slave..."
His voice trails off and he looks to his left, off into the distance, his right hand unconciously touching the scar that runs from his left shoulder down onto his chest.

There was... something. A white man filled with hate, whipping a boy. An old crone chewing weeds, mixing them with spittle, smearing them into the boy's wounds.
You's'll keep some scar. Ah be baaad..... but ya''ll live. Dat ought t'teach ya' some lesson boy! Right on!

"No...never a slave." he repeats.
"Moses was born in the desert, brought into the world by the Lord to preach his teachings and fight the Reckoning."
He looks back at Sky Hawk.
"So why would Moses go back to the desert when the Lord has put forth a task for him?"

When the teaching has devolved to an odd crane-like and disjointed mirroring of the harder steps to be remembered, Rabbit dares shift concentration a little: "Holy Wovoka...yesterday Tatanka helped me very much. Is there...offering I can make, to thank him well?"

[Language unknown: "Ilfor unpe thocomwer, ildilafobe un m dinbe Resousfor ss oulur. Ati i ta chee ecteaueen san,"] he said, realizing that Little Bear was most likely correct.

In reply to Tan Xiaohan (msg # 20):

Wovoka considers this. "Tatanka is a spirit of courage, creativity, abundance, and generosity. He is very giving, and believes in working for the greater good. If you wish to thank Tatanka, an offering of food would be most appreciated. An offering of Tobacco will also be accepted."

In reply to Moses and Thunder Walker:

Little Bear nods, and the two depart the tent in haste.

[Language unknown: "Red Ichundall!"] Little Bear shouts. [Language unknown: "P aithio roout day derovestaame! Ol re oer ilvir Urlefo! N lien whevoroun nd ushaweek us!"]

Sky Hawk was quiet a moment after Moses spoke. He looked like he was trying to gather his thoughts, but he's interrupted by the disturbance. He looks at Moses. "I think you should go. You have been blessed with strong medicine."

Rabbit digests this, wondering how to obtain such things. Recalling the coyote-man's words on fire also brings the question of how to sever the offering from the realm of mortal use. "I just...throw it in the grass sea?"

Abruptly, Rabbit goes straight-spined and makes a move towards the satchel, wide-eyed and alert for the sound of hoofbeats. "Someone shouting for you, I think."

[[09:06, Today: Tan Xiaohan rolled 10,1 using d8,d6, rerolling max with rolls of (8+2)10,1. Notice if needed]]

In reply to Tan Xiaohan (msg # 24):

"It depends on what you are offering, and to which spirit you make the offering to. Tobacco is smoked between prayers, while the grasses would be selected, purified with sage smoke and prayers, then left for the buffalo to consume at their pleasure."

Wovoka looks up from his teaching, and frowns. "Come," he says, and heads back toward the village.

It doesn't sound like any horses are on the move...there's a crowd around one of the huts. Horn Chips, Sky Hawk, Moses, and Thunder Walker are all there, discussing the situation.

Wovoka approaches Chief Little Bear. [Language unknown: "Wasal i ratntinti?"]

[Language unknown: "Ni wa ureoutnti are hisillest a He Blearerom haame k en. N enmato lo aiompa, totrhi rut nance ousearkoring ie lartersom ic t Hein Lltima dinortera. Ol yinre din ha all sechpr...io reaon m ek tioencast ive ckcefo riest Traist Virestlin!" ]Little Bear says. [Language unknown: "Ichlatcon! Ad no wa, Daywh Nteblerut, ich Ourntiout fo nceateugh lar int. A n espl ushi ce verrestrasan ckli manas, itiv n nce ndepr u dinamewil ni traoulrea ouanwa."]

Wovoka nods. [Language unknown: "K ouan a din."] he turns to Moses and Screaming Rabbit. "Will you assist Horn Chips and I in this? Moses, you bear powerful medicine from Wakan Tanka. Rabbit, you can learn much from this."

Rabbit gives a small nod and sets the satchel aside, regarding the hut doorway warily. The youth seems to have overcome the fear of Moses' god directing the big man to deliver an arbitary smiting via bodyslam, coming close with no particular deference as though they were long friends.

 he asked Wovoka, seeming surprised that the youth would be included in whatever cleansing favor was to be asked of the spirits.

[Language unknown: "Fiie...wil intsetare nteac ons outillenc beekil ul ounsonles trare?"] Horn Chips says, arching his eyebrow at Wovoka. [Language unknown: "Ven i nehi arliniur venmen'latons art m itreai."]

[Language unknown: "Wifoen Dickos ivwhad o redecteen wero Sanmennde Shewitoer, Men Atwear. Ous cecawh me ar ati a larainstr, mindpa a usta lesantdin, enos trcktr t linaof pro ivewiteveome of on Thu Hasur."] Wovoka replies.

[Language unknown: "Ineom p herromhou und ndevorlar!"] Little Bear says. [Language unknown: "K ithalltha Thoounstr Entvorstr ee oustr encne pl ei redersson romarewit nc nteousith ee wieve Ceaiou, nc thoershat ntidinwhi ei ear ivce ome urous ic E michel ble isplit! E th enioonst inestiartnte!"]

[Language unknown: "A ioriss ee tione!?"] Horn Chips hisses, and glares at Rabbit with undisguised revulsion.

Rabbit pales and goes swiftly to one knee, head bowed low and left arm pressed across the shirt since respectful prostration would probably be taken as cowardice by the Sioux. [Language unknown: "Ispafi. T ouwhe"] the little stray looks to the English speakers, bar-and-brothel Siouan failing, "-justice, [Language unknown: "O plices acndre wahou...ck weomol resughugh rat thu, ofteac ofen tinis she inpa di. Leunei iopoin ng com. Ro vorncewhi mienbe thi ameourwhe ho plinie, re tiecntth loeve oulughour atck, menic en und hehiat popaio asith ast. Usman ioant unrihi neno rias isilei: a somanyant hiho m. Rutut ekart ouri, ore thume, Pa eve ssith omeithnot."

"Ng haec pl lesro traprethoble, siel hemeil hende, teolas maons ulons ananwe...E ineourlat ess ad noivno adiool ne. Le wil, nt fo mota ardestlat uscell, ess fi laesic...his m alcaar tin poenna taes, ne riwapo he hemick, esthi ntewitble cailivut."]


[[08:08, Today: Tan Xiaohan rolled 7,3 using d8,d6, rerolling max with rolls of 7,3. not a witch!]]
This message was last edited by the player at 12:58, Sat 06 Apr 2013.