Horn Chips glowers at Rabbit, but sighs. [Language unknown: "Fo Ncenotcom Teheas we o everesvor cahi ivplet anis ome wh, e u om...res es el ss terthande ioet one k houyinica. Sta Ta om ollo thiticomeardast adte hasmo ourentsetnde ast et rattinatitic ourntende omanie et ne ut lo anint siti heni."] He looks over at Moses. [Language unknown: "Prtra and ichwilons n nt hatichshe as osro? Ul utto wa ioth korourast icnt ardastres!"]

14:07, Today: Moses rolled 4,17 using d8,d6, rerolling max with rolls of 4,(6+6+5)17. Faith for Speak Language.

Moses shrugs. "Screaming Rabbit has no capacity for evil. You need not worry."
Then he shakes his head, looks up to the sky, quietly moving his lips and continues in the red man's language.
[Language unknown: "Iveovefor it esosdi. Menverhatcom Erantiund aran us erniteac to ine. Os ch is naecil. Linanclo fiera Onshouble Lindinrut, Nceanyconast Butouniou our a o ichandany pr ninewe art etngng a anica Oreingterlar. T il, Esneev ta thaan."]
He reaches out with his hand, gently touching Rabbit's shoulder.

[Language unknown: Ckst ulers amestrstr iebefo re atacin, Seme Ureortpro. Lopoel onspr waanus ted stathaint rut iveprovir u eenan ecter elpo om ad osmelo? Ourss as Niekwi Ssthth alsa-toev n oerse i theeraant hietll, ardortenc ndfi sise u te sstr wastedame fota? Nce pre nceamencehas siave rutastpre an chfi Pleilo Resinthou? Cehas wer eeningeen of to dirincla atistrshe beter etaret ressai m tronhetr?]
The black giant shakes his head.
This message was last edited by the player at 18:27, Sat 06 Apr 2013.

Rabbit eases into a fully kneeling position, hands vanishing into sleeves. [Language unknown: "Unai voroerhas, U n prdiit: rengwiom lestr eliv. Ouenme to ame...lar loniad aino derterhas ate mi era thoee reaintout, na st oveonsoer k e weect aiall fi nthock, us dericarut ort hiof, kormo sanioncon. Ac whprou omenc erpent u Er is ilrete to siill undpo pear ckpo, ceine e T setconess iosena ng Thehasion, Ar liannc ne."] A brief glance up accompanies the statement, Rabbit's face pale and serious.

[Language unknown: "Cendon ee Cehiri Staartstr enet diere resic il ma, Ic poelpe,"] the stray Chinese adds, trying at once to back Moses up and be as small and nonthreatening as possible. The shoulder under Moses' hand is tense but not hunching in preparation to flinch.

[Language unknown: "Etneta no usos..."] Thunder Walker mused, darkly, looking at Horn Chips.

[Language unknown: "Ratderrut waste teis con pe iltio ha t ill Undverast ave pawe Areearnot Iseiin beic romdinpro itoun tr ateck som k niset Ulomng wilreaven asof onewiltra inewa. Ich ive us tervenoul u ers ore. Ofev ionromwer ll ndisre ive ck evemaneveeenven art i venthiore oreromven. On il llti po theresounati wail lone ar ivle, for seble we averedwas?"]

Rabbit's jaw sets as though the youth fought pain or indecision, or both. The foreigner's voice remains even, if low, though clearly it's a struggle to speak again. [Language unknown: "Ounath, iounceect, Ticichous Haatse...p ansiit ai onhich erati be, o tr com haeind k tio ec out acta to ev ss art seome usbeun...k ic wi Moecch, thu rea nt. Pl ticio Ti holite artck saasng erero...eauan oerhertra. Liivla rover nowh ililroek, el lat ith."]

Rabbit nods slightly to Thunder Walker in apology, knowing the rebuke to be for the non-natives' benefit. Still, trust was better won than forced.

[Language unknown: "Stierawas lescomive utort atint, I ul siroas ilstas paine acinss plare."] Horn Chips says back to Moses. [Language unknown: "Li ro weour ounundast caec Illnotour, at ntiousast ivpailie ckmast ateil momo acla, pre vir but pa sa isolet outa ilre al omit aiente?o Train sta nihiet m nooun hini thedinast erethitin hale ardallwhi, th ul t un terionhatove oul sa hisoerons a cepe iscon a elca popant. Urchla Onstedany pe icil rom] God Almighty! [Language unknown: Ca nc enc averesshe ev taas! Alplat Inewhikor m enil tr...astdinounous onch po] Risen Jesus! [Language unknown: Ofront Nowewa io era m illiwa nantil koros artlatherame tonari ecunsi! P os fiei thol'iemole o korur enmire! St ta wer whiivehat a as ashaha!"]

He glares at Moses. [Language unknown: "Romingill ck ne noteraure. Tieau n ev lala encwasvor nti te, era ncewi neacurfo ill ul a io thipr ulrioses ni Wer Avesonove. Omulac hopoio uleau."]

Horn Chips sighs at Rabbit's words. [Language unknown: "T pareom wiles. Ver ioill somsti-illant ad ngeriv. Ca wi outeenyin os alna asarivhewi. A m ati tr derticres fi st etpoho ckic iell aiwain i un nce ch ut ospaun wepa'tewi hou wilek no om. Eetra inla riadla wapa sanithwasrea. Noce icaandpre hiofas intce ulprec whiha ev us leli, iemanc rat li se hedi ugh la diter."] he glances briefly at Moses, then back at Rabbit. [Language unknown: "Ast setsomure ratardmenhis re red i nc wheei. Ta ckntheth a forsanous, ent estandone ol bleortratder, ngiv mahipe."]

Wovoka, standing to the side, frowns. [Language unknown: "Utle i motio trlast'ssce."] He sighs. [Language unknown: "Aspr acndna wenot Maneal Teniar na nance e peson t ereourain os Fochis Ble atwil olstec daywilwer. Set us ivolla nevir le wheterrat no be ul no e is korwiltho I nirong. Te usic saicat ch il sheeenure? Plenwi Ilpaek urecch hastr...onewhesom we lowa la Foatwh Rotahi ilst atpe moith ave pa. Pr ek ho stivto. E po ur to. Yinichred cacain whe ce Resardtho Nochei t omtent o tra a E k. Usospl...A rat rearo ourai ontin ousousrat u onsce, ticut ri an it ort ec lesntiugh. Urunlono ol Wasstiven Wasss! Latrutmen ev benoil! M io o are e ng tha ticpr t hasiou-ionent ou reaiec! T of hiis p manhasthe ospo allhi p whus hamipe et Eteeut estdi ileend. Nt us dinis ousstrhat o ri ic i wiut tooulaas! Chfor pl wa ta, ilur thait er il estkoroulear m siun. Uline it e ted erpre ted weerertr ekdin ta."]

Horn Chips glowered at them all. Thunder Walker's admonishments didn't seem to help his mood any. [Language unknown: "Pl ll ntas fieneeerfi, N eehoto misi i ameatible ll. P esesse thica ho antmenwer i pe, Na mocafo ofca es tinounica li ioubutdin ome. Mi whi anyer is. N u leill ne ons, p ess, no eriner enostr i wima miheacho ie saure sti omolinel iousa thbeei ugh saet!"] He looks at Rabbit. [Language unknown: "O his her th erlo. Te man Ntthss nefoss san. Miwer of arndss tra e ardlarain...al in il ut Wais-aime k rotrut ave pre ateiwawe."] He looks at Wovoka. [Language unknown: "U teree inere stahisstr oreev caante'liac ut miwe'riosas ulis ousho onspreicaall. He ee tinineure i tedlathis sick'waho, nteis wi k a aveeenred a et."]

Wovoka bites his lip. [Language unknown: "Ounkornte wileon wilstiart n o oreverbut, Tin Tiowitcom. N ill etiv k wilch estconreapro! Eiwhli ate reanc?"]

 Horn Chips snaps back. [Language unknown: "U ut ca,"] he indicates himself, Little Bear, and all the other Nakota who have gathered to watch this exchange, [Language unknown: "U ain."] At this he points to Rabbit, Moses, and Thunder Walker. [Language unknown: "Res rond artestiou."]

[Language unknown: "No."] Little Bear growls, the anger in his voice making Horn Chips and Wovoka both leap. [Language unknown: "An si wa utndee! At he t artwhista! Romounvir lailwi rewail k ureun wilredoreort manardsheint, icaentsom ill aveyinhat korsetent os, iles ngndro om ti butac lat weiles! He p arut un o illnteica! Ever T hou thll she whiis reathalar ntinmillce! At urei utare cevor on esilpe ard waofnd! Ck one n ne lin lo nteillnte ivder ithithyin! Po nce eenoulthi wancer rat, tise eter entse! Wh lial t isma, oftio ne siliei ndeta noou rireiotrst! Evsti vireraall p wilingect urecfo...pl ai a etweur mamo pe ivev ted ledi Thilinthi latdinartear!"]

Horn Chips gasps, as if he'd been struck. [Language unknown: "Hasderart!"] He hisses. [Language unknown: "Ilatof o mi meeimaen ateineiou plwiat U comhi re rote e priou Ard Ca ted sewh arugh!"]

[Language unknown: "Finc elas comoneive pr siwer a."] Little Bear growls back. [Language unknown: "Ted ulssng of evne eve wawe as man ma dill."]

Horn Chips gapes at the Nakota chief, fishing for words that would not come. Finally, still fuming, he stalks off a ways, sits, and begins singing a prayer.

Little Bear's outburst drew a startled flinch from Rabbit. Still a little wide-eyed, the little stray looks from him to Horn Chips, then to Wovoka for instruction.

"The seeds of discordare easily sown." Moses says quietly, looking at Horn Chips.
"Let the Lord's humble servant talk to him, and try heal the rift before it festers", he asks of Wovoka and Little Bear.

OOC: Assuming I get their approval...

Moses walks slowly over to Horn Chips, squatting down across from him, maybe 10 feet away. He leans on his hickory stick and respectfully waits for Horn Chips to stop his prayer.

Wovoka nods at Moses, though he looks a little bit helpless as Horn Chips withdraws. Little Bear just fumes.

Horn Chips does not end his prayer. He instead launches into a new one. He's obviously deliberately ignoring the large man.

Rabbit gets up, bobs respectfully if a little nervously to the chief and pads over to Moses, taking a timid grip of his coat in leaning to reach his ear. "Moses - we help shaman, not annoy him. He angry because he try to protect people...it not much wonder to be angry at strangers, after Raven traitor from his own kill so many. It time to listen, not talk, I think."

Then, after a moment of lip-biting, Rabbit's voice drops still further. " *whisper whisper*...run away before he make curses at us."
This message was last edited by the player at 12:32, Tue 09 Apr 2013.

Moses listens quietly, not reacting right away. When he does, he speaks quietly, his deep rumbling voice easily covering the distance to Horn Chips.


He pauses, gazing off into the distance.


Moses looks back at Rabbit, then over to Horn Chips.



Moses grips his hickory stick harder now.


Moses strokes his chin.

He looks back at Screaming Rabbit.

"Will you wait with Moses, Screaming Rabbit?"
This message was last edited by the player at 19:43, Tue 09 Apr 2013.

Caught like a prey animal in the beam of a lamp, Rabbit's gaze takes in Moses' serious face, then the trembling curl of fingers recoiled from his coat. Rabbit shifts to hide them in the depths of loose sleeves, stepping back, and looks between the two holy men. If I join Moses, Horn Chips will lose face...if I do not, I am a poor friend and worse help to Moses. Rabbit tries to ignore the implications of the smiting story, unsure how much an imperfect grasp of the language affects the impression. Rivers of blood.

Act.

[Language unknown: "IT il, tinichnce tiuliv ica il utart, haut oresanstrour, derna usro ouitno onday on ckou,"] Rabbit stumbles out, bowing low to both at once.

[Language unknown: "N ure ro,"] the youth reassures them, and sets off sharpish to gather a vessel and accomplish the task unless called back or instructed to get something else.

Rabbit finds a large, low bowl, padding swiftly through the people, the huts and the trees, pale toes becoming black-streaked and grey with ash. The few bold crows already attending the dead throw curious glances at the small figure but pay it no special heed as they return to the slick-beaked buisness of food.

Once definitely alone by the creekside, Rabbit takes a moment to rub some colour back into her cheeks and pummel at her lower belly. It doesn't really help, considering the ferocious effects of a course of maresbane, but it makes her feel better. Breathe. Not going to faint.

On reflection, perhaps breakfast would have been a good idea. Rabbit kneels to scoop water, sets it aside and pauses to drink, the problem at hand and the possibility of the older shaman later calling for her death trying to resolve itself under the surface of her thoughts. Her gaze goes out to the forest.

I could run, she thinks. They would not think to look for me for a little while. I could run. Rabbit flicks her queue back over her shoulder and stands, carefully balancing the water, then turns back towards the Nakota, Moses and Horn Chips. Behind her, the possibility of flight runs off into the trees like a ghost.

O spirits, Rabbit prays, pacing carefully, sacred ground, help us. Sun, wind, Great Daughters and Sons of Heaven, help us. I am trying, but I know so little and stay so afraid. Help me bring peace here. Help Wovoka bring peace here. Please, o gracious spirits, help us here.

The youth sets the bowl down nearer Horn Chips, kneeling gracefully, yet not so close that he won't have to actively reach out, eyes down. A little on Moses' side of the bowl, Rabbit beckons the big man to come closer, hoping he can perhaps recognise 'subtle', and backs up a bit not to crowd them.
[Language unknown: "Ti weoshe. Stasomate k plic ul?"]

Moses comes a little bit closer, with as much grace as he can summon while still in a squatting position.
"The white priests use long, elaborate rituals to bless water. They exorcise the demons from it. Moses knows, that this is not necessary. For what is purer than water?"
He takes the bowl and raises it towards the sky.
"Lord, Thy humble servant asks you to grace this water with your blessing, so that Moses may use it to cast out the Evil that has sullied this area. Bless it so it may heal us and our wounds.

OOC: 21:11, Today: Moses rolled 7,1 using d8,d6, rerolling max with rolls of 7,1. Faith.
This message was last edited by the player at 19:11, Wed 10 Apr 2013.

Horn Chips takes a deep breath, then lets it out slowly. He looks from Moses to Rabbit, then pulls a small sprig of sagebrush and a pouch smelling of tobacco from his medicine bag.

"To fight Reckoning," he says slowly, in halting, very poor English, "is correct for we to work together. Bless your water. I call wakanpi with cigar."

The little stray remains kneeling quietly, gaze low. Horn Chips's glance did get a brief 'I know' sort of look slipped sideways, but there's no indication that Moses' tendancy to make sure the entire world knows what he's doing affects his trustworthiness in any way, even for Rabbit.

The English causes some blinking, but Rabbit bites down on the urge to smile and just nods respectfully to the elder's wisdom, trying to look attentive and ready to fetch or do anything else that might be required.

Wovoka looks relieved as he approaches the small cluster of holy folks. [Language unknown: "His o are trchtr."] He says.

He leads the group to the medicine man's hut, and the ritual begins. Horn Chips and Wovoka alternate between singing chants and waving a handful of burning sage and sweetgrass, while Moses offers short prayers to The Lord while sprinkling the purified water around the supposedly cursed objects in the hut. Wovoka takes the time to explain several of the steps involved to Rabbit as he goes about the cleansing.

The whole affair takes several hours. As the shamans work, Thunder Walker and Little Bear discuss their next steps.

[Language unknown: "Ec e diac te whe i li."] Little Bear says to Thunder Walker. [Language unknown: "Avesi a avepo meulur ch ek p trathoca as ee ill erelinnce. Icall ilwa ilers m io ilevel ei olrom Tedencsta Andlesera...hepr thumennti ounat chnti ble iv wil pre ngadou accom onsionthe notai ard arnoas one has wilprolin."] He looks toward Bear Butte. [Language unknown: "I arttioast sanndeset ofeen, anyhe pe ver Ingol Trasetwasiou, menhasles lo lar ovestiman we ast etosarse, fi note derera'omeort sieema rut. Waalis, eeon posa fiwita. Il po O thoev ble foame olfoansi na. Ai Ofprie te nce uleiri t na olne ev."]

He looks at Thunder Walker. [Language unknown: "Moneul E ssnihatoul aice poanmo leilas, pote setomo ckeslare pesa ckic bewhan. Has not nc? Cahoevth eiarie? Po oul me al ro romthurom fihat onewasproous ainterthu nicack a onpowh?"]

[Language unknown: "Ntewhiing nari un icugh a ek Lali Dayerastr, io set whi thuthothehat estestenc wi he, of aiilat, iedi as she for. Heard resartwer itni, P tichercon an ilaina. E ers een outhfi etteal o he. Nt arteveard, Be asalre a ngss o astome'ovehat sa Ac Eveavetio ad towise, to T ess thi e ivrean u be, ro Ck nisaar priour se m t si Ropl-ofas cailonol, al int onaima ationeect it. I ncees beceev omntun ev aveom uldiun tr vor ckadac pa os. Icceai ca o pr ich sami t virardone wit. Et pang tele whanme se rea unri lesom Romatiortoul eauwhitedter? In tinom ni o A a ivpang?"] he asked.

Little Bear shakes his head. [Language unknown: "T aitial adll evie andeeneen...Di ar o ichantore et eenar Eiheti undonssta ingintstrwer, ate hou Reareaintwit fi een ulsshe. Ect cahoth vor a outta ectforing tedeveencoul t ensan Natapr be utort Somsomhas. K ivha eveeauund es Wasvenwil Inglarrea i nc Strsomnteome wastng is laatev intima. Ussack Omecal ousorttha erin naivic, i heree es ha tahi o t prosal eesi stawilain nd ing Heringconere."] He looks at Moses thoughtfully. [Language unknown: "Ivetedset Lo korsomnde...ove thaat ame Are Iouwhecom, m ur res me ro stcano of poome astan atiardear has ntiainiou aveni oun fi urne. Era ad wh peter era kor lartheare?"]

Thunder Walker considered the matter thoughtfully. It was possible that Moses could read the Cherokee tongue. While he worried that the large dark skinned man was not sound in his mind and touched by the spirits, he did seem to know many things. He told Little Bear as much.

[Language unknown: "Aswa Toal Il ncekol iou acical ntar t isolli olund nc. La ekmena heom Olur Ndofil alha proch eartiohas ortwe usta sseve int us p ulev conersearcon. Fo ica inliet ul artewi fo saouil urul oupoit ad ous sani ekri te ni adli k. Hastpa o prun day maen, comlinere ineon prers loloutwh niwer derore'yintha dersanect. An ons allfo ar whati fiort ncar."]

Moses takes small steps as he walks around, twisting and turning as if to evade invisible obstacles.
"There is much evil here, Lord. Evil and sadness." A sprinkle of water to the right.
"Death and Decay." More water to the left.

He stops in front of the hut's entrance and pours water in a straight line in front of it, as if to build a barrier.
"Yes Lord. Moses senses it too."
The tall negro squats down in front of the entrance, sprinkling water into the hut.

[Language unknown: "Sonnotman, rom adinil! Ardateica i il encateest toar nti oflar! Anaswi, deris hewamo ha wilta Adannamo eensomwhiund st! Man ivolom con erece Ncbeicio p ecasni! Reatincom, com eesaar!"]
He grips his hickory stick and draws it throw the mud, re-inforcing the barrier, then throws the rest of the water from the bowl inside.

Then, Moses' tense shoulder muscles relax and he sits down. He nods a few times and reaches out with his hand, careful not to cross the barrier.
"Yes... Moses knows. It was not your fault. It was not what you wanted. Yet you are... accountable for your actions. But you are not accountable for theirs, that is true."
He is quiet for a moment, as if listening.

Then he looks up to the sky. "Do you accept, Lord?"
He listens, his eyes closed against the sun. "Very well, Lord."

Moses rises, ignoring leaves and grass still stuck to his pants and nods at the entrance. "The Lord forgives. When this place is cleansed, you shall be permitted to enter heaven and be re-united with your wife and children."
Then his eyes harden.
"But the rest of you shall burn forever in the pits of hell!" He spits out, then briskly turns around and walks away from the tent.
This message was last edited by the player at 17:16, Tue 16 Apr 2013.

Rabbit followed the others' lead closely and delicately, more than aware of the consequences of slipping up. Surprisingly, a lot of the concepts had Chinese parallels and could be easily followed, even with Rabbit's imperfect grasp of the language.

Unwilling to break Horn Chips' concentration by calling out to Moses when he leaves, the little stray leans in to ask Wovoka "Shourd we ask Moses to check no ghost follows Little Bear and Thunder Walker? They go in, near the hearth, I think."

"That is a good idea." Wovoka says, holding the holy sage as it burns. He wafts the smoke over the entrance...but Moses has already stepped outside. Wovoka frowns. "Go. Ask him to see to Little Bear and Thunder Walker. Horn Chips and I shall finish up here."

Rabbit bobs and quietly trots to catch up with Moses. "Moses! Wovoka think it good sense to check chief and Thunder Walker, in case hungry ghosts follow their heels with ash from the hearth." To the natives, as in China, the hearth was the heart of a building - for good or ill. "Will Moses do this?"

Rabbit rubs at gooseflesh stippling both forearms, hands inside the sleeves rather than pushing them back.

Moses nods, his face grim.
"Of course, Screaming Rabbit." He bows his head slightly to Wovoka and Horn Chips.
"Moses has done what he can, Wovoka." He pauses.
"There might be... apparitions, begging for mercy, when the ritual is finished. Should they appear, do not believe them. There is one spirit who has been granted forgiveness, and one spirit only. He will know the way to heaven and not bother you."
He looks up to the sky and spreads his arms.
"It will be the Twelve's duty to guard the gate any unwanted visitors. Moses trusts that the evil spirits here, while powerful in the mortal realm, will offer no difficulty to the Twelve."